Russian Immigrant Believers Join Christian Protest Against Homosexual Agenda
by Jim Brown
March 20, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Hundreds of Christians from primarily Russian churches in Sacramento, California, recently rallied outside the California State Capitol to protest a pro-homosexual bill in the state legislature and to counter a homosexual activist event.
More than 700 Christians were involved in staging the demonstration to oppose a bill that would cut state funding to public schools that do not promote homosexuality as normal, legitimate behavior. The demonstrators held up signs bearing messages such as "AB 606 is discriminating against Christians" and "Homosexuality is sin."
Meanwhile, a smaller crowd of about 300 young people nearby took part in "Queer Youth Advocacy Day." Demonstrators on either side were kept separated by members of the California Highway Patrol.
Luke Otterstad is outreach coordinator for Church of the Divide, which helped organize the Christian protest. He says the Russian Christians who rallied at the Capitol feel threatened by the homosexual agenda and its efforts to muzzle anyone expressing biblical views on homosexuality.
"They're very concerned because they've come from a country where there's religious persecution," Otterstad explains. "They left to come here where there's freedom, and they see the homosexuals trying to take our freedoms away by claiming that we're discriminating and we're hateful."
For that reason, the Church of the Divide spokesman asserts, these Russian immigrant believers want to stand up against the homosexual agenda "while they still have that right to speak." He notes that the pro-homosexual bill AB 606 has already passed the California Assembly, and if the Senate approves the measure, Christian protesters across the state will be calling on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto it.
According to Otterstad, the Russian church members and other Christian demonstrators speaking out against AB 606 are very dedicated to voicing the biblical truth about homosexuality. "They know that the homosexuals are constantly active, promoting their cause," he says, "and they know as Christians we should be constantly active, promoting the cause of Christ."
These Christians and other pro-family citizens across California are looking forward to events coming up in the near future, Otterstad notes. He says hundreds of believers that have been raising protests and rallying against the homosexual agenda "know that this is their duty to God" and will continue to speak out.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
