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Message
from the Chairman of the Board of Frontline Fellowship:
Understanding
the attacks on Peter Hammond
At
the last Reclaiming America For Christ conference held at
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, October 2003, the first
speaker opened with these words: "If you don't want
to be criticized or attacked - then don't follow or serve
Christ."
Peter
Hammond should know. He has been criticized and attacked
by Marxists and assorted enemies of Christ almost from the
start of Frontline Fellowship in 1982. Since he launched
Africa Christian Action (ACA) in 1991 he has received additional
attacks from abortionists, pornographers and homosexuals.
Since beginning his mission to Sudan, he has received even
more criticisms and death threats from Muslim leaders. In
fact the official Government of Sudan, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs website has included an article attacking him by
name. This article states that Dr Peter Hammond “should
expect to be bombed” when he comes to Sudan, he should
expect to be “shot on sight.” The article even
goes on to explain why this missionary deserves to be bombed
and shot, “because his writings make him an enemy of
the state.”
The
recent slander campaign against Peter Hammond contains nothing
new. Most of the allegations were first lodged years ago
by enemies of the Gospel – Marxists, Muslims, pornographers,
abortionists and homosexuals. Some disgruntled ex-members
of Frontline Fellowship, some of whom had to be dismissed
for disgraceful conduct, have now adopted these slanders,
generated by anti-Christian elements. It is noteworthy that
they have chosen to adopt fictitious stories, exaggerations,
fabrications, malicious and petty allegations, full of factual
errors, not on the basis of facts or proof, but because
of their prejudice and eagerness to believe the worst about
one who had the duty to discipline them.
For
those who have trouble understanding how Peter Hammond could
have accumulated so many enemies, one must take into account
what he has started and what he has written. Twenty-two
years ago Peter founded Frontline Fellowship, which has
pioneered missions to the persecuted church, primarily in
Marxist and Muslims lands.
In
1986 Peter published The Mozambique Report, an eyewitness
account exposing the Marxist mass-murder and persecution
of Christians in communist Mozambique. Along with his later
book In The
Killing Fields Of Mozambique it was widely circulated
and translated. It was read into the Congressional Record
by Senator Jesse Helms of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
and discussed in the House of Commons, in London. It led
to the cessation of financial support for the Frelimo [communist]
government by, among others, Norway. Shortly before being
captured and arrested in Mozambique in 1989, Peter Hammond
received a letter from the Ministry of Justice, Department
of Religious Affairs, threatening his life if he ever came
back to Mozambique.
The
state newspapers in communist Zimbabwe published several
hostile articles attacking him, because of his documentation
of atrocities by Zimbabwe troops in Mozambique. They described
Peter Hammond “as the most important supporter”
of the RENAMO Resistance Movement.
In
1987 Kenneth Kaunda’s socialist government in Zambia
arrested Peter. His case was personally taken up by British
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the Commonwealth Conference
in Vancouver. Because of international pressure, Dictator
Kaunda personally ordered the release of Peter and his co-workers
from the Lusaka Central Prison.
In
1991 Peter Hammond launched African Christian Action (ACA),
which has for 13 years been championing the right to life
for pre-born babies. ACA vigorously opposes abortion, pornography,
homosexuality, gambling and other anti-Christian practices
in South Africa.
Peter
wrote the first anti-pornography book in South Africa, Finding
Freedom From The Pornography Plaque in 1991, followed by
a revision and expansion in 1994. “Operation Cleansweep,”
which he launched, succeeded in bankrupting the South African
editions of Playboy, Penthouse, and Scope magazines (all
of which blamed ACA for their demise). ACA, along with other
pro-family organizations in SA, succeeded in persuading
the owners of over 9,000 retail outlets to no longer stock
or sell pornography.
Peter's
anti-pornography campaign in South African was so successful
that the editor of Hustler magazine phoned the ACA office
and threatened to invest R200,000 ($57,200 at that time)
in a private detective to “unearth any skeletons in
Hammond’s cupboard.” Later, the South African
edition of Hustler published its attack on Peter Hammond
with a cover article, “Peter Hammond blue eyed Gunrunner.”
In this prominent article Hustler alleged that Peter had
smuggled firearms to the RENAMO Resistance Movement in Mozambique,
UNITA in Angola and the SPLA in Sudan.
Peter
co-authored and published Fight For Life, the first pro-life
handbook in South Africa. He also wrote numerous articles
and made frequent representations to Parliament and on national
radio and TV concerning the right to life of pre-born babies.
He also initiated the annual “LifeChains,” the
“National Day of Repentance” and “Sanctity
of Life Sunday.” For all of these and many other pro-life
initiatives he has come under blistering attack from abortionists
and the so-called “Pro-Choice” lobby.
Peter
Hammond has also organized numerous marches to Parliament,
including the 1995 and 1996 marches, which mobilized over
30,000 Christians to protest the government's secular state
Constitution, that legalized abortion and allowed pornography.
After the May '96 march, he was summoned by then President
Nelson Mandela to his home for an hour-long meeting.
Peter
challenged the current South African President Theo Mbeki's
“African Renaissance” in a book he co-authored
with Tom Barlow, South
Africa - Renaissance or Reformation? Peter's book Holocaust
In Rwanda exposed the United Nations' complicity in the
Rwandan holocaust.
His
book Faith
Under Fire In Sudan exposed the atrocities of the National
Islamic Front (NIF) government in Sudan that has slaughtered
two million Christians. He catalogued corruption in the
UN operation there and exposed the UN's role in prolonging
the war.
Peter
helped Jeremiah Films produce two documentaries – “Sudan:
The Hidden Holocaust” and “Terrorism
and Persecution,” both of which were based on his
book Faith Under Fire In Sudan. These have proved to be
the most effective films on the persecution of Christians
in Sudan, revealing the atrocities of the NIF government
and the complicity of the UN.
Dr.
Peter Hammond designed various leadership training programs,
writing the manuals and organizing courses, which have been
conducted across the continent of Africa. These include,
“The Biblical Worldview Seminar,” “The Great
Commission Course,” “The Reformation Conference,”
“God And Government Seminar,” and “Muslim
Evangelism Workshop.” He has had irate Muslim extremists,
brandishing this manual outside the gates of the Frontline
mission headquarters in Cape Town, demanding to see him.
Consider
the fact that over the past 20+ years Peter's ministry has
been in some of the most violent parts of Africa, during
some of the most turbulent times of political unrest, warfare,
riots and violence. He may be hated by homosexuals, abortionists,
pornographers, Marxists and radical Muslims, but he is greatly
loved in Sudan, Zambia, Zululand, Mozambique, Angola, and
Zimbabwe by the persecuted Church, by prisoners, pastors,
chaplains, teachers and medics whom he has helped to train
and supported so consistently for up to two decades.
In
2001 Peter co-authored with Christine McCafferty The
Pink Agenda – Sexual Revolution & The Ruin of The
Family in South Africa. This book was condemned as “the
worst homophobic hate speech ever written,” before
it was even released and before one page had been read by
the reviewers. The Gay and Lesbian Equality Project called
for its banning even before its release. None of the vicious
attacks on Peter and Christine dealt with any of the issues
raised in the book, but chose instead to defame the messengers.
These homosexual critics produced several of the slanders
currently circulating today against Peter Hammond.
Although
The Pink Agenda
was originally censored by the Film and Publications Board,
the Appeal Board later lifted all restrictions. It emerged
that the head of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Project, who
called for the banning of the book, was also a member of
the Film and Publications Board! Conflict of interest?
It
should be noted that the most vitriolic slander against
Peter Hammond, published by Die
Burger was the subject of a review by Judge Edward King
under appeal. Die Burger was ordered to publish Africa Christian
Action's right of reply, with a link to the http://www.christianaction.org.za
Website.
Peter's
new book Biblical
Principles For Africa, in it's first edition of 10,000,
has almost sold out. Distributed throughout the continent
of Africa, it has made a tremendous impact for free enterprise,
Christian and home schooling, parental responsibility and
authority in education. It promotes honoring the Lord's
Day and incorporating Biblical standards in entertainment.
It takes a clear stand against socialism and humanism in
state education. Biblical Principles For Africa has been
praised by the President of Zambia and received by every
Member of Parliament in Zambia – a country where Peter
was once imprisoned!
Peter's
consistent, courageous, principled and humble servant-leadership
of over 20 years has often led to his being misunderstood
and criticized. One can expect such attacks by enemies of
the Gospel. However, it is very sad when Christian brothers
choose to adopt the slanders of the homosexuals, pornographers,
and abortionists, Marxists and Muslims in order to smear
one with whom they may have personal differences.
Finally,
brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread
rapidly and be honored, just as it is with you. And pray
that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not
everyone has faith. 2 Thess. 3:1,2
Rev Bill Bathman, Chairman of the Board, Frontline Fellowship
Related
articels:
When
all men speak well of you
A Biblical Response
to Slander
Dealing with pathological
antagonists
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