December 1998,

 

 

From the Gilles household to all of you and yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

This past semester has been an extremely fast paced one resulting in 15 new campuses and 5 new States having been opened.  The current tally is 270 Universities in 48 States.

 

While at the University of Montana in Missoula.  I had occasion to speak to the University Attorney.  During our conversation the Attorney surprisingly asked me, "You are Jim Gilles?"  To which, I curiously answered, "Yes?"  The Attorney then stated, “You are famous in University legal circles, so much, that I even teach your lawsuit against Virginia Tech in one of my law classes here at the University of Montana.  Your suit is a classic case for the point of law that I teach."  The attorney then extended an invitation for me to speak about my case in his classroom this summer, for he teaches my suit the last week of June and the first two weeks of July.  I graciously accepted his invitation and am currently planning to speak in his law class this summer.

 

Destination: Evansville, In.

Status: Home Town

Mission: Turn Upside Down 

Result: Mission Accomplished

 

I had not preached at the University of Southern Indiana for at least 10 years due to the fact that USI tailored a brand new free speech policy just for me.  In the early eighties I had some wild meetings on that campus, but after about three years of preaching, USI created a policy that allowed student sponsored speakers to speak in prime locations on campus, while non student sponsored speakers were given a more obscure location near the main parking lot, meaning that gathering a crowd would be most difficult.  Guess whom the only nonstudent sponsored speaker had been at that time?

 

Ten or so years ago USI had only 4000 or so students who commuted to campus, but now USI runs around 8000 with housing nearby.  One Tuesday afternoon between 4 and 4:30 p.m., I surveyed the campus and there were around 100 students milling about the library plaza.  Faith bubbled up in my heart that the Gospel could once again stir this Campus. 

 

The next day, I arrived to preach and the students gathered around for what I would call an average day, the only exception was that USI had called out their entire security force numbering 8 or so to monitor that days activities.  At the end of the day USI called in a Deputy Sheriff for back up.

 

The following day was an entirely different story.  When I arrived, the Chief of Security had police taped off the gathering location for the students, thus greatly decreasing the area for which the students could gather.  It was an obvious attempt to discourage the students from gathering to hear me preach.  The Holy Ghost thwarted USI’s unlawful interference!  The crowd swelled in number.  The frustrated Chief called in 6-8 Deputy Sheriffs for backup.  The local Fox TV News affiliate monitoring the police scanner arrived with cameras rolling.  The Evansville Press was there to cover the event as well.

 

What do you get when you mix a Holy Ghost filled preacher with six to eight Deputy Sheriffs complete with Cruisers, ten to fifteen law enforcement officers, live television cameras along with city newspaper reporters, all at one location on a college campus?  Answer: An upside down campus as well as a stirred city.  It was by far the best meeting that I had this semester.  I love nothing more than stirring up my own home town.

 

We thank you for your love and prayers.

 

Brother Jim - Sister Bonnie - Aaron - Gabrielle