Christian Evangelists Permitted To Preach Inside Pentagon

Truthout reports today that another use of Pentagon facilities by evangelical Christian groups has been uncovered by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. In 2005, in connection with its two-week "D.C. Crusade", the North Carolina-based H.O.P.E. Ministries International was permitted to conduct two services in the Pentagon courtyard where employees eat their lunch. Evangelist David Kistler was permitted to preach, but could not invite employees to openly respond to his invitation to them to accept Jesus. This past June, H.O.P.E. was invited to speak at a prayer breakfast at the Pentagon, and the next day in the Pentagon auditorium. Kistler wrote in his organization's newsletter that "three souls were saved among those who attended those events". Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said H.O.P.E Ministries' presence inside the Pentagon was a violation of required church-state separation.