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Thousands defend their faith and nation
By Michael V. Hannigan
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–Saturday, an estimated 5,000 Americans filled the west side of the Courthouse Square in support of a nativity scene displayed on the Henderson County courthouse square, along with other items depicting a Christmas holiday theme. Two weeks ago county commissioners noted the receipt of a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation ordering its removal, arguing that its presence constituted support of religion by the county government.
Since then, the issue has spread coast-to-coast and initiated Saturday’s rally, called by four area pastors.
“We are humbled at the turnout of the crowd,” First Baptist Church Malakoff pastor Dr. Nathan Lorick told Fox News after the event. “We believe that God lead us to do this, and so we knew he was up to something great. This message is resonating in the hearts of people all over the country. This was a real statement to the nation that Christians are tired of the persecution and suppression. We want all to know that we are ready to contend for the faith.”
Lorick was one of the organizers of what was billed as the Henderson County Nativity Rally, along with Robert Welch of Rock Hill Baptist in Brownsboro, Eric Graham of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens and Derek Rogers, a county resident who is pastor of the Corsicana Cowboy Church.
The backlash against the FFRF from county Christians was fast and furious, and captured the attention of media across the country.
The message conveyed by the speeches and prayers was fairly simple: We will stand up for our faith and we will do it in a way that benefits community and country.
“We stand today to unite in heart, soul and action to send a message across this great nation. That it is time to bring America back to the place in which all things are dependent on God,” Lorick told the crowd. “This call is not one of a militant, rioting or raging attitude. No, it is just the opposite. It is a call to stand together in love and unity, while at the same time being bold and courageous.”
Graham listed some deplorable statistics regarding Henderson County, such as being in the top 2 percent in the state for teen pregnancy, triple the state average for child abuse, and being in the top 10 percent for domestic violence homicide.
“For the first time, there is going to be a concerted effort by the churches of this county to reach out to the struggling and the hurting,” he said. “We are not merely going to treat the symptoms, be we are going to address the disease. I believe that this should begin today.”
After calling for Christian leaders to step to the forefront, Rogers also hit on the theme of outreach.
“It is time our actions give validity to our words,” he said. “By feeding the hungry; clothing the poor; reaching out to the hurting, the needy, the addict; taking care of the widow and the fatherless; providing shelter for the homeless; allowing the power and love of God to flow. Perhaps then, even the unbeliever may be persuaded to believe in the same Jesus we know.”
Included as part of the rally was a food drive to benefit the Henderson County Food Pantry. Organizers collected more than $500 and 1.5 pickup truck beds full of food.
In addition to the four organizing pastors, rally attendees also heard from Jerry Dennis of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at TVCC, John Michael Cash of the Athens Church of the Nazarene, Ben Rigsby of Carrol Springs United Methodist Church of Athens, Mark Fulks of First Assembly of God Church in Chandler, and Ronnie Yarborough of First Baptist Church of Malakoff.
The rally — which most resembled a worship service at times — came together on the heels of the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s (FFRF) demand in early December that Henderson County remove a nativity scene from Courthouse Christmas display. The FFRF later dropped that request and instead focused on trying to get one of its banners included in the display as well.

March 6 Primary moves to April 3
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
AUSTIN–Texas Republicans and Democrats agreed on a new Primary date, pending court approval.
Texas’ March 6 Primary has been cancelled, due to disputes over redistricting maps – first by the 83rd Legislature assigning three of the four new voting precincts to dominantly Republican districts and then by federal justices who remapped the districts, favoring the Democrats.
If the court ratifies their agreement, a unified primary for state House of Representatives and Senators, as well as seats for the U.S. Congress and statewide officials, county and local offices will be held April 3, 2012. A brief re-filing period will be held. By 6 p.m. Feb. 1, 2012, candidates will be allowed to amend their filing for office or apply for a place on the ballot under redistricting approved by the U.S. Supreme Court. The nation’s highest court has set Jan. 9, 2012, as the day it will hear arguments concerning Texas’ redistricting. It may even review Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which stipulates that states, such as Texas, who have had a history of racial prejudice, submit any changes to the electoral process to the Department of Justice for a pre-clearance.

Council postpones seeking loan; still hopes for grant to finance new water line from WCCMUD
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–The Kemp City Council discussed their agreement with directors of West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District to provide water service for Kemp Dec. 13. However, they took no action on the subject while they wait for firmer figures.
In preliminary discusions with the water utility, council members learned the cost to lay line between King’s Creek and Kemp and install a master meter comes to about $417,000, mayor Donald Kile said. However, city utility director Chris Burns wants to also install a number of valves, which will add to the cost.
Council members also discussed a number of options for getting the money, with most leaning toward procuring a grant. However, with the goal of starting construction on the line by the beginning of February, so everything is ready to switch service over in June, the city may have to agree to a loan, the lower the interest rate – the better. No action was taken to apply for a loan at the December meeting.
Discussion on the proposed WCCMUD water hook-up to Kemp also appeared on the utility’s business agenda and meeting set for Dec. 19. (See related story in the Sunday issue of The Monitor.)
In other business, council members:
• adopted an ordinance allowing for the collection of taxes on goods in transit. The state instituted the additional revenue source and most all the taxing entities in the area are adopting it.
• added Good Friday to the number of city holidays for 2012.
• codified the city’s new water and sewer rates and pricing for new water and sewer taps. The new minimum bill for residential customers increases to $38 and the minimum sewer service billing increases to $42.52. The new flat rate for water service is $4.50 per 1,000 gallons and $4.75 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater service. Out-of-city customers will pay the same flat rate plus an additional $10 monthly service fee to share in any tax bond issue used to upgrade utility infrastructure, like the installation of the new meters.