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PRESS RELEASE
September 18th, 2009
Tomorrow, Saturday, August 19th, 2009
Demonstration to be held at the intersection of
35th St. & Fond du lac Ave. in Milwaukee
from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Missionaries to the Preborn will conduct their monthly Tour this Saturday in honor of Jim Pouillon who was slain outside a high school in Owosso, Michigan on September 11th, 2009. Each month, the Missionaries assemble at a busy intersection in southeastern Wisconsin to speak up for the preborn. They use large photographs of babies in the womb and of those murdered by abortion, just as Jim Pouillon did.
For more details, contact:
Jim Soderna 414-462-3399
"If every town in America had a Jim Pouillon in it, like Owosso did, abortion would be outlawed in America
within three years." - Pastor Matt Trewhella, founder of Missionaries to the Preborn
September 17th, 2009
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
Our family returned from the memorial for Jim Pouillon this evening. Here are a few of the news stories I found. (There were actually about 500 people present - which I thought was a great turn out for a week day - middle of the day, event). We also had about 60 people go over to the Planned Parenthood to do a demonstration in honor of Jim. The state police actually shut down the road leading to the PP so that people could not come down to see our signs and photographs! We moved people up past their squad cars to the adjoing street so cars passing by could see.
http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/US_Activist_Killed_Mich.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=1&cxcat=0
http://www.wnem.com/news/20943101/detail.html
http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/video.aspx?id=350834
September 16th, 2009
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
Please remember to pray today for the memorial service for Jim Pouillon. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. Pray that those who know Him will be moved to greater love and service for Christ! Pray that the gathering there and at the local Planned Parenthood afterwards will be a great witness to the community.
Also, this Saturday, September 19th, 2009, we will conduct the monthly Tour stop in honor of Jim Pouillon. The stop will be held in Milwuakee at the intersection of 35th St. & Fond du lac Ave. from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Yes, this is a rough area. But the law of God regarding the killing of the preborn and news of His great salvation needs to be brought there. As usual, we plan to bring both.
Hope you can come. If not, please remember this effort in your prayers.
September 14th, 2009 - UPDATE 2
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
The funeral/memorial service is as follows:
Wed., Sept. 16
1:00 pm.
Willman football stadium
301 S. Dewey Street, Owosso, Michigan
IMMEDIATELY afterwards, people will gather at the Planned Parenthood in Owosso to speak up for the preborn in honor of Jim.
If you are unable to attend, please consider sending the family a card or letter at:
Family of Jim Pouillon
c/o Abba's House
P.O. Box 201
Owosso, MI 48867
September 14th, 2009
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
Click on this link to see a video of Jim Pouillon. He is addressing friends who are celebrating their anniversary. He was unable to attend so he sent this video which would be viewed by all gathered there. It is a little over two minutes long, and it is recent.
Also, I have a number of interviews to do about Jim today, including one on the Crosstalk Show WVCY from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CST). You can also listen online at vcyamerica.org.
JIM POUILLON - Martyr
1946 - 2009
"...of whom the world was not worthy."
Martyr: Someone who suffers greatly or dies for some cause or principle.
"They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the world was not worthy."
(Hebrews 11:37-38)
As Jesus exhorted the Christians at Smyrna -
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
Links to stories:
Local story - looks at Jim's life from a personal level:
Good interesting account of this story:
More about this story:
A step by step eyewitness account of the shooting:
The heaviest volume in the entire 13 year history of the Flint Journal website over this story.
Local television news coverage of this story (ABC, FOX)
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
Pastor Matt Trewhella
Missionaries to the Preborn
414-462-3399
Jim Pouillon (far left) at the end of the Woodard Dream Cruise in Detroit, Michigan area - August 15, 2009.
BREAKING NEWS - UPDATE 3
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
Law enforcement authorities have now made it public that Jim Pouillon was in fact murdered specifically because of his displaying pro-life signs on the streets. The Detroit News reported this morning, "Harlan James Drake, 33, confessed to shooting 63-year-old activist James Pouillon because of the larger-than-life photographs of mutilated fetuses Pouillon was setting up to display Friday morning in front of Owosso High School, authorities said."
The Detroit Free Press reported Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry said the killing of Mr. Puillon was related to the latter's anti-abortion protest. He said, "The defendant was offended by the manner of Mr. Puillon's message."
The Detroit News reported, "We believe Mr. Drake was not happy with the way Mr. Pouillon was protesting," said Chief Shiawassee County Assistant Prosecutor Sara Edwards. "Mr. Drake did not believe children should view the graphic material on the signs Mr. Pouillon carried," said Police Chief Michael Compeau.
The Associated Press (AP) is reporting, "A man carrying grudges against several people set off on a shooting spree Friday morning, authorities said, killing an abortion protester outside a high school because he didn't like the activist holding a sign with graphic images of a fetus in front of students."
CNN is reporting, "Authorities say the suspect, Harlan James Drake, was offended by anti-abortion material that the activist had displayed across from the school all week."
We could go on and on. He was murdered because of his faithful service to Christ on behalf of his preborn neighbor.
Why Jim Displayed the Signs
Sadly, none of these stories say WHY Jim used the photographs which he did. Jim used the graphic photographs of hte murdered preborn because he believed that if the killing of the preborn through abortion is public policy in America, then their suffering should be publicly displayed. That if we as a nation are willing to sit by and tolerate this injustice, then we should be willing to view the remains of those who die at the hands of this injustice.
Jim was faithful in this effort. Several of the news stories carry a quote from a man who sued Jim to make him stop showing the signs. He even had praise for Jim's character. The man, Tony Young, a Chevrolet dealership owner, said "His dedication to his cause was unprecedented." As for Jim Pouillon himself, he summed up his efforts by simply saying, as one news story reported, "I'm trying to do for the babies what the Lord did for me."
Regarding the sign Jim was holding when he was shot. We reported to you yesterday that it was the LIFE sign of my son Jeremiah that Jim was holding. We did so because early reports said this was the sign laying on the ground, and in fact when looking at the crime-scene photo, you could see it was the sign laying on the ground. The sign, however, we learned last night, also had a Malachi photo (picture of an aborted baby) on the other side. We do not know for sure which sign was facing outward, but if we go by the picture of the police (see below) putting the bullet trajectory rods through the sign, it appears he was displaying the photo of Malachi (the aborted baby).
The Press
One cannot help but notice the disparity between the volume of press coverage and the tone of the press coverage between Tiller's shooting and the shooting of Jim. We hope to do an analysis of the volume coverage difference. Clearly Tiller's shooting received far more coverage, not even close. Also the tone is dispicably noticeable. When Tiller was shot he was painted as perhaps the most saintly fellow who ever lived, while Jim has been painted as a controversial figure. All studies ever done show that at least 90% of those in journalism are pro-abortion in their personal views. It clearly comes out in their reporting. The man who actually murders the babies is painted as a saint, while the man who exposes their killing is painted as controversial.
And what? No comments from our President warning how this will not be tolerated like when Tiller was shot?
Profile in Courage
I knew Jim Pouillon as a man who first and foremost loved Jesus. He talked of Him often. He was an everyday part of Jim's conversation. Because of His love for the Lord, Jim did not fear man, nor what man (even the ministers) thought of him. Jim often stood alone in speaking up for his preborn neighbor. Last year for example, when Obama came to Flint, Michigan to speak, Jim packed up his photograph and went and stood alone (he could find no one else to go with him) outside the arena to speak up for the preborn and inform the people that Obama supported their killing. I do not know many men who would do that. He was brave because of Christ in him.
A Martyr
JIM POUILLON - Martyr
1946 - 2009
"...of whom the world was not worthy."
Martyr: Someone who suffers greatly or dies for some cause or principle.
"They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the world was not worthy."
(Hebrews 11:37-38)
As Jesus exhorted the Christians at Smyrna -
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
Officer places bullet trajectory rods through the sign Jim was holding.
Links to stories:
Local story - looks at Jim's life from a personal level:
Good interesting account of this story:
More about this story:
A step by step eyewitness account of the shooting:
The heaviest volume in the entire 13 year history of the Flint Journal website over this story.
Local television news coverage of this story (ABC, FOX)
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
Pastor Matt Trewhella
Missionaries to the Preborn
http://www.MissionariestothePreborn.com
414-462-3399
Jim Pouillon (far left) at the end of the Woodard Dream Cruise in Detroit, Michigan area - August 15, 2009.
September 11th, 2009
UPDATE 2
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
We have heard from many of you who would like to send a card, letter, or gift to Jim Pouillon's family. You can do so through the following address which was where the family attends church:
Family of Jim Pouillon
c/o Abba's House
P.O. Box 201
Owosso, MI 48867
The family is extremely grief-stricken at this time, so I know your words of love and encouragement will mean much to all of them. I learned Jim had just dropped off his granddaughter at the high school before he set up with his signs, so she was at the school when her grandfather was shot to death outside. As you can imagine, they are all heartbroken.
The shooter has been identified as Harlan Drake, 33 years old. Jim was definitely targeted by this man. After he murdered Jim, he went and murdered another man, and police say, intended to murder yet another before being caught. As far as we can tell at this point, Jim was murdered by him because he did not like Jim's actions on behalf of the preborn. We know he could target Jim as Jim had been at the school every morning this week.
Also, as way of clarification, the sign Jim had held when he was shot had the picture of my son Jeremiah on one side and a picture of murdered preborn child on the other. We do not know for sure which side was being displayed when he was shot.
On a personal note, I have spent the day doing a lot of press. The time I have had to myself I have spent grieving with my wife and children over Jim. He was a great Christian man whose love for the Lord was evident by the life which he lived. The last time I talked to him was two weeks ago. I usually tell people "God bless you" when I'm done with a conversation. Jim always responded whenever I talked to him by saying "He just has, I got to talk with you!"
When we were done ministering at the Dream Cruise less than a month ago, Jim held onto my hand and the hand of my wife Clara, and told us with tears in his eyes "you have to come back next year." He said this repeatedly. He loved ministering for the Lord and for the preborn. He loved being with the people of God.
Please remember the family in your prayers, and may you all be encouraged to follow the example of this saint and "not love our lives even unto death." Rev. 12:11 As Jesus exhorted the Christians at Smyrna, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life." Rev. 2:10
Pastor Matt Trewhella
p.s. Below are some more news stories.
A step by step eyewitness account of the shooting
The heaviest volume in the entire 13 year history of the Flint Journal website over this story.
Local television news coverage of this story (ABC, FOX)
UPDATE 1: Murdered pro-lifer was NOT holding graphic sign; other details
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
We have learned that Jim Pouillon was actually holding a LIFE sign (see picture below) when he was gunned down. That picture is actually of my son Jeremiah when he was only four weeks old. It was taken back in February of 1993. The picture has been used around the world by pro-lifers.
Below also we have a picture of the crime scene. You can see Jim's oxygen tank laying on the ground, as well as the photo of Jeremiah.
We also have a group shot from our Tour last month in Michigan. Jim is all the way to the left of the photo in a red shirt. We are all standing in front of our truthtruck.
Reports from Michigan say that another pro-lifer was also shot earlier before Jim. We'll get more details to you as we can. News story below.
DetNews.com
mLive.com Anti Abortion Activist shot
mLive.com Owosso Activist
mLive.com Neighbors lament
mLive.com Homicide victim
Jim was 63. Please pray for his family.
The sign Jim was holding outside the high school.
The crime scene. You can see Jim's oxygen tank and the sign on the ground.
Jim standing all the way to the left in the red shirt in front of our truthtruck.
BREAKING NEWS
Dear Friends of the Preborn,
This morning Jim Poullion, a steadfast pro-lifer who has spoken up on behalf of the preborn for years, was shot dead outside a high school in Owosso, Michigan, his hometown. He was holding a photograph of the murdered preborn, informing the studetns of the injustice the preborn suffer in our nation. A 23 year-old man came up and shot him four times in the chest. The man is in police custody.
Jim was an elderly man who always had an oxygen tank connected to him (see photo below). Jim joined us on our Woodward Dream Crusie Tour for a few of our stops less than amonth ago. The picture below shows him at the stop in Lansing - Michigan's capitol on August 13th.
The press in all it's hypocrisy is already painting Jim as a controversial figure. Their hyocrisy is rank. Remember when Tiller was killed how the press painted him as the most saintly man in America, singing his praises. They paint the man who kills the babies as some saint while the man who exposes the babies suffering is painted as something bad.
Jim was a selfless, soft-spoken, kind-hearted man. All who knew him, knew this. Please pray for Jim's family, and we will update you later.
Even in this, may the Lord be glorified!
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