Dr. Ron Johnson addresses the over 500 people in attendance at the STAND rally.

WARSAW — “Its simple: we love Jesus, and Jesus loves us.” This was the mindset of over 500 people who came to the “STAND Religious Freedom Rally” at the Kosciusko County courthouse tonight, Sept. 22.

The rally, planned by the Indiana Pastors Alliance had a huge turnout, and each person in attendance was united under one message. The message was that “Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and both church and state are required to submit to God’s authority,” in the words of Dr. Ron Johnson during his speech. There was praise and worship, a speaker, Johnson, and then prayer.

The rally was an effort by the community to communicate to elected officials where Kosciusko County citizens stand on the issue of the LGBT community. Bills will soon be coming to elected officials regarding transgenders and bathrooms that in the words of Johnson, “must be stopped.” The bills would allow for men to have access to women’s restrooms and vice versa, depending on their sexual orientation and desires.

Directly across the street, LGBT supporters could be seen counter-rallying. The counter-rally never became hostile, but both sides were obviously aware of each other.

The fear in the Christian community tonight was that religious freedom will continue to erode in America and that churches, businesses and even every individual person, will be forced to “bow the knee to the LGBT community.”

“Its already happening,” explained Johnson. “the government is penalizing businesses and business owners when they decline what is morally wrong. Government officials who say that marriage is between a man and a woman are even losing their jobs.”

Nick Poe, a staff member at New Life Church in Warsaw, said “I want to see them all saved, and the gospel preached,” of the opposition found across the street.

When asked to define marriage, Poe responded “In the beginning, God created them male and female, and it makes sense, because everything fits biologically, spiritually and socially.”

Pastor John Lowe offers fresh doughnuts to Jeff, an LGBT supporter

The Christian community today understood that much of the LGBT community has been hurt by the church, and in an effort to help mend relationships, many Christians crossed the street in order to converse with the opposition. Pastor John Lowe of New Life Church even brought fresh doughnuts across the street to anyone who wanted one, in the hope of facilitating conversation.

“A lot of people have been hurt by the church, but no one has ever been hurt by Jesus,” said Poe.

Brian Lowe was also there from New Life Church, and said “any time the church does something like this, it is called hate. If the opposition would look for a conversation, it would be awesome.”

Conversation and dialogue seemed to be a longing from both sides of the street tonight, as many LGBT supporters wished for dialogue to open up between the two. “Dialogue heals, but there are orange fences between us, and pre-determined ideas of each others’ agenda hurts the dialogue,” Lowe explained.

Dr. Johnson invited everyone in attendance to join them again at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, for another rally. The rally will take place at the courthouse again, and elected officials will be there to see the turnout.

“Just remember and hold fast to this truth,” said Johnson in closing. “The truth will always win.”