Ariz. pastor sent to prison for at-home Bible study

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

PHOENIX, AZ (ANS) – A Phoenix pastor who was jailed for holding a Bible study group on his private property is now holding one behind bars.
According to Fox News Michael Salman is serving a 60-day sentence in Maricopa County's notorious Tent City jail for allegedly violating his probation by holding religious services on his property in violation of zoning and building codes. He was arrested July 9, after authorities charged the one-time gang member hosted Bible sessions for as many 80 people on his 4-acre property, which he tried to claim as a tax-exempt church.

"And I'm sure he'd do it all over again," attorney John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, told Fox News.
In a sense, he is. Salman has assembled a Bible study group on site that has been attended by as many as 30 inmates, according to Whitehead. On Thursday, he was chosen to lead inmates in prayer for the anniversary of the Tent City jail, just before they dined on moon pies, according to a report.
The story said that the married father of six is an ordained pastor of Church of God in Christ and founder of Harvest Christian Fellowship. He and his family believe he has the right to worship at home on his private property.

"The only people who came to our home were family and friends," Salman said in a video posted online before he reported to jail this week. "Our home was not open to the public; it was private."
His wife, Suzanne Salman, said her husband's constitutional rights have been violated.
"Christians deserve the right to gather at their homes privately just like every other American has the right to gather for their reasons," she told Fox News.
But the city rejects the idea that Salman is doing time for saving souls.
"The case is about the building that is used for regular assembly does not meet construction and fire code requirements for assembly," Phoenix officials said in a statement.
The outdoor facility where Salman is now being held was incorporated with the county jail in 1993 in order to house a growing number of inmates. Whitehead said the conditions are hellish.
"It's like a Guantanamo facility," Whitehead said. "It can get up to 140 degrees out there ... putting someone in Tent City for violating zoning laws is insane."

Fox News says that Salman "has done hard time before." The former gang member was arrested for a drive-by shooting as well as being charged with impersonating a police officer. His neighbors say the physically imposing Salman makes them nervous, despite his status as a changed man.

Homeowners Association President Mike Simms told Fox News Salman applied for a permit to build a game room on his property, but installed pew-like seats and a pulpit. Salman has responded by saying "game room" was the best description available for what they were building.

"Salman is scheduled to be released Sept. 9, but Whitehead hopes to win an early release for his client," concluded the story.

Gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas' strength is in the Lord

Gabby's tweet before All-Around competition: 'Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me'

By Aimee Herd

Special to ASSIST News Service

Gabrielle Douglas displays her gold medal

LONDON, UK (ANS) -- One of the favorites for Team USA this Olympics has been 16-year-old Gabrielle Douglas, who helped her team garner gold in women's gymnastics. She also competed in the All-Around competition, along with teammate Aly Raisman, and Gabrielle took gold once again.

Setting Gabrielle – affectionately called "Gabby" by her teammates and fans – apart is her willingness to share with the press, Facebook and Twitter friends, about what gives her strength, courage and peace in the midst of the fierce contest of skill: her faith, and relationship with the Lord.

Upon learning that she and her fellow USA gymnasts had won gold, she posted on Facebook, "We are the 2012 London Olympic Gold Medalists!!! We are all so happy right now. It's a dream come true! Gotta give God the Glory! Thank you everyone for praying for me! It means so much to me! Now I have to prepare for the All-Around competition! I am so excited! Gabby."

In an Us Weekly interview, Gabby said, "Right before a competition I pray and listen to music." And when she was asked by the press how she focuses and stays calm when surrounded by the immense pressure of the Olympic competition, the teen replied that she meditates on Bible Scripture.

In evidence of that, on the morning of the All-Around competition, Gabby tweeted, "Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me."

A video posted on Crosswalk describes the journey Gabby and her family has taken on her road to the Olympics, including the difficult decision by her mother Natalie – a single mom – to allow her youngest daughter at 14 to move halfway across the country to train.

Despite the cultural differences, Gabby found a second home with her host family in Des Moines, Iowa, and the move for intense training paid off.

Watch the moving video here.