They said it would never happen in America, but the First Amendment was severely attacked in Nebraska from 1977 to 1984. Christian Conviction v. State Persecution chronicles not only the events but why they took place. This was not isolated to a single denomination or group. Among the churches attacked were Amish, Mennonite, Apostolic, Pentecostal, Baptist, and Church of Christ. Among the homeschool families, the list expands farther. Faith, freedom, and liberty were all under attack by the Nebraska Department of Education and their allies in the courts and the state legislature.
Before I ever met Paul, I had seen his face on the CBN film footage of him being hauled away by sheriff's deputies from an altar where he was praying with a group of men. As Paul writes in this book, "Few cases of the loss of Christian freedom have drawn more attention than the jailing of the pastor and the padlocking of the [Faith Baptist] church building in Louisville, Nebraska." The powerful film footage and photos from this incident 'went viral' across the American evangelical landscape, and there was widespread outrage and concern. This persecution backfired: It would cement the courage and convictions of an entire generation of parents who had become increasingly alarmed about what was happening in public schools.
--Sarah Leslie
Publisher and Iowa Homeschool Leader
Paul Zylstra and some of his compatriots were a large part of the intellectual undergirding of this endeavor that proved in large measure successful over a number of years. This book is a great work in establishing the underlying issues facing honest disciples in Jesus in responding to the intrusions of the "state" into matters of faith.
--Pastor Larry Lautaret
Nebraska Christian School Leader
Most people feel that the First Amendment has been followed everywhere in the USA since the founding of this great country. In the 1980s, in the state of Nebraska, several people went to jail, lost jobs, and fled the state because there was an existing law that violated Christian liberty. As Christians realized, the government-controlled system was going against what the Bible taught. Therefore, they started their own schools free from state control. This book tells in detail what happened when the established government tried to control Bible Christianity in Nebraska and how the Lord of heaven stepped in and straightened things out.
--Warren Rushton
Author and Nebraska Homeschool Leader
