The following is an email from Karen Weldin
(Posted 4-8-02)

Dear Soulforce In Oklahoma Friends,

It was cold, wet, and windy, but 43 of us stood relentlessly outside Village Baptist Church, OKC, yesterday morning. As we arrived and began to set up across from the main entrance, faces appeared in every window of the north side of the church. They had expressions of curiosity and disbelief that we were actually going to vigil in the heavy rain. The evidence of our commitment and firm resolve to be relentless in our desire for dialogue and negotiation in order to stop violence against GLBT is unquestionable. I believe it must have an impact on many who are going and coming from church services.

Many of you may not be aware that we have four vigil periods with a break in between each one. The first two vigil periods yesterday it was pouring rain and the wind was gusting unmercifully. As I walked up and down the vigil line checking on everyone,and making sure that everyone was okay, I was amazed and overwhelmed emotionally. There stood Alisa and Justin huddled together sharing an umbrella trying to hold the pictures given them to display of hate crime victims and suicide victims. They tried to lower their heads to break the rain and the wind. Not once, not once, did they say, "I can't take this." There was Roxie, who sat in a chair unable physically to stand, covered with a poncho determined to vigil the duration. Never once did she say, "I can't do this." What an example these three are. The other forty people stood with the same determination and love in their heart for soul force work. Not one person quit. All 43 of us persevered the duration.

We worried about how we would carry out the press conference at 10:30 a.m. At about 10:20 a.m. the rain stopped while we were on a break! The rain stopped and we were able to bring out the PA system and carry through with our plans. At 10:30 a.m. we started our program and each Soulforce volunteer, one by one, walked the length of the vigil line displaying the pictures of the victims they were holding as I read each story. It was long, it was quiet, it was reverent. As people entered Village Baptist Church for worship, I hope they were able to take the echo of a name and story with them as they entered into worship. I know that our presence is touching the hearts and minds of some.

Yesterday volunteers were able to handout a flyer we had printed that asked people to dialogue with us. Approximately 75 flyers were distributed. This is more flyers distributed than during all of the first three vigils combined! VBC members and guests have been reluctant to take information from us. People of Village Baptist Church will be reading our request to dialogue and learning about why we are doing what we are doing. There were also several people who engaged in dialogue with us yesterday. Some were positive and some were negative. A man drove up to the church door to let his family out of his car and rolled down the window and shouted, "Romans Chapter 1 - read Romans Chapter 1!" Not one Soulforce vigiler reacted. Everyone continued in their silent reverent vigil. The same man returned after parking his car to dialogue with one of our volunteers, Charlie. Charlie was able to maintain his nonviolent stance. There were several "thumbs up" as cars drove by - there was a "thumbs down" as well. One woman also left church and then pulled up beside of us in the parking lot and asked for one of our handouts. She gave us words of encouragement before leaving and said, "Keep up the good work." Rex was able to dialogue with three young men who stood on the sidewalk of the church watching us vigil. Rex was able to help them understand what we were doing and why. These are all seeds of progress. Soulforce volunteers are seeing persons they know enter Village Baptist Church - some straight some gay. There is no question in my mind that these persons who know some of us in Soulforce are reflecting on our message and mission.

After the press conference we took another break. It started to rain again.... By the time the vigils had ended and we were back at Church of the Open Arms to process and have closure - it started to poor down rain again. It was if the Spirit of Justice had watched out for us in order to show and share the faces and stories of the victims of violence. I believe there is divine guidance in what we are doing. Whatever caused the rain to stop - just for the couple of hours we needed it to - it did. We were very grateful. We were able to send our powerful message of the reality of the effects of antigay teachings and policies have on the lives of sexual and gender minorities.

We are already at work on our plans for our next vigil in May. Mel White will join us then. I hope you will prayerfully consider joining us in May. If you would like to do so, just send me a reply to this email and say, "Yes, I will join you." It is a spiritual experience for all of us who continued to vigil. We would love to have you join us.

If those of you who vigiled Sunday would like to share your reflections. Please do so. We would like to post them on the website. Please send your reflections to me and let me know if we may post them.

To those of you who have not been able to join us for whatever reason, we thank you for your continued support in other ways and your prayers.

In love and peace to all,

Karen