John Reyes Begins 6 Month Jail Sentence Monday, August 31, 1999

September 2, 1999
by Rev. Flip Benham

Several friends gathered with Christian martyr John Reyes as he began serving a six-month sentence for trespassing at E.C. Glass High School on November 10, 1997. John helped organize over three hundred Liberty University students to bring the Gospel of Christ to the kids in E.C. Glass. Five young students gave their hearts to Christ that day. For this heinous crime John was tried and found guilty of being a real Christian.

John is a first time offender who has never broken a law before, and Judge Richard S. Miller of Lynchburg, Virginia found him guilty of trespassing and sentenced him to one year in jail with six months suspended. Never before in Judge Miller's court, has a first time misdemeanor offender been given hard time without the possibility of probation or work release.

There is no doubt that John Reyes is considered the most dangerous young man in the city of Lynchburg. The reason he is dangerous is because he is proclaiming that there is another King. A King whose Name is not James McCormick (Superintendent of Lynchburg Schools), but Jesus who is the Christ.

Look at Judge Miller's record of sentencing felons and you will see the obvious prejudice against John Reyes and the Jesus that John serves. According to Miller's sentence, John would have been better off selling crack cocaine to students before school than proclaiming Jesus.

John spoke eloquently at the steps of the court on August 30, 1999. Surrounded by several Liberty University students, kids from the youth group he ministered to this summer, local pastors, and friends, John shared his resolve to follow Christ no matter the cost. John's pastor, Rev. Richard Knodel, spoke powerfully on John's behalf and held the city of Lynchburg accountable before God for this absurd sentence.

Pray for our brother John. Pray for the repentance of the officials responsible for this travesty of justice. Pray for the kids in E.C. Glass High School who are not allowed to have the lifesaving knowledge of Jesus Christ enter their hallways.