( A group picture of some of the Minutemen) Last April, I permitted the Minutemen to be on the campus of Miracle Valley Bible College.  You may have heard of this group, they have been on major news programs literally all over the world.  They are simply a group of ordinary American citizens from every state in the union who are concerned about the borders of our nation and would like to see the activities of illegals, terriorists, drug runners and other illegal activities brought to a halt. Now we did not go into this blindly, instead we investigated and did our research.  We contacted the Cochise County Sheriff's Department and Larry Devers, our Sheriff telephoned me and informed me that he had met with the leadership of the Minutemen Project and in his estimation, they were a very good group of people.  Secondly, we contacted and met with certain officials at the Cochise County Planning & Zoning Department, and in particular with Mr. James Vlahovich, Director and Mrs. Linda Weiland, Assisted Director.  Initially, we were informed that we would have to obtain  a "Temporary Use Permit" from their office should we propose to have the Minutemen on our campus.  As we prepare now for our trial, we discovered Mr. Vlahovich planned to grant us the "Temporary Use Permit," however, since it would only be granted for 7 days, he could notify the Sheriff's Department who could then close us down and evict the people from the campus.   FRIENDS, IT IS A SAD DAY IN AMERICA WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS SCHEMING AND CONIVING HOW THEY  CAN STOP RELIGIOUS MEETINGS AND SPECIAL REVIVAL SERVICES. The "Temporary Use Permit" is granted for only 7 days and can only be obtained once every 90 days.  This applies to any outdoor revival services, such as tent revivals, etc.  We are in the process of taking this matter to court because we plan to conduct tent revivals throughout Cochise County in the near future and 7 days is just not feasible for a gospel tent revival.

(Pictured above are some of the preachers who joined Dr. Harter & Dr. Robinson in their April Revival Campaign for the Minutemen) Our staff had been informed by certain people that the Cochise County Planning Department had stated that in order for the Minutemen to be permitted on the Miracle Valley campus, we would be required to obtain a "Special Use Permit." James Vlahovich, Director of Cochise County Planning Department took notice by a newspaper article that the Minutemen would like to reside on the Miracle Valley campus during the month of April. Being on our campus permitted additional citizens of the United States the opportunity to come to southeast Arizona and participate in their 30-day timeframe where they could monitor our nation's border with Mexico. For whatever reason, Mr. Vlahovich took a position against the college in allowing the Minutemen to come to our campus. He stated to Chris Simcox at a Minutemen meeting held in Tombstone that this "special use permit" would be required of Miracle Valley prior to any arrival of Minutemen. Of course, obtaining this "Special Use Permit" requires a particular timeframe which would be impossible to obtain since April was the month set aside for the Minuteman Project. Dr. Robinson and I met with Mr. Vlahovich and several of his staff members as well as with Bret Hanson, Assisted County Attorney. We were informed that it would be impossible for us to allow the Minutemen to come to our campus. I thought it quite strange that county officials could inform us as to who could or could not come onto our campus. However, a lady had contacted our office and said, "My husband thinks he is going there to participate in the Minuteman Project, but I am praying and believing God that he will find Jesus Christ as his personal Savior while he is there with you." The Lord had already revealed to me that this was a tremendous opportunity to reach people from all over the country with the message of Jesus Christ. So my thoughts was "Why not have a revival at Miracle Valley during the month of April?" At Dr. Robinson and my meeting with Mr. Vlahovich, I brought to their attention that I would like to start a revival and share Jesus Christ with the participates of the Minuteman Project. One would think that Mr. Vlahovich, who I understand claims to be a Christian, would fully support the idea of our sharing Christ with everybody present. However, I knew there had to be something wrong because earlier, back in 2000 before we were granted "grandfather status regarding the Miracle Valley Church," Mr. Vlahovich stated to me that "if I did not stop preaching in the pulpit of the Miracle Valley Church, he would have the Sheriff's Department to arrest me some Sunday morning while preaching." Yes, there is something very wrong here. Mr. Vlahovich proceeded to inform us that our revival would then require our obtaining a "Temporary Use Permit" from his department. The "Temporary Use Permit" would allow us to have a revival for only 7 days and then we could only obtain it once every 90 days. I could not believe that any government identity could regulate to the Church a time limit for religious meetings such as revival services. I explained to Mr. Vlahovich and his staff that we have conducted in the past and continue to do so, two times per year CAMP MEETINGS.  In addtion, we conduct REVIVALS and CHURCH SEMINARS each year.  During these times, we permit people to reside in our facilities and have done so ever since my arrival at Miracle Valley back in 1999. It was explained to us that what we had done in the past was illegal and should not be continued.  I ask, "ON WHO'S AUTHORITY?"

(Pictured above is Dr. Harter, Rev. Ralph Laws and Mrs. Bonnie Laws) Rev. Ralph Laws, a Church of God (Cleveland, TN) minister who recently retired from the pastoralship of the Church of God in Sierra Vista,  AZ (and who has joined our staff at Miracle Valley ) and I met with Linda Weiland last March 2005. We had gone to the Planning Department to file our application for our "Temporary Use Permit" so we could hold our 7 day revival services and to give them our $30 application fee.  Mrs. Weiland questioned us regarding our attorney and his advise.  I shared with her that he indicated to us that we should complete our application for a "Temporary Use Permit" and give them our $30.  She stated, "Don't you think that is good advise?"  I replied, "Certainly, but that is not only what we were informed.  He also stated that once we have been granted our "Temporary Use Permit" and the Planning Department has cashed our check, we were going to file a lawsuit against their department because we did not believe Cochise County had the right to limit our revival to 7 days." Mrs. Weiland excused herself (as she had done several times before during our meeting) and went to Mr. Vlahovich to inform him of our words.  She returned and stated to us that she was not going to accept our application for a "Temporary Use Permit" nor would their office accept our $30 check.  She stated that it was decided that we could have the Minutemen on our campus.  She continued to inform us that we could house them in our buildings and RV Park.  She only requested that we try to keep the number of tents to a minimum, and if necessary, we should place them in the back of the property.  She said they would only respond should they get a complaint regarding the tents.  I remembered I responded and replied to Mrs. Weiland, "Now you are not going to come out and do a 'witch hunt' are you?"  We all laughed and she responded, "Go back to Miracle Valley and have your minutemen!" Brother Laws and I walked out of the Planning Department praising and thanking the Lord for working everything out for us. Once we arrived at Miracle Valley, I contacted certain people of the Minutemen Project and informed them that we were given the "green light from the Planning Department and that we could proceed to have them as our guest at Miracle Valley.  However, I mentioned to them that I would like to conduct special revival services for anyone who would like to attend these special services.    The strangest thing occured the next day or so.  We were totally taken in and surprised by what we received from the Planning Department.  We received a letter from Mrs. Weiland.  In her letter she stated that she wanted to go over the contents of our previous meeting.  Her letter related to nothing of the conclusion of our meeting.  In fact, she took the opposite position against us and made it very clear that we were not permitted to have the  Minutemen on our campus. Our attorney explained it that even though we were given permission, and if that permission was not in compliance with County Regulations, then the permission given by Mrs. Weiland was not permitted.  The result of which, our meeting was in vain.  Dr. Harter and Rev. Laws believe that this was nothing more than a ploy to get them out of their office, and thereby, giving James Vlahovich and Linda Weiland additional time to come up with something else that they could use to try to stop Miracle Valley.

(Pictured above is Sister Harter with a Minuteman Woman who heard about Jesus Christ)  Having received Mrs. Weiland's letter, I requested Dr. Dennis Robinson, one of our professors, to go to the Planning Department and submit our application for the "Temporary Use Permit."  He made an appointment with the Planning Department, however, when he arrived at the Cochise County Planning Department, he was met with a full staff of the Planning Department as well as with Mr. Vlahovich. When he attempted to submit our application, he was given a paper with 12-14 questions on it that they requested for him to fill out.  It is unique how additional questions are presented to us when this is not the norm for any one submitting their application for a Temporary Use Permit.  Questions having to do with the number of participates, amount of money to be received, etc.  (We will post the questions for your review shortly.)  Being unable to answer these questions, they telephoned me and put me on their speaker phone.  Then they had Dr. Robinson pose some of these same questions to me.  It was impossible for me or anyone else to answer their questions so quickly.  It would certainly take some time to gather the information they were requesting. During this same telephone conference, I posed the question to Mr. Vlahovich as to whether or not the Minutemen would be able to reside in our facilities should we be granted their Temporary Use Permit?  He immediately answered and said that even if we submitted our application, he would not grant permission for any Minutemen to stay overnight in any of our buildings. Of course, my immediate thought was then, "Why submit any application if he says he is going to deny it anyway?" Dr. Robinson returned to Miracle Valley and brought me their list of questions.   I knew it was in vain to proceed further with Mr. Vlahovich. I have never been in a situation where simply one man ran the whole show and called all the shots.  I realize that as the Director of the Cochise County Planning & Zoning Department that it is the responsiblity of Mr. James Vlahovich to enforce any and all regulations of Cochise County Zoning Rules.  And I certainly respect and honor any government official.  I have written a letter to Mr. Vlahovich stating such to him. However, I do not think it to be Mr. Vlahovich's job to plan how he can devise a plan against Miracle Valley and myself as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   (Please read Mr. Vlahovich's memos that he sends to his staff.  After reading them for yourself, I am sure that you will agree with my above statement.)

(Revival Sign inviting everyone to attend Holy Ghost Revival Services) It is difficult to get a fair hearing or trial when someone has their buddies making the decisions. For example, we were initially scheduled to go before the Hearing Officer last June. However, while visiting my doctor for a check-up, I was immediately sent to the hospital by my local doctor. He explained to me that there was a problem with my heart. I was in the hospital for 5 days. The doctor notified Cochise County that it was impossible for me to go before the Hearing Officer at that time. This resulted in the Hearing Officer postponing our hearing until September 15, 2005. Some years ago, we appealed the ruling that a childcare center is not an accessory use of a church. I have never heard of such a thing in any other place in America. When we appealed to the Board of Adjustment, one of the individuals serving on this particular board who was hearing our case was an individual by the name of John (Jack) Chapman. John (Jack) Chapman was on the Palominas Volunteer Fire Department Board and which its Fire Chief, James Leiendecker expressed total opposition to Miracle Valley earlier in written form to the Cochise County Planning Zoning Department. When our attorney realized that the same individual was to serve on the Board of Adjustment of which we were to go before, he immediately requested that John (Jack) Chapman excuse himself. However, John (Jack) Chapman informed our attorney to "sit down, you are out of order." Now let me explain the Board of Adjustment to you. We filed in a timely manner to go before the Board of Adjustment in May and should have met with the board in June. However, the Planning Zoning Department had the meeting postponed until July and when our time came to go before the board in July, the Planning Zoning Department again had it postpone to August. I could see that James Vlahovich was going to proceed to postpone each month and only after I contacted our County Supervisor and informed him that we had filed in a timely manner, and therefore, it was improper for the Planning Department to continue their postponements that it was decided that we would go before the Board of Adjustment in August. At the Board of Adjustment meeting, there were initial problems regarding the meeting place, and only after we offered our cafeteria at Miracle Valley did the Planning Department prepare a room for us. There were to be 3 members to the Board of Adjustment. However, only 2 were present and since it was a majority, the meeting would continue. Being there for a long time, we had over 50 people, some who were Catholics and others who were Methodists stand along side with us. Our case related strictly to "a childcare center being an accessory use to a church."  However, Planning & Zoning added the issues of a Bible College and a Church being allowed at Miracle Valley.  Even though John MacKinnon, Assisted County Attorney at the time, withdrew Bible College since we did not want to deal with it at this meeting, but had planned to prepare our case for it in the near future.  This resulted in our believing that the Planning & Zoning department dropped their case against us as it related to the Bible College.  However, we later discovered that they believed they won their case with the Bible College against Miracle Valley. Ed Cottingham, a member of the Board of Adjustment, made a motion in our favor, however, John (Jack) Chapman would not second Ed's motion, therefore, our appeal failed since there was no second on the motion. What John (Jack) Chapman did was to deny Miracle Valley the right to have a local Church.  Miracle Valley now must file for a "Special Use Permit" and request the community and Planning Board for permission to have a local church.  Immediately following the Board of Adjustment meeting, James Vlahovich share with Dr. Harter that if he (Dr. Harter) did not stop preaching in his pulpit in the Miracle Valley Church building every Sunday morning, he (that is, James Vlahovich) would have the Sheriff's Department to arrest Dr. Harter.  Do you know what is scary about this entire situation?  These things are happening in AMERICA!  And if these things are occuring, then what will happen to us as we proceed into the future?  Somehow, God's people must make a stand. However, James Vlahovich and John MacKinnon must have known there would be big problems with the Church issue, so the Planning & Zoning Department sent a letter to Miracle Valley a few days after the Board of Adjustment meeting stating that the Zoning Inspector (who is, by the way, James Vlahovich) has changed his mind and now permits a local Church to be at Miracle Valley.  Can you believe that? Now we go before the Hearing Officer in August and we could be fined up to $750 per day if we are found guilty of allowing the Minutemen to be at Miracle Valley without obtaining a permit of "Overnight Guest Accomodations" from Cochise County Planning Department. And you will never guess who that Hearing Officer is?  Yes, you guessed it- John (Jack) Chapman. The same man who refused to second Ed's motion at the Board of Adjustment Meeting and who had served on the Palominas Volunteer Fire Department Board who officially took a stand against Miracle Valley to the Planning Department. Our attorney has filed for a request for John (Jack) Chapman to excuse himself and allow another to serve as a Hearing Officer in our case. Any decent and up-right person would certainly excuse themself because that is the only proper thing to do. Remember, John (Jack) Chapman is the same person who informed our attorney to sit down, he is out of order at the Board of Adjusment Meeting. Do you actually believe that we will receive a fair hearing with John (Jack) Chapman serving as the Hearing Officer?  NOT SO! You would think that John (Jack) Chapman would excuse himself, especially since we feel the way we do about the situation. And, what is wrong with someone else serving in this capacity for our case? I tell you that our going before John (Jack) Chapman of the Board of Adjustment was a planned setup against Miracle Valley, and our going before John (Jack) Chapman as the Hearing Officer is again nothing more than an organized setup against Miracle Valley. Our attorney informed us that regardless of the situation, we will no doubt lose our case with the Hearing Officer simply because it is John (Jack) Chapman.  Nevertheless, we are trusting in God to make the way for us. Will you join us with your prayers? Everyone deserves a fair hearing and a fair trial, especially in America.

(Sharing Christ over a cup of coffee in the Cafeteria at Miracle Valley) Because we charged a $50 Registration Fee, a $5 per night and charged for meals and food in our cafeteria (as do many churches [read Charisma Magazine] throughout America), James Vlahovich ( Director of Cochise County Planning & Zoning Department) has now changed his charged against Miracle Valley with not having a permit from Cochise County for "Overnight Guest Accomodations." James Vlahovich does not believe we should have charged any fees.  However, it cost money to fill 1,000 gallon propane tank several times, and electric bills as well as paying for help to get our facilities and grounds in order.  As some think, the church should receive nothing.  However, the same propane company and electric company as well as finance company charge the church with the same rate and fees as every body else must pay. Calculate for yourself as to how much money Miracle Valley made when someone pays a one-time Registration Fee of $50 and $5 per night to stay up to 30 days at Miracle Valley.  Any business person knows you cannot operate and make any profit with these rates.  We charged these low fees so those who did not have adequate funds could still participate in the Minuteman Project, and thereby, allowing Miracle Valley the wonderful opportunity to evangelize these individuals.  In addition, we needed to have our expenses covered because we certainly do not have the funds to pay for such costs.  I don't know what he is going to do with family reunions who gather together and sometimes stay "overnight" and charge each family member for food costs, etc.  If Mr. Vlahovich does not charge them for not obtaining a "Overnight Guest Accomodations" would certainly be discrimination against Miracle Valley. We have guests who visit with us at Miracle Valley who spend the night with us.   We have guests attending our Camp Meetings and Revivals who pay a small fee for accomodations, yet we have never had to be charged with violations for "Overnight Guest Accomodations" in the past. I certainly believe James Vlahovich has taken his position against Miracle Valley because the Minutemen were not welcome in southeast Arizona.  Why else did he not charge us with providing Camp Meeting and Bible College accomodations, etc.? There is a lot of money being passed along by assisting illegals coming into the United States, and there is a lot of drug traffic in the general area.  No doubt, there is someone(s) who is certainly being compensated for looking the other direction.  Who knows exactly who is coming across our borders in the USA?  It is certainly an easy way to gain entrance into our nation, including terrorist who wish to do our people harm. I am not saying that any person I know is engaged in such illegal activities, but I will say that I have seen more of this type of thing than anywhere else in the USA.  For example, on three separate occasions, I have witness what looked like illegals having backpacks and unloading small white bags of powder (drugs) into the trunk of a car in our cemetery.  I do not understand how that I can view such activities, yet others seem to take no notice of such.  - Dr. Melvin Harter  July 8, 2005