Faith and Action president Rev. Rob Schenck has completed a six-day Southern California speaking tour that included a meeting with long-time supporter and musical icon Pat Boone, a trip deep into the Mojave Desert to view a controversial war memorial and even a Yom Kippur Orthodox Jewish service where he was honored to hold a sacred scroll of Scripture as prayers were chanted.

Rob Spoke about Christians and government to several thousand at three large churches, Calvary Chapel Chino Valley, Calvary Chapel South Bay and Hosanna Christian Fellowship of Bellflower with Pastors David Rosales, Steve Mays and Gary Ansdell, respectively.

“These churches are some of the largest and most dynamic in the country,” said Rob. “They are vibrant, prayerful, highly evangelistic and teaching oriented, so they produce mature, responsible Christians. I’m grateful to God for the warm welcome and sometimes overwhelming response to our mission and message. I pray these will be long-term partnerships in reaching the soul of our American culture.”

Rob began his visit in the Los Angeles area with an afternoon spent at singer Pat Boone’s West Hollywood office. Pat’s been a long-time friend and supporter of Paul and Rob Schenck, dating back to the very launch of their ministry in 1983. Since then, Pat has supported Paul and Rob in all their work, including Faith and Action.

“Pat is a precious brother in Christ and exhibits an extraordinary humility for the success he’s enjoyed in so many fields, beginning with his musical fame. Pat is a part of American pop culture and defines more than one era, yet it hasn’t at all gone to his head. He cares deeply about people and about our country and its spiritual and moral well-being. He’s recently released a first-of-its-kind compilation of patriotic songs we’ll soon make available to our Faith and Action family. I always enjoy my time with him.”

Pat Boone and Rob Schenck (L-R) in Beverly Hills, CA

Rob was also driven out to the expansive Mojave Desert Preserve, a nearly eight-hour round trip, to view a simple cross erected in 1934 by veterans of World War I who years previous had recovered at medical installations there. The cross, which is only slightly taller than an average man, is made of ordinary pipe. It is situated along a nearly abandoned road and is so unobtrusive that it is easily missed by the rare passer-by.

“I was combing the landscape looking carefully for the cross,” said Rob. “It was so insignificant I missed it, but my driver said, ‘I saw a small box up in the air back there. Could that be it?” We turned around and it was the cross covered by a plywood box under federal court order.

“It is absurd that the federal courts have spent thousands of tax-payer dollars focusing on getting rid of this unremarkable, humble tribute by our men and women in uniform who simply wanted to honor their fallen fellows. It’s really shameful.”

The Cross will be at the center of a Supreme Court case on Wednesday, October 7. Rob Schenck will be present in the courtroom to monitor oral arguments and study the reactions of the Supreme Court justices. Another long-time Faith and Action supporter and constitutional attorney, Bernie Reese of Rockford, IL, authored a special brief submitted to the High Court in defense of the Cross’s continued existence.

“I wanted to see the Cross for myself because I need to speak first-hand about it,” said Rob, who will this week do a number of national media interviews about the case. “I was really underwhelmed by it. There are certainly much grander displays on public property that incorporate religious symbols, including on the Supreme Court building itself. The ACLU is literally making a mountain out of molehill.”

Watch for Twitter, MySpace and Facebook coverage of the Mojave Desert Cross Case. If you haven’t signed our petition to support the cross, and all such war memorials, do so now, then pass it along to the your family, friends and fellow church members.