Members of Christ Teens Picket at Church in Grove!

The Daily Pilot, California

January 16, 1969, North America

Members of the Teens for “Christ in Huntington Beach picketed Garden Grove Community Church Sunday morning, scene of a prior encounter in which the hippie-appearing band was asked to either sit in the pews or move outside.

Dressed in long, flowing clothes, sandals and beads and with hair of both sexes falling over shoulders, about 50 of the church-hopping band paraded in front of the Garden Grove church carrying signs.

About a half-dozen of the group attended the services, but one of the youths said he was refused admittance by an usher who allegedly told him that a tie and coat were needed for church services.

David Berg adviser to the group of religious zealots who operate from the Light Club on Main Street near Coast Highway, said that he had not been happy with the attitude of those who attend the Garden Grove church.

He said that for the past few Sundays his group has been attending services all over West Orange County, many at the invitation of the ministers and congregations and “we have been welcome.

As the teens marched Sunday, Berg said, “one car drove over the curb trying to hit one of the pickets and a man walked up to one of the boys carrying a sign and threatened to harm him.

“The boy dropped down on his knees and began to pray for the man,” said Berg.

Signs included “Jesus Didn’t say to Build Big Buildings” and “Religious Freedom.”

Police units stood by Sunday, but there were no incidents as the youths carried their signs with gospel slogans and verses from the Bible.