U.S. bans book sales by missionary

The U.S. government proclaims on its visa information website that America is a "free and open society" and citizens from around the world are "welcome" to conduct business and work temporarily.

But there are exceptions -- such as Christian missionaries selling books.

At least that is what South African author Charl Van Wyk, who wrote the immensely popular "Shooting Back" book about his response to an attack by Muslim terrorists on a Christian church, discovered.

Van Wyk, who is planning to speak at WND's News Expo 2007 in Washington, D.C., May 11-12, received that news when he recently went to a consular office in South Africa not to deal with his own 10-year visa to the United States, but to get one for his wife, who was planning to accompany him.

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As a missionary to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, he's made numerous trips, without incident, to the U.S. to meet with fellow Christians and apprise them of the work being done to spread the word of Christ.

On recent trips he has promoted his book, which originally was published in South Africa but now has been published in the United States by WND Books, which has published dozens of titles in recent years, including bestsellers by Michael Savage, Wayne LaPierre, Joseph Farah, Jayna Davis and David Kupelian.

During an intense grilling about his income, because the U.S. apparently doesn't want people coming across its borders who may like the nation's affluence and want to stay illegally, he told consular officials he preaches about his Christian ministry and sometimes sells his book.

That, the consular office said, could mean that Van Wyk's own visa may have to be canceled, because that isn't allowed.

Officials with both the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. State Department in Washington told WND that they couldn't comment on a specific situation to a third party, but speaking generally, the rules that allow travelers to visit the United States for a variety of reasons, including personal travel as well as business, don't allow a visitor to actually "sell" anything.

"Promotion," on the other hand, is fine, they said, opening up the door to a vast array of quirkiness in the nation's visa requirements.

For example, visa rules allow foreign visitors to the United States to negotiate contracts, consult with business associates, be involved in litigation, participate in conventions, but not sell a book.

Consular spokesman Steve Royster told WND from his Washington office that speaking in generalities, there are special provisions within the U.S. visa law that may apply for someone wanting to do business, but even those generally forbid any transaction that results in an immediately "payment" to the person. Guidelines, for example, allow a foreign tailor to take measurements in the U.S. for suits produced overseas, but not even for a visitor to "help out" at a concession stand run by a friend or family member.

"Additionally, religious workers … with employment related to their religious work" are handled under a separate provision that forbids such visitors from selling any "articles." That provision, he said, actually was added to make it easier for religious workers to enter the United States.

"There are many different classifications," he said. "A standard tourist visa may not be appropriate."

The government's website said under the classification for religious workers, the person must have certain educational minimums, be employed "in a traditional religious function" and must have "a calling to religious life evidenced by the demonstration of commitment practiced in the religious denomination."

Van Wyk told WND his interview was advancing without complication until he mentioned the word "missionary."

"I was cross questioned about where I get funds from, seeing that I don't earn a salary. When I explained that I preach in churches and sell my book, the officer told me that he was sorry, but he needed to revoke my 10-year U.S. visa because what I was doing was not allowed," he wrote.

"We were thankful that he was a sincere man, who was open to listen to our reasoning as to why we should be allowed to travel to the U.S. and he finally did issue a visa for Sonja and did not revoke mine. The Lord was gracious to our prayers," he said.

The document cited by the consular worker states missionaries may enter the United States "for the sole purpose of performing missionary work on behalf of a denomination, so long as the work does not involve the selling of articles or the solicitation or acceptance of donations and provided the minister will receive no salary or remuneration from U.S. sources other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses."

The section defines "missionary work" as "religious instruction, aid to the elderly or needy, proselytizing, etc."

No "work" is allowed at all under an ordinary visitor's visa at all.

"The official told me that I've been recorded on their computer system as one who has been accepting funds in the U.S. and that I've now been warned that this practice is not allowed," Van Wyk continued.

A State Department employee who identified herself as "Barbara" told WND that "actually if you're getting money for something while you're here on a tourist visa, you cannot do that." She said an alternative visa might be needed, and if there are problems, a lengthy re-application procedure must be followed.

Besides speaking at News Expo 2007, Van Wyk was planning to preach in various churches and visit his personal financial and prayer supporters as well as those who support his Christian ministry.

"I was planning to raise awareness of a project our mission has, to buy bicycles for Congolese pastors in Central Africa, who have suffered with no transport in the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pastors in the DRC have been buried alive and evangelists cut in pieces by rebel forces… This project will have to be set aside for this visit."

"I must admit that I was shocked when the U.S. Consulate official told me about the limits placed on missionaries visiting the U.S. The U.S.A. has been the single greatest supporter of world missions and that not due to government decree, but by the free will offering of its uniquely generous Christians and churches," he said.

"I had no idea that what I have done in previous visits, i.e., accepting financial gifts from individuals and churches or selling my book, was not allowed. I am thankful that the U.S. Consulate official with whom I dealt was kind enough to warn me and not revoke my visa," he said.

He said it would be unfair for him to change plans about attending various meetings in the United States now, because of commitments organizers have made for the arrangements, "but I have to seriously consider the viability of any future travel plans. Not being able to sell one's own book, published by a U.S. publisher, when visiting there, is quite a challenge."

Secular foreign authors routinely conduct U.S tours to promote and sell their books, although the State Department and Homeland Security were unable to talk about specific individuals or say what classification of visa they were using.

News reports recently cited the decision by "celebrated Canadian author Rohinton Mistry" to cancel part of his ongoing U.S. book tour because of "racial profiling" at U.S. airports.

In its advisories to consular workers, the State Department notes that, "Obviously there is a considerable 'gray area' in between what definitely is allowed and what definitely isn't. It is advisable to err on the side of caution when bringing overseas persons into the U.S.A. on business visitor visas."

Van Wyk's book describes the July 25, 1993, attack at St. James Church, when members of the Communist Azanian Peoples Liberation Army, reportedly assembled with recruits from a Muslim community and the Islamic fundamentalist group Qibla, using automatic weapons attacked the Christian congregation during a worship service.

"Grenades were exploding in flashes of light. Pews shattered under the blasts, sending splinters flying… An automatic assault rifle was being fired and was fast ripping the pews – and whoever, whatever was in its trajectory – to pieces," he wrote.

He did what self-defense required him to do. "Instinctively, I knelt down behind the bench in front of me and pulled out my .38 special snub-nosed revolver, which I always carried with me." His shooting back is credited with driving off the attackers, who already had killed 11 and wounded another 58.

But dozens, perhaps hundreds, of lives were saved because he returned fire. The book analyzes the questions about whether Christians should carry arms, when it is appropriate to defend oneself, and what can be done when such freedoms are "legislated away." It also describes the subsequent reconciliation between the church members and the terrorists.

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