Thursday, November 05, 2009

Evangelists stir up controversy among students

Students have returned to the plaza today to confront the preacher who caused a stir over the past two days by barking condemnations at all who would listen. Yesterday, students chose to return the favor.

But according to the PinPoint Evangelism calendar, the preacher is not scheduled to return today. Monday, he moves on the the University of Sinsinnati for more of the same.

Wanna Catch the Show?
UC: Nov 9 & 10
Morehead: Nov 18
Western: January 2
Middle Tenn: Jan 4
Murray: Mar 2 &3
Spring Break in Daytona Beach Mar 7 - 13
Austin Peay: Apr 4
UofL: Mar 23
UK: Mar 25
Campbellsville: Mar 30
Tenn Tech: Apr 1
Indiana SE: Apr 13
Morehead: Apr 15
UT: Apr 20 & 21

A return trip to EKU is planned but not yet confirmed for Apr 6 & 7.

This from Traviss Witt & Meg Wilson at the Eastern Progress, Photo by Wilson:

Three traveling evangelists from southern Kentucky attracted attention from Eastern students in Powell Plaza on Tuesday. The group preached for several hours, telling them they would be spending eternity in Hell.

"Brother Tracy" began shouting his arguments as students raised questions and expressed disagreement with his beliefs. The evangels' main targets were those practicing other faiths, those having pre-marital sex and the LGBT community.

Several students brought posters and megaphones as a counter-protest, which read "If I'm going to Hell, I will see you there," and "Separation of church and hate."

The situation grew more tense when Lateisha Ousley, a broadcast news major from Lexington, grabbed a Bible and began loudly refuting what the preachers were saying. One of the evangels stuck out his hand, motioning her to stop, saying, "you are a woman, you can't teach a man."

Most students at the gathering said they were confused or offended by the Pinpoint Evangelism team. "He's saying only God can judge, but he's judging everyone," sophomore William Leslie said.

Others said they thought the situation could be a good discussion starter for others wishing to talk about their religions."It isn't that what they're doing is a bad thing," junior Eric Philbeck said. "It isn't that they're doing a bad thing. Anytime you can get people to discuss religion it's a good thing. The way they're going about doing it is the bad part."

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