A pair of street preachers has taken up residence across from Baker University Center.
Robert Ephrata held a sign reading “TURN TO JESUS” and yelled at passerby. Nearby, Jerry Mawhorr held smaller signs and spoke with students. The two said they are from a religious group in the Mt. Vernon area.
“We came today to warn you of sin!” Mawhorr shouted.
The two received mixed reception from students. A few stopped to watch, and responses ranged from a female student shouting “God bless you!” as she drove by to a male student retorting, “Quit imposing your beliefs on other people!”
The preachers began outside Baker Center but were told to move because they did not have a permit. An OU police officer later stopped and instructed them to stay on the sidewalk when they had moved across the street.
“You think you’re so free, Ohio? You just saw something that discredits the first amendment!” Ephrata said.
The two shouted confrontationally at students, discrediting noted scientist Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution as well as homosexuality, cigarette smoking, drinking and "premarital touching" which Ephrata said "Risks going to premarital sex, which leads to pregnancy ... and maybe abortion!"
“We like to talk about Darwin! Darwin pointed out survival of the fittest! A homosexual can’t reproduce; it’s a fact!” Ephrata shouted.
In spite of these inflammatory remarks, Ephrata said the message was love.
“We’re desperate people,” he said. “We want people to know about the scripture and God.”
The pair was silent for about 20 minutes as they spoke with a Jeremy King, a leader for Campus Crusade for Christ, apparently about their methods. Ephrata later said groups such as Campus Crusade weren't being aggressive enough in preaching to students.
Ty Komjati, an intern with Campus Crusade, said he disagreed with the preachers' method.
"I think street preachers are way off if they're trying — at least preaching hellfire and brimstone — ... to lead people in faith of Jesus Christ." Komjati said.
Komjati said such confrontational teachings give Christians a bad name by playing into stereotypes that the religion is about being judgmental and "holier than thou."
"I don't think that's the right way to go about it, telling people they're going to hell if they're wearing fraternity and sorority letters or watch Hollywood movies," Komjati said, "I'm pretty sure that's not the way Jesus did ministry. He spoke frankly about sin but he did it with love."
Ephrata said such preaching was the right way to warn loved ones about their fate.
"You sit on a pew every Sunday ... but you do not have conviction! If you love someone, you would tell them of the Lord." Ephrata said.
The two will be on campus most of the day. They also said they hoped to return to campus before the year ends.
Clarification: This article has changed from its original version to identify Jeremy King and more accurately reflect the nature of his conversation with the preachers.
tn336706@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCampus
