Preacher on Campus

The only shocking part of the scene on campus Tuesday was that it's the first time we've seen it at SFA this entire school year. Saint Jesse, as he referred to himself, walked onto campus around noon Tuesday and began drawing a crowd to listen to his message. And what a message it was!


This is not the first, or even the second, time we have encountered preachers like Saint Jesse. Our first taste came when we were only students at Louisiana Tech - Brother Jim was the main man for those campaigns. Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Lamar University in Beaumont, and LSU in Baton Rouge... no matter where the campus, the format is always the same. The giant signs with messages warning of judgment and wrath, the attacking statements/accusations hurled at students and general passersby, and the just-plain-offensive remarks made to anyone who dares resist the message. It's more of a slam-fest than open-air preaching. Students, of course, both love and hate the visits to campus - mostly because they love to hate the preachers!

Tuesday's appearance showed little to no changes in attitude, performance, or method. The message went out bluntly, and rather loudly: "God hates all fornicators, black people, homosexuals!" All this coming from a man who claims the right to make such statements because he no longer sins. The students were irate, yelling in his face, arguing from a sub-par knowledge of Scripture, and, when all of that failed, mocking his message and him personally (he was wearing suspenders that matched his pants exactly... the students had a field day!).

As usual, we started getting texts from our students asking if we'd heard about the crazy guy on campus. We headed to the Rusk Building, located prominently outside the Student Center in the plaza area of campus, to see what was going on. We were met by 4 or 5 of our students, who were clearly upset at what was happening. And, as usual, our role became walking them through an appropriate response and reaction to the scene. Derrick spent quite a while talking with the sign-holding assistant to Saint Jesse to no avail - they would not reveal the name of the church / organization sponsoring them. He only learned they were from Tyler, TX. The talks with the students were much more productive. We watched as their frustration and anger turned to sadness for the students so desperately trying to defend themselves against such hatred. We encouraged them to stay and pray for the students in the crowd and to start up conversations with people on the outskirts.

All in all, his permit ran up at 5pm on Wednesday evening and back to Tyler he went. As upset as many students got, experience has taught us that they will forget their passion and curiosity within a few hours of his departure. But, like we told the students standing in the sun, watching Saint Jesse bring several students to tears and wishing we could do more... "He is only here for two days; we are here all year long!"

God, remind us continually what we are fighting for. Stir our hearts, minds, and hands to do Your work at SFA!

To read one student's response in the Opinion section of today's Pine Log, click here. I warn you, though, it's as ignorant as much of Saint Jesse's message!