By Marlon Scott | News Editor
Evangelists from PinPoint Evangelism, Kerrigan Skelly and John McGlone came to the APSU campus Thursday, Sept. 10, loudly delivering their message. Witnesses say the duo began on a hill near the Morgan University Center around 1 p.m. and were later escorted to the campus’ free speech zone between the MUC and the Harvill building.
With bible in hand one member of the duo spoke to a growing crowd and passers by while the other recorded the event.
The two were confronted by several people listening to the loud exclamations but continued to speak for over an hour. Students had mixed reactions to what was being said.
“It’s a little bit nutty,” Adam B., an APSU senior Communications major said. “Probably has no real right to be here. He’s not a student. Free speech and all, I am all for that. But he’s pretty much just infringing on peoples rights, telling people what to do.”
Sarah Gordon, a junior education major said the duo’s speech had some merit.
“He brings good points, if everyone would just let him talk,” Gordon said.
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September 13th, 2009 on 11:42 AM
We appreciate the APSU community and look forward to coming again soon.
I am a bit astounded a communications major from the university has so little discernment concerning communications. We reasoned from the Bible. proclaiming the truths therein. What are we supposed to do? We are Bible believing, Bible obeying Christians. We really believe people will go to a lake of fire forever unless they repent of their sin and trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We really believe Christians are supposed to go into all the world and preach or communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I found Sarah’s comment interesting and true; if everyone would let the speaker talk they wouldn’t have to try and shout over the nonsense a few of the students were doing trying to drown out the gospel of Jesus. We are willing to debate anyone on most any topic anytime they would like. Evolution, other religions, politics, etc are just some of the hot topics we deal with. We look forward to an invitation by any campus group who would care to invite us to speak.
Lastly, I found it very ironic that a public university would suppress the freedom of the public to speak with reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions as outlined by the Supreme Court. As of this writing APSU’s unconstitutional speech policy is not freedom but restraint of liberty. The public, which own the University, are allowed to speak once per semester for 90 minutes only. Ridiculous! The free speech area should be open for freedom of thought, religion, speech, press, at all times during the regular business hours for all citizens of these United States.
God bless you.
John McGlone
Evangelist, Pinpoint Evangelism
September 23rd, 2009 on 6:27 PM
I can not believe the nerve of people. Buddy if you want to preach, do it in a church, where people actually want to listen. Don’t force them to listen to rants and raves when they obviously don’t want to hear it. You think you’re right because you have a bible in your hand. Well then, I request you to be accompanied by a Muslim with a Koran in his hand, a Jew with his Torah in his hand and see how far you get. Because all these different religions, although it’s not proclaimed, view their own religion as fact and everyone else’s as false or tainted. What if none of you are right? All these rants and fanatical gestures actually meaning nothing. I bet you haven’t even considered that and believe by holding a book in your hand written by a MAN hundreds of years ago, that that gives your rhetoric anymore relevance than is found in Greek or Roman mythology. Give us all a break and stay off campus!!!
October 3rd, 2009 on 11:38 PM
This happened last year with a different group. I remember, because the students, myself included, were up in arms, yelling at those who were yelling at us. With one of the highest concentrations of GLBT students in the Regents system, we tend to draw some of the crazy pastors who try to come preach their fundamentalist beliefs. I’m proud of the students who stand up for what they believe and don’t let people like this “pastor” deter them from the life they know they are supposed to lead. As a Christian, I read in the bible that we are not to judge, and that we are to love our neighbor. Coming and yelling at students and telling them that they are going to “burn in a lake of fire” isn’t going to get anyone any closer to the Lord. The Pinpoint Evangelism website makes it sound like the beginnings of a cult. It really upsets me that our university allows such people on campus. We need better security measures to protect us from crazy people such as these. I call on President Hall to protect us from these people who spend their lives traveling to universities to preach their lies. These guys were apparently harmless, but these extremists are so, well, extreme, who knows if one won’t bring a gun or a bomb next time to get their point across? When is the university going to start keeping us safe from these awful people? I hope today is the day.
December 17th, 2009 on 4:24 PM
Eric Patton sounds paranoid. Christians enjoy the same free speech rights they’ve always enjoyed… since our Christian founding fathers protected free speech in the first amendment.
Note to evangelists”
Never back down. Always be bold in preaching the truth… and preaching the One who is the Truth. I commend and applaud you for your service. You will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” one day. Blessings upon you.
February 2nd, 2010 on 6:59 PM
Mr. Thomas,
I am not paranoid. There is no need to personally attack me. God’s blessings to you and yours.
-EAP-
September 10th, 2010 on 10:20 AM
I have no idea if the founding fathers were christian or not, but I do find article 11 of this document very interesting.
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html
April 21st, 2011 on 5:30 AM
Heya just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.