The man stood on a bench in Scott Plaza yelling at anyone that passed by, screaming out that everyone was a sinner, and was going to hell. The man had a banner with him that had different scripture written on it about hell, and the need to repent.

It’s alleged that the man is with the organization called the Official Street Preachers. The organization has its own website, www.officialstreetpreachers.com.

According to some of the student ministries on campus, people from this organization and others like it have come out to ULM almost every year.

A similar organization, Consuming Fire Ministries, visited Louisiana Tech University during the beginning of the same week.

Todd Strain, Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) Director, said “I’ve seen them at every campus I’ve been at.” Strain has served at McNeese State and Georgia Southern before coming to ULM.

“At McNeese, when they would come out we’d put up our sign John 3:17, and just ignored him,” said Strain.

John 3:17 states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Many students were disturbed by the man’s accusations. It has been reported that he called a girl a whore because she wore pants.

Some students decided to take action, and made their own sign in response.

Rachel Jolly, a junior Pre-professional Health Studies major from Jonesville, LA, made a sign out of plywood that had the scripture 1 Corinthians 9:19 that says, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”

The verse 1 Corinthians 9:19 expresses how Christians are to be everything to all people to share the good news (freedom from sin), not cast out judgment as the man had done.

“I didn’t want people to see us [Christians] as Bible thumpers. This isn’t what Christianity is about. He undoes everything we try to do as Christians. He gives us a bad label,” said Jolly.

“Neither Jesus nor the prophets ever tried to convict people of their sin in this manner,” said Strain.

Jolly had a group of friends with her, and peacefully stood approximately 25 yards away from the man.

“Students would come by asking questions, and we’d tell them that the man was not correct about sin and salvation. We probably talked to at least 30 students,” said Jolly.

Jay Weimar, a junior History major from Shreveport tried to talk to the man for a very long time.

“When asked if he had sinned within the past week, he would dodge the question,” said Weimar.

Any one can contact the Official Street Preachers by contacting Ruben Israel at [email protected]