Post by Miles Lewis on Sept 18, 2006 9:00:04 GMT -5
Open Air Outreach Preaches at Mason
John Grimsley
Broadside News Editor
Open Air Reaches Out to Mason
Open Air Outreach Preaches at Mason
Open Air Outreach: Preaching at Campuses Nationwide
419 words
Students stopped to listen and debate with Open Air Outreach, an active preaching organization that has visited George Mason University before, in front of the JC Monday and Tuesday.
Miles Lewis, one of the preachers speaking on behalf of Open Air Outreach, said that they were preaching Christianity.
“Our goal is to preach the gospel as Jesus commanded to his disciples,” he said.
He said that this had been more successful than the last time Open Air Outreach came to Mason’s campus.
“People are a lot more open to the message this time,” Lewis said. He also said that there had been a “great discussion with students [for about four hours].”
Lewis said that many of the things they want to talk about are “hot topics” in the news.
“[We] just like to spark debate,” he said.
Brandon Schwartz was among those who stopped.
“People come here looking to be convinced and that’s what we’re taught to do in college, to think logically,” Schwartz said.
Monica Johnson, another who stopped and listened, said that she found value in the message.
“They’re very smart,” she said. “They know what they’re talking about.”
Schwartz, however, said that he was a bit more skeptical.
“If there were a true religion, it couldn’t be comprehended anyway,” he said.
One of the Open Air Outreach members present at Mason held a billboard which had a list of “People who are wrong,” which included groups like Jews, homosexuals and sorcerers.
A couple walked up to the man holding the sign early Tuesday and said that they had committed sin by having premarital sex and should be included in the list. After a brief discussion, he wrote their names on the billboard.
The members are described on their website, www.openairoutreach.com, as Christian laymen who want to go beyond attending church, aiming to become the church.
Jesse Morrell, founder and president of Open Air Outreach, said that because they want to talk to people who do not believe, they are usually not well received.
“We want to speak to people who don’t agree with us,” he said. “[Therefore] the overall impression will be of hostility and opposition.”
Last semester, they visited 32 campuses with one team of preachers, according to Morrell. Now they have two teams and hope to reach 100 campuses nationwide.
“Finding a campus to preach on is not difficult,” Morrell said.
They have five full-time preachers and an online message board with just under 300 members, according to Morrell.
Did You Know? Open Air Outreach was founded four years ago, according to its president, Jesse Morrell.
Did You Know? There is an “Adventure Journal” on the Open Air Outreach website, www.openairoutreach.com.
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Taken from
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