Post by Jesse Morrell on Oct 25, 2006 22:14:07 GMT -5
Texas Tech Papers:
'Open Air' evangelist tells about struggles
Naomi Kaskela
Everyone has a bad day, including traveling evangelist Jesse Morrell of Open Air Outreach. Morrell, however, uses his bad days and past decisions to reach out to students on college campuses across the country instead of giving up.
Morrell said he became a Christian five years ago after a difficult period in his life. Beginning in his teens, he said he sold drugs, frequently got in fights and went to jail several times.
The scar on his neck is proof of that time in his life.
Today, Morrell said he faces being hit with college textbooks, getting yelled at and being kicked and punched while he preaches to students.
"Everyone needs to be encouraged sometimes," he said. "Constantly being in an atmosphere of opposition, I get discouraged sometimes."
Morrell said his personal transformation occurred after a preacher came to the jail he was in to speak to the inmates. He said the preacher used blunt terms to get his point across.
"I came under the conviction by the spirit of God that I did deserve Hell," he said. "We do talk about Hell, and we do talk about sin, and we do talk about Jesus."
Sometimes the message, or at least the method used to get the message across, is not popular among some students.
Morrell said his past experiences help him deal with the negativity.
"I've learned how to work with the police," he said. "I was very hot-headed when I first started. Now, through experience, I have learned to negotiate with them."
However, this does not mean he has been free from conflict. Several times while preaching he has been arrested or at least fined.
When he is arrested on public areas for trespassing or disturbing the peace, as has happened before, he said he goes to court.
"In a general case, we win our cases, and we file a lawsuit," he said. "It's not a way to gain money but a way to gain freedoms."
Recently married, Morrell said he will begin traveling with his wife in an RV to continue preaching. His wife may help him in certain situations, he said.
"Sometimes the crowd won't be as harsh when they hear a woman's voice," he said. "She's certainly not as abrasive or shocking as we are when we preach."
Morrell's journey to preaching on college campuses may have started about five years ago, but first he went directly to the streets.
The first listeners to his message were the small crowds that formed at parks, bus stops and other locations he chose as his platform.
Preaching on the streets was not as enjoyable as preaching on college campuses, he said.
"People say once you start preaching on campuses, you'll never return to the streets," he said.
In Morrell's case, this is not entirely true.
While he said he enjoys the large, educated crowds he speaks with on a campus, he will not completely rule out other places.
"I'll preach anywhere there are people," he said.
Morrell said his profession takes up most of his time, but he still is able to enjoy other things.
The organization likes to be at a different college campus for five days a week, but in between he said enjoys reading and writing.
He was handing out excerpts from one of his books, "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing," on the Texas Tech campus Monday.
He said he is not college educated and neither are any of the other members of the organization, but organization members realize the importance of education.
"We all strongly believe in education," he said, "but after seeing the way some students act, sometimes I don't think I'd like to go to their school."
A question raised by several students watching Morrell preach concerned sin, especially regarding Morrell's morals.
"We're not free from sin because we do this," he said. "We're free because Jesus Christ has set us free."
But, he said he believes Open Air Outreach members are better in some ways than other people.
"We're not any better in our intrinsic value," he said. "But in all honesty, Christians ought to live better than non-Christians."
He said he does not believe they are false preachers as they have been called before.
As the founder of Open Air Outreach and one of the active members, Morrell said hopefully the future of the organization will be expansion.
He said one day he hopes to have a whole parking lot of RVs with a preacher in each, ready to travel to a campus in America.
To reach this goal, Morrell said he will not be approaching people himself to join the organization.
"I don't approach anyone," he said. "They (the current preachers) felt the Lord lead them to it."
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'Outreach' leaves some students sore
Naomi Kaskela
Founder of the Open Air Outreach Ministry, Jesse Morrell, preaches to students in the "free speech zone" Monday.
Students walking around the "free speech zone" on Monday were greeted by the five members of Open Air Outreach, an organization that travels around the country preaching on college campuses.
The organization, based out of Tyler, visited the Texas Tech campus last year when focus was first placed on college students. Originally, the founder of the Open Air Outreach, Jesse Morrell, said he preached in parks, bus stops and similar locations.
"It is kind of the last stand for the next generation," said Jeffrey Olver, another member of the organization. "The students who have genuinely listened, they tell us that the preaching has done some good."
Not everyone in the crowd was impressed by the message or the method by which the message was delivered.
"He (Morrell) needs to talk about Jesus in love, not about condemnation," said Whitney Harrington, a senior sociology major from Kermit.
Harrington said she heard people saying if Morrell's message is what Christianity is about, they do not want to be a part of it because of the constant judgment.
Brandon Lynn Smith, a junior history major from Petersburg, agreed with Harrington's observation about the method used by Open Air Outreach.
"I think that he is totally dead wrong in the way he is presenting whatever point he is trying to make," Smith said. "Everyone around here is just trying to prove the error of his ways."
Olver said he realizes some people are upset by the methods he uses to get the point across, but it is for the students benefit.
"Sometimes people get angry at the fact that people have the audacity to tell them they are wrong," he said. "Jesus said we're supposed to draw attention to him."
The organization, which plans to stay on campus the whole week, plans to continue reaching out to students through open discussion and more personal methods, he said.
The discussion method on Monday led to students arguing, discussing and cheering in the free speech zone, coupled with other reactions.
According to the Open Air Outreach Web site, "America has churches on what seems like every corner, and yet those who need to hear the gospel the most often hear it the least. We are here to take the gospel to where it belongs."
The Tech campus, along with other campuses, really need to hear the organization's message, Olver said.
"Many students feel they have the opportunity to take advantage of the liberty they now have," he said. "They kind of go nuts."
Olver said the organization tries to spread the love of Jesus Christ and tries to reach every student.
Compared to some other college campuses, Tech is one of the more sinful because of hypocrisy, said Morrell.
"The reason there is so much fornication on this campus is because there are lots of fornicators," he said. "The reason there is so much drunkenness on this campus is because there are lots of drunks."
Morrell said he would prefer to preach up North on campuses where there are pagans and people of other religions, rather than in the Bible Belt where people are hypocrites.
He also said he does not expect his message, or himself personally, to be received well.
"As a servant of my master, I don't expect to be treated better than my master," he said. "If I could say one thing to this campus, it would be stop sinning and trust in Jesus."
Scott Smith, a senior biology major from Grapevine, said even if what they are saying may have some truth in it, the methods of Open Air Outreach are definitely not right.
"In my experience, it doesn't really do good to have a big, loud conversation," he said. "I don't think this is the most effective way to reach people."
He said he agrees there is hypocrisy on the campus, but that hypocrisy is no worse than other wrongdoings.
"They've come in with a set of ideas, and I think they'll leave with those ideas," he said.
Some students expressed their surprise and happiness that such free speech was happening on campus.
"I'm glad that people are allowed to express themselves, but at the same time this argument helps me realize how religious, how spiritual, Texas Tech students can be," said Tejas Ozarkar, a sophomore finance major from Plano.
Majid Mujahid, a sophomore biology major from Midland, said free speech being practiced is a good thing, but expressed concerns that it could get out of hand.
"At the same time, discussions like these can show how ignorant people can be about other religions and their own religions," Ozarkar said. "The lack of acceptance is very vibrant here today. Pretty much everybody has not changed their minds."
Both Ozarkar and Mujahid said they liked that the event was occurring, but felt it could be presented in a manner making it more compatible for discussion.
J.R. Cochran, a junior history major from Lubbock, said he did not agree with the methods of either the preachers or those in the crowd.
"Part of the reason people get so hostile and so disenchanted with the message is because Christians end up arguing with each other," he said. "It is done in a way that is hostile and abrasive and seems to lack love, but parts are true."
Cochran said he saw the positive and negative sides of the presence of Open Air Outreach. He said he is not happy that it takes something Christians really do not like to get them vocal about their religion, and that the organization was fulfilling the role of causing people to react.
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'Open Air' evangelist tells about struggles
Naomi Kaskela
Everyone has a bad day, including traveling evangelist Jesse Morrell of Open Air Outreach. Morrell, however, uses his bad days and past decisions to reach out to students on college campuses across the country instead of giving up.
Morrell said he became a Christian five years ago after a difficult period in his life. Beginning in his teens, he said he sold drugs, frequently got in fights and went to jail several times.
The scar on his neck is proof of that time in his life.
Today, Morrell said he faces being hit with college textbooks, getting yelled at and being kicked and punched while he preaches to students.
"Everyone needs to be encouraged sometimes," he said. "Constantly being in an atmosphere of opposition, I get discouraged sometimes."
Morrell said his personal transformation occurred after a preacher came to the jail he was in to speak to the inmates. He said the preacher used blunt terms to get his point across.
"I came under the conviction by the spirit of God that I did deserve Hell," he said. "We do talk about Hell, and we do talk about sin, and we do talk about Jesus."
Sometimes the message, or at least the method used to get the message across, is not popular among some students.
Morrell said his past experiences help him deal with the negativity.
"I've learned how to work with the police," he said. "I was very hot-headed when I first started. Now, through experience, I have learned to negotiate with them."
However, this does not mean he has been free from conflict. Several times while preaching he has been arrested or at least fined.
When he is arrested on public areas for trespassing or disturbing the peace, as has happened before, he said he goes to court.
"In a general case, we win our cases, and we file a lawsuit," he said. "It's not a way to gain money but a way to gain freedoms."
Recently married, Morrell said he will begin traveling with his wife in an RV to continue preaching. His wife may help him in certain situations, he said.
"Sometimes the crowd won't be as harsh when they hear a woman's voice," he said. "She's certainly not as abrasive or shocking as we are when we preach."
Morrell's journey to preaching on college campuses may have started about five years ago, but first he went directly to the streets.
The first listeners to his message were the small crowds that formed at parks, bus stops and other locations he chose as his platform.
Preaching on the streets was not as enjoyable as preaching on college campuses, he said.
"People say once you start preaching on campuses, you'll never return to the streets," he said.
In Morrell's case, this is not entirely true.
While he said he enjoys the large, educated crowds he speaks with on a campus, he will not completely rule out other places.
"I'll preach anywhere there are people," he said.
Morrell said his profession takes up most of his time, but he still is able to enjoy other things.
The organization likes to be at a different college campus for five days a week, but in between he said enjoys reading and writing.
He was handing out excerpts from one of his books, "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing," on the Texas Tech campus Monday.
He said he is not college educated and neither are any of the other members of the organization, but organization members realize the importance of education.
"We all strongly believe in education," he said, "but after seeing the way some students act, sometimes I don't think I'd like to go to their school."
A question raised by several students watching Morrell preach concerned sin, especially regarding Morrell's morals.
"We're not free from sin because we do this," he said. "We're free because Jesus Christ has set us free."
But, he said he believes Open Air Outreach members are better in some ways than other people.
"We're not any better in our intrinsic value," he said. "But in all honesty, Christians ought to live better than non-Christians."
He said he does not believe they are false preachers as they have been called before.
As the founder of Open Air Outreach and one of the active members, Morrell said hopefully the future of the organization will be expansion.
He said one day he hopes to have a whole parking lot of RVs with a preacher in each, ready to travel to a campus in America.
To reach this goal, Morrell said he will not be approaching people himself to join the organization.
"I don't approach anyone," he said. "They (the current preachers) felt the Lord lead them to it."
--------------------------------------------------
'Outreach' leaves some students sore
Naomi Kaskela
Founder of the Open Air Outreach Ministry, Jesse Morrell, preaches to students in the "free speech zone" Monday.
Students walking around the "free speech zone" on Monday were greeted by the five members of Open Air Outreach, an organization that travels around the country preaching on college campuses.
The organization, based out of Tyler, visited the Texas Tech campus last year when focus was first placed on college students. Originally, the founder of the Open Air Outreach, Jesse Morrell, said he preached in parks, bus stops and similar locations.
"It is kind of the last stand for the next generation," said Jeffrey Olver, another member of the organization. "The students who have genuinely listened, they tell us that the preaching has done some good."
Not everyone in the crowd was impressed by the message or the method by which the message was delivered.
"He (Morrell) needs to talk about Jesus in love, not about condemnation," said Whitney Harrington, a senior sociology major from Kermit.
Harrington said she heard people saying if Morrell's message is what Christianity is about, they do not want to be a part of it because of the constant judgment.
Brandon Lynn Smith, a junior history major from Petersburg, agreed with Harrington's observation about the method used by Open Air Outreach.
"I think that he is totally dead wrong in the way he is presenting whatever point he is trying to make," Smith said. "Everyone around here is just trying to prove the error of his ways."
Olver said he realizes some people are upset by the methods he uses to get the point across, but it is for the students benefit.
"Sometimes people get angry at the fact that people have the audacity to tell them they are wrong," he said. "Jesus said we're supposed to draw attention to him."
The organization, which plans to stay on campus the whole week, plans to continue reaching out to students through open discussion and more personal methods, he said.
The discussion method on Monday led to students arguing, discussing and cheering in the free speech zone, coupled with other reactions.
According to the Open Air Outreach Web site, "America has churches on what seems like every corner, and yet those who need to hear the gospel the most often hear it the least. We are here to take the gospel to where it belongs."
The Tech campus, along with other campuses, really need to hear the organization's message, Olver said.
"Many students feel they have the opportunity to take advantage of the liberty they now have," he said. "They kind of go nuts."
Olver said the organization tries to spread the love of Jesus Christ and tries to reach every student.
Compared to some other college campuses, Tech is one of the more sinful because of hypocrisy, said Morrell.
"The reason there is so much fornication on this campus is because there are lots of fornicators," he said. "The reason there is so much drunkenness on this campus is because there are lots of drunks."
Morrell said he would prefer to preach up North on campuses where there are pagans and people of other religions, rather than in the Bible Belt where people are hypocrites.
He also said he does not expect his message, or himself personally, to be received well.
"As a servant of my master, I don't expect to be treated better than my master," he said. "If I could say one thing to this campus, it would be stop sinning and trust in Jesus."
Scott Smith, a senior biology major from Grapevine, said even if what they are saying may have some truth in it, the methods of Open Air Outreach are definitely not right.
"In my experience, it doesn't really do good to have a big, loud conversation," he said. "I don't think this is the most effective way to reach people."
He said he agrees there is hypocrisy on the campus, but that hypocrisy is no worse than other wrongdoings.
"They've come in with a set of ideas, and I think they'll leave with those ideas," he said.
Some students expressed their surprise and happiness that such free speech was happening on campus.
"I'm glad that people are allowed to express themselves, but at the same time this argument helps me realize how religious, how spiritual, Texas Tech students can be," said Tejas Ozarkar, a sophomore finance major from Plano.
Majid Mujahid, a sophomore biology major from Midland, said free speech being practiced is a good thing, but expressed concerns that it could get out of hand.
"At the same time, discussions like these can show how ignorant people can be about other religions and their own religions," Ozarkar said. "The lack of acceptance is very vibrant here today. Pretty much everybody has not changed their minds."
Both Ozarkar and Mujahid said they liked that the event was occurring, but felt it could be presented in a manner making it more compatible for discussion.
J.R. Cochran, a junior history major from Lubbock, said he did not agree with the methods of either the preachers or those in the crowd.
"Part of the reason people get so hostile and so disenchanted with the message is because Christians end up arguing with each other," he said. "It is done in a way that is hostile and abrasive and seems to lack love, but parts are true."
Cochran said he saw the positive and negative sides of the presence of Open Air Outreach. He said he is not happy that it takes something Christians really do not like to get them vocal about their religion, and that the organization was fulfilling the role of causing people to react.
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