Controversial preacher stops at WSU

Is Michael Jackson going to hell?

That question, among other sarcastic quips, was posed by more than 100 onlookers to evangelical Christian preacher Michael Venyah on Wednesday outside the Undergraduate Library.

Venyah, an extension of Soulwinners Ministries International, has visited several college campuses across Michigan in the past month, engaging crowds with a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Soulwinners’ members preach that homosexuality, people of different faiths, and those who engage in premarital sex, masturbation, drug use and swearing will be condemned to hell.

Venyah, cordoned off by cones and Wayne State police, spouted for at least four hours with colorful rhetoric, challenging individual viewpoints, citing Bible verses and engaging the audience with a one-sided serenade of his group’s radical ideology.

“You know nothing about me,” Venyah told a crowd member who challenged his validity.

“You’re not a Christian. You’ve been conditioned by the Devil. That’s why you’re going to hell.”

Wayne State freshmen Samer Ilayan and Mohamed Dabaja were among a handful of the audience who exchanged confrontational messages with Venyah.

“This guy’s outrageous,” Dabaja said. “He’s not saying anything in the right context.”
Briana Snell, a foreign language major, said: “You’re not going to win souls by telling people that they’re going to hell. I’m a Christian, and I don’t believe anything he’s saying.”

This was the third day Venyah spoke on campus. On Monday, he was taken away by WSU police for his own protection.

View video footage from Wednesday's event.

Comments

6 comments

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Boon

Mon Oct 27 2008 20:30

They help make more atheists and help people see what the bible says. He is quoting the book, I had him at my University a few years ago, and looked up his quotes. They were all accurate. And how can a quote stating you need to stone disobedient children to death be taken out of context?

Your name

Fri Oct 24 2008 19:34

It is one thing to spread your message, but after so long you're just harrassing people. I'm sick of walking to class having to hear people yelling and see everyone's stupid message. What about my right to have a decent learning environment? I paid tuition here, not this douche,

Freedom

Fri Oct 24 2008 10:55

We must protect his right to spout nonsense. Freedom of speech is one of the greatest assets this country has. I think comments of the provost were commendable and exactly the way this situation should be handled.

ex-muslim

Thu Oct 23 2008 17:00

mohammed is in hell

blegh

Thu Oct 23 2008 14:11

ridiculous waste of time and life.

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