"Confrontational Evangelism" at Tampa Mosque
The "Official Street Preachers" is led by Los Angeles-based Ruben Israel Chavez (often just named as "Ruben Israel"), who explains: We started a group called Bible Believers in the eighties with the emphasis on confrontational evangelism and home Bible studies. To date we have well over 40 chapters nationwide of active Christians and Churches under the umbrella of 'Bible Believers' that are a bold witness in their region. So now with this network more places can be covered with preachers, signs and banners with attorneys watching our free speech rights. I believe in almost every Church there are certain men inside those pews that want to do more than just sit in a service on Sunday, or where a Church might quench them for getting fired up. The Lord is having us meet these men, as God is stirring the pot in these dark days when much of the Church is keeping their faith personal and private. According to a 2006 press release (link added): Ruben Israel Chavez has street-preached at Universities from Harvard to Berkley; for 22 straight years, he has preached at Mardi Gras; and, is now working with HBO regarding a Docu-Drama on "Open-air Preaching." The group is particularly obsessed with homosexuality ("homo-sex is a threat to national security"), and in 2007 Chavez and Elsman threatened to sue to be allowed to participate in a gay rights parade with his message. Israel is also Assistant Director of the "Street Preachers' Fellowship". Conservative pundit Glenn Beck gathered some pictures in 2003. Another group connected to the Official Street Preachers is the Tampa-based Biblical Research Center, which is run by a certain Larry Keffer. The site carries many photos of other protests, under headings such as "Preaching at the 17th Annual Sodomite Film Festival at the Tampa Theater"; "Preaching to the Satanists"; "Preaching To The Atheists", and "Preaching to Illegal Aliens and Their Supporters".
In July, Keffer showed up in Norway; Mission Network News reports: A trial court in Oslo, Norway has found two Christian missionaries guilty of failing to obey the police, media reports indicate. They face heavy fines but not imprisonment. Following his arrest, Keffer was represented by Joel Thornton of the "International Human Rights Group" - he has a blog here. Keseljevic is another "Official Street Preacher", and he was present at the Obama inaugaration. Charisma reported: With a crowd of roughly 1.5 million people convened on the National Mall, the inauguration was a mostly peaceful event, according to media reports. Yet prayer leader Ken Joseph Jr. said a group of Christians evangelizing during an inaugural event was heckled and harassed. "At one point police had to be called to arrest one person who threatened their lives," he said. (Hat tip: Islamophobia Watch)
"Confrontational Evangelism" at Tampa Mosque | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
"Confrontational Evangelism" at Tampa Mosque | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
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