Chris Coduto/Arizona Daily Wildcat 'This is so going to be my Facebook photo,' says political science sophomore Joel Shooster to his friend as he points to a sign held by Jeremy Sonnier of New Orleans.

'Bible Jim' draws crowd with antics, rebuts with whistle

Three traveling campus preachers attracted students' attention yesterday as they preached controversial religious messages and lectured to a half-laughing, half-angry crowd of more than 100 students about the nature of sin and salvation.

The interaction between students and preachers was nearly hostile. A man calling himself "Bible Jim" fielded students' questions and attempted to control emotional rebuttals and explosive arguments with a whistle, which he used frequently to squelch the loud yelling.

According to a profile on www.innglory.org, a Christian resource Web site, Bible Jim is really Jim Webber, a 60-year-old "open-air" preacher from Corbett, Ore. who has frequently visited campuses for decades.

While the charismatic evangelists preached yesterday, some students came to argue or listen while others sat down to be entertained.

Jeremy Sonnier, Webber's colleague, held a giant poster that read "Warning Jesus Rejecters, homos and lesbos, drunkards, Muslims, Buddhists ... thieves, liars, Mormons, racists, fornicators, Roman Catholics, adulterers, baby-killing women ... God will judge you!" while Webber waved a flame-covered banner that read "Jesus saves from Hell."

Although many didn't take Webber's speech seriously and only laughed, a few were visibly offended and one student was brought to tears.

"As a Russian Orthodox Christian who goes to church every day, this guy does not represent any real God-fearing Christian," said Alex Hecker, a jazz studies freshman. "This guy makes me sick."

The recurring topics of debate between the campus preachers and students featured issues of current social conflict, particularly issues of homosexuality and abortion.

Dawn Oakes, a political science freshman, said she spoke out about her disagreements, adding that she thinks Webber was twisting the meaning of religion.

"I'm not uncomfortable speaking up, because he's gay bashing," Oakes said. "I can't believe he's trying to teach people by scaring them. He has misconstrued an entire belief system."

Webber told short stories that outlined his strong beliefs.

"I am qualified to judge every one of you," Webber shouted at spectators in Alumni Plaza.

A student asked, "How do you get qualified to judge?"

After the laughter by students had subsided, Webber replied, "Read your Bible." Then he blew his whistle and pointed to a student with the next question.

"The purpose of why we come here is to provoke thought," Webber said. "Most students think it's a slam dunk against Christianity."

Most students, however, weren't frustrated with the religious topics, but rather with the ideas of intolerance that Webber, his colleagues and their posters sought to spread.

Luis Holguin-de la Cruz, a general biology freshman, said he thought the preachers would probably end up pushing more people away from Christianity than converting.

The third evangelist, Tom Griner, a member of the South Valley Fellowship and self-proclaimed historical orthodox Christian, also preached to the crowd of animated students.

"We're out here proclaiming the love of God. Unless we repent we'll all perish," Griner said.

Gaby Marcor, an undeclared sophomore, walked by without stopping at the scene to listen. She said "I already have my own beliefs - I don't need be listening."

One student yelled, "You are not nearly as cool as Brother Jeb," to which Webber's audience erupted in laughter. The comment referred to Jeb Smock, a preacher who visited campus last year, causing a similar uproar among students.