Campus Intolerance Leads to the Arrest of Christians and to University Police Officer being Suspended

April 18, 2007

This morning, Kutztown University (Pennsylvania), exhibited intolerance and hostility towards the gospel. Shortly after we began ministering at Kutztown University a crowd of approximately 400 to 500 students surrounded the team of Gospel preachers.

Even though this is a state university and a classic free speech venue, the university police force ordered the Christians to leave the campus immediately. The police then, at the urging of a hostile crowd, arrested two preachers from the ministry team. As the remainder of the team left with police escort, they were followed by several hundred angry and profane lovers of tolerance. The ministry team is a unified outreach of several gospel ministries from across the nation. The two team members who were arrested were charged with disorderly conduct. One university police officer was relieved of his immediate duties and then suspended when he questioned the Constitutionality of participating in the obvious discrimination of the Christian group. He is now awaiting further disciplinary actions.

"OFFICER UPDATE" On April 26, Officer Steve Armbruster was called upon to appear for a disciplinary meeting. He was given 5 days with no pay. He has served with the Kutztown University police for 15 years.

Hear a report on "One News Now": Christian street preachers booted from Penn. school

Hear two interviews with Dennis Green on "The Heart of the Matter".
Interview #1 with Ralph Ovadal

Interview #2 with Ralph Ovadal

View a terribly biased and misleading news report from WFMZ TV. Violence is mentioned twice even though there was none. Kutztown newscast.

Click HERE for photos!

Approximately 30 Christians participated in the tour. Here is a recap of the stops made.

Day 1

Day of Silence visit to Abington High School. Students came out to protest our presence and our group had several good conversations with the kids.

Kutztown University. This stop could have been great if it had not been for the police opposition. Hundreds of students gathered and it quickly became apparent that this was an intolerant school toward the call to repentance and the clear teachings of the gospel. In the end, two Christians were arrested and one Officer was suspended, and the rest of the team was escorted off of the campus.

Day 2

Upper darby High School. Great stop as always. The students pour into this school from the sidewalks and hundreds the gospel tracts are given out.

Landsdowne intersection. We set up at the main intersection in downtown Landsdowne. Landsdowne has sought to draw homosexuals to their community and has declared themselves to be a "No Place For Hate" zone. In a nutshell, the Biblical teachings on sodomy are considered hate speech in this "tolerant" community. The Gospel was preached and literature was distributed.

East Stroudsburg University. Upon arrival, Jeremy began to preach to a growing crowd of students. Jim was arrested as he simply stood near the preacher and the team was told to leave the campus. We set up on the public sidewalks that ran through the campus and soon a huge crowd of students had gathered to oppose the preaching. I am amazed at the hardness of heart on many Unversity campuses now. The crowds became so large that the police asked us to leave. Through negotiations they agreed to allow us to return to the center of the campus to preach where there was more room. The team set up and ministered for several more hours. Miles delivered and excellent defense for the gospel. and sinners were called upon to turn to Christ. The hearts were very hard and the mouths were just as vulgar. Nevertheless, the truth was presented and much literature was distributed.

Day 3

Millersville University. Started out slowly as the police made the preacher (Jeremy) stay within a "free speech" area. Eventually a large crowd of students gathered. The Gospel was preached through the day and the students asked many questions that were answered from the Scriptures. Many great conversations were had. Literature was distributed throughout the campus.

Posted: April 18, 2007 06:44 PM