One of the more contentious aspects of Bele Chere is the presence of street preachers—and the response they get from the crowd. Photos shown here in chronological order, from improvised pulpits at Pritchard Park and the corner of Haywood and College Streets.
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Jesus would slap the sh_t outta those hate-mongers.
One day soon God is gonna smack you!
These people will probably be more nostalgic for Bele Chere than anyone. Where else can they get that much attention drawn to themselves, free to bait, insult and irritate as they see fit, knowing that law enforcement will likely spare them from the ire of others who do not share either their ignorance or their pathology.
Looks like some of them may be agents for Westbrook Baptist, by the signs they carry. Maybe they can fill the void with picketing funerals.
It’s Westboro Baptist Church or what should be called Westboro family cult. These street preachers are not a part of Westboro nor are they acting like Westboro. The most loving thing that a preacher could do is warn you about going to hell. If it didn’t bother anyone and they weren’t thinking about it then why do they stand around? Wouldn’t a normal attendee of this festival move on and enjoy themselves if guilt didn’t settle in? That’s the problem they know that a God exists and they are accountable for their sins. God bless the men of God who actually go out and do this. Most churches sit behind their cozy church walls filling their pockets while these guys use their money to travel places because they actually care about you. Wake up and see that someone actually cares for your soul regardless if you want them to and regardless if you do. Shouldn’t we go out and voice our beliefs? Have respect because that’s the only way that you’ll earn it yourself.
On one level, I’m as angry at them as everyone, for trying to ruin the fun that Bele Chere can be.
But you can’t deny it – these are genuine mentally ill people, acting out their horrible fantasies on the biggest stage available to them. They are expressing the hate that they see inside themselves, as if it were an outward manifestation of some evil entity – Satan, liberals, gays, what have you.
I saw one of them wearing a hat that said “Fear God”. Who would choose to live out their days believing in a Creator who wanted them to be mentally anguished at all times?
Through their screaming hate, these men have driven more souls away from Christianity than any earthly temptation imaginable… In that sense, they are the servants of “Satan”, not the “gays” or the “liberals” or the other “sinners”.