Students received some drama on Thursday, Oct. 1. Send thanks to Shawn Holes, also known as “Shawn the Baptist.”
On a chilly afternoon in the campus quad, Holes repeatedly questioned the faith of Sinclair students that surrounded him during his preaching.
“He’s a quack,” said Daniella Arnold, a non-religious 22-year-old student. “It’s ridiculous that he’s coming to school to preach.”
While collecting multiple negative comments, Holes stood in front of Building 5 and yelled to the crowd to “stop judging me” at least five times. The preacher said he loves Sinclair’s campus.
“I love these people,” Holes said. “I used to be a sinner, and now I go and tell the others about (being one).”
Holes said he has been preaching for three years. At one point, Holes told a student to go to the bathroom and wash his mouth out with soap after using an obscenity.
Steven Powers, a Sinclair art student, approached Holes and told about his relationship with God. Powers asked Holes whether God picks and chooses whose prayers are answers.
“God answers all prayers,” the preacher replied.
Powers then explained to Holes that God answered all of his prayers except when it came to curing his homosexuality.
“It’s people like that,” Powers said while pointing to the preacher, “that causes suicide and keeping people in the closet.”
Stephen Dunman, a Communication major, said students were taking offense to hearing Holes’ preaching because they didn’t want to hear the truth.
“I think he’s reading from the word of the truth,” Dunman said.
After 30 minutes of preaching, Holes was approached by two Sinclair police officers and was told to tone it down. Some students decided to use vulgarity while speaking to Holes when the preacher used the terms “homosexuals, potty mouths, fornicators and drunkards.”
“I’m not even Christian and this guy’s pissing me off,” said Nick Rachlow, an Emergency Medical major.