UMKC students rallied in frustration on Thursday, Sept. 25, in response to an evangelist on the steps of the student union.
Nicholas Heald, a pro-life advocate and evangelist from Pleading, Kansas, arrived at the UMKC campus around 9:30 a.m. to preach his beliefs to students.
“It’s very evident that there’s many people on this campus that are in rebellion against Jesus Christ,” said Heald. “They need a savior, so I’m here to point them to the one savior.”
Imani Dyke, a senior communications studies major, claims to have been the first on the scene. Dyke believes that Heald arrived with ulterior motives of preaching rather than genuine discussion.
“It just feels really scripted to me,” Dyke said. “Like he came here knowing what he was going to say. He wasn’t going to change.”
Heald engaged a number of students during his time on campus, although there were many who took issue with both his message and methods, specifically the usage of polarizing imagery of an aborted fetus.
“I think it’s good that we have people out here having conversations,” said Franklin Boland, a freshman nursing student. “But it’s not good to have people out here with disturbing images.”
Boland said when students would try to have a conversation with Heald, he would often cite the Bible, failing to provide direct answers.
“I asked him to tell me what the Bible says about slavery,” Boland said. “He didn’t answer my question.”
Other students showed a distinct lack of appreciation for the evangelist as he continued to dodge questions.
“Obviously it’s freedom of speech,” said Paige Kilby, a freshman musical education major. “It can lead to hate speech, and this isn’t the place for it. He doesn’t care what other people think, he’s here to give his exact opinion.”
Students swarmed in an effort to challenge Heald’s views. Some were unimpressed with his continuous use of Bible verses.
“He has every right to preach but I don’t think that’s the way to get someone to God,” Mallory Burton, a freshman pre-med student said. “Somebody has to be willing to let God into their heart, not have it yelled at them.”
“I don’t have an issue with him coming here, I have an issue with his thoughts,” Salevan Said, a first year business major said.
“I don’t think women who have been assaulted or have medical complications should be forced to carry through with a birth that will be absolutely harmful to them,” Said said, “Why should his religion govern and be the moral authority for people?”
For some students, the presence of political debate topics on their campus reminded them of the death of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, who was shot at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
“I just wanted to make my voice heard because, well that’s what Charlie Kirk died for,” said Rebecca Schmidt, a second year vocal performance major. “I don’t idolize him as a God or anything… But I do believe that what he did was right and that we need to bring back healthy debate in this world.”
