Christian preachers return to Utah State University campus for spring

Brad Scheelke mans his christian free-book stand outside the TSC Patio at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. 

Spring is back – and so are the preachers from Community Christian Ministries, who returned to Utah State University Tuesday to spread their message of grace.

When they consider the weather to be tolerable, Eli Brayley and Brad Scheelke preach every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday outside of the Taggard Student Center Patio.

Questions and messages are written on whiteboards they set up each day they’re on campus. Scheelke usually stands behind a table covered with free books.

The organization they represent, Community Christian Ministries, is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho. It was incorporated in 1969 and has bookstores and coffee shops on or near the campuses of Western State College in Colorado, the University of Idaho and Utah State University.

The pair of evangelists said they don’t mind that roughly 79 percent of Cache County’s population is a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the Glenmary Research Center.

“Here it’s nice because as opposed to debating whether God exists, almost everyone here already agrees that he does,” Brayley said. “That lets us focus on discussing deeper issues.”

Six years ago, Brayley was on a preaching tour of campuses throughout the United States when he visited Utah State and met Scheelke. After a few days, he decided to stay and continue preaching there long-term.

Scheelke said one of the main issues he and Brayley discuss on campus is grace through God, regardless of works. Their goal is to bring people to accept God's grace, or at least gain what they believe is a better understanding of it, he said.

Mormons often cite James 2:26, which says “faith without works is dead.”

But Community Christian Ministries, part of the born-again movement, emphasizes the following passage from Romans: “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.”

“God is a generous person just urging people to take a free gift,” Scheelke said. “But if they offer payment he can’t let them have it because that would violate his goodness.”

Brayley and his wife had similar sentiments.

“Eli loves engaging with LDS people because in all of his conversations it’s all about the heart of the gospel,” said Bethanie Brayley, Eli Brayley’s wife of nine months. “Like ‘Do you have to work for God or is God generous and kind and has he done it for you?’”

Scheelke said they usually are on campus from 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., depending on the weather and how long students want to talk.

The reaction of students to the preachers’ presence has been mixed.

“I think they have a perfectly valid reason for being on campus,” said Dusty Henson, a freshman at Utah State. “I think they can express their opinions as long as they don’t get too heated or cause a scene.”

Ashley Howell is a Mormon attending Utah State who doesn't see merit in the ministers' work.

“I feel like the only reason they’re on campus is to get in fights with people,” Howell said. “That’s what everyone does, they see them out and just go fight with them. It’s kind of pointless.”

“I just kind of ignore them,” Henson said. “Maybe I should stop and listen to them but most of the time I’m just so busy going in between classes I don’t have time.”

Some were even more negative in their opinions.

“I feel that they have very few productive things that they do with their time,” said returned LDS missionary Richard Orcutt. “What they’re doing is a waste of human time. That’s how incredibly unproductive they are as humans.”

From a different perspective, Mathieu Volk was raised in the Mormon Church but left the church after his mission. He said the decision was due to theological reasons and his homosexuality.

"I think some people, especially Mormons, get intimidated by Eli and Brad because they're afraid they might actually change their mind about things," Volk said. "If they would just give them a chance and put down their barriers they'd see they're nice guys that legitimately care about people."

The preachers said that while it’s more common to get positive responses from non-Mormons, there are exceptions.

“I talk to Brad and Eli pretty often,” said Matthew Anderson, an active Mormon. “I don’t agree with everything they believe, but they’re great guys.”

When Scheelke and Brayley aren't spreading their message of grace on campus, they can often be found at their non-profit bookstore and coffeehouse, Oasis Books on West Center Street in Logan.

In addition to being a bookstore, it is also a meeting place for All Saints Church. Services are held inside Oasis Books every Sunday, for which the two preachers are co-pastors. They also hold group meetings and bible studies weekly.

“If someone takes the time to get to know us, they will typically realize that we’re not crazy and we’re just regular people,” Brayley said. “They see that we might disagree but we care about them.”

Scheelke agreed that once actually people take the time to listen to them, they let down their guard and become more receptive.

“The people that stay and listen and let themselves be heard out end up forming these really cool relationships with them,” Bethanie Brayley said.

“It seems like the people who stick around are most often post-mo, atheist, Christian or something else,” Volk said. “Some Mormons actually stay and listen though. Brad and Eli are great guys to talk to about anything.”

Some students raised questions regarding the preachers’ motives, but Eli Brayley said their only income comes from donations to Community Christian Ministries. The Brayleys said they received a total of $80 last month from CCM.

“We never really know what we’re going to get,” Bethanie Brayley said. “Some months we’ll get $500 but others we might get a thousand or almost nothing.”

Eli Brayley said he trusts in God that it will all work out. Though the donations he receives aren't consistent, his wife earns income by teaching violin lessons.

Friends of the pastors have helped them out in various ways. The Brayleys' car was given to them by a friend free of charge. Scheelke's house was mostly paid for by someone else.

"Frugality. That's how we survive," Eli Brayley said. "God has helped us out along the way as well."

"We've been truly blessed," Bethanie Brayley said.