Wearing sandwich signs and yelling phrases at large groups of people is most often associated with selling hot dogs or Cracker Jacks.
However, this is the method evangelist Frank Warner uses to spread his message in Free Speech Alley.
“The signs are catchy,” Warner said. “Some people don’t have time to listen to everything I say, but they can read the sign as they walk by.”
Warner has been spreading the word of God to people for nine years and currently is in the third month of a trip that will take him to campuses such as Louisiana-Lafayette, Southern Mississippi and Auburn.
Warner, a California native, works during the summer as a roofer, while saving money for his next trip.
“I have a camper that I take on trips,” Warner said.
Many people think of road trips as fun and games; for Warner, however, this is not always the case.
Standing in front of a crowd filled with opposition to his message is a reality Warner faces every day, especially at universities.
“It’s harder because several guys preach out here, so students are pretty hardened to it,” Warner said.
However, this type of crowd does nothing to phase Warner from spreading his message.
“What can you do about it, it’s nothing compared to what Christ went through,” Warner said.
Warner said ignoring opposing voices does have its drawbacks.
“It tends to make you a little bit cold; you become insensitive to anything,” Warner said.
Many students disagree with Warner’s methods.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Cara Melvin, a theatre sophomore. “I don’t know how they expect people to conform to their religion after yelling at them.”
Other students go to Free Speech Alley because the shows sometimes are humorous.
“I think they’re pretty aggravating, but it’s funny how the students mock them,” said Chris Durrett, a mechanical engineering freshman.
However, Warner said despite the negative feedback, he gets his share of positive remarks too.
“By comparison to the negative, I get less, but I do get quite a bit of good feedback,” Warner said.
Warner also displayed his message at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night before the football game.
Even though his message can get to more people, Warner said it is a much tougher crowd to break through.
“At the stadium, nobody wants to talk to you — they are intent on seeing the game,” Warner said.