Who is the preacher?

The open-air preacher Eli Brayley has visited Weber State University two years in a row now, coming each semester. Every time he visits, students gather around the 22-year-old, many ready to argue over religion, others chuckling to themselves at the scene. Brayley brings controversy and debate to WSU's campus.

Traveling to more than 70 college campuses since 2006 with fellow preachers Miles Lewis and Evan Shiloh, Brayley has been to schools from New York to California, even visiting schools like UCLA and Berkley. Brayley originally met Lewis and Shiloh online through message boards, and ended up working with them together as preachers. His first visit to WSU came unexpectedly in the fall of 2007.

"Eli is the best friend I've had in my entire life," Lewis said. "He's a great guy to be around, always encouraging."

Brayley was born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick in Canada in 1985 to two Christian parents. While Brayley was familiar with Christianity and the Bible, his faith took a turn for the worst when he was just 14 years old. That year his pastor, a man Brayley strongly looked up to, was diagnosed with cancer.

When his pastor died, Brayley said he was left feeling disillusioned with God and his faith. For two years he was simply going through the motions at church and with friends and family. He said he felt lost.

Through high school he picked up guitar, forming a band with friends. After his 11th grade year, Brayley said he went to a Christian retreat in Nova Scotia, mainly to follow his friends in his church.

Described like a switch turned on, Brayley said the moment he entered the church at the retreat, he felt the need to be closer to God.

"I just felt I had to get my life right with God," Brayley said. "One moment I didn't feel that and the next I did. It was like night and day."

Brayley fell into prayer that day, but it wasn't until later that night when his faith rose to new levels. He and his friend were walking in the woods when they heard a brother and sister crying in the woods.

"I don't know why, but I looked at this young man and said 'In Jesus name release this man.' And when I said that this guy flew to the ground and shook there like an epileptic seizure. He stopped shaking, stood up, and was like a completely set free, released person. He began to weep with tears of joy."

After his experience in the woods, Brayley left to pray by himself. He said he felt the lord speak to him, and told him he was given the gift of prayer for the sick. From that moment on, Brayley's faith in God was never in question again.

"I can look back and say that's when God arrested me, and got my attention and changed my life. Had he not, I wouldn't be a Christian."

The controversial message Brayley and his fellow preachers bring to WSU causes a stir among students, the message being that all people are sinners and only through accepting Jesus Christ, can humanity be saved. Brayley focused on the fact that people were sinners and didn't deserve God's forgiveness, but because God is compassionate, he gave Jesus, humankind's salvation, to the world.

The evangelical culture, consisting largely of born-again Christians, is not what he believes born-again means that born-again is a state of mind and has no cultural ties. Born-again requires transcendence said Brayley, and just going to church and buying the products won't make a person in the evangelical culture born-again.

"The message of the bible and the gospel is that men reject God and God shows mercy to men. The whole history and whole story is our failure to obey God but God's grace towards men. We're all sinners."