Street preachers to congregate in valley next weekend

A wave of evangelism will sweep into the Flathead Valley late next week as people arrive for a street preachers convention in Evergreen.

The convention is being held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a facility formerly known as the Evergreen Alliance Church that is now owned by Philip Klevmoen.

Klevmoen, a Creston area rancher, is a founder of the God’s Ten organization that promotes the display of the Ten Commandments and other religious messages. But he says the street preachers convention is not affiliated with the God’s Ten organization.

The convention is being led by controversial street preacher Ruben Israel, who will be speaking at 10:30 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Klevmoen said about 100 people from all over the country are expected for the convention at 315 East Evergreen Drive, starting with breakfast at 8 a.m. each day, and continuing with worship services, prayers and speakers all day.

There may be street-preaching activities at locations such as Depot Park in Kalispell or the Flathead County Fairgrounds while the convention is underway.

One featured speaker will be attorney Michael Berry of the Liberty Institute, a legal organization that works to protect religious freedom, a major theme for the “God and Country”  conference. Berry is scheduled to speak from  4:15 to 5 p.m. on Friday.

The conference is open to the public.