Churches poised to answer questions raised by The Passion

ATLANTA – Georgia Baptist churches are seizing the opportunity of using Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ in evangelistic outreach.

Congregations of every size are capitalizing on the film’s growing popularity and its portrayal of Christ’s final hours. Examples include:

• Annistown Road Baptist in Lithonia has purchased nearly 400 tickets for members to give to unchurched friends and relatives.

• First Baptist Snellville is renting a local theater for six showings, tallying up to 1,300 tickets. Church members get a free ticket for every person they invite. Follow-up Bible studies will center around the movie.

• First Baptist Woodstock will sponsor 35 showings on five days spanning from its national premiere on Ash Wednesday on Feb. 25 through Sunday. Nearly 14,000 tickets will be given at no charge to friends of members. Pastors and counselors will be available following the movie.

• First Baptist Blairsville will rent out the local theater for free showings to the general public.

• First Baptist Springfield has purchased 275 tickets for a private showing on Feb. 23, two days prior to its national release. Michael Brand, pastor to students, said the church resold the tickets to members who bought extras to give to unchurched friends.

• First Baptist Rincon is mailing out 6,500 postcards advertising The Passion to every mailbox in their Zip Code. The cards will also contain in invitation to the church’s Easter musical and information about regular services. In addition, the church has bought out a matinee showing, after which Pastor Bob Rogers will speak to the audience.

The Passion, is based on the last 12 hours of Christ and has received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of the events leading up and including to His crucifixion.

Smaller churches such as Rivertown Baptist and Glen Anthony Baptist in Columbus are taking advantage as well, even though both are under 150 in membership.

Rivertown, a congregation of 100 members meeting in a theater, will show the film on two screens during its morning worship service on Feb. 29. Chase Eiland, minister of music, is optimistic the congregation can fill the 260 seats in each theatre for the special showings.

Glen Anthony is renting out two screens, one of which will simultaneously show a children’s movie due to The Passion’s R-rating for violence.

Terry Norman, pastor of Skyview Church in Hiram, relates to how it may be difficult for a congregation with limited resources to purchase a large number of seats for a viewing. Such churches are exploring other less costly ways of reaching their communities.

“We’re beginning a series of teachings on the cross with the intent of taking a group to see the movie on the 28th. We will provide child care and reimburse those members who bring a friend,” he explained.

“The movie is exhausting.”

As is the case with many pastors, a previewing of The Passion led Norman to feel that there was no way Skyview could pass up the opportunity to get as many people as possible to see the film. “The movie is exhausting. You’re tensed from the opening scene and get caught up in the event itself,” he says on the viewing he attended at Willow Creek Church in Chicago.

“In seeing Jesus’ beating, I sat there and was thinking ‘Whoa, can you let up? That’s enough. You’ve beat him enough.’

“The movie is really the way people have been describing it. You don’t see the movie, you experience it.”

Collegiate ministries around the state are also looking for opportunities to use the film’s impact in evangelism outreach.

The Augusta State University Baptist Student Union is working to use the film in collegiate evangelism. BSU members who attend First Augusta, which has already bought out two viewings, are purchasing $5 tickets to bring friends to the shows.

“This past fall we spent much time, energy, and money doing evangelistic outreach events,” said campus minister Allan Thomas. “One of the weaknesses in our efforts was that by the time we did all that needed to be done, we were left wanting in the area of actually getting our lost friends there.

“The movie is a great opportunity. Because the presentation and setting is provided, all we have to do is get them there.”

North Georgia College and State University’s BSU has bought out a showing on opening night Feb. 25.

“We will sell an individual two tickets with the knowledge that they will take a friend, especially one with whom they have been building a relationship in order to share Christ,” says Ken Jones, campus minister. “We want the movie to be a complement to their personally sharing the love of Christ with other students.

“Later, we’ll take a group of international students to see it on March 5. Afterwards, we’ll go out to eat, which will provide a wonderful opportunity for discussion and interaction.”