Passion Play draws close to 2,000
Story told through Simon of Cyrene and his two sons
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Photo by Fred Lodge This dramatic scene looked so good that if one did not already know what is was from, it might make you wonder if it was a scene from a big budget movie such as The Passion of the Christ. Here Jesus prays while an angel appears above him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

By a conservative number the 2007 Georgia Mountain Passion Play was seen by over 1,900 viewers, and that number may have even gone above 2,000. The play, which is put on by First Baptist Church of Blairsville, was made even more accessible this year thanks to the addition of a third, matinee presentation.

"The great thing about it is that we pull from the community so much," Pastor Fred Lodge said, explaining that the earlier time allows those from other churches to come to the presentation without being pulled away from their own church services. "This gave us a good opportunity for that, it really paid off. Every year has been a blessing, but we have sensed a real anointing this year."

This time the story was told through the eyes of Simon of Cyrene and his sons Rufus and Alexander.

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Dr. Fred Lodge, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Blairsville, prays prior to the start of the presentation.

Simon was present as Christ was being led to his crucifixion and Rufus and Alexander were later important figures in the spread of the Gospel.

"We get a general idea of where we want to see it from, and [Minister of Music Terry Hooper] gets all the kinds of music that will fit just where we want to go," Pastor Lodge said, "and I get the task of writing a storyline that will tie it all together."

Some of the scenes featured included Jesus healing others, the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension.

More than 140 people were involved in the play this year, with duties ranging from acting in the presentation to handling production aspects, or even ironing costumes.

The cast is not limited to the two-legged variety, as a donkey, lamb, and group of alpacas were once again part of the story this year.

All of the hard work and coordination goes into three main objectives, as the primary goal is to introduce the Gospel so that viewers might receive Christ, but the presentation also provides important elements of teaching and inspiration.

Alpacas were led down the isles during the play.

"We just try to provide a high quality Easter presentation to the community," Pastor Lodge said. "To us, doing the Passion Play is a picture of the body of Christ. We feel like we have a great responsibility to the community and they respond phenomenally in all kinds of ways."

The pastor explained that the church tries to start its planning earlier and earlier each year, so everyone can spend more time on all aspects of it.

"We haven't decided absolutely for sure yet, but we are leaning towards next year seeing through the eyes of Paul as he is imprisoned," Pastor Lodge said. "That way we could even bring in things from the Roman Epistles."

An older Rufus and Alexander recount their experience. Simon talks to his young sons Rufus and Alexander. Mary and others sob as Jesus is taken to the cross. Mourners comfort one another at the crucifixion. The resurrection scene. Sentinel photos/Jared Putnam The angel at the tomb. The large, colorful cast sings during the presentation. The group performs another song. Children with a lamb. Jesus rides in on a donkey. Jesus shows his wounds from the nails.