The Passion grips Missouri Baptists
By Bob Baysinger
Managing Editor
March 2, 2004
Even Missouri legislators touched by powerful film
JEFFERSON CITY – “The Passion of The Christ," Mel Gibson’s much-anticipated movie on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus that premiered in theaters across Missouri Feb. 25, is already making a big impact in the halls of the state Capitol.
Many of Missouri ’s lawmakers were able to see a special preview of the movie on Feb. 23, thanks to the generosity of two Missouri Baptist churches – Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City, and First Baptist Church, Festus-Crystal City. Concord purchased tickets for House members. First Baptist purchased tickets for senators (see story on page 10).
Kerry Messer, a member of the Festus-Crystal City congregation and a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention, distributed the free tickets to lawmakers. Messer said a deluge of questions about the movie from lawmakers and their staffs is growing.
“This movie has generated more conversation about the Gospel of Jesus Christ than anything thing that has happened in all my years at the Capitol," Messer told The Pathway two days after the lawmakers viewed the film. “I’ve had legislators, secretaries, legislative assistants and others asking me questions about who Christ is, about difference scenes in the movie and the Bible."
Messer predicts the questioning will continue.
“Just about every office I go into, they initiate the conversation," Messer said. “They’re asking me what did this mean or what did that mean. In almost every instance, it gives me an opportunity to look people straight in the eye and have a heartfelt discussion about Jesus Christ."
In one instance, Messer said a legislator was unable to attend and gave his ticket to his secretary, a Catholic lady.
“I walked in their office the morning after the movie. The lady took a deep breath, looked at me and said, ‘That (movie) was the best thing I have ever seen in my life,’" Messer explained.
The reaction at the Capitol is typical of how Missouri Baptists are responding to the movie. Many church members have been buying tickets for themselves and unchurched friends in record numbers, helping make the movie a guaranteed box office hit before it was officially released.
About 800 people, for example, filled four of Capital 8’s theaters in Jefferson City for the special preview seen by the legislators.
Stuart Halperin, who handles marketing for MovieTickets.com in Santa Monica, Calif., told The Pathway that advance ticket sales nationwide for the Mel Gibson-movie have been “incredible." Halperin said he could not release specific numbers about advance sales but described advance group sales as “unprecedented."
“The Passion of The Christ" is a subtitled film, so it is not a mass market film like “The Lord of the Rings," Halperin said. “But it is doing incredibly well. Sales for this movie have been a very pleasant surprise."
The movie is making inroads in college communities and churches as well.
At Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, for example, the school purchased all tickets at the local theater on two dates. Students who attend will receive one of their required 22 chapel credits.
C. Pat Taylor, SBU president, attended an early showing of the movie.
“We work closely with the theater on other projects," Taylor said. “The manager of the theater, Paul Good, is a SBU graduate and a member at First Baptist, Bolivar."
Taylor was impressed by the movie.
“It is very powerful," Taylor said. “My wife and I both cried during the movie."
“We read the Bible and get a word image of the crucifixion, but this gave us a visual image. Even with the old Aramaic language and the subtitles, we did not get lost."
Taylor said he hopes the move will have the same impact on students as it had on him and his wife.
“I hope it will give them a visual image of the last few hours of Christ’s life here on earth," Taylor said. “We have unsaved students. I hope if any of them go, it will give them a chance to consider the Gospel and understand why Jesus died on the cross.
“For the students who are saved, I hope the movie will reinforce what they already believe and already know."
At Fulton, Stephen Souder, pastor of First Baptist Church, is working with Campus Crusade for Christ representatives on two college campuses in the town – Westminster College and William Woods College.
Souder said his church is making movie tickets available to the Campus Crusade workers at a reduced price. The goal, Souder said, is to get college students to the movie and to the church annex, located next to the theater, after the movie ends.
“Our church will have a sidewalk sign in front of the theater advertising free coffee, free refreshments and free information in the church annex after the movie ends," Souder said. “We’ve also reproduced a Gospel tract that will be handed out to movie goers. The tract includes an email address at the church for people who have questions about the movie."
Among those attending the special movie preview in Jefferson City were David Clippard, MBC executive director and Monte Shinkle, immediate past president of the MBC.
Clippard said he was impressed by the movie, but predicted it will raise questions.
“The movie was an excellent graphic illustration of what really happened in the passion of Christ," Clippard said. “It was a very intense two hours for me, but I believe it will still take believers to apply the truth for a lot of lost people who see the movie. There’s still going to be a need for evangelism."
Shinkle fielded questions about the movie at his church after the showing.
“Some people told me they felt as if the beating (of Christ) was overdone," Shinkle said. “They had the feeling that it was almost a relief for Christ to get to the cross. And they were asking about why the Bible demands death.
“It will be our responsibility as pastors to make the connection as to why Christ had to die. It will be our job to take them all the way back to the original Garden."
First Family Church, a Southern Baptist church located on the Kansas side in Kansas City, conducted six special preview showings.
“A lot of people came out who were obviously emotionally in awe," said Steve Barnes, who works as an assistant for Jerry Johnston, pastor. “We didn’t run the credits at the end of the movie. We just stopped everything and gave an invitation. We’ve had a couple hundred decisions for Christ so far."