Arkansas Churches Buying Tickets For New Movie About Christ
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Christian churches in Arkansas -- and across
the nation -- are buying thousands of advance tickets to screenings
of Mel Gibson`s film, "The Passion of the Christ." Many churches
see the film as a way to attract more members.
Gibson`s controversial telling of the 12 hours leading to Jesus`
crucifixion doesn`t open until February 25th, on Ash Wednesday, the
first day of Lent. The movie has already sparked interest from
Christian churches across the country. Apart from the recent
criticism that the movie is anti-Jewish, pastors say they see it as
a basis for sermons and as a way to bring people to their faith.
Chuck Monan, minister at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in
Little Rock, said his church went back to buy more seats after an
initial batch of one-thousand tickets sold in one day.
Trinity Baptist Church in Texarkana spent nearly six-thousand
dollars to buy two screenings with an option for six more.
Greg Jones, an education minister at the church, says the buy is
a way to make sure church members can see the movie.
