Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9403310159
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BONSACK LENGTH: Medium
"We carry a tremendous responsibility when we portray scenes like we're going through," said Bill Mangrum, who will play a blind man in this weekend's production of "A Story to Remember" at Bonsack Baptist Church.
Other cast members of the church's Easter pageant say they can't look at this as a "mere" drama production.
Just walking through the scenes, "you can feel the power of the story," Mangrum said. "You become part of that event."
The production includes scenes from the Old Testament as well as the life story of Jesus Christ.
Mark Slaughter, minister of music, began the pageant in his first year at the church last spring.
Pejie Murray, a member of the choir and of the music committee that hired Slaughter, said church members knew of Slaughter's interest in drama and pageantry when they hired him. Putting that interest to work has resulted in a pageant that exceeded their expectations.
This year there are probably 250 or more people involved in putting the pageant together, Slaughter said. They include cast and choir members, carpenters building sets, volunteers creating costumes, and technical support with lights and sound.
But while putting on a new, quality production is important to him, Slaughter said the real emphasis is on the mission of the church - which means reaching the unchurched.
This year, the church is sponsoring "Pageant Challenge '94," in which all church members are asked to invite at least one person who is not a Christian to the pageant.
Members fill out a pledge card with the person's name, and special prayer sessions are being held for those people.
"We hope to get 500" such people into the church to see one of the three productions, Slaughter said. "After that, it's up to the Holy Spirit."
There also will be an opportunity for pageant viewers to seek spiritual counseling after each performance. "It will be very discreet," Slaughter said. "Not an altar call, but an invitation in a nonthreatening, easy, accessible way."
"We are emphasizing the evangelistic aspect" of putting on the pageant, said Shorty Jones, who portrays a disciple of Jesus. "This is another opportunity for us to be involved in the ministry of the church - a tremendous ministry."
Pageant participants are not just portraying characters, said Darrell Smith, who plays Isaiah. "We experience this in our hearts. I want to know what Isaiah was thinking . . . and I want that message to come across to the people."
The actors also are taking the challenge to invite non-Christians seriously.
"A fellow I work with is just a super guy, but as far as I know, he doesn't attend church anywhere. He's the one I've taken the challenge to pray about and invite," said Mangrum. "Hopefully, he'll be here."
While emphasizing the evangelism effort, Slaughter also recognizes that the production is an opportunity for "encouragement for believers." By retelling familiar incidents in new ways, believers may be challenged to exercise their faith in new ways, Slaughter said.
"Hopefully, this will be an opportunity for our members to share Christ," Slaughter said. "We're challenged to tithe, to study our Sunday school lessons, but not to evangelize. . . . The whole deal with the Easter pageant is to get us to look out beyond ourselves."
Slaughter looked to mentor Doyal Spence, minister of music at First Baptist Church, 515 Third St., for advice and guidance.
The Bonsack production will last about 90 minutes, Slaughter said. Its theme is "Lamb of God" and begins with the story of Abraham and Isaac, in which Abraham's faith is tested when God orders then rescinds the sacrifice of Isaac. The play moves through the life of Christ, ending with a depiction of the resurrection and ascension.
"A Story to Remember" will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There also is a matinee Saturday at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
by CNB