Judgment House coming to Haughton church

nwlanews.com ^ | October 24, 2006 | theresa gardner

[balch3]

t’s shocking, but effective. That’s how the youth minister of an area church describes the dramatic production depicting decisions made by three teenagers and the consequences each of them must face as they are led on the path to their final destination of heaven or hell.

For months more than 250 members of First Baptist Church of Haughton have prepared for the walk through production Judgement House.

“We have anywhere from 250 to 300 members who have been volunteering their time,” Scott Sullivan, the church’s youth minister, said. “There will be Bossier City police, EMS workers and sheriff’s deputies there with patrol cars and ambulances with sirens and lights and the whole works.”

Sullivan described the event as a powerful tool, used to help bring souls to Jesus Christ. The scene begins as a football game is ending and three teens make plans on where to go next. Two of the teens decide on attending a Christian party and the other sets out for a keg party.

Sullivan said the bad decision made by the one teen who chooses to drink and drive results in the death of each of the teens, as well as some other family members.

“The whole thing starts out fun with all of the cheering and the band,” Sullivan said, but it quickly turns serious as the audience experiences the realities of drinking and driving which lead them through a hospital scene, a funeral home and the end result of heaven or hell. “It is very serious.” Sullivan went on to warn parents that the graphic nature of the production might be too extreme for children under 10.

“It is very emotional,” he said. “And we feel that children younger than 10 might not realize what is going on.” Sullivan also said parents should accompany their 10-year-old through the experience. Because of the emotional content of the event, the church will have qualified persons on hand to counsel with anyone who might need it.

“By the time people get through the production, there is some bottled up emotions,” he explained. “And we want to have someone there to help them sort through their emotions and help them heal.”

Sullivan said he has helped with a production similar to this one for more than seven years at his previous church and always sees powerful results.

“The last time we presented Judgement House, we saw over 1,500 go through with several hundred decisions made for Christ,” he said. “It is so gratifying to know that we have helped to make an impact on so many people’s lives.” Sullivan went on to say, “one of the sweetest things that I personally experience from all of this is each night we filter through the comment cards and we have the opportunity to read some of the remarks people make about how they say they will never be the same again.”

The event will take place at First Baptist Church of Haughton, which is located at 105 East Washington Avenue every evening from 6 until 8 p.m. and continue nightly throughout the remainder of the month.

The experience will be conducted in groups of 25 every 15 minutes. And although Sullivan said the event does not actually make a profit, a $2 donation for each ticket will help defray some of the cost. For more information, call 949-2441.

[balch3]

This is an example of what a lot of churches are doing to counteract the Godless, pagan holiday of "Haloween." Instead of letting kids trick or treat, far better to expose them to something that will be of benefit to them.

[balch3]

Bump.

[RippyO]

Why are you bumping your own thread, 4 minutes after you made it?

[Tim Long]

This is an example of what a lot of churches are doing to counteract the Godless, pagan holiday of "Haloween."

Don't forget "fun." : )

My church's version was called Judgment House as well. It kind of made hell look like a cool place, which probably wasn't the intended goal. : )

[balch3]

because I couldn't find it anywhere on the "recent posts" page.