Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Madison Church of God will get Holy Week off to a great start with their eighth annual Madison Passion Play, beginning on Saturday, April 1, at 6 p.m. First Lady Amber Justus is excited about some of the new scenes in this year's production, especially a scene featuring Nicodemus, as he struggles with whether to do his job or follow Jesus.
Practice for this high-quality production began in January, and stage construction is underway. There are over 70 cast members who have been working tirelessly to be ready for opening night, and their prayers for souls to be saved and lives to be changed have been equally relentless. Knowing that 200 to 250 people will fill the sanctuary for each performance, motivation to push through the inevitable tiredness comes easy. “This is such an honor to be allowed to do this,” said Justus. “Somebody else could be doing this, but God gave us this opportunity.”
The opportunity reaches far beyond the pews of Madison Church of God, which has no budget for this outreach. “It is completely community supported,” said Justus, who has seen enthusiasm for the play grow each year. For the past two years, a church in Jasper has rented and filled a bus so that they could maximize their attendance. “We also have churches that drive an hour or more to attend the Passion Play,” stated Justus. With the increased attendance, it is best to arrive early to get a seat, especially if you plan on attending the Easter weekend shows on Friday, April 7 or Saturday, April 8. The complete performance schedule is as follows: Saturday, April 1, at 6 p.m.; Sunday, April 2, at 6 p.m.; Friday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 8, at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, April 9, at 10:30 a.m. All seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis. No tickets are required. The church is located at 771 NE Colin Kelly Hwy., in Madison.