Time to be judged

Wednesday, October 9, 2002
Actors perform the "Heaven" scene in the Judgement House at the Miner Baptist Church (Photo by Tim Jaynes, Staff)

Halloween-alternative drama kicks off

MINER -- Freida Cardwell has witnessed the fear in the eyes of those who pass through the hell depicted in the Judgement House. She's also seen the tears they shed as they enter the heaven represented by the Halloween-alternative drama, which began running Tuesday at the Miner Baptist Church.

"It's the ultimate haunted house because it's so close to reality," said Cardwell, Miner Baptist Church member and participant of the Judgement House. "Nothing can compare to it. I really believe it's life-changing."

The Judgement House, which has been copyrighted to spell the correct "judgment" as "judgement," provides an alternative to traditional Halloween events by providing a scene-to-scene walk-through drama. It is designed to present the reality of heaven and hell.

"We live in such a visual society so when people see Judgement House, it really has an impact on them because it's so real," Cardwell explained.

This year's Judgement House at Miner takes place during a high school basketball team's celebration and preparation for the district tournament. Lives are lost when a tornado strikes down on the gym.

"The destruction is very realistic," Cardwell said. "Some of the moms and dads don't survive. It takes them to after death, where some are presented with hell and others heaven."

Miner Baptist Church has been planning their Judgement House since May. Over 300 church members are involved in the five-day event.

The First Baptist Church in Portageville will open their Judgement House beginning Oct. 23. They've been presenting a Judgement House to the public for five years.

This year, Portageville's Judgement House will deal with a school shooting and teen pregnancy and abortion.

Although storylines change each year, a few things never change. For instance, the scenes that always remain the same are heaven and hell, and there is always someone who has accepted Jesus Christ and someone who hasn't, said Jim Oswald, minister of music and youth at the First Baptist Church in Portageville.

"We've had a tremendous turnout over the last few years," Oswald said. "Last year we had 1,430 people come through our Judgement House."

In its first year at Miner, which was last year, the Judgement House drew nearly 2,500 people. Cardwell is hoping to draw 3,000 this year, she said.

Oswald thinks the popularity of the Judgement House stemmed from curiosity. "I think a lot of people thought it was a haunted house, but it's not."

Last year, there was a lot of speculation that Sept. 11 brought people out to the see the drama, Cardwell said. Those helping present Judgement House are really interested to see how many come this year, she said.

Like Oswald, Cardwell thinks it's curiosity that draws the large crowd to the Judgement Houses.

"We know what happens after death, but the Judgement House forces people to ask 'Where would I go?' The body dies, but the spirit doesn't," Cardwell said.

One of the main points stressed in a Judgement House production is that life and death are unexpected. People never know what's going to happen, Cardwell said.

"Last year we had a 16-year-old-boy testify after going through Judgement House, and he died this summer," Cardwell recalled.

At both Miner and Portageville, due to the reality of the content, guides stand outside each scene and let parents know if anything sensitive is approaching. Parents can use their own discretion of whether or not their children should enter, Oswald noted. Judgement House is geared for those ages 10 and older.

Both Oswald and Cardwell referred to Judgement House as an evangelistic tool. "It's the gospel. We just put it in simple and visual terms. It's absolutely overwhelming as you go through the scenes," Cardwell said.

Life decisions are confronted during the four to five scene changes, Oswald said. The program lasts between 50 and 55 minutes. Reservations aren't required, but both churches recommend them to ensure visitors won't have a long wait.

Cardwell insisted visitors do not have to be a particular religion to get the full impact of the drama.

"It's not a Baptist thing," Cardwell assured. "It comes straight out of the Bible. It's the word of God re-enacted."

Miner Judgement House

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 8-10 and Oct. 12-13

Where: Miner Baptist Church

Who: Recommended for ages 10 and above with parental discretion advised

Cost: Free

For more information or reservations, call 573-471-1131

Portageville Judgement House

When: 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 29-30

6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26-27 Where: First Baptist Church in Portageville

Who: Recommended for ages 10 and above with parental discretion advised

Cost: Free

For more information or reservations, call 573-379-5340

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