Four Upper Columbia Conference churches participated in three Easter outreach events sharing the good news of our risen Savior. Nearly 4,000 visitors attended these events in Spokane, Wash., Cheney, Wash., and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
The Spokane Valley Church held their third annual "Journey to the Cross" event in the field beside their church where visitors were led through various dramatic scenes depicting different parts of Jesus' life. More than 300 people helped in the production of this walk through the streets of ancient Israel.
"Three years ago when I first attended this event, I knew nothing about the Easter story," says Lindsay Hubble, a community member in Spokane. "I'd been to church before, but I had never really read the story. Since then, it has inspired me to read the Bible more to get the whole story. I've been reading to my kids, and this year I brought my parents to see it."
One father wrote to the church by e-mail saying, "My four-year-old daughter has started asking questions about the Bible and wants to read from it ever since coming to Journey From the Cross." As a single parent raising four children, he felt that "Journey to the Cross" was a blessing to the entire family.
The Upper Columbia Academy and Cheney churches held their second annual "Deliverer" event at Showalter Auditorium on the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney. This hour-long song drama told the story of the Great Controversy with more than 80 church members and students.
"I was very moved by the story," says one attendee. "To see how Jesus' life and the Bible relates to a modern person who loses a loved one to cancer is very moving."
"I think this event is not only a great way to reach out to the community," says Ken Wetmore, UCA and Cheney churches pastor, "but it is also a fantastic way to bring the church members and the academy students together to bond as a family or team with a common goal."
The Coeur d'Alene Church held their annual event called "The Choice." This dramatic presentation featured music and stories from the life of Christ. As a result of these three events, more than 130 people filled out response cards, 17 of whom want to know more about Jesus, and more than 120 left their names and numbers to be contacted.
Josh Surprise, Spokane (Wash.) Valley Church member, plays Jesus in the live dramatic walk-thru event "Journey to the Cross" April 3–5. He was one of seven men who played Jesus in a cast of more than 214 people. (Fawn Manning)
