We went to The Great Passion Play on Friday night. This was the
first time for more than 80% of our group to experience this. We
started off by watching the 20-minute clay/pottery demonstration
(by the man who portrays Jesus in the play). He talked about the
many ways we are like clay in the Potter's hands. We all start off
as a ball of clay, but then God shapes us, molds us, and gives us
a heart (the center of each pot). It was a real blessing to us.
At midnight, we went back to the grounds of The Great Passion Play and had a wonderful
worship and communion service together. We all sat at the feet
of the Christ of the Ozarks Statue. As we sang songs that focused on
Jesus, the cross, and his sacrifice, the 100+ foot statue of Jesus with his arms
open wide reminded us just how far Jesus' love reaches out to those
who are willing to receive it. Several people shared what the cross
meant to them. We worshiped til 1:30 a.m. What a great night!
On Sunday, we stopped at the Thorncrown Chapel and were blessed to
meet the wife of the man who built the chapel. She gave us the personal
15-minute story of how the Thorncrown Chapel came into existence. She are
her husband are both retired school teachers from California. It is a
very inspiring story about faith and trusting in God. More than 5,000,000 people have
visited this site over the past 25 years. As she ended, several visitors started
to enter the chapel. We asked permission to sing a song and she was
delighted to let us sing. The group from West-Ark sang "Let Us Adore the Ever Living
God" and it was AWESOME! As we walked out, several people commented
on how beautiful the song was. It focuses on God and all His glory.
We spent the rest of Sunday afternoon in NW Arkansas and then we attended
the Sunday Night Live Youth Series in Springdale at 6 p.m. We joined over 250 area
teens and adults who were present to worship God and to share in the fellowship of the
relationships we share because of Jesus.
Praise God for weekends like this that remind us of who God is and what He
has done for us. We praise Him for we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Brad Pistole
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