By Morgan Mizell

NATCHEZ — Highland Baptist Church will conclude its two-day Easter drama tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the lot behind the church building.

The free event is in its sixth year and going strong. Bruce McCall, Highland’s minister of music, portrays Jesus every year and feels this event is one of the most important ministries the church has each year.

“We did not begin with the drama,” McCall said. “We had sunrise services on Easter Sunday, but we felt like we were taking people away from their churches if they came to our service instead of their home churches.”

Live drama had been an idea of several people in the church for years and they decided to make it happen.

“If you have ever seen a passion play, such as the one in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, you would see it is similar to what we have here,” McCall said. “We did not copy any other performance, but because all of this is scripturally based, they all follow the same story-line.”

McCall said the script was written by several people in the church and is taken from the Bible.

“The drama follows Jesus in the last days of his life,” McCall said. “It is certainly a powerful thing to witness. You would just have to see it for yourself.”

The event has grown in size, much like many of the other ministries Highland hosts every year.

“We have been praying for our numbers to reach 2000 this year,” McCall said. “We are not interested in having that number for any other reason other than to have the opportunity to share the message of God’s love to as many people as possible.”

The drama has grown in size along with the crowds in attendance. This year, more than 80 participants will portray commoners, Roman soldiers, guards and the numerous highlighted roles of the production. The drama also includes live animals.

“Many people start out as commoners or soldiers,” McCall said. “Interestingly, several folks who are participating actually come from other churches. It is nice to have everyone here, working together.”

The set up for the event begins about two months before the actual production. The sets, which are in storage all year, are put together piece-by-piece. The costumes are made by ladies in the church, with only a few things being purchased.

“We spend a lot of time together when we are getting ready for this,” McCall said. “The closer we get to the event, the more we practice and fellowship. This week, we have been here at the church every night, for several hours and we have a group of ladies who prepare meals for us because many of us, don’t have the time to go home after work. We have great people in every area who help us put this all together.”

McCall feels the overall feeling of the production is enhanced by those who help in other areas aside from the performers.

“We have quality lighting and sound brought in by Billy Powe and his crew from McComb,” McCall said. “We are able to have comfortable seating because Travis Presley comes in from Texas every year and brings his bleachers. Of course, we have folks on our end like Hannah Belle Southerland who help with music, narration and more. It all works so well together to help present this powerful story to others.”

While the group would love to see thousands in attendance, McCall says the focus on numbers is not about growing Highland Baptist Church as much as it is about seeing people come to know Jesus.

“We would love to have our numbers grow here, but that is not why we do the ministries we do,” McCall. “Jesus needs people all over, and if they come to know Him here and find another church, we are as pleased with that as if they joined us. We are not filling out forms here, we are trying to show His love to everyone we can.”

McCall hopes his portrayal of Jesus along with the rest of the actors and actresses will help others see what Jesus sacrificed and went through,ø so that everyone might have eternal life.