It is not simply an alternative to a Halloween haunted house.
“Collision,” the teen-oriented message drama that is being presented this week at the Great Bend Church of the Nazarene, 4811 Broadway, has an important message, according to Dale E. Pruter, one of the event organizers.
Almost 1,000 people a year have gone through the local event over the past few years and it continues to be a major production, Pruter said. About 200 people are involved in making it work and they come together from more than 15 area churches and multiple denominations. It really is a Christian community event, Pruter stressed.
This year’s drama was presented in a similar form six years ago when the local event was first starting, and Pruter said the updated version of the message is even more critical for today’s teens.
The drama is described at the Judgement House Web site:
“It’s Friday night under the lights and the high school football team has just won another game.
“Chris and Natalie came to the game together on a date and are planning on heading to the ‘5th Quarter,’ a church gathering after every football game. They spot Eugene ‘Bud’ Miller the team’s quarterback and invite him to the gathering. Bud, more than a little upset to see the girl he’s interested in with Chris, isn’t the least bit interested in joining them. In fact he has plans of his own.
“There’s a party at his house and his parents are providing the beer under the condition they ‘act responsibly’ and he offers to take Natalie where the ‘real fun’ is. Natalie turns down Bud’s offer and they head off in opposite directions.
“When Bud arrives at the party without Natalie, the party goers and his friends give him a harder than usual time about being the star quarterback who just won the game but didn’t come home with the girl. Their taunts and the alcohol mix to create a cocktail that drives Bud to grab his keys and race off to find Natalie and bring her back to the party.
“At the same time Chris and Natalie have been talking at the ‘5th Quarter’ meeting about a saving and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but it’s getting late and Natalie decides Chris better get her home before it get’s too late. Besides, she’s decided that she doesn’t need a relationship with Christ anyway since she’s a pretty good person without Him.
“Bud eventually does meet up with Natalie, unfortunately it’s at an intersection when his car slams into the side of the car in which she is riding with Chris.”
Pruter commented, this is a scenario that could easily be taken right out of the lives of the very teens who are coming to experience it.
The purpose for these events is also summed up by its national hosts: “Judgement House has the unique ability to communicate the Gospel message to a wide range of audiences and people of different ages, races, denominations, and spiritual commitment levels and engage them in an experience that challenges them to make a choice about what to do with God’s offer of a saving and personal relationship through his Son, Jesus Christ.”
The local event is planned for 6-10 p.m. on Friday; 5-10 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30-6 p.m. on Sunday, all at the church.
Pruter said reservations can be made by calling 793-6139 or on line at www.gbfirstnaz.com.
Reservations are important, especially for large groups so that everyone can be fit in during the hours of operation.
“We hate it, but we have had to turn people away,” if they show up without reservations, especially towards the end of the last day, Pruter commented.
At its last meeting, the Great Bend City Council approved allowing Sherman Street, adjacent to the church, to be closed during the operation hours to accommodate transportation.
While there is no set cost for the event, a donation of $3 per person is suggested to defray costs, and it is stressed the event is not intended for children under 10.