Page 26 - News Autumn_Winter 2024_Print

EVEN ‘BARABBAS’ © Wintershall CIO 2024

WANTED A

TESTAMENT!

Every June, the Wintershall Estate near requesting New Testaments and full Bibles, as well as
Guildford hosts an epic, open-air drama Discover magazines, which were popular with children,
called ‘The Life of Christ’, based on the four parents and teachers. Several of the cast stopped at our
Gospels. Surrey Mid & Kingston Branch, stall, including ‘Barabbas’, who wanted a New Testament,
and a lady who thanked us for the Youth Testament she
collaborating with Surrey South Branch, received at her school and originally ignored but later
decided it would be a too-good-to-miss read and treasured.
opportunity to go and offer New Testaments We had many encouraging conversations with people in
and Explore magazines to those attending all walks of life and faith, including a Filipino coach driver
the play. who wanted to understand the meaning of being ‘born
again’; two Bolivian ladies who took Testaments and Bible
“The play runs for five days with a cast of over 100 actors QR Code; and a couple from another stall with whom we
– as well as sheep, donkeys and horses – to re-enact the discussed salvation through Christ alone.
events of Jesus’ life. It is an immersive experience for the
audience, who move from field to field to watch Jesus’ Many children also visited our stall, including a young
birth, baptism, miracles, death and resurrection. The boy who asked for a New Testament. When we explained
first two days of the play are attended by school groups about the ‘Helps’ section, he started to cry and said he
with their teachers, and the remaining three days are needed that help because his aunt had just died. We
for members of the public – with around 500 to 1000 were able to pray with him and his mother.
people attending each day. We had a fantastic time at the ‘Life of Christ’, giving out
The organisers gave us permission to have a stall on around 800 Explore magazines, 30 Bibles, 250 New
these three days. It was in an excellent position on the Testaments, and 200 Discover magazines. We pray that
edge of the car park, where the audience passed us on those who received them will read them and come to
their way to and from the play and to the refreshments. know the saving power of Jesus in their own life.”
The Explore magazines were a perfect resource for the
play, which was partly based on the Gospel of Luke, and Submitted by members of Surrey Mid & Kingston Branch
most people accepted one. We also had many people and Surrey South Branch.

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