LITTLE ROCK — The president of a gospel radio network is waging a last-minute effort to save the Great Passion Play near Eureka Springs.
Randall Christy, president and founder of The Gospel Station Network of Ada, Okla., is trying to raise $75,000 by a Dec. 31 deadline when Cornerstone Bank of Eureka Springs is scheduled to take over the 700-acre Passion Play property in lieu of foreclosure.
“We just have a few days to raise this money, and we’ve got to raise it,” said Christy.“We can’t let this thing die. It’s almost immoral to me to let the Passion Play die.”
Christy said he began fundraising on Thursday and had received about $5,000 in pledges by Monday afternoon.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to reach that goal,” he said of the $75,000.
But the long-term operation of the Passion Play will cost much more than that. Christy said the play is about $2.8 million in debt.
“Really, we need to raise $6 million,” said Christy. “That’s going to be our goal.For the cost of building one large church, we could totally eliminate the debt, renovate the facility and have cash reserves to start the next season.”
If all 7.6 million people who’ve seen the Passion Play would give $1, “we could secure the future of the Passion Play for generations to come,” he said.
After 45 years, the Passion Play, which depicts the last week of Jesus’ life, held what was believed to be its last performance Oct. 27. Operators sold the animals, locked the gates and for the firsttime turned off the floodlights that illuminated a seven-story statue of Jesus at night. But local donors gave money to pay the electric bill and turn the lights back on the statue on Dec. 14.
Charles Cross, president of Cornerstone Bank, said it’s fine with him if Christy raises the money to pay the bank and keep the Passion Play operating.
“We’re certainly open to that,” Cross said. “If a miracle could happen, or something good could happen out there, we’re all for that.”
Cross wouldn’t discuss the Passion Play’s finances but said the decision to turn the property over to the bank on Dec. 31 was an amicable one.
Keith Butler, chairman of the nonprofit Elna M. Smith Foundation, which operated the Passion Play, said a total of $110,000 is owed to the bank now, and that includes $35,000 in property taxes. But the deed in lieu of foreclosure could be postponed with payment of $75,000 to the bank, he said.
Butler said Christy contacted him last week wanting to help.
“Mr. Christy has many contacts that might be willing to donate to the play,” Butler said via e-mail.
Christy said he feels that saving the play is a calling.
“I’m passionate about it,” he said. “I’m called. I just really feel led. I drove up there the other day, and I just felt an overwhelming sense that I was supposed to be there. Our organization is all about the message of Jesus Christ, and there’s no greater display of that message that I know of than the Passion Play . It’s an icon in our region.”
Christy said he wants The Gospel Station Network, which owns 25 radio stations, to be a partner with the Passion Play for its 2013 season and possibly buy the play after that. He said some changes will be made. The play could be marketed better, the staff would be cut back from what it was, and the script might be changed, he said.
“It’s going to be very Scripturally accurate, not that it wasn’t,” said Christy. “We want to make sure to ensure the accuracy of the play to the Scripture, because that’s how it needs to be preserved for future generations. ... The number one thing to save is the message of Jesus Christ in our society.”
Christy said he hopes to use more volunteers instead of paid staff at the Passion Play.
Christy said attendance at the Passion Play had dropped to fewer than 50,000 per season. That number needs to be 100,000 to make the budgetwork, he said. Attendance at the Passion Play peaked in 1992 at 289,212, Butler said.
A plea for the Passion Play is prominently displayed on The Gospel Station Network’s website, thegospelstation.com.
“The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs is in serious financial trouble and will cease to exist without our help,” it states.
Christy said saving the Passion Play will have to be a community effort.
“This is not a case of a white knight coming to town with a checkbook to save the day,” he said. “We’re going to rally the people to save the Passion Play, but if the people are not willing to give we won’t be able to save it.”
A “donate” tab on the left side of the website directs people to a page where they can give online to the Passion Play by checking the appropriate circle on the lower right side.
Christy said he will speak at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday so he can tell Eureka Springs business leaders about his plan for keeping the PassionPlay operating. The meeting will be held in Smith Chapel on the Passion Play grounds. Mike Bishop, president of the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, said anyone who’s interested can attend.
Gerald L.K. Smith came up with the idea for the Passion Play and the Christ of the Ozarks statue, which overlooks Eureka Springs from Magnetic Mountain. Both were built by the foundation that bears his wife’s name: the Elna M. Smith Foundation. The statue was completed in 1966.
Gerald L.K. Smith, who was known for his far-right activism, ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate and president several times. His last presidential race was in 1956. The couple moved to Eureka Springs in 1964. Gerald L.K. Smith died in 1976. Elna Smith died in 1981.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 12/25/2012