By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 7, 1999

PAULINA – The image was striking – a procession along the crown of the levee, led by Roman centurions on horseback, leading a man dragging a heavy, wooden cross.

Greater Evergreen Baptist Church of Paulina hosted its second re- enactment of the Crucifixion on Good Friday, illustrating the anguish and sacrifice endured by Christ.

“It’s just to portray to people exactly what happened during the Crucifixion and understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us,” commented narrator Judy Ezidore. “It’s a wonderful message.”The Rev. Nolan Albert explained that the church first cooperated withother area churches on the production in 1997. None was held last year,and this year, the church decided to present it alone.

In the role of Christ was the Rev. Louis Russell Jr., the church’s assistantpastor. With long, bedraggled hair, smears of blood and a crown of thorns,he gazed skyward and called for forgiveness for his tormentors.

After the half-mile walk along the levee from Grand Point Road, trailed by congregation members in the roles of mourners, Russell reached the three large, wooden crosses erected on the levee, facing the church.

There, he joined Travis Davis and Milton Singleton, in their roles of the two thieves, and exchanged the dialogue reported in the Gospels. Beforethe cross, Pharisees and soldiers mocked Christ, while Bennie Faye Albert, in the role of Mary, wailed her grief.

Other cast members included Eldrine Albert, Derayne Franklin, Milton Singleton, Ashlon Albert, Jerron Jackson, Sammy Johnson and Jerry Jones as soldiers, Dewayne Johnson as the lead centurion and Wayne Albert as the Chief Priest.

Organizers were Fay Jenkins, Monica Clayton, Janice Singleton and Deidre Taylor.

The re-enactment was chillingly realistic in the hot sun, while clouds scudded across the sky and wind sometimes stirred the white robes. Onealmost expected thunder and lightning, and the church’s sound system obliged with prerecorded thunder at the appropriate moments.

Beneath a tent, church elders shielded themselves and after the death of Christ, the choir performed.

The presentation drew passing motorists to slow down, and some stopped to watch the dramatic display. Neighbors stepped out of their homes tolikewise watch the performance, designed to hit home with the true impact of Christ’s gift to humanity.

“It’s a wonderful message,” Ezidore said.

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