After inspiring millions and filling theaters across the globe, “The Passion” is coming to MSU Thursday night.
The Campus Activities Board, along with five other sponsors, planned a showing of the hit film in the Humphrey Coliseum at 7 p.m.
“It’s not normal for us to show more than one film per month,” Dee Dallas, head of CAB’s film and recreation, said.
However after being approached by certain organizations during the summer, Dee said CAB decided to work toward getting the film once school started.
Since CAB had already budgeted for this year’s films, “The Passion” needed outside funding, Dallas explained. Different campus ministries were asked to help in the funding of the event.
Hugh Griffith, the campus minister for the Wesley Foundation, said his organization’s role has been to share the financial burden of showing the film, along with aiding in publicity.
Along with Wesley Foundation, the Baptist Student Union, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Catholic Student Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council are sponsoring “The Passion” viewing.
Dallas said CAB chose to show the film, which carries an R rating for graphic violence, at the coliseum because organizers felt that it would be inappropriate to view on the Drill Field where children could pass by.
Michael Ball, BSU’s director, said in addition to offering financial support to CAB, BSU members will also be providing counseling to people after the show is over.
“We have students who will be there to counsel or pray with students who need help after the movie,” Ball said.
Griffith said he thought there were two groups who might go see the movie: people who may have missed the film the first time and others who want to watch it again.
Ball said his organization wanted to support “The Passion” because of how it accurately portrays the life of Christ, and offered encouragement for people to come see the film.
“It’s a very powerful movie and can change someone’s life,” Ball explained. “Our main goal isn’t to increase the BSU attendance, but to use this opportunity as a campus outreach effort. We’re hoping people who haven’t stepped in a church, or even one of our organizations, will come.”
Griffith said “The Passion” was a movie that had such a high impact because of it’s account of what Jesus did, and that there was something about seeing the movie with a large group of people that gave the movie a greater significance.
As with all CAB movies, admission is free, and the coliseum’s doors will open at 6 p.m.