Texas churches seek to take advantage of Gibson's "Passion"

The Associated Press

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is among many Texas churches and groups who see the Feb. 25 opening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" movie as an opportunity for outreach.
Among other Texans' plans: Dallas-based Interstate Battery plans to redesign its NASCAR race car's exterior to promote the film.

Arch Bonnema, a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, has bought out all 20 auditoriums at Cinemark Tinseltown to show the movie the morning of the opening. The total number of tickets Bonnema is giving away: 6,000.

The Garland-based American Tract Society has produced two new pieces of Christian literature, or tracts, that attempt to answer one question posed by the movie: Who is responsible for Jesus' death?
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi is planning a television ad campaign on local television throughout much of February to promote the movie.

In Austin, several churches are planning Lenten series based on the movie and asking rabbis to illuminate the Jewish perspective.

Need Him, a national support ministry based in Carrollton, is offering a toll-free phone number in print, radio and in-theater ads, where people can call and a volunteer will answer questions about God and how someone can have a relationship with Christ.

Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth is reserving theaters for two nights in late February for "inviter outreach" events. The pastor plans to offer an invitation for people to accept Christ at the movie's end.

SOURCE: Associated Press interviews and Dallas-based A. Larry Ross Communications, which is handling publicity for the movie.