Stories & Essays: Welcome to Judgement House

Every year, the conservative Christian congregation at Bethel Baptist Church holds a Judgement House, a walk-through dramatization of choices and consequences that lead to either heaven or hell. Their goal is to win souls.

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Christina Cash, playing an angel, stands ready for the next tour group. At left is Dick Cheliras as God.
  
Tim Bean (left), portraying Satan, rehearses the Hell scene with Kelly Hendricks and Tim Bullard.
  
Tour guides Brenda Swartz and Rebecca Ives go over logistic plans in the hallway of Bethel Baptist Church. Behind them are murals of Bible stories.
     
  
Bobby DiFernando lies in a fake pool of blood while portraying a man shot by home invaders.
   
A tour group watches a scene. More than 1500 people went through the tour over the course of the weekend. After going through Judgement House, visitors are asked by a pastor if they would be like to saved and if they want access to a church counselor. The church keeps track of the number of salvations and re-dedications.
  
Joe Patch (right) grabs a drink of water between acting for groups. In the Judgement House play, the character, who had not been saved, is sent to hell despite being "a good person."
     
  
Actors portraying sufferers in hell pray during a break between groups. Participants in each scene pray between every tour group for God to work through them.
  
Shannon Vellines weeps while talking with church counselor Susan Cruthers after going through Judgement House. "Toward the end it really starts sparking the emotion," Vellines said. "It definitely makes you stop."