Forest Lake Academy students and staff, members and staff from local churches, and approximately 600 volunteers from the community came together to bring the story of Jesus to life on Easter Sabbath. “The Risen Experience,” a two-hour outdoor interactive experience, was hosted on the campuses of Forest Lake Church and Forest Lake Academy in Apopka, Florida.
This free event ministered to many people and provided accessible parking and mobility assistance for all guests. There was a specific focus on outreach throughout the event, including opportunities to meet with cast members and church volunteers.
The two-mile walk was designed to allow attendees to experience first-century A.D. as well as the final days of Christ on Earth prior to His resurrection. The event kicked off inside the Forest Lake Church sanctuary with an orientation/overview, live music, and a greeting from Mary Magdalene with an invitation to follow her to meet Jesus in Jerusalem. From there, the walk-through was nonstop action where actors and staff engaged with guests as if they were real time travelers to the city of Jerusalem with food and lodging needs.
On the way to Jerusalem, guests encountered other travelers, including a camel with his handler, and a colony of lepers just outside the city. As guests entered Jerusalem, the marketplace was impressive — a truly immersive experience — where guests encountered live animals, musicians, merchants, artists, cloth and papyrus makers, basket weavers, and more. The marketplace gave way to the scene from the Last Supper, where guests experienced Jesus’ final moments with His entire group of disciples as He carried out the first communion. Then guests traveled on to the Garden of Gethsemane where event creators imagined the battle between good and evil as Jesus wrestled with the path before Him, and His disciples returned to their slumber again and again.
Jesus was next seen before the unrelenting Caiaphas, and the crowd was encouraged to participate in the trial. Then Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands after the crowd chose to release Barabbas instead of Jesus. Guests then walked along with Jesus as He carried the cross to Golgotha for scenes from the crucifixion where followers of Jesus worshiped and mourned at His feet. Finally, guests made their way to the resurrection, where their imagination was captured as they were swept up in the joy of Jesus’ followers.
As guests participated in the journey, they were no longer spectators, but became part of the story. This could particularly be felt as they walked beside Christ as He carried the cross to Golgotha.
Advice from the locals to guests as they traveled through the experience:
- Do not stray or straggle, or Roman soldiers will assist you to your group.
- Keep a watchful eye on the lepers outside the city.
- Do your best to avoid the zealous tax collectors.
Welcomers to “The Risen Experience” communicated to guests that the purpose of the program was to know Jesus, to see His love and what He has done for them, and to know what He can and will do in their lives. All participants and actors were passionate and thoughtful in their performances. Beautiful live music was heard throughout, including solos sung at several locations.
Overall, the organization was impressive, allowing more than 1,000 guests to have an enjoyable and memorable experience. One attendee said, “My family and I have been watching The Chosen [TV series], and “The Risen Experience” has brought these events to life in a wonderful, dramatic way.”
is assistant professor and director of clinical education at South College.
Florida | July 2024
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