Heaven’s Gates Attracts Hundreds

Over 450 make decisions for Christ

April 2nd, 2006

Crowds gathered at 5:00 PM each evening. Hundreds made their way to the eighth season of the area’s most sought-after drama – Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames. Blue lights flashed each evening as traffic moved to 903 South Catherine Creek Road to get in line for the Reality Outreach Ministry production hosted by Carpenter’s Shop Church and Murfreesboro Assembly of God.

“It’s just a God-thing!” says Wallace Phillips, Senior Pastor of the host church. “You can’t humanly produce the kind of results we see each season of Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” he added. Over 450 individuals moved to the altars of repentance from Sunday to Tuesday evening. People were broken in spirit as they made their way to receive Christ after a ninety minute encounter with real-life situation skits performed by members of the two churches.

Gary Felton as "Jesus"

Each scene begins with normal life activity – work, travel, sports, social life, and the natural aging process. Each scene ends with the destiny that we all face – death. Once deceased, individuals are faced with the ultimate question – “Is my name in the Book?” The Book of Life holds the names of all who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. The Head Angel (Debra Morris) slowly moved her finger across the page to pronounce the eternal destiny of every inquirer. If their name was found in the Book, Christ (Gary Felton) appears to welcome the soul to eternity with Him. If their name was not found, Satan (Rich Burkett) quickly emerged from a technological hell to welcome his victims to eternity without God.

Richard Burkett as "Satan"

“It’s just one of the methods of reaching people that we continue to find success in,” said Phillips. Night after night people gathered to experience Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames in the comfort of one of the areas most progressive ministries. Carpenter’s Shop Church and Murfreesboro Assembly of God are both affiliates of the General Council of the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Missouri.