Reaching ‘the lost’ mission of Journey

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 11, 2016

LaGRANGE — The community will once again have a chance to see what the end of times might be like.

Judgement Journey, a 45-minute walkthrough event now in its 20th year, shows visitors what the end of times could be like, according to the Bible.

The annual event takes place at Faith Baptist Church, 552 Hammett Road, and kicked off last weekend. It continues each Friday and Saturday through Nov. 5 and is open to the public.

The event has been held every year since October 1997. It was first put together by Ray Ham, who was the pastor at the time and who is now currently a detective with the LaGrange Police Department, and by Brandon Brooks, who is now pastoring a church in Franklin.

“We put the event on for the first time since 1997 and we spent about $30,000 on it, and last year, we spent $200,000,” said Faith Baptist Church Pastor Donald Yancey.

The journey takes place on the church campus on a nature trail and is presented to the public when it’s completely dark outside. The event usually sees 1,800 people come through each night, and each year there are typically a good amount of church buses from multiple states that come to witness Judgement Journey.

Yancey said the journey is anything but scary.

“What we want people to take from this is the importance of time,” Yancey said. “We want people to realize that they need to get saved and get their hearts in the right place and become a child of God before it’s too late.”

Yancey said that the church starts making plans for Judgement Journey in May. He said the church is always looking to make adjustments to the scenes to improve the overall experience for the attendees.

“If there is a single reason we put on Judgment Journey, it is to reach the lost,” Yancey said.

Volunteers set up for the 2016 Judgement Journey Friday. The annual event kicked off last weekend.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/10/web1__DSC0039-1.jpgVolunteers set up for the 2016 Judgement Journey Friday. The annual event kicked off last weekend.

Judgement Journey takes place at Faith Baptist Church in LaGrange.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/10/web1__DSC0032-1.jpgJudgement Journey takes place at Faith Baptist Church in LaGrange.

In its 20th year, church’s event now underway

By James Simpson II

jsimpson@civitasmedia.com

Reach James Simpson II 706-884-7311, ext, 2155, or by email at jsimpson@civitasmedia.com.