Judgment Day is coming and if you don’t make your way to Houston Road Baptist Church in Laurel, you just might miss it.

The church at 217 Houston Road is presenting a walk through drama called “Judgment Day” Thursday through Friday as an alternative to Halloween. It can be compared to the traditional haunted houses that are popular during Halloween season, but Judgment Day is much more.

It’s a presentation about people’s choices and the consequences they face both in this life and the next.

“Judgment Day is a Halloween alternative that presents the gospel of Jesus Christ,” explained Parker McCurley, the director of the drama. “We’ve done this for several years and we have seen many conversions come through this.

“We invite the Holy Spirit to come and help us to lead people to the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This year our theme is the rapture.”

Although the word rapture is not mentioned in the Scripture, it’s the term Christendom uses to describe the event found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 in which God removes all believers from the earth during what is known as the tribulation period. The specific Scriptures of reference are I Thessalonians 4: 16-17: “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (NIV)

McCurley said as people walk through the drama, people disappear and those who are left behind go through the judgment. There is a scene of the White Throne Judgment where people stand before God and his son, Jesus Christ, to answer for the lives they lived on earth. Some went to heaven, while others were cast into the lake of fire.

Judgment Day can be seen Oct. 29 from 6:30-10 p.m.; Oct. 30 from 3-6:30 p.m.; Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. until and Nov. 1 from 3-10 p.m. There is no admission cost.

A number of churches and other outlets are hosting fall festivals for those who want to avoid the “scariness” associated with Halloween. The following is a partial list of festivals and other Halloween alternations:

• The Friends of the Ellisville Public Library and Ellisville Public Library will host a special Halloween celebration Oct. 29 at 3:30 pm. Special stories and snacks provided by the Friends will be shared. For more information, call (601) 477-9271.

• There will be a Halloween Spooktacular Horse Show Oct. 31 at the Silver Stirrup Saddle Club in Laurel. There will be lots of games for kids and a space jump and costume contest. For more information, please call 601-580-3603 or 601-649-0440.

• Mt. Vernon Church is hosting an “Ole Tyme Fall Festival” Oct. 31 from 2-5 p.m. at Landrum’s Homestead & Village. There will be a “Mystery House” food, games, maze, children’s costume contest (dress up like biblical characters, pioneers, etc.) Admission is free. For more informaction, call 601-649-1799.   

• Greater Laurel United Pentecostal Church will be having a Fall Festival from 3- 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. There will be games, food, a petting zoo, a cake walk and lots of fun. The public is invited to attend.

• Friendship Baptist Church, 116 Custom Ave. in Laurel will have a “Christian Treat Day” from 12-4 p.m. Oct. 31 in the church parking lot. There will be food, games, space jump, face painting, and fellowship. All children will receive a goody bag.