TO RECOGNIZE RANDALL CHRISTY FOR SAVING THE GREAT PASSION PLAY IN ARKANSAS AND TO CELEBRATE THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "NATIONAL WONDER IN THE NATURAL STATE" CHRIST OF THE OZARKS STATUE.

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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 HR 1039 3
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By: Representative Lundstrum 5
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HOUSE RESOLUTION 8
TO RECOGNIZE RANDALL CHRISTY FOR SAVING THE GREAT 9
PASSION PLAY IN ARKANSAS AND TO CELEBRATE THE 10
SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "NATIONAL WONDER IN THE 11
NATURAL STATE" CHRIST OF THE OZARKS STATUE. 12
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TO RECOGNIZE RANDALL CHRISTY FOR SAVING 16
THE GREAT PASSION PLAY IN ARKANSAS AND 17
TO CELEBRATE THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF 18
THE "NATIONAL WONDER IN THE NATURAL 19
STATE" CHRIST OF THE OZARKS STATUE. 20
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WHEREAS, the Great Passion Play, the Christ of the Ozarks statue, the 22
Bible Museum, the Sacred Arts Center, and the New Holy Land in Eureka 23
Springs, Arkansas, are the Five Sacred Projects of the Elna M. Smith 24
Foundation, created by Gerald L. K. Smith and Elna M. Smith in 1965; and 25
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WHEREAS, the first performance of the Great Passion Play took place on 27
July 14, 1968; and 28
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WHEREAS, in November of 2012, the Elna M. Smith Foundation announced 30
that it would close the Great Passion Play after forty-six (46) years of 31
productions due to a lack of funds; and 32
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WHEREAS, Randall Christy, the founder of The Gospel Station Network, 34
sought to raise seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in 2012 to ensure the 35
future of the Great Passion Play, stating, "I believe the Lord has led us to 36
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Eureka Springs because I don’t believe God wants the Passion Play to close. I 1
believe He wants the Passion Play to stay open and improve for future 2
generations. God can do it through all of us and many others collectively."; 3
and 4
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WHEREAS, Christy raised seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in ten 6
(10) days securing the 2013 season of the production; and 7
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WHEREAS, more than eight million (8,000,000) people from around the 9
world have attended the Great Passion Play, making it the outdoor play with 10
the largest attendance in the United States; and 11
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WHEREAS, Christy continues working for the improvement of the Great 13
Passion Play, and is raising funds to build a replica of Ein Gedi, a 14
baptismal that will be heated and used twelve (12) months of the year at the 15
Great Passion Play; and 16
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WHEREAS, overlooking the amphitheater where the Great Passion Play 18
takes place, the Christ of the Ozarks statue stands seven (7) stories high 19
and required three hundred forty (340) tons of concrete to create its 20
foundation; and 21
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WHEREAS, the Christ of the Ozarks statue is one of the most visited 23
attractions in the Ozarks; and 24
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WHEREAS, the Christ of the Ozarks statute was dedicated on June 25, 26
1966, and will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary this year, 27
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NOW THEREFORE, 29
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 30
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 31
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THAT the House of Representatives recognize Randall Christy for his 33
contributions that saved the Great Passion Play and celebrate the sixtieth 34
anniversary of the "National Wonder in the Natural State" Christ of the 35
Ozarks statue. 36
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be 2
presented to Randall Christy by the Chief Clerk of the House of 3
Representatives. 4
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