Nearly 2,800 guests toured “Messiah’s Mansion,” a full-sized replica of the Old Testament tabernacle, on display in the parking lot of the Ventura church. According to Pastor Jim Ayars, most visitors came from the community, including groups from area churches and Christian schools.

“We received one request from the Mormon community to have a special tour for their high school students at 6:15 a.m., when their students usually meet for religious instruction,” he said. “They were impressed by the fact that their tour guides were fellow high-school-age students.”

Messiah’s Mansion was built by students of Oklahoma Academy and travels with nearly a dozen students. In Ventura, director Clayton Leinneweber led a team of sophomores, who helped with logistics and narrated at each of the exhibit’s five stations. Narrators explained the articles at each station, giving their symbolic meanings and spiritual applications.

Surveys at the final station gave visitors a chance to share their reactions to what they had seen and to request additional information. Sanctuary books and materials were also available at tables manned by student literature evangelists.

“Messiah’s Mansion was planned as our fourth-quarter evangelism for 2007, since it covers all of our doctrines except the state of the dead,” Ayars reflected. “We learned that every church group visiting the tour had either recently studied, was currently studying, or was about to begin studying the meaning of the sanctuary as part of their Sunday School curriculum or small-group studies. What we are seeing is an explosion of interest in the subject. It is time for us to fill the gap in knowledge.”

Confirming Ayars’ statement, 128 visitors requested more studies on the sanctuary. In addition, 208 people asked for additional Bible studies and 67 parents requested more information on Christian education.

“After touring the exhibit, several individuals called friends and returned with them the next day,” remarked Ayars. “The tour groups thus kept multiplying in size. Several entire congregations came through together. As a religious field trip, local Christian high schools brought their whole student body.”

As SCC staff members Brian and Diane Hamilton completed their tour of the exhibits, they met a woman who asked to see the pastor, so they brought her to Ayars. “I want to attend your church,” she told him.

“Throughout the two weeks we’ve been here,” noted Leinneweber, “I’ve been hearing people say the same thing.”