Each Easter Sunday, people pack various churches and other houses of worship to intently observe and listen to pastors tell the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But this past Easter Sunday night, one woman was a cut above the rest.

Christal H. Walker, producer, director and narrator of the second annual play and musical, Love Equals An Empty Tomb: The Story of Christ’s Passion, at the Colony Theater on Lincoln Road on Miami Beach, told a passionate story covering the plot to kill Jesus, The Last Supper and His betrayal and arrest – all leading to his death, burial and Resurrection.

Walker, who founded Bible Out Loud Ministries, has a passion for presenting live performances of the Bible to the public. A raconteur, she donned several different costumes on stage, designed by Reginald Symonette, to reflect the time period of the Resurrection as she explained that Jesus returned to bodily life on the third day following his death by Crucifixion.

“It is a key element of Christian faith,” Walker said.

A cast of teenagers portraying Jesus’ disciples helped her depict the events of His Crucifixion and Resurrection, while several portraits formed the back drop for the drama.

As the “disciples” dramatized what took place, Walker related that after the Romans crucified Jesus, He was buried in a new tomb but rose from the dead and appeared to many people over a span of 40 days before returning to Heaven.

“He was the son of God,” she said. “They wrapped His body and [took]Him to His new tomb.”

After the discovery of the empty tomb, the Gospels indicate, Jesus made a series of appearances to His disciples, Walker said.

Martha Branson, a 58-year-old avid churchgoer, was moved to tears by the drama that unfolded on the stage, “praising his name every time.”

“The message is always touching because He died for us,” Branson said.

Berry Jackson echoed her sentiments, saying, “He lifted our spirits for what he did for us.”

The music of the play also framed the experiences of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection through Gospel words from a song titled, Were you there when they crucified Him?

Lead vocalists Wendell A. Morrison and Tonyessa Pierre and music director and vocalist Marian Rolle-Morrison gave a stirring rendition of the song. Cleaveland Curry was the musician behind the sounds to match
the lyrics.

Betty D. Walker was the executive producer of the play and Julia E. Brown served a director of marketing, promotions and public relations for
the show.