HR 1039

1 State of Arkansas
2 95th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2026  HR 1039
4
5 By: Representative Lundstrum
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8HOUSE RESOLUTION
9TO RECOGNIZE RANDALL CHRISTY FOR SAVING THE GREAT
10PASSION PLAY IN ARKANSAS AND TO CELEBRATE THE
11SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "NATIONAL WONDER IN THE
12NATURAL STATE" CHRIST OF THE OZARKS STATUE.
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15Subtitle
16TO RECOGNIZE RANDALL CHRISTY FOR SAVING
17THE GREAT PASSION PLAY IN ARKANSAS AND
18TO CELEBRATE THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF
19THE "NATIONAL WONDER IN THE NATURAL
20STATE" CHRIST OF THE OZARKS STATUE.
21
22WHEREAS, the Great Passion Play, the Christ of the Ozarks statue, the
23 Bible Museum, the Sacred Arts Center, and the New Holy Land in Eureka
24 Springs, Arkansas, are the Five Sacred Projects of the Elna M. Smith
25 Foundation, created by Gerald L. K. Smith and Elna M. Smith in 1965; and
26
27WHEREAS, the first performance of the Great Passion Play took place on
28 July 14, 1968; and
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30WHEREAS, in November of 2012, the Elna M. Smith Foundation announced
31 that it would close the Great Passion Play after forty-six (46) years of
32 productions due to a lack of funds; and
33
34WHEREAS, Randall Christy, the founder of The Gospel Station Network,
35 sought to raise seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in 2012 to ensure the
36 future of the Great Passion Play, stating, "I believe the Lord has led us to
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  HR1039
1 Eureka Springs because I don’t believe God wants the Passion Play to close. I
2 believe He wants the Passion Play to stay open and improve for future
3 generations. God can do it through all of us and many others collectively.";
4 and
5
6WHEREAS, Christy raised seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in ten
7 (10) days securing the 2013 season of the production; and
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9WHEREAS, more than eight million (8,000,000) people from around the
10 world have attended the Great Passion Play, making it the outdoor play with
11 the largest attendance in the United States; and
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13WHEREAS, Christy continues working for the improvement of the Great
14 Passion Play, and is raising funds to build a replica of Ein Gedi, a
15 baptismal that will be heated and used twelve (12) months of the year at the
16 Great Passion Play; and
17
18WHEREAS, overlooking the amphitheater where the Great Passion Play
19 takes place, the Christ of the Ozarks statue stands seven (7) stories high
20 and required three hundred forty (340) tons of concrete to create its
21 foundation; and
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23WHEREAS, the Christ of the Ozarks statue is one of the most visited
24 attractions in the Ozarks; and
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26WHEREAS, the Christ of the Ozarks statute was dedicated on June 25,
27 1966, and will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary this year,
28
29 NOW THEREFORE,
30 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
31 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
32
33THAT the House of Representatives recognize Randall Christy for his
34 contributions that saved the Great Passion Play and celebrate the sixtieth
35 anniversary of the "National Wonder in the Natural State" Christ of the
36 Ozarks statue.
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  HR1039
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2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be
3 presented to Randall Christy by the Chief Clerk of the House of
4 Representatives.
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