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Florida legislator invites colleagues to 'Passion' viewing
Mar 16, 2004
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-A member of the Florida House of Representatives has kept his annual tradition of extending a gift to his colleagues in the legislature.

This year he invited all 120 members of the House and the 40 members of the Senate to take a guest to a special private showing of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ."

Dennis Baxley

Rep. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala), a member of First Baptist Church, Belleview, told Florida Baptist Witness he had heard about how the movie was impacting people across the country.

"The more I thought about this and prayed about it, I thought, 'What better gift than the presentation of 'The Passion of The Christ?'" Baxley said.

In Tallahassee since 2000, Baxley meets weekly with other legislators for Bible study and fellowship. In the past, Baxley has welcomed legislators to the session with gifts like journals and coffee cups.

At his last count, Baxley said he anticipated a "full house" at the 179-seat theater at a Tallahassee mall March 16.

The Passion of the Christ button link

"My prayer is that this will encouarge other people to use the opportunity to share what we believe and for each of us who are believers to reach a new awareness of how much God loves us," said Baxley.

Of "The Passion" and his inspiration to give this gift, Baxley surmised: "It's a God thing. I didn't expect this momentum, but it's there. 'The Passion' is certainly a tool and experience for our culture and our time. It's having a tremendous impact."

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