Pastor Seeks Space in Denver Area for Haunted House Depicting ‘Sins’ of AIDS, Homosexuality
Rev. Keenan Roberts, pastor of Destiny Church of the Assemblies of God in Broomfield, Colo., is currently looking for a space to hold a haunted house that depicts various "sinners," including women who have had abortions, teenagers who have engaged in premarital sex, gay people and people with AIDS, the Associated Press reports. Roberts produced the haunted house at the Abundant Life Christian Center in Arvada, Colo., from 1995 until 2001, when he left the church (Associated Press, 8/19). Past haunted houses -- known as "Hell Houses" -- have included rooms depicting the funeral of a person with AIDS and depicting a woman showing her aborted fetus what life would have been like had it not been aborted, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Although Roberts said that similar haunted houses were put on in the 1970s, he has "packaged the concept," selling $200 kits to churches or other organizations that might want to produce their own Hell House, the News reports. According to Roberts, sales of the kits and ticket sales to his own Hell House raised more than $30,000 annually. Due to the space constraints of his new church, Roberts is now looking for a 12,000 square foot warehouse or office space in which to produce the event (Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News, 8/19). Roberts said that he does not want to miss another year of producing Hell House. "None of us is guaranteed another year," he said, adding, "Some people could lose their life before next year rolls around. They need the opportunity to make a decision for Christ and to spend eternity with him. Time is of the essence" (Associated Press, 8/19).
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