Lighthouse Church Presents Powerful Messiah Production in McIntosh County

Annual Easter play draws over 1,200 attendees to witness the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:14pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic religious object such as a cross or communion cup, repeated in a tight grid pattern in the style of Andy Warhol, conceptually representing the powerful gospel message at the heart of the Messiah production.The Lighthouse Church's annual Messiah production brings the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection to life through an immersive theatrical experience that captivates the local community.Eufaula Today

The Lighthouse Church in Eufaula, Oklahoma, presented its annual Messiah production over the course of two nights, drawing nearly 1,200 attendees who were captivated by the powerful reenactment of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The production featured a talented cast and crew, state-of-the-art technology, and moving musical performances that brought the Easter story to life in a immersive and impactful way for the local community.

Why it matters

The Messiah production is an important annual outreach event for the Lighthouse Church, providing the community with a free, high-quality theatrical experience that brings the gospel message to life. In a time when the world seems increasingly lost, the production serves as a powerful reminder of the redemption found in the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The details

The Messiah production featured a cast of 85 actors, a choir of 17 singers, and a production crew of 20 individuals handling audio, visual, lighting, and special effects. The show included new scenes and songs added this year by drama director Rhea Parish and choir director Kelly Parish. Highlights included a moving dance performance to the song 'Blood of Christ' and powerful crucifixion and resurrection scenes that visibly moved the audience. Lead pastor John Parish emphasized that the purpose of the production is to share the story of Jesus in a way that brings people to the 'Biblical truth that we all need the Savior'.

  • The Messiah production took place over the course of two nights during Easter weekend 2026.
  • The Lighthouse Church began rehearsals for the production in January 2026, practicing every Monday night leading up to the performances.

The players

Andy Parish

Lighthouse youth pastor who portrayed Jesus in the Messiah production.

Jonathan Parish

Lighthouse associate pastor who played the role of the devil and also worked behind the scenes on the production.

John Parish

Lead pastor of the Lighthouse Church who led the congregation in the prayer of salvation after the performance.

Rhea Parish

Drama director who added new scenes and songs to the Messiah performance this year.

Kelly Parish

Choir director who worked with Rhea Parish to add new elements to the Messiah production.

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What they’re saying

“The Messiah program is one of the various ministries of the Lighthouse. It's an effective way to illustrate the passion of Jesus Christ to our community. Through dedication, commitment, and faithful service, our entire church body becomes a part of the Easter story.”

— Andy Parish, Lighthouse youth pastor

“This was our 2nd production since we remodeled the stage in the late spring of 2022, adding a 12-foot by 20-foot LED big screen. The screen helps us present this production, as well as other events and services, on a different level than before. It allows us to tell the story of Jesus and worship our sooncoming Messiah in a totally immersive way.”

— Jonathan Parish, Lighthouse associate pastor

“The purpose of The Messiah Production is to be an outreach ministry to the community to tell the story of Jesus in such a way that it brings people in and they return to the Biblical truth that we all need the Savior. Without the redemption of the cross and the Blood of Christ we would all be lost, but Christ died so we could have life.”

— John Parish, Lighthouse lead pastor

What’s next

The Lighthouse Church plans to continue presenting the Messiah production as an annual Easter tradition, with rehearsals beginning again in January 2027 for the next performance.

The takeaway

The Messiah production at the Lighthouse Church demonstrates the power of the arts to share the gospel message and draw the community together around the life-changing story of Jesus Christ. By investing in high-quality production values and an immersive theatrical experience, the church is able to effectively communicate the hope and redemption found in the Easter narrative.