WILLIAMSTON — A small community church in Williamston kicks off its 36^th season of the Message of Easter, a dramatization of the last days of Jesus.

Piney Grove Baptist Church in the Farm Life community of Martin County will present its annual 90-minute outdoor drama, which tells of the last days of Jesus straight from scripture, according to Sarah Hodges, church member and director of the production. Thursday night, the church started the season with its annual Spanish performance, and last night, it presented its first showing in English. The church continues the production tonight and tomorrow night — a special presentation for the hearing impaired — at 8 p.m. and April 2 through April 5 at 8 p.m. each night. The production is free and open to the public. Picnic facilities are available to those wishing to bring dinner before the performance, and handicap parking is also available.

Written by the late E.T. Taylor, who was a member of the church, the production in its entirety is put on by members of the church, Hodges said. Taylor had a vision of the small church sharing the message each year and that vision has become a tradition among all generations of the church. The production started out small, presented in a church member’s front yard, and has since grown into an event with an attendance of up to 1,000 people at times, Hodges said.

“E.T. had a vision for this play to be done,” Hodges said. “He convinced a little country church that they could do this. We’ve been sharing this message each year, and we’re glad to have that opportunity. To me, it’s remarkable — it’s grown into something really remarkable.”

The production continues to be handed down to younger generations of the church, who step up and take on more responsibility within the production as other members either age out or step back in order for the church’s youth to participate, Hodges said. Hodges, herself, started being apart of the production at the age of nine and since has been active in different facets of the drama, now serving as director.

“I think my favorite part is seeing our young people participate — the way our teenagers have grabbed ownership,” Hodges said. “I try to reinforce giving them those opportunities because if it’s going to go another 30 to 35 years, that’s what has to happen.”

However, the church’s main focus is the ministry it has created in its own backyard, Hodges said. Residents from the surrounding area and even guests from outlying areas come to witness the dramatization, which is produced in multiple ways to fit the needs of those in the area. A friend of the church, a lady from Wilson, comes and signs the entire program in American Sign Language for the hearing impaired version of the play. Another church friend, Cipriano Moreno, comes to the area to narrate the play in Spanish for Spanish-speaking attendees on the night the play is presented in Spanish, Hodges said.

“If one person hears the story, especially if it’s for the first time, then it’s all been worth it,” Hodges said. “We’re thrilled to get that message going. It’s not about us — it’s about getting the message out. It’s pretty remarkable to watch it all come together.”

For more information, including directions to the church, visit the Message of Easter online at www.messageofeaster.org, or email at themessageofeaster@gmail.com.