Churches' pledge lures 'Passion' to town

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) -- A group of Great Falls pastors have succeeded in bringing Mel Gibson's movie about Jesus' last hours to Great Falls, starting on Ash Wednesday -- and continuing for four weeks.
The Rev. Cory Engel, of Harvest Springs Community Church, spearheaded an effort by local evangelical churches to get "The Passion of the Christ" brought here by pledging to buy large numbers of tickets.
"I'm absolutely thrilled," he said.
The movie is scheduled to debut on 2,000 screens nationwide Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25. Randy Boleman, west division manager for Carmike Cinemas Inc., said Carmike will open it that day in most of its 300 locations.
In Montana it is scheduled to open in Great Falls, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Missoula and Helena.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Christian Lent, the 40-day period leading to Easter.