Contact: Rose Fletcher (301) 297-7625 urbanchange@msn.com www.urbanchange.net For Immediate Release:
The “Church Mafia” Stage Play Opens To Rave Reviews Special Encore` Performance Of Controversial “Church Mafia” Play Former Insider Exposes Alarming Secrets Hidden Inside Many Churches
November 21, 2007 – Jay Cameron and Urban Change will present a special encore performance of “Church Mafia” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st and 15th, 2007 at The Life Center for the Performing Arts, 5610 Linda Lane in Camp Springs, MD.
Amidst a frightening trend of countless recent church scandals and widespread public disillusionment about religion and the church, Jay Camerons courageous new stage play “Church Mafia” is based on a true story and exposes the schemes many churches and cults use to abuse and control their members. This problem is not rare but rampant in society and is marked by a manipulative, deceptive mindset from which no denomination, race or geographic region is immune.
Whenever someone hears the play’s title for the first time, their eyebrows rise. Curiosity about the underlying concept sparks energetic conversations. Most people don’t naturally think of the terms “Church” and “Mafia” as related ones but Jay Cameron does and he thinks everyone else should also. Although the phrase evokes mental images of organized crime figures dressed in clergy robes, meeting secretly with their entourages standing guard after Sunday worship services, he’s not talking about fiction. He used to be a central figure in a group he now can only describe as a church mafia.
Some of the compelling questions he has asked himself in preparation for this play are: “What makes people join an organization that controls and manipulates its members? And why do they stay?” Most people think that the church is the one place they can go for refuge from the corruption, abuse and pain elsewhere in their lives. Believing the best, they can embrace a good first impression of a church with secret dealings that would impress any notorious mob boss. Like an initial experience with an illegal drug, the organization successfully meets the needs of a new member, initially making them feel good and building a loyal relationship. The benefits of the relationship diminish gradually as the member returns seeking another experience as satisfying as the first one.
Jay purports that religious leaders involved in church mafias operate in ways noticeably reminiscent of Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Saddam Hussein. Extreme examples include Warren Jeffs, David Koresh and Jim Jones. Murder may not be a part of their MO (modus operendus), but spiritual death is a frequent consequence. They use subtle tactics to manipulate trusting followers into doing things such as giving up their life savings, ending viable marriages or neglecting their households and families to serve. They tell them their sacrifice is a service to God. Anyone who disagrees or refuses to submit to the manipulation is targeted for public emotional or verbal abuse (often dealt from the pulpit), rejection, restricted access to resources or loss of position and respect in the church. These consequences can lead to violence, substance abuse, psychological dysfunction and suicide. No matter how the outcome unfolds, lives are destroyed.
This is the fourth production released by Jay Cameron. His productions have been seen by more than one hundred thousand worldwide. Jay currently serves as senior pastor of The Life Center Church in Camp Springs, MD. Mr. Cameron intends for this production to shed light on the problem so that people can deal with their own church mafia experiences.
Tickets are available at Ticketalternative.com $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
