In November 2008, the subject of the occult, widely considered a radioactive issue in Richland County, went from folklore to the front page when the Renaissance Theater began featuring psychic mediums to “better connect with the community.” On November 23rd, the theater showcased medium and clairvoyant Lisa Williams talking to dead people. Two weeks before that, the theater advertised it would have psychic readings available to accompany a women’s comedy act.

Not everyone sang the praises of the theater’s new programming venue. Disenchanted residents contacted corporate sponsors, along with the theater front office and the theater board to voice their displeasure. Prayer vigils were also held outside the theater during the events.

“This view (disagreeing with the choice of programming) does not come from the fringe of society,” said Reverend El Akuchie of the Richland Community Prayer Network, which conducted a 2006 church census study. “Nearly 48,000 people in the county are members of a Bible-believing church.” Akuchie overcame a family heritage steeped in witchcraft in Nigeria before converting to Christ as a youth.

It is no surprise Christian church leaders would differ with the Renaissance regarding the seance. This stance is historically consistent with other local chronicled episodes on this subject. In 1999, pastors publicly spoke out in opposition to movies about the occult. Similarly in 2001, clergy warned against talking to the dead in a local news report on the supernatural.

So why did the Renaissance choose this controversial act? Theater management’s alibi is that it is providing diverse “entertainment” for everyone. Unfortunately diversity in 1979 is what closed the theater when it began featuring X-rated movies and the community took action.

Ronn Koerper, Executive Director of the Schine Theater in Norwalk, Ohio for 32 years, commented “With that kind of programming (at Renaissance,) you will lose support from your churches, like when the Sandusky State Theater closed down several years ago.” After 43 years, Koerper still leads a nine-county arts organization today.

Reverend David Pound of Berean Baptist Church, located on Mansfield’s south side, unashamedly adheres to what the Bible states about consulting mediums, which it calls detestable. “Whether the medium means well, is attempting to defraud people, or is unsuspectingly being used by nefarious spirits, this type of activity does not offer genuine hope to hurting people.”

According to Reverend Merle Stewart of the Bethesda Fellowship, located on Mansfield’s north side, the theater does not realize the spiritual implications it is bringing to the city. “The Renaissance was always about high-caliber art. This is not good judgement; they do not know what they are trifling with.”

Last October, a young man broke the door open of Stewart’s church wanting to be delivered of demons. He later told Stewart that “demons were driving him insane and that he had invited this condition upon himself.” Police responded to the break in.

To paraphrase William Thompson, “Western culture has nearly lost all ability to recognize the reality of the spiritual dimension. We are like flies crawling across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; we cannot see what angels and gods lie underneath the threshold of our perceptions.”

Rabbi William Hallbrook of the Sar Shalom Messianic Congregation points out that there is a supernatural element to following the GOD of the Bible. “It comes from knowing the GOD of Israel and walking with him in the light of His Word; signs and wonders will follow the believer. I’ve seen supernatural miracles happen in my family, in our congregation, and in the community.”

Indeed, on August 21, 2007, the night after the one-hundred year flood hit Richland County, a potential 2 to 3 inches of rain was forecasted for the area. Persons from several local church congregations met outdoors to pray near Apple Hill, the highest elevation in the county. The group recorded the Doppler radar time frames showing the flash flood vanish between Findlay and Mansfield simultaneously as the prayer meeting ensued. A presentation on the documented event was later given to local government officials.

Going back to 1901, the Mansfield Daily Shield reported that Hattie Patterson heeded to GOD’s command in a dream to withdrawal her savings, just several days before the Sturges Bank failure. Who needs a financial bailout with guidance like that!

All four clergy agree the use of mediums, tarot cards, horoscopes, Ouija boards, witching water wells, reading palms, taking to the dead, and the practice of Cabbalism, Reiki and reflexology, are forms of witchcraft.

In short, Renaissance officials last spring asked the public for input on ways they could improve theater services to our community. Hopefully the board is taking notice and is considering towards turning the lights back on. Ultimately, the Renaissance can choose whatever programming it pleases; consequently, it may be opening Pandora’s box, something it may have never bargained for.

Benjamin Mutti is a spokesman for the Richland Community Family Coalition.