(From
my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter,
October, 1986. Bracketed information has
been added to clarify some items for the blog. I have no pictures from our time at ShowBiz Pizza. If anyone has some and sends them to me, I will add them later.)
Even though we
had experienced difficult times during the first year, we began our second
season [of Stained Glass Theatre] full of hope and expectation. We felt sure that we had learned from our
mistakes and that things would be easier the second year. Ah, yes, we were such
foolish dreamers! As we look back now, we can see that it was not our first
year that was the real testing—our wilderness—no indeed! The nightmare
struggles of the second year made the first year seem like a pleasant dream.
Satan began to move against us with full force. The battle was on! Unfortunately,
we were not prepared. We had not put on the full armor of God of which Paul
speaks (Ephesians 6:11-17). We were greatly lacking in faith and righteousness.
Therefore, when the battles came, we tried too often to fight with our own
power and strength. It was not enough; it never is. Nonetheless, we fought on
without the spiritual maturity to see why we were failing.
The first
major crunch of the second year was the worsening of an old problem—finances!
As the rent increased to $600 per month and attendance remained up and down, we
had to let two of our paid staff go, which left Pat [Edmonds] to carry the load
alone. This proved to be too much for one person, so other problems began to
surface. Then in November, just two months into the season, we were informed
that we would have to vacate the building. The owners of the restaurant wanted
to install a bar in the basement where we were. Ironic, yes?
We quickly
began a search for a new home. We found that a small theatre inside ShowBiz
Pizza was for rent. The rent was more than we could afford, but we felt that it
was an answer to prayer since it met our needs.
After the
move, things did not take off the way we had hoped. We lost some of our regular
patrons, or they lost us, we were not sure which. We also had trouble
attracting new patrons. Attendance remained generally low all winter and
spring. We faced new and ever greater financial difficulties. During that
period, it seemed to me that we lived from crisis to crisis. But God kept us
going. We had some good nights plus some good gifts.
By late
spring, we felt that someone needed to help Pat. But who? Who would even
consider what we could offer? With the qualifications and talents we needed,
who would work with a company that half the time could not even pay the salary
of the one employee it had? Pat and I had a talented young man named Terry
Beasley in mind. Terry was just graduating from college with plans to teach. He
had been performing with SGT for over a year, and we knew he was the one we
needed. It all seemed like an impossible dream. Then God worked another
wonderful miracle. He placed a call in the heart of Terry to serve Him through
SGT. Terry accepted the call, for at least one year’s full service. He did this
at great personal sacrifice and against the wishes and concerns of many who
felt he would be wasting his education and abilities. Now we had a new warrior
in the battle for survival. Praise God! It was a battle that we believed was
all but lost. But God knew the battle was not over. Victory was ahead! [Thank
You, Father! Praise Your Holy Name! Jehovah!]
COMING
NEXT: DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN
When we were defeated in spirit, God worked a Spiritual miracle in our hearts and gave us new hope and vision.
When we were defeated in spirit, God worked a Spiritual miracle in our hearts and gave us new hope and vision.
