ANTICIPATION OF CROSSING THE JORDAN! #21

(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, September, 1988.)

On August 29, Stained Glass Theatre hosted our annual “Appreciation Banquet.” What a grand evening it was! An air of excitement and anticipation seemed to flow from everyone present. Excitement for a time to pause and praise God for the many, many blessings of this past year, and to thank all the wonderful people who labored so many hours this past season, as well as those who supported us with their prayers, gifts, and attendance. Anticipation for the adventure of beginning a new season—our sixth, our Season of Victory!

The evening began with a great buffet—truly a delicious meal! As the feasting wound down and as some still nibbled at desserts or sipped tea or coffee, the lights dimmed and we were treated to a delightful trip down memory lane as we viewed “clips” from all the shows of the past season, skillfully and lovingly prepared by Jamie Wolfe from All Occasion Video. After the TV presentation, we were inspired and challenged by a wonderful speech from Charles Fuller, our honored guest. Thank you, Charles, for a job superbly done! You touched the hearts of many young and old “dreamers.” The evening concluded with the presentation of numerous gifts and tokens of appreciation—scholarships, certificates, SGT mugs, plaques, SGT key chains, and SGT “Lifetime” keys to the Theatre. Most everyone received something and that’s the way we intended it. We wanted to recognize all who had helped the SGT Ministry. Yes, it was a grand evening! Thank You, Father, for blessing us so richly with so many who love the work of SGT. Thank You, Lord, for all who sacrifice so much of their time, energy, and finances to serve you in this special way.

The banquet, a time of remembering, is over. It was a great time for “glancing back,” but now it’s time for “looking forward.” (Wasn’t that clever how I finally worked the title into an article?) The challenge of a new season lies ahead. There is much to be done. The wheels of the future are already set in motion—set work is being done, costumes are being made, rehearsals are in progress, and there is a general “gearing up” for the fall premiere of SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE ME LAUGH. It’s going to be a tremendous production that will speak powerfully to teens and the problems they face. Plan now to bring a group.

Not only is the challenge of a new season upon us, but the challenge to complete the building fund effort as quickly as possible is also on our hearts. We need to move soon. The growth in the ministry God has given us will diminish soon without more space. Even now, people become frustrated and give up when they try several times and still can’t get tickets. Some are trying to get ahead of the game by booking tickets and dates for the entire season. Praise God for the enthusiastic response from our patrons, but we must soon provide more seating. God has shown us our “Promised Land.”

We must complete the task! We need your financial support and prayers! As of this writing, we only need $16,500 to have victory. The countdown is on! All is ready! We are anxious to occupy the land!

The response to our decision not to move until we had all the funds, thereby honoring our commitment not to go into debt, has been overwhelmingly in favor of the decision. Like us, all were disappointed that we couldn’t move in August, yet all were in agreement that we were doing the right thing. Your words of support and encouragement have been greatly appreciated. Thank you! Since we made the difficult decision not to move until all funds have been raised, we have had a complete peace that God would honor that decision. But we also know that we must now renew our efforts and move ahead quickly. God has held the door open for us to do that which He gave us to do, but we must not tarry! Time is important! The door may not always be open. Please help us if you can! We’re so close. An all-out effort by all who see the vision of the future of Stained Glass Theatre is needed. Together we can do it in the next few weeks and be in the new building in time for the second show of the season. Pray that God will touch many hearts to help us at this vital time. God has been so good to bring us this far. Thank You, Father. Praise Your Holy Name! Jehovah!

COMING NEXT: WE HAVE CROSSED OVER THE JORDAN! WE ARE IN THE “PROMISED LAND” DEBT FREE!

We signed the papers and handed over a cashier’s check for $60,000 at 4:00 p.m. on October 31, 1988. It was indeed a glorious and memorable moment!

GOD'S MIRACLE TODAY

The post below, #20, was written 27 years ago this month. At that time, the Stained Glass Theatre family was struggling with doubt and frustration as they sought to raise the final $18,000 to move into the Benton Street facility in Springfield debt free. This month, August, 2015, we have once again faced that doubt and frustration as we felt that God wanted us to again be debt free by the end of our SEASON OF HEROES. We owed $73,000 on the Ozark facility when the season opened on September 11, 2014. It seemed impossible that we could pay such a debt in a year's time. It WAS impossible for us to do it, but it was NOT impossible for our God.

We still serve the same God that we served 27 years ago. He is still a God of Miracles, and He is still making Memories at Stained Glass Theatre. Thank You, Father! Praise Your Holy Name, Jehovah!!

On Saturday, August 15, 2015, our amazing patrons donated the last $6000 to make the miracle happen. We are still in this ministry together--the Board and Staff of Stained Glass Theatre, the Volunteers who keep us doing what we do week by week, and the Patrons who support us faithfully in a way that overwhelms us year by year. And it is still God over all, and He is still in the Miracle business.

The Founder of Stained Glass Players, Ron Boutwell, saw a dream come to life 33 years ago. More than once, he thought that dream would die. But each time, God came through in miraculous ways to keep the dream alive. The Founder is now the Executive Director Emeritus, and he watches more or less from the sidelines these days--some days more and some days less. But his heart is still bound up in this ministry and one more dream came true two days ago. He is humbled by the continuing support and love and blessing that others contribute to keep his dream alive and flourishing.

May God Bless You All!

WE ARE NOT MOVING . . . YET! #20

(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, August, 1988.)

We ARE moving! Praise the Lord!

But NOT until the battle is won and complete victory is ours. As everyone knows, we had planned to move in August and begin our Season of Victory in our new home—our “Promised Land.” That was assuming that we would have the $60,000 we needed to move in debt free. We assumed wrong. Are we disappointed? Very definitely, yes! Are we defeated? NO!

God showed us our “Promised Land,” and He set the conditions—(1) Honor your commitment not to go into debt; (2) Raise the $60,000 and go in debt free. We set the time table—we thought we could do it in a year. We have come a long way ($42,000), but that leaves us $18,000 to go.

When we started last September to raise the money in one year, by August this year, it all seemed so logical—that would be approximately when the Fellowship that owns the church felt they would be ready to move and our lease expired in September this year, plus it would be the beginning of a new season. It all seemed so right and still does. Nonetheless, we do not have all the money needed and the priority commitment is still one of no debt. Do we honor that commitment or not?

As the deadline for moving approached and we realized that funds would be short, the temptation to find ways to borrow funds and not call it debt has plagued us. We have doubted our faith, we have looked to our own resources, we have contacted people on the possibility of loans, we have done everything Satan would have us do. But, praise God, though we have been sorely tested, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit would not give us a peace about using funds that were not ours—debt is debt whether interest is charged or not, whether borrowed from a friend instead of a bank, whether covered by pledges or not. And, yes, we have had more than one offer to loan us the money. We have been tested.

So many have given sacrificially this last year believing and standing with us on our pledge to move in debt free. Could we turn our backs on all who have heard and believed our words when we said, “We have a commitment to God not to go into debt?” The answer, of course, is NO! We are, and will continue to be, a ministry of integrity. Therefore, we will NOT borrow money. We will continue to work and pray until we have it all.

As disappointing as it is to us and to you, our loyal patrons, not to be able to move now and begin the new season in our “Promised Land,” we know our commitment to God comes first. We know victory will come soon. God has held the door open for us—the church is willing to wait on the sale for a few months, the landlord from whom we now rent is willing to let us rent by the month for a while longer rather than sign another year’s lease. So you see God is with us.

Our new goal is to try to have all the funds by September or October—to be in our new home before we open the second show of the season. We will move as soon as we can. Believe me, we are anxious, but we will not move until we can move in the front door with our heads high—not in the back door making excuses why we broke our commitment.

Please pray with us, work in any way you can to help us finish that which God has given us to do. He never promised He would drop the money in our laps. He told us to raise the funds. We are trying. Please help if you can.

The response this past year has been great. We praise God for all who have given so generously. Most have been faithful to their pledges. We have only had to drop a few hundred that was pledged and did not come in. Our success with pledges has been greater than average. We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts. It has been a good year. We have only $18,000 to go and then we can all march victoriously into our “Promised Land.” Thank You, Father! Praise Your Holy Name! Jehovah!

COMING NEXT: ANTICIPATION OF CROSSING THE JORDAN!

We are filling the house. We need more seats. We need to move into the “Promised Land.” Will God be faithful as He promised?