(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, August, 1989)
“Why?” Some have asked, “Why a Season of Warfare?” And they have asked with good reason. Admittedly, it may sound a little more like “Championship Wrestling” than Christian theatre. So, why did we dub the coming year Season of Warfare? Believe it or not, the answer is not simple.
The naming of a season is a very important and sacred decision for Stained Glass Theatre. We believe that our season title says something about who we are and what we’re about. It captures the spirit and goals of the season. Two years ago when we selected Season of Praise, it was out of a real heartfelt sense that we should be about the business of praising God for His goodness in having shown us our Promised Land and for the many other miraculous blessings He had poured out on the ministry. Last year, our Season of Victory title was chosen in anticipation of the victory which would give us possession of our Promised Land. That victory came, of course, and we are now in that beautiful new building. Yes, season titles mean a lot to SGT.
But what about this year’s title? Well, it all started with the selection process for deciding which plays would be presented in the coming season. That process began in late fall of last year and continued through this spring as the SGT Board read scripts and listened to ideas for proposed plays from SGT’s resident playwright, who shall remain nameless for fear of incrimination. Scripts and ideas were read over and prayed over and passed on to others. Then in late spring, the Board met to make the final selections. Again, prayer became a part of the process as we prayed together for God’s direction and leadership in the selections.
By selection time, we had already tentatively chosen another title for the season. However, as the discussion, voting, and selection process for the plays went forward, it seemed that each new show which was added to the lineup had something to do with spiritual warfare. Of course, that was not apparent to any of us at first. Then, as we made the decision on the last play, it was as if God spoke to all of us at once, seemingly at the same moment, as we suddenly realized what had happened—we had selected a season of warfare. It was startling, exciting, and too obvious to ignore. The Holy Spirit had led us to select five plays for five different reasons and had unified those selections with a common theme. Yes, we had selected five different plays of different styles and moods and targeted for different age groups, yet ALL had a message of WARFARE, even the children’s show. It was amazing, for the theme of spiritual warfare had not been a factor in the selection of any one show.
So, what do you do when the Lord hits the entire Board over the head at once with the same conclusion? Well, if you have any sense, you don’t ignore it. You don’t ignore it even if it does scare the life out of you. Could we, with good sense, be so daring and bold at to stand up and say to the world that we intended to declare a Season of Warfare as a hallmark for the year? Actually, we could do nothing less and be obedient to what God was telling us. Are we scared? You’d better believe it. Satan is real! Spiritual warfare is real! We do not take the Enemy lightly. Yet we take comfort in knowing that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:30).
The title was selected not yet knowing or understanding all that it imports for us. Yet we do know that it is God’s call upon the ministry. And we sense that God is continuing to give us direction through the book of Joshua. After crossing into the Promised Land, the children of Israel did indeed have a season—many years, in fact—of warfare which was necessary in order to possess the land. Likewise, we at SGT intend to be about the Lord’s business—the business of possessing the land. Our prayer is that we will not stand alone. We pray that you, our friends, will rise up and march with us and that you will intercede for us daily. We know that the prayers of many can stand in the gap and bear us up in perilous times. So, please be diligent! We need prayer warriors now more than ever.
Let us rejoice together! Let us move boldly forward and watch the mighty hand of God work miracles! Let us remember our charge from Him—To be a showcase of praise where God the Father is glorified and Jesus Christ is proclaimed as Lord and Savior! And in all things, we give thanks to the Lord. For He will sustain us! Thank You, Father. Praise Your Holy Name, Jehovah!
COMING NEXT: HUNGRY FOR REVIVAL!
We
look to our future with expectant hearts. We do not understand all that is
happening at SGT, but we do know that we feel the urgency to be ready!
