A VISION FOR THE FUTURE #30

 

(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, June 28, 1991)

As we look forward to next season, we have been seeking God’s direction. God has been good to us over the years and has met our needs as we have been obedient to His will. As we have settled into our “Promised Land,” we have found it to be easy to get too comfortable and stop growing. We do not believe that is God’s will for Stained Glass Theatre, nor do we believe that he will continue to bless us if we just sit back and relax. We must move forward; we must seek new ways to better serve the Lord with all that He has given us.

This past year has been for us, perhaps, an oasis, a time to rest and gather strength. But there is a growing sense among those who lead SGT that the “breather” is over and it is now time to plunge into the 90s. And it is with resolve and God’s leadership that we do so.

So where will that resolve take us? We don’t have all the answers, yet. We will move forward one step at a time as we feel God leading us. Some of those steps have already been revealed and set into motion. Others will follow in the weeks, months, and years to come. We covet your prayers and support as we move forward. It’s going to be exciting to see and experience all that God intends.

Growth and forward movement require a new vision—a vision we now have. The new vision is really an old vision that has somehow been neglected. That vision is to REACH THE LOST! Of course, you say, isn’t it always? Well, to tell the truth, no, not always. In fact, it is often the very thing that gets lost in the hustle and bustle of serving the Lord.

When we began SGT nine years ago, it was a goal and dream that the Theatre would be a place (neutral ground, non-denominational) where Christians would feel free and comfortable to invite non-Christians to hear of the saving power of Jesus. In truth, that has not been the reality of what has happened. We soon discovered that most (99.9%) of our audiences were Christians, already churched and active. So we began to develop shows for Christians. Don’t get me wrong; we cherish our Christian patrons, and we need them. They serve as the backbone of our support and make the ministry possible. What we are saying is that we must now get on with the task of reaching lost people. And we have now learned that to do that we must have your help.

The future of SGT is going to be about soul winning. We begin with a season of shows all with evangelistic themes—telling the Good News, sharing the JOY of Christ. It will be our Season of Joy. Yes, we have a vision and YOU, our loyal patrons, are very much a part of that vision. We cannot get the lost and unchurched to SGT to see shows that present a message of salvation, but you can. That will be our focus for next year—to encourage our patrons to help us by inviting friends, neighbors, or co-workers to SGT. And one of the best ways to get new people to SGT is to buy tickets and give them away. Please consider making SGT a tool for you to use in REACHING THOSE WHO NEED THE LORD. 

Looking to the future is exciting. We hope that you will catch the vision of winning the lost and help us to reach out to Springfield and beyond. There is a lost world—people who need to hear of our loving Savior. Help us to help! God has created and developed Stained Glass Theatre to be a mighty showcase for proclaiming the Gospel! We have the golden opportunity to do wonderful things in the name of the Lord and for His Kingdom. Let’s do it together! Let’s begin now!

COMING NEXT: A SEASON OF JOY

We believe that we must do better in reaching the lost. To do that, we need the help of all who faithfully support this ministry.

GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US #29

(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, June, 1990)

 God has blessed Stained Glass Theatre in so many ways in the past and continues to bless us in new ways week by week. We pray that we will always feel His pleasure as we do now. Thank You, Father, for Your lovingkindness!

 As we complete the second season in our “Promised Land” and begin preparations for a third, we continue to stand amazed at all God has done. The growth has truly been phenomenal! And we praise God for that growth! We are excited about being all that God wants us to be. Our heart is to serve the Lord by proclaiming His word to you in bold and courageous ways—ways that will inspire you, encourage you, and strengthen you in your walk with the Lord. Our desire is to be the best we can be. Therefore, we continue to examine all that we do in an effort to improve our professional growth and our spiritual growth. We pray for a servant heart and spirit, for we believe that we best serve God when we best serve you, the army of patrons God has sent our way.

 This is not as easy as it sounds, for people have grown to expect (or perhaps I should say “demand”) a kind of “secular service” that is not always possible for a small non-profit Christian organization to provide. (Particularly one that operates on a $2 ticket and a volunteer work force.) But please know that we do try! We try very hard to meet every need. We do try to handle your tickets and reservations efficiently—yet we sometimes “mess up.” We do try to seat everyone comfortably—yet sometimes you may be overcrowded or have to sit in a folding chair at the back. We know parking is often a problem—we apologize. We know that the restroom facilities are inadequate—but we are working on plans to correct that problem. Yes, we know we still have a long way to go to serve you the way we would like. Please be patient with us and rejoice with us that God is filling the theatre night after night.

 We long for professionalism in meeting our patrons’ comfort needs, but we also long for professionalism in the shows that we present. We desire to be second to none in quality of performance. Yet we feel a God-directed responsibility not to be frivolous or imprudent in the use of funds God has provided. Therefore, we strive to operate in a spirit of good stewardship and judgement rather than yield to the needless expense of glitz and glitter which is often associated with secular theatre. We believe our patrons are more concerned with substance than glamour.

 We want, more than anything else, to contribute to our patrons’ spiritual growth. We believe that is why God put us in the ministry and that is why He has blessed the ministry with growth. God’s people don’t need just another form of entertainment. God’s people need to grow in Him. If we can help people to stretch their reach for God and to find a closer walk with Him, then we believe we will be serving His Kingdom in the way He would have us to serve. Our prayer is that SGT will always be a place where you can experience in a real and exciting way the love and peace of God. We ask you to pray with us that the very Spirit of God will fill our building in such a powerful way that all who attend will leave having felt a special touch from Him. We seek His presence in all that we do. And may all that we do glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! [NOTE added in 2022: Take a moment to reread this paragraph. This is still the heart and soul of Stained Glass Theatre. And may it always be so!]

 Thank You, Father. Praise Your Holy Name, Jehovah!

 COMING NEXT: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

It is now time to plunge into the 90s. And it is with resolve and God’s leadership that we do so!

 

THE EXCITING DAYS OF BOCHIM #28

(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, April, 1990)

Unbelievable!

Fantastic!

Inspirational!

What word or words do I use to express the excitement that surrounded the production of BOCHIM? It is not always easy to describe events when God is moving in them. When he is present, His presence is so awesome that words seem to fail to convey our true feelings at those times. And God’s presence was felt in a mighty way at Stained Glass Theatre during the days of BOCHIM. And for that, we will be eternally grateful. Though the words may be inadequate, please permit me to try to share some of the joy we all experienced as God brought revival into hundreds of lives during the days of BOCHIM.

As I shared with you last time, there was an excitement and anticipation that was with us even as we began rehearsals. Most felt that God was going to move in a mighty way—we sensed it in our prayer and devotional times, we sensed it as we worked on lines and movement, and we sensed it as people came by to watch a bit of rehearsal and seemed to immediately get caught up in what they were watching. There were times when people actually moved through the theatre as if they were on holy ground. I can’t explain it—it was just a feeling that was there.

Everyone felt that we were breaking new ground. Cast and crew were getting caught up in the excitement of revival. BOCHIM is about judgement, yes, but it is mainly about a call for revival—a call for spiritual awakening. As in the play, as God called the church at Wintercreek to revival, so we felt that God was calling SGT to revival. And it did happen in the lives of many who were involved—a repentance that brought spiritual blessings and excitement.

As the rehearsal phase was drawing to a close and opening night approached, we were further charged with anticipation of all that God wanted to do. It was at this time that Terry Beasley shared with cast and crew a vision that God had given him. In the vision, God showed Terry the theatre as it would be during performances—filled with people praying. He saw people at the altar and all around kneeling and praying and crying in repentance. Overhead, he saw the angels of the Lord doing battle with Satan’s forces. Hard to believe? Perhaps. But as one of the characters of BOCHIM states, “How easy it is to doubt someone else’s experience.”

Opening night came, and God did just what we had prayed for. He began to move in people’s lives. The audience came that night, and the performance nights that followed, perhaps expecting nothing more than an evening’s entertainment. But many left having been touched by God. And it was as it had been shown to Terry in the vision—people did come to the altar, they knelt at their pews, and they prayed, and they wept. Lives were set right with God, and there were salvations.

Night after night, audience members shared with me and others how the show had touched them in a special way. We heard over and over again from people that the play was their story or the story of their church. We were asked again and again if there was any way that we could bring the production to their church. And in the days between shows, we received phone calls about how the show had touched individuals or church groups that had attended.

Yes, the days of BOCHIM were exciting! But our prayer is that all that happened during those days was only the beginning. That the sparks of revival have been sent forth and that mighty revival fires will fill our churches. Lord, please set our hearts and churches ablaze with Your Holy Spirit and Fire! Thank You, Father. Praise Your Holy Name, Jehovah! 

[2022 NOTE: Oh, how great this need is in America today!]

COMING NEXT: GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US

We seek His presence in all that we do. And may all that we do glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!