January: looking back

There weren't any Mark Dramas I was involved with, though there was lots of admin in preparation for future productions. 

But what stands out as I think of January is that I was struggling health-wise. Nothing serious, but it was sometimes a struggle to keep going. Actually this went on into the first half of February too. 

But I was still able to do stuff. I had a wonderful weekend in Leipzig in the east of Germany, speaking at a conference for Bible teachers. It was great to be able to teach the Bible in German again!

So that was a wonderful highlight. The Lord is very kind. 

Looking back at 2016

It feels like it's been a great Mark Drama year. In the UK and in many other places too. 

Maybe the top 5 countries (in no particular order) are Chile, Hungary, Spain, Germany and France. In the UK there have been more productions in Scotland than elsewhere.

Thousands of people have seen and heard the gospel through the Mark Drama; many have been impacted by what they have experienced.

So my heart is full of praise to God for what he has done through the Mark Drama in 2016. 

Hallelujah!

A great step forward

Back in July I wrote that it looked like the number of churches and Christian Unions in the UK wanting to do the Mark Drama was increasing. I said that this meant we needed to train more Mark Drama directors. 

Since then there has been a great step forward. 

UCCF: The Christian Unions is planning an Uncover Mark project. This will mean students being encouraged to read Mark's Gospel with friends. Alongside this UCCF are going to encourage Christian Unions to consider putting on a Mark Drama production. 

This is massive. 

Of course we don't know what the take-up will be. But there is no doubt that we will need a lot more Mark Drama directors! Fortunately we have time to get this sorted: the project doesn't begin until September 2018. 

So where are the people with the right gifts to be trained as Mark Drama directors? For more information about what those gifts look like, scroll back a few blog entries and you will find what you're looking for. 

Please get in touch if you would like to know more. And, in any case, please pray for the right people to be found and trained as Mark Drama directors. 

And join me in thanking God for this great step forward.

Christ Church Dunstable: look back in gratitude

I have directed four Mark Drama productions over the past two months, and I have every reason to to be thankful to God.

The fourth was this past weekend with Christ Church, Dunstable. It was an astonishing time. 

Only one person on the team had ever seen a Mark Drama performance, so most of them will have come to the first rehearsal wondering what on earth this was going to be like. But they threw themselves into it and responded well to direction. 

Matt, our Jesus actor, was outstanding. He knew the words and communicated powerfully the emotions of Jesus.

The church had done a great job inviting people and praying for the whole event. We were pretty well full for both performances. It was an honour for me to see this team in action.

So I miss them!

Please thank God for what he has done, and pray for all those who came to a performance.

This was my last time directing a Mark Drama production in 2016. It has been a brilliant way to finish the year off!  

because I want to tell someone

This is cheating, really: what I am about to write has nothing to do with the Mark Drama.

Not directly, anyway. 

50 years ago today I became a Christian. I was 14, and at a Crusader Camp, which was a Christian camp for boys. Monday 8th August 1966 was the last day, and that evening it all just came together: I put my trust in Jesus.

So my heart is singing! I am thanking God for doing the miracle in my life.

And for never letting go of me since.

Hallelujah!