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! 

Becoming a Mark Drama director: the 4 steps

Here are the 4 steps involved in becoming a Mark Drama director:

Step One: You act in a Mark Drama production yourself.
Step Two: You come to the rehearsals and performances of a Mark Drama production; with the Director's Notes in front of you, you watch how an experienced director does the job.
Step Three: You co-direct a production with an experienced Mark Drama director.
Step Four: You direct a Mark Drama production on your own. 

Do you think you might be the right kind of person to become a Mark Drama director?

Wanted: UK directors

Maybe this is something you would pray about, even if you're not going to volunteer!

We need new Mark Drama directors in the UK because it looks like the number of churches and Christian Unions wanting to do productions is beginning to increase. Which is wonderful.

Some of the directors we already have are not in a position to direct productions because they are in church leadership roles which don't allow them to disappear for 2 or 3 Sundays a year for the sake of a Mark Drama somewhere. 

So here are the characteristics I am looking for in a potential Mark Drama director:
1. willing in principle to direct a Mark Drama 2 or 3 times a year;
2. willing to take the time to study the materials so that they will not be dependent on the Director's Notes while actually directing;
3. able to direct with confidence and authority (though obviously that's a learning process);
4. convinced that there is power in the word of God.

Is that you? Would you like to know more? If so, you can contact me through the Mark Drama website.

And, even if you're not interested in becoming a Mark Drama director yourself, perhaps you'd pray that God will push the right people in this direction! 

(Long) after North Ferriby

Recently (well, a few weeks ago now) I directed a Mark Drama with a team from All Saints' North Ferriby, which is near Hull.

Wow. 

A number of people from the team have told me since that they were extremely sceptical about the whole project before it actually happened. I totally understand that!

But the team produced two very strong performances, with Nick (the Jesus actor) excelling both with the words throughout and with the suffering scenes (Gethsemane, the Cross) towards the end of the drama.

Everyone did a great job, but a highlight was the way the two 15 year-old guys on the team threw themselves into the whole thing. We could not have done without them! 

One church member said after a performance: 'I was absolutely blown away by the Mark Drama. What an event!'

So I thank God for this team and their church family. And I am praying that there will be lots of fruit in people's lives as a result of what they have experienced.