Each year the resort known as Lake Lanier Islands, which is a mere 1 mile from our campus, hosts a very popular Christmas attraction called, “The Magical Nights of Lights.” Thousands upon thousands of people pack into cars, vans and buses and pay a hefty amount to drive through a million light display commemorating partridges in pear trees, elves, and the birth of Christ among other things. One feature of recent years has been a living Nativity Scene sponsored by a local church about 10 miles from us. I think that they do it nightly for about 3 weeks leading up to Christmas.
Last year for our New Bethany Christmas presentation, we did a musical drama called, A Christmas Tale, which won rave reviews from our church. The house was pretty full for the three nights that we held it. This year, as a result of the vision of our Worship Pastor, Dan Brothers, we will be doing 24 performances of A Christmas Tale at the Magical Nights of Lights–four performances a night for two consecutive Fri-Sun weekends. A total of three casts, a choir and live band (not to mention sound and lighting personnel and more than 30 volunteers for greeting and inviting). Our performance area will be across from the area known as, Santa’s Workshop, the home of shops, eats and the Holiday Carnival which is a small amusement ride area. Performances have been promoted both in the local news paper and yesterday on the morning show of on of the major Atlanta news channels.
This type of ministry opportunity is exactly what we are regularly hoping to do–it’s outside the walls, it’s different from what people expect and it speaks the cultural language. We really don’t have any idea what to expect as far as crowds go; we could play for as few as 25 or to a full house (about 300 portable chairs) at each performance. Our hope is that by being where people are that the glory of God will be displayed and the gospel declared in a way that breaks down barriers, overcomes disillusionment and plants seeds in the lives of many. Who knows, we might even get to experience a harvest!
Awesome. I pray much success in bringing glory to God. Way to be where the people are.
And let’s all pray for Dan.
Comment by Art Rogers — November 27, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
I think this is exciting, Marty, but I also have a question that is probably only related in my mind. This morning I was listening to our local Christian radio station and they had a sound bit about giving to their “ministry” because of the great numbers of lives touched by the station. I don’t know if it was the way they said it and I reacted or if I was having a sound thought, but I began questioning the effectiveness of a Christian radio station at reaching the lost. Here were my thoughts, right or wrong: For the most part the stations feed the sheep, to the extent they do anything, and it is probably snack food at best. Because regeneration most often comes through relationship, radio stations are a poor substitute for a loving heart reaching out to a heart in need. So, with that said (and leaving out some of the thoughts because of the tangent this may be), back to my question. Will you be able to reach out to the individuals who attend in a personal way beyond the drama? And, secondarily, do any of these thoughts make sense or strike a chord?
Comment by Bryan Riley — November 27, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Bryan-
I would have to guess that Christian radio, in all its locations, has not been overly effective at reaching the lost and most, I wager a second guess, are really aimed at providing alternative programming for those who are trying to avoid OutKast, KISS or Norah Jones. A popular station here in ATL says it is, “Safe for the whole family.” I guess it is, but it does not provide clear presentations of the gospel as part of regular programming. Gospel programming in other parts of the world, as you know, is effective at seeing people saved, but it isn’t alternative music that is playing.
Our effort will include personal interaction. Both before and after our performances we have volunteers who will engage people–first, with an invitation and, second, by talking to them following the performance. Those folks who are from our area will, hopefully, try out a Sunday at some point, but we aren’t having them fill out cards or “come down front.”
Comment by Marty Duren — November 27, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Marty, your people are to be commended for their selfless sacrifice of time and effort during this holiday season. I can hear most choir members in most churches responding with groans and saying, “I can’t make it that many times, I’ve gotta shop” or “I can’t be there, we’ve got office parties, etc…”
Please keep us posted about the ways in which God uses this to open doors for relationship and verbal witness to the lost. I know he will.
Comment by Terry Leap — November 27, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
BTW Marty…what’s wrong with KISS? My 6 year old loves Gene, and you should see him with his face painted like Ace Frehley!
JUST A JOKE…(for all the fundies w/ no sense of humor)…JUST A JOKE…
He’s actually a big Zeppelin fan.
Comment by Terry Leap — November 27, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Terry-
I will pass along your comments to the folks here; they will be very encouraged.
Also, when KISS was popular the first time around I was in high school and did not listen to secular music (even if I had, I’m sure KISS would still have been banned). Now, on the “classic music” station that I listen to there are occasionally songs that I don’t necessarily recognize that I think are just terrible. Without fail, it ends up being a KISS song; those guys couldn’t play or sing. No wonder they had to spit blood.
Comment by Marty Duren — November 28, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Blessings on your ministry. Sounds cool.
Comment by Kevin Bussey — November 28, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Marty,
What a great idea! Blessings from the Lord on your ministry at Lake Lanier.
Comment by Phil Wages — November 28, 2007 @ 5:34 pm