Vikki grabbing hold of advice from Sharon Jaynes (2013).
​​A while back we expanded the name of our parent company from Kingdom Impact Theater to Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries. Adding "ministries" expanded our presentation possibilities, yes; and also responsibilities. Our work is not solely about performing. It's about learning. Often the "students" are us. Here are five recent schoolings.
In May, Vikki was scheduled to present two shows and a workshop at Sandy Cove Ministries in Near East, Md., and present special music during a Service of Worship in Landover, Md. The experience at one fed the other and led to sharing the teachings of one speaker to another flock miles away. Such is how the gospel is spread.
Speaking to the congregation at First Baptist Church at Glenarden on Sunday evening, Vikki related her discoveries from Sharon Jaynes, who was keynote speaker at the Sandy Cove Women's Conference.
1. "Sometimes when you go to minister to people, you are the one who gets ministered to..."
Vikki said, as she began listing the Scriptural lessons from Sharon. These lessons were a reminder to us, as a couple, of challenges we have when the business of theater can undermine the purpose of ministry.
Another lesson came from a conversation with our accompanist Garlan Garner, who recently was ordained as a deacon in his church after a rigorous three-year training period. Garlan gave us a couple of notable insights.
2. "Not everybody comes to the Lord the same way..."
he said in his tranquil, matter-of-fact manner. Garlan was recounting the story of how, when he told the ordination council how he accepted the reality of Jesus as Christ, there was amazement that his decision was while observing nature and understanding God's order and design in life, not because of a traumatic, gut-wrenching, life-changing event.
Then there was the life-changing event Mike oversaw when he officiated his first wedding in Wisconsin. The reminder came from the groom during their pre-marital counseling. In the middle of planning the ceremony, the betrothed couple placed both their houses on the market. Then, one day, the groom chilled.
3. "I let it go. I let God have it..."
said the groom. "I couldn't believe how much stress was gone. I was really at peace." Within days, both houses received bids.
Presiding over the wedding, presenting the marital message was an eye-opener for Mike.
4. "You don't know who is listening. Say what you're led to say, and let God be God,"
he said. Mike had wondered how the audience might respond to his message that included references to "The Princess Bride," "Jerry Maguire," marriage equality, "The Five Love Languages," and vocal impressions of Dr. Tony Evans, all in relation to Scriptures expressing God's establishment of marriage.
This point continues to be driven home as we connect with new listeners across the globe. Few are native English speakers; and perhaps fewer are Christ-followers. Still, we have more correspondence from occasional listeners with non-Christian, non-English backgrounds than American Christians or radio that we thought would be our audience.
5. There are things we want to do; and then, there are God's plans.