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Lectures explain Islamic philosophy
Pastoral Pondering: Give through
prayer this Lent
| Church
devotes energy to theater ministry |
Newberg Free Methodist Church is performing musicals to reach a wider
community audience |
By Christie Scotty, Newberg Graphic
Reporter
Email Christie at cscotty@eaglenewspapers.com
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Di Endicott and Seth Renne are working hard on the spring musical at
Newberg Free Methodist Church, the second major production of the church’s theater
ministry.
On the surface, the musical Renne is directing has little to do with the
largely evangelical mission of the new ministry — they are producing “The Sound
of Music.”
“I am intrigued by the idea of using a secular musical and finding that
human element to relate to the Good Word,” said Endicott, worship pastor at the
church.
Last year, while producing Annie, Endicott saw hints that effort was working.
Looking out at the crowd, she saw children climbing around on pews, paying little
attention to “proper church” manners.
“I was so happy,” Endicott laughed. “They were thinking of it
as a theater and we were taking away the mystique of walking through church doors.”
Other area churches have come to the same conclusion in the past. Newberg
Christian Church staged the secular “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”
under Kathleen Jones’ direction in 2001.
Jones said she knows firsthand that theater ministry is effective
evangelically. It is what led her to become a Christian in 1989, when she was stationed at
an Air Force base in Washington state.
“Here I am with no money, the lowest rank, and some guy said
’there’s this play at this church’ ...,” Jones said. “I went
because it was free and the play turned out to be ’Godspell’ ... at the end they
said if you’d like to learn more, talk to the pastor.”
Jones did just that. She now runs into other people at local stores who
recognize her from the play, opening up avenues to begin the same conversation.
“With theater, I think the church is seen in a positive light,” she
said. “It’s kind of fresh when we’re doing something new that’s not
all about fire and brimstone.”
Newberg Free Methodist also tacks on a message about their Christian faith at
the end of productions.
“’Annie’ has a prevalent theme of adoption and belonging to a
family,” Endicott said. “We simply stated at the end of each performance that we
believe in this because we ourselves have been adopted by the King into His family through
Jesus Christ.”
As their church grows with new music, recovery and counseling ministries,
Endicott and Renne are keeping their eyes on new opportunities through drama.
“My vision would be to have drama in Sunday services,” said Renne,
a 20-year-old who counts more than 25 theatrical shows to his credit stretching back to
third grade.
“There are people among us who have dreams and visions and
passions,” Endicott said. “With (the theater ministry), Seth was dreaming and I
was listening.” |
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From March 29,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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