Drama Ministry Update: Summer Emailed News

Life was going so fast this past few months, i never posted or sent news since last may! Here's the news as it was IN JULY...

Exploring Drama as Ministry Showcase/Workshop with local theatre & drama ministry leaders (8 different churches involved!).

On July 4th the team pulled off a second Exploring Drama as Ministry workshop. There was more hands on participation and loads of interest in us holding more workshops. Some of the churches have asked our trainers to come teach workshops in their churches. 

Following the workshop was a unique opportunity to help coach a 7 year old Christian accapella group "Agape lla" for their first major concert! It was a delight to come alongside them in a few rehearsals to cheer them into a higher level of public performance/showmanship. I felt God's pleasure as I helped them go from good to great!

Agapella had two blessed nights of proclaiming our good news through accapella music to sold out crowds in the theatre of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Following that, I had a unique opportunity to work with local secular musicians for a Singapore Heritage Board Concert. A friend needed some technical behind the scenes help for the concert at the last minute. Please pray that God would open doors for ministry to musicians through the connections made in this concert.

This Monday night my college level Theatre students took their final exam and read their final drafts of the scripts they've written (for use in a ministry context). Two of my students went on a mission trip to Philippines (w permission, a sweet thank you note is pasted below).

The next big drama event for Kimberly: Christians in Theatre Arts Exec Director comes from USA late August to teach, speak, meet & encourage believers in the arts community. Pray with me as I organize support for his class (right) and set up opportunities for him to bless and encourage Christians in the arts.

*On Jul 20, 2009, at 5:10 PM, student Rachel Eric wrote to me after their trip to the Philippines:

Dear Kimberly,


Ella and i are back from a most wonderful mission trip to the Philippines.
I believe Ella would have filled you'll in on the awesome things God amongst us.


God really used drama, songs, dance as a tool that crossed cultural or language barriers...to not only spread His message but bond the people and us together in a special way. And from day one we were awed that God was our divine director.
Cos no matter what mistakes we made - the entire thing ends on a perfect note, the people understood the message in a much deeper way than we expected and we had loads of fun!


The drama workshop we did was so simple but super fun. A leader in our host church told us that those who are interested in drama don't have a chance to really learn this stuff that we have learnt, cos many of them arnt from backgrounds too that enable them to go to college or special courses. But the people, mainly kids, youth and young adults who attended are so talented and have such a burning heart for God, they learnt so enthusiastically and quickly. We are so excited that groups from some churches including our host church are also going to use drama as a ministry in a greater way!


We came back home so blessed by the Filipinos. Cos though they're so super gifted in the arts, esp music, they have a spirit of humility. The very gifted people we had the privelege to be with never once displayed their talents but were always very communal  - using it to encourage everyone to come together at various spontaneous occasions to give their talents, their best to worship God. We're back wanting to cultivate this spirit in ourselves and the youth we're so blessed to work with in church.


We really want to thank you for your teaching and guidance in our lives, not just as artistes but as people who are passionate and available to God.  We would not have the knowledge, confidence, creativity, resources and everything else that enabled us to do what we did if not for you'll being our teacher and role-model!

We thank God for you'll so so so much!


God bless you and your family, work etc richly!


With much love,
rach
on behalf of Ella too
:)

Hey Kimberly!


Of course...you can share it with anyone and everyone...no need our permission!


Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! Feel so blessed and excited to 'go for it' even more cos God is so awesome! :)
But it really is no small part you empower us! Ella, Bee, Khimmy and I always get so so excited about all that you teach us and show us is possible to do!!!


Oh yes, forgot to say too that one of the mimes that we did there was The Box, which Dorithy did for her final performance in Performing Arts class! The videos on YouTube are so helpful and Dorithy was so kind and supportive providing us the script to do so too! :)


Thank you so much again, and God bless you and your family so richly!


lotsa love and hugs out,

rach :)

Admirable Qualities

On Jim's birthday in April I wrote a list of the things I appreciate about him...and just realized I never gave it to him!

So, for Jim and anyone else who happens along here are some of the amazing qualities of my dear husband of 24 years:

full of integrity
intelligent
gentle
generous
huge capacity in multiple arenas
counselor and coach
loyal
confident
Christlike
stable
centered
full of faith and trust in God rather than in himself
patient
encouraging
easy to love
caring
sweet
fun loving
balanced
disciplined
hardworking
gracious
logical

and that's just the short list.

Happy 52 1/4 bday Jim.