Been a seminar presented by Apst. Udochi Elechi .A during the 2020 JCCF RSU Drama coordinators
Retreat holding at REF 4, Rivers State University shopping complex on Saturday
25th January 2020
Key Text:
1In
the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the
dead, and in view of his appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of
season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful
instruction. 3For the time will come when
people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their
itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn
their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure
hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your
ministry. (2Timothy 4:1-5)
INTRODUCTION:
A
minister is someone who is authorized by a religious organization to perform
functions such as teaching of beliefs,
leading services and providing spiritual guidance.
Who
is a drama minister?
A
drama minister is someone who uses unthreatening way of evangelism as a tool to
administer the message of the gospel of Christ and not merely entertaining the congregation.
A
drama minister is someone who plainly reveals Christ by acting scriptures.
Our
key text points to the fact that every drama minister is mandated to preach the
word of God and as such prepare for the days ahead. The teaching and or preaching
must be done with sound doctrine. The drama minister must have succeeded living
the messages they preach (i.e. being an exemplary epistle in deeds that men
read and not just in words). Definitely, there must be some visible traits in
every minister and certain standards that ministers should at least attain in
order to have impact in the lives of their audience. Below are 9 specific
qualities a drama minister who wants to make impact should have:
1. KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY AND FULLY:
As
a drama minister, you are not different from a preacher. You can never give
what you don't have. Preaching Christ through drama may be ineffective or be of
little effect in the lives of audience if the ministering minister is yet to take the first step of
salvation, get rooted in the knowledge of Christ and attain a level of personal
and deep relationship with the Lord. (Acts 19:13-16)
2. BE STUDIOUS (KNOWLEDGE SEEKER):
A
drama minister should never graduate from the school of bible-studying. Being
sound in the knowledge of scripture will sharpen his ability of dividing and
applying the Word of God rightly as regard every subject matter.
Grow
to be a word-eater that is, meditating on the scriptures day and night (Joshua
1:8, Deuteronomy 17:9, Psalms 1:2).
And
he/she must also be a book reader (2 Timothy 2:15). If a story is to portray a
doctor with patient in a hospital. The scene would only be convincing enough if
the right costume, props and dialogue (terms) are used. And except one goes for
further studying apart from BIBLE,
one won't do better. Remember: what is worth doing at all is worth doing well!
3. BE BOLD/COURAGEOUS:
Being
bold as a drama minister arouses an unshaken confidence and a relief in your
audience. Only the bold ministers can be dynamic in their performances while on
set or stage. A drama minister must be ready to take up any given role as led
making most of the inexhaustible grace to do all things which have been given
to him.
4. BE TIME CONSCIOUS AND
CONSERVATIVE:
Having
being at many programs, I have seen several ministrations which concluding
their messages could be rightly predicted and yet the drama dragged through 30
minutes to one and half hours. The scenes hardly interwove and at a moment it
was boring. Here is my point; this is a waste and misuse of God's precious time
as well as watering down the power of their message. It is not how long but how
well. You don't have to show or say everything before people get your message.
In fact some dramas are left for the audience as puzzles. Be time conscious and
conservative!
5.
Don’t
depend on other people to act:
Most
people are great, and many do wonderful things. But there are many people who
do nothing. They complain and expect others to fix things. Don’t be that
person. Everyone has ideas, but few do anything with them. Don’t wait for
someone else to do it because that person may never come along. Bet on yourself.
It’s the safest risk.
6. MUST BE SMART ALWAYS:
Drama
ministers are under serious and continuous attacks of demons because God is
using them to expose the works of darkness and set many free from their
bondages. By so doing, ministers depopulate the kingdom of darkness and devils
would definitely not sit back to watch (Ephesians 6:12).
7. CONSCIOUSLY LIVE A HOLY LIFE AND
WITHOUT GRUDGE:
A
drama minister who lives a sinful or hateful life cannot positively impact
his/her audience but rather pollute or confuse them because the minister is
corrupt.
Such
ministers are vessels unto dishonor whose works are compared to stubble and
will be destroyed by fire. Any minister who lives sinful life indirectly
partners with Satan is at the risk of being buffeted by Satan.
Living
a holy life means accepting the cleansing power in Christ's finished work and
doing what is right according to the scriptures. (Romans 12:1-2, 1John 3:9). A
righteous minister will enjoy unlimited elevations and Holy Spirit would work
generously through such.
8. BE PRAYERFUL:
Prayer
generates power for exploits and
impact (James 5:17). That is why
a prayerless minister is a powerless minister. And a powerless minister is
vulnerable to satanic attacks (Luke 10:19). Being prayerful is not optional, it
is a must (Matthew 26:41, Ephesians 6:18a, 1Thessalonians 5:17)
9. BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We
can't do without the Holy Spirit (Matthew 25:3). As a minister, it is important
to know when to take some steps and how to go about taking them. This is one
among many duties of Holy Spirit. For example, some prayers may be right but not
right for a particular moment. It takes having the Holy Spirit to pray rightly
and timely (Romans 8:26). It is the Spirit that bears witness with our spirit
and gives us boldness and utterance to preach. It is the Spirit that leads one
away from danger and raises standard against satanic attacks (Isaiah 59:19b).
It is the same spirit that heals our weak bodies and helps us live a holy life.
(Romans 8:11, Galatians 15:16a). The Holy Spirit is indispensable!
CONCLUSION:
But
glory to God who always causes us to triumph in Him (2 Corinthians 2:14). We have a shield, a cure, an antidote, an
ever-winning weapon. This is the BLOOD of JESUS (Revelation 12:11).
Ministers
are to dip themselves in the blood of Jesus before and after their
ministrations.
May
your service be acceptable as from today. Remember, once it is accepted, the
reward is sure and quick (Revelation 22:12). It is well with you. Stay blessed!