“Jordan, wait for the lights to dim!”

Our play Jonah!, was heading into the third and final act. Jordan was playing the role of Jonah, a reluctant prophet, a part that fit him surprisingly well. An enthusiastic and personable high school student, our Jordan had begun to jig from the back of the auditorium behind viewers who were straining to see who had opened the door and let light into the darkened room. Jordan was about to perform a quick-step dance down the center aisle in time to a contemporary Christian song, “Dive” by Stephen Curtis Chapman, his jig toward Nineveh a testimony of relief to escaping the fish that swallowed him three days before and had now vomited him on land.

“Sorry.” Jordan ducked out the door to wait beside me as the lights went fully down and the music cued up.

Jonah! was inspired by a friend of our family’s who knows I enjoy writing. He casually mentioned, “You ought to write a play about Jonah.”

“I don’t think there’s much to say,” I responded. “Jonah is cut and dried.”

“It would be interesting—his disobedience, the storm—even Nineveh was definitely a scary place.”

I’d never thought about it that way before. As it turned out, neither had our audience. As had I, they needed someone to bring the Bible to life to help them appreciate God’s Word in new and meaningful ways.

The draft was ready within a month; a few weeks later, I gave the play to our pastor, Rob Seymour, for approval. We planned performances for the following spring.

“Let me know how I can help,” he said eagerly.

When the time came, he and his son, Youth Pastor Paul Seymour, set up a tiered stage. Church members handy with building tools created a Middle Eastern-style set. Then we had to design a giant fish. Andy Miller crafted a 5-foot-tall fish-shaped wooden structure with dark netting wrapped over a see-through belly. Jonah sat behind the netting to be visible to the audience (under bluish lights) to create a sense of being inside a huge fish.

Our church did not have many costumes. Member Joyce Kennedy had directed a drama program at another church and was able to borrow some belonging to it. Additional Middle Eastern robes were sewn from old bed sheets, and matching headdresses were assembled.

From a hardware store, we bought blue plastic tarps to spread across the stage to resemble the sea during Act II—the storm scene. We twined ropes through the tarps and pulled them back and forth from behind both sides of the stage curtains to create an illusion of moving water. It was uplifting to see how people wanted to be involved in various ways. Without their help we couldn’t have staged the play. Everyone was talking about Jonah!, which means everyone was discussing the Bible!

We started and ended rehearsals with a devotional. Actors were asked to read the Book of Jonah to better understand the story they were going to depict. We checked concordances and other Bible resources for information, learning more about Jonah and the redemption of Nineveh, while comparing it to our world today as we await Jesus’ return.

Now, as the song burst from the speakers, Jonah soft-shoed his way past the painted stone wall that represented the vast city’s formidable boundary. As the audience’s eyes adjusted to the spotlight on our star, there were gasps and laughter at his outlandish appearance: whitened skin and hair; torn grayish robe; and sludgy barnacles hanging off his arms and legs. He was a sight to behold—fearsome and yet curious in his happy dance past awe-stricken guards and startled Nineveh dwellers—which is how we figured the real Jonah got through security checkpoints to grab the attention of Israel’s dangerous enemies. They just had to hear what had happened to the bedraggled figure, then had to repent to avoid similar judgment from God.

Act III sailed smoothly along, past suicidal youth and comedic pickpockets, as well as the awesome climax of citizens bowing in repentance.

Following the play, cast and crew received thunderous applause and met the audience at the refreshment table for cookies and punch. As they answered questions and blushed from compliments, it was inspiring to hear more than 100 people animatedly discuss the Bible story of Jonah! What two hours prior was the boring story of an Old Testament prophet became the story of a minor celebrity, who illustrated the beauty and significance of Jonah’s prophetic mission.

Following the success of Jonah!, our church asked our drama troupe to produce another play. Two years later, we presented The Christmas Promise about God’s plan for the ultimate Christmas Gift, beginning in the Garden of Eden and carried out through the Israelites’ lineage through the Old Testament. The play was resoundingly successful, so we planned another one.

Our third drama, presented in 2009, was Queen Esther (based on the Book of Esther). Our group had lots of fun making elaborate costumes for Xerxes’ courtiers and servants and having our pastor’s niece, professional hair stylist Joanna Griffiths, arrange hair, wigs and makeup before performances. We publicized the free performances in the newspaper.

Our first show filled all seats. The second evening was almost full. Then we received invitations to perform at other churches and became a traveling drama troupe!

Donations were given for needed lapel microphones. After a few months, we had to discontinue touring due to the cast’s other commitments.

At the final performance, one of our actors said backstage, “We ought to make a movie.” So we did! Beginning in 2009, we adapted to film the story of church member Kelsey Minick, a Russian adoptee, whose friendship with a troubled teenager inspires viewers to pursue their dreams of ballet and basketball. In the fall of 2010, we released More than Chance, based on the true story of Kelsey’s life. (Kelsey plays herself in the film, which incorporates biblical principles, and the salvation message is clearly given.

The Bible is alive and waiting to be discovered through drama and film ministries. Why not bring the Bible to life through your artistic aspirations?