Drama Ministry
By: Terry Stanley

Where does your drama ministry fit within the organizational structure of your church?  Are drama used as a tool for ministry or just an entertainment opportunity? As drama becomes more visible and accepted as a ministry, its position in the organizational structure of the church will (or should) change accordingly.

There are three organizational models associated with how a drama ministry is positioned in the church. 

Isolated Model

In this model, drama is not a formal ministry; it's isolated from the formal church organization. Drama is used occasionally, perhaps for seasonal productions or as a fundraiser. There is not an organized drama team with established leadership (i.e., President, Coordinator, Secretary, etc.). Often, members associated with another ministry (music, missionary, ushers, youth) decide to perform a dramatization for a specific occasion. After the performance is over, the drama team no longer exists. 

The good news is your church is actively using drama. The bad news is drama is not positioned as a church authorized "ministry" but rather an authorized "activity." However, don't be discouraged if you are in this phase of growth. 

Subordinate Model

In this model, your church has established a formal drama ministry. Most often, churches position a new drama ministry as a subordinate ministry of Music or Christian Education. The members elect officers and set rules and operational guidelines. Most importantly, the drama team remains intact after every performance, which allows the ministry to grow through training, experience and increased membership. 

The good news is the church recognizes that drama is valuable enough to be a formal ministry. The bad news is drama is still a subordinate ministry and therefore may be limited to the vision and guidance of the parent ministry leadership. However, this is only a weakness if the parent ministry leadership is not a strong advocate of drama.

Peer Model

In the peer model, drama, and other creative arts, is recognized by the pastor and church leadership as an integral part of their ministry suite. The main advantages of the Peer Model over the Subordinate Model are: 1) Drama leadership has direct access to the pastor, and drama is included in the church's strategic plan for ministry and 2) The scope of the ministry may expand beyond drama performances and include other performing arts (dance, mime, puppetry, etc.).  In essence, the Drama Ministry is transformed into a comprehensive Creative or Sacred Arts Ministry. 

The good news is this model places a concentrated focus on using all creative arts for ministry. The bad news is very few churches have implemented this organizational model.

Why Start a Drama Ministry

So you brought up the idea of starting a Drama Ministry at your church. What response did you get? Lukewarm? Confused? Bewildered Sure, they might go along with you for a seasonal production at Christmas, or Easter, or perhaps even a special dinner theater to raise money for the youth program. But why in the world would you want to start an ongoing Drama Ministry? Here are a few good reasons.

1. God Used Drama.

If God believes dramatizations are helpful for ministering then shouldn't we? Dramatizations are visual ministry. In Ezekiel 12:1-6, God commanded Ezekiel to dramatize the life of a captive in order to show Israel what would soon happen to them if they did not change their ways. God felt it was important to show them or dramatize before them, in addition to telling them. Other well-known examples of visual ministry are the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), dry bones made alive (Ezekiel 37:7-10) and the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2). We often use the popular phrase "seeing is believing." Perhaps, there's a degree of truth to this.

2. Drama Engages the Senses.

Be honest, how many of you can remember the sermon your pastor preached three weeks ago? It was probably an excellent sermon, but we're inundated with so much verbal communication, the Word sometimes gets lost. Ministering through drama adds the visual dimension that engages our sense of sight into action along with our sense of hearing. What if you dramatized a sketch on evangelism prior to the pastor's sermon on the same subject? I'm sure many people will remember that sermon and dramatization for weeks and weeks.

3. Drama is Entertaining.

Of course we all go to church to worship God, not to be entertained. That's true, but we're human, and people like to be entertained. People like to have their spirits lifted and forget their problems, if only for a while. Why not combine the two: entertainment and ministry. You can get the attention of your audience through your performance, and then minister God's Word through your message. Besides, when you take your ministry into the streets, nursing homes, prisons or community centers, the
audience's initial focus may not be on God, but that's where you'll guide them.

4. Drama Builds Unity.

So many ministries are separated by age (senior, adult and youth) or gender (male and female) that there are very few opportunities for everyone to minister together. Drama Ministry is a great medium for entire families to participate together: children, parents, grandparents and friends. Everyone can rehearse, perform and fellowship together. Also, no special talent is needed, just a willingness to perform (or help with the production). In addition, drama is a great ministry to get the less-active members of your church involved in. You'll be surprised how many seemingly "quiet" members like performing, especially in comedies. Let's face it; everyone has a little ham in them.

What's Your Mission ?

It's been said, "If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there?" This is true in life and in your ministry.  What are your goals? What are you trying to achieve? What is your mission?

A mission statement defines the purpose of your ministry. It's why you are in existence. If you're not sure why you're starting a Drama Ministry (or any Arts ministry), then you may find your drama team wandering in the wilderness of ministry service without spiritual fulfillment. So how do you identify your mission? 

First, ask God. Drama Ministries can have different missions. God may be calling your ministry to the mission field or to the streets to use drama as an outreach evangelistic tool; others may be called to use drama as a teaching tool for children; or to minister within worship services; or special programs, etc. There is no "one" mission for drama.  God will give you the mission for your ministry. 

Second, make sure your mission is Biblically based. There are more than enough goals for us to achieve in the Bible; we don't have to invent new ones.  For example, using Matthew 22:37-40, your mission could be to strive to improve man's relationship with God, with others and with his/her self. Why make our mission Biblically based? To help us stay God-centered instead of self-centered. Let's face it; drama is also entertainment.  We can easily get caught up in the "entertainment" and lose sight of the "ministry." 

Third, collaborate with others. Developing a mission statement is not a science. Your initial draft must be refined, worked and re-worked. Discuss your vision and your mission statement with other saints. Of course, the pastor is one of the people you should speak with. Your pastor will certainly be able to provide you with constructive critique on your mission and ministry, in which he/she is the ultimate overseer of.

Okay, so now you have a mission statement. Now what? Don't keep it on paper. Make it real, discuss it in your meetings, give it to new members, and use it to judge your performances and to help you make strategic decisions concerning the direction of your ministry. As your ministry grows and matures, you may need to refine your mission statement.  At least you now have a general roadmap to lead your ministry.

The Ministry of Directing

There have been many great books written on the "art" of directing, but what about the "ministry" of directing? Ministering through drama is more than performing a play, sketch or monologue. Every aspect of the drama production (writing, directing, casting, rehearsals, etc.) must be carried out under the control of the Holy Spirit. Is it possible to perform a bless play or sketch and have conflict between the director and the cast?  Fortunately, yes, because God's grace abounds and He is forever faithful even when we are not. But that is not God's desire. God desires unity (1 Corinthians 1:10). 

The ministry of the director is to create a great production under the guidance of the Holy Spirit with love and patience. Did I say patience? Aren't the terms "directing" and "patience" mutually exclusive? Many directors believe so, but God is ever patient even with people who will not listen (2 Peter 3:9), therefore we must be also.  

Drama ministry is one of few ministries that appeal to many non-participatory church members.  These are the members who sit Sunday after Sunday quietly in the congregation. Their first introduction into ministry service may be through drama.   Therefore, you are not just serving as the director but also as a ministry leader (a representative of Jesus, the Pastor, and the church). Your attitude is as important as your action. Your most important acts of ministry are the ones shown in your attitude under trying circumstances. These are the times when we must move from the art of directing to the ministry of directing. 

Once you embark on this journey into theatrical ministry there will be disappointments, rehearsal no-shows, latecomers, dropouts, bad acting and back-seat directors. However, there will also be spirits uplifted, hearts comforted and persons being saved. When all is said and done, God is in control. All of the challenges we encounter are for our growth that we might endure all with love and patience to the glory of God.

Terry Stanley is the CEO of Gospel Drama Ministries, Inc., and the Dramatic Arts Coordinator at the Calvary Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland . 

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