Theological theatrics take the stage

Bright, colorful lights shine as cameras roll and audio booms from a top-notch sound system shadowed by cross and big screen.
It's all part of the show called Sunday.

And one Odessa church is finding a way to balance production and preaching. Theatrics and theology. The staged and the spiritual. Drama and the divine.

Bringing to mind the quality of professional stage performances, the theater arts ministry at Odessa Christian Faith Center uses volunteer actors from church to project a message that's anything but pretend.

Nate Carter, the ministry's director, frames his passion for theater and acting around the context of magnifying God to present a creatively clear message that grips the heart.

"This is always something that I wanted to do," he said. "Theater's a powerful tool for communication, and all of it's to package the message because that's the most important thing."

Not only did Carter grow up at the church, but he also joined the church's staff more than a year ago to revitalize the theater program. Whether it's a five-minute sketch before the Sunday sermon or a top-shelf production adapted from popular stories like Pixar's "Toy Story" and "The Wizard of Oz," the theatrical performances add a visual element to the church's teaching - displaying popular characters with a biblical twist.

Carter said a big thrust of the acting ministry is outreach to children from surrounding apartment complexes who are bused to the church for the shows.

"We have an altar-call every single show - that's one of the primary purposes in it being an outreach," he said. "When you package the message in a way that they understand - it's familiar and it speaks their language."

Today, the church presents a musical, "The Yellow Brick Road," for its bus kids with two performances for the public on Sunday.
Frank Gonzales, one of the church's 50-some volunteer actors, said he's gotten better on stage as the church's productions have gotten bigger and more technical. Some of the Sunday sketches make people laugh or cross over to the spiritual side of things, but they each have a wow factor that keeps people interested, he said.

 "It prepares people to receive what the message is going to be about - this is an area that you can present the Gospel in a way that's not cramming it down people's throats and get children involved," Gonzales said. "When you remember what it's all about, ministering to people and being there as a servant to be used, it makes it all worth it."

Church actress Jane McKeel said church theater was something very new to her, but she's embraced it and has played several different roles - including her upcoming performance as a Wicked Witch in "The Yellow Brick Road."

McKeel said when the audience sees biblical principles acted out on stage, there's a mental connection that takes place and the drama helps to drive the point home.

"It just brings stuff to your attention in a different way than if someone's just teaching," she said. "It puts it much more in a day-to-day perspective."