The Miracle Theater begins Sunday morning worship services as part of outreach ministry
Pigeon Forge, Tenn., October 2009 –The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., will begin a praise and worship service to be held on Sundays very soon. The service will be held at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday morning in the theater at 2046 Parkway. Wayne Cook, pastor at the Miracle Theater will lead the Sunday morning worship service as well as special guest preachers who will be brought in to meet the needs of tourists visiting the Smoky Mountains. The service will be open to the public free of charge and everyone will be encouraged “to come as you are” to worship Him. The non-denominational service will be full of music and testimony from special guests.
The theater will still have The Exalt Christian Concert Show on Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. The show is a blend of musical styles including contemporary Christian hits from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, popular contemporary worship music and southern gospel tunes.
This show features the most beloved and cherished Christian music of all time including songs made famous by Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, the Gaither Vocal Band, Rich Mullins, Steve Green, Twila Paris, Dottie Rambo, Sandi Patty, Third Day and more. Fans are treated to today’s most popular outstanding contemporary worship and contemporary hits as well as great hymns of the church. The song list includes, “How Majestic Is Your Name,” and “People Need the Lord.”
Executives at Fee-Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, owners of The Miracle Theater, recently decided to form TMT Ministries and establish a new culture at the theater, one completely focused on Christian ministry. Sandy Inbody, a talented theater professional and passionate Christian leader from Lancaster, Penn., was hired to oversee the property’s transition to a legitimate and vibrant ministry. “The result has been nothing short of amazing,” Inbody said.
“When the curtain goes up, it’s apparent to everyone that these actors believe the story they’re telling,” said Inbody. “Each performance is covered with prayer and the effect spills out over the audience, the cast and all the employees at the theater!”
The theater’s main show, “The Miracle,” is a Broadway style faith-based musical that is itself a very powerful ministry tool,” said general manager, Robert Kalina. “If you see a drama that impacts you, you will never forget it,” Kalina said. “When you see a drama you relate with the characters. Drama has the power to make us laugh, move us emotionally or change us. However, we know that the ultimate work in a person’s heart is the work of God.
“Most people think of Christian drama mainly at Easter and at Christmas times, but our production of the Miracle is a faith-based show that people can see all year long. It is a powerful art form that is being used to communicate a Christian message throughout the year. Our gifted group of actors and actresses at the Miracle Theater has helped us raise the bar and demonstrate that drama can touch people deeply and make an impact. Theater doesn’t just entertain. It also opens up the Word of God.”
“The Miracle Theater is focused on one thing,” said Inbody. “Every person who works here wants to see tens of thousands of people encouraged in their faith or come to know Christ personally. It is our mission.”
Inbody says that at the Miracle Theater one of the primary goals is evangelism. “We’ve had hundreds of people saved through watching our Miracle show,” she says. “Most recently ten students from Thailand were saved after watching our Miracle performance.” Inbody believes it is difficult to pinpoint the “single factor that affects someone’s salvation experience.”
“Usually, it’s a process,” Inbody says. “We see our Miracle drama ministry as one of the tools God uses to nudge them closer.”
A theater may attract people who would never step into a church for a Sunday service. “We have people who come to our shows who never go to church and by watching our shows they get a new perspective on Christianity,” Inbody said. “We want them to become hungry for the Word of God and to want to come to our Church service on Sunday.”
In addition to being an outreach, drama is also an “inreach,” Inbody says. It unites the actors and actresses by bringing people together and “enables them to give back to God and other people.”
“As the Miracle Theater becomes known for our excellent faith-based drama, we will attract people who appreciate the art form–including actors and actresses who desire to use their gifts for the Lord.” Inbody says excellence breeds more artists who want to be part of that environment.
Is the effort and commitment of time worth it? “I have prayed that we are doing what God wants with this theater,” Inbody said. “I’ve often thought, Lord, what could You do if we spent as many hours praying as we do working on sets, sewing costumes, practicing the music and drama, and putting this together?” Inbody says. “I know the Father has called me to this theater and it is He who wants us to begin this church service.
“Without God’s calling, we would not be having a church service,” Inbody said. “When God opens the door, however, the rewards are immeasurable.
Inbody says. “I’ve come to realize that the things we do are being used to impact lives for eternity. For me, it is great to be a part of The Miracle show. I feel very fulfilled doing the things I am doing at the Miracle Theater because I know we are now a ministry with a worship service and we are making an impact on people’s lives.”
Likewise, Inbody is thankful she is able to combine her passion for theater with her love for ministry. “Everything we do is centered on the character of Christ –learning who He is, who we are in Him, the life He has for us,” she says. “To be able to do that with drama is completely everlasting.”
She believes one quality of drama that makes it effective as an evangelistic tool is its capability to speak everyone’s language.
“Drama brings the audience in–they don’t feel like they are being ‘preached at.’ Before they know it, they are seeing themselves in a scene,” notes Inbody. “By the end of the program, it has opened them up to receive ministry and to be challenged to take their faith to greater depths.” Many times Inbody says she sees families and individuals praying in their seats and in the lobby of the theater.
The Miracle Theater is a ministry with a mission to present faith-based family entertainment through live theatrical productions revealing the person of Jesus Christ as The Living Word of God. The Miracle Theater is one of just a handful of theaters in the entire country to manage its entire operation as a Christian ministry.
For more information, visit www.MiracleTheater.com or call 1-800-985-5494 or 865-426-SHOW (7469).
CONTACT: Deborah Fee Newsom, (865) 774-8877 or (865) 414-6887; Deborah@FeeHedrick.com
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