Drama, The Visual Language Part 1

Drama, The Visual Language Part 1 By Howi Tiller

The last twenty years for the church have been years of great change. The message has not and cannot change. However, there seems to be an awakening and openness in respect to changes in the method by which we communicate the message. As an evangelist/dramatist who travels extensively across the United States, I am witnessing an evolution in evangelistic efforts and our approach to winning souls. The prevailing question is asked, "how do we win this generation"? Pastors and church leaders are concerned that the church of today isn't reaching today's mind-set. In our efforts to find the missing ingredient we most often miss the simple method that Jesus gave to us by example. Jesus taught by painting a story with words. Not just stories, but stories or parables that were relative to his generation and specifically to whom he was speaking to at that given moment. He didn't have a pulpit, a choir, or notes, (this is not to say that we shouldn't have them) and yet he delivered the essence of Heaven to everyday common folk on earth. Maybe we should look at how Jesus really ministered. He was being dramatic when he knelt in the sand and wrote a message in the sand with His finger. He was being dramatic when He told the story of the, "Rich man and Lazarus", and when he described the law of the sewer when He said, "A man went out to sew seed. Some fell on rocky soil and some on fertile soil"... and so on. His stories appealed to the emotion and yet His words were also able to touch the intellect of mankind. It didn't matter if he was talking about finances, agriculture, marriage, birth or death, Jesus' stories were relative and timely. Jesus told the story, "A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and on his way he fell among thieves. He was beaten, robbed and left for dead". What is the significance of the story? The person He was telling the story to was a lawyer. Jesus knew the lawyer would understand the story of a crime. Jesus' communication was relative, timely and interesting. What He had to say was heavenly with human application. I think it would be wise if we took a closer look at the dramatic way in which Christ addressed life's issues through truth and principles. If we were to measure Christ's method of communicating with what we think today's standard is, Christ would be a failure. He didn't have a pulpit, a choir or a program. There isn't anything wrong with those items, but maybe we need to re-think the evangelism process. Christ spoke in parables, wrote in the sand, prayed in a garden, preached and then had a picnic out on the hillside. Dramatic, to say the least. Not that what He did was just drama, it wasn't…it was reality. My point is that we need to look closer at Christ's template and adjust accordingly.Drama truly is the visual language or method that can cause the audience to travel down the road of truth with you. We cannot match the passion that Christ exemplified on the cross. He is the only one that can do that. We can however, have great passion for souls and ministry. As you read this book, pray that the Lord will anoint you with a passion to reach souls, not just how to do drama better. A passion for souls will carry over into having a passion for drama as a ministry. Souls, truth and ministry are the driving forces behind every great end-time evangelistic effort.

BRING A PENCIL TO REHEARSAL www.howitiller.com

One More Round - Barlow Girl Song

Here is a scene out of One More Round from the CODE West 2009 DVD.

Many of you are looking for neat youth songs to act out to...well we have a really awesome song interpretation to the song by Barlow Girl called, One More Round. We turned it into a fight scene with a referee who is on the take. To order the DVD go to www.howitiller.com/misc.htm and scroll down until you see the order button for CODE West 2009. It was a lot of fun and works well for youth...especially for teenage girl's event.

CODE WEST dates are June 24-26, 2010 in Hanford, CA. It will be our 10th Anniversary and planning on having an incredible time.

New Youtube video clips

Hey,
We've added many new video clips of the song, Unto the Lamb which is a great Easter song or can be used anytime of the year. Also, Crosses and Crowns for Easter or for anytime of the year as well. If you are looking for an awesome high energy song then watch the clip of Stand Out by Tye Tribett. We even have some new balck light puppets for sale. Visit us on youtube by searching howitiller.com or our site at www.howitiller.com/instructional.htm and have fun perusing through our site.

Spring Tour in California

Well, it's almost that time again, but we are planning our spring tour with the full length play called , "The Opening of the Hand" 4 actors play 16 characters as the script takes us from the sandy shore of the Sea of Galilee, to Calvary and the gate just outside the Temple in Jerusalem.

If you want a small cast script for your Easter season...visit us at www.howitiller.com/Easter.htm and scroll down until you see the full length scripts.

Dance of the Broken Bones
Mind and Heart
Spectacle
The Great White Pearl
The Opening of the Hand

There are many snall cast Easter sketches as well that you can download for this year.

Sunday School Conference in Ohio

I'm not a children's evangelist, but I teach a lot of Sunday School Conferences to encourage SS teachers to come alive with their story telling, acting and illustrations.

We'll be in the Columbus area in March to teach. So, you may want to think about having us come you way...either to your local church or SS Conference. Reach us at howitiller@aol.com or at 918-760-3561.

Easter Play or Drama called The Encounter

Looking for a moving yet, user friendly script with music and song interpretation?

Then The Encounter might just be what you are looking for. It is a compilation of professionally written sketches that uniquely weave a wonderful story with 3 chosen songs.

On My Cross By FFH
Crosses and Crowns By Natalie Grant
Unto the Lamb By the Hope Project

All these can be downloaded from i-tunes.

Visit our site at www.howitiller.com/Easter.htm for more information

You are not out of time yet, but Easter is a week earlier this year so don't wait too long.
Hey! You want us to help. I have a couple weeks that are still open if you want help and an incredible drama weekend. You can email us at howitiller@aol.com or call us at 918-760-3561.
We'll help to make Easter happen for you.

New Years Sketch

If you are looking for a good script for the new year service...then visit www.howitiller.com/sketches.htm and scroll down until you see the sketch called, "Listen."

New Day or Spiritual Growth

"Listen" Often times we think we are not making progress in our own life or ministry, when we really are. In “Listen”, two hikers stop to take a breather when one of them thinks they are going in circles. The older wiser hiker who has been on this path before knows they aren’t going in circles. When things start to look so familiar that you think your life has become one big circle, that’s when you need to stop and listen. The journey is more than just seeing the sights…it’s also hearing the sounds. “Listen” was written to be performed for an event that introduces something new like a New Years Eve service, new ministry or growing spiritually. It can also be a parent and son/daughter sketch or a sermon set-up as well.

Let us know if we can help with your drama ministry.