Return to Narnia… 

Bethel Baptist Church welcomed almost 1,000 schoolchildren alongside teachers and parents for a dramatic presentation of the Christmas story using C.S. Lewis’ magical world of Narnia.

Minister Jonathan Vaughan-Davies explains more 

 
Ba Humbug!
 
I guess the journey really started back this time last year, when Tim (our youth leader and school’s worker) and I sat down to map out the shape of the year. Both of us have a passion for creativity – particularly in storytelling – and we began to imagine staging a two-man show for Easter.
 
We’d been very much inspired by the ministry of Saltmine, and what they were able to achieve with a small travelling cast, costume changes, bits of media and a lot of imagination!
                                                 
As we talked, brainstormed, and prayed together – an idea emerged that became: An “Easter” Carol. An older Scrooge, (who has since left behind the monetary world and gone into chocolate making!) has now lost the wonder of Easter.

So he gets visited by the spirit of Easter Past (The Roman Centurion), Easter Present (Doubting Thomas), and Easter Future (John on the Isle of Patmos).

It provided us with a fun and visual way of retelling the story of Easter, with lots of interaction and participation.
 
A couple of schools that week were visiting us for the first time, and as one of the teachers from the school was leaving, he commented: 'Whatever you do next, please do make sure we’re invited!'

It was a real testimony to ongoing weekly work that Tim has been doing to invest in those relationships.
 
The truth is that we really did enjoy doing the show, with its mad characters, quick costume changes and audience participation – but we were really thrilled to offer the local schools the opportunity to come and enjoy a free performance, and for us to present the gospel in a visual and vivid way!
 

Going all C.S. Lewis…
 
Christmas has always been a great time for schools work, and seems to bring an openness and interest in that familiar part of the story of Jesus’ life. Tim and I wanted to build on the success of An Easter Carol and this time our thoughts turned to C.S. Lewis’ magical world of Narnia.
 
Thankfully Tim is very gifted, not just in drama, but practically too, and we were able to build a set around a wardrobe we found on freecycle. The story borrowed familiar characters from that world (Aslan, Mr Tumnus, Caspian and more) – but imagined two brothers stumbling in through the wardrobe and being invited to Aslan’s Party.

This party became the device we could use to describe Christmas to the inhabitants of Narnia.
 
In our story, the brothers get amazed that they were invited to Aslan’s Party, when they didn’t even know Aslan personally – and we were able to share the simple but powerful message that Christmas is best celebrated when you know the One whose birthday it is!

With poignant moments of dialogue, emotion, comedy, and interactive elements to bring the children along for the journey (as well as a few embarrassing interactions with the teachers, which are always enjoyable!).
 
Over the course of the eight days we hosted nearly a thousand children, plus the teachers, teachers assistants and parents who came to help steward them here safely. Getting feedback from some of the teachers as they prepared the children for the journey back to their school was lovely.

Realising the genuine thanks and appreciation for the presentation of the gospel in this way was really encouraging, and we are praying that that experience of church - and the message conveyed - will have a deep and lasting impact.
 

Tales of the unexpected…
 
A real surprise was just before one performance we saw someone standing outside with a group of small children, looking into our porch. At first we thought a school had arrived early and rushed out to welcome them – but as it turned out, they were from a home-schooling network and had noticed one large group of children leaving the building a day or so before. They asked if they could attend too, and so joined in with a group the next day. This has led to Tim being able to explore what it might mean to offer assemblies to that network too!
 
Having a small team, just Tim and myself, offers great flexibility of times and dates - which really helped the schools to be able to attend on days that suited them in their busy Christmas schedules.
 
With such a huge amount of support from our church and families, we also did an evening performance, to which the church, our children and youth groups and the community were invited to, and that was a really great opportunity too.
 

The show must go on…
 
We’re looking to grow this drama ministry – and are already planning an Easter schools show: The Greatest Show… about a travelling circus who keep finding that as they travel around the villages of Israel – someone has been there before them. As they continue to search for bigger and better acts, they’ll learn more about this genuine Miracle Maker who wasn’t interested at all in being a showman – and how love (His love, shown at the cross) is The Greatest of all.
 
Another thing we’re really excited about is the purchase of a new stage lighting rig, which we were able to buy thanks in part to a generous grant from the South Wales Baptist Association.

We’re so grateful for their support and partnership, and excited about the variety of new creative opportunities it will provide us with.

 

Jonathan Vaughan-Davies is the minister of Bethel Baptist Church in Cardiff