Missions and Ministry
Using Drama to Share the Gospel
By Steve Niebling
As a retiring teacher and former police officer, I've spent years advocating for the use of quality drama as a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel, because people become witnesses of Christ at work. As a Wycliffe Advocate, I've had the privilege of directing and producing their Gospel Dramas, most recently the Luke Drama on the Fraser Coast. My role was a true blessing, both in coordinating the production behind the scenes and instructing a wonderful team of actors.
Directing this drama was a deeply personal journey. I challenged myself to explore Luke’s Gospel more thoroughly than ever before, asking questions like, "What did Jesus truly mean by this?" and "How can we portray this message in a meaningful way for today’s audience?" This process deepened my awareness of Jesus’s humanity and compassion for people.
The most rewarding part was seeing the Gospel come to life through our cast. Seeing the vision unfold and the actors fully embrace their roles was a privilege and a joy. The greatest blessing, however, was empowering the cast to create what I believe was our best production yet. The most heartwarming feedback was a simple comment from an audience member: “I loved that the actors played ‘normal people.’” This perfectly captured my goal, as Jesus lived and ministered among ordinary people, and their stories are the ones we must tell. We also had powerful reflections from the cast, such as this one: "…Many poignant moments, but when Jesus is being led to the cross, he talks to the weeping women, and that made me realise that my life without Jesus was empty." The impact of these dramas extends far beyond the stage, shaping our spiritual journeys long after the final performance.
Working with Christians from different backgrounds can be challenging, but it’s a wonderful opportunity to grow beyond our usual circles and focus on Kingdom ministries. While I was disappointed by the low audience turnout, we still saw the true value in the show as an evangelistic tool. The production served as a non-threatening way for people to experience the Gospel, and we believe it will continue to impact lives in the months and years to come.
We discovered that last year's John Drama was instrumental in leading five men to faith in Jesus—praise God—and we pray that the Luke Drama will continue this trend.
As you read this, I’m directing the Matthew Drama in Geraldton, Western Australia. Please pray that the Holy Spirit does a similar work of grace there. I believe drama is a "Living Translation" of God’s word, and I am committed to being a servant of Jesus Christ wherever He leads.
Looking ahead, we'll likely produce the Matthew Drama here on the Fraser Coast next year. We need more people to help, and I'm hoping to transition into a more advisory role, concentrating on directing while someone else takes the lead producer position. You don’t need to be a professional actor to be part of this ministry—all you need is a willing heart.
As a retiring teacher and former police officer, I've spent years advocating for the use of quality drama as a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel, because people become witnesses of Christ at work. As a Wycliffe Advocate, I've had the privilege of directing and producing their Gospel Dramas, most recently the Luke Drama on the Fraser Coast. My role was a true blessing, both in coordinating the production behind the scenes and instructing a wonderful team of actors.
Directing this drama was a deeply personal journey. I challenged myself to explore Luke’s Gospel more thoroughly than ever before, asking questions like, "What did Jesus truly mean by this?" and "How can we portray this message in a meaningful way for today’s audience?" This process deepened my awareness of Jesus’s humanity and compassion for people.
The most rewarding part was seeing the Gospel come to life through our cast. Seeing the vision unfold and the actors fully embrace their roles was a privilege and a joy. The greatest blessing, however, was empowering the cast to create what I believe was our best production yet. The most heartwarming feedback was a simple comment from an audience member: “I loved that the actors played ‘normal people.’” This perfectly captured my goal, as Jesus lived and ministered among ordinary people, and their stories are the ones we must tell. We also had powerful reflections from the cast, such as this one: "…Many poignant moments, but when Jesus is being led to the cross, he talks to the weeping women, and that made me realise that my life without Jesus was empty." The impact of these dramas extends far beyond the stage, shaping our spiritual journeys long after the final performance.
Working with Christians from different backgrounds can be challenging, but it’s a wonderful opportunity to grow beyond our usual circles and focus on Kingdom ministries. While I was disappointed by the low audience turnout, we still saw the true value in the show as an evangelistic tool. The production served as a non-threatening way for people to experience the Gospel, and we believe it will continue to impact lives in the months and years to come.
We discovered that last year's John Drama was instrumental in leading five men to faith in Jesus—praise God—and we pray that the Luke Drama will continue this trend.
As you read this, I’m directing the Matthew Drama in Geraldton, Western Australia. Please pray that the Holy Spirit does a similar work of grace there. I believe drama is a "Living Translation" of God’s word, and I am committed to being a servant of Jesus Christ wherever He leads.
Looking ahead, we'll likely produce the Matthew Drama here on the Fraser Coast next year. We need more people to help, and I'm hoping to transition into a more advisory role, concentrating on directing while someone else takes the lead producer position. You don’t need to be a professional actor to be part of this ministry—all you need is a willing heart.
Posted in Missions & Ministry