 We're in tech for the simplest staging and most provocative piece of our theater festival, "Convergence of History: Four Anniversaries, One Faith."
So, I'm eager for and wary of how the audience will respond to "Freedom Song: The Amazing Grace/Uncle Tom Suite," the Reader's Theater piece Vikki and I are presenting Saturday, April 11 at the Schaumburg Township District Library. The reading begins at noon. Our time together, including the post-show Q & A, is an hour. Unless people want to hang out and keep talking. Given the racial, political, spiritual and emotional intensity of the last month -- not to mention the last 15 -- it may not seem wise to read excerpts of the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." in public. Yet, it's perhaps because of the current climate that we sense a different type of pertinence to this program. There are three discoveries we've made as we've woven the narrative of John Newton's transformation from slave-trader to the pastor who composed "Amazing Grace" that we believe will make this hour worth attending: 1) The intriguing way Newton came to experience "grace" as an act of God to be replicated, not just discussed and sung about. 2) How author Harriet Beecher Stowe was affected by the lyrics to the extent she was to use them and adapt her own as an integral element in her novel's storyline and the protagonist's decisions. 3) That Stowe's prologue and epilogue, which we highlight in our adaptation, are a more frightening message to the those who claim Christian faith in the United States in 2026 as when she penned them in 1852. Her message, in the same vein as Frederick Douglass' speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?", challenges professed Christians to live the tenets of the Christ rather than leveraging selected passages to justify personal positions. This last discovering surprised us because, a) because we didn't include them when we created the script in 2019; b) I only found these passages after last Saturday's rehearsal when Vikki and I felt a section of the script needed more context. Reading Stowe's bookending words was a gift of grace. And a plus of Reader's Theater. We're hopeful you will grace us with your presence Saturday. We have no agenda other than to entertain, educate, equip and empower Safe-Faith Conversations and a closer living the grace of The LORD God. Yes, we still have seats: tinyurl.com/GraceTom2026
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 Degrees of Divine Inspiration: Michael reunites with Bob Hay (front row, white shirt) and meets Byron Spradlin (hands on Bob's shoulders at introduction orientation to Artists in Christian Testimony Intl. (2017). by Michael Edgar Myers Founding Artistic Director The history of Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries is full of meaningful encounters with individuals who have influenced our work in unique ways. There have been one-time encounters with audience members after performances. Requests from pastors and church leaders asking, “Teach us to do what you do.” There are recurring encouragements from financial partners whose sacrificial generosity sustains our goals month-to-month; and from those to whom prayer is Lip Service and more than lip service. Then there is Bob Hay, in the category of his own: catalyst. Simply put, several significant ministry and personal the relationships we have today – our 30th anniversary season – we directly attribute to our connection to Bob.
 By Michael Edgar Myers Founding Artistic Director Among the many ironies of Christian faith and Biblical study is the volume of attention given to what Christians are against and the number of Scripture verses that prohibit behaviors. A high percentage of these negative viewpoints are among Christian church leaders, traditionally and currently. This negativity creates two consequences that undermine the true essence of the religion of Jesus.
The saddest effect of those consequences – by Christians -- is that they impede progress of Jesus’ mandate to make disciples of all nations, and teach them what He has commanded. Where this impact is most notable in the U.S. is among youth, people of color, and women.
 Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash By Michael Edgar Myers Founding Director I'm writing while reflecting on "Giving Tuesday," the designated Tuesday after Thanksgiving when not-for-profit organizations concentrate on requesting financial donations. It's a laudable period of end-of-the-year generosity, even if a tad overwhelming.
No doubt you have received many "Giving Tuesday" email requests in recent days. If you're like me, you may feel a twinge of pressure to try giving to everyone, as if #GivingTuesday is a do-it-or-lose it competition with leftovers from Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For us, "Giving Tuesday" isn't a landing site, it's a launching pad of Yes, And... Y So, to be transparent, yes, this IS a request to give...AND it is not. Yes, we would be thankful if you gave financially to Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries (today, even), AND I want to let you know there's a deeper reason I'm writing. It's to thank you for the intangible gifts you have given us already so that we may give to others.  By Michael Edgar Myers Founding Director A colleague of ours with Artists in Christian Testimony Intl is a music ministry educator in Ukraine. As the Russian attacks were imminent, our colleague sent a post to A.C.T. Intl artists in 47 countries encouraging us to begin infusing oft-sung Ukrainian songs of worship in our local congregational assemblies. Three of the selections are original compositions by musical worship leaders in Ukraine, perhaps not known Stateside. YouTube links and link to the full story can be provided.
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