Coming to the Lampost Cont.

Obviously it was not the end of the story. (see previous post for the beginning) I thought it was but then I remembered two things. First, that I had prayed while applying to seminary that if there was something else that I was supposed to be doing that He would make it obvious.

The second thing I remembered was a desire, a passion long oppressed by practicality and more attention to the reality of my own inadequacy than is deserved. I didn’t so much remember it as you remember information or an event but more like you remember the familiar smells of your Grandmother’s house but not until you are there again. You see I knew Jeff Hanson because he directed a couple of plays I was in in High School and I had also seen Lampost perform on several occasions. I remember I would think, "they have a neat ministry" or "that drama really touched me." But I never dreamed about being a part of Lampost. It never got that far. Kind of like if you have ever watched NASCAR and thought of what it would be like to be the crew member who changes the front right tire of the winning car.

The rest of the story is obvious. Everything worked out. My last day working at the summer camp was the day before I was needed at Lampost and that is where my previous blog, "Flying Flapjacks and a Rubber Chicken" begins.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:20-21

Coming to the Lampost Through a Wardrobe

I recently started reading the Chronicles of Narnia because: (1) I found out that Lampost Theatre Co. got its name partially from these tales, you know, from the lamp post in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that symbolizes a point of intersection between the land of Narnia and our world and, (2) because there are movies coming out about the books that I hear are supposed to be pretty cool. However, the reason for this post is not to discus literature, but to tell you how I came to this place called the Lampost.

I suppose I will start when I was serving as an intern in Louisiana. (How I got there is an entirely different tale of God’s goodness. If you ask me perhaps I will tell you sometime.)

My year in Louisiana was coming to a close and I was trying to figure out what I was to do next. Nothing seemed to be coming together as I would have liked. I had sent out some resumes and had a few phone interviews but nothing came out of it. Well, I guess it’s time for a back up plan. I had, and still do have, the desire to go to seminary one day so I applied to Liberty University. At around this same time I also got a job for the summer working at a camp in Iowa. So I finally had something to tell people when they asked what I planned to do next though I continued to pray that God would open another door if He had something else planned for me. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

While back in Iowa I decided to stop by the Lampost Theatre Co. to say “hi” to Jeff Hanson and see if I could play some music there some night. In the course of my conversation with Jeff he mentioned that they were looking for another full time staff member and hinted (rather obviously) that I should consider looking into it. Well, I already had my plans so I abruptly listed them off in order to clearly explain why that would not work out. End of Story.?

Flying Flapjacks and a Rubber Chicken

It is hard to believe that I have been living at the Lampost Theatre Co. for over two months! I still remember the first few days clearly. Shortly after I arrived, a group of high school students arrived from Chicago for a three-day drama retreat. I lead a few activities and sat in on the training sessions to learn things such as how to use drama in ministry and the “Ooga-chaka” street drama.

After the drama retreat, my first official job was to tear apart an old, ugly booth so it could be reupholstered and used in the coffee shop. As I began to pry off the hundreds of staples that held the dusty maroon fabric on the old, but still sturdy wood, the reality of my new situation began to sink in: I am living in an old funeral home with seven other people who I hardly know trying to create a space where college students will come and deepen their relationship with God. Add in a low budget and working together as a team in almost every area of life and I felt like I had stumbled into the ministry equivalent of Trading Spaces meets The Real World. I was also thinking, “Why did they have to put so many staples in this booth?”

That covers my first four days at the Lampost. Here are a few highlights of the next 75 days: I have met many students, including several international students through the concerts, campfires, and other events that we have held. Every Monday night small groups and Bible studies from several different ministries have used our space to meet and have enjoyed free pancakes and fellowship with each other during and event we call “Flying Flapjacks”.

In October we performed dramas at The Barn and at Main Event. The Barn is a once a year gathering of several youth groups from the Parkersburg area. Main Event is a weekend retreat for college students around the Midwest. It was at Main Event that I was able to fulfill my life-long dream of rapping in front of 1,500 people. (Actually, that has never been a dream of mine, but if God is able to use a silly skit for His glory then I will become even more undignified than this.) Among the many lives affected at Main Event, Bora, one of the international students from South Korea, accepted Christ!

So here I am, and after ten weeks finding a rubber chicken in the middle of the floor or a drawer marked “body parts” seems as normal as rain. (Perhaps I should clarify, the drawer marked “body parts” is for fake noses and that sort of thing.) Soon I will begin rehearsing my part as the Bishop in our upcoming Christmas Drama, “Frankincense, Myrrh & Fool’s Gold”.