FROM DOLDRUMS TO DESTINY

Next up is the drama item—possibly the highlight of the service. In true City Harvest style, the Christmas drama was full of hilarious moments, great entertainment and moving melodrama. Set in the make-believe "International Street of Inns" in Bethlehem, the Christmas Story of Joseph, Mary and the conception and birth of Jesus is retold in a way that powerfully demonstrates God's love and purpose for every individual, no matter how insignificant he or she feels.

Adding to the impact of the drama are the realistic costumes and props, the key prop being a Chinese period guest house that rotates to switch between showing its facade and interior. Angelic visitations are aided by hydraulic platforms, as were numerous scene changes. Together with CHC-originated musical scores and creative interplays of light and sound effects, the audience is treated to a world-class dramatic experience.

While there are moments of comic relief—the most hilarious of which must be when the occupants at the Indian hotel break into a Bollywood-style dance sequence to "entertain" a befuddled Joseph and expectant Mary—the most heart-rending parts revolve around the fictional character of Jabez, a slow and stuttering orphan boy rejected by everyone and ill-treated by his callous guardian. This young man had a speech impediment, worked as a slave in an inn for an overbearing female innkeeper, and was frequently bullied and humiliated by those around him.

His existence is simply miserable, and Jabez is dejected and disillusioned with life. He retreats to his quarters—the dingy manger behind the Chinese guest house—and in the still of the night, sputtering out a song of despondency, he cries to God for help: "There ... must be ... more to this ..." It was truly the tear-jerking highlight of the entire story.

Jabez's desperate quest for his purpose in life is finally revealed when he offers his humble manger, the only available "room" along the International Street of Inns, to Joseph and the very-pregnant Mary. While this aspect of the story is purely fictional, the message is real and accurate: God loves every individual and has a plan and purpose for each of our lives.

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

By the end of this moving drama, we are two-thirds into the two-hour service. Kong Hee then took to the stage and preached a short but poignant Christmas message, touching on three main points:

Kong Hee stressed that while "Jesus is the reason for the season," we are also "the reason"—Christ came for our sake, to reconcile us back to God. The message was simple but powerful, and touched the hearts of both members and their friends.

An invitation was then given to all who wanted to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. On each of the two days, more than a thousand hands shot up all across the auditorium. These new believers streamed down the aisles, filling up the entire altar area to give their hearts to Jesus. The reality of God's love and His presence in the meeting made it irresistible for the masses to respond.

There were many things that made this Christmas celebration at the Indoor Stadium memorable: the trove of talent, the polished performances, the impressive equipment and technology employed and the overwhelming attendance. Yet, it was truly successful and significant most simply because numerous lives were impacted and many souls were brought into the kingdom of God. Now, that's spectacular. HT