About more than the show

Most college students find spring break a perfect time to go back home, relax a bit, and try to forget about the mounting school responsibilities that would await them once they return a short week later. However, my spring break this semester was just the opposite - it was perhaps the most stressful, busiest, yet exciting spring break I ever had.

Every other year, the church I currently attend in Berkeley puts on a theatrical production called G-LIVE, a series of skits and dramas performed by each class of the college ministry. G-LIVE uses a unique and interesting way to spread the gospel on a campus that is most skeptical and wary towards Christian ideals. Each class comes up with a focus they want to pursue and then put together a 30-minute skit, drama, musical, etc. that presents Christianity in an engaging way. The sophomore production (the one that I am a part of) was in charge of representing the Gospels in the bible, and our theme for this year revolved around the idea of sin.

The preparations that were needed to make G-LIVE happen were endless. Writing the script, making props, practicing stage transitions, working with sound, light, direction, acting…. it made my head spin just thinking about it. This past spring break, all of the other college students and I involved spent at least 10 hours a day trying to make this production happen.

There were many times in the middle of all this that I felt frustrated and hopeless. There was too much to do and too little time, and I began to question why I was putting up with all of this. Instead of enjoying my spring break by catching up on my sleep or eating my mom's good food, I was at church all day memorizing lines and learning acting so I could be presentable on stage. I began to regret signing up for G-LIVE in the first place.

A couple of days into spring break, my pastor said something that began to change my attitude towards the whole situation. He challenged us amongst all the craziness of preparing to keep in mind the ultimate goal of G-LIVE: to glorify God and have others hear the good news of the gospel. He also told us that the end result was only a part of the experience - the new relationships, memories, and bonds formed out of the process of preparing for G-LIVE was just as important as well. When I heard this, I realized what a selfish attitude I had harbored in my heart. This was something greater than any individual person; rather, this was a project taken on by the whole body of the church to glorify God and share His love with others. Volunteering for G-LIVE was not a chore but a privilege. I am so glad to have been part of it.

Yesterday was our first full run-through on stage will all of the props, mics, and costumes. Everyone could not hold in their excitement as we saw the whole production come together to tell one cohesive story: that Christ died for us on the cross and we have been given the greatest gift of salvation. Our G-LIVE performance is less than a week away, and already almost a thousand people have reserved seats to come watch. I pray that God will use not only me but all of my peers and classmates to witness His Word.