THE NAME “GREAT PROJECT”

“So I sent messengers to them with this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?'”
— Nehemiah 6:3 (NIV)

On October 1st, 2005, at approximately 5:30 PM, Central Baptist Church, King’s Square, Benin City, witnessed the unveiling of the name of its church-based drama ministry: GREAT PROJECT EVANGELICAL DRAMA MINISTRY. The name, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is taken from Nehemiah 6:3, which recounts the skirmish between Nehemiah and his distractors, Sanballat and Tobiah, during the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.

There is, however, a need to expound on the name “GREAT PROJECT” as it pertains to the drama ministry. This will ensure that all who are privileged to be in a ministry—whether drama, choir, or any other—can appreciate the nature of their ministries and regard them with high esteem.

WHAT IS A GREAT PROJECT?

A great project, in the context of Nehemiah 6:3, is one that is geared toward winning souls for the Lord. It is any endeavor embarked upon in God’s name to bring honor and glory to His holy name. There are many examples in the Bible of people who undertook great projects for the Lord:

  • Esther (Esther 4:16): “And if I perish, I perish.” This was Esther at the height of a great project before inviting King Xerxes and Haman to a banquet. During the banquet, Esther requested her life and that of her people be spared (Esther 7:3).
  • Moses (Exodus 3:10): At the burning bush, God asked Moses to embark on the great project of freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
  • Samson: A judge in Israel, Samson accomplished great projects for the Lord in his battles against the Philistines.
  • The Apostles: They spread the word of God from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

However, the greatest project was undertaken by Jesus Christ Himself through His death on the cross at Calvary, in His ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). A great project has no small size. Any project aimed at blessing souls and turning the hearts of the unsaved to Christ, no matter how small, is a great project, and heaven rejoices over it.

Drama evangelism is a great project. It is God’s end-time weapon for reaching the world. It involves a significant amount of time, energy, and resources, which are used to preach the Lord’s message, reconcile the unsaved to Christ, and strengthen the church. The drama ministry is not child’s play; it is a spiritual venture.

WHAT PROJECTS ARE NOT GREAT?

Having considered the nature of great projects, it follows that while some projects are great before God, others are not. What are the projects that are not great before God, no matter how gigantic, laudable, or praiseworthy they may seem before men?

Any project that does not fit the above definition of a great project and has no eternal value is not a great project. These are projects that do not seek to put trophies (souls) at the Master’s feet. For example:

  • Writing a first-degree project work in the university
  • A master’s degree thesis and Ph.D. dissertation
  • Building massive bridges and roads
  • Setting up big companies
  • Division of states
  • Provision of electricity
  • Building schools
  • Celebrating marriage and birthday parties

These are all good endeavors but cannot be termed great by God if they have no eternal value. They cannot be classified as great if they do not touch heaven. Soul-winning projects bring about jubilation in heaven. The aforementioned projects are undoubtedly good and beneficial to the populace and rulers. But if they do not lead souls to Christ, they are not great projects. They will only gain the applause of men and pass away.

Today, many people undertake projects that are only great before men and receive applause but are not great before God. Check yourself, O man.

As a church-based drama ministry, our calling is to a great project, which should not be handled with levity. A great project, like drama evangelism, should be great not only in its name but also in its activities through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT PROJECT

An Evangelical Christian Drama Ministry, through divine inspiration, seeks to save, heal, deliver, and reconcile lost souls to Christ. This assignment must be handled with care.

  • Commitment and Dedication:
    Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 6:3, “I cannot come with you because I am doing a great project.” A drama minister must be committed to their ministry as a service of reconciliation. They must be dedicated, as if God will physically come down to assess their work. Some drama ministers lack commitment, arriving late to practice and shifting responsibilities. You must be committed to your work because God will hold you accountable for it.
  • Calls for Distractions:
    Nehemiah said, “…why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Distractions are those activities or endeavors that tend to derail you from your goal or project or make you lose focus. The devil’s main job is to cause distractions to the children of God who are embarking on a project. Brethren, if you yield to such distractions and withdraw from your calling as a drama minister, you will be irrelevant in your generation. Be careful, for great projects attract distractions (Matthew 4:10).
  • Creates Burden:
    When Nehemiah heard that the city gate was destroyed, he was so disturbed that even the king noticed it (Nehemiah 2:2). A drama minister should be burdened over the lost and unsaved souls in the congregation or audience during any ministration and should make good use of any opportunity to minister life to souls.
  • Planning and Rehearsals:
    When Nehemiah came to Jerusalem, he first inspected the city walls alone before asking others to start building (Nehemiah 2:13-16). Every great project needs planning. Whether it’s house-to-house evangelism or a choir performance, you need to plan and develop in your practice before rendering the service. Planning gives the ministry direction.
  • Concentration:
    A great project geared towards winning souls needs concentration. Nehemiah refused to be tricked away from his job by Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 6:3). Jesus Christ concentrated on His mission on earth. Likewise, you must concentrate and be focused on your project.
  • Sacrifice:
    Nehemiah left the beautiful environment of King Artaxerxes’s palace and went to a place of ruins (Nehemiah 2:3). Jesus Christ also did a great project by laying down His life for us. In the same way, a drama minister must learn to sacrifice in their ministry. Your vision or ministry must touch your resources—whether money, time, energy, experience, influence, property, or family. Sacrifice must be made for the work of God to move forward.

TOOLS FOR A GREAT PROJECT

A great project that seeks to save, heal, and bring peace to people does not need the kind of tools used for physical work, like farm work. It needs powerful tools that are good enough to rescue a perishing soul.

“Our name, GREAT PROJECT, is not to be brandished everywhere for identification sake but a constant propellant, driving force, and reminder for every member of the ministry to be aware of the nature of their calling and to uphold it with high regard, giving it all it takes, as well as living a worthy life on and off the stage, for their stage ministrations and publications to affect lives.”

Below are some of the tools:

  • Prayers, Fasting, and the Word of God:
    You need serious prayers, fasting, and a good exposition of the Word of God in your ministry or any great project to avoid becoming a ministerial casualty.
  • Money (Exodus 35:5, 12):
    Your money is needed in the drama ministry. The children of Israel contributed to the building of the tabernacle. They gave from the bottom of their hearts, so much so that the skilled workmen had to tell Moses that the people were bringing more than enough for the work of God (Exodus 36:4-5). Money is a very important tool in the project of winning souls through drama.
  • Personnel (Nehemiah 3:3-4):
    Just as people were important in the construction of the wall of Jerusalem, a drama minister is crucial in the great project of drama evangelism. You must live a holy life and practice what you preach because you are a mirror of the Church and society at large.
  • Message (Galatians 1:11-12):
    As a drama minister, you need divine messages from God to convey to the people, not just head knowledge. Divine connection, constant study of the Word of God, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and a relationship with God will enable you to know God’s mind and His revelations.
  • Skilled Men (Exodus 35:10; 36:1; 2 Corinthians 2:7, 14):
    Just as Moses and King Solomon used the best-skilled men to build the tabernacle and temple for God, so too are there many Christian youths in the Church with talents, gifts, and abilities for evangelical drama ministry. But they must be willing to use their God-given talents for His glory.

It is more than just a drama group—it is a vision!

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