Written and Directed by Michelle Denise Milam and Janeare S. Ashley
© 2007
CAST
Fatima Jones, 18 years old, just released from juvenile hall.
Nicole, her sister
Groundskeeper, An angel.
Harriet Tubman
Moses
Young Jesus
A Man
ACT I
(NICOLE is DOWNSTAGE standing in front of a sign that
says “Living Museum” waiting for the bus. She is
frustrated and tired after a long day of working at the
museum, her after school job. NICOLE looks at her
watch. A man walks by.)
Man
You need a ride, baby? Your feet hurt? I’ll rub them!
(Nicole looks away. The man EXITS stage left.)
Man
Fine then.
(The man walks away. Fatima ENTERS Stage Right. She strolls in, giddy. She hands Nicole the car keys. Nicole is angry.)
Fatima
Take these and start walking. I parked on the other side of the building. (with an attitude) What Nicole?
Nicole
I told you I needed to get to choir rehearsal after work, Fatima. That was two hours ago!
Fatima
And I told you I was busy, alright? I had business to take care of. What was I supposed to do?
Nicole
(whipping out her phone) Ring, Ring, Hello? You do know my number. It’s getting ready to rain!
Fatima
Whatever.
Nicole
Oh that’s cute.
Fatima
Is it cute that you’re walking home?
Nicole
You don’t have to ever worry about asking you for anything. I’ll take the bus.
(Fatima looks sorry. It is quiet for a moment and then spies a car.)
Fatima
Is that Chris in that new Lexus Jeep? That boy has come up. Man, I would look sick in one of those. (Nicole ignores Fatima) He looks like one of those people who build houses. What do they call it? An arch…art…
Nicole
Architect.
Fatima
I knew you would know. (Pause) I bet they get paid. One of these days…
Nicole
You’d actually have to open a book first.
Fatima
You better be glad you’re my sister, little girl, cause I cut girls for less.
(A Groundskeeper ENTERS Stage Right to UPSTAGE. Holding a broom he starts sweeping. He notices the fight and looks on.)
Nicole
Go ahead and do it, then, Fatima, I’m not sacred of you! You always talking about what you want to do, but you never do it. You only care about yourself.
(Fatima slaps Nicole. Nicole starts crying.)
Fatima
Aww, did that hurt? It serves your little stuck up self right! You had it easy! Don’t be jealous because you can’t be like me.
Nicole
Be like you? You think I’m jealous because I don’t wear an ankle bracelet? Because I don’t smoke and I come home on time? Because I want better for myself? I never want to be like you!
(Nicole runs off EXITING stage Left.)
Fatima
(calls after her.) Walk then! ( Fatima reaches for her pocket and remembers Nicole has her keys.) (To herself) She has the keys! Dang! (She reaches in her pocket to pick up her cell, but the battery is dead.) This phone is dead! (Fatima reaches out her hand feeling a few raindrops.)
Fatima
(Looks up to the Lord)
You would decide to make it rain now!
Groundskeeper
You look like you could use a rest.
Fatima
’Scuse me?
Groundskeeper
You look tired.
Fatima
I’ve done all the resting I plan to do.
Groundskeeper
You’re talking about rest out there. I’m talking about rest in here. (He points to his heart.)
Fatima
Are there dead people in there?
Groundskeeper
Don’t you little heathens know anything? God said he’s a God of the living, not the dead.
Fatima:
You’re crazy, old man. All I need to do is find a phone, to call my sister, and I’m out of here, Mr. Crypt Keeper. I know this isn’t McDonald’s so you don’t have pictures to tell you what I want, but maybe you’ll understand this: ET phone Home….
Groundskeeper:
There’s one inside.
(Groundskeeper EXITS)
(Fatima hesitates and looks up at the rain, and decides to enter the museum. Fatima exits stage right. LIGHTS GO DOWN. HARRIET TUBMAN, AND MOSES position themselves in the museum, stage left, center stage, and stage right, respectively. “Wade in the Water plays, eerily. Lights up. Fatima enters , wiping her hands on her pants. She looks around for a second, and sees no phone. She walks around gingerly, and then bumps into Harriet..)
Harriet
Ow!
Fatima
(Fatima screams. She races to the door, but can’t open it. She tries kicking it, but that fails.) Help, let me out of here!
Harriet
Be still child. They’ll hear you!
Fatima
Lady you better step back.
(Wade in the Water PLAYS in the background.)
Harriet
There’s no turning back now. See that moon out there? That’s a sign. The Lord done told us to go that way. I been on this path before, and I ain’t lost one yet, so you better get used to it.
Fatima
(To herself)
You’re loosing it, Fatima, this isn’t real, this isn’t real…
Harriet
(clapping)
Snap out of it! I said come on, girl! You deaf? I don’t know where you thought you was going, but you can’t stay here. I never lost a passenger. Now I don’t want to hurt you, (Harriet corners Fatima) but if I have to, I will.
Fatima
I’m sorry, lady.
Harriet
My name is Ms. Harriet Tubman, and I ain’t no lady.
Fatima
Ma’am, I’m just trying to call my sister, that’s all.
Harriet
You children always want to go back to Egypt, when God has set you free. How many sisters you got?
Fatima
One, ma’am.
Harriet
She still in slavery?
Fatima
Slavery? Slavery’s been over!
Harriet
Naw, chile. Slavery ain’t no ways done, yet. You got chains on your legs, doncha!?
(Fatima Realizes her ankle monitor is visible. She tries to cover it with her foot.)
Fatima
Oh those aren’t chains.
(Harriet points to her ankle monitor)
Harriet
Then why are you wearing them?
Fatima
I don’t know who or what you are, but nobody owns me.
Harriet
Would be better for you if somebody owned you, then. All this nonsense from a free woman! Do you see this tree on my back? (She hikes up her shirt, and pulls it down.) They beat me till the blood ran, and ran some more. But I never stopped going. I never stopped coming back. I lost my sister to slavery. I said if the Lord would let me live, I would keep coming back-- for her.
Fatima
Were you scared?
Harriet
I can't die but once. Everything else I leave to the Lord. (Harriet leads Fatima towards center stage, facing the moon) I’ll be going back tomorrow, when the moon is high again. Look, there it is now…
( Fatima looks up and gazes at the moon. Harriet moves back into place by the pillar and freezes.
Fatima
Miz Harriet? I don’t see…
(Fatima spins around and realizes Harriet is frozen.)
Fatima
I gotta get outta here.
(Fatima quickly tries to escape and bumps into Moses)
Moses
Woman, why are you here? You must leave. The time is here!
Fatima
I’m not going anywhere!
Moses
Do you hear me, Daughter? You’re free! Quick, this way! (He grabs her and moves her to cover.)
Fatima
I don’t care! I just want to get up out of this crazy place and to my car.
Moses
You can’t stay here. You think you can be free without the Lord’s help? Do you think that if Pharaoh would not spare me, a Jew who lived in his house and his court, that he would spare you? Ramses will have you butchered! Until we all are free, none of us is free.
Fatima
I ain’t one of you.
Moses
Then I pity you, because we are God’s anointed. Last night after years of suffering, the Lord poured his wrath into Egypt, the house of bondage. An unearthly cry was heard in that land unlike any other, because Egypt has defied the Lord, and oppressed his anointed. (pause) Every first born is dead.
Fatima
Dead? Wait a minute, who are you?
Moses
I am Moses, servant of the most High God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Fatima
(to herself again)
You’re just really, sick, Fatima. The cold is getting to you. Harriet and Moses….
Moses
Daughter, better to be sick with ague, than sick with regret, for the Lord is a God of his word. Let’s go!
Fatima
Wait, how do you know this? How do you know that God just isn’t playing with your mind?! I’ve prayed to him many a times. It never kept my family from being poor, or my dad from leaving us!
Moses
I have seen God take a man like me, who is not even much of a man and use me to lead his people from slavery. He has brought the Prince of Egypt to ruin! (he cups her chin) What more do you need to see to believe? If the Lord of Lords can do the extraordinary, can’t he also deliver us from poverty?
Fatima
You really believe God would help someone like me?
Moses
He’s set us free, child. All you have to do is follow his light. (Moses points to an imaginary pillar of fire in the sky, and freezes. A little boy (JESUS) dressed in white ENTERS. Fatima turns around and meets what appears to be a twelve year old little boy in white garments.
Fatima
Thank God! Little boy, do you have a phone? Better yet, do you know your way out?
Jesus
I am the Way.
Fatima
Uh huh, I mean the WAY out!
Jesus
Follow me, and I will show you.
Fatima
(raises her hands in glee)
Hallelujah! Thank God!
Jesus
You know my Father?
Fatima
Honey, I don’t know your daddy, but if you show me the way out of here I would give him my doggone soul right about now.
Jesus
(smiling) You do not know what you ask. Why are you worried?
Fatima
If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me, but trust me when I say that dead men are walking up in here.
Jesus
Well, God is a God of the living, not the dead.
Fatima
Okay, and what does that have to do with getting out of here?
Jesus
You said you wanted to know the way out. I’m showing you.
Fatima
Where at, so I can be there!
Jesus
Your sister already knows the way, but something is hindering you.
Fatima
You know my sister?!?
Jesus
I know lots of things about you. I know that the reason you’ve been in and out of trouble is because you believe that nobody cares about you. You think you had to make it on your own. You’re hurting, because you’re not free.
Fatima
Dang right I ain’t free! You see this? (She points to her ankle monitor)
Jesus
The only way out is through. The only way through is me.
Fatima
You gotta be kidding! Look at me. I am not Jesus, man! I am not Harriet Tubman, I am not Moses! My whole life is messed up! (Frustrated she breaks down) I can’t save anybody, I can’t even save myself.
Jesus
(touches her on her shoulder.)
That’s why I am here. Give it to me.
Fatima
Give you what?
Jesus
The weight.
(Fatima looks at him. Jesus walks to her and touches her arm. Fatima immediately begins to shake and falls to her knees. Jesus takes the weight of her sins. He loosens her monitor and takes from her. While she is crying, he smiles and walks away.)
Fatima
Thank you, Thank You! Thank You!
(Nicole Enters)
Nicole
Fatima! Oh my God are you alright?
Fatima
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Nicole
Mama and I have been looking for you. I’m so sorry. I was upset and I left and I came back and I couldn’t find you.
Fatima
Where is he?
Nicole
He who? Nobody’s here.
Fatima
Jesus, Harriet, Moses…
Nicole
Are you okay?
Fatima
(Stands up)
I’m more than okay. I’m free, Nicole. I’m finally free. Things are going to be a lot different now. He saved me.
Nicole
Nobody is here, Fatima.
Fatima
That can’t be! Ask the groundskeeper…he’ll tell you. You know. The guy you work with?!?
Nicole
There is no groundskeeper here! They haven’t even had a security guard in two years.
(Fatima looks up and around. She then looks at her sister and hugs her.)
Nicole
What has gotten into you? Are you in trouble?
Fatima
Not anymore. Not anymore.
(The two hug. They look out to the audience and freeze. The lights dim.)
THE END
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Just Have Faith When You Pray
By Michelle Milam and Janeare Ashley
Enter PRAYER WARRIOR #1 in military fatigues into the Prayer Care office. The Receptionist eyes PRAYER WARRIOR who is agitated, and bouncy. The receptionist Patience for the SPIRITUAL WARFARE HELP is on the phone.
Prayer Warrior
I need to see the prayer medic right away, it is an emergency!
Patience
Please take a seat over there, ma’am.
Prayer Warrior
Lady, I don’t think you understand. I just got a notice in the mail (points to her paper) that we are going into serious spiritual warfare, and I need some relief.
Patience
There are lots of wounded warriors in here, ma’am. Now please have a seat and wait your turn. (Answers the phone) Welcome to the Prayer Care Holy Ghost hot line, you send it, we mend it! Yes, I see that your appointment is confirmed for today at noon. Well what seems to be the problem with your hope? Yes, yes, umhumm. I see. So is it rusty or crusty? A lil of both? Well we have a hope that is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood and righteousness. Oh you don’t want that kind? Well, I’m sorry Ma’am that is the only kind we
Prayer Warrior
Hello, lady? You do see me standing here, don’t you?
Patience
I see you standing, alright Now let’s see if you can learn to wait. (to the phone) Yes ma’am. Oh no you’re not interrupting anyone.
Prayer Warrior
Hang Up the Phone! Hang up phone now! (They struggle, and Prayer Warrior hangs hangs up the phone)
Patience
Excuse me! What do you think you’re doing?
Prayer warrior
Trying to get you to do your job, something you obviously need a remedial course in.
Patience
You have no right to come in here and bulldoze your way in here talking about ---what is it you were talking about anyway?
Prayer Warrior
If you could close your mouth and open your ears I would tell you. Look, I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m really not. But I got a major situation I need to handle right about now. M y name is prayer warrior. (shows ID) Here’s my ID see? And right now lady this place is my only hope.
Patience
What do you want?
Prayer warrior
I am the commander of a special operative that was supposed to transform a neighborhood. I had twelve men under my command. Our mission was to get the church people to stop fighting among themselves and invest in the youth.
Patience
And I take it that didn’t work?
Prayer Warrior
Duh! You think I got this black eye for nothing? I mean God must have cosmic jokes. I mean I am going up against some major big bad demons and strongholds, and God sent me a knife for a gun fight. I asked him for patience and he gave me the worst assignment known to man.
Patience
What do you mean?
Prayer Warrior
God told me to go out and transform this neighborhood for his Glory. And we ain’t talking your Leave it to Beaver neighborhood. We’re talking about liquor stores on every corners, schools that are raggedy, and crack heads in every corner. That’s how I got my black eye. A crackhead snuck up on me.
Patience
Well, I don’t control the assignments ma’am. And I know for a fact that it is Heaven;y policy that where God guides, he provides. Now looking at my notes, it looks like God already sent you some help. He sent you the twelve Christians who were supposed to work with you in key places to turn the neighborhood around. I see here he sent you a teacher, a lawyer, a police officer, a janitor, and a school nurse.
Prayer Warrior
Oh, is that right? Well let me show you what God provided! I got the paperwork! (shows her notes) God provided me with the most ragtag group of insane insubordinate people that anybody this side of heaven will ever be bless to know. I mean don’t get me wrong. It didn’t start off that way. In the beginning it was great. Everyone wanted to provide the youth with love and a safe space to be. Then it changed.
Patience
Look, Ma’am good already sent you---
Prayer Warrior
Some lunatics! Just so you know, my teacher, didn’t want to teach, because she thought that the students in the church program were unreachable.
Patience
Ouch.
Prayer Warrior
But, wait, there’s more. That lawyer who was supposed to start the free legal clinic for the domestic violence victims? Distracted! She done left her husband and run off with the police officer that she was supposed to be working with.
Patience
Ooooch!
Prayer Warrior
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, the janitor who was supposed to mentor one of the kids who was selling dope, got frustrated because everybody was going plain nuts, he just packed up and moved! D-boy is on the corner now. I won’t even tell you what happened to the rest of them. So as you can see. I need help now!
Patience
I see. You need some major spiritual weapons.
Prayer Warrior
I need to Admiral Prayer. That is what I need.
Patience
Look, I’ve been trying to tell you the admiral is ….
Prayer Warrior
I don’t care if he is sitting in that place down sipping on ice cubes with the devil, I need to see him now! Do you understand that if God doesn’t transform this neighborhood that some of my kids aren’t going to make it? Now, why don’t yo pick up that little phone you got going on and call the Prayer Admiral, today!
Patience
I told you, the prayer admiral…
ENTER THE PRAYER ADMIRAL
Prayer Admiral
Is wondering what in heaven’s name is going on here? Patience? I thought you said that George Bush was my last appointment for the day? What is all this nonsense about?
Patience
Thank God, admiral. I’ve been trying to tell this woman –
Prayer Warrior
Who you think you calling, this woman?
Patience
That God is helping her with her spiritual warfare problem, but she just won’t listen.
Admiral
I see. What seems to be the issue?
Prayer Warrior
Admiral, God has sent me on the Where’s Waldo of assignments. He has me working to bring a hurting neighborhood together. He even gave me twelve Christians who were supposed to help. They all said they wanted to help, and they wanted change. But now when it comes time to do what it takes to change the neighborhood none of them will man up.
Admiral
And what weapons have you used to address this issue.
Prayer Warrior
I tried kindness, gentleness, self control, discipline, love, faith, and hope. I’ve tried it all, admiral, and I can’t seem to make any progress here.
Admiral
I see your problem.
Prayer Warrior
I’m glad you do, because I’m through. I need help.
Admiral
No you don’t. You don’t want help.
Prayer Warrior
What do you mean I don’t want help? I’m standing here looking for help! Look if you don’t want to help me just tell me now and I’ll leave.
Admiral
Then go.. Your ego is so big that it will leave before you do. God doesn’t need any scary defeated warriors Go’on!
Prayer Warrior
I’m not going.
Admiral
What?
Prayer Warrior
I’m not going!
Admiral
Your problem is that you give up too easy. You’ve judged everyone around you and given up on your assignment, just because a little trouble came your way. Where is your faith, warrior?
Prayer Warrior
Admiral I just want to see it change. I just want to see this community change. Our church change. Tell me what to do. I will do anything.
Admiral
You don’t even know who you are. Why are you called a prayer warrior when you have forgotten to pray?
Prayer Warrior
What do I pray for? Victory? Them to act right?
Admiral
Warrior, prayer changes things. It is powerful. It brings down strongholds. Don’t know know that the power that raised Jesus from the grave lies within you. And all you have to do is humble yourself and ask to access it. Anything we pray according to God’s will in Jesus’ name will be done for us. Come I’ll help you. Let’s pray. Repeat after me,”
Our Father
Who Art in Heaven
Hallowed by thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth,
As it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not to temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
Forever
Amen.
Prayer Warrior
I feel it…I feel the stronghold breaking….
Admiral
That is your secret weapon, and you can call on it anytime.
Patience
That’s what I wanted to tell you earlier. God already sent you help in the gift of prayer. This reminds me of a song the Lord put upon my heart…
Sing the song…
Enter PRAYER WARRIOR #1 in military fatigues into the Prayer Care office. The Receptionist eyes PRAYER WARRIOR who is agitated, and bouncy. The receptionist Patience for the SPIRITUAL WARFARE HELP is on the phone.
Prayer Warrior
I need to see the prayer medic right away, it is an emergency!
Patience
Please take a seat over there, ma’am.
Prayer Warrior
Lady, I don’t think you understand. I just got a notice in the mail (points to her paper) that we are going into serious spiritual warfare, and I need some relief.
Patience
There are lots of wounded warriors in here, ma’am. Now please have a seat and wait your turn. (Answers the phone) Welcome to the Prayer Care Holy Ghost hot line, you send it, we mend it! Yes, I see that your appointment is confirmed for today at noon. Well what seems to be the problem with your hope? Yes, yes, umhumm. I see. So is it rusty or crusty? A lil of both? Well we have a hope that is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood and righteousness. Oh you don’t want that kind? Well, I’m sorry Ma’am that is the only kind we
Prayer Warrior
Hello, lady? You do see me standing here, don’t you?
Patience
I see you standing, alright Now let’s see if you can learn to wait. (to the phone) Yes ma’am. Oh no you’re not interrupting anyone.
Prayer Warrior
Hang Up the Phone! Hang up phone now! (They struggle, and Prayer Warrior hangs hangs up the phone)
Patience
Excuse me! What do you think you’re doing?
Prayer warrior
Trying to get you to do your job, something you obviously need a remedial course in.
Patience
You have no right to come in here and bulldoze your way in here talking about ---what is it you were talking about anyway?
Prayer Warrior
If you could close your mouth and open your ears I would tell you. Look, I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m really not. But I got a major situation I need to handle right about now. M y name is prayer warrior. (shows ID) Here’s my ID see? And right now lady this place is my only hope.
Patience
What do you want?
Prayer warrior
I am the commander of a special operative that was supposed to transform a neighborhood. I had twelve men under my command. Our mission was to get the church people to stop fighting among themselves and invest in the youth.
Patience
And I take it that didn’t work?
Prayer Warrior
Duh! You think I got this black eye for nothing? I mean God must have cosmic jokes. I mean I am going up against some major big bad demons and strongholds, and God sent me a knife for a gun fight. I asked him for patience and he gave me the worst assignment known to man.
Patience
What do you mean?
Prayer Warrior
God told me to go out and transform this neighborhood for his Glory. And we ain’t talking your Leave it to Beaver neighborhood. We’re talking about liquor stores on every corners, schools that are raggedy, and crack heads in every corner. That’s how I got my black eye. A crackhead snuck up on me.
Patience
Well, I don’t control the assignments ma’am. And I know for a fact that it is Heaven;y policy that where God guides, he provides. Now looking at my notes, it looks like God already sent you some help. He sent you the twelve Christians who were supposed to work with you in key places to turn the neighborhood around. I see here he sent you a teacher, a lawyer, a police officer, a janitor, and a school nurse.
Prayer Warrior
Oh, is that right? Well let me show you what God provided! I got the paperwork! (shows her notes) God provided me with the most ragtag group of insane insubordinate people that anybody this side of heaven will ever be bless to know. I mean don’t get me wrong. It didn’t start off that way. In the beginning it was great. Everyone wanted to provide the youth with love and a safe space to be. Then it changed.
Patience
Look, Ma’am good already sent you---
Prayer Warrior
Some lunatics! Just so you know, my teacher, didn’t want to teach, because she thought that the students in the church program were unreachable.
Patience
Ouch.
Prayer Warrior
But, wait, there’s more. That lawyer who was supposed to start the free legal clinic for the domestic violence victims? Distracted! She done left her husband and run off with the police officer that she was supposed to be working with.
Patience
Ooooch!
Prayer Warrior
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, the janitor who was supposed to mentor one of the kids who was selling dope, got frustrated because everybody was going plain nuts, he just packed up and moved! D-boy is on the corner now. I won’t even tell you what happened to the rest of them. So as you can see. I need help now!
Patience
I see. You need some major spiritual weapons.
Prayer Warrior
I need to Admiral Prayer. That is what I need.
Patience
Look, I’ve been trying to tell you the admiral is ….
Prayer Warrior
I don’t care if he is sitting in that place down sipping on ice cubes with the devil, I need to see him now! Do you understand that if God doesn’t transform this neighborhood that some of my kids aren’t going to make it? Now, why don’t yo pick up that little phone you got going on and call the Prayer Admiral, today!
Patience
I told you, the prayer admiral…
ENTER THE PRAYER ADMIRAL
Prayer Admiral
Is wondering what in heaven’s name is going on here? Patience? I thought you said that George Bush was my last appointment for the day? What is all this nonsense about?
Patience
Thank God, admiral. I’ve been trying to tell this woman –
Prayer Warrior
Who you think you calling, this woman?
Patience
That God is helping her with her spiritual warfare problem, but she just won’t listen.
Admiral
I see. What seems to be the issue?
Prayer Warrior
Admiral, God has sent me on the Where’s Waldo of assignments. He has me working to bring a hurting neighborhood together. He even gave me twelve Christians who were supposed to help. They all said they wanted to help, and they wanted change. But now when it comes time to do what it takes to change the neighborhood none of them will man up.
Admiral
And what weapons have you used to address this issue.
Prayer Warrior
I tried kindness, gentleness, self control, discipline, love, faith, and hope. I’ve tried it all, admiral, and I can’t seem to make any progress here.
Admiral
I see your problem.
Prayer Warrior
I’m glad you do, because I’m through. I need help.
Admiral
No you don’t. You don’t want help.
Prayer Warrior
What do you mean I don’t want help? I’m standing here looking for help! Look if you don’t want to help me just tell me now and I’ll leave.
Admiral
Then go.. Your ego is so big that it will leave before you do. God doesn’t need any scary defeated warriors Go’on!
Prayer Warrior
I’m not going.
Admiral
What?
Prayer Warrior
I’m not going!
Admiral
Your problem is that you give up too easy. You’ve judged everyone around you and given up on your assignment, just because a little trouble came your way. Where is your faith, warrior?
Prayer Warrior
Admiral I just want to see it change. I just want to see this community change. Our church change. Tell me what to do. I will do anything.
Admiral
You don’t even know who you are. Why are you called a prayer warrior when you have forgotten to pray?
Prayer Warrior
What do I pray for? Victory? Them to act right?
Admiral
Warrior, prayer changes things. It is powerful. It brings down strongholds. Don’t know know that the power that raised Jesus from the grave lies within you. And all you have to do is humble yourself and ask to access it. Anything we pray according to God’s will in Jesus’ name will be done for us. Come I’ll help you. Let’s pray. Repeat after me,”
Our Father
Who Art in Heaven
Hallowed by thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth,
As it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not to temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
Forever
Amen.
Prayer Warrior
I feel it…I feel the stronghold breaking….
Admiral
That is your secret weapon, and you can call on it anytime.
Patience
That’s what I wanted to tell you earlier. God already sent you help in the gift of prayer. This reminds me of a song the Lord put upon my heart…
Sing the song…
Sharing the Good News
Characters
Tiffany
Stacy
Kendra
Maya
ACT ONE:
The Narrator walks in on four friends laughing and talking playing with two basketballs on an imaginary basket ball court.
Narrator: Somewhere in a city near you, someone is having this conversation. Sound familiar?
Tiffany: Have you heard?
Stacy: Heard what?
Kendra: It’s here!
Maya: What’s here!
Tiffany: The news.
Maya: You mean the evening news?
Kendra: She means the good news.
Stacy: Aw naw. No news is good news!
Maya: You got that right! And most news is bad news.
Tiffany: Trust me. This news is good news. The best kind of news.
Stacy: And why should we believe you?
Tiffany: You shouldn’t believe me. Believe Him. You won’t understand it until it happens to you.
All stop and stare at Tiffany. Narrator snaps. The characters freeze.
Narrator: Good news. With all that is going on in the world, where is the good news? See here you have four friends. Tiffany, Stacy, Maya and Kendra. Were raised on the same block together. Went to the same schools. Got in fights together. Got in and out of trouble together.
Narrator: They are actually a lot alike. Even though they are young, they’ve struggled.
(Narrator touches each of the characters as she speaks When she touches the character, they come to life. Narrator touches Tiffany. She begins painting on an imaginary easel in front of her..)
Narrator: The only mother Tiffany has ever known is her grandmother. Her real mother left her at the age of four. She cried every night for her mother to return, but she never came back. (Tiffany’s head drops) Her refuge? She draws, and she writes.
(Narrator snaps. Tiffany freezes. Maya comes to life. She begins to do her make up in an imaginary mirror and preen her hair.)
Narrator: Maya, has always been the best at everything. She had to be. You see, where she comes from, if you are not the best, you are not anything. She believes in one thing and one thing only. Winning. Winning is all that matters, right?
(Narrator snaps, Maya freezes, and Stacy comes to life. He begins shadow boxing, )
Narrator: Stacy. What can we say about Stacy? Super talented. A real leader. Plays three sports. He often gets himself in trouble because he likes to challenge other people. Stacy is the man of his house after his father left. He feels like he’s been taking care of business all this time, why should he have to answer to anyone?
(Narrator snaps and Stacy freezes. Kendra comes to life. Kendra drops to her knees and begins praying silently.)
Narrator: And then there is Kendra. The quiet one. You gotta watch out for the quiet ones. You see, out of all these friends Kendra really has lost the most. She’s spent most of her time in and out of hospitals being treated for sickle cell anemia. In fact, the doctors are amazed that she is still here. (Kendra gets up) They wonder why.
(Narrator snaps, all freeze.)
Narrator: On the outside, you wouldn’t know all the storms brewing on the inside.
But there’s something different here now. You see last year, right before sophomore year, Tiffany and Kendra heard about some good news. It changed their lives. It was so powerful that they had to share it.
This should be interesting.
(Narrator “snaps” and characters come to life again.)
ACT TWO:
Tiffany: What if someone had news for you? The best news you ever heard? What if someone told you today that your life would be changed forever, and nothing would ever be the same?
Kendra: What if someone gave you the greatest gift you would ever receive? What if they told you that the gift that you would be given would so great that you would want to share it with everyone you know?
Tiffany: This is the free gift that God offers us. He sent his Son to die for our sins, so that we can live with God forever after we die.
Maya: And who asked Him to do that?
Kendra: Nobody. He did it out of love.
Stacy: Last time I checked, God wasn’t giving out anything free. Right Maya?
Maya: That’s real. Look I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m not convinced. My mama and them go to church every Sunday. I hate to tell you, but it doesn’t seem to be doing them much good.
Stacy: Thank you!
Tiffany: The church is the hospital, Maya.
Maya: Then the patients are in trouble. Besides, I prayed before. God never answered my prayers.
Kendra: If only you knew.
Maya: Come on Tif, I’ll play you.
(Tiffany and Maya walk stage left with one of the basketballs. Kendra and Stacy walk to stage right with the other. They each start tossing the ball back and forth. The Narrator walks in and snaps. Tiffany and Maya freeze. Stacy and Kendra stay alive.)
Stacy: Let’s be real. I know y’all went down to Church by the Backside Street By the Road and got your God on. That’s cool. But tell me one thing God has done for you. If you show me, I’ll believe you.
Kendra: I’ll do better than that. I’ll show you what God did for you.
Stacy: What is that?
Narrator snaps. Everyone freezes.
Narrator: Stacy has a lot of plans. But what he doesn’t know, is that God has bigger plans. You see through all that struggle, God gave Kendra a gift. It is the gift of discernment. And when you have the gift of discernment you see people through God’s eyes. And right about now, it is like he’s being seen for the first time.
(The Narrator snaps again. Stacy and Kendra comes to life again.)
Kendra: I know what is keeping you from believing. (Kendra walks around Stacy. Looks at him.)
Stacy: Girl, have you had your medication today?
Kendra: Stacy, you have a father.
Stacy: Why are you bringing my father into this? You don’t know anything about it.
Kendra: You wonder why if God loved you he let your father leave.
Stacy: Do you know who works to pay bills in my house? I do! Not God. So don’t tell me anything about how God is my provider.
Kendra: God was with you, Stacy. He was watching over you. He didn’t make those bad things happen to you. He blessed you. He made you strong so that you could help your mother. He didn’t bring you down, he brought you through.
Stacy: I guess I never thought about it like that. All this time, I thought that he didn’t hear my prayers. But you know what. You’re right. When I look at other people who went through what I have, they’re caught up. Some of them are gone.
Kendra: If God brought you through that situation, if he protected your life, don’t you think he will keep his promise and save it?
(Narrator snaps. Kendra and Stacy freeze. Maya and Tiffany come to life.)
Now God has given Tiffany a different gift. It is the gift of compassion. And believe me, when times get hard and cold, compassion is like a warm blanket. You’ll be needing it!
Tiffany: Maya.
Maya folds her arms and turns her head away.
Maya: Look, Tiffany. All that sounds good. But I’m not ready to give my life to God. I’m not perfect.
Tiffany: Wow! Really? You’re my best friend. I know you may think I believe that you’re perfect, but I know that you’re not.
Maya: I want to believe, Tif. I try really hard, but God isn’t just gonna bless you because you’re standing in line saying “I wanna be blessed.” All the stuff I do…well you know all the stuff I do wrong.
Tiffany: You know the thing I like about God is that he meets you where you are.
Maya: I don’t believe it.
Tiffany: Think about it. The bible says “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” You know why? Because if we were perfect, we wouldn’t need God’s mercy. God just wants you to say yes to Him. When you accept God, yes, you do have to change. But he forgives us.
Maya: Even me?
Tiffany: Even you.
Narrator snaps. All of the characters come to life. They return to the center of the floor.
Stacy: So what now?
Kendra: Well, now you just have to tell God that you believe that he loves you.
Maya: How do I do that?
Tiffany: By acknowledging the good news. Jesus died in your place. He accepted your sins.
Stacy: Maybe I’ll do it another day.
Kendra: Why not today? I’ll do it with you.
Stacy: Here?
(They are look at each other, and kneel. They pray. They freeze. The Narrator comes back with a basketball in hand.)
Narrator: Good News, Good News, indeed. Have you heard the good news? See the good news is like this basketball. Once you get it, you gotta pass it on.
Narrator snaps, and puts the ball in Stacy’s hand.
Narrator: The ball is in your court, now.
Tiffany
Stacy
Kendra
Maya
ACT ONE:
The Narrator walks in on four friends laughing and talking playing with two basketballs on an imaginary basket ball court.
Narrator: Somewhere in a city near you, someone is having this conversation. Sound familiar?
Tiffany: Have you heard?
Stacy: Heard what?
Kendra: It’s here!
Maya: What’s here!
Tiffany: The news.
Maya: You mean the evening news?
Kendra: She means the good news.
Stacy: Aw naw. No news is good news!
Maya: You got that right! And most news is bad news.
Tiffany: Trust me. This news is good news. The best kind of news.
Stacy: And why should we believe you?
Tiffany: You shouldn’t believe me. Believe Him. You won’t understand it until it happens to you.
All stop and stare at Tiffany. Narrator snaps. The characters freeze.
Narrator: Good news. With all that is going on in the world, where is the good news? See here you have four friends. Tiffany, Stacy, Maya and Kendra. Were raised on the same block together. Went to the same schools. Got in fights together. Got in and out of trouble together.
Narrator: They are actually a lot alike. Even though they are young, they’ve struggled.
(Narrator touches each of the characters as she speaks When she touches the character, they come to life. Narrator touches Tiffany. She begins painting on an imaginary easel in front of her..)
Narrator: The only mother Tiffany has ever known is her grandmother. Her real mother left her at the age of four. She cried every night for her mother to return, but she never came back. (Tiffany’s head drops) Her refuge? She draws, and she writes.
(Narrator snaps. Tiffany freezes. Maya comes to life. She begins to do her make up in an imaginary mirror and preen her hair.)
Narrator: Maya, has always been the best at everything. She had to be. You see, where she comes from, if you are not the best, you are not anything. She believes in one thing and one thing only. Winning. Winning is all that matters, right?
(Narrator snaps, Maya freezes, and Stacy comes to life. He begins shadow boxing, )
Narrator: Stacy. What can we say about Stacy? Super talented. A real leader. Plays three sports. He often gets himself in trouble because he likes to challenge other people. Stacy is the man of his house after his father left. He feels like he’s been taking care of business all this time, why should he have to answer to anyone?
(Narrator snaps and Stacy freezes. Kendra comes to life. Kendra drops to her knees and begins praying silently.)
Narrator: And then there is Kendra. The quiet one. You gotta watch out for the quiet ones. You see, out of all these friends Kendra really has lost the most. She’s spent most of her time in and out of hospitals being treated for sickle cell anemia. In fact, the doctors are amazed that she is still here. (Kendra gets up) They wonder why.
(Narrator snaps, all freeze.)
Narrator: On the outside, you wouldn’t know all the storms brewing on the inside.
But there’s something different here now. You see last year, right before sophomore year, Tiffany and Kendra heard about some good news. It changed their lives. It was so powerful that they had to share it.
This should be interesting.
(Narrator “snaps” and characters come to life again.)
ACT TWO:
Tiffany: What if someone had news for you? The best news you ever heard? What if someone told you today that your life would be changed forever, and nothing would ever be the same?
Kendra: What if someone gave you the greatest gift you would ever receive? What if they told you that the gift that you would be given would so great that you would want to share it with everyone you know?
Tiffany: This is the free gift that God offers us. He sent his Son to die for our sins, so that we can live with God forever after we die.
Maya: And who asked Him to do that?
Kendra: Nobody. He did it out of love.
Stacy: Last time I checked, God wasn’t giving out anything free. Right Maya?
Maya: That’s real. Look I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m not convinced. My mama and them go to church every Sunday. I hate to tell you, but it doesn’t seem to be doing them much good.
Stacy: Thank you!
Tiffany: The church is the hospital, Maya.
Maya: Then the patients are in trouble. Besides, I prayed before. God never answered my prayers.
Kendra: If only you knew.
Maya: Come on Tif, I’ll play you.
(Tiffany and Maya walk stage left with one of the basketballs. Kendra and Stacy walk to stage right with the other. They each start tossing the ball back and forth. The Narrator walks in and snaps. Tiffany and Maya freeze. Stacy and Kendra stay alive.)
Stacy: Let’s be real. I know y’all went down to Church by the Backside Street By the Road and got your God on. That’s cool. But tell me one thing God has done for you. If you show me, I’ll believe you.
Kendra: I’ll do better than that. I’ll show you what God did for you.
Stacy: What is that?
Narrator snaps. Everyone freezes.
Narrator: Stacy has a lot of plans. But what he doesn’t know, is that God has bigger plans. You see through all that struggle, God gave Kendra a gift. It is the gift of discernment. And when you have the gift of discernment you see people through God’s eyes. And right about now, it is like he’s being seen for the first time.
(The Narrator snaps again. Stacy and Kendra comes to life again.)
Kendra: I know what is keeping you from believing. (Kendra walks around Stacy. Looks at him.)
Stacy: Girl, have you had your medication today?
Kendra: Stacy, you have a father.
Stacy: Why are you bringing my father into this? You don’t know anything about it.
Kendra: You wonder why if God loved you he let your father leave.
Stacy: Do you know who works to pay bills in my house? I do! Not God. So don’t tell me anything about how God is my provider.
Kendra: God was with you, Stacy. He was watching over you. He didn’t make those bad things happen to you. He blessed you. He made you strong so that you could help your mother. He didn’t bring you down, he brought you through.
Stacy: I guess I never thought about it like that. All this time, I thought that he didn’t hear my prayers. But you know what. You’re right. When I look at other people who went through what I have, they’re caught up. Some of them are gone.
Kendra: If God brought you through that situation, if he protected your life, don’t you think he will keep his promise and save it?
(Narrator snaps. Kendra and Stacy freeze. Maya and Tiffany come to life.)
Now God has given Tiffany a different gift. It is the gift of compassion. And believe me, when times get hard and cold, compassion is like a warm blanket. You’ll be needing it!
Tiffany: Maya.
Maya folds her arms and turns her head away.
Maya: Look, Tiffany. All that sounds good. But I’m not ready to give my life to God. I’m not perfect.
Tiffany: Wow! Really? You’re my best friend. I know you may think I believe that you’re perfect, but I know that you’re not.
Maya: I want to believe, Tif. I try really hard, but God isn’t just gonna bless you because you’re standing in line saying “I wanna be blessed.” All the stuff I do…well you know all the stuff I do wrong.
Tiffany: You know the thing I like about God is that he meets you where you are.
Maya: I don’t believe it.
Tiffany: Think about it. The bible says “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” You know why? Because if we were perfect, we wouldn’t need God’s mercy. God just wants you to say yes to Him. When you accept God, yes, you do have to change. But he forgives us.
Maya: Even me?
Tiffany: Even you.
Narrator snaps. All of the characters come to life. They return to the center of the floor.
Stacy: So what now?
Kendra: Well, now you just have to tell God that you believe that he loves you.
Maya: How do I do that?
Tiffany: By acknowledging the good news. Jesus died in your place. He accepted your sins.
Stacy: Maybe I’ll do it another day.
Kendra: Why not today? I’ll do it with you.
Stacy: Here?
(They are look at each other, and kneel. They pray. They freeze. The Narrator comes back with a basketball in hand.)
Narrator: Good News, Good News, indeed. Have you heard the good news? See the good news is like this basketball. Once you get it, you gotta pass it on.
Narrator snaps, and puts the ball in Stacy’s hand.
Narrator: The ball is in your court, now.
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