If there was ever a time when men are standing in the gap it is now. Please pray for them as they direct and record these last two days.

Lamplighter is a non-profit Christian ministry dependent on the support of those who share its mission–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, by building Christ-like character, one story at a time.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward this endeavor, please visit our website today!

Robbers’ Cave will be released on September 11th–stay tuned for more details!

If you’ve not yet had an opportunity to download the FREE audio drama of A Peep Behind the Scenes from our website, please do so right away. Today is the last day to take advantage of this wonderful outreach opportunity. We hope that you will see God work as you share this drama with friends and family this summer. Spread the word!

For more information, see http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/theatre/A-Peep-Behind-the-Scenes.html.

So much has been happening and we need your prayers and support during this time. Our Lamplighter Theatre team flew out to Hollywood last week to record the first ten episodes (two stories) for Season 2. Occasional progress reports trickled in as the actors and production crew were hard at work bringing the scripts to life. And from what we have heard so far, these two new dramas are going to be outstanding! Look for the official announcement of the first new drama in Season 2 from Lamplighter Theatre later this week.

We are very excited about these two dramas. They powerfully present the gospel and inspire hope in our God of impossibilities! We’re also excited to announce that Lamplighter Theatre is now heard in 14 countries–including the Philippines!

Lastly, please pray that we will have the wisdom to know how far to go with Season 2. Presently we have enough oil in the lamp to do these recordings. The Lord is giving us just what we need, when we need it. It would be a wonderful answer to prayer if the Lord would raise up those who possess the resources to propel us forward.

As you probably already know, Lamplighter Theatre is offering the newest production, A Peep Behind the Scenes, as a free download to people who will commit to using it as a tool to spread the gospel. We’re calling it the Peep Behind the Scenes Outreach, and if you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so on the official outreach page.

On May 28th, 2010, we’ll be sending all of those who signed up an email with the information necessary to download the entire drama! That’s over 3 1/2 hours of remarkable story telling, original music scores, and the best sound design around. We’re making it available to you so that you can tell your friends, family, and the community-at-large about the redemptive hope that can be theirs through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Here are some of the ways you can do that:

• Have a listening party and open the invitation to your unsaved friends and family
• Make some copies and give them away to people you think might be in need
• Make it available to local community groups like retirement homes
• Invite a single friend over for some coffee or tea and listen with them.
• Get in touch with your churches, homeschool groups, small, groups, and all of your friends to let

You can also help us spread the word by telling your church leaders, homeschool groups, small group members, etc. about this opportunity. We all know people who need to hear the Gospel and who need to know that they are not alone. We encourage you to take this opportunity to share A Peep Behind the Scenes with whoever you can think of.

Resources

On our official Outreach page, we’ve provided some downloadable resources for you to help in spreading the word. There you will find 2 versions of a beautifully designed full color poster which you can get printed and hang up in your church and around the community. There are also audio and video resources which you can use to give people a glimpse of what Lamplighter Theatre and A Peep Behind the Scenes are all about. Download them now, and get started!

Feedback

We want to hear your stories! There are many ways you can share your experiences with this outreach initiative. Here are a few ideas:

• Write us a letter! It’s not old fashioned! And we love receiving mail with your stories of how God used a Lamplighter book or drama in your life. Mail it to Lamplighter Theatre, PO Box 777, Waverly, PA 18471.
• Contribute to the Facebook Page. Become a fan and post your stories and photos of your efforts to deliver the Gospel message contained in A Peep Behind the Scenes.
• Write a blog post and send us the link. We’d be happy to share it with others. Be sure to link the drama in the post!

A Peep Behind the Scenes is not just another story. And that’s a trait shared by all of the Lamplighter books. But A Peep Behind the Scenes has a special ability to convey the need we all have for a loving Saviour. It proves to us that behind every smiling face is a hurting heart and that for those things that appear to be glamorous, there is a high price to pay.   

So join us online or on the radio from April 10 – May 22nd for the 7-episode epic drama, A Peep Behind the Scenes! Don’t miss it!

Faith does not merely refer to our belief and acknowledgement that God is the Creator and Saviour of the universe. It extends to our reliance on His protection and guidance in our lives. Sometimes this will mean obvious “Do Not Enter” signs and clear instruction that we are not to proceed along a certain path. Other times it will be the teaching hand of a parent, peer, or mentor offering wisdom and insight that helps us understand what God may be doing in our lives. God will place hedges in our lives to protect us and direct us along the straight and narrow path. Whether the hedge is a person, a rule, or even a literal hedge like it was for John and Belle, we can be sure that God’s intention is to continue to cultivate our character through adversity and perseverance.

Hopefully you’ve had the opportunity to hear The Unexpected Return airing on your local Christian radio station. If not, stop on over to the Lamplighter homepage where you can listen to the most recent episode.

The Unexpected Return is the story of a family’s struggle to remain faithful to God even in the midst of their most terrible trials. When the kindly and giving baron, Jacques d’Erlau, is taken prisoner by French rebels, his wife and children must flee for their lives, leaving all that they know behind. In the cover of heavy fog the baron’s wife, Isabelle, and her son, Charles, escape the clutches of the rebels now pursuing them as they make their way to Suavia to find safety. Forced to beg for food and shelter, Isabelle and Charles now find themselves the unexpected guests of a couple with whom they have a strange connection. Meanwhile, Jacques is in prison, but remains faithful to the Lord as his impending execution nears.

From the very beginning you’ll see how Jacques, though wealthy and aristocratic, gives freely of his resources to help families in need and how God uses this to turn evil into good. And though he is unjustly imprisoned and now faces death, Jacques’ faith is unwavering and even helps to fortify the faith of many around him. His adherence to the Word of God echoes across the land and in the hearts of a small poor family who save his wife and son from certain peril.

In the first episode there is a truth that stands out above all of the rest. It deals with our tendency to act before seeking God. When we act on our own strength we undermine God’s perfect plan and the timing upon which He intends to execute that plan. Our first action should always be to pray and to seek God’s wisdom and guidance before we engage in whatever stands before us. God does not want us to act in our own strength any more than He wants us to sit by the sidelines. But it is vital that our hearts and minds are in tune with what steps God wants us to take in this life and we can begin to achieve that through a spirit and habit of constant communication with Him.

The Unexpected Return is one of three stories from the book Schmid’s Tales featuring The Unexpected Guest by Cristoph von Schmid.

The Captive is a powerful story about one young man’s stoic resolve in his service to the Lord. Though he endures painful hardship, slavery, and abuse, his gaze never turns from God and his faith speaks volumes to all who come in contact with him. It is a story of actions living louder than words and of how a man’s faith can turn the hearts of his enemies to the one, true God.

When you listen, observe how Anselmo’s heart remains soft and understanding. He does not hate his captors, but reaches out to them, even if it means remaining a slave for his entire life. Anselmo’s compassion supersedes his discomfort and the painful reality that he is the slave of another man, allowing him to remain faithful to God. Though Jalal, a hardened and violent Muslim radical, sees Anselmo as an infidel, and even attempts to kill him, Anselmos faith remains strong in the Lord. Anselmo does not dodge the difficulties and obstacles that God places in his path but receives them with the understanding that God will turn evil into good.

If you missed the first episode of The Captive, you can listen to it on the Lamplighter homepage, or subscribe to the new podcast and download the first episode of each drama, plus lots more! The full drama is available for download now, or you can purchase the 2-disc set which will be shipping in mid-February.

Here’s an interesting question: Who was the true captive in this story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Listen to Episode 1 of The Captive now!

The Captive: Episode 1 – Lamplighter Theatre Podcast

We’ve decided to make the first episode of EVERY audio drama we do available for free download all the time! So here is Episode 1 of The Basket of Flowers.