The Refuge Youth Drama began in 1992 with a Puppet Ministry that expanded to acting out songs, which included: "People Need the Lord", "He's Alive", & "I Will Praise the Lord".  Our first trip was to Arnold, Missouri near St. Louis at the Bethesda General Baptist Church in 1992.  The youth preformed the drama at the church on a Friday night.  The next day the youth went to Six Flags Over Mid-America.  We began with 15 youth from Junior High to the 2nd grade. Original Youth   Robert DeWitt - 8th grade Faith Gilley - 7th grade Nathan Harrell - 4th grade Brandy Heath - 4th grade Sammy Lee - 5th grade Wendy Mann - 8th grade Crystal Mann - 4th grade Eric McCay - 7th grade Sarah McCay - 3rd grade Tara McClung - 8th grade Amanda McFarland - 9th grade Doug McFarland - 7th grade Gary Richey - 4th grade Harmony Ward - 5th grade Wesley Ward - 4th grade Melody Ward - 2nd grade   Many of the original youth still work with drama as adults.  Wendy Mann is now Wendy Walling, she has a son, Canon, who is in the drama.  Faith Gilley is now Faith Hall.  She has a daughter, Lexie, in the drama.  Harmony Ward is now Harmony West & her husband, Shane, runs the sound system.  They have a son named Ethan in the drama.  Melody Ward is now Melody Couch.  She has a son in the drama named Elijah.  Sammy Lee does our stage lighting.  Wendy, Faith, & Harmony have each worked to develop & teach the choreography to our youth.  Sarah McCay continues to assist with the drama.        Several adults within Refuge Church have helped from the beginning.  Our pastor, Larry Ward, is responsible for compiling & writing each of our dramas.  He directs the production from practice to presentation.  Sam Lee has been a cast member in past years and coordinates the hauling of the equipment as well any props that need to be made.  Brenda Milligan has worked with the costumes & stage decorations from the beginning.  She also guides the backstage area during performances.  Her daughter Ella Bradsher has helped in directing, choreographing, make-up & stage design.  She has created & made banners & pennants that we use in the dramas and as decorations in our church building. We have a drama team that helps coordinate the youth drama along with an Easter & Christmas drama. This group is lead by Brother Larry. The parents & grandparents of the youth have worked very hard to raise money for the trips, care for the children at the drama, set up & tear down the staging. The amount of support we get from the adults of our children and from other adults has been incredible, even among adults who do not have children in the drama but love youth. Not only do we perform our drama many times within driving distances of our church but also every year we plan a youth trip in which we take our youth & many of their parents on a tour presenting the drama & enjoy a theme park along the way. In 1993 we went to Camp Mission Point in Missouri, Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri, and to Eureka Springs, Ark & seen the Passion Play. In 1994 we did the drama at Olathe General Baptist Church in Olathe, Kansas. The next day we went to World of Fun theme park in Kansas City, Missouri and later that evening enjoyed a Kansas City Royal baseball game. Later we went to Springfield, Missouri and performed our drama at the North side General Baptist Church. We have taken a youth trip each year except for 1995 when we thought we would take a break but quickly discovered that everyone missed it greatly. In 1996 we chartered a bus & went to Louisville, Kentucky to do the drama at Dover Chapel General Baptist Church. From there we went to Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then to East Peoria, Illinois to the Springfield Road Baptist Church. In 1997 we went to Nashville, Tennessee to perform the drama and on to Opryland, USA. In 1998 we chartered a bus to Irving, Texas near Dallas to the First General Baptist Church of Irving. While in the Dallas area the youth enjoyed Six Flags Over Texas. We then travel to Houston where we performed the drama at a Christian denomination church. In 1999 we went back to St. Louis, Missouri & the Bethesda General Baptist church to perform the drama and on to Six Flags over Mid-America as recreation time. Many of people attended the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game & saw Mark McGuire hit his 500th homerun. In 2000 the drama was performed in Little Rock, Arkansas at Charity General Baptist Church with fun time at Magic Springs theme park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Charity hosted the drama for 2 nights in a row. In 2001 we traveled to the Kansas City area again and revisited World of Fun. We performed the drama at the Olathe General Baptist Church in Olathe, Kansas & First General Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2002 we went to Branson, Missouri. Our youth enjoyed a fun day at Silver Dollar City but one of the highlights of the trip was a backstage tour & performance of “The Promise” a musical drama of the life of Christ. We performed our drama at a church camp sponsored by the New Vision General Baptist Church of Taneyville, Missouri. We also did the drama as part of a Vacation Bible School program for the adults & teens at the Lily Ridge General Baptist Church near Hardenville, Missouri. In 2003 we again headed northeast to Louisville, Kentucky and did our drama at the Dover Chapel General Baptist Church. From there the youth enjoyed a day at King’s Island theme park & a water park the following day. Our trips have included many adventures. Each person who has traveled with us can tell you some wonderful experiences. We have grown spiritually each year. We have overcome obstacles & learned valuable lessons in life through the drama and it’s presentations. We weaved through the traffic lost in Nashville with 16 vehicles. The largest number of people ever to go on the trip was 102, which included youth and adults to Texas on two-chartered bus. We were to depart early on a Wednesday morning & were scheduled to perform the drama that night near Dallas. However, the bus didn’t arrive until 1 PM Wednesday afternoon. We had to cancel the performance. We had originally planned to take the youth to a Texas Rangers baseball game but they gave up going to the game in order to do the performance that night in the church where we cancelled. In Houston the bus company we had chartered refused to take us to the church. We arrived at the church in school buses but were taken back to our motel in the back of pickups & cars of the host church members. Our theme for the trip was to be an over comer. We certainly had to put into practice what we had been taught on that trip but everyone came away from the trip feeling stronger spiritually. In 1993 we called the drama, “The Judgment”. It was centered around the song of the same name. The climatic ending was a scene of the final judgment, a heart stirring presentation to cause people to consider their relationship before the Lord. In 1996 we changed the name to, “This is War”. Everyone dressed as soldiers to portray that we were the Army of the Lord. “God’s Got an Army” was a theme song along with “The Judgment”. We had choreographed marching & included the Junior Cadets, which were our youth, 3rd grade & down. In 2001 we created a new musical drama entitled, “Stand”. In this drama the youth portray taking a stand for Jesus Christ, still as the army of the Lord. We have the story of the prodigal son portrayed through a song entitled, “New Mercy,” performed by Cassie Baker. A reminder that we never stand taller than when we are on our knees in prayer is presented through a song “On My Knees,” sung by Amy Barrett. The story of Job is remembered through a young lady who sings, “Stand”, performed by Melody Ward, the last of the original group. Heaven is portrayed through moving songs: “Before Your Throne” & “Hallelujah Chorus.” There is an interesting conversation between Satan & a Demon, along with dialogue between Jesus & Satan. There is also a stirring Hell scene. Ashton McFarland portrays the part of Satan. Michael Brown of Lake City has contrasting roles of a demon, and later of Jesus Christ. We returned in 2003 to the drama, “This is War.” The following paragraphs are a description of this updated version. “This is War” compiles the favorite songs from past “This is War” dramas with more choreography & a few new twists that have made it a crowd pleaser. The kid cadets are always a crowd favorite. These children are pre-school & down and they can do no wrong. Whether they accurately sing the songs & do the marching, everything they do is cute. Our juniors are one of our larger groups of youth. They consist of our children in the 1st thru the 3rd grade. They help the kid cadets perform “I’m in the Lord’s Army” then they do two wonderfully sung & choreograph songs, “Mighty Christian” & “Jesus is the Joy.” The title song “This is War” is performed by Christy Ward. Satan & his demons devise an attack against Christy but God speaks forth is Word from Ephesians 6 to strengthen her. Adult soldiers come forward to equip Christy with the armor of God. With the armor, Christy resists the demonic forces & stands victorious through the power of God’s Word. Ashton McFarland has played Satan for the last 3 years. Even though Ashton is a girl most people are unable to tell during the performance. With a elaborate Satan costume & special effects to deepen her voice. Ashton has done a wonderful job portray the evil one which is a big contrast to her everyday life. Ashton is a shining teen example for all Christians. She has a great heart & compassion for people. Recently Amanda Milligan has been alternating with Ashton in the performance because of Ashton’s other obligations. She too does a marvelous job fooling most people in her performance. Each of these girls is very talented who make the drama presentation a special event. After this dramatic scene the youth soldiers enter marching to “God’s got an Army.” Our youngest youth soldiers then sing the song “I am a Christian” with a choreography of flags being waved in the back ground. Jessie Mann & Lauren Robbins with the rest of the youth backing them up sing “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb” along with sign language to add to the beauty of the song. Two of our original youth drama members Faith Hall & Harmony West now performing as adults sing a fun loving song entitled, “Is there a Christian in the House?” Then the room goes dark and then under the glow of a black light Wendy Walling, another original drama member, sings “Shout to the Lord” again accompanied by the youth. The song’s words seem even more meaningful as the youth do choreograph movements with battery candles. With the lights back up the soldiers completes their concert by singing & marching out to “Great God.” Jim Heath gives a fun rendition of the song “I’m not Cool” while the youth change costumes for the remainder of the drama Heather Heath then re-enters the stage accompany by a guarding angel, which is attacked by Satan. Demons begin to attack Heather & bring her to her knees. Meanwhile 2 of Heather’s friends, Jeremy Mann & Lauren Robbins, feel the burden to pray for Heather. They began to pray & ask God to release angels, portray by Chris Sharp, Kevin Winford, Rachel Lynn & Daniel Lynn, to protect Heather. As the angels appear the demons & Satan flee as Heather sings “Somebody’s Praying.” Jessie Gilley enters the stage being followed by a demon. Jessie explains about her battle to do the right thing that disappointedly ends doing the wrong. But Heather’s friends had also prayed for Jessie. So an angel is waiting to go to battle against the demon that haunts Jessie’s life. This battle begins to rage as Jessie sings, “Cain’s Blood.” As Jessie falls on her knees to pray the angel gains victory over the demon. Heather enters the stage to begin to share Christ with Jessie but is interrupted by Cydni Gilley, who portrays an atheist, who can’t stand Heather’s interference with Jessie. Jessie Mann portrays a church member that is religious but not Christ like. She joins Cydni on stage opposing Heather fanaticism. Both Cydni & Jessie are followed by demons that encourage them in their actions. There begins a great clash between the demons & the angels as Heather sings “Radically Saved.” Before the song is over all the opposition had left. Sam Lee enters the stage as a soldier of the Lord but wounded because of all the struggles of combating Satan. Jessie wonders if being a Christian is worth the battle but Sam reassure her that it is worth every trial & trouble. Sam then sings “Wounded Soldier” but before he is finish the lights began to flash & eventually goes black as Sam collapses on the floor. As the lights come back up angels in Heaven surround Sam. The angels remove the bandages & place on Sam a robe of white. Then Jesus, played by Michael Brown, appears & welcomes Sam home as the song “Wounded Soldier” concludes. Jessie is standing nearby observing all that is happening. Heather enters Heaven as Larry Ward is singing “I Bowed on my Knees”. There is great rejoicing as Heather is welcomed by angels, then by her loved ones & finally by Jesus. Heather bows at Jesus feet and worships Him as well as all of Heaven as the song concludes. Then Heaven grows silent as Jesus ascends to His throne. A group of people whose name was not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life enters the room as Jesus tells them to depart. There is much moaning & grieving as an angel takes a little baby from her mother’s arms has other angels move the screaming people to the left. Larry Ward sings the song entitled, “The Judgment” as people began to enter the room and receive their judgment. Finally, Jessie Gilley’s name is called out. There she moves from the place she had been watching to the center of the stage facing Jesus. She screams for forgiveness & confesses that she thought she had plenty of time. But Jesus tells her to depart for she did have plenty of time to change. Once again the room is filled with screams of those who are bound for Hell. When suddenly Satan & His demons enters the room for they too must face the Judgment. Satan & His demons reluctantly bow before Jesus to hear their sentence of being cast into the Lake of Fire. Then every knee bows, every hand is lifted & every voice is raised to proclaim Jesus as their King. Soon the angels move Satan, demons & those who were lost out of the room. Then Jesus descends His throne to guide those who have been redeemed by His blood into Heaven. The room grows dark & as the lights begin to brighten. Jessie & Heather enters the stage from opposite sides. Jessie tells Heather she had a remarkable dream & that she is now ready to receive Christ. Jessie & Heather kneels as Jessie sings “I Need You.” Brother Larry enters onto the stage to begin the invitation call. We will continue to do the drama “This is War” through 2004. Then we will move to a different performance. Our plans for 2004 youth trip will be the longest trip we have ever worked toward. We are planning to take our trip to Florida. We hope to have 3 different performances booked in the upcoming weeks with one performance in Alabama & the remaining two in Florida. We hope to be able to allow the youth to enjoy visiting a beach in Florida as well as a couple of theme parks. We have already had 104 people to sign up for this trip. We presently have between 40 to 50 youth participating in our performances. We have successfully managed to raise each year enough money to pay for all of our youth’s way on the trip ranging from the oldest graduated seniors to the toddlers & babies of our group. This will be our goal as before for the Florida trip. We will need to raise more than twice the money to achieve this goal. But God as always blessed us in our drama efforts & we have faith that He will again. Along with our youth trip each year we present the drama in many churches within driving distance of our church and as well as in our own church. God has richly blessed with many people being added to His Kingdom, as well as many who have re-dedicated their life to a closer walk with God. Pastor Larry Ward has provided the overall leadership for the production of the drama. For further information he may be contacted at 870-237-4486. Or check out our website at www.refugegeneralbaptist.org. You may also mail us at Refuge General Baptist Church 5002 Hwy 18 Lake City, Arkansas 72437