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Staging the Conversation

/, Magazine - Issue 2/Staging the Conversation

Staging the Conversation

On street corners in Vancouver, Nairobi and Hong Kongamong othersDisciples Ready in Mobile Evangelism (DRIME), a ministry of Power to Change, uses drama to proclaim the gospel and spark spiritual conversations amidst the gathering crowds. Power to Change magazine sat down with Guillermo Galeano Villalba, a performer and leader of the DRIME Paraguay team, to learn how drama is impacting lives in Asunción.

P2C: When did you first encounter DRIME and their unique form of evangelism?

GGV: A DRIME team from Gramado, Brazil, came to Paraguay in 2010 and I saw them in action. I was surprised by their passion, and impressed by the way they performed dramas and talked to people.

P2C: Why did you decide to get involved?

GGV: God was asking me to do something more than just go to church on Sunday morning. I had evangelized in some ways before, but it wasn’t a regular or continuous ministry. When I met the DRIME Brazil team, I was like, “This is it!”

Guillermo Galeano Villalba performs drama set to music in Asunción, while other DRIME members mix among the crowd to start spiritual conversations with onlookers.

Guillermo Galeano Villalba performs drama set to music in Asunción, while other DRIME members mix among the crowd to start spiritual conversations with onlookers.

P2C: Can you describe your first time on the streets with DRIME?

GGV: I felt insecure and unsure of what to do or what to say to people. I didn’t know the dramas very well or what to expect from the crowd when I spoke with them, so I was surprised that most people thanked me for taking the time to personally explain the gospel.

P2C: What is your experience now that you’ve been involved with DRIME for seven years?

GGV: I know better now what to expect on the streets. Some people ignore me or aren’t interested in anything about God. I’ve learned not to feel bad when I am rejected, but to be joyful when someone listens. Here in Paraguay, many people have heard of Jesus but they don’t understand the significance of His sacrifice. DRIME explains the gospel in a clear and visual way so people can start to make sense of it—even if they’re not ready to put their faith in Jesus just yet.

P2C: What excites you most about the impact your ministry makes?

GGV: We can reach all kinds of people on the streets. We meet drug addicts, sex workers, orphans, single mothers, families, atheists and believers. We are not able to help every one of them, but we have the Holy Spirit in us and He helps us when we don’t know what to do. We experience this miracle every time we are on the streets. God works through us to bring peace to the people who need it, just by praying for them and sharing the hope of Jesus.

P2C: Why is drama such an effective method of evangelism?

GGV: I’ll admit, it’s not the best way to approach everyone. Some people find it weird—we’re all dressed in black and there is a man in a white T-shirt. But, whatever their reaction to the drama itself, it’s an effective tool to get peoples’ attention, so we work hard on perfecting the movements and our expressions. Drama does half of the work, but it wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t talk to people afterward and share the gospel.

P2C: What kind of conversations do you have with people?

GGV: There are people who just watch one or two dramas and pass by, and we will never know what they thought. When I do get the chance to speak with someone, I ask them what they understood and who they think the man in the white T-shirt is. The responses are “an angel,” “a good person or spirit,” “maybe God,” or they just don’t know. That’s when I introduce Jesus.

P2C: How do you handle people’s resistance to religion and God?

GGV: DRIME’s method works really well to overcome negative experiences or associations that people have with religion. We point directly to Jesus, not man or organizations. People usually ask us where we come from and which church or organization we work with. I just tell them the message I bring is from God. It’s about Jesus. That’s what I want to talk about. If they want to know more, we explain the ministry, including what we do.

P2C: What do you enjoy most about the ministry?

GGV: The relationships. The DRIME team is like family. The work we do together creates a special bond between us. It’s a place to belong and to be a part of something greater than ourselves.

P2C: How has serving with DRIME impacted your spiritual growth?

GGV: Ministering to others helps me understand God’s love for me and strengthens my faith in Jesus. When I hear people’s stories on the streets, it reminds me that no one is ever too far away from God. He gives us all a second chance with Jesus. I will always come back to the cross. When I am centred on that, it gives me a sense of security and strength to keep going.

“I will always come back to the cross. When I am centred on that, it gives me a sense of security and strength to keep going.”

15 Years of Drama and Dialogue

Lillian FrederiksenStarting spiritual conversations isn’t easy for me on my own. In DRIME, I’ve found a place for these meaningful and often transformational conversations to happen naturally. For 15 years, drama has helped me dialogue easily about faith and things that matter.

Regardless of what culture we’re in when we perform, people get curious and want to know more. Because DRIME teams around the world are made up of locals, they are also able to relate with others and have meaningful conversations within their own culture
and language.

With DRIME, I have been able to encourage so many people to get to know Jesus and experience His power to change the world. I can’t think of anything I’d want to do more!

Lillian Frederiksen, International Director of DRIME

Through drama, Guillermo and his fellow DRIME team members are helping people discover Jesus and become passionate disciples.
To view a drama for yourself, visit vimeo.com/drime.

2018-03-05T16:13:21-08:00