CREATIVE BUT NOT EFFECTIVE

“Can a man be so creative yet ineffective?” Is that not the question ringing in your mind at the sight of this heading? But, I tell you… this reminded me of a meeting I attended where a group came to perform to an expectant congregation, they acted so well such that the church was carried away, they even spent more than the allocated time and they were not stopped. In fact the minister trying to keep watch on the time allocated to this group got carried away, so there was no person to stop them. With all the creativity invested in the production, it was a disappointment to the expectant congregation that they couldn’t hold on to something reasonable in the drama presentation. It was disheartening!

Creativity is extremely important; its role in drama or in film production cannot be overruled. Narrowing it down to all the sector of stage drama or film production, its role cannot be overemphasised: the scriptwriter who draws the foundation or the skeleton of the drama production needs creativity: the editor needs it; the actors, actresses, make-up artist, director, stage manager, camera man, editor, costumier, light man, location manager, set designer, etc need creativity. As a matter of fact what production will be so catchy if creativity is in anyway missing? How can you sustain the attention of your audience or viewers if you throw away the place of creativity? Your audience or viewers might get bored, dissatisfied, and loose interest in watching your production because they cannot see creativity in play. This shows to us the height at which creativity is placed in a production be it stage or film. In fact, creativity is one of the natures of God.

But as important as this creativity is, it only aids the effectiveness of the MESSAGE of God from God to be passed across. But it is a pity many drama ministers have lost their effectiveness in ministry. They are only being called by name not by effectiveness. The real thing is missing. There are ministries without messengers and there are ministries with messengers but no messages. Those that even have messages do not deliver it well or to the appropriate quarter because the messengers have lost their sense of direction and do not follow the correct instruction given by the owner of the message. Many run helter-skelter in the name of doing the work of God or in the name of working for God, but have no recognition or identity with the person they are working for.
Ask some drama ministers where are you going? “We are going for ministration” or “we are going to location” or “we are going or doing...” they are always going, but there is no time to sit for the owner of the work to give them complete instruction. They “do” but don’t “be”. They DO creative things but they don’t BECOME effective as the Divine expects of them.

God is looking for men who will BECOME sharp instruments of revival in this end-time. God’s desire is that we become His end-time battle axe, fruitful tree, His mouth-piece, His oracles, etc.
 In the first place what are you ministering to people? A minister that lacks the Word of God will only minister his own message which he has sent himself and not the one that God has sent him. He will say to the people what God has not said which puts such over-zealous drama minister in danger of God’s curse. You remember the passage of the scripture that says “woe to him who speaks when God has not spoken”. Another question is what has God spoken to you to minister to His people? Your effectiveness is in the reality of presenting the mind of God to His people not just in your mere creativity. Because Creativity outside the Word of God or Word from God is a waste! It is just as a salt that lost its savour.

TEMITOPE ADEOYE
President
Land of God Evangelical (Drama) Ministries.