In the book of Nehemiah chapter two Nehemiah tours the fallen city of Jerusalem then unveils his plan to rebuild its walls. The enthusiastic response of the people around him was this;
…they said, “Let us rise up and build.”
Like Nehemiah’s generation it’s no secret our world has experienced a devastating season of destruction. But guys it’s time to build again. At Passion Play Ministries International we’ve never been more excited to proclaim the good news we’ve found in Jesus Christ.
We pray this letter finds you and your family blessed beyond measure as we finally make our way past COVID 19 and social distancing. Perhaps the treasure we found most precious through this dismal season of isolation is a greater appreciation for relationship. In Genesis 2:18 God told us, “It is not good for man to be alone.”
Passion Play Ministries International has a long-standing appreciation for relationship building. For the past 35 years we’ve been blessed to present the message of Jesus Christ to audiences world-wide. Thousands of volunteer cast members have worked side by side to present the powerful message of God’s great love to literally hundreds of thousands. Along the way we’ve grown in our relationship with God and one another.
In March of 2020, the live staging of the Passion Play was temporarily placed on hold by the global COVID 19 pandemic. It was an epic event of Biblical proportion. Needless to say, each of us has been affected by this epidemic to one degree or another. In fact, generations will feel the impact of this crisis for years to come.
Knowing God never wastes a hurt perhaps this struggle provides better insight as to how Nehemiah felt when he received news the walls of his ancestral home, Jerusalem, were broken down and its gates had been burned with fire. Nehemiah 1:4 tells us that he sat down, wept and mourned for several days. Then he prayed and asked the Lord that he might find favor with the king. His passion was to build, and it became infectious.
Like Nehemiah’s generation our world has experienced a terrible season of destruction. Many of us have lost loved ones, businesses have closed and families have been destroyed. It’s been a time of incredible challenge and frustration, but it is also a time of great opportunity. At Passion Play Ministries International we’ve never been more excited to proclaim the good news we’ve found in our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Like Nehemiah and those who surrounded him we have “A Passion to Build”
As we move beyond the Covid crisis PPMI host communities are anxiously planning their next presentations of the Passion Play. Our ministry teams in the US, South Africa, India, Mexico, Egypt and Central America are enthusiastically looking forward to the 2022 Easter season. A number of these ministry teams will require financial assistance in order to step back on to the stage.
In addition to existing PPMI host communities returning to live stage performances we have a brand-new ministry effort moving into the Philippines. Please pray for this new ministry team as we work together to create a new generation of training resources. This is an effort that will take the ministry forward for years to come. We sincerely appreciate your continued prayers and financial support for all of these efforts.