Christmas is a special time for churches worldwide—not only because we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, but also because many people who do not usually attend church venture inside. It is an opportunity to share the heart of the Christian faith: that the Savior of the world was born and, at Easter, gave His life in our place. All the more reason to go all out during the Christmas season with compelling storytelling. And what better place to do that than in a theater? At De Lawei in Drachten, I had the privilege of acting in and helping create the production De koning van zijn troon (“The king leaves hHis throne”). Through drama, music, and a stunning video backdrop of a magnificent palace, the true meaning of Christmas is revealed.

However, during the pandemic, churches and theaters were unable to open their doors. Consequently, we took a piece originally intended for a live performance and recorded it in a COVID-safe manner, transforming it into a beautiful video. I developed a script and shot list featuring a narrator who tells the Christmas story, while children act it out using simple, short sentences. The focus this time was on how various events converged, orchestrated by the great Director of life. To reflect this, we incorporated a director character into the script to guide the narrative. We also included a digitally animated clock whose hands indicate how the different storylines come together at the birth of Christ. The entire piece was filmed against a large green screen, and during editing, everything fell beautifully into place like the pieces of a puzzle. Visually, the production was enhanced with a “cardboard-style” set design to give the impression of a play performed live by the children. It was a disarming yet deeply impressive way to experience the Christmas story.

It all started with an Easter family service at the Bethel church in Drachten. I was involved in a drama sketch where we used a closed chest to illustrate that, through His death, Jesus Christ held the key to an extraordinary treasure. But we also wanted to make the story entertaining for the teenagers and young people in the audience. I had already prepared some chat messages on a phone, but we needed something more. It turned into a massive explosion—yet, unfortunately, the chest still didn’t open. However, there is a large ladder at the church entrance representing Jacob’s Ladder from the Bible; I decided to tip it over for an effect that was both dramatic and cartoonish. And that happened quite a few times after that. A new caricature character, Prof. Lampjes, would appear with scientific facts and research findings that required the use of the ladder. That ladder has been melted, pulled apart, flung through the air, and knocked over by an airplane. Thanks to my video production skills, I was able to take things a step further each time in a relatively simple way. Yet, no matter how many times that ladder fell, the underlying message remained standing.

The pastor of the Bethel Free Baptist Church in Drachten wanted to present a sermon series on what it means to be a church member. Naturally, he wanted to base this on the Bible while also covering six chapters from the booklet Ik en de kerk (‘Me and the Church’). The request was made to introduce each chapter with simple sketches. While brainstorming and reading the book, I came up with the idea of ​​using a monologue format, following a character who does the exact opposite of what the book describes. At first, he reaps all the benefits without wanting to commit to membership; he gossips about other members and tries to impose his will on the congregation during a speech at a church meeting. Yet, as the series progresses, he learns from the material in each chapter. I named the character Chris Goedhart, because—despite his flaws—his heart is ultimately in the right place.

This piece came together beautifully. It aligned perfectly with the surrounding services and activities, allowing for references to them within the sketches—such as the baptism service, the upcoming congregational meeting, and the newly released list of Bible studies. These were all elements I could incorporate seamlessly into the piece. So, it wasn’t just about having a heart in the right place; all the components themselves fell into place remarkably well.