This is a short play. Scenes like "Lonely girl" and "Family affairs" are suggested adlibs and could be added to. But be sure to keep those adlibs short.

Setting: Completely darkened room.
Props: Each player holds one barbecue lighter.
Players: About 12.

Narrator:
There was a time when darkness covered the streets of Chicago. The people, lost without the light, wandered without hope.


[Scene la: "Lonely girl" Players shout insults at a girl -- or boy -- who thought those who lash out at her were her friends.]

Falling into violence, hatred and self-destruction.


[Scene 1b: "Family affairs" Father lashes out at his son, son shouts back. Mother tries to break the fight, father hits her. Son shouts to not hurt mother, father asserts his authority.]

Even in homes, darkness reigned, turning them into places of pain and suffering instead of love and peace. Fear and confusion ruled over all -- it seemed there was no hope.


[Scene Ic: "Party" Players invite others to drunk, smoke, do drugs, dance provocatively.]

Others try to fill the emptiness within their hearts and find acceptance from parties and drinking and having selfish relationships.


[Scene 2: "Desperation" Players fall to the ground crying.]

Fear, hopelessness, confusion and hurt broke over the land. And it seemed there was no hope at all.

[People crying, make more audible. Narrator pause.]


[Scene 3: "The Light" More players come in with barbecue lighters.]

But God heard their cries and had compassion on His people. So He began to call men and women who would bring His light to the city.

God filled these people with love and compassion. They brought Jesus Christ to the hurting and lonely. They helped people realize that Christ died for our sins, that He rose again from the dead and that by believing in Him they can have eternal life.

Many souls were won into the Kingdom of God. The churches prospered -- true revival had come to the city.

[More people turn on lighters and bring to people crying. They comfort them, help them to stand, showing that they help them form a relationship with God - could show they are at a YFC camp.]


[Scene 4: "Problems in the Church" People start to bicker.]

But the darkness rose up again. Pride, selfishness, competition battled in the hearts of God's people.

Relationships were broken and healing did not occur because of pride. Gossip and slander caused division.

A love for the world and a lack for love of God was prevalent as the people lived their lives not according to what God wanted but for what they wanted.

People start to bicker and fight each other. And the light was lost. [All lights go out.]

Time and time again the people tried to grow. But as long as God's people were divided and remained unrepentant, they could not be restored.

And the darkness grew once again. And many souls were lost.


[Scene 5: "God's renewal"]

But God would not allow the darkness to thrive. Nor will He allow so many souls to perish.

And by His grace and love He sent the fire of the Spirit to His people, [Narrator: Pause] calling them to repentance for their pride and selfishness.

With a new heart, His people went to the streets once again, burning with consuming passion to seek and save the lost.


[People start praying and turn on lighters one by one.]

God added to their number daily, and the church not only grew in number but in maturity.

The believers joined together in prayer, earnestly seeking for God's kingdom to come.

[People form two circles with light, praying.]

But they did not only pray for their own, but God placed in their hearts to pray for others as well.
Through these prayers, God refined them, giving them one heart, and one mind, and one vision: To see God exalted among their people.

[People form a circle with their lights, making bigger flames with their lights in the middle of the circle.]

Their vision spread quickly to others as they engaged in fellowship.


[One from each circle go to the other circle, shake hands and join their fire.]

Forgetting all selfish pursuits, they joined together and experienced the blessings of unity through worship.

[One by one, all get up in the middle and join to form bigger fire.] From there the light only grew brighter. As they met, they prayed with and supported one another.

By their unity and love, they become a powerful testimony to all the nations. God used hem all over the world to bring people closer to Him.


[The call of God.]
Brothers and sisters, this is not a fictional account. This is God's will for you and for me, and for all believers to be united and to shine His light to the nations.

Not for the glory of any man or woman, or any church, or any people group, but for the glory of God and for the advancement of His kingdom.

Psalms 67:1-2 says, "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that Your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations."