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Acts of Renewal
drama team teaches through art
By Daniel Blankenship
Jim Shores and Carol Anderson-Shores, the traveling husband and
wife team who make up Acts of Renewal, visited ORU, Nov. 2. They
did a workshop with the DTF (Drama, Television and Film) majors
in the morning, followed by an evening performance.
They have ministered together for many years, serving various organizations
including Exodus and Focus on the Family. Shores has served on the
board of CITA (Christians In Theater Arts). Their full resumé can
be found on their website: www.actsofrenewal.com. They write all
of their own pieces and strive for excellence in Christian drama.
In the workshop, they shared how God has used the experiences in
their lives and has used places of brokenness to heal them. Anderson-Shores
dealt with an eating disorder for several years and Shores used
to struggle with a homosexual lifestyle. "Our drama works because
it helps those watching realize that we're all broken," Shores said.
"When people can see what we've been through, they're able to relate;
there's something so freeing in that commonality."
He knows that humans have an innate understanding of drama. "We
live our lives in stories, complete with climaxes and resolutions.
Something inside of us recognizes a common experience in drama and
we connect," he said.
Anderson-Shores spoke from her heart about "thirsting for wholeness,
body image and self acceptance." She shared a portion of her personal
struggle with anorexia and bulimia.
They performed various pieces from their repertoire, including short
dramas on relationships, help from an unlikely angel, Thanksgiving,
divorce and a wonderful piece on a Christian education director
ministering to a homosexual fashion model.
After viewing these performers, ORU sophomore Blake Garibaldi commented
how wonderful it was to see a couple operating in the calling God
has given them.
This writer would concur. There is a future in the arts for Christians
and it is our responsibility to raise the bar of theater.
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