Just Believe
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SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:14 & Mark 9:23-25
After 32 years of loyally serving the Lord, the Honourable Dr. Rev Elder Bishop James Bishop, unexpectedly went home to be with the Father. At an emergency church meeting the reading of his Will was done. All of the lay members & the church administration board all thought Deacon George F. Tilton would be named as the new Pastor.
But to everyone's surprise, Honourable Dr. Rev Elder Bishop James Bishop named his daughter as the new Pastor of St. Harvey Home Missionary Holy Baptist Full Gospel Methodist Pentecostal Inner/Outer Partially Non-Denominationally Christ Holy Sanctified Apostolic Temple of the Most High Church of God in Christ on 77th & Whatchamacallit Dr. Deacon Tilton is having a hard time accepting the Bishop's wishes. Even to accuse Chrisette of tampering with her fathers will.
Chrisette is now faced with honouring her fathers wishes & accepting her calling. or to keep running from her calling & stay at her 6 figure corporate job. Also dealing with that, now her husband Marcus has a hard time accepting a woman Pastor and being the husband of the Pastor. Now Deacon Tilton is plotting & scheming with Elders & members who want to see him or at least a man as the Shepherd of the house.
Mean while Chrisette unknowing of what is going on around her, is also dealing with her measure of faith & her ability to be a spiritual leader of a 300+ congregation. And filling her father's shoes. She doesn't feel she's worthy to answer Gods call. She feels that she has been living in a way that makes her undeserving. She reflects over her life of all the sin & shortcomings. She shies away from the leadership position out of fear of setting herself above her family. She probes motives and qualifications for church leadership. And she doesn't feel alright about herself. She can't seem to approach God as a failure. Ironically, that's the only way we can approach him.
She's been Called and Chosen to her position! But will she be Charged & Confirmed! Only GOD knows! Sit back, relax, and get your praise on! Let's find out if Chrisette draws from what GOD has already placed in her. Let's see if she will JUST BELIEVE?
Cast: 4 males, 4 females.
Audience: Teens & Adults
Genre: Contemporary Drama
Sample Scene
SCENE 1
LIGHTS UP.
Deacon Tilton is in disguise pacing back and forth onstage with a hood
Pulled over his head.
He stops to check his watch momentarily.
A beat.
Sister Collettia enters.
She stops to look at the person looking back at her…unsure as to who it
Is.
COLLETTIA: Deacon.
She pulls the hood off, he pulls it back over his head.
TILTON: What’s the matter with you…don’t do that.
COLLETTIA: Why you dressed like that?
TILTON: Cause I’m meeting with you.
COLLETTIA: I aint taking to you with that hoody on your head.
TILTON: Fine. I knew it was a waste of time coming here.
Deacon Tilton turns to leave.
COLLETTIA: Wait.
TILTON: What?
COLLETTIA: You know when I got something to say I gotta say it or it will kill me. I don’t want to loose any sleep over this.
TILTON: Talk quickly. I don’t want anyone seeing me with you.
COLLETTIA: Why you so afraid of me?
TILTON: You the only woman I know with four last names.
COLLETTIA: I’m a victim of circumstances…that’s all.
TILTON: Yeah, not many women marry four times before their 32nd birthday.
COLLETTIA: I’m blessed.
TILTON: Can you just say what you gotta say so I can go.
COLLETTIA: From what I hear, you are next in line to take the Bishops place.
TILTON: Tell me something I don’t know.
COLLETTIA: There is not much of a competition. Deacon Roy Johnson is leaving to start his own church.
TILTON: Why?
COLLETTIA: From what I hear…there seems to be some discrepancy in the books….transactions nobody knows about….and no-one can give an account for but it all points to him.
TILTON: How do you know so much?
COLLETTIA: People talk..Deacon, I listen. But information don’t come free.
TILTON: What do you want?
COLLETTIA: You put me in charge of the choir and we’ll call it even.
TILTON: Consider it done. So you sure the post his mine.
COLLETTIA: Yeah. Its sad that our Bishop died so suddenly…but there is no one else qualified to lead this humble flock but you…so I hope you are ready. They will be calling a meeting soon.
TILTON: Okay. Thanks for the heads up…but you could have told me all that over the phone.
COLLETTIA: You crazy. The FBI is tapping everybody’s phone these days since all the recent terrorist attacks.
TILTON: I see…and you are afraid of the FBI because…(waits for her to finish the statement)
COLLETTIA: I know stuff.
Deacon Tilton smiles, shakes his head and leaves.
Collettia exits in another direction as…
LIGHTS FADE.
SCENE 2
LIGHTS UP.
Everyone is present at a general meeting.
First Lady Bishop enters with some documents in hand.
LADY BISHOP: Praise the Lord Saints.
They respond.
LADY BISHOP: I’m glad you all could make it at such short notice.
Deacon Tilton jumps to his feet and pulls out the First lady’s chair as a true gentleman.
LADY BISHOP: Thank you Deacon.
TILTON: It’s the least I can do for one as worthy and admirable as you me lady.
LADY BISHOP: Yeah…okay. (turns to Chrisette) How you doing baby?
CHRISETTE: I’m fine mom. I hope you don’t plan to have a very long meeting. I had a long day.
LADY BISHOP: I’m glad you’re doing okay.
MARCUS: Isn’t it too soon for us to be having this meeting.
LADY BISHOP: Why do you say that?
MARCUS: Its only two weeks after the funeral.
LADY BISHOP: The Lords work must go on, son. This is what my dear husband would want.
TILTON: The good Lord rest his soul…whoever takes the reign of Bishop has some very big shoes to fit. Good thing my feet are so big (starts to laugh…but no one else gets the joke)
LADY BISHOP: Anyway, lets get down to business. Before we look at new appointments…Deacon Roy Johnson has submitted a request that his membership be transferred.
TILTON: Noooo. What happened?
LADY BISHOP: That is not up for discussion at the moment…but all things considered I think it best we let him go. Anyone oppose?
No answer.
LADY BISHOP: Good. Now we are all aware of the work that my husband has carried out in and around this community…all things considered. He practically built the St. Harvey Home Missionary Holy Baptist Full Gospel Methodist Pentecostal Inner/Outer Partially Non-Denominationally Christ Holy Sanctified Apostolic Temple of the Most High Church of God in Christ…
MARCUS: Can’t we rename the church?
LADY BISHOP: Why?
MARCUS: I don’t know… maybe because every time someone ask me ‘which church are you from?’ I grieve.
LADY BISHOP: We’ll discuss that in another meeting. Anyway, finding someone to replace the Bishop was a …strenuous task to say it mildly…but the final decision was left to him and his choice of a successor.
TILTON: That makes sense…yeah.
LADY BISHOP: We have given it a whole lot of thought backed by some serious prayer and fasting and have decided…though still with much reservation… to go with my late husband’s choice….(pause)
Long pause.
LADY BISHOP: It is my late husbands dying wish that we hand the office of Bishop over to his daughter…Minister Chrisette Bishop-Davenport.
TILTON: Thank you, thank you all…I will not…(pause, realizes) WHAT!
MARCUS: WHAT?
CHRISETTE: WHAT!?!
TILTON: There must be some mistake. That office belongs to me.
LADY BISHOP: There is no mistake. My husband has always been a good judge of character and if he says his daughter can do it…then she can.
CHRISETTE: I…I…this is not something I want.
LADY BISHOP: Don’t be too hasty in your reply dear. You committed yourself to walking the path God laid before you…well this is it.
TILTON: This church will never accept a woman Bishop. Its totally…un-natural…unacceptable…
LADY BISHOP: Unexpected…yes. The Bishop has made his choice…God has confirmed it…its done. If there is no other business…this meeting is adjourned. (packs up her stuff…touches Chrisette on her shoulder) Good luck with this one baby.
Lady Bishop exits.
TILTON: This is preposterous. Lady Bishop…we need to talk about this (exits after her)
The other committee members leave without saying anything leaving Chrisette
Alone.
LIGHST FADE
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