Top 100 Films for 2016

I'm blessed to have performed in seven of the Top 100 films for www.Christian Cinema.com: #1 Beyond the Mask (which was mentioned as having moved up from 3rd) #2 Alone Yet Not Alone (which was mentioned as having holding 2nd place) #14 Princess Cut (which got special mention for moving up from #43 last year) #23 Polycarp #35 The Messenger Box #74 Providence (which got special mention for its numerous awards) #100 In His Steps

I play a lead in Providence, which you can bring to your area.

Views of the Manger and Cuba

Baptisms on a Beach in Cuba

If you're reading this in an email you can see the video at www.RichDrama.com/Cuba.

One Day... in Cuba

I announced the release of the short film One Day from Cuba!

One Day... in Cuba from richswingle on GodTube.

The actual release date is yet to be posted, but there will be a premiere in Freeport, IL, on January 22.

If you're reading this in an email visit www.RichDrama.com/Cuba to watch the video.

The Farmer and the Belle

I got to work on a really fun and profound film, The Farmer the Belle, a Christmas comedy.

Great message!

It will be available On Demand and on DVD November 17. To order your copy click here. 

I was a New York City assistant producer, and I played Conrad, the manager for the lead, played by Jenn Gotzon​, making this our fifth film together. It also stars Jenn's husband  Jim Chandler, and their actual wedding was filmed to be a part of the movie!

Our good friend Patricia Mauceri also has a key role.

#RealLove
#TheFarmerAndTheBelle
#ChristmasComedyMovie

Merry Christmas!

Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas Season!

Joyce and I just got back from a profound week in Cuba where I performed Views of the Manger, and Joyce taught on Jeremiah 29:11, our marriage verse. 

We've posted her message and more about Cuba at www.RichDrama.com/Cuba.

As soon as we got back I switched gears to perform in and serve as a NYC producer on the upcoming film The Farmer and the Belle, the seventh film project I worked on this year. Two of those are short films about Cuba we're now editing, one is unannounced, and the others were A Matter of Perspective, Felicia's Pledge and One Day. 

Proof Rich married an angel!

Joyce spoke of how Jeremiah's encouragement was to the exiles in Babylon, and how Daniel would have been one of the recipients. Daniel saved the magi by interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, so they were able to read the Hebrew Scriptures and, generations later, recognize the Star of Bethlehem for what it was: The birth announcement for the King of Kings. 

We're blessed to see that seven films in which I performed made the Top 100 of 2016 for ChristianCinema.com, including the top two. Four of them were mentioned in the opening article. Praise the Lord!

I got an app for tracking my trip mileage, and this year I covered 46,788 miles, almost circling the globe twice, performing and/or teaching in 17 states and six film projects.

Click here for Facebook's review of our year.

Joyce brought the Christmas Day message at Westchester Chapel, and you can hear it by clicking here.

Joyce just read about a Christian member of congress who said people pray them into office, but then don't pray them through their terms. He said he can tell when people are praying and when they're not. I can tell many of you are praying for us the year round! Thank you so very much!!! Please keep interceding for us... and our leaders.

Have a blessed Christmas, everyone! 

Though there are now Christmas
trees everywhere in Cuba we never
thought to have our picture taken
next to one! This is as jolly as we got
for the camera:
Christmas-colored lollipops!

Christmas Day

Joyce teaches on Revelation 19:1-10. She mentions my performance of "La Gente Que Jesús Conocia" (The People Jesus Knew). Find out more about it at www.RichDrama.com/ShortPieces. Find out more about our trip to Cuba and our upcoming report on January 5 at www.RichDrama.com/Cuba.

Pastor Jim Warren opens with a reading from Isaiah 43:10-19 and prayer. Pastor Linda Warren prays over the service.

Click the arrow below, or if it's not there click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

Photo courtesy of NicolettiPhoto.com.

The Righteous Reign of the Branch

This was our Christmas Eve service for 2016 at Westchester Chapel. Joyce teaches on Isaiah 11:1-10. Pastor Randy Solomon opens the service with prayer. Liz J. prays over the sermon. Joyce and I share about our trip to Cuba that month.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

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I Dreamed I Was Free tells the story of Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.

Message in Cuba: Choose God's Plans

Rich and Joyce Swingle in
Havana, Cuba, near where she
preached this message.

Joyce teaches in Cuba on Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 12:1-2. She speaks with translation.

Click the arrow below, or if you received this via email click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

Teaching and Performing in Cuba

In twelve hours we'll leave for Cuba to teach, perform and encourage the people! 

I've been invited to teach three workshops at a Bible school and train young people how to do enacted prayer and how to create their own sketches through improvisation. On the last night they'll perform a brand new sketch just before I perform Views of the Manger with Spanish translation slides, which were just finished a couple of nights ago. ¡Mil gracias, ayudantes!

We've been amazed at the Lord's timing related to this trip.  In the aftermath of Fidel Castro's death, the government called for a moratorium on any special events at churches. We believe the ban has now ended, but we appreciate your prayers for a smooth journey and smooth events!

When we prayed about whether we should accept the invitation, we sensed the Lord urging us to go and encourage the people there with the Love of our Lord and the Good News that they are not forgotten but were bought with a Price. We pray we can bring the Precious Scripture to Life in their minds and hearts through the play and workshops. Pray they hear and understand All the Lord has for them, and that Joy, unspeakable Joy will be the hallmark of the trip!

Our local hosts are not able to cover our travel expenses, so if you're able to help, please do so at www.RichDrama.com/Donate. 

Thanks so much for your prayer and assistance!

In Christ alone,

Rich and Joyce Swingle

See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story by booking Beyond the Chariots.

Send a Blessing to Cuba

Joyce and I are going to go to Cuba on December 10. I'll be teaching workshops and performing Views of the Manger with Spanish subtitles. Just before that performance I'm going to show a video of greetings from people around the world. 

When we prayed about going we felt we were to tell the people: 

• The Good News of the Gospel.

• To encourage them.

• Let them know the Lord regards them highly and loves them very much.

• They are not forgotten by Christians around the world.

• To water seeds the Lord has planted in their hearts.

If you can put together a short message with one or more of these thoughts I would be happy to include it in the video. Feel free to touch on more than one point. 

In the video, please mention where you live, and if you speak in a language other than English or Spanish, please include an English transcript so we can provide them with subtitles.

Please upload it to YouTube as an Unlisted video or to Vimeo with a password. You can also send it via Dropbox. Below I've pasted instructions for sending a video from your phone...

Also, please download our waiver, sign it, scan it, and return it with the link to your video via the contact form at the bottom of www.RichDrama.com/Booking.

I'll need to receive it by December 9 since internet access there is not fast enough to download videos.

Thanks for helping us bless the people of Cuba!

Here are instructions for recording from your phone:

• You may already have a YouTube app installed on your phone. If not you can download it from your App Store or (on Androids) Play Store.

• Once you open the app you'll see a video icon in the lower right corner. Click on that.

• The next screen will show videos that are already on your phone and another video icon. Click that.

• Click the icon that makes your phone film from the side of your camera so you can see what you're filming.

• Turn your phone on its side.

• Click the record button.

• Look into the camera lense and deliver your message.

• Click the stop button.

• Click OK. Don't worry if it's not perfect. I can edit it.

• In the title put your name.

• Under Privacy select Unlisted.

• Hit the arrow in the upper right.

• Once it's uploaded click on it.

• Turn it on its side and click the arrow that will appear in the upper right corner.

• Click the copy link and send it my way along with a scan of the signed release form. You'll probably need to start the email on your phone and then add the scan on your computer. Look in your drafts folder and the email you started on your phone should be there.

Your phone may be set up slightly differently from mine, but I hope that helps!

A Clear Leading tells the story of Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.

Jesus Is Our Peace

After the opening prayer by Rachel Taylor I spoke about the painting above and mentioned how it includes William Penn signing a peace treaty with the natives after paying them a decent price for Pennsylvania. Pastor Jim Warren preaches on Isaiah 11:1-9. He mentions the effect violence in media has on society. For more information read, "Trained to Kill."  Joyce prays and gives a pop quiz. Rachel leads communion and prays over Joyce and I before we leave for Cuba to perform Views of the Manger and teach workshops.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email, click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

Here's the video Pastor Jim mentioned of the tiger and the goat lying down together:



If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

A Clear Leading tells the story of Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.