Billy Graham

Billy Graham went to be with the Lord this morning. The effect he's had on our planet is immeasurable, and much is available elsewhere about that enormous impact. But I've been reflecting on all the ways he's impacted my own life:

My connections to Billy Graham began long before I was born. After my grandfather passed away in 1942 my grandma was left with two little girls, two months (my future mother) and two years old. Some church ladies thought Billy might make a great new father, so they arranged a dinner so they could meet. George Beverly Shea was there, too, so it was nothing private. Billy, working on his second degree at Wheaton College, already knew of his call to be an evangelist, and Grandma knew she was called to be a missionary, so nothing came of it. She did meet him after one of his crusades, and he was glad she’d served as a missionary to Kenya, and he remembered that she had two little girls.

He was a co-founder of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, so I manned phones when he had a crusade in Boston while I was a student there. It was a very impactful experience for me. He also popped into a chapel, but I was off campus that day. Here's a brief but beautiful tribute to Billy Graham by my advisor at Gordon-Conwell: A Tribute to Billy Graham.

I performed at Montreat College, where the Grahams had a close affiliation.

I performed on a field where he preached.

I was on the planning team for a Lausanne Congress, which he founded. You can hear his opening address in 1974 by clicking here.

I performed in the chapel for Far East Broadcasting, founded by Billy Kim, who was the translator for Billy Graham at his largest crusade, in Seoul.

They're little connections, but each time they've encouraged me to pray for a greater impact for the Kingdom.

If you're not in the Kingdom, you can be: www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

><><><

There are a few spots left for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Jordan grew up hearing my voice

Jordan Hubacz was First Assistant Director on "There," a short film produced and directed by two of my students at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Jordan shared how he grew up hearing my characters in The Beginners Bible videos.

Watch by clicking below, or if you're reading this in an email, you can watch it at www.RichDrama.com/BeginnersBible.

><><><

Limited vacancies for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Henry Box Brown Went Well

Our performances of Henry Box Brown went miraculously well! Though Joyce had already seen it five times, she got up at 3:30 am, after going to bed after midnight, to be an on-site intercessor for our performance for students. She prayed over all 3,000 chairs, and the students, representing more than a dozen public schools were remarkably well-behaved. The Q and A was rich, deep and long! I pointed out that Scripture was used to support slavery, but slavery was mentioned in Scripture because it was a man-made institution that needed to be addressed. God commanded in Exodus 21:2, "In the seventh year your slave shall go free." When I said, "The Lord never intended for the lifelong ownership of a fellow human being," they burst into applause! It may have been the first time some of them heard that Scripture.

The Geneva gown I'm wearing in this photo was my grandfather's PhD robe. During the Reformation Protestants refrained from wearing liturgical garments, and since most of them were scholars they wore their scholarly robes, which turned into the liturgical garments of the Protestant clergy.

Grandpa was a pastor, missionary, and history professor. He's one of the people who inspired me to do historical plays that minister in 29 nations so far: www.CliffMillerPhD.Blogspot.com

As Trevor the Treasure Seeker I answer some of the questions raised by some of the children in our cast. Watch it below, or if you're receiving this via email you can see it at www.RichDrama.com/HenryBoxBrown:

You can see my Facebook Live announcement by clicking here.

><><><

Another reason I'm excited to be a part of Henry Box Brown is that I've been performing my own one-man play about an abolitionist since 1995. A Clear Leading tells the story of John Woolman, a Quaker who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.

Edith DeCecca

We had the privilege of releasing our dear friend, Edith DeCecca to the Lord. Click here if you're receiving this in an email, or below for the remarkable story...

It's followed by two musical renditions of Edith's favorite passage of Scripture, Psalm 139, in English and then in Hebrew.

Edith's obituary and today's funeral time and location can be found at www.WestchesterChapel.org/EdithDeCecca. 

Henry Box Brown

Two prayers of my heart from twenty years ago were answered!

I heard about the Christian Cultural Center, the largest church in New York City and one of the largest independent churches in the US, shortly after moving here in 1993. As I started to develop my own one-man plays it was on my heart to perform there some day.

I play James Smith, an historical abolitionist, in Henry Box Brown, a musical that tells the story of a slave who ships himself in a box from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia and freedom in 1849.

Though it's not one of my one-man plays, this musical is answering my prayer of two decades, because we'll be performing at CCC three times:

February 11, 8 AM and 10:30 AM
20-minute version
Directions at www.CCCInfo.org, where you can live-stream the 10:30 AM Eastern service.

February 14, 7 PM
20-minute version streamed
www.CCCInfo.org

Feb 15, 10-1pm
Full musical
Click here to register (first come first registered)

February 17, 6 PM
20-minute version streamed
www.CCCInfo.org

Hope you can see this miraculous production online!

The other 2-decade-old prayer that was answered was working with Tony Award-winner, Ben Harney. He wrote a sketch in which I played Jesus for the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, in the mid-90s. My prayer to work with him was answered, as he stepped in as director. 

The performances went miraculously well! Though Joyce had already seen it five times, she got up at 3:30 am, after going to bed after midnight, to be an on-site intercessor for our performance for students. She prayed over all 3,000 chairs, and the students, representing more than a dozen public schools were remarkably well-behaved. The Q and A was rich, deep and long! I pointed out that Scripture was used to support slavery, but slavery was mentioned in Scripture because it was a man-made institution that needed to be addressed. God commanded in Exodus 21:2, "In the seventh year your slave shall go free." When I said, "The Lord never intended for the lifelong ownership of a fellow human being," they burst into applause! It may have been the first time some of them heard that Scripture.

The Geneva gown I'm wearing in this photo was my grandfather's PhD robe. During the Reformation Protestants refrained from wearing liturgical garments, and since most of them were scholars they wore their scholarly robes, which turned into the liturgical garments of the Protestant clergy.

Grandpa was a pastor, missionary, and history professor. He's one of the people who inspired me to do historical plays that have ministered in 29 nations so far: www.CliffMillerPhD.Blogspot.com.

As Trevor the Treasure Seeker I answer some of the questions raised by some of the children in our cast:

You can see my Facebook Live announcement by clicking here.

><><><

Another reason I'm excited to be a part of Henry Box Brown is that I've been performing my own one-man play about an abolitionist since 1995. A Clear Leading tells the story of John Woolman, a Quaker who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.

Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp Deadline Extended

Rachel Marley (left) and McKenzie Harris experienced another blessing from their association with the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.  They just performed in a God-honoring professional audio drama for Lamplighter Theatre that they learned about because they had been students at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Our camp is more than a fully immersive training experience. It begins before students arrive on campus with online tutorials we've put together, so that once they arrive we can immediately jump into production on a short film. All four years that I've taught at Film Camp I've been able to coach our students for an audition for a live film project. Several of our students have landed roles or been hired on crew because of that process.

But the benefits of Film Camp extend beyond our week together. Whenever I hear about film, stage and radio projects that are planning to honor the Lord I send out casting notices to all of our acting camp alumni.

If you or someone you know is interested in acting now is the best time to register for the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Due to some logistics issues we were not able to get the word out in a timely manner about our early bird special to some of our potential acting camp students. In order to be fair with all who are interested in attending either the acting or filmmaking camps we have decided to extend the $150 early bird discount until the end of the month.

The registration website has already been updated to the full price since the early bird discount expired on January 15th. However, we have created a special discount coupon code that you can use to get the same discount. Here’s how it works. Register for either the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Acting camp or the Filmmakers camp from our regular camp registration page and enter the following coupon code on the payment screen to receive the discount.

Coupon Code: EB2018
Acting Camp Registration SiteFilmmaking Camp Registration Site

The discount coupon is only good through January 31st and only while we still have space available. Once the camp is full registration will be closed so register now to assure your spot and to take advantage of this extended discount.

If you choose the 3 payment option the $150 discount will be applied to your initial payment. So the first payment will only be $150, the second and third payments will be $300 each.

Hope to see you in the Rockies!

><><><

Join us for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Walking By Faith/Walking in Fear

I open and close this service at Westchester Chapel, and Joyce leads the congregation in celebrating the Lord's Supper.

Pastor Jim Warren shares a "Fear Checklist" from the life of Abram as depicted in Gen. 12: 1-20 to help us know when we are in the grip of fear rather than courage in the Lord.

On the checklist:

1. Are you looking at the situation through the world's perspective or God's perspective?
2. Have you forgotten the Lord's blessings and promises for you?
3. Are you trying to solve the issue in your power and wisdom rather than the Lord's power and wisdom?
4. Is the fear causing you to lie, deceive or put other people in a bad situation? 

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.

><><><

Two days left for the early bird discount for the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp Early Bird Deadline and Post Camp Production

With three of our alumni,
Joyce Swingle,
Gwendelynn Martindale, and
Morgan Willer.

Due to some logistics issues we were not able to get the word out in a timely manner about our early bird special to some of our potential acting camp students at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. In order to be fair with all who are interested in attending either of our camps we have decided to extend the $150 early bird discount a few more weeks.

The registration website has already been updated to the full price since the early bird discount expired on January 15th. However, we have created a special discount coupon code that you can use to get the same discount. Here’s how it works. Register for either the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Acting camp or the Filmmakers camp from our regular camp registration page and enter the following coupon code on the payment screen to receive the discount.

Coupon Code: EB2018
Acting Camp Registration SiteFilmmaking Camp Registration Site

The discount coupon is only good through January 31st and only while we still have space available. Once the camp is full registration will be closed so register now to assure your spot and to take advantage of this extended discount.

If you choose the 3 payment option the $150 discount will be applied to your initial payment. So the first payment will only be $150, the second and third payments will be $300 each.

As of this moment there are only 4 acting camp spots left and only 3 filmmaking camp spots left. So register now to reserve your spot at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Acting Camp.

I just got to perform the lead role and coach the other actors (including one of our alumna, Rebekah Stought) in "There" a short film by two of our alumni, William and Morgan Willer. In all we had six alumni from our program involved in the production, and the Willers managed to pull together over a dozen professionals in all!

Two other alumni, Rebekah Stought 
and William Willer.

Before we left they showed us a rough cut, and it's going to look extraordinary! I'm so proud of the Willers and our amazing team!

While we were on set, one of the six alumni of the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp, McKenzie Harris, was cast as the lead in Lamplighter Theatre's next production! We also know Rachel Marley, was cast as the friend of the lead. Rachel has been my student several times at two different performing arts training intensives, and she was on our performance team in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics.

Rebekah Stought performed with me in the last two Lamplighter Theatre productions.

McKenzie Harris
Photo by Ivy Schexnayder

I'll be teaching and directing at the Lamplighter Guild this summer, and their early bird discount (also a savings of $150) deadline will be at the end of January.

You can hear my interview with Mark Hamby, the executive director of Lamplighter Ministries here. Click below or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play it.



I was happy to volunteer my time to the Willer's project, but they agreed to let me perform my one-man play Views of the Manger in their barn on Epiphany, and offer an acting workshop after we wrapped the film.

After Views of the Manger we gathered to praise the Lord for what He accomplished through the piece, and a five-year-old prayed the most beautiful prayers! I asked if I could interview her about the play, and here's what she had to say. Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play it.

I shared it as a part of the opening to this morning's service at Westchester Chapel. You can hear my introduction to the interview below...

Dr. Linda Warren preaches on Genesis 3 and the source of all fear. Rachel Taylor opens with prayer.  Jim Warren prays over the sermon and shares about the awesome nature of God expressed in Job 38.

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.

><><><

Remember, registration is now open for the 2018 Lamplighter's Guild and Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Alien Intrusion: Unmasking a Deception

Here's a guest review by my bride, Joyce Swingle:

Important, relevant and careful exploration of the subject. Anticipates and answers key questions while building its case for Christ's church to offer hope to millions of the afflicted ones. I pray that pastors and ministers heed the critical need to minister appropriately about this demonic deception.

Alien Intrusion: Unmasking a Deception was released in theaters on January 11, 2018 as a Fathom Event. It's now available in DVD.

See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

Miracle Story

I wrote this story up at www.RichDrama.com/LamplighterTheatre, but here is how Mark Hamby, executive director of Lamplighter Live tells it:



If you're getting this via email click here to watch.

Join us at the Lamplighter Guild this summer!

><><><

See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

Are You Ready?

Joyce teaches on Matthew 25:1-13. I opened by talking about the Great Experiment. Prayer by Dr. Linda Warren. I also got to share about my intro and outro for Tales of the Resistance and Tales of the Kingdom.

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.

Photo courtesy of NicolettiPhoto.com.

><><><

Sign up for the announcement that registration is open for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Tales of the Kingdom and Tales of the Resistance

When I was performing in the George Fox College Players, each member of our drama troupe, was given a copy of the book Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains. It was incredibly meaningful to us at the time, especially since David and Karen spoke in our chapel at what is now George Fox University. The Mains' trilogy has been compared to The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.

So I was just thrilled to get to perform the intro, outro and several radio spots for a Lamplighter Ministries' relaunch of the audio books Tales of the Kingdom and Tales of the Resistance, both narrated by David Mains. Click here, and select "Listen to Previews Here" to hear my intros to both books.

><><><

Registration is now open for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

A Blessed Christmas to ALL!

I was so blessed by Dr. David Andersen's talk at the Mastermedia Christmas party this year. He started by pointing out that the phrase "getting saved" is no longer in fashion. He thinks people don't like to think of themselves as needing to be saved, but he told how he wandered past some bullies and was beaten up when he was in grade school, and how grateful he was when some men in a restaurant across the street saw it happening and rescued him. He exclaimed, "It's GREAT to be saved!"

Then he pointed out that Jesus Christ came into the world to be our Savior, and Dr. Andersen asked us what He came to save us from? Dr. Andersen pointed out that Jesus must have come to save us all from a universal condition, so He didn't come to save us from poverty, because many in the world are wealthy. He didn't come to save us from purposelessness, because many have direction in life.

Then Dr. Andersen pointed out that Romans 3:23 shows us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and Romans 6:23 shows us the sentence: "For the wages of sin is death..." In at least ten passages of Scripture we see it's not just a one-time death, but eternal punishment.

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." As the angel said at his birth (Luke 2:10) that is Good News!

We've been so blessed to share this Good News through many projects in many places this year. Here are some highlights:

• On Epiphany (January 6) in NYC Rich performed Views of the Manger and we reported on our trip to Cuba.
• Rich did voices for four audio dramas: The Giant Killer, Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance (all available now) and Escape from the Eagle's Nest (available for pre-order).
• We released one of my one-man plays online for the first time: www.RichDrama.com/BtC.
• Rich did numerous interviews about that.
• Rich performed in several films: "Living Word," The Farmer and the Belle, "All God's Children," and next week "RoboDad."
• Several films in which at least one of us performed were released: "Living Word," "A Matter of Perspective," "One Day," Courageous Love, and two episodes of The King's Messengers.
• Rich won Best Actor in a Short Film at the International Christian Film Festival for his performance in "A Matter of Perspective."
• We made our first short film: "Colonel Papa Cubano."
• Joyce made her film directorial debut ("Milk and Oranges") which Rich wrote.
• Joyce wrote a screenplay, to be announced soon!
• Joyce launched social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Though we taught and/or performed in 13 states and more than circled the globe (at least 28,000 miles of travel) this is the first year in our soon to be 20-year-marriage that I (Rich) haven't been able to perform or teach outside of the country. We've felt like that has been an important part of our ministry because of the Great Commission. So we decided to reach the world by giving a free screener of Beyond the Chariots to the first person of each nation -- outside of the US -- who posts the nation where they live at www.RichDrama.com/EveryNation. And... go!

Have a blessed Christmas, EVERYONE!

Here's Joyce's Christmas message from the start of Advent on December 3:



Enjoy this Christmas story from another angle, produced by Owen Hisle, who was a film student at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp after he produced this. "Fulfillment" also stars Zack Lawrence, who directed me in the film In His Steps, and was a founding faculty member of the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Click the image below, or if you received this in an email, go to www.RichDrama.com/Christmas2017.

><><><

See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

Sign up for the announcement that registration is open for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

RoboDad

I'm very excited to be working with Light Symphony Productions again on this very creative project! I play a scientist who has developed a robotic father, and I'll also play the voice of RoboDad! We had great fun!

It won the top prize for the Fatherhood CoMission film contest at the Christian Worldview Film Festival, 2018.



Here's a behind the scenes video:



The last time I worked with this amazing team I was blessed to win "Best Actor in a Short Film" at the International Christian Film Festival.

><><><

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

Interview on The Gate

Last month I did some interviews, ads and station identifiers for long-time friend, George Flores, on The Gate, international internet radio! We had people listening in from all over the US, Haifa, the Ukraine, Germany and more. I did station identifiers with greetings in several different languages. Such fun!

George kindly allowed me to post it here:



Here's the schedule for the main interview:

December 10, 8:40 AM Eastern
December 11, 9:40 PM Eastern
December 12, 1:30 PM Eastern
December 13, 8:40 AM Eastern
December 14, 9:40 PM Eastern
December 15, 7:40 AM Eastern

Here are links to some of the things we talked about:

• My Grandma: www.RichDrama.com/HildaMiller
• Big Fish / Little Worm
• The Revelation
• The Acts
• A Clear Leading
• Beyond the Chariots (www.RichDrama.com/BtC)
• Full list of my plays
• Israel
• Jordan
• Russia
• Beijing
• Singapore
• London
• Full list of nations where I've performed
• Beyond the Mask
• Providence
• In His Steps
• Alone Yet Not Alone

You can listen to The Gate via their phone app or via www.IHOPEG.org/thegate.

><><><

See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.