“The Good News Production” comes to Mahomet

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com

There is a lot of “Good News” coming to the Community Evangelical Free Church this weekend.

It began in 2018 when CHM Bible Theatre Productions President Crystal Hogue wrote, “The Good News Production.”

“The Good News was birthed out of my love and passion for the Bible because I feel like it holds nothing but the truth of God’s Word that can be applied today in our everyday lives,” Hogue said. “Today there is so much bad news in the world. So why not share some Good news through Biblical stories.”

Hogue used the old and new testaments from the Bible to portray the story of Jesus using modern-day terminology so that persons of all ages and backgrounds can relate to the story. Whether the spectator has read the Bible or not, Hogue hopes that through dramatization, music, lighting and special sound effects, they will feel inspired, uplifted and informed.

“Essentially, it’s a love story between God, the creator of the world and His creation,” Hogue said. “You will see it begin with Adam and Eve in the garden, and end with redemption back to God after (sin) entered the world through disobedience.”

The Good News Production was introduced to Champaign County at the SoDo Theatre with four performances in 2018. The production then moved to the Church of the Living God in January, and has been hosted at schools, libraries and theatres.

Community Evangelical Free Church of Mahomet’s Pastor Jason Schifo was one of the 450 spectators during the last year of performances.

“After seeing the performance, I asked him about us presenting it at his church,” Hogue said. “Because he loved the production, he was open to us presenting it there.”

Tickets for the Oct. 4 (7 p.m.) and Oct. 5 (3 and 7 p.m.) shows are available at chmbibletheatre.org.

Hogue said that the money raised from the shows goes right back into the community, supporting kid’s theatre programs, such as Improv Bible Theater for Kids, and to help support costs associated with the production of “The Good News Performance.”

With local performers, including both amateur and professional actors, Hogue hopes that the performance not only gives people a place to use their God-given talents, but draws everyone into a better understanding of God’s love.

“I would like for them to see the truths of God’s Love and understand the Good News of Salvation,” Hogue said. “Free for every man, woman or child. Not only will they gain the knowledge, but they would enjoy a professional production with diversity, music, sound and have what is called an Entertainment Ministry Experience.

“They should be able to feel/hear God’s voices through visualization of His Word.”

For those who wanted to see “The Good News Production” and didn’t get to at the SoDo Theatre, Hogue said that this is another opportunity.

Hogue said that the community’s vision and talents, whether they are on-stage or behind-stage, are always needed.

“We plan on presenting this production annually and are always recruiting new people of all ages, all ethnicities, believers or unbelievers, different types of venues to participate in this inspirational dramatization of the Bible coming to life on stage,” Hogue said.

For more information contact Crystal Hogue at chmbibletheater@outlook.com.