Most people have a view on Performing artists as two-faced, snobs, or at the very least attention seekers. But that is not true for the particular bunch who spoke in Jubilee Evangelical Church tonight. These people, who included Trumpet's Audie Gemora and Toni Gonzaga (among others - there were 6 in all, but can't remember all their names), shared their stories on how they used the performing arts as a powerful medium to change lives. Among these artists, only Toni was born into a Christian family, most of them met Jesus during their careers as TV and theater actors, singers and producers. Most noticable of these was Ray Ann Fuentes (hope I got the spelling of the name right), who was the foremost of these five and in fact was involved in sharing the gospel to most of the others. The others testified on how Ray exuded an aura of peace - like a glow, everytime he entered the room, and that is how they got interested in what he had - which was a genuine relationship with Christ. I believe this is how Christians should share the Gospel - by living it and not only by talking about it. I myself have a tendency to debate on Biblical matters and this course of action often results in my nonProtestant friends to go on the defensive - putting up a mental wall against what I have to say and staying firm on their beliefs instead of listening to mine with an open mind. Ray's life is a testimony stronger than any debate or other verbal method of sharing the word. He lives in Canada, and survives even without a steady income for 17 years already. He has quit the Secular performing arts and is now dedicated to spreading the word through performances free of charge.
Audie Gemora's situation is quite different though, since he has props and theater reservations to pay for. Audie shared how his life was empty even when he had all the attention and applause of his audience. He told us how he realized that all the Catholic traditions he was obliged to do had no meaning after turning to Christ. That even before his conversion, all the rosaries and masses and other traditions he did never took away the emptiness he felt in his life. Here was a person at the peak of his career, who had friends, money and fame; who fulfilled every religious tradition he was obliged to, but still could not find true peace and happiness until he found Christ. Another one of the speakers was formerly gay (I think his name was Tony) - who shared about how Christ was able to help him turn away from his former lifestyle. He wants to give a message to gays that they can still change, that nobody was born gay (man, wish a certain friend of mine could have heard that!). Toni Gonzaga was able to squeeze some time from her tight schedule to guest in the event, and her Spiritual life is an inspiration to the youth of today. She stays single even when suitors line up for her, she finds time to read the Bible regularly, she declines roles and scenes with sexual connotations - even if it's what's IN today. She encouraged us to seek a relationship with Christ, that there is truly no better feeling than to love someone and be loved in return - and this cannot be more true with God, who will love us unconditionally and who will never change in his love. All these people have really inspired me to rethink how I live my spiritual life. That I should be bold for Christ, that I should stop compromising, that I should truly seek God before I set off to help others seek him. These and more are measures that I feel I must take in order to be someone God can use and be proud of.