Jeremy, Trevor, and Val, students at Harvest Baptist Bible College, joined Pastor Walton this week to discuss their musical drama called Songs of the Savior.
Download the Songs of the Savior Drama Harvest Time
Episode Transcript
Chris Harper: Welcome to Harvest Time. My name is Chris Harper, and our host on this program is Pastor Gary Walton, the lead pastor of Harvest Baptist Church. Every week, we spend these twenty five minutes together telling the stories of our church by interviewing our members and other friends of the ministry. We have two services at Harvest Baptist Church every week, and this is a special week. We’ll talk to you about that in a moment.
The first service is at 08:45AM, the second at 10:45AM, Sunday. We have Japanese and Korean translation during the 10:45AM service, and that’s also when we livestream at hbcguam.org. Hbcguam.org. This week, it’s songs of the savior. That’s our HBBC musical drama.
We’ll be talking about that during the program. Let’s begin today’s harvest time by welcoming Pastor Gary Walton. Hi, pastor.
Gary Walton: Hey, hafa adai, Chris. This is a fun time of year for everybody. I know everybody loves the Christmas season, but around harvest is just filled with, you know, fun Christmas activities, opportunities for people to be together, and our Sunday services are just the highlight of everything that’s happening. The next two Sundays, we wanna give you a special invitation to come and join us. If you don’t have a church home that you regularly attend, Christmas is a great time of the year to go and try out a church, find a place where you can hear about the Christmas story, and, we have two opportunities the next two weeks that we we would really love, to have you join us with.
This Sunday, our HBBC drama, and I’m gonna talk to three of our students that are gonna be a part of that drama. The following Sunday is the Sunday before Christmas, and we have a worship service in the morning. We have a really cool sunset evening communion service that night on the twenty first, and so we’ll talk about that next week, but, I wanna put both of those things in front of our listeners today. And especially inviting you to the drama because we, on the program today, we have three of our HBBC fifth year seniors that are playing key roles in the drama, part of the music, and so we have Trevor, Jeremy, and Val with us. I’m gonna have them introduce themselves in a minute.
If you’re not familiar, with, I said, HBBC, part of the Harvest Ministries, we have a bible college, about 75 students that are primarily from Micronesian Islands, and, they come for a five year, bachelor’s degrees either in pastoral ministry or education. And I tell people all the time, HBBC students are really the heart of our campus, the heart of our ministry. They bring so much life and enthusiasm, and they love Jesus. They’re growing in their faith, and so we’re so thankful for them. This is an opportunity to sort of showcase our seniors.
They’ve been on campus with us, really part of the Harvest family for five years now, and, we asked them to take this this Sunday service and, and tell us about the the Christmas story. And so that’s a little bit of the background. Let me let me push it to you guys, the three of you. Why don’t you introduce yourself? Give us your name, and then, tell us, where you’re from.
Trevor, we’ll start with you.
Trevor: My name is, Trevor, and I’m from the island of Yap, basically from the Outer Islands called Waleai.
Gary Walton: Okay. Great.
Jeremy: My name is Jeremy, and I’m from the Marshall Islands. And I was born in The States and raised in the Marshall Islands.
Gary Walton: Okay. Awesome.
Valerie: My name is Valerie. I’m from the island of Chuuk, but I grew up here on Guam.
Gary Walton: Okay. And all three of these are part of our our graduating class. They’ll be finishing up, hopefully finishing up in May, and, we’re so proud of you guys. And, I mean, it’s been so much hard work to be part of HBBC, and you’re growing, and it’s been fun seeing you mature in so many ways. Let’s talk about your your time as a student, first of all.
Tell me what’s the best part that you think of that you look over these last five years. What’s the best part of being a student at HBBC?
Trevor: Oh, I would say fellowship. Being together as a student, singing songs, worship songs. And not only that, but we have fun together playing games and other stuff. I’ve never seen that back home. Never had a relationship with other people like that.
But I found that here at Harvest, we have a strong relationship with each other and we build it up more and more as we go on in our life.
Gary Walton: It’s really a cool thing. I mean, all you guys are from different islands. I mean, even just the three of you from very different locations across Micronesia. You would have never known each other, you know, without HBBC, and you truly do become brothers and sisters. I love seeing that.
Alright. Thanks. Jeremy?
Jeremy: I would say the best part of being, an HBC student is to learn and to grow in his word, in God’s word, the Bible, and also to go out and to show the love of God through us and also to share his his grace to the lost. So I think that’s the best part is to grow and to learn.
Gary Walton: Awesome. I love that. Val?
Valerie: For me, I would say the best part of being an HBBC student is meeting a lot of different people from different islands. But before I came here, I didn’t know much people from different islands, only Yapese and Chuukese. When I came to HBBC I’ve met Marshallese, Palauans, Kosraens and just the different languages. I’ve been able to learn different languages and also the fellowship. I enjoy the fellowship.
I’m going to miss the fellowship.
Gary Walton: Yeah.
Valerie: It’s just very nice to fellowship with people that encourage you or also lift you up in God’s word. And it’s something that I’m sure I will miss when I leave HBBC.
Gary Walton: Yeah. That’s great. I didn’t prep you guys for this, and it’s okay if you’re not sure on this, but you’ll graduate in May. Any of you have an idea of of what the next step is? Like, do you wanna teach or something else?
Anybody know?
Jeremy: I’m planning on going back and serve, going back and teach and help my pastor Okay. Going to school.
Gary Walton: OK. Awesome. You’ll get a a degree in education. Right, Jeremy? Yep.
Yeah. Prepped to go back and help the schools and Marshalls. Fantastic. Val?
Valerie: I’m not sure on work wise, but I’m sure I’ll be back. I’ll be still here on island.
Gary Walton: Yeah.
Valerie: And I’ll be serving at Guahan Baptist Church.
Gary Walton: OK. Awesome, Val. Do you know Trev?
Trevor: Yes. I’m planning on staying here for one year to train in teaching and other stuff. So when I go back home, I’m ready to teach students what whatever I learned here at Harvest.
Gary Walton: Okay. Also getting a teaching degree. Right? Yes. Okay.
All of that’s fantastic. We love you guys. Can’t wait to see what God’s gonna do in your lives together. So we’re moving towards this HBBC drama. Trevor, you mentioned the idea that you you guys do a lot of singing.
It’s part of the fellowship, and this drama is gonna be part of that. Jeremy, could you just give us an overview of what will be happening when people come on Sunday morning? Tell tell us about the the program and then, you know, maybe like an overview of the drama itself.
Jeremy: So for the drama, the third to fifth they’re gonna do the drama, and third and fourth are the choir, and the fifth year, we’re the one, acting. And there’s gonna be narrators, and it talks about the birth of Christ. And in this drama, it’s like Joseph is nervous, and Mary asks herself the question, Why me? Why me? And the shepherds, they don’t want to leave the the sheeps and the animals, but they saw the star, the angels, and it proves to them that there’s a Christ Jesus is born, the savior, the messiah.
Gary Walton: Great. That sounds fantastic. I know you guys have been working hard on this. I meant to ask you this earlier. Val, maybe you could help us.
The fifth year, the drama is actually the end project of a class that you’re taking. Can you tell us about your class?
Valerie: The class we are taking with Pastor Wade, it’s called drama class. It’s basically it helps us to prepare when we’re trying to perform a story in front of people. So it helps us on how to speak in front of a crowd, on how to look, your posture, many different things. Yeah.
Gary Walton: Okay. So good and helpful for you because, I mean, not only are you guys all getting degrees as educators, but the burden is, I know your burden would be involved in teaching in your churches and serving Jesus in lots of different ways. Many practical parts of this class for you. What’s been the hardest part about preparing for a presentation like this? Trevor, what about for you?
Trevor: The hardest part is trying to fit all the long words inside your head to, you know, to memorize it. But I know it’s hard, but if we know the meaning of the story, it’s gonna be easy for us or easy for me to tell the story if I know the main point of the story. And, yeah, that is the hardest part.
Gary Walton: That sounds like you’ve had a good teacher. That little statement that you just made tells us that Pastor Wade’s doing a good job because it’s exactly right. If you’re just memorizing words, unfamiliar words, trying to put them together, that’s hard. But if you’re telling a story, that’s great. I have grown to really love this Sunday, and I think I’m gonna be able to get a preview of it today.
Right? You guys have dress rehearsal today. I’m gonna try to be in there in your chapel. Radio can’t see this, but they’re all acting very nervous right now. Trevor especially is like, oh, today.
No. I I’ve grown to to love this presentation. Pastor Wade’s done such a great job. But typically, I mean, I have not watched this one this year, but it’s funny. You guys really do you’re pushed out of your comfort zone.
Not everybody’s real comfortable standing up. There’ll be a pretty good crowd there on Sunday, and so you can feel that. But I do sense that you you feel the story and the expression of it. It’s just it’s powerful each each year. I’m I’m looking forward to this.
What about you guys? What’s the what’s been the hardest part for either of you, Jeremy or Valerie?
Jeremy: For me, it’s trying to say, like, the words or articulating and projecting because for us Micronesians, it’s kinda hard. It’s like, self taught words are like tongue twisters for us. So, yeah. Alright.
Gary Walton: And you’re right. Articulating. Say that again.
Jeremy: Articulating.
Gary Walton: That’s great. Projecting, yeah, all of that are such good things. Valerie, what about for you?
Valerie: I would say standing in front of a lot of people. Also for Micronesians or Islanders, I would say that’s the hardest thing to do, to stand in front of a lot of people
Gary Walton: You mean to tell me you guys don’t want to just stand up in front of everybody? Well, you guys are gonna do great. And I think, pushing you out of your comfort zone is really it’s actually very cool. It it allows it actually, I think, doubles the meaning of of what you’re doing together. What’s your favorite moment in the drama?
Anything that anything that you think will cause you to have goosebumps is goosebump is that a concept in Micronesia? I don’t know. Do know what I’m talking about? Okay. Yeah.
Alright. Yeah. What’s your favorite moment?
Valerie: Mine is Elisha and Jarvis’ part and Trevor when they’re singing because we barely hear them sing. Yeah. I’m excited to hear.
Gary Walton: oK. Because you don’t have many options. They’re all gonna sing together?
Valerie: Yeah.
Gary Walton: That’s awesome. K. Great.
Jeremy: I would say it’s the singing part, the songs, and it’s everything that we do. It just tells the story of birth of Jesus, and it’s like a message to the people. So yeah.
Gary Walton: Yeah. I’ll ask you in a second, Trevor, but I think you mentioned earlier that singing is such a big part of your, you know, your the school life, student life, and to be able to see that as a major part of the drama is really cool because I think it’s a good expression. Alright. Jeremy or or Trevor, what about you?
Trevor: Yeah. I would say it’s the singing part, and also few of the parts where the actors would say their part, it’s very, you know, touching. Mhmm. Because first, they were talking, like, fast at the beginning, and toward the end, they kind of, like, put some emotions into the words and the story that really matches the song. Mhmm.
And it really touches hearts. It’s very conflicting when you listen to it carefully when they’re talking and putting the emotion into it.
Gary Walton: Mhmm.
Trevor: So that is the best part.
Gary Walton: Ah, that’s great. I didn’t ask you guys what your parts are. Are you guys doing drama, music, a little bit of both? Trevor, what are you doing?
Trevor: Both. Okay. Talking and singing.
Gary Walton: What’s your your personal character? What’s the what’s your favorite part of that?
Trevor: Where I’m trying to convince my partners that what we saw in the field wasn’t a mistake, it’s a prophecy that is fulfilled right in front of our noses.
Gary Walton: Wow. That was great. Great answer, buddy. Jeremy?
Jeremy: For drama, I’m Joseph. And in my parts, it’s like Joseph is nervous or confused about Mary being pregnant, and I’m also doing singing. And this year, I’m not playing the guitar.
Gary Walton: So You’re not. No. Oh, you just gotta stand up there without the prop. K. Great.
Val?
Valerie: In the drama, I’m, Elizabeth, and my part is to encourage Mary as she’s nervous and scared about being pregnant.
Gary Walton: K. All of that sounds great. I love it how clear you guys are about what you’re trying to communicate. I know a lot of people have been invited to attend. In fact, that’s a little bit of why we’re doing this now, you know, just get it out there.
We want people to come. I know that they’ll be blessed. What are you praying will be the impact on those that come and those that watch?
Valerie: We’ve been praying that our drama or what we perform will bring people to Christ. They will be able to come up with or be able to ask questions about what our drama is for so that we can be able to share and then share also about Christ.
Gary Walton: Great. Thank you.
Jeremy: I would say or I pray that it would be, like, a message to the people who will be watching and that the HBBC students I think that’s what we do best is deliver message by songs and through the drama. And it shows it’s a good it’s good or drama for us to show the people the reason for the season, and that is Christ.
Gary Walton: That’s great, Jeremy.
Trevor: I’m praying that the people that come would open their hearts and mind as they listen and watch the drama. And I’m also praying for us, the actors, to know the meaning of the story that we’re telling because that’s the way that the people will get the story if we have the right mind and heart as we’re doing the drama. That is my prayer.
Gary Walton: Yeah. That’s great. I actually wanted to ask that as maybe the final question. Trevor, you kinda got us started on that. What’s this meant to you personally?
So you guys have been working hard on this all semester memorizing, practicing, preparing. Is there something personally that the preparation process has been or or just the story itself? You guys have communicated so clearly, I think, you know, what you’re doing, why you’re trying to do it. But what about to you personally? Jeremy, anything you’d add to that?
Jeremy: I think for me, I see it like a the drama is where I can grow. And not just to deliver the message or to do my part, but like Trevor said, it’s for me to understand the reason or to know the reason why we’re doing this is to to serve, just to help the lost or open up the minds of the peoples who were lost.
Gary Walton: So yeah. Great. Val?
Valerie: Personally, I see it as a great opportunity to be able to prove or show the people what we’ve been learning here and also an encouragement to our own people at our islands whether they watch it online or here. Personally, I see it as a blessing because that’s why we’re here at HBBC, to be able to learn and share what, we’ve been learning here.
Gary Walton: That’s so good. You guys, thank you for every part of that. Your answers, your heart that’s in the middle of it. I think all of this has been so good, and I think my favorite part of this conversation is a little part that Val said when we asked about prayer. She said, We’ve been praying.
You know, I was kinda asking it in the way of, What would you pray for? And your response is, Well, this is what we’re already praying for. And I am blessed by that because I know that’s true. You’re not just preparing. You’re not just memorizing, getting ready for a concert or presentation of some sort.
You you have been praying that God would use it, and I’m confident that God’s gonna answer those prayers. So God’s blessing on you all and your classmates. I can’t wait to, be able to see a little part of it this afternoon and then on Sunday. And, and again, I I hope if you’re listening to this, I hope that you’ll come. I I can just be assure you that you’ll be blessed by, by the testimony of these students.
They love Jesus and, trying to give a good testimony for him this weekend. So thank you, guys.
Chris Harper: And thank you for listening to this Harvest Time. Of course, we wanna invite you to Harvest Baptist Church. That’s where you ‘ll see this songs of the savior, HBBC musical drama, 08:45AM, 10:45AM on Sunday morning. Of course, we’ll be broadcasting this drama also live on 88.1 FM and khmg.org. We do hope to see you this Sunday.
Thanks again for listening to Harvest Time.