It was a service that blew the auditorium away.
Dr Stephan Munsey from Family Christian Center of Munster, Indiana is a groundbreaking preacher who brings God’s messages to life through dramatic “illustrated sermons” on stage. Taking on every character in the Biblical story he chooses to preach, he utilizes stage lighting, pop music and many elements of theater to bring the message closer to home than the audience anticipates.
It was impossible not to be touched — Singapore Expo Hall 8 on 2 May was awash with tears during Dr Munsey’s dramatization of the story of Hosea and his adulterous wife Gomer.
Portraying Hosea as the hot young single preacher of his generation, and Gomer as the porn queen of Hollywood, Dr Munsey translated this Biblical tale into a modern day epic love story of a man called to love a woman who betrays him.
From the hilarious but charming courtship, to the heartbreaking moment that Gomer deserted Hosea to return to her former life of sin, revealing that none of their three children were fathered by him, the audience was taken on a journey through the heart and mind of Hosea, and via him, God, who used this story to demonstrate His unconditional, unending love for His bride: Humankind.
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| PHOTOS: Nigel Tan And Tan Song Kow |
The magnitude of God’s love was magnified through Dr Munsey’s drama — the atmosphere in the auditorium became alive with love. There was not a dry eye in the room. The altar call that ended the service saw many rushing up into what felt like God’s open arms.
Dr Munsey’s second sermon the following day was based on the story of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed. It was a powerful lesson in faith, forgiveness and gratitude. Our level of faith, he taught, is equal to our level of forgiveness. In Luke 17: 4-5, when Peter asked Jesus to increase his faith, Jesus told him to forgive 70 times seven times. If we fail to forgive, we fall into Scandalon, the hole dug for us by Satan.
The Word came to life for many that weekend, and Dr Munsey left City Harvest Church (CHC) with a word that Kong Hee, Senior Pastor of CHC, is an influencer on planet Earth, and that Singapore is being made “one of the Holy Ghost capitals of the world”.
Members of the congregation are already looking forward to Dr Munsey’s next visit to CHC. “I attended Dr Munsey’s service on my birthday and the love of God touched me so intimately as he performed that illustrated sermon on Hosea and Gomer,” said Daryl Teo, from BBG6. “It was intense! I can’t wait for the next time he comes back!”
