Noteworthy

Over 9,500 See Max Perform in the Autumn

This fall Max McLean presented twelve performances to 9,500 people in Iowa, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Virginia.  The diversity of performances included C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, Jonathan Edwards' “Sinners in the Hands of and Angry God”, Martin Luther’s “Here I Stand” and dramatic renditions of Genesis and Mark’s Gospel from the NIV Bible.

 Shadow Mountain Community Church 
A revised, touring version of our successful New York City production The Screwtape Letters was presented to the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries Founder’s Weekend at the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO.  In response Ravi Zacharias wrote, “I want to send you a personal word of gratitude of for your invaluable ministry to us during Founders. Our people loved your performance, and we are getting so many letters of appreciation.”

The Screwtape Letters was also delivered to a capacity crowd at the historic West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, NJ.  The church has been newly rebuilt after a devastating fire 4 years ago.  The event was a fund-raiser for The Fig Orchard Ministry led by Astrid and Everett Zabriskie.  Astrid said afterward, “One of the results of Max’s gift is that there is something new every time.  I always hear something different each time, and others tell me this, too.”  When asked about audience reactions, she stated, “there was a general sense of awe.”

On October 31 the massive Lancaster County Bible Church in Manheim, PA invited Max to present Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of and Angry God” for all three of their worship services.  An estimated 6,500 people heard Max deliver this landmark sermon, considered the most famous sermon ever delivered on American soil. 

David Ashcraft, the senior pastor, had been given a copy of our “Sinners” CD and decided that this was just the material for a special weekend.  He challenged his congregation to bring unsaved friends to church, and to hear this stirring admonition.  David knew that this was a risky choice. The church’s worship style is geared toward a relaxed, contemporary form that reaches out to thousands of unchurched people in the Lancaster area.  Edwards dire warnings and vivid imagery of Hell were a direct contrast to the grace filled messages that the church usually expresses.  There was concern that some would find it offensive.  But, after each performance there was a flood of people to our products table where they purchased all available copies of the “Sinners” CD and ordered many more. 

The impact of Edwards’ sermon, was immediately felt by the congregation through Max’s powerful delivery.   A direct descendant of Edwards, Sallie Turoczi, a missionary with Trans World Radio was in attendance.  After the performance she introduced herself to Max and was enthusiastic about the presentation.  She said that Max “allowed the people to see the passion Edwards had for those who were lost without Christ.”

A similar reaction was felt by the attendees of the Ligonier Pastors’ Conference in Orlando, FL.  Max presented “Here I Stand,” Martin Luther’s defense at the Diet of Worms.  The audience was visibly moved as Max recalled the events that led up to church’s allegations against Luther, his agonizing prayer the night before he delivered the speech, the speech itself, the Church’s rebuttal and Luther’s final heartfelt plea, “Here I Stand, I can do no other.  God help me.”  The pastor’s conference was visibly moved by the courage of Martin Luther.  Demand for recorded copies quickly outstripped the supply as many wanted their congregations to hear the speech that launched the Protestant Reformation.  

In addition to these new works, Genesis was performed four times to enthusiastic audience at Dordt College in Sioux Center Iowa, and co-sponsored by the college radio station and nearby Trinity Reformed Christian Church.  Genesis was also performed for the International Bible Society at the retirement dinner for President Peter Bradley and to capacity audiences of all ages at the Hope Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio, and at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, VA.  
 
After that last performance, as we were getting ready to leave for home, one attendee told us, “this was beyond entertainment.  This was more than just meaningful.  This put Truth before us.”

Screwtape Letters see a clip  

Genesis see a clip

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God hear a clip

Here I stand hear a clip

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