Where Eric Liddell Preached the Sunday He Refused to Run
We'd appreciate your prayer, as we just found out that there's an issue for people giving on www.GiveSendGo.com/ChariotsParisEdinburgh! Not sure what's going on there, but it certainly needs prayer.
If you had a problem giving, feel free to give at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Donate, and in the memo put "Paris and Beyond." Also, put how you'd like for us to give you credit, and we'll update the goal page (www.GiveSendGo.com/ChariotsParisEdinburgh).
There (and in the image below) you'll notice our goal has gone down. We started at $10,000, but when we were invited to bring my play about Eric Liddell to the Scots Kirk of Paris on July 6 it made the trip too long to do the Edinburgh Fringe. That took $3,000 off in housing, theatre rental, and over $300 just to be in the program.
Joyce and I were both relieved! Not only does it mean raising less money, it opens time for us to perform anywhere in Europe, and we're casting our net broadly.
Right now we have possible bookings in Northern Ireland, Germany, Scotland, and additional performances in Paris. More on those below. Paris will be our base, where we'll have free housing whenever we're there. Praise the Lord! I also have plans to reach out to folks in Spain, Switzerland, and Holland. Let us know if you have contacts across the Pond, and we'll send you something to share with them.
Some of the venues are offering to put money toward the trip, so those will bring our goal down even more, whereas some don't have the funds to help, and that will make the goal rise a bit. We'll keep you updated as things fall into place.
Here's a recent update (before the site stopped accepting credit cards) from the director of our prayer team:
May the Lord God be exalted and His name held high above all others! May we lay down ourselves, our thoughts, and our wills to be ready vessels for His will in all things overall.
Please pray with the following updates in mind:
There is the hope of conversations via the Eric Liddell Center with churches connected to Liddell’s ministry in Edinburgh for performances of Beyond the Chariots.
There are fruitful conversations with a Christian festival in Northern Ireland, for a performance of Chariots there, plus a potential speaking engagement for Joyce, and presentation of some of their new "singing play" Songs of Revival: Hungry After God Himself (www.SongsOfRevivalLive.com).
This connection may be able to offer a fee that would cover some costs in the budget, which would reduce our goal. There may be helpful coverage of housing also for days leading up to the Olympic engagements.
Nichole in Paris continues to pursue venues and venue sponsorship. One possibility could open the door to a 3,000 seat venue! A letter has gone out to some potential patrons, so pray for that.
Also, the continued prayer is to perform within the Athletes’ Village. Some leads have dried up, but others remain to be tested.
The Scots Kirk church in Paris has welcomed the plans for two performances of Chariots on July 6 and for weekly Saturday performances through the Olympics. Between performances (July 6) they’re planning to give out an Eric Liddell Award and invite Princess Anne, Patron of The Eric Liddell 100 (an umbrella for all events celebrating Eric Liddell this year). Please pray for the Lord’s blessing on the church itself. May many renew or begin a living relationship with the Lord for any who don’t have one yet! May its boundaries and flock increase as a result of this spiritual hospitality.
The Swingles had a video call with folks from a church in Frankfurt. They’d like for Rich to perform his Jonah play, which is only 20 minutes long, for English students. A Church from America will be there teaching English, and they think this would be a nice addition to the program. It would be between the festival in Northern Ireland (if that is finalized) and Paris. Praying for the green light from the host and visiting churches, for the translation slides to be easily finished, for Salvations and re-dedications.
Travel may encompass Belfast, Frankfurt, Paris, and Edinburgh all within July 1-9.
Rich has reached out in many directions within Europe for performances between the July 12th and the start of the Olympics on the 26th. Pray for bookings in that window.
Praise for such abundance! Our God is so generous and does more than we could ever think or imagine!
Blessings and love in Him,
Elizabeth
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Thanks again for your prayers and generous gifts!
In Christ alone,
Rich & Joyce
