07/15/2025
Pastor John came to the show on the last dress rehearsal in Los Angeles on June 8, 2011, before the premiere the next evening.
Being a Grace Community Church member at the time, I had approached him after 2nd service a couple of weeks earlier and basically wouldn’t take no for an answer when asking him to come see it, saying it was professional, orthodox, artistically excellent, wrought with much reference to his sermons and commentaries. That if there was ever a play he would like, this was it.
He’d heard about the 4-scene showcases done the year before at Grace (thanks to the unwavering support of choir director, Clayton Erb), but seemed genuinely disappointed when realizing that the run of the play was during his vacation, in fact, opening night was when he was leaving.
I said “well, you have to come to the dress rehearsal then!” He was my theological hero and I desperately wanted him to see what I think is the type of show missing in the Christian arts scene - the story that follows the biblical narrative and doesn’t make excuses for it, done by believers trained in the art of acting.
I received a call from his secretary a few days before the dress rehearsal and she said he would like to come. I was ecstatic, but all of a sudden very nervous.
The day came, and it was an exhausting one. We had many obstacles, including nearly being barred from using the venue. We had run the show all day, taken the production photos, then prepared to go again. The show takes its toll physically and mentally, so we had to dig in.
So at showtime, MacArthur arrived from across town with his son-in-law and another pastor, and my nerves spiked. He asked my wife how long it was and said he probably needed to leave at intermission, no doubt giving himself an out if we ended up being theologically off the mark or amateur.
At lights up, there was no surrounding audience, just 3 men watching 3 men performing. No way to maneuver from his focus to any other audience members.
As we moved through the first half, I convinced myself that he wasn’t liking it. Since I was playing Paul, his theological hero (other than the Lord Jesus), I felt particularly vulnerable to a possible heavy critique of my interpretation and performance.
However, at the half, a massive boost and something I’ll never forget: As the actors were prepping for the second half, our stage manager ran in, all excited. She had approached him at the break because we thought he might need to go.
She said “he loves it, he loves it!.” I replied with a sudden burst of energy “what did he say?”. She said “I asked him if he liked it. He said ‘“like it? I love it! How do we get the word out?”’
Suffice it to say, the second half was performed with less nerves, more verve, but never forgetting, even with MacArthur’s enthusiasm, that we were performing this for Christ and Christ first.
After the 2.5 hour show, he stayed for another 40 minutes to talk to us about it, saying so many wonderful things.
Before he left, he asked what he could do and I asked him to give us an official quote. It was heartfelt and effusive, so much so that it got the attention of an agency in Nashville and basically procured the ability to tour the show across the county. You can read what he said here at the top of our review page: https://acts3manshow.com/reviews/
Later, in early 2012, we then approached him about performing at the Shepherds’ Conference on the Saturday night. MacArthur gave his quick approval, but mentioned that we may not get many people because the pastors often travel home Saturday.
However, on the Sunday prior to our ShepCon performance in March 2012, he announced the show to the congregation (noting that it may seem odd that there is an ad for a play in the church program). He said it was “unmissable.”
We prepared 400 programs for the performance, but a line began to form outside the church and my wife led the charge to start copying more programs. In all, we had an audience of around 1200. I think we may have gotten 200 if Pastor John hadn’t put his weight behind it for a second time.
After that performance, we began to tour seasonally every year, mostly on weekends in April, May, and August.
And, thanks to the Lord’s providence, we’re still going in 2025, albeit at a much lesser volume, scheduled to perform in AL, AR, and CT.
At an earthly level, this wouldn’t have happened without John MacArthur.
However, the main point is this. For years before this show was written and performed, I had the privilege to sit at John’s feet and learn more clearly about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
From preaching came a play. And now that John is gone from this world and soared to another where he rests from all his labor, I want to laud his courage and conviction that has extolled the gospel to millions and honored the audience of One to whom are all things.
I miss you Pastor John. By the Lord’s grace we’ll meet again. Thank you for putting your word behind our show and being a personal hero to me. May the Lord raise up other voices as clear and faithful as yours.
Bryce Lenon
Author, Director, Actor
Acts the 3-Man Show
It is with both sadness and hope that the elders of Grace Community Church announce that Pastor John MacArthur has gone to be with the Lord after 56 years of faithful ministry: https://gracechurch.org/news/posts/4230
