Fellowship Hall

‘BELIEVE’ tells inspiring story of City Kidz

By Dan Bespolko

In was an inspiring performance that brought the audience of over 450 to their feet, as ‘BELIEVE...The True Story of City Kidz’ was presented April 21 and 22 at Carmen’s Banquet Centre, Hamilton.

Presenting the amazing story of the inner-city ministry that serves children, and its founder Todd Bender, was a year-long project for a group of volunteers from Hamilton’s St. John United Church.

Lance Wright and Lee Vardy in the spring of 2007 envisioned great potential for a live theatrical performance by presenting a God-honouring local story to enable people of all ages to use their gifts to glorify God.  

Through discernment and prayer, the focus fell on telling the true story of City Kidz, and how the inner city ministry began in the life of founder Todd Bender.

City Kidz is not new to St. John United Church, so Todd Bender and the City Kidz team was approached with the idea.  The City Kidz board accepted the idea and with their blessings everything moved forward. By January 2008 the steering team was developed; Joanne and Barry Lyne, Pat Bryson, Chris and Judy Lane, Marci Schultz, Lee Vardy and Lance Wright combined their gifts in order to take it to the next level.

Casting calls went out and many people rallied to support the cause.  Everyone who got involved on any level quickly realized how important telling the true story of City Kidz was. Filled with God-inspired adventure, romance, drama and humour, BELIEVE would be a story that would change people’s lives and honour God.

By mid-February production was well under way – set design, script writing, sound track creation, video production, and rehearsals made for a feverish pace.

March madness set in as the pace quickened due to the rapidly approaching deadline. The sets were completed and under use for the many rehearsals. Video shoots were taking place all across Hamilton, cast & crew were fine-tuning their skills and the rest of the BELIEVE network were doing well under the added pressure. Trust, faith and friendships were growing stronger and the production had become so much more than just a play – it had become a ministry within itself.

April swept in and it was time for the final crunch – with show time just days away. Working at a fever pitch the BELIEVE Team pushed hard to have everything in place for the first performance on April 21. It was all coming together with God’s grace and guidance. Bringing the City Kidz story to life by putting on a play required over 70 gifted people using their gifts collectively to do so.

On the evenings of April 21 and 22, BELIEVE took to the stage of Carmen’s Banquet Centre in Hamilton.  Hometown hearts and minds were opened up to the incredible mission work that is taking place in the heart of our inner city. Over the course of two nights $10,000 was raised in support of City Kidz.

Thunderous applause and standing ovations came at the end of each performance.  Max Duerksen, Derek Lyne, Hilary Taylor and so many others gave an outstanding performance that brought this story to life.  Peg Wright and Scott Jacks through their talent and music touched the hearts of so many.   There was not a dry eye in the house on Tuesday evening when Todd Bender of City Kidz accepted the cheque and spoke from his heart. The St. John United Church presentation of BELIEVE was a God-honouring story about ordinary people chasing extraordinary dreams.