Producer’s life – was saved by ‘miracle’

Press, 3 July 1979, Page 13

Producer’s life - was saved by ‘miracle’

On a sick bed at the age of 16, .lean Darnell became a Christian. She was dying of an incurable kidney disease, she says, when her mother called a minister to her bedside to pray for her. A miracle happened, and she was cured. From that day, she started preaching in her hometown, Toledo, Ohio, in the United States. This week, many years later, she was in Christchurch to gain support for the Christian musical, “The Witness,” which she has produced and will stage here in September. Her stay in Christchurch was brief, because the grounding of Air New Zealand’s DClOs meant she had to take the first available flight to Australia where “The Witness” will open next month. "The Witness” is the third musical work of Jimmy and Carol Owen. Mrs Darnell has produced all three musicals in London where she has lived for the last 12 years. This is the first time that she has visited New Zealand. “The Witness” is the story of the life of Christ seen through the eyes of the Apostle Peter. Australia’s Robert Coleman sings the lead. ' 1 A nucleus choir of 251 travels with the show and is joined in each centre by 1501 local people. The Christ-1 church choir has started re-1 hearsing for the September! Shows. W’hen asked why she lives! in London, Mrs Darnell: always replies; “A funny thing happened to me on the way to Hong Kong." She explains 'hat she was on her way from England to meet her husband, Elmer Darnell, in Hong Kong, when she became interested in what was

I happening in English -I churches. She says that . over the 'Hast 15 years there has been a charismatic revival in the I old-established churches. She was fascinated by the I change and wanted to be inIvolved. Her husband is the principal of the Christian Life College in London and, pastor to the show while it: is travelling. Mrs Darnell describes! “The Witness” and other gospel musicals as “religious! commercials” or “updated liturgies," She believes that'

11 more people will go to hear (the words of the Bible when they are sung; that way they i did not realise that they were having the same mat- ; | erial preached to them. She is the author of two - j books which have sold well iiin Britain. The first,! t “Heaven, Here I Come,” is I ijan account of the miracles I! that she has seen happen in. her life, and the second,; ;i “Life in the Overlap.” tells : r'why Christians still have! :| problems. The books should, •ibe available in New Zealand :* in a few weeks.