My wife and I went to the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, Missouri, to watch their production of the play “Miracle of Christmas.” It is the backstory of the birth of Jesus set to music, singing, and dancing.

The man who sat next to us began to tell us that his son was in the show. He loved the performing arts and went to college with the purpose of joining the theater. The man then went on to explain that there is an audition for every show and that the more than 300 paid employees take their jobs very seriously.

I saw this illustrated when the show began. I watched the opening scene with curiosity as over 50 performers filled the stage and acted out Mary and Joseph’s betrothal to one another. As I gazed on, I began to notice three men on a balcony during the scene, and I could not take my eyes off them. They were up to the left above all the others, but they were also a little hidden by the staging. I am not sure how many people could even see them, but I observed that each one of them acted, sang, and danced as if they were center stage. Every one of them, including the third townsperson in green who was almost hidden by a pole, gave their full effort to the scene. What makes the productions of the Sight and Sound Theater so captivating is that every single person, no matter how small their part, works with all their ability.

I could not help but mentally note that for the Church to be all that God wants it to be, every person who is a part of the body of Christ must give a full effort to their role. We often focus our attention on the people who are on center stage, like the preacher or the worship leaders, but if other people don’t serve or give a full effort, the whole thing falls apart.

Your part in the drama of God’s redemption of the world may only be the third townsperson, but know that someone is watching you. And your contribution is vital to the whole production.