Cast: Narrator, Emily, Ann, Elmer, Angel Bob, Angel Frank, Jesus

Voice: “The story you are about to hear is fictional. Any resemblance between the characters in this story and real people is entirely a coincidence. Remember, this is only a story.”

Narrator: “Once upon a time, there was a girl named Emily.” [Emily skips out onto the stage.] “Now, Emily was a very fortunate girl, because her parents loved God. Each Sunday, they brought Emily to church, and they taught her about God at home. They even brought her to AWANA on Wednesdays, and helped her work on her AWANA book during the week.”

Emily: “I’m on book 3 already!”

Narrator: “Yes, thank you Emily, for that important fact. Where was I? Oh, yes. One day, Emily was sitting in church with her parents, and the pastor asked if anyone wanted to become a follower of Jesus. In her heart, Emily prayed, and she asked Jesus to be her Savior and to take away the punishment for her sins. That day, Emily became a Christian, and her name was written in the Book of Life.”

Angel Bob: “Hey, Frank, I’ve got another one for you! Some girl named ‘Emily’ just became a child of God!”

Angel Frank: “Great! That’s already more than 2,000, and it isn’t even ten o’clock yet! Here, let me write her name into the Book.” [Opens large book, gets out pen.]

Angel Bob: “Time to Party!!!”

Angel Frank: “I’ll get the party hats and noise makers.”

[They both dance and party and then dance their way off with the Book.]

Narrator: “And so, Emily began to live as a child of God. Because she had the Holy Spirit living in her heart, she didn’t sin as much as she did before. She obeyed her parents, she didn’t tell lies, she was kind to her little brother. But there was one thing wrong. Emily was a Secret Agent Christian.” [Emily comes out, dressed in a trench coat and dark glasses. Secret Agent theme music plays.]

Emily: “You have to admit, it is a pretty cool trench coat. I think I look very dashing.”

Narrator: “Emily was not working on a secret government project. She had no unusual super powers. But she did keep one thing secret – she didn’t tell her friends that she had become a follower of Jesus.”

Emily: “Well, why would they need to know about that? That is a private matter, between me and God.”

Narrator: “So, at school, Emily didn’t tell anyone about her church, or about AWANA, or about the change in her life now that she had the Holy Spirit living in her.”

[Emily’s friends come on stage, walk over to Emily.]

Ann: “Hey, Emily! We were just talking about our plans for this weekend. I’m going to my uncle’s house in the mountains. I am hoping he will let me ride one of his horses.”

Elmer: “Who cares about dumb ‘ole horses! I’ve got a soccer game this weekend – if our team wins, we’ll get to go to the championship tournament in March. I’m one of the best players!”

Ann: “[To Elmer] Yeah, I’m sure you are very important, sitting on the bench. So, Emily, what are you doing this weekend?”

Emily: “Oh, well, er, nothing much.”

Elmer: “Don’t you go to church? I heard your little brother telling some kids about that on the playground.”

Emily: “Well, yes, I do.”

Ann: “What is it like? I’ve often wondered about church.”

Emily: “Oh, it isn’t anything special. There’s just a guy who talks a lot. We sing a few songs, we listen to the guy, then we go home.”

Elmer: “That sounds kinda boring. I think I’ll stick with soccer.” [They go off-stage.]

Narrator: “Poor Emily. She was so afraid of what her friends would think about Jesus, that she missed a chance to invite them to church. Later, she remembered reading in her Bible what Jesus had said about some of His disciples who were too embarrassed to admit they were His folllowers.”

Jesus: [Comes out on stage, speaks to Emily] “If you are ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.” [Goes to back of stage.]

Narrator: “Some time passed. Later that year, Ann’s mother was found to have cancer. Ann became more and more sad, and eventually her Mom died. One day, Ann tried to talk about it with Emily.”

Ann: “I just don’t understand it. How could God let my Mom die? What will happen to my Mom, now? Do you think there is a God, Emily? Does He care about me?”

Narrator: “But Emily didn’t know why God would let Ann’s Mom die, so she was afraid to admit that she knew and loved God. Besides, if Ann’s Mom wasn’t a Christian, she was probably in Hell, and Emily didn’t know how to tell Ann that. So she decided to leave Ann on her own.”

Emily: “Well, I don’t know, Ann. That seems like something each person needs to figure out for themselves.”

[Emily and Ann freeze.]

Jesus: [Comes to front of stage, speaks to Emily] “If you are ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.” [Goes to back of stage.]

Narrator: “The next year, Emily’s friend Elmer began stealing things from stores. He stole more and more, and eventually was caught stealing more than $2000 worth of phones and electronics. He was sent to a Juvenile Detention Hall for several weeks. When he got back, he seemed very depressed.”

Elmer: [Comes on stage, walks over to Emily.] “Hey, Emily.”

Emily: “Hey, Elmer! Where’ve you been these last couple of weeks? We missed you in school.”

Elmer: “I’ve been over at Remann Hall. I was caught shoplifting at the mall, once too often.”

Emily: “Really? Why do you steal from the mall? Don’t your parents buy you enough stuff? I thought your Dad was pretty rich.”

Elmer: “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to stop stealing. I see the stuff on the display racks, and I just want to have it. My counselor thinks I have some kind of mental disorder – she calls it ‘Klepto-something-or-other’. What do you think?”

[They freeze]

Narrator: “Emily knew that Elmer’s problem was sin, and that it had obviously become his master, just as the Bible warned could happen. She knew that what Elmer really needed was Jesus, to save him from the power of this sin. But she was afraid that Elmer would laugh at her, or that he wouldn’t believe in Jesus, or that somehow becoming a Christian wouldn’t actually help Elmer. So she decided to leave him on his own.”

Emily: “Oh, I don’t know. It sounds like maybe your counselor is on the right track. I hope she can help you. Was it terrible, at that Juvenile Hall?”

Elmer: “Yeah, it was pretty bad. I don’t want to end up like some of those guys. I’ve got to get my life together! Say, don’t you go to church? Maybe your church could help me?”

Emily: “Well, I do go to church sometimes, but I mostly go just to keep my parents happy. It isn’t a big deal.”

[Emily and Elmer freeze.]

Jesus: [Comes to front of stage, speaks to Emily] “If you are ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.” [Goes to back of stage.]

Elmer: “Well, I better get going. See you later, Emily.”

Emily: “Bye, Elmer.”

Narrator: “Emily felt sad, that she missed the chance to help Elmer and Ann, but she was still very afraid that people would laugh at her about her love for God, or think she was crazy or stupid to believe in Him. Over the years, she just kept living as a Secret Agent Christian.” [Play secret agent music.]

Emily: “Well, the main thing is that I believe. As long as I am going to Heaven, it will be OK. These other people need to look out for themselves. It isn’t MY job to tell everyone about Jesus … I’ll leave that to the professionals, like Pastors and Missionaries.”

Narrator: “Emily grew up and married a man who didn’t love God. Since he didn’t go to church, she didn’t either. Soon she stopped reading her Bible, and she only prayed when she was really in trouble. Eventually, she died, and she came to stand before the Lord, when everyone was judged.”

[Angels and Jesus come on stage. Jesus sits on throne, Angels stand on either side, one with Book, the other with a sword.]

Angel Bob: “Who’s next?”

Angel Frank: “Next up is Ann.” [He turns, and calls off-stage.] “Ann Beverly Baker!”

Ann: [Comes on stage.] “Yes, Lord?” [She kneels in front of Jesus.]

Jesus: [To angel] “Is her name found in the Book of Life?”

Angel Bob: [Examines Book carefully.] “No, Majesty, her name is not in the Book.”

Jesus: “Ann Beverly Baker, you have rejected Me as your Savior.”

Ann: “Well, it is true. I was so angry at you because of my Mom’s death. I didn’t believe that You loved me.”

Jesus: “I died for you, and it is not my desire that any should perish, but you have chosen to be apart from me, forever.” [to Angel Frank] “Take her away from My Presence.”

[Angel Frank takes Ann off-stage, then returns.]

Angel Bob: “Who’s next?”

Angel Frank: “Next is Elmer.” [He turns, and calls off-stage.] “Elmer Jonathan Smith!”

Elmer: [Comes on stage.] “Yes, Lord? [He kneels in front of Jesus.]

Jesus: [To angel] “Is his name found in the Book of Life?”

Angel Bob: [Examines Book carefully.] “No, Majesty, his name is not in the Book.”

Jesus: “Elmer Jonathan Smith, you have rejected Me as your Savior.”

Elmer: “Well, it is true. After I was caught stealing, my life went down-hill. I became more and more angry at You and at your people. I could not believe that You could save me from the power of my sin.”

Jesus: “I died for you, and it is not my desire that any should perish, but you have chosen to be apart from me, forever.” [to Angel Frank] “Take him away from My Presence.”

[Angel Frank takes Elmer off-stage, then returns.]

Angel Bob: “Who’s next?”

Angel Frank: “Next is Emily.” [He turns, and calls off-stage.] “Emily Beth Hendrickson!”

Emily: [Comes on stage.] “Yes, Lord? [She kneels in front of Jesus.]

Jesus: [To angel] “Is her name found in the Book of Life?”

Angel Bob: [Examines Book carefully.] “Yes, Majesty, her name is found in the Book.”

Jesus: [To Emily] “Hello, Emily. Because you accepted Me as your Savior, your name is in the Book of Life, and so you can live in Heaven forever with Me. But because you did not really accept Me as your Lord, you did not grow in your relationship with Me, or do anything to help My Kingdom. Two of your friends, Ann and Elmer, hardened their hearts against Me, partly because you were too afraid to tell them about Me. You will receive only a very small reward. Enter into your Master’s rest.”

[Emily and Jesus freeze.]

Voice: “This story was fictional. If this story had been real, two souls would have been condemned to Hell partly because a Christian was too afraid to speak up about Jesus.”