The readers should be seated on seven stools in a straight line across the front of the stage. No other props are needed.

(All players are facing the back. Reader 1 turns to face the front and starts.)

Reader 1: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth."

(Reader 1 turns back. Samuel McAdow's mother turns front.)

Samuel McAdow's mother: "My husband and I were blessed with the birth of our eighth child when Sam was born. My husband was preaching at a Presbyterian church in North Carolina at the time. I have to admit, I was somewhat concerned that Samuel, having seven brothers and sisters before him, would not have the chance to make something of his life. I didn't want him to blend into the background. He really surprised all of us.

(Pause–reflecting)

"My son, Samuel McAdow, a founding father of a new denomination . . ."

(Pause)

"The Cumberland Presbyterian Church!!"

(Samuel McAdow's mother turns back. Samuel McAdow turns front.)

Samuel McAdow: "I grew up in a Presbyterian home. I decided to enter the ministry after I finished school. I was very lucky to get jobs at various churches preaching and spreading the gospel."

(Samuel remains front. Reader 2 turns front.)

Reader 2: All of us at Rock Bridge in Christian County, Kentucky, enjoyed having Samuel with us. We needed someone young. Someone to bring new life to the congregation. I knew from the beginning that Sam and the Copes' daughter were sweet on each other. Of course, everyone ignored me–(In a reflective tone of voice) Hanna Cope, such a sweet young lady.
Sure enough, they were married. I knew it all along . . .

(Reader 2 turns back. Hanna Cope turns front.)

Hanna: "After we were married we moved to Dickson County, Tennessee. We were lucky enough to have a comfortable log house. Although, we didn't dream that the modest log house that Sam was building would be such an outstanding symbol in so many people's eyes."

(Sam and Hanna turn back. Readers 3-7 turn front.)

Reader 3: Cumberland Country consisted of portions of Kentucky and Tennessee, west of the Cumberland mountains. It was beautiful country. Many believed it flowed with milk and honey.

Reader 4: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and God's righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Reader 5: The people forgot the meaning of this scripture.

(Forceful voices should be used in this section.)

Reader 6: We have everything we need!

Reader 7: The land is rich! WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED!!

Reader 3: Everything is found in bountiful amounts. WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED!

Reader 4: I can't imagine what more we could want. WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED!

In unison: WE HAVE IT ALL!!!!!

(Readers 3-7 turn back. Readers 1 and 2 turn front.)

Reader 1: Many of the frontier people were unbelievers–non-christians. Everywhere you looked across the frontier you found corruption.

Reader 2: The people had gone astray. They thought they had it all right in the palms of their hands.

Reader 1: The frontier people needed a change. They needed something, or someone, to revive their belief in righteousness and God.

Reader 2: The clergy on the frontier were older men and could not relate to the people and their changing needs. The frontier needed a revival of leadership and spirit.

(Readers 1 and 2 turn back. All readers turn front.)

Reader 4: To the younger people the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church seemed to contain a message of "fatalism." The vice and corruption on the frontier needed to be healed with a message of hope for all of the people.

Reader 5: James McGready saw the great need to spread the word of God's love.

Reader 6: He could sense that the church was experiencing spiritual death.

Reader 7: In May 1797, the Gasper River congregation experienced the first acts of revival.

Reader 1: A woman in this congregation found the joy that comes from believing.

Reader 6: She began spreading the word of God.

(This section is fast-moving. Speak loudly and forcefully–but in a happy tone. All readers are to speak at the same time. Readers are to repeat their lines three times. Readers with short lines, fill in with REPENT until all other readers are finished with their lines.)

Reader 2: REPENT!

Reader 4: Repent and seek the Lord!

Reader 5: Repent and find new hope!

Reader 7: REPENT! REPENT!

Reader 3: Repent and seek the Lord!

Reader 6: REPENT! REPENT!

Reader 1: September 1798, Muddy River congregation.

Reader 7: July 1799, Red River congregation.

Reader 6: A great revival was spreading on the frontier.

Reader 3: The Revival of 1800 had begun.

Reader 4: Families were traveling great distances to church and revival camps.

Reader 1: Searching for peace.

Reader 5: Confessing their sins.

Reader 2: Searching for hope!

Reader 7: Searching for love!

All: Searching for God!!

Reader 2: Communities were longing for their own pastors.

Reader 5: During this time, many young men were called into the ministry of the church.

Reader 1: Many wanted to be shepherds of the flock that had gone astray.

Reader 3: These frontier men called into the ministry were very eager about being ordained and spreading the gospel.

Reader 4: One big problem arose!

Reader 2: On the frontier, the men did not have a chance to go to college or seminary.

Reader 1: But that's okay! Everyone should be more than happy to let these willing young men spread the gospel of the church. (Pause) Shouldn't they?

Reader 5: Unfortunately, that assumption was wrong.

Reader 3: Disturbed over their rejection of certain doctrines of the church and fearful of their lack of seminary training, the Synod of Kentucky, denied ordination to these men.

Reader 6: But seminary training is impossible to get on the frontier!

Reader 7: These men want to preach!

Reader 2: You can't penalize these men because of their unfortunate circumstances!!

Reader 4: (With meaning) These men want to preach and spread the gospel to people who are craving for a reason to live!!

Reader 1: How can you deny them?
(Pause)

Reader 5: For several years the issue was fought in the church courts.

Reader 2: There were only two things they could do.

Reader 6: They could forget about the work of the church . . .

All: (yelling in unison) NO!!!

Reader 4: Or–They could form a new presbytery separate from the Synod of Kentucky.

Reader 3: Good idea!

Reader 7: Excellent!

Reader 1: Fantastic!

Reader 5: Go for it!

(Pause)

Reader 2: February 3, 1810, three men traveled to Samuel McAdow's house with a definite purpose in mind.

(All readers turn back. Samuel McAdow turns front.)

Samuel McAdow: Finis Ewing, Samuel King, and Ephraim McLean arrived at my house on that day seeking advice, with a look of sincere faith in their eyes. I was not in the best of health, but wanted to hear and help these young men who were so determined on forming a new presbytery.

(Reader 6 turns front–after lines turns back)

Reader 6: The discussion was long. Formation of a new presbytery was not an easy thing and could not be taken lightly.

Samuel McAdow: "Well, men, this is an important matter. I must have time to think–and pray."

(Samuel McAdow turns back. All readers turn front.)

Reader 1: Samuel McAdow felt the burden of a big decision on his shoulders. He spent the night in prayer.

Reader 2: There were many ideas to struggle with.

Reader 3: Many souls could be saved!

Reader 4: Many had already experienced their heart strings being pulled by the revival.

Reader 5: The people needed leadership!

Reader 6: The people needed ministers fired with enthusiasm!

Reader 7: People needed to hear the story of the Christ who died for all people.

Reader 2: What is the answer to all of these questions?

(Pause)

Reader 5: The morning of February the 4th came with the answer.

Reader 4: Samuel McAdow, along with Finis Ewing and Samuel King on that day formed a new presbytery, a new church!

Reader 3: The Cumberland Presbyterian Church!!

Reader 2: Three years later a synod was formed.

Reader 1: In 1829, the General Assembly was organized.

Reader 7: A lot of history has been made since that day.

Reader 6: We are a part of that history. Would the founding fathers be proud of what we are doing in our denomination today?

Reader 1: They would be proud to know that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is now training their ministers in two excellent institutions, Bethel College and Memphis Theological Seminary.

Reader 2: The General Assembly requires ministers to have a good education that will prepare them for the future.

Reader 4: The local churches and presbyteries help these ministerial students through school in as many ways as they can.

Reader 6: The church has an active part in the education of their ministers.

Reader 5: I wonder if the founding fathers expected the church to grow the way it has?
I wonder if they expected it to grow to include countries outside of the United States?

Reader 4: I wonder what they would expect of us?

Reader 3: They had faith.

Reader 2: They would want us to have faith in all we do.

Reader 1: We would be faithful servants.

Reader 3: They sought after God's guidance.

Reader 7: They would want us to follow God and let God be our guide.

Reader 5: They had spirit.

Reader 4: They would want us to be spirited in our church work.

Reader 1: They spread the word of God's unending love!

Reader 2: They would want us to be messengers of God's love to all people.

Reader 6: They accepted a challenge.

Reader 5: They would want us to accept the challenge of the future with confidence and determination.

Reader 3: The founding fathers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church spread the gospel by having a strong belief in the greatness of the kingdom of God.

All: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

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