Over the Frozen Rivers and Through the Woods

On February 1st we donned our winter layers, pointed our truck and trailer north and hit the road for our first tour in 2020.

It's been 10 years since the UniShow presented among First Nations communities in Northern Ontario and it was so great to be back! This time, instead of loading all our equipment onto the train for a 5 hour ride up to Moosonee, we took the other option available only in winter. We drove 8 hours along the snowy winter road carved through normally swampy bogs and over frozen rivers. We have never experienced such a winter driving adventure before. Dustin did an amazing job navigating our truck and trailer over the frozen rivers and through the woods.

  

We had the privilege of working with incredible organizers who live in Moosonee. Some of them hosted an amazing UniShow tour in Brazil a few years ago and others we've performed with in a dozen countries over the years. This team did an amazing job preparing all the details and logistics for these events to run smoothly.

We did a couple events in Moosonee and Moose Factory, including the first ever UniShow presentation in a Teepee at the Healing Lodge for residents recovering from addictions where we were able to share openly about freedom and healing through Jesus.

Then we continued north along ice roads which have been flooded to freeze over more swampy tundra, allowing seasonal access to remote unreached First Nations communities further up the James Bay coast.

  

These remote villages are very difficult to get to most of the year so it was special to have this unique opportunity to bring them joy and especially the hope and love of Jesus. 

  

Most days we did an afternoon school assembly followed by an evening community outreach. Our organizers involved local churches and even facilitated surveys for audience members to fill out where they could request a pastor's visit, prayer or more information about church or God. Through these forms, local believers were able to connect with many interested people for future follow-up.

From eating Canada's finest poutine, to speeding down frozen rivers and snowy trails on Skidoos, to loading and unloading in temperatures down to -30F, to sharing the life-changing Gospel with those who have never heard before, we loved every minute of our wintery Canada tour.

A glimpse of our James Bay Tour.

Well Balanced Act in Minnesota

We kept it local in January and had our first UniShows of 2020 in Minnesota. We partnered with First Lutheran School of Glencoe for a community event in the beautiful Glencoe City Center ballroom. There was a great turnout and people told us they were inspired and encouraged.

We then presented for God's Girls student group and their families in Northfield. Our message fit perfectly with their focus this year of challenging the girls to use their God given gifts to share Jesus with the world. 

We received encouraging feedback from leaders and parents: 

“UniShow's performance exemplifies what it means to serve God with all your heart, mind, and strength. This team pours all that God has given them into their show and impacts their audience with their passion for God and people.”

“My daughter's comment was, "Wow, Dustin is like a world champion, but he treats me just like a real friend." I think that says a lot about how kids feel valued and see integrity, humility, and authenticity in you guys.”

“Your message was powerful, deep, good doctrine, inspiring, just what we wanted our kids to hear.”

“Your integration of all your skill sets, music, movement and your message was both professional and Spirit lead. Seeing you 4 work together as a team was way cool. Your act is polished and well balanced.”

“The show was amazing! Talent and messages met our group right where we were at and was so exciting and inspirational for both kids and adults!”
-Leaders and Parents, God’s Girls, Northfield MN

Best Chapel in School History!

We hit the road October 31, 2019 for a full USA East Coast tour.  Kicking off the tour in Ohio, we presented at Westside Christian School where the principal told us the UniShow Universe was "the best chapel in school history!"  Then we had 4 assemblies across Pennsylvania.  It was a highlight to have so many opportunities in Christian Schools to share the Gospel and challenge students to use their gifts in world missions.  We heard again from a teacher at Lititz Christian School in PA, "Best chapel we ever had." 

Just after we ended our presentation in York PA, we were evacuated due to a fire alarm which was set off from food burning in the kitchen, not from Dustin's juggling torches. This surprise gave us a few more focused minutes to interact with students and staff.  

In Elizabeth NJ we continued a 15 year partnership with an influential pastor and city councilman.  He organized a community event at a local school, a special presentation at a senior center and had the UniShow Universe for their Sunday morning service.  Super impressive guy who truly cares about each person in his community and is reaching them with the love of Jesus.

We had the privilege of returning to the youth detention center in Washington DC to share the Gospel with the teen residents.  One volunteer told us he's never seen the youth so attentive before.  He was encouraged by how he is now able to build on our message as he connects regularly with the youth and gives them Bibles.

It's been a while since we displayed at the National Youth Workers Convention but we made a reappearance in Tampa FL along our route.  It was great to connect with many youth workers from around the world and present the UniShow as a resource to help them reach students.

Before leaving Florida, we stopped at North Florida Christian School for 2 UniShow assemblies in the Eagle's Nest.

We returned to Biloxi to present 2 rewards assemblies for students who reached their reading goals at Popp's Ferry Elementary.  Jeff Davis Elementary next door had us share 2 assemblies for their students this time, too.  One teacher said, "Everyone needs to see this show. It is motivational and inspiring with a mix of excitement and laughter."

Finally, to wrap up the year, we had an amazing time in Prattville Alabama partnering with a friend who previously organized several UniShow tours in Kosovo. 

He again put his networking and organizations skills to good use and coordinated events for us in a local high school, a community outreach, an at-risk youth program and in a Hispanic community. 

Super special times!  They told us that our presentations brought new life and energy to their church community as well as the truth of the Gospel to the unchurched.  A teacher told us ours was the most amazing assembly they've ever had at their school and that it "Restores hope and opens our eyes to future possibilities that are available through hard work and following our passions."

In all, we presented 21 shows in 7 states during this USA tour.  The encouraging feedback we've received confirms that God is using our humble efforts to point people to Him.  Thanks for praying and sending us out to make Him known.

Jeff Davis Elementary in Biloxi MS was ready for the UniShow Universe with their hallway decor.