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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Behind the Glamour - Yvonne Tay Title : Behind the GlamourArtist : Yvonne Tay Background : Creative Arts Director of Grace Assembly Interviewer : Dawn Fung "There's also so much I want to do, so much dreams & visions I have for God's ministry. But please pray I will have focus, that I can differentiate between my desires and His will." 
yvonne tay Over email, which is often the best way not to do a tedious transcript, I spoke with Yvonne on arts, ministry and support. 1. Hey Yvonne, what's your background in ministry and in the arts? 1) I took Theatre Studies in the National University of Singapore and had been involved in numerous performances including the Singapore Arts Festival. My experiences in theatre also include directing, script writing, acting, stage & lights designing and stage managing. I love everything about theatre, I think there is a certain magic about the stage. I am enchanted everytime we step into the actual performance space for rehearsals; the way the lights changes space, how sound conveys meaning and how artists communicates to the world! Magical! Ministry in drama started in 1996 / 97 when I was asked to try direct an Easter piece for church. That opened my eyes to the needs for a proper drama ministry in church where there wasn't one at that time. I began working on ad hoc projects for the church until the church started a proper Creative Arts Ministry with a decent drama arm in 1998 and I was asked to start & lead a drama team. 2. Serving as a creative arts director in church, how different is it working in the church from working outside? 2) Working for church sometimes is more difficult because there's so many areas to look after. Not only are you seeking excellence in the arts itself, you are constantly trying to find ways to build up people through the ministry or in the ministry. There's so many layers to working for church, it's not just about delivering an award winning piece of art work. Truth be said, you are always working on a piece that can satisfy the audiences' needs, that is answerable to your pastors and that is also of a standard you can live with as an artist who seeks perfection! The answer sometimes then is not a compromise of middle grounds, but is a marriage that unites the various entities and still make sense! In our drama ministry, we place relationship with God as priority, then relationship with one another. The art itself holds only 3rd place because it is so much easier to be a good artist than to be a good Christian. We always have to remember we are Christians first before we are artists! Having said that, in an ideal world, working in the church should be easier because we all have one common goal to glorify our God! When artists in church all recognise that fact and can put aside all ego, all pride and all unrealistic expectations, we can truly allow ourselves to be used by God in a mightier way than artists outside church! There is a saying that wars are won when people have a cause for defend, not attack. And as Christian artists, our cause is worthy indeed. 3. What has been some of the misconceptions people have of your job area? And your pre-conceptions of nurturing people in the arts? 3) Misconceptions about drama - (sorry really can't think of any right now) Pre conceptions about nurturing artists : Most people attach too much 'glamour' & 'pride' into drama or arts for that matter. Some people think it is easy - "you just act!" Drama enables me to shout God's fame to a large crowd at any one time and to me - is an excellent ministry. But to be excellent in the ministry - that takes hard work. Aristotle says "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." I believe artists need to recognise that. That they cannot be an excellent musician without being an excellent Christian, that they cannot be an excellent dramatist without being an excellent team player! 4. Have there been any tough moments in this journey? And did you have any peers to support you? 4) Tough moments Peers to support me - Yes! My husband has been a firm pillar of support in my life and in my ministry. I thank God that I married a man who also understands arts and who also appreciates the hard work inside the ministry. Charles (my husband) gives me the independence and also the freedom to continue to grow in what I love. Because of him and because I can share the love for the arts with him, I am always learning and growing. We believe when God puts us together, our ministry should be empowered. My peers in the ministry have also been very supportive. My assistant leaders (Kurk & Puay Hong) readily accepts any challenges and 'work' given to them. They are talented and yet they submit to authority and are always ready to take over my burden especially when I am overloaded. I know I can always rely on them and that I am not alone! 5. Who are some of your influences? 5) My greatest influence has to be my Creative Arts Minister - Pastor Lee Meng Cham. In him, I see talent coupled with humility, I see meekness empowered by a quiet authority and I see the love for people outshines his love for the arts. Pastor Meng Cham is so good in his arts and yet many times, he shows that the ministry itself is more important than anything else. Being such a fantastic musician, I can imagine him frowning at the slightest off key, but being Pastor Meng Cham - he chose to take everything in his stride and can still smile and worship God as if oblivious to the musical flaw! He once told me that even if he is not paid for what he is doing now, he will still do it because he simply love doing it! 6. How can we be praying for you? 6) Prayers - Because I have a full time job that is very demanding, I am finding it hard to struggle between job, ministry & family. I want to excel in all but I am afraid I would lose God in between! Please pray that I will never lose sight of the one I truly serve in all my busy service. There's also so much I want to do, so much dreams & visions I have for God's ministry. But please pray I will have focus, that I can differentiate between my desires and His will. thanks Dawn yvonne createlevoyage.com
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