Like it’s done every year in December since 2015, Christian Life Assembly Church-CLA Nyarutarama yesterday concluded its Christmas show known as “Cantata 250.” The show that started Saturday attracted a large number of people from the same church and other different churches, with attendees queuing up as early as 6pm to be entertained and draw lessons from the show. The show aimed at bringing hope to those who had given up on Christ, to change their behaviors and turn back to Him for solutions, under their theme “Hope through challenging faith.” Thomas Mutabazi Iyako one of the people who participated in the Christmas production said he finds great joy when Jesus is pointed to as the Lord and Savior of all. He said, the show not only captured what happened in the past but also explains what is happening in the present which makes it relatable. Alice Higiro, an actress and assistant director of the Actors’ team, acted as Annet, the protagonist. She went through so many trials and lost her faith and as a result began questioning God but through her mother’s constant gospel sharing, she turned back to God by the end of the play. She noted that the story teaches that regardless of what everyone goes through when they surrender and turn back to their heavenly father, His hands are stretched wide to receive them, forgive them, and continue loving them just like He has always done. Christmas Cantata was birthed in 2015 after the open door production that was done previously, when the church ministers came together and realised that there was a need to grow bigger and serve the whole city of Kigali. According to Fabrice Nzeyimana, the Head of worship and creative arts at CLA, there was a need to put up a production that could bring to life the story of the birth of Jesus in a creative way but also allow people in Kigali to celebrate Christmas. He explained that Cantata’s main purpose is to bring back Christ at the center of the word “Christmas.” “Christmas has become just Christmas to many people where they think it is a season for shopping and feasting. It is rather, a time to reflect on Christ, why He came down and how we should respond to His love, Nzeyimana said. “As CLA church, we believe we are achieving all our goals through Cantata. This production allows people to enjoy Christmas with their families and reflect on Christ through every scene, every song, every dance. Cantata has grown big, we have been able to sustain at least four shows every year, 2500people minimum per day, which is close to 10,000 people who come to watch the shows every year,” he added.
