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    Fine Arts Series: The Hiding Place

    • A man in a military uniform looking at five women standing in ragged dresses.
    • Woman in a pink ragged dress kneeling down while five other women in ragged dresses sit in the background.
    • Man in a black suit and hat holding a gun leads a woman wearing an apron away.
    • Woman in a plaid jacket and scarf bending over to speak to a man wearing black kneeling down.
    • Two women talking to a man wearing black and sitting in a chair.
    • Man wearing a vest placing his hand on the shoulder of a boy wearing a vest and hat.
    • Man wearing a gray vest and glasses on one knee talking to an older man sitting in a chair.
    • Two women in ragged dresses holding hands and talking to one another.
    • Woman in white blouse kneeling on the ground and looking at a letter.
    • A woman in a black polka dot dress helping a woman in a red dress drink from a bowl.
    • A woman in a white hat smiling and holding hands with a man wearing suspenders and a plaid hat.

    In this semester’s first Fine Arts, students and guests alike witnessed how God can work through even the darkest of circumstances through the Shining Light Players’ performance of The Hiding Place. Audiences were transported to several key points in Corrie ten Boom’s life and saw how she supported others while God supported her.

    After reading Corrie ten Boom’s classic autobiography, a 15-year-old Stephen Burke (Speech Communication ’04, M.A. ’06, M.F.A. ’12) was inspired to compose music for The Hiding Place. Once he graduated from PCC, Stephen and his wife Alisha Burke (Music ’01, M.A. ’03) founded the Shining Light Players drama group in 2013 and have been using their talents and experiences to bring God’s grace to the stage. “God awakened in me a passion for evangelistic drama,” he said. “When we started Shining Light Players we realized that evangelistic drama is sadly neglected. We have been delighted to offer opportunities for Christian actors to use their talent for the Lord!”

    During The Hiding Place, several Pensacola Christian College alumni took the stage, some taking on multiple personas throughout the performance. Stephen Burke attributes much of onstage harmony to the cast’s shared purpose. “There is a special camaraderie among the team that I haven’t found elsewhere,” he said. “Although everyone on the team is incredibly talented and accomplished, they have all been so humble and supportive of one another. We share a special bond in our desire to share the gospel. They have all been so genuine and transparent—our times of prayer together have meant so much to me.”

    For senior Caison Britt (NC), the Shining Light Players left a lasting impression after the curtain call concluded. “I thought this Fine Arts was one that I could take something away from,” he said. “Not just the historical value or the singing numbers, but the inspiring testimony of the faith of Corrie. I feel like we all struggle to walk by faith as we live, but Corrie had to literally walk by faith to live. The Hiding Place really captured the emotion that was needed while strategically placing humor pieces to keep a good flow.”

    The Shining Light Players collectively share the same desire for their audiences—to let God work in their lives. “The telling of this story feels too big to me, too important, and too precious,” said Leah Hill (Music ’04, M.A. ’06), who played Betsie ten Boom. “I know I can’t contribute anything of eternal value without Jesus. So, my goal is to get out of the way, give my insecurities, fears, and weaknesses—and they are many—to the Lord and ask Him to speak and sing through me for His glory.”

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