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“FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE” The Grace Connection (Musical Stage Play)

by Clarence H.Walton

The stage play takes you on a musical adventure of songs and dance, that will surprise and warm your heart. Sarah Abrams, a Caucasian with the heart of Mother Theresa, and Lynn Allen, a strong-willed Afro-American, have been friends since college. After Graduate School Sarah and Lynn worked together as counselors at a State Institution for orphans. In the 60's when discontent, rebellion, and social change seemed to define the United States. A time of war protest, freedom marches, and a race to space the New Frontier. Like Martin Luther King, they dared to have a dream. A dream that one day they would have a racially mixed foster home with transitional housing facilities that would make a difference in the lives of a seemingly forgotten segment of our youth, "teen orphans". Their goal would be to help prepare teen orphans for their place in the community once they've reached the age they no longer would be taken care of by the system. And by providing a home whose foundation would be built upon a belief in God, faith, hope, and love. And a mutual respect for one another and others. 

With the help of family, friends, and a few civic-minded businessmen in the community they lease an old run-down manor, once a Cherry Farm, that sits on 300 acres of land on the outskirts of the city. Through their hard work, determination, and trust in God they turn the old manor into their dream come true, "Cherry Hill Youth Home". As Sarah and Lynn are preparing for their third-year anniversary celebration and the building of their first transitional housing facilities. The home that had been a loving, peaceful environment that nurtured the hopes for a better future for its twelve teenage orphans is suddenly being challenged by it's newest teen, a troubled youth William Garner, aka "Blade", who disrupts the peace and harmony of the home. 

Sarah and Lynn's faith is further put to the test. When the future of the home is in jeopardy of a hostile takeover by their greedy, ambitious, landlord Sam Goodman. Just when Sarah and Lynn are planning to exercise their option to purchase the property at the end of their lease. Sam Goodman is offered millions of dollars for the land and is not above using any means necessary to regain control of the property. Sarah and Lynn quickly find themselves in a fight for the future of Cherry Hill, and the kids.  In the middle of what appears to be a hopeless situation, by the grace of God, help comes through an unexpected source, William "The Blade" Garner.  While nearly dying from a drug overdose, Blade has an encounter with God, and he is caught up into Heaven and shown man's need for salvation and what happened  "From the Cross to the Throne". That experience of that grace connection profoundly changes Blade's life, and in turn has an immediate effect on Cherry Hill's future.