O Favored One

How It All Started

The journey of writing this musical began while I was on vacation near Lake Tahoe. I wrote one song about Joseph’s willingness to “make room for you,” and in that moment it felt as if God Himself asked me: Will you make room for Me and what I want to do?

That week, I wrote several songs connected to Christmas, and I began to sense that this was a divine setup. I made a simple commitment—to write down any lyrics, music, or lines that God gave me. What followed turned my life upside-down.

I found myself hearing French horn lines in the grocery store meat department, scribbling lyrics on napkins, and singing melody lines into my phone while driving across town. I’ve never written so much music in such a short time.

It all happened because I simply said “yes” to what God was asking me to do.

Bringing the Nativity to Life

When I set out to write the script for O Favored One, I already knew the key plot points. I followed the biblical account of Mary, Joseph, and the coming of Jesus. Yet Scripture leaves us with only brief glimpses of their lives, which meant I had to use imagination to fill in the story.

I felt compelled to help others see who those small figures in the Nativity set really are. Writers always draw from their own experiences, and this project was no different.

The story centers on Joseph, showing how he learns to trust God even when life feels impossible to explain. He is a lovable, good man with dreams of family—and through him, some of my own insecurities and awkwardness come to life. Our own journey of launching young adults and the ache of watching children leave home is woven into this script. So too is the pain of loss and the fear of loss, which echo through Mary and Joseph’s experience.

I am deeply excited for others to see how human these people really are—ordinary, vulnerable, and yet chosen to be part of God’s extraordinary plan.

A Story with Heart and Humor.

Dramatic? Yes. But Fun? Absolutely.

As I wrote this script, my inner seventh grader couldn’t help but sneak onto the page. This story needed comic relief and moments of lightness—slapstick humor, awkward encounters, and characters that make us laugh even as we think deeply.

I couldn’t imagine telling the story without some wonderfully funny, awkward moments between Mary and Joseph. The Magi, while often portrayed as solemn, needed to be able to laugh at themselves when no one else was watching. The villainous King Herod cried out for a sidekick—like every good Disney villain has—someone who makes you giggle and squirm at the same time.

Mary needed a sleepover with her girlfriends. Romans needed to sing. And of course, there had to be a man poorly disguised as a woman—fooling absolutely no one.

Most of all, the audience needed someone to root for. That’s Joseph. Though he is a righteous man, in this story he is also deeply relatable—awkward, earnest, and easy to love.

Staying True (with a Little Imagination)

As a theologian and lifelong student of the Bible, I took great care to keep this story as accurate as possible. Many of the names and characters in this show are drawn directly from the real people who were part of the biblical narrative.

Of course, there are a few places where imagination filled in the gaps. Since we don’t know the exact timing of the Magi’s arrival, I chose to accelerate their entrance for the sake of the story. Herod’s first wife was named Doris—she didn’t have a brother named “Boris,” but the rhyme was irresistible. Herod almost certainly had many conniving attendants, but I created Maximus, his sidekick, to bring that dynamic to life.

The timing of Jesus’ conception and birth is not precisely recorded in Scripture, though there are biblical clues suggesting that Chanukkah and the Feast of Tabernacles may have lined up beautifully.

So while this is a fun, holiday-themed show, much of what you’ll see is actually quite faithfully told. I am proud to say that I’ve done my very best to honor the Word of God while also creating something imaginative, engaging, and alive.

Over 30 Original Songs behind the Story

Actually, I wrote more than that. Writing a musical almost always means creating far more than will ever make it to the stage. Along the way, I cut some of my best-written and most beloved songs in order to serve the story.

One song, written for Mary’s mother to sing to her daughter, was so powerful that I could never sing it through without weeping. Yet it didn’t move the plot forward, so it had to be left behind. Songs aren’t cut because they’re bad—they’re cut because the story demands it. Many of those unused songs still live on, and I believe they may become the foundation for future projects.

Some of the songs in O Favored One are short—just a breath of emotion, a prayer, or a fleeting thought. Others are longer, carrying the weight of Joseph’s journey. But whether short or sweeping, every song has the same purpose: to move our hero forward into the person God has destined him to be.

Bringing in the Cast

This show has been blessed with some remarkable talent.

I first met Jordan McAndrew in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this past May. She was performing in a musical with the Sight & Sound Conservatory, and when I began looking for just the right person to play Mary, the conservatory’s headmaster, Jeff Bender, recommended her. Jordan will be spending several months in Chico to rehearse and perform with us. She is a lovely woman who captures the heart of Mary in this story—wild and free, devoted and sensitive, funny and fierce, carefree yet deeply grounded.

Calvin Welch comes to us from the Los Angeles area, having just graduated from Life Pacific University. A gifted singer, songwriter, and self-proclaimed “theater kid,” Calvin also excels in media arts and carries a deep heart for ministry. He has moved to Chico to join this adventure, and I believe his personality and presence are a perfect fit for Joseph—wholehearted, genuine, and easy to root for.

 

A Creative Legacy at Neighborhood Church of Chico

Musical theater has long been one of the ways Neighborhood Church has shared the good news of Jesus with our city. For over 62 years, creativity has been part of our DNA.

I grew up singing and acting with my family in the massive Christmas and Easter productions at the church. My first solo came at age six, holding a baby lamb during an Easter play. When the Dome was completed in 1987, I remember that very next Christmas—riding across the stage in a horse-drawn carriage while snow fell on the set and an ice skater spun on a stage-turned-frozen pond.

It has been decades since we last used our gifts in this kind of large-scale creative way. That’s why, in the spirit of our founders, Ken and Wava Backlund, I felt compelled—as lead pastor—to write a dramatic musical for our city.

Even more exciting, we’ve chosen to partner with other congregations in Chico and the wider region to make this happen. It’s been such a joy to strengthen relationships with other pastors and churches so that people from across our community can bring their gifts to the stage.

 

A Leap of Faith

Is This the Scariest Thing You’ve Ever Done?

Yes. Without question.

The idea of writing, directing, and producing something of this magnitude—with such limited experience—has been absolutely terrifying. This journey has been a faith walk from the very beginning.

I’ve asked everyone I know for help, advice, prayer, and even financial support. This has been a labor of love, requiring literally thousands of hours over the past two years. Along the way, I’ve learned so much, and I’ve had countless opportunities to admit that I didn’t know what to do—and to ask for help.

Time and again, I’ve watched Jesus come through. I’ve seen people come alive with joy as they use their gifts to join in this crazy vision. We started with no money, few assets, and only a dream. But now, scores of people have come together to make that dream a reality.

And through it all, God has been our Executive Producer—so there’s no reason to be afraid.