Matthew's Fund for AMTC!
Hello!
I am Matthew and here is my story:
For the past four years I attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, where I’ve pursued a sociology degree. Although I love my major and consider myself to be a sociologist at heart, I am first an actor/artist. Some may ask, "Why didn't you join Marymount's acting program?" Here's the thing- I DID!
For a year, I was an acting major, and it was a phenomenal experience. However, at the time I was discovering my identity in Christ, and although I enjoyed my classes, I felt unfulfilled and knew I had to dig deeper to find what could meet this fulfillment. While dealing with the discomfort of feeling out of place as just an actor, I began to sense that God was shifting me to become a sociology major. At the time it didn't quite make sense because I didn't even know what sociology was. After just a few classes however, I realized why God led me to make this move.
I discovered the God-given gift within me to relate to and connect with people of various social and cultural environments, understanding that everyone is a case by case basis, crafted by their surroundings. This tied into my acting because I began to deal with characters as such, and found myself becoming more grounded in the social environment of the character. Furthermore, my new major caused me to realize that I was more than just a mere actor, acting for the sake of entertaining people, but I realized that acting was my ministry gift. Through my gift of acting I had the ability to realize and feel the deepest sentiments of an individual’s heart; their hurt, their pain, their joy… and so many other emotions.
It all began to make sense and the pieces began to fall in place. Through my having become a sociology major, I realized that God was birthing a minister in me, and that acting was only the vehicle by which I would aid and minister to a broken generation, in this particular community.
Proverbs 18 and 16 declares that “a man's gift makes rooms for Him and places Him amongst great men.” I believe that when God spoke this through Solomon it was two fold in the sense that: A man's (natural) gift makes room for (his spiritual gift) and places him amongst great men. For example, if God has called you to be an evangelist, and you just so happen to be a great singer, your gift of singing will bring you into arenas where you can evangelize to people, ministering to their needs.
With this being said, I know God has called me to be a minister of His Word. However, I do not believe that my form of ministry would be solely behind the pulpit but in an even larger arena-MEDIA.
Through the medium of entertainment, I am afforded the opportunity to display my natural gift of acting, therefore, having a platform to minister not only to those who are watching me, but to my counterparts in the industry that are in need of knowing God’s love.
I believe God's purpose for every believer is to reconcile mankind back to Christ, however I believe that every man's calling is to a different arena... therefore, if you're great in finance: accounting; if you're great in business: Corporate America; great in styling: fashion; and in an entertainer's case, great in acting, then film or theater!
So now that I’ve given you what God has given to me, it is my pleasure to announce that I have been selected to attend Actors Models & Talent for Christ SHINE conference in Orlando Florida, which takes place this summer, June 28th-July 5th.
Actors Models & Talent for Christ or AMTC is a non-profit ministry dedicated to making purity bolder in fashion and theater. Their staff holds auditions all over America to find, prepare and launch performers into the world’s most influential mission field: Entertainment. Their faith-based education, international conference, and focus on fellowship set the stage for God’s people to shine as reflections of His Truth.
Currently, I have withdrawn from school to pursue this dream as I feel the time to do so is now! I have been blessed with two part time jobs that help me to live and survive here in the Big Apple, and to pay as much as I can towards the AMTC conference. However, monetarily, I cannot pursue this dream alone. I need your help!
The conference itself is valued at over $10,000 for the various, showcases and workshops you attend, plus the opportunities you have to meet with agents and industry decision makers from New York, LA, Chicago, and Atlanta. Although valued at such a high price, AMTC only asks for a cool $4,995. Seeing as how many people have seen this figure, and shied away from the experience, AMTC has now developed a system called “Pay what you pray” where you as the auditioned individual, can seek God concerning an amount, and once decided, you can contact the company, and they will do their best to accommodate your amount if deemed reasonable.
The number God gave me was $1,000, which goes towards the conference itself. However, this does not cover my travel expenses that include, getting to Orlando, lodging, and food. As stated above, I am making deposits as often as I can, nevertheless, I need your support! So feel free to give! Whether it be one dollar or the full amount, give whatever the Lord leads you to give- as it is greatly appreciated. I can’t promise you that I can do anything special in return, but I can guarantee you that I will pursue this dream of becoming all God has ordained me to be with passion, humility and discipline- that your giving would not be in vain. Furthermore God’s Word has stood and will stand the test of time, as Luke 6, verse 38 declares “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."
Thank you so much for having taken the time to read this, your support, as well as your prayers! Please go to the AMTC link to check out this awesome endeavor, as it may even be something you’d take an interest in for yourself or those close to you!
With Love,
Matthew James Dunigan
http://www.amtcworld.com/