Church Members Are on a 'Mission From God'

Some of the folks at Moorpark Presbyterian Church are on a different kind of mission from God—and they're inviting the community to participate.

For at least 15 years, the church has hosted a talent show, but this year, they're putting a new spin on it. This year, the show, which will feature eight individual acts from the community, will have a Blues Brothers theme and include additional acts revolving around the theme.

“We’re getting the band back together,” said Pastor Dave Wilkinson, referencing a line from the 1980 John Landis movie staring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. "In addition to the music and comedy acts from within our church, we’ve also invited the Moorpark High School Jazz Band and the High School Dance Team as well as groups from the middle schools to perform.”

In the original movie, brothers Jake, who is just out of prison, and Elwood Blues work on getting their old band back together to raise money and save the Catholic boarding school where they were raised. On what they call their "mission from God," they run into a few roadblocks and interesting predicaments.

The talent show will have a similar premise, said Fellowship Elder Christopher Bryan, who is helping to organize the show and acting as one of the  brothers. In addition to getting the band back together, they'll be "auditioning" other acts to join them.

In the MPC's version, money raised by a free-will offering will be divided among the participating schools and given to their PTA or PTSAs.

So dedicated is Bryan to the cause that not only is he donning sunglasses and sideburns along with fellow Blues brother, Bill Gratke, but he also tracked down a replica Blues Mobile in St. Louis, MO. and drove it across country (see his to read about his adventure) for the show. The car, he said, was Heaven sent, with proof being in the vehicle identification number—"GOD" was part of the number.

Bryan said unlike past themes, like America's Got Talent or even The Gong Show, many of the participants have never even seen the movie on which the show is based, but it's not stopping the high school and middle school students from being enthused about the event.

"Even if they don't know the movie, they're getting into it," he said. "You have young kids working with people in their 90s and that's a really, really neat thing."

Some people who do know the movie have voiced some concerns due to movie scenes that are more adult in nature or not politically correct. Bryan assures that those scenes will be left out.

"There will be no 'Illinois Nazis,' " he said.

Instead the church show will have members of the Cub Scouts participating.

"It's all going to be family-friendly," Bryan said.

Tickets to the 6 p.m. April 21 show are free; however there will be an opportunity for free-will offering. The show will take place at the church, 13950 Peach Hill Road. For more information or for tickets, visit the church's website or call 805-529-8422.