Pastor Jay Foster is used to being in front of people. He does it every Sunday, when he preaches from God’s Word and worships God with the church family. But sometimes he steps onto a different stage for a different audience. Since 2024, Jay has acted in plays with a community drama group. In the most recent one, he made appearances as a singing narrator and as Farmer Harley, who came to town in search of a bride just as the sheriff was investigating a mysterious death.
In a Community Drama Group
The drama group is called Highway 50 Players because the participants are from three communities along Highway 50 in south-central Manitoba: Amaranth, Langruth, and Alonsa. Their first production was for the Amaranth 100-year Homecoming Celebration in 2010. Since then, their annual productions have all been fundraisers for local community halls.
Jay Foster moved to Amaranth in 2017. As a Village Missionary, he is focused on preaching God’s Word and loving the people of the church and community. He joined the drama group as a way to be involved in the community and meet more people.
Some Highway 50 Players are teachers, like the director, Terry Dumelie. Others are credit union employees, an insurance agent, farmers, ranchers, housewives, and kids. Since 2018, the group has included a pastor who brings musical talent to their productions.
For this year’s drama, Terry Dumelie selected an interactive western murder mystery called The Groom Has Cold Feet. Knowing that the community enjoys music, she asked Jay to compose several short songs that would help narrate the potentially confusing plot.
“It was a fun challenge,” he said. “I sang them solo and played my guitar. I had to keep changing my costume from narrator to Farmer Harley and back!”
The 2025 drama had a 50s diner theme. Jay sang in that, too…as a young Elvis!
One can’t imagine a role more unlike Pastor Jay.
A Servant's Heart
Jay is humble and has a servant’s heart.
Highway 50 Players performs at three community halls, and Jay can be depended on to help set up the props and equipment for each performance and help put everything away afterwards. “Our family had a band, and my father instilled in me the mindset that when you’re helping set up or take down, keep helping until the job is done.”
Jay believes this is one way he can honor God and reflect Jesus to others.
Jay’s servant heart is evident in other contexts, too.
Terry said, “Jay is always willing to help out in the community. For example, I’m president of the local seniors’ club. Jay asked if there was anything he could do for the seniors. I told him about a large dirt pile in the senior hall basement from a cave-in. He brought some kids from the church’s Kids Club, and they hauled out all the dirt and cleaned the basement!”
Seeking the Community’s Welfare
Participating in the Highway 50 Players is a significant time commitment. They hold weekly rehearsals from January through March and perform at three fundraiser events. Jay said, “My wife and I have talked about the time commitment, but we agree that it is worth it because I’m building relationships in the community.”
Since these dramas are for community hall fundraisers, he is also showing his desire to bless the community.
Whether people remember him as the singing narrator or Farmer Harley or in any of his other roles, they know that Pastor Jay is involved in their community and seeking its welfare.
As a Village Missionary, Jay Foster preaches God’s Word and loves people inside and outside the church doors. He offers his time and talents to bless the community and form friendships that might lead to open doors for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
