What is a church to do when their radio show begins to wane?

Find out the answer during Hawkins United Methodist Church’s14th annual Dinner Theater production, “The Church of the Air.”

The show, which serves as a fundraiser, will kick off productions tonight with shows also being held Friday and Saturday in the church’s Abundant Life Center, 3736 Halls Ferry Road.

Church member Richard VanDenAkker wrote the script for the play, and described the play as a comedy with a message.

“The play is about a church that does a radio show on Sunday evenings and over the past few years the viewership has been dwindling and they are loosing sponsors and money,” VanDenAkker said.

So in an effort to gets things back on track, the show’s producer, who is played by Dr. Bob Ford, tries to get new sponsors and update the show. And when he does, VanDenAkker said, “Some strange things happen.”

“There is a ventriloquist that looses the dummy, and there is a choir that has just got to be seen to be believed, because it is sort of a strange choir,” VanDenAkker said.

But fortunately, in the end, everything does turn out for the best, and VanDenAkker hopes the audience will take away the message that when you have faith and hang on, in the end “God will let you know what his plan is and let you be part of that plan.”

This is the 13th play VanDenAkker has written for the dinner theater.

I wrote “The Church of the Air” last year,” VanDenAkker said, but finished tweaking it while in production.

Once he completes a play for the church, he said he hands it over to Sara Dionne, who serves as the director for the productions.

“She looks them over and gives me suggestions and edits,” he said.

VanDenAkker said he has also written plays for the Vicksburg Theatre Guild’s Fairy Tale Theatre productions, one for a main stage VTG show and some of his plays have been published.

All shows for the dinner theater will begin at 6 p.m. and the cost is $10, which will include a three-course spaghetti dinner. Tickets are available at the church office or at the door. A free nursery is available for young children during Friday night’s performance.

A silent auction will also be held in conjunction with the dinner.

As of to date, VanDenAkker said there are more than 50 items that will be for sale and includes paintings by Chester Martin, items from local downtown merchants and gift certificates.

Proceeds from the ticket sales and the auction will go towards two community missions and operating funds for the church.