Meet Gian Vickers, who took the stage yesterday as Abel, “the little drummer dude”, in a Christmas musical presented by his church.

It was a big challenge for the seven-year-old, who plays the recorder in real life and knew little about the drums until he began practising for the play two months ago.

Gian didn’t have to audition for the role. He thinks he was likely chosen because he loves to “sing and dance” and is “the little dude in the group” at Fire Kids Ministry, the youth ministry of Restoration Fellowship, led by the Right Reverend Roxanne Haynes.

Described as a “percussively fun Christmas musical for kids”, The Little Drummer Dude is meant to show children that “God can use them to do big and incredible things”.

Gian’s siblings – Gebre, Gemma and Gabriel – were also part of the cast along with Urijah Richardson, McKenzie Bean, Alexcie Fubler, Xavier Richardson, Joah Simons, David Todd, Julian Whorms, Aria Gibbons, and Onari and Kha’darr Williams.

The Little Drummer Dude is set during the time of Jesus’s birth, spanning Bethlehem and Persia, the region now known as Iran.

The story begins with Persia’s Travelling Band, an up-and-coming group called “PTB” by their fans, as they embark upon “their biggest tour yet”.

“Along the way, they meet the Three Wise Men, who are following a star in search of a king who has just been born. With the possibility of playing for a royal audience, PTB decides to join the Wise Men and make the journey to Bethlehem. After all, what better way for the band to be discovered and rise to the top of the charts than playing for a king?” the synopsis reads.

During their journey, the band’s roadie, a “little dude named Abel”, shares his passion for playing the drums. The band members refuse to take him seriously but The Wise Men recognise that “he has a very special gift” and suggest he should play for the king.

“It was fun,” Gian said of the role. Through it he learnt that “everyone can do their best for Jesus”.

It’s a message that comes through, said Marissa Brangman, the musical’s director and a Fire Kids Ministry leader.

“One of the key themes is no one is too little to give their best to Jesus and the cast, ages 5 to 11, will show just that.

“It's been a team effort. From the stage set, to props, to costumes etc, we have really come together as a church family to present the gospel through a Christmas musical.”

Gian, who attends Warwick Academy, said he wasn’t nervous about the show as a performance at school had helped him get used to being on stage.

In Jolly Saint Nicholas he “had a few speaking parts” when he was cast as Santa’s “very serious” helper, Eddie the Elf.

Memorising his lines for both that role and yesterday’s was “easy” for the primary school student.

“I love to read,” he explained.

Now that the show is over, Gian is most looking forward to Wednesday, when Santa Claus will arrive, and the family will celebrate Christmas at his nana’s house.

Although he's excited, Gian suspects his brother Gebre, the oldest in the family, will be the first to wake up. After that, it’s a toss-up between Gian, the youngest, and their sister Gemma. Everyone, however, is likely to be awake before her twin brother.

“Gabriel likes his rest. Even on Christmas Day,” their mother, Jarita, laughed.

The lesson behind The Little Drummer Dude might just stick with Gian for a long time. He loved how Abel transformed his passion for drumming into a gift by performing for the king alongside Persia’s Travelling Band.

His message to children his age is in keeping with the song he sings as Abel — I’m Not Too Little.

“It’s important to give your best for Jesus,” Gian said.

The show ran as part of Restoration Fellowship’s 10.30am worship gathering yesterday.

“The kids’ ministry took over the service yesterday as they normally do the Sunday before Christmas Eve,” Ms Vickers said. “So we had the play with all the songs and the dancing and obviously the kids acting.”

• For more information on Restoration Fellowship, visitrfbermuda.com/