AN OFTEN ASKED QUESTION: “How did you get started?”
Dear Friends,
As I traveled over 30 years dramatizing seven celebrated women of Christian history, people often asked me, “How did you get started writing scripts and performing as these women?” To answer I would have to go back to 1984, which was the Bi-centennial year of the Methodist Church in America. My husband Todd and I were co-pastoring a Methodist church in Desert Hot Springs, CA. One Sunday when it was my turn to preach in our worship services, to celebrate the Bi-centennial, I decided to tell the story of Susanna Wesley and her famous sons, John and Charles, the founders of Methodism.
While preparing the message I thought why not speak in costume as Susanna and add a few props. We found a suitable old desk and added a feather quill pen. Then set up a tea table and chairs from the period (the English have to have tea!). My preaching that day was really story-telling about the remarkable Wesley family. (I love to tell stories! True ones, that is.) In response to that message, worshippers asked to hear the rest of their experiences. This led me to research and write an hour and a half drama script, complete with props of the 1700’s. I also had a costume made based on a painting of Susanna in her own day by the imminent English artist, Sir Peter Lely. Somehow other churches on the West Coast heard about the drama, “Susanna Wesley, the Mother of Methodism” and asked me to share with their congregations at their Bi-centennial celebrations. (Churches always need programs for special events.)
Word got out about the drama and other denominational churches asked me to come and perform at their events. Something unexpected happened when I presented Susanna at Lutheran churches. They asked me if I would consider performing as Katie Luther. Since Martin Luther was my specialty in Seminary, I thought that was an exciting idea! Thereby, “Katie Luther, First Lady of the Reformation” was born. After researching and writing her script for over a year and costuming “Katie,” God provided bookings at Lutheran Churches. In a similar manner, I was inspired to do the same with Clare of Assisi (especially when my husband kept hinting to me that I could tell the extraordinary story of the life of St. Francis; one of his hero’s). After several years of presenting Clare and Francis’ story, more requests came desiring other historical leaders. One day Christian History Magazine arrived in the mail with paintings of General and Mrs. Catherine Booth of the Salvation Army on the cover. The moment I saw their pictures I knew I was to tell their story. There was no audible voice, but the desire was much louder than that! I was so excited in my spirit that it had to be the direction of the Holy Spirit. I had the best time doing primary research in England and in the States with Salvationists, and then performing as Catherine, often with Salvation Army Bands accompanying her presentations. What a blessing that was!
Once again I received requests for the Advent, Christmas and Eastertide seasons to dramatize the story of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. At first, I balked at the notion completely. People have often heard Mary’s story and have so many conceptions and misconceptions about her, and besides, how could I possibly do the-most-admired-woman-in-history true justice! After much prayer, I reasoned if I was going to tell the stories of great women of Church history, how could I leave Mary out? Persuaded by friends, I researched the culture and history of Jesus’ era with new interest. What was her world and her family like that made her who she was? Catholic Sisters who study Mary crossed my path and even helped me create a dance to Mary’s Magnificat song to include in her story. About this time the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA asked me to come and present “Mary” to the entire cast of “The Glory of Christmas” that was performed annually in the Cathedral. That led to me being asked to perform a different character each year for their monthly luncheon in the old sanctuary. What fun that was with such a supportive audience!
When Catholic believers saw my presentation of Clare of Assisi, many times I was asked if I ever considered telling the story of Mother Teresa. She was my next challenge as a Protestant pastor. I was blessed by her total commitment to Jesus and the discipling of her Sisters to serve the poorest of the poor. My final character to dramatize was Judge Deborah. Since my husband and I had been leading annual tours to the Holy Land, we felt led to stay over after one of those tours and film Judge Deborah in Israel at her very own Biblical locations. That was not easy; however, it was one of the true thrills of my life.
Even after we retired and moved to Washington State I was asked to perform Katie Luther in various Lutheran churches across the state. This led to having some wonderful Lutheran folks volunteer to video tape Katie’s performance in 2019 and send it to every ELCA Lutheran church in the state! We were truly humbled. We give all the credit to God for how he orchestrated all these many developments over many years. It all started from one sermon. Who could have guessed? Not me. God is so faithful!
At the urging of others, and the wonderful nagging of my son, I decided to convert my drama scripts into personal letters written from my heroine to modern readers” In 2020 we self-published the book with KDP and Ingram and then in 2021 we had the opportunity to republish it with Westbow Press, a branch of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. Our goal is to share with a wider audience the astonishing stories of these “Church Mothers” whom God used to change the course of history. We pray that you will enjoy these heroic stories and be encouraged to fulfill your destiny in the Body of Christ as you bless others and glorify God! What has God put in your heart to do? If Mary of Nazareth could urge you in modern lingo, she might say, “Go for it!”
In Christ’s agape love,
Gwen
