Penn marks a decade in
nursing home ministry
Published in The Thomaston Times,
April 8, 2002 – page 1A
April
3, 2002, will mark a special anniversary for gospeler Dwain W. Penn - ten years
visiting the residents at Thomaston Health and Rehab. That may not be so unique to some, but to
Penn, it is what he calls his occupation.
"I
was visiting this nonagenerian every week for five years," remembered
Penn, "when suddenly one day she asked me what I did for a living. Amused by her question, I quipped wryly,
'exactly what I am doing now!' She
wrinkled her brow and observed that the pay must be awful. My volley to the comment was, 'but the
benefits are out of this world!'"
Since
1992, the visits have expanded to include Riverside and most recently Providence. But to understand what motivates this
preacher, one has to go back to the beginning.
Penn was born in 1955 in north Upson County.
"Mama wanted to name me
Dwight," mused Penn, "but Daddy, a staunch democrat, did not want a
son named after a prominent republican of that era."
Penn
attended Atwater elementary, R. E. Lee high school and earned a BS in
architecture at Southern Tech. It was
during his senior year at college that Penn's mother was diagnosed with and
died of brain cancer.
"I
delayed my education for 3 months to be with the family and deal with the
trauma," said Penn. "But the
extra time for thinking led to my salvation on a warm summer night in
1977."
He
felt the call to preach almost immediately, but postponed the decision for five
years. In the mid '80s, Penn embarked on
an exciting ministry preaching on the streets of downtown Thomaston and several
other Georgia cities.
"I
was arrested in Milledgeville for preaching," recalled Penn, "It was
exciting to experience some New Testament persecution."
The
street ministry lasted exactly two years, opening only limited opportunities to
preach in church pulpits. Desiring to be
a more fruitful servant, Penn started sharing the Word through theatrical
dramas, starting with the Apostle Paul in 1988.
Within one year the outreach tripled with the addition of Father Abraham
and Jesus. The effort was so successful,
Penn quit a $20,000 per year job in 1990 to enter the full-time faith ministry
and attend seminary. It was during his
studies in seminary that he began the visits at the nursing home to earn
credits for his degree.
"I
was visiting paternal relatives for selfish reasons," confessed Penn,
"but God quickly turned that around to bless everyone involved."
By
Spring 1995 Penn had expanded the dramas to include King David and Isaiah. But his creative mind did not wane after the
fifth drama.
"Pastors,
friends and family kept requesting that I do certain historical men and create programs
for the advent season," gasped Penn.
"The work is exhausting, but so rewarding."
In
1998, Penn was called as the preacher of a small Baptist church in Concord,
which inspired the creation of Rev. Walter Dubois.
"New
Hebron is a special church," explained Penn. "It meets once a month, every third
Sunday at 3 p.m. and it has no members.
It had one when I was called, but shortly after he died. The church is
ninety five years old and has the original pews and pulpit. That quaint atmosphere all but demanded that
I create a southern preacher that wears knickers and preaches powerful sermons
with a generous dose of humor. The
strongest medicine always tastes better with a little sugar."
As
of early this year, the ministry's repertoire is most impressive. In addition to the five Bible dramas, Penn
has added Abraham Lincoln, Jonathan Edwards - an 18th century puritan, Charles
Wesley - cofounder of Methodism, Rev. Dubois, and for the advent season, St.
Nicholas and Ebenezer Scrooge.
Work
is now in progress for two more secular dramas.
On Tuesday, April 23, Penn will present Ludwig van Beethoven at the R.
E. Lee auditorium. Beethoven has
Christian ties to the Bible through the works of Shakespeare.
"The
connection is most controversial," explained Penn. "Shakespeare was one of fifty scholars
chosen by King James I to revise the Holy Bible and history shows that
Beethoven was a great fan of Shakespeare's works." The local talented teenage duo of Aimee
Noelle Stephens and Heather Meredith Stephens will render the musical
pieces.
Late
next year, Penn will complete his secular work with a proper finale - Admiral
William Penn the Quaker. Research has
revealed that Dwain is kin to William.
"I
have had a fascination for cousin Willie since grade school," quipped
Penn. "Like the Apostle Paul,
William was imprisoned for religious reasons and did most of his writing while
incarcerated."
The
drama ministry, known most recently as The Gospeler, has been very
successful. In almost 14 years, Penn has
traveled over 31,000 miles, ministering 285 times in 92 churches spanning 12
denominations in 7 states.
"I
only wish that I could have done more," said Penn. "I may keep a packed suitcase at my
door, if it would help. I am willing to
go anywhere, anytime for any amount. My
only priority is to share the Word of God." Meanwhile, Penn will continue to make his
faithful weekly pilgrimage to visit his dear friends at the local nursing
centers.
For
more information about the Beethoven concert or The Gospeler ministry, Penn can
be reached at 770-567-4113 or by writing The Gospeler, P. O. Box 101, The Rock,
GA 30285.