Canadian Mennonite
Volume 6, number 11
June 3, 2002

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Kerrobert, Sask.

Photo: The cast of The Wheat Belt Gospel cheers on an imaginary Peter trying to walk on water. Grant Martens (left) portrays Jesus.

Take a small country church that loves to sing, add one drama-loving pastor and what do you get? The Wheat Belt Gospel.
In 1957, Clarence Jordan of Koininia Farms in Georgia rewrote the New Testament in the language of the American south. Instead of being born in a manger, Jesus is put in an apple crate. Rather than being crucified, he is lynched. The actor Tom Key reworked Jordan's version for a musical and Harry Chapin composed the score.

Last October, Superb Mennonite Church began rehearsals for a Mennonite version of the "Cotton Patch Gospel." Written by Grant Martens, pastor of Superb, and Mike Warkentin, church chair, the story includes place names familiar to Saskatchewan people, such as Luseland, Rosetown and Rosthern. In this version, Pilate is a premier.

The 10-member cast shared a love for singing but few had musical training. Two of the cast picked up a new instrument specially for the musical. For the several farmers, a public health nurse, a welder, a school maintenance worker, a pastor, a mother and a retired homemaker, this was a leap of faith. None of it was easy.

Few had any experience performing. Although they paid copyright fees for the score, it arrived handwritten and photocopied.

"When we first got the music, there was no piano part," recalled Dan Olfert.

Another obstacle was a fear of offending people with the words and the somewhat flippant attitude of the work, reflected in the song "It isn't easy growing up to be Jesus."

"It focused more on the human side of Jesus," said Olfert. The group spent a lot of time discussing how the audience might respond.

"We were prepared for people to be uncomfortable in their seats, "admitted Eileen Thiessen.

But cast members wanted to use the opportunity as community outreach. The first performance in Luseland took place in the town hall. Twice they performed in a school gymnasium.

"We used it as a tool to draw people in to see the church in a refreshing light," explained Allan Olfert.

There were definite highlights to the experience. For some, it was the positive response of viewers. Many returned for a second show. For others, it was a new appreciation for the other cast members. The actors benefited from the fresh retelling of the gospel.

"It made us relate to Christ more because it brought him to a level I could understand," said Olfert.

"I had a better understanding of how people felt toward Jesus and his teachings," added Thiessen.

Although Martens had acted in previous performances of the musical, he tried to keep a low profile. He made tapes of each voice part to help cast members learn the music, then let others lead the rehearsals. After six performances, he admits that he is "pleasantly surprised."

"I don't see us as an especially talented group," said Dan Olfert. "Anyone could do this."

Although the group was asked to perform at Mennonite Church Canada sessions, they declined because of copyright restrictions.

-Karin Fehderau