John Wesley Drama

Freddy Boswell has long been a student of the life and ministry of John Wesley, dating back to his first acquaintance with him during a United Methodist confirmation class in his hometown of Ozark, Alabama. While attending seminary at Oral Roberts University, Boswell was influenced by the teaching of Wesleyan scholar Dr. Robert Tuttle, and his acquaintance with Wesley began to turn into a passion to share his message more widely. Boswell desired to introduce creatively Mr. Wesley to the United Methodist congregations he was pastoring in the North Georgia Conference in 1981.  So, he wrote and performed the one man, two act play “An Evening with John Wesley”, with the debut at the Union Hill United Methodist Church of Alpharetta, Georgia, in November of 1981. Through the years, there have been numerous performances in Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky and Missouri. The play was set aside during the 1990s while the Boswell family located overseas in Bible translation work. But it was revived, coming under the ministry of CrossWise Players of Dallas, which included a 2004 performance in the Summer Classics Series of Tyler Street UMC of Dallas.

Boswell has had four opportunities to visit John Wesley’s chapel, home, and museum in central London. These visits gave Boswell a renewed desire to perform this play, and to share the life work of the founder of Methodism. This dramatic performance is a simple attempt to share with audiences the change that God worked in the heart of one man in May, 1738, and how God used that one man to impact a nation with news of His saving grace.

“The life and work of Wesley come to life and revealed a powerful relevance to the days which we live. Its Bold, Uplifting, and Powerful!”  Joe Boring, Pastor, The Lighthouse Church, Alpharetta, GA

“An evening with Mr. Wesley is a life-changing event. Freddy Boswell’s moving portrayal of Mr. Wesley will powerfully return you to the 1770’s and cause your heart to be touched and even ‘strangely warmed.'”   Rev. Clay Arnold, Pastor, Westview UMC, Greenville, Texas

“Whether you have or have not read John Wesley’s Journal and Letters you will  appreciate and recognize Freddy Boswell’s portrayal of the man who was the heart of the longest running revival of all time, lasting more than fifty years in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.” Walter Boyd, Executive Director of N. Georgia UMC Men

“It was our pleasure recently to have Freddy Boswell in our church to perform his one man monologue on the life and ministry of John Wesley.  Not only did Freddy hold the congregation at full attention with his dramatic presentation, he also sang several of the hymns written by Charles Wesley.  Freddy helped our congregation to see the faithful historical roots of our Methodist tradition intertwined with the story & power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I heartily recommend to any congregation this good man & his account of the life & ministry of John Wesley – a must see!” Jim Stringfellow, Senior Pastor, Hazel Green UMC, Hazel Green, Alabama

Freddy Boswell presented “John Wesley” to the delight of our congregation.  We knew better, but it almost seemed as if Mr. Wesley was opening his heart to us in the struggles and in the grace of God he experienced.  When you can’t tell where Wesley ends and Freddy begins, that’s great acting!  But more important, there was a sense of the Holy Spirit Who worked through the words, the hymns, and the drama to reach our hearts.  A pastor cannot ask for more when he turns a service over to a “guest” minister.”  Dr. Jim Kilgore, Pastor, Lake Arrowhead Chapel, Waleska, Georgia

“What a treat it was having you (and John Wesley) attend our church service last Sunday! I don’t think anyone knew what to expect, and we were NOT disappointed. God gave each of us special talents and this is definitely one of yours. Thank you again for making the long trip down south.” Lynn Biles, 1st Methodist (GMC), Bay Minette, Alabama

“We, at Bay Minette First Methodist Church, Bay Minette, AL,  cannot say enough good things about Mr. Freddy Boswell’s presentation of John Wesley to our congregation on July 28, 2024.  He was dressed in character and with a few props,  took us all back in time to feel like we were in a classroom with John Wesley.  We received a true history lesson and brought our understanding closer to what John Wesley’s path of Christianity was about.  We were on a fabulous voyage…If you ever get a chance to bring Mr. Boswell to your church and have him share the John Wesley story, you must do it…Thank you again, Freddy Boswell for a fabulous presentation.” M. Paulette Clark, Music Director, First Methodist Church, Bay Minette, AL