ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

Chattanooga: Retired United Methodist pastor combines Christian education, love of theater

By: Clint Cooper
(Contact)

Included in this article

Genevieve DeHoog

At various times, septuagenarian Genevieve DeHoog transforms herself into a pregnant teenager, a 19th-century hymnist or a young woman rid of demons.

A retired pastor who still serves part-time as minister of congregational care at Brainerd United Methodist Church, she portrays seven women in a spare-time acting avocation she once thought she had to give up when she went into the ministry.

“I thank the Lord that he gave me a way to do ministry and drama at the same time,” said the Rev. DeHoog, 72.

Before entering Christian education in 1976, she said, she did a lot of theater and was in a semiprofessional group.

Several years later, when Mrs. DeHoog was asked to fill in and teach a class on women in the Bible at her church, she asked if she instead could do a first-person monologue. Her monologue proved popular, and she began adding characters.

Today, she shares her portrayals in costume, and most with song. Her appearances last 15 to 30 minutes. She does not charge for her performances but has accepted freewill gifts.

Mrs. DeHoog’s favorites are her monologues of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus.

“When I do them I cry,” she said, “and so does most everyone else.”

Comments