Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and Bob Curlee had a 10-year “wilderness experience” of his own before writing his latest drama, “Moses.” It started with a tragedy.
The 73-year-old retired Baptist minister and church recruiter for Discovery Clubs of Alabama (DCA) has been writing dramas for more than 40 years, including the notable 1970s production “Jonah the Whale,” which was commissioned by the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board). The beach musical reached thousands with the message of Jesus Christ.
Curlee served as pastor of Centercrest Baptist Church, Center Point, in Birmingham Baptist Association for 31 years before retiring in 2003. Many of those years were spent writing, too.
But something terrible happened in 1997.
Brian Tribble, the minister of music and youth, was killed at the church by a burglar apparently attempting to rob a drink machine in the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 1997. Tribble was preparing to attend a Promise Keepers’ event in Washington.
He had been a close friend of Curlee’s and played roles in several of his dramas, including “Brother Bryan” and “Charlie Boswell.”
Curlee had viewed Tribble “like a son,” Rachael Tawbush said.
Tawbush, who is the choreographer for “Moses” and was baptized by Curlee when she was a youth, said God used the tragedy of Tribble’s death to reach others. “Three thousand people attended the [funeral] and 300 got saved,” she noted.
Yet Curlee crossed into a wilderness of writer’s block for many years after Tribble’s death, Tawbush said.
“I just couldn’t write,” recalled Curlee, who now attends Calvary Baptist Church, Odenville, in St. Clair Baptist Association.
The next time he wrote was 10 years later. “A Redneck Meets John Wesley” — a play about the life of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism — was the result. Its performances benefited DCA, an after-school evangelistic program in 15 Birmingham-area public schools, involving about 1,000 children, 285 volunteers and 30 churches.
Curlee, who works with about 15 boys at one club location, said that particular play helped raise about $10,000 in donations.
Not long afterward, he wrote “Moses,” which has already been presented 20 times in six months and raised more than $7,000 to help start more DCA club sites.
With the performances of “Moses,” Curlee hopes not only to raise funds for DCA but also to increase awareness of and recruit volunteers for it and reach many people for Christ.
And reaching children for Christ is where his heart lies, said DCA Executive Director John Glasser.
“His work and the presentation of ‘Moses’ have been very beneficial to our Discovery Clubs of Alabama,” Glasser said, noting the organization is reaching a lot of children every year.
Curlee’s first drama, a musical called “The Promised Land,” also was about the life of Moses. It was performed in 1967 at Ashland Football Field and Ensley Baptist Church, which was Curlee’s first pastorate.
Last year, he condensed “The Promised Land” into the now one-man play “Moses,” which is performed by Judson Armstrong. A Southern Baptist minister and Christian counselor at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Armstrong previously worked at Ensley Baptist with Curlee and performed in the one-man play “The Carpenter” about the life of Jesus, which Curlee wrote for him.
In “Moses,” Armstrong portrays the biblical figure as Tawbush uses song and creative movement to illustrate, for example, the burning bush and parting of the Red Sea. A background of visual effects — including scenes from the 1956 Cecil B. DeMille movie “The Ten Commandments” — heightens the dramatic presentation.
Armstrong’s portrayal of Moses sends the message that God is God of everywhere and wherever He is is holy ground.
At the end of each presentation, Armstrong offers an invitation.
“There have been a number of professions of faith, and several people have come forward to commit as DCA volunteers,” he said.
Several churches hosted the live drama to enhance LifeWay Christian Resources’ recent winter Bible study on Exodus. One of those was First Baptist Church, Irondale, in Birmingham Association.
“Seeing it acted out gave [people] a new perspective into Moses’ life,” said Pastor Bert Breland.
Bobby Shipp, pastor of Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, Trussville, said his church “responded positively” to the production.
The St. Clair Baptist Association church had nearly 100 in attendance at that Sunday morning service and gave between $600 and $800 for DCA.
When “Moses” was presented at Aldersgate United Methodist, Armstrong said, “The Holy Spirit fell that day … and was moving in a powerful way.”
At the invitation, 40 people came down.
“[We] held the most powerful altar call in the church’s history,” Pastor John Mount said. “It didn’t just part the seas or open the gates to Canaan Land, but it opened the doors of [people’s] hearts.”
To get information about DCA, visit www.discoveryclubsofal.org. To schedule a performance of “Moses,” contact Curlee at 205-585-3418 or bobcurlee@windstream.net.
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