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Wesley Putnam
His horse is actually a car and his “circuit” is nationwide, but Wesley Putnam’s passion for spreading the Gospel is as strong as that of bygone circuit riders.
Wesley, (M.Div. '78), has come to rely on God's faithfulness. “We arrived at Asbury Seminary knowing God had led us there, but with no financial means to pay for it. We watched in amazement as God provided for us month after month.” While at Asbury, he pastored two churches, beginning a “circuit” of 160 miles each day. Wesley states, “When God calls us to a work, He provides the resources necessary to accomplish it.”
As a young man he completed an undergraduate music degree, planning a career as a high school choir director. When God called him to preaching, Wesley resolved to give up a life in music. However, after beginning in ministry, “…music began to come out of me. I would prepare a sermon and before I preached it, I would write a poem to sum up what I had said in the sermon. Then I would set the poem to music and sing it at the close of the sermon.”
Soon he was being invited to sing and preach at other churches. It was quickly apparent he could not pastor a church and maintain his extensive travel schedule; God was calling him into evangelistic ministry. Again, God faithfully provided. “I wrote 30 friends who had experienced my ministry and asked if they would be a part of my board and support with prayer and finances; 28 agreed. This affirmed the call to evangelism,” Wesley said. Soon after, he was appointed as a General Evangelist.
“With fear and trembling we stepped out into this new faith experience as a home missionary with bookings for 6 months and a blank calendar after that. God began opening doors and before long we were booked one year out and then a year-and-a-half. The call has been confirmed over and over again,” Wesley said.
Over the past 25 years Wesley and his wife, Felicia, have traveled in 35 states and several foreign countries, telling God’s love in ways the current generation will hear. Packaged in preaching, storytelling and music, his relevant message uses contemporary characters to bring life to ancient stories. Wesley states, “We have the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, as a Bronx cop. Daniel becomes ‘Cowboy Dan’ and Gideon is a Yiddish ‘Barney Fife.’ The stories are true to the text, but by using these characters and a good dose of humor, people are able to relate in new ways to the message. It has been remarkable to watch.”
In the fall of 2005, Wesley was Asbury Seminary's “artist in residence”, allowing him to update the lyrics and music of 12 of Charles Wesley’s most loved hymns. “So much of the language and music has changed since these songs were originated," Wesley shared. "I wanted to write them in a way that preserves the rich theology of Charles Wesley while making them accessible in the church today. My goal was simple—singable melodies with lyrics that were true to the original message.”
As Wesley travels he is continually amazed at God's work: “It blows me away to think of the altar rails filled with people who have made significant decisions to allow Christ to be Lord in their lives.” Just as circuit riders of years ago had to be relevant to reach audiences for Christ, Wesley seeks to minister in fresh new ways today—with the same passion and purpose.
Visit www.wesleyputnam.org for more information on Wesley’s Ministry.