By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
October 26, 2011

Growing up, Dean Fransen was a drama kid, performing in school musicals and other plays.

“I didn’t want to be the same as everybody else. I always wanted to be a little bit different,” Fransen said.

Fransen grew up in a Christian family in Nashville, Tenn., but went through a rebellious phase in his teens and early twenties. He called himself a “rebellious snot.”

But, Fransen turned back around and wrote his first serious Christian play in 1994. For a year, he pondered the script, formulating the plot and lines in his head. When he finally sat down to write it, it took him three days.

“I prayed about it and I wanted to write something really moving,” Fransen said.

Since then, he’s written two other versions. Called, “Glory and the Fire,” the play follows people from different walks of life and their journey to heaven or hell. On Oct. 28-30, Fransen and his traveling crew will perform Glory and the Fire in Historic Northeast at Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 5607 St. John Ave. All three performances will begin at 7 p.m. and the play lasts an hour and fifteen minutes. Cost is free.

“The scenes are very moving,” he said.

Each scene features individuals going about their everyday lives the moment before they die. Then, the audience views the individuals outside of heaven and learns whether the individuals are in the “book of life” or not.

One scene features a conversation between a mother and daughter. The daughter, who recently received her driver’s license, is trying to convince her mom to let her drive them to a play at church. The divorced mother doesn’t want to go because she knows her ex-husband will be there.

“I don’t have time for this Jesus,” the mother says. “I’m a career woman now. I’m just too busy.”

Shortly thereafter, both mother and daughter die in an earthquake.

“This is my little girl. She means everything to me. You wouldn’t separate us, please,” the mother tells the angel with the book of life.

“I’m sorry. I can’t find your name in the book of life,” the angel says.

Fransen said the play delivers a simple gospel message.

“Jesus didn’t come into this world to condemn the world; he came into the world so we might live,” Fransen said. “His power cleanses you from all things when you ask him into your heart. You are never the same again when you get saved. It’s a powerful thing.”

Glory and the Fire has been performed across the U.S. and across the globe, including Haiti, South Africa, the Philippines, among others. It’s also been performed several times at Lakewood Church pastored by famous Christian author Joel Osteen.

Before each performance, Fransen prays for the attendees.

“I want people to sense God’s spirit in the building the moment they walk in,” he said.

For more information about Glory and the Fire, visit www.myspace.com/gloryandfire.