CHAPTER 12

Martindale once showed my Corps a clip from the John Travolta movie "Staying Alive," and he claimed that every idea in its climactic dance number came from the Rock of Ages "Athletes of the Spirit" production, which had put the idea "into the senses realm" where the Adversary could rip it off. And if "Athletes of the Spirit" wasn't as slick as "Staying Alive," it was only because it wasn't done on a multimillion-dollar stage.

Not to be outdone by John Travolta, President Martindale started dreaming the ultimate "Athletes" production. Meanwhile, work was proceeding apace on the $10 million Word Over the World Auditorium at Headquarters, which would give Martindale his multimillion-dollar stage. He started talking the project up among the ministry's most talented dancers, and soon he had assembled a first-rate troupe, including a handful of pros out of New York City.

The big question was who would play the lead. The obvious choice was Hayward Chappell, who had played the heroic "athlete" in the Rock of Ages production, but Martindale doubted he had the oomph to pull off what he was dreaming.

One day while visiting Emporia, he discussed the matter with a Corps sister of mine who was one of the dancers from New York. "Why don't you play the lead?" she asked him.

He related this incident to my Corps at supper that night as if the idea were entirely hers, as if a light bulb went off in his head the minute she suggested it.

Before his visit to Emporia was over, it was settled: Martindale, who knew nothing about dancing, would be the lead dancer in "Athletes."

Maria Felton, the singer from Joyful Noise, said, "It was a time for Craig to shine. Once he opened his heart to the Corps and said he wished he had talent like Joyful Noise. He said, 'You guys can strum instruments, you guys can sing, I'm just a guy who teaches the Bible.' I think he always wanted to have some special talent. He seemed to have insecurities in those areas, so it was his chance to make a mark."

What wasn't in doubt was who would play the female lead -- the same statuesque Corps grad who played the female lead in the earlier production, whom I'll call Debra Carraway. She became the choreographer and dance coach for the big "Athletes" production, and played the "seed of the serpent" destroyed in the climactic scene by Martindale, "the minister."

Glenda Sue Maxwell, who was sexually involved with V.P. Wierwille, Don Wierwille and Craig Martindale, was living with Debra Carraway while "Athletes" was being produced. "And she would come home every day and tell me about it," Glenda Sue said. "She and Craig were probably having intercourse once or twice a day."

How did Debra describe it? "Hot," said Glenda Sue. "The best."

Where did they do it? "Anywhere and everywhere. Usually the coach."

Wasn't there a risk of getting caught, doing it "anywhere and everywhere"?

"The wife would not go looking because she was afraid of what she might find," said Glenda Sue.

© Karl Kahler 1999