Gospel Magic |
Music |
Puppets |
Isn't Magic Evil?
Well, it depends how you define the word 'magic'. If by magic you mean using spiritual forces which are not of God, then blatently, yes! The word magic has a few meanings though. You can say 'that was a magical experience' to explain that something which happened to you was really amazing. In the same way, magic that I, and many others, do is this second form - you could for example see a coin in your own hand one moment, and then just as quickly, it's gone. No evil spirits - it's just that I know the secret and you don't!
So Why Gospel Magic?
I had been fascinated by gospel magic as a child and had the obligatory Paul Daniel's magic sat at one point! It wasn't until 2000 that I realised that magic could be used to express the Gospel, and to explain other elements of the Christian faith.
I'm a great believer that experience helps people to remember - Gospel Magic gives experience, and at the same time as entertaining, seeds can be sown in people. Gospel magic can be done anytime, anywhere - whether you are able to have a decent stage routine which takes a while to set up, or a few bits that you put in a bag take to an assembly, or just the little things that fit in a pocket and can always be with you. Different people have their preferences for how to deliver. I'm more at the stage at the moment for the take a few things in a bag, although am looking now to get training proper in this art form.
FCMUK
I am a member of FCMUK (Fellowship of Christian Magicians UK), which is a group of like-minded people, all who share this same passion for using gospel magic as part of their ministry - for a good number of the members, this is their main ministry in itself. FCMUK runs conferences every year, and also occasional regional training days, and encourages its members to get to know each other, and in so doing, encouraging one another to continue developing and perfecting skills and new ideas.
Where Does This Fit With My Ministry
I won't ever take gospel magic up as my primary ministry tool, but I certainly hope that it will play a larger part than it has done for a while. One of my ambitions now is to explore how to work the gospel magic in with mime and BSL. I'm sure it can be done, but the logistics of this will take time. I have discovered that a fellow member of FCMUK also signs and works with the Deaf Community, so we shall soon be meeting to discuss this together.