Layperson's Guide to Clown Ministry

by Geoff "Hickory" Turner

Forward by Marie "Mischief" Beck

Jesus said, "Come unto me like a child." Having grown up in a conservative "main line" religion, this concept was totally foreign to me. We had been taught to "sit up, sit still, keep quite and pay attention!", what every child does best. Raising my own family, I held fast to that same doctrine. Without even knowing it, the joy of knowing the love of Jesus was replaced with rules and regulations. It wasn't until I started clowning for our church that I began to comprehend what Jesus was telling us to do. We are to come to our Lord with innocence and wonder, delighting in the simple pleasure of laughter, and seeking comfort in the warmth of God's love. That is the lesson I've learned, not from the pulpit, but from the smiles of children aged 3 months to 103 years.

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord", said David the psalmist, and laughter is the most joyful noise of them all. There is no better way for people to giggle, laugh and forget the outside world, then by clowning for Christ.

The Broom Cross

What we have here is a very special cross. The cross beam is a yardstick to remind us that Christ is a gauge to measure of our lives by. The multiple colors represent that Christ loves us all - and indeed - God made us all. They are intermixed because we are to live as one people. The broom tells us that only through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, can we sweep our lives clean of sin.

Are you thinking of becoming a Gospel Clown? Maybe you are trying to start a clown ministry in your church? If so, you are about to embark upon one of the greatest and most rewarding adventures of your life. You are also taking on a tremendous responsibility - one that is not to be taken lightly.

I strongly urge anybody who is planning to clown in the name of Jesus to pray long and hard, to practice long and hard, then pray some more. Be the best clown that you can be, because you represent the Lord and are sharing His Love through joy and laughter.

A Layperson's Guide to Clown Ministry is designed to help guide you through the process of growing your clown to become a servant of Christ. The chapters include:

Various places and venues for your clown to perform - Churches, Nursing Homes and even our daily lives
Different ways to perform - Skits, Walkabouts, Illusions
A dozen routines and illusions you can use in your performance
A complete worship service - Christmas All Year Round

Needle Thru Balloon

A popular magic trick from Loftus, you can create a patter which delivers a powerful Christian message. Blow up one of the balloons provided by Loftus, telling the kids that this balloon will represent their lives. Explaining that evil exists in the world, take the 2 foot long needle and push it into the balloon as described in the package. Threaded through the needle is a red cord, which you explain is God's Love. As you pull the needle through the balloon, make sure the yarn stays behind with loose ends hanging from the top of the "head" and under the "chin". This is God's Love running through our lives, protecting us from evil. Now pull the red chord out through the chin so you are left with only the inflated balloon. "Without God in our lives evil can harm us." Pop the balloon with the needle.

For your Electronic Copy of A Layperson's Guide to Clown Ministry, send $9.50 USD in check or money order payable to Geoff "Hickory" Turner:

Geoff "Hickory" Turner
Clown Ministry Book
4 South Grandview Drive
Latham, NY 12110

Or you may make a credit card purchase through PayPal for immediate PDF download:

You Can't Hide Your Sins from God

This is a humorous little card trick. Take an oversized deck of cards and tell the audience you will know whatever card they pick from the deck even after they put it back into your deck. Have a helper from the audience pull a card from the deck and turn around so they can show everyone what the card is. While your back is turned, swap the oversized cards with a miniature deck Turning back around, have your helper insert the oversized card into a miniature deck of cards. The picked card stands out like a sore thumb. The crowd may turn ugly at this point, you've tricked them. Play with it for a while, then deliver the moral of the story:

"That's what people try to do too. They think they can hide their sins, but God knows everything that we do. Nothing is hidden from God."

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Page was last changed on 03/16/08 09:14:08 AM