Our article this month comes from Br James Woolford, member of the YCC and also the minister of the Moravian congregations at Baildon and Dukinfield.

I remember the first time someone did a magic trick just for me. We were hosting an Open House event when my Mum was the minister of Wellhouse Moravian Church and John Danbury, a very successful and talented magician and performer, did a routine with me and some sponge balls that blew my mind. I’ll never forget that feeling of wonderment and excitement and from that point on I’ve been fascinated with magic, but it took a lot of time before I had the belief and confidence to explore performing magic myself. Now, I use it frequently in services and have put together a special one-hour show called the ‘Minister of Magic Show’ where I use the power of magic to bring the message of the gospel alive for children and adults alike. In this article, I’ll explain why I’ve done this and why I think it works as a way to teach people about God in a new and powerful way.

I believe a key part of a minister’s role is to make the bible alive and to bring the message of love and hope that it brings to a new audience of people who have either never been introduced to it or have moved away from church. We’re in a time where a lot of young people and children simply don’t engage by sitting and listening to a person talk to them. We need to think hard about how we interact with young people and children and how to engage them by what we are saying. The other person who has been instrumental in the formation of my idea was a man who went by the name of Roly Bain. Roly (real name David Bain) was an Anglican priest who would entertain children and adults alike as a clown. I had the privilege of seeing Roly perform twice and watching the way he spoke about faith in a fun and light-hearted way, whilst performing various circus skills, was incredible. He brought faith alive to an audience who listened, laughed and were engaged throughout. This is my goal with what I do.

Whenever I’ve done magic during a service or a school assembly it has captured the imagination of the people there and stayed with them in the same way as that first sponge ball routine stayed with me. In a way, the theory is simple. If they remember the trick, they’ll remember the message behind it and if they’re entertained then they’ll listen. My aim with my show is to take it around to schools, churches and anywhere that will host me and bring the gospel alive through the wonder of magic. The Good News of the gospel is for all, and it is Good News indeed so let us celebrate it with joy, fun and laughter.

The next ‘Minister of Magic Show’ is at Baildon Church on Saturday 7th June at 1pm.