Gospel magic

Gospel magic is the use of otherwise standard stage magic tricks and illusions to promote Christian messages.[1] Gospel Magic does not claim to invoke spirits or paranormal powers. Gospel Magic is intended to present the Christian good news through "visual parables"[2] the trick or illusion in Gospel Magic is used to present theological points in an entertaining way with the intention that people will remember.[3] Gospel Magic is generally presented as stage magic or platform magic, but it can be adapted to close-up magic or micromagic situations. The Jewish equivalent of Gospel Magic is known as Torah Magic.

History

The first modern use of Gospel Magic is in the ministry of the Italian Catholic priest Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco (Don Bosco, 1815-1888). His autobiography lists many dozens of magic tricks used for the purpose of offering religious instruction to children and youth. Don Bosco has been seen as the Patron Saint of Catholic Magicians and, specifically, Catholic Gospel Magicians.[4]

In 1910, C. H. Woolston published Seeing Truth: Object Lessons with Magical and Mechanical Effects which aimed to help adults working with children in church. Other texts were soon written that incorporated Gospel messages with magic.

In 1958, the International Fellowship of Christian Magicians began in the USA. This rapidly spread the use of the creative arts to teach the Gospel. Many Gospel Performers, dealers and authors made their first attempts at magic under their tuition. There are now chapters in many US and Canadian cities as well as in the UK, Germany and Hong Kong. An International magazine is published The Voice of the FCM every two months. Annual Conventions are held in USA, UK and Germany.[5] Fr. Silvio Mantelli, sdb, a full-time, international presence in Gospel Magic, regularly performs for children in refugee camps and has performed for several popes.[6]

In 2000, a Pastor/Evangelist G.Prasanna Kumar(Full Gospel Media Ministries) from Tamil Nadu, India, started performing full-time ministry in Bangalore, India; where he was invited by different churches and congregations to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ through magic tricks and meaningful demonstrations to a wide range of believers and non-believers of different group. The ministry was very successful in southern states of India, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and few places of Gujrat.

In 2011, the Fellowship of Christian Magicians Philippines was also established by gospel magician, Arnold Allanigui. The group assists many churches and organizations to share the message of Christianity with unbelievers.

In the Bible

Biblical references to "magic" are, without exception, the manipulation of supposed preternatural powers usually associated with conjuring spirits in order to foretell the future (1 Samuel 28:7,) or dealing with astrology (Isaiah 47:13), rather than stage magic.[7]

The arts and ministry

The arts have long been used to present Christian teachings. Icons, parables, music, song, dance, poetry, sculpture, painting, stained glass, theater, radio, film, television, the Internet, stage magic and illusion have all been used. Today this often includes story-telling, drama, puppetry, ventriloquism, balloon-modelling and juggling.

American Gospel magicians include Andre Kole, Del Wilson, Duane Laflin, David & Teesha Laflin, Barry & Shelley Mitchell, Jamie Doyle, Greg Phillips, Steve Varro (current president), Matt Adams, Curt Anderson, Bryan Drake, Harris III, Scott Wolf, Brock Gill and Jared Hall. Ice McDonald (current President of the S.A.M. is also an active Gospel Magician).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Jules L. (1976) p.2-3
  2. ↑ Thompson, AD (2001) p9
  3. ↑ Oswald, G and Anderson K. (2007) p. 3
  4. ↑ Magicians Want Don Bosco Declared Their Patron, Zenit News Agency, 29. January 2002.
  5. ↑ http://www.fcm.org
  6. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2021595.stm
  7. ↑ Portion repudiates dependence on magic

Gospel magic bibliography

These books are based on the Tarbell Course, a standard for stage magicians pre-World War 11. It was originally intended to be expanded to cover all eight-volumes in the Tarbell Series, but Miller died before this project was completed. This work is slowly being completed by other magicians unofficially.

External links