Illusionist uses sleight-of-hand tricks as visual aids for gospel presentation_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Illusionist uses sleight-of-hand tricks
as visual aids for gospel presentation

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

FORT WORTH–For more than 20 years, Christian illusionist Bruce Chadwick has been cutting people in half or making them float in the air as illustrations for his sermons.

He has traveled around the world with his illusion ministry, performing at evangelistic crusades, Vacation Bible Schools, camps, retreats, youth rallies, church fellowships and other outreach events.

“Illusions generate a sense of anticipation,” he said. “An illusion performance used in conjunction with a church-related activity draws both saved and unsaved individuals to the function, who otherwise might have never come.

“Our programs entertain with good old-fashioned family illusion shows that are filled with laughter, mystery and excitement. After establishing rapport with our audiences, we turn our presentations to a more serious note, where the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented. We use the illusions as visual aids and communication tools that parallel and illustrate our messages.”

Chadwick began performing small illusions when he was 8 years old. A year later, he made a profession of faith in Christ. As a teenager, Chadwick realized God wanted him to use his talents to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“During an unforgettable youth revival weekend at my home church, Wilshire Park Baptist Church in Midland, I felt God's call to go forward during an invitation time and dedicate myself to vocational Christian illusion service,” he explained. “This call to use illusions in ministry has never wavered and was a motivating reason to earn my college and seminary degrees.”

After graduating from Baylor University in Waco, Chadwick received his master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

Today, his ministry is based in Fort Worth, where he owns an illusion retail shop.

In addition to his performances, he has designed and fabricated illusions and special effects for theme parks, movies and other illusionists. He has published several works on the psychology of illusion and is highly regarded among his peers as a creative consultant and expert in the field of illusion mechanics.

During his illusion shows, Chadwick frequently is asked the difference between an illusionist and a magician, which gives him another opportunity to share the gospel.

“Illusion effects are puzzles,” he explained. “There are always rational explanations behind them. The Bible is very specific in condemning the practice of witchcraft, spiritualism, divination and other forms of the occult, but the Bible says nothing about illusions.

"Of course, the modern illusionist is not in the business of playing with occult powers. He does not claim supernatural abilities and never tries to make people believe he possesses such. "An illusionist is much more concerned with sleight-of-hand as an entertainment form and constantly striving to find the best way to pull a rabbit out of his hat."