[saphireSue]

re: ministry group

It started around 10 yrs. ago as a way of doing ministry work with a very small group of youth. Fortunately our Baptist convention, holds a creative ministry festival [workshop] every year with classes in several areas, one being clown. Classes ususally offered in many different areas.

As the kids have grown up, went to college, one is even married now. The kids I now work with are pre-teen, age. yougest is 9 oldest is 16, but most are around 12-13. I have one other adult clown that works with me, and several parents that are support staff. Generally we go any where we're invited and put on a show. which usually includes some music, skits, and magic. We try to visit one of the local nursing homes once a month. My church is very supportive and usually pay for the state festival and once I've attended the Nation Creative Ministry Festival [it rotates around the country every year if any one's interested].

The kids learn several skits and I can pull from it, and illisions I do to make a show, They've really grown, Flower used the story bag to do Noah. at Sun's event and our yougest has been working on the torn heart routine which I use a lot. Hopefully he'll be able to do it soon, Generally the kids are great for silent skits, but not vocally load enough to do any verbal routines or illusion where you have to verbalize with the audience.