For those of you who don't know, Sue is the clown I use for my minstry group. Sallybangs is the one I use for business.

Anyway my ministry group went to a little church one town over, small church, but good turn out. When your focus is on ministry, you hope you bring honnor and praise to the Lord. I know we entertain well and often get compliements but tonight was one of the best blessing we'd ever experienced. When we perform for a church we will end by having the pastor come up as we have an altar call. Tonight I thing just about every person came up. And yes clown make up will hold up to tears. We did the burden skit, which is silent and we do ours to "Burdens are Lifted at Calvary", old song but appropriate. Just wanted to share our experience.

The skit btw if I remember correctly was from Dave Mitchell, one he shared if the mag. "The Cross and The Clown" , we don't do it his way, we've change things to better suit our group.

What a wonderful night you had. That's so sweet. I'd like to hear more about your ministry and what kinds of things you do, how often, etc. God is definitely using you.

Good to hear clown make-up will with stand tears. We are clowning at our Pastor Appreciation service on Sunday morning. Now, our part will be silly but the last person to speak words of appreciation for our Pastor & his wife is going to make us cry. We had a meeting last night & she read us what she had prepared to say. Honey I had tears wellin up just listening to her then. I told her if she sees Harmony get up & walk out it's because I don't wanna ruin my face by crying!

Sue, what a blessing. Thanks for sharing that with us. I hope to be as talented as you obviously are (someday). All to His glory!

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.