Evangelism - a tricky business!

Steve Price has been performing tricks and illusions since he was a boy. In July this year he left his post as Head of Design in an independent secondary school to use his mix of comedy and magic tricks to reach people for Christ. Here’s what he has to say about it all …

I guess it all started when my parents gave me a book called Ali Bongo’s Book of Magic for my ninth birthday. I played around with a few simple tricks and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I read all the magic books in the local library and watched every magic programme on the TV in a quest to satisfy my magical thirst. Everybody’s into something; for some it might be playing musical instruments, for others it might be sport. Me, I do tricks.
Five years ago I joined Derby Magic Circle. It was a bit daunting at first, I was a lot younger than most of the members. At about the same time, the minister at church asked me if I could do a little something during the service as a visual aid. I always like a challenge so I agreed. It seemed to go down pretty well and it wasn’t long before I was taking part again.

Hearing the gospel

A few months later I realised that I actually had something different to offer. Rather than simply doing one-off tricks, I could structure a show in such a way as to present the gospel. It wouldn’t be awkward or heavy-handed, it would be fun and interactive. That’s how ‘Steve Price — Gospel Illusionist’ was born. At first I performed the show for friendly faces who seemed very appreciative. It wasn’t long before I was taking it further afield. Generally I was performing to Christian audiences who had brought their non-Christian friends. People went away having had a great time, but more importantly having heard the gospel.

I really love performing. I do both close-up and cabaret tricks. Close-up is when the magic happens right under your nose — like with card tricks for example. It’s ideal for things like wedding receptions or Alpha suppers where you have a large number of people who are waiting for some food! I can do a few tricks at each table, which helps time go by and gets people talking. However, I’m in my element when I’m performing on stage. I really love the big tricks — sawing a lady in half, etc.. It’s not something you see too often these days and people love it! The volunteers are the real stars of the show; they keep it fresh and interesting. I never know quite how people are going to react. The look on their faces when they realise what’s happening to them is absolutely priceless.

Family audience

My approach is more from a performer’s point of view than a preacher’s. I want people to enjoy the evening and be entertained. Consequently every illusion I do has to be incredible. A lot of people think it’s just for kids. It’s really not. I deliberately aim at a family audience. I frequently receive comments like "even us adults were amazed!’ The tricks themselves help people to understand the message. They’re like visual aids that a preacher might use. I want people to take what I say seriously and for that to happen I have to have them attentive and enthusiastic. My tricks are a means to an end. It’s difficult to balance preaching and performing, but I think I strike the balance pretty well.

Sin and salvation

In general a show lasts about an hour and contains a dozen different tricks. I start with a few tricks just to warm the audience up. I might then perform a trick which involves travelling back in time and talk about how we sometimes wish we could go back and change the past. Sometimes I’ll do a trick which involves hitting a target and say how often we miss the mark — we let ourselves down, we let our friends down and we let God down. I’ll explain how our sin binds us, but that there is a way that we can break free (a fantastic opportunity to get out of a straitjacket — but I do need to lie down for about ten minutes afterwards!) Of course, this is only half the story and I go on to explain how Jesus dealt with the sin in our lives and the response that he calls us to make. The way I end the show will depend on the event, but I tend to end with a challenge or an appeal.

Every show and every audience is different. I’ve performed all around the UK for events, including family services, missions, holiday camps, Christian Unions and so on. Some ask for something low-key to help build bridges with the community — others are ready for more challenging material. At the end of the show people talk to their friends about the tricks, but this naturally leads in to talking about the message.

Deceiving people?

Some people are very cautious about what I do; they may see magic as deceiving people or they feel it is not an activity for Christians to be involved in. I love a quote from Adrian Plass: ‘Who, after all, could possibly be more transparently honest than he who declares himself an illusionist?’ I make it very clear that all I do is sleight of hand, just tricks. I see illusions as a way of explaining the gospel. It is well-known that if people hear things, they forget them, but if they see things, they remember. I’m trying to illustrate gospel truths in a way that people can understand and respond to. I feel God’s given me a gift and I’m using it to serve him.

My diary has been filling up over the last year or so. This year it’s been difficult to juggle teaching and performing as my performing schedule has increased. There were a few occasions when after school I’d travel two hours to London by train, perform a show and then travel two hours back again. I’d get back in the early hours, catch a few zzz’s and then go to school and teach the next day. Something had to give way and I wasn’t going to let it be my passion.

Make or break

It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make. Should I leave teaching for a career in magic? Could I leave behind a safe and secure job in an excellent school for an uncertain future as a performer? I’ve always known the answer that I wanted to give. This was make or break time. I decided to follow my dream. As a Christian I keep coming back to the hope I have, that God has led me to this point. I do believe that he provides for all my needs and that he can do exceedingly more than I can ever ask or imagine. With this in mind I’ve taken the step of faith and become a full-time performer.

Steve is available to perform at different events all around the country for audiences old and young alike. If you’d like to find out more details, please visit http://www.stevepriceillusions.co.uk or email info@stevepriceillusions.co.uk.