Dallas Morning News

SEMINARY STUDENT TRICKS UP MESSAGE
-Mary A. Jacobs

To help people understand "how sin binds us," Jonathan Curtis ties himself up in straightjacket. To demonstrate how "sin separates us from God," he cuts his wife in half. Or so it seems.
Mr. Curtis calls himself a "Christian Illusionist." A Doctoral student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, he and his wife, Lori, perform tricks to entertain and evangelize at churches and other Christian gatherings.
Of course, he always manages to free himself from the straightjacket, and to put his wife back together. And that ties the message together.
"Basically, I walk the audience through the plan of salvation, to show the way to overcome sin, the bridge between man and God is Jesus," he says.
Mr. Curtis began learning simple tricks, such as coin and card tricks, when he was 13. As a teen counselor at a Christian camp, Mr. Curtis discovered that kids were more receptive when he incorporated tricks into his Bible study lessons. He worked with a local builder of illusion equipment for a few summers and refined his skills. Mr. Curtis was then able to purchase expensive equipment and expand into more elaborate illusions.
His wife became his partner in the ministry when they married eight years ago. Today the couple performs as many as 75 shows a year for groups as large as 3,500.
Recently, Mr. Curtis performed at a College Extreme weekend retreat for college athletes sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He calls his tricks "illusions" rather than "magic," because he doesn't want younger audiences to think he has any special powers.
"I always make sure to explain the difference between an illusion and reality for children," he says. He calls his ministry Seeing is not Believing" to reinforce the point.

-Dallas Morning News- April 19, 2003- Mary A. Jacobs