The Journal

Faith
By SYLVIA WEATHERSPOON

Clowning for Christ
     Bubbles has performed for thousands of people, both young and young at heart. Her zany acts usually include everything from face painting to creating adorable balloon French poodles. But for the first time in her eight years of clowning, instead of being invited to perform, Bubbles was asked to preach. The invitation came from Deacon Edward Haynes of Beechgrove Baptist Church in Jackson , La. He met Bubbles in an electronics store and asked if her clown routine included biblically based themes. He was thrilled when she said, “Yes.” Haynes, who heads up the puppet ministry for Beechgrove's youth church, says they are always looking for unique ways to expose young people to the Word of God. “We always say you can change the method, but not the message,” Haynes explains. About 40 youth, toddlers to teens, and nearly as many adults attended the youth Sunday service the day Bubbles the Clown took the pulpit. She was dressed in a red and white polka dot dress and oversized matching red shoes, and had a white grease-paint face, a big red nose and blue hair. Clearly, this was not the typical setting for a sermon, but according to Haynes, it was amazing to watch. “You could see in their faces, just how focused and into it everybody was, even the adults. You could really see how all those bible classes and Sunday school had paid off.” Haynes says Bubbles' sermon on salvation used scriptures and lots of props. She focused on Noah's Ark and the Ten Commandments. She made it fun and interactive, so the children and even the adults could participate. “They loved it so much, they want her to come back,” Haynes says.

In real life

     In real life, Bubbles' name is Shelia Lowe. She's a wife, mother of two daughters and a devout Christian. Even when she's not clowning, Shelia is just as bubbly as “Bubbles.” Shelia admits that being bubbly bothered her for a long time. “I had been praying for God to use me in a way that would fit my personality. I was not happy with myself at all. I was tired of being so loud and outgoing. I used to cry and ask God to make me quiet and meek and soft-spoken, like I thought a lady should be. “I finally shared that with a girlfriend, and she got angry and made me realize that with the personality God gave me, I could reach people that a quiet person could not reach.” Bubbles first clowning gig was as a volunteer for the Zippiy Zoo day at the Greater Baton Rouge Zoo. She loved it, and she realized clowning was how God would use her to share His message of love. Recently, Bubbles was shown in a news story on WBRZ-Channel 2. In the story, Bubbles talked about how she ministered to a woman whose husband and son died last November in a drowning accident. The woman's husband was a minister. Bubbles mentored that woman and is now training her in the clown ministry. A month ago, Shelia attended a “Clowning for Christ Convention” in Tacoma , Ga. Clowns from all over the country attended. During the weeklong event, they learned everything from techniques and skits to pointers on makeup and costumes. It was a great time of fun, fellowship and faith—three areas the clowns take very seriously, because it is a ministry. More and more churches are utilizing clown ministry as an outreach to spread the gospel. The clowns visit places such as hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and crisis centers. According to Juanette Benigno, the clown ministry uses people's gifts (talents) to bring God's joy to the world with humor, balloon animals, face painting or funny expressions. “Jesus often packaged His wonderful messages in many object lessons to reach the people. Clown ministry is one big object lesson on God's joy and love. Christian clowns go about the business of spreading the love and joy of Jesus into the hearts of others.” Juanette was one of the original members when Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge began the “Joey Full Souls” clown ministry nearly four years ago. She says they had a huge desire to reach out to all age levels, beyond the church walls.

    

‘A precious gift from God'

     Juanette has two characters—”Silly Nilly, the Clown” and “Doktor I-C-U, Do U-C-Me.” The latter was birthed at a Christian clown camp. “Doktor I-C-U” has a big compassionate heart for the hurting and currently visits sick little ones at the Children's Hospital at Our Lady of the Lake . Juanette says she plans to extend her ministry into other local hospitals. “When I walk into a hospital room or an ICU unit and leave after seeing a smile on the face of a precious little one, I know they have received a precious gift from God—his joy. I am privileged to be that vessel He used. “It renews my faith each time I witness this demonstration of God's ability to penetrate any barriers with His heart of love.” Randy “Troubles” and Terry “Rainbow” McMasters, a husband and wife clowning team, are also original members. Terry says Rainbow is a gentle soul who longs to bring joy, laughter and hope to people, especially to those who feel sad and hopeless. “She is a white face clown, who is constantly trying to help keep Troubles from getting into trouble or helping him and the audience know that Jesus loves them and has a plan for them, 'cause he promised it in the Bible.” To date, Troubles' biggest blessing has been to go along on a medical missions trip to Rio Viejo, Honduras . “For five days, 10 hours a day, I had the privilege to entertain and bring smiles and laughter to people who had come from miles around and stood for hours in a long line, waiting to see a doctor in a remote clinic up in the mountains. I used illusions and balloon sculpture animals to share God's love,” says Randy. Shelia, Juanette, Randy and Terry believe that more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of having a clown ministry in church. They say clowning allows them to bring down cultural, generational or racial barriers that separate people, and allow them to build relationships and share the true joy that comes only from God. Randy adds, “At times there are people who don't understand why we do what we do. Some still think that all we do is act silly; they don't understand the preparation and hard work that go on beforehand. “But for the most part, once they see us perform, and they see the response to a skit or even a one-on-one encounter with someone who needs a smile and a laugh, they get a sense of the purpose of being a Christian clown.” A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. —Proverbs 17:22

Sylvia Weatherspoon covers religious issues
for various Baton Rouge media. She
is a morning host on the Christian music
radio station WQCK-92.7 FM The Bridge
and the noon and 5 p.m. news anchor for
WBRZ-TV Channel 2. If you have news
you would like featured in this column,
send it to Sylvia at editorial@sbrj.com.

p60 - 61, The Journal, September 2004
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