Magician and minister Danny Ray combines performance and religionDate: 12/28/2017 SPRINGFIELD – Danny Ray has been able to do something that sounds like a magic trick in itself: he has been able to combine the performance of magic with religious teaching.
Ray will be performing his magic with a message on Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Old First Church, 50 Elm St. as a presentation of Young Life Springfield, a program that invites young people to follow Christ and is in 99 countries around the world. Young Life Springfield started in 2008 and now there are now more than 200 students involved in Young Life at Springfield Central High School and the High School of Science and Technology (Sci-Tech).
Ray explained to Reminder Publications that he began in his interest in magic at age 10 when he was first interested in sleight of hand magic. He explained he didn’t “grow up in the church,” but “gave my life to Jesus at age 17.”
By then he had already started performing magic professionally and said at age 19 he began to volunteer at his church, a commitment that grew eventually into be the church’s youth pastor.
His interests in magic didn’t abate, though, and he said he “began a journey of seeking wise counsel” about how he could combine magic with ministry.
He was inspired, he said, by Roman’s Chapter 11, Verse 29, which reads, “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”
In 2003, Ray his magic ministry and started touring. Last year, he shared, he performed 173 shows.
“I’m super thankful I’m able to do it,” he added.
He readily admitted that performing his close-up magic and larger tricks while maintaining a Christian message is “still difficult.” Ray said there are others who have done something similar to him and usually they perform a trick and have a message or lesson at its conclusion.
“My goal is to make it a natural part of the show,” he explained.
He uses three different techniques to incorporate the two elements together, he said.
His performances feature sleight of hand or close-up magic, the product of the influence of magician Dai Vernon, whom he watched as a child.
Ray explained his goal for every performance is do perform the best magic he can to satisfy a non-religious audience, while bringing inspiration to a religious audience.
The show costs $10 tickets must be purchased prior to the event at www.springfieldma.younglife.org. Only 300 tickets available and no tickets will be sold at the door. The doors open at 6 p.m.
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