Aspects of Effective Clown Ministry

Here are five key aspects of clowning that I believe we need to understand and focus on in our ministries.

C – Creativity

Clowns should not see things through the normal eyes of life-experience.  Clowns view the world, it’s problems, the needs and the solutions in very different ways.  When there’s a problem, they don’t use the same solution as a normal person.  They find a creative way to accomplish the task.

“In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1) and we have been created in His image!  He is creative, and you’ve been created to be creative too!

This is an area I’ve kept on my prayer list for years.  “Lord, please help me to be more creative.”  As you start to practice creativity, you will grow more creative.

Look for more than the immediate common answer. Creativity means that you are looking at many different options which are beyond the common place.

L – Loving

The reason we exist as clowns is to bring a smile, to bring relief, to bring insights, to help one forget the hurts and deal with the struggles.  Clowns live to love.

Mark 12:30, 31 records Jesus saying that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  He said the second most important is like it.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The folks he was talking to were well versed in Old Testament law.  They knew the lists of “do not’s.”  Do not kill.  Do not steal.  Do not bear false witness.  Do not. Do not. Do NOT!

But when asked the greatest commandment he did not quote a “do not.”  Jesus said, “DO this. Love God with all you got and show that love to those around you.”

Clown ministers carry out this mandate to love by meeting the needs of those around them.

O – Outgoing

There are all kinds of personalities in the clown world.  But, one thing all have in common is that they have decided to “get beyond themselves” and engage an audience.  The clown must decide to not be focused on himself—his fear of rejection and insecurity—but focus on others.  He’s outward focused, not inner-consumed.  He is attentive to meeting others needs, not dominated by the need for personal convenience.  He’s not stuck in his personal space.  He’s out-going!

W – Witness

Acts 1:8 records, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses.”  Note that he said, “You will be my witnesses.”  He didn’t say that you will do witnessing.  You will BE a witness.  God is more concerned, first of all, with our BEING, then with our DOING.  Doing follows being.

The philosopher Goethe stated, “Before you can do something, you must be something.”  A witness is a person who has been changed by the grace of God.  A witness shines like a star in the night.  Paul states in his letter to the Philippians, “You shine like stars in the night as you hold forth the word of life.”  A star shines because of it’s consistency.  It can’t help but shine because of the matter that it is made of.

In the same way, a witness cannot help but shine for Jesus because of what has happened in the person’s life.  Whether it is stated verbally or not, people can tell that God has done something wonderful in that person’s life.

A friend of mine who works as a well-known character for a popular fast-food restaurant chain finished a children’s show at a restaurant.  A parent came up to him following the show and privately asked him, “Are you a Christian?”  He smiled and shared that she was correct.  She nodded her head and said, “I thought so. It shows.”

May Jesus shine through your clowning too, because of what He has done in you.

N – “Now” Focused

Former Ringling Director, Steve Smith, stated, “The clown must be fully committed to the moment when performing.”  Clowns are focused on the “now.” 

Years ago I observed Kenny Ahern performing at the Midwest Clown Round-Up.  In the middle of his show a two-year-old child made her way to the base of the platform.  Kenny spotted the child out of the corner of his eye, stopped his routine, and pulled out a juggling silk and dropped it on the floor near the child.  The toddler picked up the silk and handed it back to Kenny, then returned to her mother.  It was a “magic moment”.  If Kenny would have stayed focused on his routine and where he was planning to go, rather than allowing for a brief redirection for the moment, he and the entire audience would have missed this endearing precious moment.

In performance, it’s important for clowns to have things well planned.  It’s also important though, to focus on the opportunities of the immediate moment.  When talking with a child, stay focused on that moment in time.  When a crowd is being engaged, make sure that you stay engaged with your audience, not simply be looking ahead to the blow-off.  Be focused on the “now.”

Paying attention to these five areas -- C-creative, L-loving, O-outgoing, W-witness, and N-now-focused -- will increase your credibility with your audience and your effectiveness in the days to come.