PEOPLE: Using Magic to Share the Gospel?

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AT fourteen he started performing magic. He didn’t come from a family of such trade but he had been thrilled by it since childhood and was self-made through interest and practice. Then he began performing for many school functions and later took part in competitions, big and small, up to international levels. He became a true magician travelling overseas performing magic shows. He is Rosen Roy.

Rosen was born into a Taoist family and the youngest in the family. His first encounter with Christianity was when he was around 16 or 17. He accepted Christ at 19 and was baptized in 2011. “At 16, I met someone evangelizing along the street and we chatted for some time. I liked his patience and he had an ear for listening. That was when Christianity started to attract me. Though I was brought up in a Taoist family, I did not have a sense of reality till I came to know Jesus Christ personally.”

After he accepted Jesus Christ he was not baptized until 2011. It was in this very year that he met many unpleasant incidents like being robbed and was involved in a car accident. These made him think that life was indeed fragile and short. So he wanted to be baptized. “On the day of my baptism, my family had no idea about it. Thanks to God I have a very open-minded family. Though they came to know it later, they didn’t object my new faith.”

Even after his baptism, he was an irregular church-goer, ignorant of the Bible as well. He took his magic performances to a commercial level and continued to participate in some competitions from time to time. By now, he had performed in many places like Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan, Demark and so on. In 2015, his performance entitled “the Drinks from Heaven”, an eight-minute magic show, had gained first place in the International competition. He was appraised by many renowned magicians and was invited to work in France. At the very same time, God called him back to church and showed him the vision of using his skills to serve Him.

“I heard a voice saying: do you want to perform magic in front of thousands of audiences or do you want to save the souls of thousands of people?” He was touched and responded with a prayer of tears, humbly willing to forgo his opportunity in France and to use his magic skills for the gospel of Christ.

He told his plan to Rev. Kok Chin Ngin who was the pastor of Kepong Baru Chinese Methodist Church who suggested that he should first take up theological studies as a preparation to serve Jesus Christ. He did just that. At present, he is a third-year theological student at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (STM). During these three years, besides normal classes, he has continued working hand in hand with churches in evangelistic activities and short term missions during school holidays. After three years in the Seminary, another thing which has made him very happy is that his mother has started to step into the church to get to know the Lord.

A magician studying theology? A magician using magic skills to share the gospel? Is it appropriate or isn’t it a contradiction for the two to work together? Rosen well acknowledges that Chinese in general do find it hard to accept magic as a means to glorify God.

“When doing evangelistic outreach, some churches would suggest that I address myself as an Illusionist or others but I insist that I am a true magician. I don’t have to change my identity!” To him, both can complement each other well.

“During my short-term mission trips, many people, who were reluctant to go to church for evangelistic meetings, were happy to come to the church for a magic show. That was when I took the opportunities to share the gospel.”

In Rosen’s plan, magic is not the main objective, preaching the gospel is. He would also incorporate other performances, like hymns and drama sketches into the event. Rosen himself is a man of many talents; he composes songs and sings as well. “My idea is to create events that spread the good news, not just magic!”

He is inviting those who love to use creative means to share the gospel to join his team; people who are talented in music, drama, writing or even magic – are all welcome!

From a show person to a servant of God, Rosen has to make emotional adjustments; He comes from a Chinese private school background and did not use to be a diligent student. Now, he in in theological school and is graduating in 2019. He says, “All these are only possible because of the loving grace of God!”

Written by April
Translated by Christina