Magangue, Colombia …. [ANN Staff]
Clowns, contortionists, illusionists and jugglers are essential to a night of family fun at the circus. But no matter where in Colombia that crowds go to see a Kimbray Family Circus show, attendees can learn about Jesus.
If you were present at this circus recently, it could have been a night when two clowns performed the parable of the Prodigal Son. The Biblical story tells of a young man who turns his back on his father to chase good times. When he spends all of his inheritance, his friends desert him, and he returns home to find his father waiting with open arms.
After the story is told to a cheering crowd, someone appeals to them to turn to God.
This unique circus is headed by the husband and wife team of Carlos and Belén Rodriguez, and is supported by their children and grandchildren.
Belén was the first family member to become a Seventh-day Adventist seven years ago. On Nov. 5, their oldest son Willman, and his wife Elizabeth, were baptized into the church.
“We have usually had many problems in being received by other church members, because they don’t understand how a Christian family could work for a circus,” said Belén.
“I had never heard of a circus operated by church members,” admitted Pastor Abraham Guerrero, evangelism director for the church in the Sabanas’ Zone.
“In our daily church life, we use to think of a circus as something strange to our members. In fact, we usually find shows performing magic and having a music style completely different from what we listen [to] in our churches and even at home,” said Guerrero. But after a trip to see the show Gurrero says he is convinced it is a good tool for evangelism.
Carlos is the illusionist and director for the Kimbray Circus. He explained that after his own baptism a year ago, he and the rest of the family wanted to find ways to use their business to tell others about Jesus.
Now, while the show has the typical elements for a circus such as clowns, contortionists and illusionists, they also play sacred music and the show ends with an invitation to follow God. They also give Bible Studies.
“We would like to know other church members around the world who have our business, and exchange ideas on how to share God’s love with the crowd,” said Rodríguez. “We have heard of ‘creative ways of evangelism’, and we think this one could be a good one. But we would like to get some help, so we may do it much better,” he added.
Though the family is originally from Antioquia in Colombia, they travel all over the country and average about 200 people at each show.
