{"id":505,"date":"2018-08-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northcentral.edu\/blog\/a-world-class-clown\/"},"modified":"2021-12-28T22:57:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T22:57:26","slug":"a-world-class-clown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northcentral.edu\/blog\/a-world-class-clown\/","title":{"rendered":"A world-class clown"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Randy Christensen \u201984 was a studying ministry at North Central University, he was serious about his faith, anticipating a career as a pastor where he would be taken seriously. At the start of his educational journey he never suspected his resume would one day read like the ultimate Who\u2019s Who entry in the world of clowning.<\/p>\n

The easygoing Children\u2019s Pastor at Hillside Church<\/a> in Mankato, Minnesota, just wrapped up a two-year term as President of the World Clown Association<\/a>, an international organization that unites clowns from 35 countries to \u201cpromote the art of clowning throughout the world. It was founded in 1982 with an emphasis on clown education and equipping of its members to be effective in their chosen area of clowning\u201d (worldclown.com\/about-us<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In addition to this leadership role, Christensen holds the unique honor of being the only person to ever be Clown of the Year (2013), Master Clown (2011) and President of the World Clown Association (2016\u20132018). He incorporates clowning, juggling, and physical comedy into his work as a pastor and for audiences of all ages in churches, camps, corporate meetings, hospitals, and more.<\/p>\n

Clowning around in college<\/h2>\n

David Boyd \u201981, was a senior when freshman Randy Christensen was assigned as his roommate in Carlson Hall. Boyd was involved in children\u2019s ministry over the summer doing puppetry, magic, and clowning, and told Christensen, \u201cRandy, you need to become a clown with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christensen\u2019s response? \u201cThere\u2019s no way I\u2019m going to be caught dead with makeup on my face.\u201d He was an athlete and a musician and wanted people to take him seriously, so he could be a \u201creal pastor.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Boyd persisted, first by teaching Christensen to juggle\u2014which he picked up quickly\u2014and by continuing to insist Randy give it a try. Resist, insist, resist, insist\u2026until Christensen finally said, \u201cIf you go with me one time, I\u2019ll never ask you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christensen finally relented and a few weeks later found himself dressed as a clown, visiting a local children\u2019s hospital. In each room he visited, as the children looked at him he noticed a little life would come back in their eyes and even start to see a hit of a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore we left, a nurse wanted to take a couple of us into the intensive care unit,\u201d Christensen recalled. \u201cMy friend said, \u2018Randy, you go\u2026you\u2019ll be fine.\u2019\u201d The short visit to the ICU brought an encounter with a little girl that changed his life, when he realized the joy he could bring so readily to hurting kids.<\/p>\n

Let them laugh<\/h2>\n

\"NorthThat experience led Christensen to ask God to change his heart and give him a love for children (he confessed he didn\u2019t even like kids as a college student). God answered.<\/p>\n

For a guy who wanted to be taken seriously, Christensen now revels in being laughed at. \u201cA big part of clowning is when we bring joy and comic relief when we bring laughter,\u201d Christensen said. \u201cProverbs 17:22 says \u2018A cheerful heart is good medicine.\u2019 [Clowning] is about bringing emotional relief. As I am able to tie a Christian message to it, it also brings spiritual health. I want to provide opportunities where families can come together, laugh together, and have a memory making experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coming back for more<\/h2>\n

Christensen has traveled the world as a pastor-clown and the stories of impact are endless. Some stand out more than others.<\/p>\n

Four years ago, Christensen few to Bangladesh as part of a Christmas outreach to 2,000 homeless street kids. \u201cI remember walking on stage in this sea of faces, and every single one smiled,\u201d he recalled. \u201cEveryone laughed, and they laughed at the exact same things American kids laughed at.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ended up opening a Christmas gift, pulled out a heart\u2014symbolizing God\u2019s love when He came to us that first Christmas. I heard an audible gasp as a sea of kids understood that God\u2019s love came to earth for them. I\u2019m able to communicate with some people who will never hear the message in another way, and it\u2019s clowning that has opened the door for that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christensen is grateful to his roommate for being so serious about encouraging him to become a clown.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing that God has allowed me to do this, working with all kind of wonderful people, in places I never imagined I\u2019d be able to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more about Randy Christensen at\u00a0qualityprograms.net<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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