North Central alumni clown|North Central alumni clown

A world-class clown

When Randy Christensen ’84 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’s Who entry in the world of clowning.

The easygoing Children’s Pastor at Hillside Church in Mankato, Minnesota, just wrapped up a two-year term as President of the World Clown Association, an international organization that unites clowns from 35 countries to “promote 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” (worldclown.com/about-us).

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 (2016–2018). 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.

Clowning around in college

David Boyd ’81, was a senior when freshman Randy Christensen was assigned as his roommate in Carlson Hall. Boyd was involved in children’s ministry over the summer doing puppetry, magic, and clowning, and told Christensen, “Randy, you need to become a clown with me.”

Christensen’s response? “There’s no way I’m going to be caught dead with makeup on my face.” He was an athlete and a musician and wanted people to take him seriously, so he could be a “real pastor.”

But Boyd persisted, first by teaching Christensen to juggle—which he picked up quickly—and by continuing to insist Randy give it a try. Resist, insist, resist, insist…until Christensen finally said, “If you go with me one time, I’ll never ask you again.”

Christensen finally relented and a few weeks later found himself dressed as a clown, visiting a local children’s 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.

“Before we left, a nurse wanted to take a couple of us into the intensive care unit,” Christensen recalled. “My friend said, ‘Randy, you go…you’ll be fine.’” 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.

Let them laugh

North Central alumni clownThat experience led Christensen to ask God to change his heart and give him a love for children (he confessed he didn’t even like kids as a college student). God answered.

For a guy who wanted to be taken seriously, Christensen now revels in being laughed at. “A big part of clowning is when we bring joy and comic relief when we bring laughter,” Christensen said. “Proverbs 17:22 says ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine.’ [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.”

Coming back for more

Christensen has traveled the world as a pastor-clown and the stories of impact are endless. Some stand out more than others.

Four years ago, Christensen few to Bangladesh as part of a Christmas outreach to 2,000 homeless street kids. “I remember walking on stage in this sea of faces, and every single one smiled,” he recalled. “Everyone laughed, and they laughed at the exact same things American kids laughed at.

“I ended up opening a Christmas gift, pulled out a heart—symbolizing God’s love when He came to us that first Christmas. I heard an audible gasp as a sea of kids understood that God’s love came to earth for them. I’m able to communicate with some people who will never hear the message in another way, and it’s clowning that has opened the door for that to happen.”

Christensen is grateful to his roommate for being so serious about encouraging him to become a clown.

“It’s amazing that God has allowed me to do this, working with all kind of wonderful people, in places I never imagined I’d be able to go.”

Learn more about Randy Christensen at qualityprograms.net

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