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Duane and Mary Laflin offer a rare combination of
expertise and spiritual depth.
Their credits in the world of secular performers are
"top of the line."
- Performed and lectured multiple times at the
famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.
- Guest Lecturers at the prestigious Magic Circle in
London, England.
- Duane is a member of the "Inner Magic Circle with
Gold Star" This is a special international honor of highest regard in the world
of magicians.
- Duane and Mary were featured in the "Stars Of
Magic" tour in Japan and the "Stars Of Magic" show in Singapore. In
Blackpool, England, they performed for the largest convention of Magicians in
the world. Duane taught at Siegfried and Roy's College of Magic in South
Africa, they performed for promotions of Disney toys in Hong Kong, and were
stars of the closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics in Norway.
- Their upbeat, high energy, colorful style of
performance has put them on stages around the world and they have been seen in
many theaters across America, including the Tribeca Theater in New York City,
the John Hancock Center in Boston, Circus Circus in Las Vegas, and the Grand
Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, which boasts the largest stage in North America.
- The "Osgood Files" national radio program did a
full segment about them and the fact that they are Christians and Illusionists.
 Duane
and Mary were in the pastoral ministry for seventeen years before moving into
their present work as Christian Illusionists. They attended Bible
College in Northern Minnesota where Duane graduated with a degree in pastoral
ministry. He pastored the Community Bible Church in Presho, South Dakota,
for about eight years and then pastored the Rimrock Evangelical Free Church in
Rapid City, South Dakota for about nine years.
When they came to believe
the Lord was directing them into their present kind of work it was not an easy
decision to leave the pastoral ministry behind. The years they spent
serving the church as pastor and wife were filled with blessings.
However, they were
confident God was leading them into something new and different. Now they
are especially grateful for the years of working in church leadership for they
believe the experience gives them insight to the needs of the churches that use
them today. They believe their ministry as Christian Illusionists is
stronger and better because of their solid foundation in the Word of God and
"hands on" experience in the local church.
Duane and Mary have done
programs for large churches such as Saddleback Church in southern
California, First Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska, and Grove City Church of
the Nazarene in Columbus, Ohio. They have worked in many small churches
across America as well. The size of the church is not their concern, they
want to be where they can share the Word!
Duane and Mary have been
featured artists at many conferences for workers in children's ministry,
conventions for children's pastors, regional and national Sunday School
conventions, and conferences about evangelism and outreach. Southwestern
Baptist University in Fort Worth, Texas, used Duane to teach Homiletics classes
from the perspective of an entertainer who is in ministry.
When they are not on the
road Duane and Mary faithfully attend their local church in Pigeon Forge,
Tennessee. The believe "who you are" is more important than "what you
do." Although many years of their lives have been spent as "show business"
people, they are careful to maintain a number one commitment to the Lordship of
Jesus Christ. |
