Clowning Around

[Treasure]

KoKoMo stood proudly in the sanctuary of Carrollwood Baptist, his huge white shoes planted firmly, his head-to-toe sequins glimmering, his nose and wig as red as a Christmas bow.

It was no joke. KoKoMo was decked out for God.

The Rev. Tom Rives adopted his alter ego about 35 years ago and has used it ever since. The message delivered in his high-pitched voice is weighty for a clown: It is of love and salvation.

Rives believes clowning is a means to teach about Christ. "People who wouldn't talk to a preacher will talk to a clown,'' he says.

KoKoMo and a troupe of clown friends have also shown up at prisons, hospitals, fairs and shopping malls here. The King's Clowns, as they call themselves, aim to proselytize while entertaining, disarming their audiences with their silly characters.

Carrollwood's sanctuary is dotted this night with red and white poinsettias and rows of chairs filled with people. Out of sight, Rives and 10 other clowns gather in a circle while the pastor prays.

"Father, may the message get across,'' he says in a deep voice with a slight Southern drawl.

Within moments, Rives appears before the congregants, his face caked in white, a tiny blue hat perched crookedly on his head.

"Hi!'' he squeals. "I'm KoKoMo the Clown!''

What follows is an hour-long series of skits performed by the clowns, each with a Christmas theme and a Christian message: Be thankful. Honor Christ daily. Remember it is more blessed to give than receive.

In between acts, KoKoMo enlists the help of children to pull off magic tricks. He transforms a giant playing card into one displaying an image of Christ. A stuffed dove is brought to life. A little girl's jaw drops when KoKoMo turns numerous colored scarves into one multicolored piece of fabric.

Vicki Musser, 50, who came to watch the clowns' show, said children and adults alike can take away something positive.

"It's not so formal in this kind of service. You can relax a little more,'' she said. "And I think they can understand a little better.''

The act was born in Tennessee around 1970, when Rives was new to ministry and attended a workshop sponsored by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clowns. He never expected to pair his work with his love of the circus, but before long, it just made sense.

Rives sometimes incorporates clown skits in his regular services. A couple of times a year, there's a full clown service, and the troupe regularly visits other places.

Clowning, the 61-year-old pastor says, has allowed him to reach people who otherwise would not be reached. Some have accepted Christ. Others leave with questions about their faith. And many simply experience an innocent joyfulness the clowns see as an expression of Christ's love.

"You can be at a red light dressed as a clown and the people next to you will just be smiling and waving,'' said Robin Singleton, 45, who has been performing as Skittles for two years while wearing a rainbow-colored jumpsuit and wig.

Rick Racki, aka Riff-Raff, the troupe's only hobo clown, said the outfits make people more receptive to a spiritual message.

"There's something inside them that just opens up,'' the 43-year-old said. "They're more open. They're less afraid.''

I read this same article today in my very small town newspaper. While I don't have any problem with a small protion of Sunday Service being designated for the children, this pastor has gone too far with the clowning around. Sunday morning church is intended for the equipping of the saints not the entertainment of children or adults. The purpose of Children's Church is to teach them on their level of understanding, why then bring clowns into service to preach?

Gainsville Sun

[Neeva Candida]

He'll likely end up as an entry on this website:

A Little Leaven

~Neeva

[vicki-aka-bebe]

well for me what ever works to plant seeds about Christ or bring people to the Lord... off hand i c nothing wrong with how he is teaching about God.. God did use a donkey once .. so who is to say..

God bless sister vicki aka bebe

[Treasure]

well for me what ever works to plant seeds about Christ or bring people to the Lord... off hand i c nothing wrong with how he is teaching about God.. God did use a donkey once .. so who is to say..

God bless sister vicki aka bebe

Your heart is in the right place sis but God doesn't need antics such as this to draw people to Him. His Word does that.

John 12:32 (Amplified Bible)

32And I, if and when I

am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all

men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to Myself.

[vicki-aka-bebe]

that is true 4given very true... and the word... but i was just saying and i dont mean taking things to the extreme but still feel that there are people out there that God can use to help draw people that might not other wise even give him a second thought.. a chance by useing a few different ways than we are use to seeing... with out disrespecting our Lord .... satan uses all he can... and i think God can use the same means... now hope you take that as i mean it... like music is a big thing satan uses ... and so does God ... God can take the bad and turn it into something good and use it for his glory...but i am rambling again so i will hush... bet you put an amen after that lol and your right my heart is in the right place only want to lift up Jesus and give him the glory ... now i need to think this through ...lol ok love ya... God bless sister vicki

[Treasure]

IMO this is disrespectful to the Lord. The purpose of going to church is to grow spiritually. This is evangelism and while there isn't anything wrong with evangelism itself, it's to be done outside of the church. I agree that the church needs to be reaching out to people but the calling of the Holy Spirit doesn't need a clown (or anything else) to promote it. The true call of the Holy Spirit is heard in the heart. When God is exalted as He should be, He draws people to Him and needs no props.

[Neeva Candida]

I thought the purpose of church was to glorify God.

~Neeva

[Treasure]

I thought the purpose of church was to glorify God.

~Neeva

Meaning not the equipping of the saints?

[Neeva Candida]

I'm not sure I understand the question.

~Neeva

[Treasure]

Sorry. Are you saying that the purpose of the church is to edify God and not for the equipping of the saints?