Middle TN Fellowship of Christian Magicians
hosts of Music City Creative Ministries Conference
Performers & Lecturers for 2019 MCCMC
Look who is performing and teaching workshops at the 29th Music City Creative Ministries Conference November 7-9.
Sam Sandler
America's only full-time deaf Christian illusionist is based out of Philadelphia PA. He started juggling and clowning as Gismo the Magic Clown as a teen. Touring with Toby Travis inspired him to develop his own illusion show. But a hereditary disease left him with complete bilateral deafness 10 years ago, unable to hear music or verbal cues required to perform his illusion act. His struggle to adapt led to a complete redesigned show that embraces his deafness and has DEAFinitely Magic by Sam Sandler travelling across the country blending magic, comedy and his own personal
story in a high energy illusion show.
Virtuous Reality Blacklight Theater
This 12-member puppet troupe from Lancaster Ohio started as a small church puppet team and expanded into an outreach ministry that travels widely presenting inspiring programs that use puppets, music, light and imagination.
The group was featured at the 2018 and 2019 Fellowship of Christian Magicians International Conventions.
John Coen
Director of Creative Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Lancaster, Ohio, John Coen began the Virtuous Reality Puppetry & Blacklight Theater team in 1993. With a background in special effects in Hollywood, Coen has taught classes on blacklight puppetry at national and international puppetry conferences.
Langston Hatch
Creator of original soft sculpture foam puppets used by Virtuous Reality Puppetry team and many other puppeteer clients, Langston Hatch has been making and performing with puppets since he was a child when his grandmother recruited him to help with a puppet group at church. He is part of the puppetry team. He is currently studying fashion design at Columbus College of Art.
Tricky Ricky Henson
A multi-talented magician and ventriloquist, Tricky Ricky Henson has taught and entertained at numerous regional, national and international conferences. Owner of Tricky Ricky Henson Magic in Jonesboro, Georgia, he performs at school assemblies, camp ministries, evangelistic crusades.
Curt and Diana Patty
Experienced in magic, puppets, clowning and face painting Curt and Diana Patty perform as Handy Andy and Blossom. From St. Louis, MO area, they have taught at various regional and international conferences. They own the Clown Gadget Store which specializes in simple magic, novelty clown props as well as face paint supplies.
Roy Stone
Roy Stone likes to clown around or visit with his puppet friends, Ham and Swiss. His alter ego, the Mad Scientist, incorporates science into magic effects. Stone is a children's pastor at the Church at Pleasant Grove and owner of Jam Stone Magic, which is known for its custom silks, signs, backdrops and unique magic props.
Kenny Durham
A multi-platinum singer/songwriter from Middle Tennessee, The group Alabama recorded his song "Fireworks" on three different albums. Kenny Durham is well known for his John Denver Tribute Concerts. He penned "Goodbye John" after learning about Denver's death in a plane crash. That song along with 11 other originals are on his CD Dreamin.' In addition to being a solo artist, he has played with a trio, Crystal River Cowboys, and bands, The Cliftones and the Posse. Kenny is also an actor having appeared on several TV commercials, a movie and several music videos.
Steve Kilgore
Our own Middle TN FCM member Steve Kilgore is known for his unique comedy magic and custom built magic props and ventriloquist figures. But he is also a singer/songwriter and owner of music publishing company, More and More Music. He is the son of Music City legendary songwriter and producer Merle Kilgore, writer of "Wolverton Mountain" and co-writer with June Carter Cash of "Ring of Fire."
Tim Fox
Back by popular demand is Strongman Tim Fox of Shelbyville TN whose feats of strength and skill amazed last year's registrants. On Saturday morning, he will do a Strongman demonstration as he brings the morning devotion. Don't miss this!