SCANDINAVIAN GOSPEL CONJURING CONFERENCE

by Torben Østermark

From 12th to 14th May, O.A.C. Denmark organised the first Gospel Conjuring Conference in Norway, at Indremisjons Bible College, Oslo.

The lecturer was Pete Hodge, OAC Director for Wales. He did 5 seminars about subjects including The Ethics of Conjuring as a means of preaching the Gospel, Conjuring in the Street and Escapology. His main emphases were a professional standard of performance and a clear presentation of the Gospel.

It was very exciting that about 20 people from different parts of Norway and one from Sweden came to the Conference. It was the first conference in Norway, so we did not know beforehand of many people in the country who were using Conjuring as an aid for preaching. Among the participants were pastors, youth and children's workers, some of them in full-time ministry. The Conference also attracted considerable media interest in Norway.

Some of the participants were beginners. They did not use conjuring but were very interested to know how they could use it in their ministry. Some people had done conjuring shows but only a few had used the techniques in their ministry.

As part of the programme, we also went to the biggest pedestrianised area in Oslo, Karl Johans Gate, where we did some open-airs. Many people stopped to see the conjuring and the sketchboard and to listen to the Gospel.