May/June • 2004 • Vol. 48–3

The

Christian ConjurerMagazine

The

Christian ConjurerMagazine

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN MAGICIANSOFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN MAGICIANS

The Christian Conjurer May/June - 2004

Personality Profile:Envoy Kerry Kistler

145 WINDSOR DRDES PLAINES IL 60018-1229

kkistler@wowway.com • (847) 375-8830

When our new FCM President EdJarvis and his wife Marge retired

from their position as Evangelists for theSalvation Army’s Central Territory, it left ahuge hole. Army Headquarters startedlooking for someone to pick up the Jarvis’banner and continue the work. Meet theirsuccessors: The Kistler Family.We caught up with Kerry at his home basein Des Plaines, Illinois during a break inthe family’s touring schedule. We wantedto know how all of this unfolded.CC: Let’s look backward for a moment.How did you get your start in magic?KK: I was one of those kids who wouldNOT quit asking “How did you do that!?”(laughs) No lie! My boyhood pastor,Stephen Kiplinger was both a gospel magi-cian AND a chalk artist, and I would pesterhim to death to teach me his tricks. I gavehim no rest (laughs).Then I haunted the libraryfor magic books, whichpaid off in spades – liter-ally. A lady in town, Mrs.Reed, tried to give the li-brarian a box of magicbooks that had belongedto her late husband. SinceI had already devouredevery magic book in theplace, the librarian putthe lady in contact withME! She not only gaveme a big box of books butseveral boxes of magicgear too! What a goldmine! I suddenly felt ini-tiated into the inner circleof magic (smiles).After that came trips toStoner’s Magic Shop,

magic lessons from Jimmy Yoshida, andlots more. There are many threads thatmake up the tapestry of my magic heritage.CC: To what extent was the FCM a part ofthat heritage?KK: Huge... extremely significant. About1975, an evangelist named Rev. TimothyCostales gave me a box of tricks that con-tained an old beat-up copy of the ChristianConjurer. It led me to the FCM. I attendedmy first convention at Winona in ‘77 andwas never the same. I roomed with a guywho became a great life-long friend andeventually the best man at my wedding –Alan Skogerbo.I also met an FCM old-timer, Tony Birch,who sold me boxes of old magic maga-zines. That introduced me to the magic leg-ends of the 50’s and 60’s. Which, in turn,led to an Abbott’s Get-Together where Iactually got to meet the magic icons I had

only read about.And, truly, the writers inthe Conjurer becamemy faithful mentorseach month. Specialthanks to all those con-tributors and editors forhelping to shape mydestiny.CC: Speaking of des-tiny, how did you end upwhere you are now –traveling and perform-ing full-time with yourfamily for the SalvationArmy?KK: Wow. I do a lot ofmentalism in my shows,but I never saw this onecoming (laughs). Thecomplete story could fill

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Jeremy & Sarah help make our stageillusions really sparkle

The Christian Conjurer May/June - 2004

several Conjurers butI’ll try to give you thecondensed version.Back in 1996, after 20years of varying successwith magic, I received amailing from veteranchalk artist Gary Means.To this day neither of usknows why he sent methat flyer. But, Godknew. I had no chalkeasel, but God had thatcovered too – and led meto Jim Hicks who GAVEme his spare easel. So, Iwent to the workshop andhad an epiphany moment.Life changed after thatweekend. Chalk art ener-gized me to begin perform-ing again.CC: Wait, you said youbegan performing “again”.Had you quit performingfor a while? If so, Why?KK: Yes, several times, ac-tually. Why? Lots of differ-ent reasons – the demandsof a growing family and ca-reer; no money for equip-ment – at one time I actual-ly sold off nearly my wholemagic collection to paysome pressing bills; dis-couragement with my per-forming ability and techni-cal skills... which I stilllament at times(laughs). I thinkmany performersare a ratherbroody – some-times-melancholy– lot and after per-forming a sloppyshow or watchinga polished pro atwork I wouldthink, “Why am Idoing this?”“Dean” BillBaker once made

a passionate plea that weshould not be perform-ing if we aren’t willingto pay the price in prac-tice. I had to agree withhis arguments and so Iquit performing whenev-er I felt that I could notgive magic what it de-manded and deserved.CC: And chalk art wasthe catalyst that revivedyour performing career?KK: It really was. Asrich as my magic her-itage was, the chalk art

began getting an unbeliev-able audience reaction –people were coming to thealtar for salvation, standingovations, etc. Even thoughI viewed myself as a magi-cian first and a chalk artistsecond, it was always thechalk that people wanted totalk about. Almost by de-fault my magic became anappetizer while the chalkart became the maincourse. In a way, my magicis still trying to get thesame respect as my chalkart (laughs). After lots ofwork, the gap is closing.CC: So back to your jour-ney to the Salvation Army– what happened next?

KK: Right. Tosummarize thesaga, from 1996,bookings beganto pick up steam,the programs be-came more de-veloped and ourkids becamemore and moreinvolved...CC: Not to inter-rupt – how didyour kids get in-volved in yourshows?

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Two tubes, ten spears, a littlesmoke, no mirrors. Yep, Sarah’sstill in there.

Jil plays a sweet old lady in one ofour musical vignettes. I hope I ageas gracefully.

Sarah and Jeremy ham it up during a vaude-ville-style sketch on spiritual blindness.

The Christian Conjurer May/June - 2004

KK: They just got sick of watching dadperform (laughs). I didn’t want to leave myfamily home every weekend, so I startedlooking for ways to get them involved. Wedug some puppet equipment out of the attic– from a previous stint as Children’sChurch directors – and expanded the showto include short puppet pieces. Sarah, 16,now manages all the puppet gear, she playskeyboard, writes music, performs in skits,and assists with larger illusions. I know shewould make a great chalk artist if I wouldonly get serious about training her (hangshead).We also added stage lights and a sound sys-tem which Justin, 14, manages. He’s a jug-gler, balloonatic, and is very gifted techni-cally – he spends spare time writing com-puter code for gaming applications.

Jeremy, 12, is my on-stage assistant, acharacter actor in skits, balloonatic, andpuppeteer. He wants to be doing moremagic and has a fascination with escapes.He’s currently working on a strongbox es-cape. He’s a funny kid and when I look athim, I see myself 30 years ago.Christy, 8, helps with puppets and reallyhas the gift of hospitality, so she is also ourprogram hostess – our official greeter thathands out programs before the showsbegin. And she wants to be doing more.I’m always looking for new ways to writethe kids into the shows.CC: So, Kistler Family Ministries really isa family affair.KK: Absolutely! I am already depressedabout the day when all my kids are grownand gone. We keep telling our kids that weget their firstborn children as road replace-ments when they leave home (laughs). It issuch an unbelievable blessing and joy forJil and me to be ministering full-time withour kids by our side. My wife Jil is an ab-solute Proverbs 31 woman. We would notbe with the Salvation Army today if Jil hadnot kept me from making the biggest mis-take of my life!CC: This sounds like death-defying stuff.What happened?KK: (big sigh) It happened like this. From1996 to 2000, our family ministry grewuntil it felt like God was steering us towardfull-time. So we tested the waters and setup a ten-week tour from New York toKansas and back. We did 35 programs andhad a great time. Although we did very

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You are looking at a ‘This Little Light ofMine’ version of the Bible. Verses that teachus to be a witness are highlighted in a veryspecial way! (can you guess what happenswhen I open this Bible?)

I keep my drawings under 20 minutes. ThisLighthouse drawing is nearly finished.

Time for the blacklight - an invisible cross willemerge in the lighthouse.

The Christian Conjurer May/June - 2004

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well in love offerings, I knew that being afull-time independent ministry requiredmore faith than I could muster. Seriously,my hat is off to independent full-timers –especially families. Until you have tried ityou can never understand the demands. Iwas pretty sure that going full-time for usmeant hooking up with some larger organi-zation. I began sending out letters andvideos to likely candidates. But, nothingopened up.Now, when we started to home school in1996, we gave up half our income. Fi-nances steadily grew worse while we triedto sell our house. So, even though we hadexperienced a successful ten-week tour, wewere forced to make some tough decisions.First, we sold our RV trailer. Then we saidgoodbye to our 15-passenger van, whichhad pulled the trailer, carried us, and hauledour equipment. Then we had a new prob-lem – we had no way to get to gigs and hadto start turning down invitations for book-ings. We also moved into a much smallerhouse with no storage and had to borrowspace in an old barn to store our equipment.Basically, our dream was dying on the vine,and I really didn’t know how to stop it. Forover 2 years we stopped performing as afamily. I only did a couple of small sologigs as favors for friends.Finally, my dream was dead, and one day Isat down with my wife and said: “Jil, sinceGod doesn’t seem to care about our familyministry, then why should I? Isn’t it truethat where God guides, God provides? Andsince He hasn’t provided, I must have beenmisguided. Why don’t we find somebodythat God DOES want to use and give our

equipment to them? What’s the sense ofletting it rot in an old barn?”CC: What did your wife say to your deci-sion?KK: (looks away) She cried. And then shemade a passionate speech about how Godstill had wonderful things in store for ourfamily ministry. So, I just shut up andthought, “fine let the stuff rot.”(laughs).But she kept me from making a criticalmistake, because a few months later wewould need that equipment for an audition(smiles).In November of 2002, the Salvation ArmyTerritorial Headquarters in Des Plaines,Illinois contacted us. Major Jan Sjogren,head of the Evangelism department, won-dered if Kistler Family Ministries would beinterested in partnering with the Army.Their Territorial Evangelists Ed and MargeJarvis had retired, and our name ended upon their short-list of candidates. How theyhappened to have our contact informationin their files is another long God-orches-trated story. I was speechless.Four months later we were driving toChicago for an interview/audition. One ofthe shows was at the Harbor Light Missionin downtown Chicago, an adult rehab cen-ter run by the Army. We had over 30 mencome to the altar that night for salvation –more than we had ever had in a singlemeeting. A week later Headquarters calledand asked how soon we could start. Threemonths later we moved from upstate NewYork to Chicagoland. That was July 2003.CC: So, in less than one year you wentfrom nearly giving all your equipmentaway to being full-time evangelists withthe Salvation Army? Amazing!KK: (smiles) There is no word in the dic-tionary to describe it. And, I’ve left outsome really cool parts of the story too –like how we stood in the bitter Januarycold, chipping through three feet of snowand ice to get our equipment out of thatbarn for the audition (laughs). Or how I hadmy own personal “burning bush” experi-ence with a flaming Bible prop (laughs).I’m not kidding, it was an awesome confir-mation of this call. But, that’s another story.However, I must admit, I’m still getting

A picture says a thousand words. This chalkpiece concludes our program on Holiness.

The Christian Conjurer May/June - 2004

used to the title of “evangelist”. I guess the

Army had to call us something, but I’msimply a magician/chalk artist who lovessharing the gospel along side his family.The Army has provided everything weneed as we travel throughout 11 mid-west-ern states. The Army supplies a motorhome we live in for 2/3+ of the year and ahome in the Des Plaines area for whenwe’re off the road between campaign cy-cles. And, incredibly, we actually have abudget for supplies and equipment! FI-NALLY, after all these years! (shakes headand laughs).CC: Any final thoughts to share?KK: Nothing is wasted with God. Yeah,it’s a pity that God needed 42 years to getme road-ready. But, it could of been worse– God spent 80 years getting poor Mosesready (laughs). Here is a recent conversa-tion I had with God:Q: Why was my boyhood pastor a magi-cian and chalk artist?A: So you would prepare from a young ageto be the magician and chalk artist you aretoday – to carry on Stephen’s legacy.

Q: OK, but why did you take me into thecommercial art and illustration field for 9years?A: So you could complete your art trainingin preparation to be a chalk artist. Plus,now you can art-direct your own promomaterial.Q: OK, but why did you take me into radioand TV for several years?A: To enhance your communication skills.Plus, now you can produce and mix yourown performance sound tracks.Q: OK, but how about that year as an in-terim pastor?A: So you would learn how to write andpreach a sermon. Plus, now you better un-derstand the challenges and trials of smallchurch pastors who will be booking you.Q: OK, but how about those 11 yearsteaching in a state prison?A: So you would learn patience, compas-sion, gratitude, and management skills.Plus, now you know how to connect andminister to the men at Adult Rehab Cen-ters.Q: So, nothing is wasted with God?A: Nothing. Every experience is simply atraining school for greater work that liesahead.Q: Um, you mean there’s more advancedstuff to do after this?A: WooHoo! You’re finally beginning toget it!Q: OK, God. One last question...A: Promises, promises.Q:Why did you put our family ministry onhold for over 2 years?A: The timing got complicated because Edwas having too much fun and didn’t wantto quit. (smiles)God DOES have our best interests at heart.He plants the desires in us and knows thebest way to fulfill those desires. He had abetter dream in mind than I could havethought up myself. Now there’s the REALmagic (smiles). �

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The assistant’s shoe was destroyed and hedidn’t want the replacement on his left foot.After some byplay, we found his restoredshoe in the nest of boxes. Let Jesus ‘heelyour sole’ today!