Known for his ability to keep audiences on the edge of their seat, Alabama-based Christian illusionist Matt Adams, a member of the Madison campus of Willowbrook Baptist Church, is making history by receiving an inaugural Merlin Award, magic’s equivalent of an Academy Award.
Adams is being recognized with the first “Christian Illusionist of the Year” award, set to officially receive it in Las Vegas Aug. 6.
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While the Merlin Award has previously been bestowed upon legendary illusionists such as David Copperfield, Penn & Teller and Criss Angel, Adams is the first to receive it for this specific faith-based category, marking a significant milestone for both the magic community and faith-based entertainment.
The award is presented by the International Magicians Society, the world’s largest magic organization. Recipients are chosen based on talent, showmanship and contribution to the art of magic on a global scale.
“To be recognized by the International Magicians Society is an incredible honor, but receiving this award in recognition of my faith-based approach to magic is especially exciting,” Adams said. “My goal has always been to use the art of illusion to connect with people in a meaningful way and to share the gospel of Jesus. I’m thrilled to receive a Merlin Award for this work.
“I’m not interested in fame or notoriety, but if I can share Jesus with more people as a result of this award, then I’m all for it.”
Message behind ‘madness’
A resident of Harvest, Adams has gained international appeal as he mesmerizes audiences, blending his diverse background of engineering, martial arts and classical piano with sleight-of-hand and large illusions. He has performed around the globe.
While doing so, Adams does not miss an opportunity to share the message behind his “madness,” desiring to challenge the mind and inspire the spirit during his shows. He continues to push boundaries while maintaining a deep commitment to his craft.
“I grew up in a Christian household, and as far back as I can trace my family lineage, everyone has been a believer, which is truly amazing to look back on,” Adams related. “When I was 13 years old. I surrendered my life to the Lord, making a commitment that whatever He asked of me, I would do it.”
Adams became interested in using illusions as a platform to share the gospel while he got a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Alabama Huntsville.
“While on campus I loved sharing Jesus and had the privilege of seeing a handful of fellow students trust Christ,” Adams recalled. “When I graduated and got into the engineering field, I continued sharing my faith on the job. However, working in the ‘ Bible belt’ meant that most of my coworkers were already Christians, and I felt a strong stirring that the Lord wanted me to share more.
“To spark new opportunities, I started using magic tricks as a way to open up conversations with people on the street,” Adams noted. “I would go to Bridge Street Town Center to perform, using the illusions to transition into deep gospel conversations. I was actually one of the very first pavement performers at Bridge Street when it first opened, and that experience completely reshaped how I viewed the intersection of performance and ministry.”
From there, Adams felt God leading him to full-time ministry.
“For a long time, I was living a double life professionally — performing illusion shows full-time alongside a demanding, full-time engineering job,” he recalled.“It was a super-busy season, and by the time I reached a crossroads, I had already been performing illusions for about seven years.”
It took another seven years before he left the engineering field.
“It was a long journey, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Focused on the mission
Adams remains focused on the mission and message behind magic as he entertains crowds, and he realizes that the prestigious honor will provide greater opportunities to connect audiences with the gospel.
“Receiving the Merlin Award … is an incredible, humbling honor,” Adams said. “To have my work recognized at this level by my peers is deeply gratifying. It’s a reminder that God can take our unique talents, hone them to a high standard of excellence and use them on platforms we never could have engineered ourselves. I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition and excited to see how it opens new ministry opportunities for the future.
“[M]y absolute favorite part of this work,” Adams continued, “is having the distinct privilege of being a co-laborer with Christ to spread the good news. There’s no obvious, logical reason the Lord would choose me for this specific work, but I am incredibly glad He did.”
Adams remains committed to walking in obedience as God opens opportunities to perform in venues around the world, including “a Ukrainian warzone, the hostile streets of India and even visiting a machete-wielding tribe in Uganda.”
“When a church or venue brings me in, they can expect a high-energy, world-class illusion show designed to completely captivate the audience from the very first moment,” Adams promised. “The presentation is professional, engaging and fun, but it always serves a greater purpose. Every performance is intentionally structured to seamlessly transition into a clear, compelling presentation of the gospel, ensuring the audience leaves not just entertained, but challenged and inspired by the truth of Christ.”
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