As Christian illusionist Laz West travels across the country performing for ministry events, he realizes how easily people can be deceived into believing the lies of Satan.
For this ordained minister and member of First Baptist Church Orange, Texas, there’s a method behind the madness presented in his “illusion versus reality show,” and that’s why he’s committed to making sure audiences connect with the message he presents more than the magic.
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With a unique ability to entertain and engage audiences with tricks and illusions, West was recruited by The Walt Disney Company when he was a senior in college and performed with them for a couple of years.
It was then that he realized the opportunity for the ministry to be a mission field.
“I was 11 years old when I accepted Christ as my Savior, and I was born into a Christian home,” West recalled. “Interestingly, the same year is when I started performing magic and illusions. As I entered into high school I titled the show I put together, ‘Magic for the Ministry,’ and I performed my first professional show at 17.
“It was during my senior year of high school that I really felt called to full-time ministry.”
As doors started opening for West to perform, he also became a youth pastor shortly after graduating high school and was ordained into ministry.
“I noticed in college that magic was universal, and it captivated people’s attention and allowed me to meet diverse groups of people,” West remembered. “As a college student, I would perform and would use the illusions to capture the attention and then to present a gospel message.”
Unique opportunities
During his travels, West has performed at Disney World, the Mall of America in Minneapolis, on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and at churches, camps and conferences across the country.
With the unique opportunities the Lord continues to place before him, West recently submitted an audition tape to the Penn & Teller show, which intrigued the consultants. If selected, West would be flown to Los Angeles to appear on the show this fall.
Wherever he performs, West’s goal remains the same.
“I’ve performed shows for just a couple of people up to an audience of hundreds,” he said. “Each show feels different, but I’ve encouraged people that even if they get the magic to be sure they get the message.
“I believe God has shown me through this ministry how easily we can be deceived or even to deceive ourselves. He’s also shown that the Holy Spirit uses faith, grace and not sleight-of-hand or tricks like I do to accomplish His work.
“My favorite part of this ministry is reminding people, especially high school, college students and young adults, how to recapture that sense of awe and wonder as I lead them to Jesus.”
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