‘Christians have nothing to fear from magic shows. They help me share the love of Christ’

Magic and magicians have often been misunderstood in Christian contexts, says Mark Shortland. He explains how he uses it for the gospel

Like many children, I was given a magic set when I was a young boy. I thrived on the excitement that it brought, learning sleight of hand and leaving people guessing how I’d managed to do the impossible.

I grew up in a Christian home and made my own commitment to Christ while at college in St Albans, studying for a degree in design. During this time, inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme, I developed a love for outdoor pursuits and, after leaving college, spent ten years working at various Christian outdoor pursuit centres.

My boyhood love for magic had become a dormant memory but, one day, after watching an American magician on TV, something reignited. I immediately and enthusiastically began to practice new magic tricks; magic that would not only amaze my audiences, but help to spark conversations about faith.