Who are we?

The Ohio fellowship of Christians Magicians is designed first and foremost to provide a means of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ by using magic effects and routines.

While we recognize the importance of improving technical skills used in magic, our primary goal, both in teaching others to use this media, and in our public presentations, is to clearly and consistently present the Gospel.

In seminars, lectures, and educational programs, or while sharing effects and routines with each other, the goal of clearly presenting the Gospel is, without apology the most important.

Our History

The Ohio FCM Conference is the brain child of Joe Shultz. At the 1988 International FCM convention at Winona Lake, Indiana. Joe asked everyone from Ohio to bring their lunch and meet him in front of the Billy Sunday Tabernacle. At the time the International Convention was running over 1,000 attendees. The Ohio delegation was large and there was a lot of interest in having a regional conference in Ohio. The decisions made that day were, the conference would be modeled after the Ft. Wayne Regional, it would be held in the Spring, since Ft. Wayne was in the fall, and most importantly it would be Christ Centered.

The first board members were, Joe Shultz president, Paul Ricksecker 1st vice president, Jeff Eno 2nd Vice President, Jim Church treasurer and June McLaughlin secretary. The first conference in 1989 was a big success and everyone enjoyed the lecturers and performances. The conference soon grew to 220 and out grew several motels. There were a couple hiccups along the way. One year the conference brochures were never delivered by the post office (the post office still has them). Another year the motel changed owners and they wiped out all the reservations. Most of our attendees showed up without a hotel room, the hotel was sold out but rooms were found at the hotel next door.

Other people of note:

Other members who have served on the board in the past are, Joe Shultz, Paul Ricksecker, Bob Smith, Dewey Adams, Jeff Eno, Steve Parlette, Faron Buskol, George Stewart and Mike King,

Today

The current board members are Mark Irwin president, Greg Hamilton 1st vice president/treasure, David Brizius 2nd vice president, Lacey Lemley secretary, Dan Amos. & Breanna Hamilton, Wesley Furste board members.

We also have a junior bord member: Emma Taylor.

Our Board bios

Event Planning and Coordination

Mark is an ordained minister and while on vacation one year he witnessed a young man performing magic with a gospel message. Being active in the youth ministry he thought that this was one of the greatest ministry tools he had ever saw. The next spring in 1993 Mark and his family was directed to their first Ohio Fellowship of Christian Magicians conference. He was overwhelmed with all the ministry tools that they left that conference with. Shortly after Mark and his wife Doris formed “Majestic Ministries” They have never missed an Ohio Fellowship Conference since then. He says that he can’t believe how using magic in his ministry has changed his ministry into what it has involved to today.

Several years ago Mark accepted the Ohio Fellowship of Christian Magicians board of directors’ invitation to serve on the board of directors. Serving in various different offices and he is now the president.

Mark and his wife Doris have performed in many states and has had the privilege of performing at the International Convention for the International Fellowship of Christian Magicians. The highlights of their programs is when they see someone make a decision to accept Christ as their personal savior.

Greg Hamilton 1st Vice President

David Brizius 2nd Vice President

Greg Hamilton graduated from Chavez College of Magic in 1979. In 1980 he went full time in to magic working for the Dakota Assemblies and Southeast School Assemblies. Each tour consisted of 600 shows in 40 weeks. He has done shows for state and county fairs, festivals, libraries, churches, and a cruise ship. Now he performs and lectures at magic conventions. He wrote the book “Hare Brain Ideas for the Rabbit in the Hat Puppet”.

David Brizius 2nd Vice President

Davis Brizus : aka “Firefighter Dave”, has been a Magician and Fire Safety Educator for over 40 years. After 35 years of service, he retired from Mifflin Township Division of Fire in Gahanna, OH; he now performs and teaches all over Ohio. He is well known for his preschool and children’s shows and is also recommended for family and adult performances. David is a 4th generation magician and draws upon his experiences performing with his father, David B. Brizius aka “Boonie”. You can see him performing table side at many Columbus area restaurants. For the past 35 plus years,

David and his wife Tina, have directed a faith-based youth program called “CAMP” (Constructing Assured & Motivated People).

Lacy Lemley Secretary

David Brizius 2nd Vice President

Lacy was first introduced to gospel magic at a young age after seeing Mark and Doris Irwin perform at her church. She started to pursue magic in 2010, and since then she has performed gospel magic at church, church camp, and preschool/daycare. The Lord had compelled her to perform more after attending an OFCM convention in 2018.

Galatians 6:9-10

Dan Amos Advisory Board

Dan is currently the President of the “Three Rivers FCM chapter. At age 9, Dan learned his first magic trick at a Cub Scout meeting. He has attended IBM, SAM, Columbus Magi-Fest and many years at the Ohio FCM convention. (His favorite by far)

Dan attended his first magic conclave at age 12. The first dealer he met was Bob Little; he also met past greats: Jack Chanin, Senator Cradall, Johnny Glordmaine, Paul Diamond, and others. Melvin Pryor, Mack Picknick, David Ginn and Duane Laflin have been a big influence in his magic career.

Dan has performed Magic and Balloons on mission trips to Mexico and Venezuela where he shares the Gospel. Dan even has a few magic tricks up his sleeve that he can share the wonder of magic with the blind.

Dan and his wife Gwen live in Washington, PA. He loves performing close-up or stage magic at preschools, youth groups, banquets and nursing homes in the tristate area, sharing the Love and Grace of Christ our Savior.

Breanna Hamilton Advisory Board

Emma Taylor Jr. Board Member

I honestly don’t remember when I was first introduced to magic. I guess you can say magic it is in my blood. When I was little I assisted my dad during his magic shows and would go to conventions with him. Going to the magic conventions I learned magic, balloon animals, puppetry, and my favorite thing….juggling. From what I learned at those conventions and teaching myself I have been able to perform at church, for friends and family, and traveling with Steve and Cheryl Harney with Cool Kids Ministries.

Emma Taylor Jr. Board Member

Emma has been involved with magic all of her life. It was kind of hard for her not to since her dad is a magician. It wasn’t until lately that till she caught the magic bug. She soon started participating in talent shows and doing parties. She also dabbles as an assistant with her father and a variety of other magicians.