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For Ken Sky, illusions aren’t just tricks or sleight of hand—they’re a tool to spread joy, spark curiosity, and, when appropriate, share the Good News of Jesus.
“An illusionist performs sleight of hand, does tricks, and we use that skill to create an illusion of something to make people laugh, wonder, think,” Sky explains. “Just like music is used to inspire people, to make them think and celebrate, illusions can be used to tell a story—to entertain and disconnect people from the real world for just a moment.”
Some might hear the words “illusion” or “magic trick” and associate them with something negative. But Sky says there’s nothing sinister behind it.
“Before I got into this, I thought there were actually people possessed by demons, creating things I couldn’t explain,” he says. “I’ve since learned that everything can be explained.”
To help others understand his approach, Sky offers a simple analogy.
“When people play guitar, it can be used to praise God—or it can be used to worship other things. The same with a car. You can drive it to church or drive it somewhere that pulls you away from God.
“Unfortunately, a lot of illusionists use their skill to make people think they have access to some special power. It’s all in the presentation. That’s why some people get a bad feeling—it’s because of how it’s been presented to them.”
Sky discovered the art of illusions at age 24, during one of the most difficult seasons of his life. His young son was seriously ill.
“I’d just become a dad, and our son was very sick. He got 21 blood transfusions in his first four years alone,” he says. “We spent a lot of time at CancerCare—tests, transfusions. During one of those visits, I felt absolutely helpless as a dad. There was nothing I could do except try to comfort him.”
Then, something unexpected happened.
“A clown came by and performed a small illusion for my son,” Sky recalls. “He didn’t know he was changing my life at that moment. I saw something that took me out of my sadness and made me wonder. I looked at it thinking, ‘This isn’t possible—but I’m seeing it with my own eyes.’ I needed to learn how to do this, so I could share it with other people. So they could wonder too—snap out of their sadness, be inspired, or just laugh.”
Now, Sky uses illusions as a ministry, performing across the country and sharing his testimony through story-driven shows that point back to hope in Christ.
“After a show, a lady came up to me and said, ‘Your performance, your story—it was healing for me. I lost my kid to leukemia. And by sharing what you shared tonight, it was healing,’” he says.
“That kind of stuck with me. Why would I want to do anything else but make it about the audience—give them a chance to wonder, laugh, and be inspired?”
Sky shared a couple of tricks in the CHVN studio. Check them out below.
To see the illusions up close, book Ken for your next party or gathering. The details can be found on his website, here.