Staff writer

chriscam@observer-reporter.com

When it comes to sharing the gospel, Dan Amos has been known to use a sleight of hand.

Since he was a child Amos has been interested in magic. He recently used those skills to minister to Venezuelan children during a mission trip.

In February Amos traveled with Sonlight Missions out of Uniontown to Maturin, Venezuela. The group was involved with construction of living quarters for a pastor at an orphanage at Hijos de Luz.

They spent their days doing construction. Nighttime was devoted to mission work.

They distributed 160 bags of food to the poor in an area known as Tin City, so-called because the homes are nothing more than tin shacks.

People use whatever they can to make a home. They also use items such as car hoods or rope to loosely fence their property. If they don't, they will return to find their possessions missing.

"A visit to a home like this or a town like this will break your heart and change your life," Amos said.

Everyone Amos met was warm and welcoming. The children with whom he interacted were thrilled just to have a small cup of soft drink with ice cubes in it. They had a joyful reaction to Amos' magic act, including the balloon animals he made for them.

"It's a whole different outlook on life those people have," he said.

Amos grew up in the Nazarene church and said the denomination was big on mission work. One of his cousins, in fact, was a missionary in Africa. Despite that, he never felt the call to go into the mission field even though he often donated to it.

"Some people go by giving, but then it came time to give by going," he explained of the change.

Now a member of Brooke Hills (W.Va.) Free Methodist Church, Amos' first mission trip was four years ago to San Lois, Mexico. Sonlight Missions also operates an orphanage in Sun Valley, Ariz.

A member of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians, Amos' 35-minute magic show includes about 10 to 15 minutes of sharing the gospel. He always explains that although he can do tricks, only God can do miracles.

Amos is now in prayer to learn where God will lead him next. He is trying to discern if he should go to Mexico City for his next mission trip.

"I'm trying to encourage other people to do short-term mission work," he said. "Even if it's in a local nursing home. Just going in and sitting down and holding someone's hand."

Dan Amos is available to speak to churches or groups and can be reached at 724-345-3382.

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