Rafael “Bombin” Rondon, Fort Worth, Texas

Rafael is back on our faculty for a second time this year. You may remember him three years ago as one of the stars of the Circus of the King’, which he co-founded with Chagy the clown in 1997.  Rafael is an ordained minister and president of Creative International Ministries, Inc., which provides evangelism resources using the creative arts to reach an entertainment-driven generation.  He has been performing for over 18 years as a professional circus-style clown “Bombin” (pronounced bomb bean) and magician.  Every year, he visits over 100 churches across the US and Latin America serving as a guest speaker, teacher, and performer.  Brother Rafi is also a talented musician and many of the working clowns of today use his background music tracks in their shows.  You will also enjoy seeing his wife and children helping out in the dealer’s area and watching the shows as a family.

Ann "Graham Cracker"& Gary "JAM" Gramlich, Lake Wales, Florida.

We are delighted to have Ann and Gary back at Show Me for a second time.  They have been involved in children’s ministry for over 33 years and travel extensively sharing their unique blend of comedy, laughter, music and teaching from God’s Word. They have written nine ‘How-To’ Creative Ministry books, kids church curriculum, recorded two CDs and an ‘in concert’ video.  Their passion is for KIDS and training people to work with them. 
They are currently on staff at South Lake Wales Church of God & enjoy their time at home with their own kids and grandkids.

J.T. “Bubba”, “Oscar P. Nerd” Sikes, Jacksonville, Florida. 

Show Me wouldn’t be the same without J.T., Bubba, Sikes in attendance; back on the faculty for a record 15th time!  Recognized nationally for his teaching in clown ministry, Bubba has served three times as an Artist-in-Residence for the Clowns of America International, and has produced numerous materials for training in makeup design, character development and institutional clowning.  You won’t want to miss his General Session on Saturday morning: ‘Be a Pro on Stage’ as Bubba helps all of us strive to be the best performer we can be for God’s glory!  Bubba is always available for questions and will be teaching light auguste makeup application at his dealers booth in the convention auditorium during workshops I and II.

Steve "Salty" Kissell, Norfolk, Va
An international speaking veteran of more than 1,300 programs over 20 years, Steve joins the faculty of Show Me for a sixth time.  Steve’s ability to read and engage an audience either as himself or his alter ego “Salty” is always entertaining, and his use of audience participation makes his programs memorable. Steve directs seven performing arts conventions each year including Clown Jam, Kentucky Clown Derby, and Circus Magic, which is celebrating 30 years next week. Gee I didn't think Steve was that old!

Brenda & Mary Hahne, Ozark, Missouri.

We are pleased to welcome back Marty and Brenda Hahne who were on the faculty two years ago.  Marty has been a full-time illusion performer for 25 years and owns Dazzling Magic, a company that makes and sells high quality equipment for illusionists and clowns. He primarily presents programs at schools, libraries, and churches, but has also lectured at many of the major magician and clown conferences across the country including the famous Kidabra Conference in Branson that he helps organize.  Brenda not only assists Marty in the show and has produced a DVD on ‘Assisting the Magician’ to prove it, but has also been performing and teaching ventriloquism for 12 years. She also works at the Hamner-Barber theater in Branson.

Tony “Junior” Jones, We are pleased to welcome Tony back to the Show Me faculty for an eighth time.  He has been clowning for over 20 years, but the best part has been what Tony has done to promote professional clowning in ministry. 

He is a frequent teacher at clown conferences across the country and is co-director of the TNT conference and Clowning for Christ International, which he has taken literally with teaching and performance tours in Atlanta, Georgia.

Angel “El Tito” Contreras, Chicago, Illinois.  Angel is a ‘frequent flyer’ with Show Me Clowns and we are delighted to have him back on the faculty for a fourth time.  He has gained quite a reputation around ‘these parts’ as the designer of the “Show Me a Smile Day” logo and stickers. Surprisingly, even after all the stickers he handles, he hasn’t become ‘stuck up’.  He was trained as an artist at some of the finest institutions like the School of Art Institute of Chicago and the Ray College of Design, but alas, Angel is a clown in an artist’s body.  He is expert at seeing the clown character that lurks within each of us and will help you get it out of there if you ask him.  He also has a quick wit and a sharp pen that he’s not afraid to use!

Terrie “Gitsy”, and “The Rainbow Lady” Basko, Jackson, New Jersey.

Terrie is returning to Show Me for a second year after the rave reviews for her classes on face painting and balloons last year.  Terrie has been clowning since 1994, but is now also a full-time balloon artist, face painter, and airbrush artist doing hundreds of shows and birthday parties each year.  With such a busy schedule, she has only had time to do a few conventions including the International Festival of Children’s Magicians, Clownfest, and most recently, the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Conference representing Glimmer Body Art, which she is introducing to Show Me this year in both workshops and in the dealer’s room.  Not surprisingly, Terrie has trained and mentored three of her children and her husband, Gary, in the entertainment business making this a family enterprise.  In her spare time, Terrie is the webmaster for Show Me Clowns for Jesus National Conference website as well as several other websites.  She must sleep standing up!

Steve Narewski , Columbia, South Carolina.

We are pleased (and also a little nervous) that Steve is back at Show Me for a second year.  After retiring from a 23 year career with the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer, Steve is enjoying his second career as an Investigator in the Special Victim’s Unit of a police department somewhere in South Carolina. Steve is an expert in the area of criminal profiling and how to avoid becoming a victim so we look forward to what he will teach us as clowns to be safe in an ever changing world.

JoAnn Narewski , Columbia, South Carolina. 


JoAnn has been helping with the Show Me conference for the last two years, but this is her first year on the faculty. She has worked with children at her church for 30 years saying “they are just my size!”  In 2003, JoAnn attended her first TNT Clown Conference, which got her enthused about hospital clowning.  Since that time, she has organized and directs a troupe of clowns called the “Giggle Sticks” who visit a couple hospitals and a nursing home, and do community work for special events on a regular basis. She now leads the caring clown track at TNT and enjoys sharing her passion with others as often as she can!

Dave “Rex the Wonder Clown” Hill, Goldsboro, North Carolina. Dave is back for a sixth year at Show Me and again will be providing some excellent MC work for the Saturday night Faculty Shows. He has been performing for over 20 years at events including company picnics, grand openings and banquets. As a member of the Berkeley Civitan Clowns, Dave entertains to raise money for the mentally and developmentally disabled. He is also the owner of Balloons and Clowns that provides supplies and includes an entertainment agency.

Connie "Tator D. Clown" Lundeen , Grandview, Missouri

Paula "Frog E" South, Blue Springs, Missouri

John "Jocko" South, Blue Springs, Missouri

Will “Grandpa Pokey” Channon, Williamsburg, Kansas. Will is returning to the faculty again this year and has also joined the task force to help with the decorations!  He has been clowning for 14 years, but loves making balloon creations best.  He may hold the record for blowing the most 260 balloons at one time, and he’s the only one we know who can blow a 130 balloon with his mouth!

Len “Chuckles” and Debbie “Mercy” Fort, Van Buren, Arkansas. 

	Len and Debbie are joining the faculty for a seventh year and have been on the task force since 2008.  They are part of an active clown troupe that frequently participates in worship, children’s church and other church-related events.

Curt “Handy Andy”, “Dr. ICU” (School Show) St. Louis, Missouri. 

Curt has been clowning for 18 years and has been on the task force/faculty since 1998.  He is a part-time missionary with the North American Mission Board.  He is also one of the Clown Docs at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.  In addition to hospital clowning, his expertise includes prison ministry, children’s ministry, and church and school programs.  He is co-owner of The Clown Gadget Store.

Diana “Blossom”, “Nurse Sniggles” Patty, St. Louis, Missouri.

Diana has been clowning for 18 years and has been on the faculty since 1998 with 10 years on the task force.  She is a part-time missionary with the North American Mission Board.  She is also one of the Clown Docs at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.  Besides hospital clowning, her expertise includes prison ministry, children’s ministry, and church and school programs.  She is co-owner of The Clown Gadget Store.

David “Shorty” Sneed (School Show), Benton, Illinois. 

David has been clowning for 18 years and has been on the task force/faculty since 2003; now serving as the task force chairman. He is very talented musically and often incorporates his own songs into his clowning.  His other clowning expertise includes worship, school safety shows, hospitals, parades corporate picnics, birthday parties, and fairs.

Wayne “Mr. Sonshine” Gillam, Jefferson City, Missouri. Wayne has been in the clowning ministry for 26 years and has served on the faculty since 1999; with many years also on the task force. As a humorist, he brings right brain clowning to a left brain world. His interests range from ballooning to magic, but his passion is people.  You might find him mentoring other clowns or building stage illusions.

Chris “PJ” and Heather “Penelope” Burton, Lexington, Kentucky.



Chris and Heather are joining the faculty/staff for the fourth time.  Chris claims he has been a clown all his life, but only recently explored the professional possibilities.  In addition to ministry clowning, Chris and Heather entertain for birthday parties and schools and are the proud parents of a son, Micah, who is already destined to be a clown! 

Cheryl “Miss Penelope” Stem, Lavaca, Arkansas. In 2002, God called Cheryl into the clown ministry and has used her as a vehicle to minister and share the gospel, not only in and around Lavaca but also to the nations. One of her greatest joys is to be a part of and direct the "Lighthouse Clowns" and we are glad she is now part of the task force helping to minister through the Show Me conference.  

Jane “Belle”, “Dr. Tickles”, “Forlorna” Abendschein, Warson Woods, Missouri. 

Jane has been clowning for Christ for 23 years and has also been on the task force/faculty since 1991.  She is the founder and ‘boss’ clown for the Clown Docs at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Dana’s boss the rest of the time.

Dana “Liberty”, “Professor Dude”, “Hapless” Abendschein, Warson Woods, Missouri. 

Dana has been clowning for Christ for 23 years and serving on the task force/faculty since 1991.  He is part-time with the Clown Docs at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, but spends most of his time teaching medical students about the heart and how to take their job seriously and themselves more lightly.  Many of them have developed their own clown characters and join the Clown Docs as Interns!  His other passions include three precious grand-kids and helping the families of offenders.