"Illusions & Reality" is the fun, exciting and high-caliber professional program that Lou and Martha Leventhal use to share the Gospel with tens of thousands of people each year. Combining the fascinating art of illusion with side-splitting humor and audience participation, Lou Leventhal is able to captivate diverse audiences and hard core “religious skeptics.” His warm, witty and disarming personality quickly builds a strong rapport between himself and even the largest audiences. Thousands of people that never would have gone to any type of church function have heard a clear Gospel message and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through this presentation. The Leventhals are committed to sharing the Gospel in a clear, practical way, as well as to help other Christians develop a deep-rooted faith and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. During the last twenty-five plus years of ministry Lou Leventhal has presented Illusions & Reality on four continents in countless churches, conventions, universities, high schools and national conferences.
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Lou Leventhal is a multi-award winning illusionist who has been performing professionally since 1977. He has been featured on national television and has appeared on live stages in North America, South America, Asia and Europe for audiences as large as 25,000.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, thousands of hours of practice and rehearsal and years of professional experience are some of the key ingredients that make Illusions and Reality a world-class production. The audience quickly becomes a part of the fun and excitement taking place onstage, breaking down barriers of communication. Illusions & Reality will please even the most discriminating audiences.
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We make it clear that the illusions are just tricks, and that we have no supernatural powers at all. During the program we show people how easy it is to be fooled by misdirection and the art of illusion, using theatrical props and staging. We then use a trick as a visual aid to present a clear, understandable, Biblically centered and easy to remember presentation of the Gospel.
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In addition to the illusion program, Lou often speaks and teaches for many churches, conferences and special events. He has been a featured speaker at pastors’ conferences geared to those in other ministry areas as well. Sharing with a natural sense of humor, Leventhal’s messages are relevant, applicable, Scripturally sound, and clearly communicated. Because of his love for the Lord and gifts in communication, Lou has been featured at churches, state and national conventions and other Christian gatherings without the illusion program. Often a church or conference will utilize Lou for several consecutive days. Many local churches most effectively utilize this ministry by using the illusion program on Friday and Saturday evenings as an evangelistic outreach, and allowing Lou to preach on Sunday as part of a special emphasis weekend.
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Martha and I want people to know that we’re genuine, not just “Christian performers.” I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family and accepted the Lord when I was 18 years old through the witness of a friend. Our heart is in ministry; to non-Christians,to believers and even to church workers and staff members. When I share, it’s from what the Lord is teaching us. The most important thing in our lives is our daily walk with the Lord. There are a lot of hurting people out there, and a “show” isn’t going to change their lives. That’s why it’s important for us to be transparent and vulnerable, offstage and on. I’ve often been called the “most transparent person that anyone has ever met.” Walking with Jesus is more than just a few emotions and cliche’s wrapped up in a neat package. Our faith must be based on a vibrant and personal walk with Jesus Christ that is expressed through our involvement with our family and with other people’s lives.
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Lou has pastored in evangelical churches in Canada since 1993, and currently serves as the lead pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church's Sunday morning congregations in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. For 3.5 years he served as the Vice-President for Institutional Advancement at the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta. His heart is to invest in future ministry leaders what others have invested in him. After fifteen years of full-time itinerant ministry and tens of thousands of miles of being "on the road", he and Martha travel on a more limited basis. They strongly believe in the prayer support and spiritual accountability that their local church provides. They have three children who all love and serve the Lord. They see investing in their children as their primary ministry. Illusions & Reality is overseen by a godly group of men that comprise the Board of Directors.
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Illusions & Reality provides full-color posters, promotional pictures, press releases and video promos and promotional suggestions to help the church or local ministry reach the largest audience possible. “We present a top quality production because we are representing the Lord. We don’t want people to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed that they invited their friends to our program. We often are booked for multiple nights in the same location because when people catch the vision of inviting their non-Christian friends, the program can sell out very quickly!
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Call or write today to let us know how we can minister alongside you for your next conference, church outreach or special event. We want you to find us very easy to work with and we would be happy to provide references or answer any questions that you might have.
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