Ironically, one of Lamb's most strained performances came in front of a group of ministers, at a Christmas banquet several years ago.  "It was dead," he said. "It was my home association. It was like they were saying, 'We dare you to make us laugh.'  More typical are performances like the one this past Tuesday night at St. Mark United Methodist Church. For about 30 minutes, Lamb mystified his audience of about 500 with card tricks, rope tricks and disappearing acts. Most of the children gathered in front of the stage. They squealed, laughed and screamed and begged to be chosen as volunteer helpers.

     Lamb loves to perform even when he's not on stage. Like at hospitals.  "I try to interact with the staff in a friendly way," he said. "Sometimes I'll go to the nurses' station and just stand there. They'll say, 'Can I help you?' and I'll say, 'No' and keep standing there. After a pause, I'll say, 'I thought you needed to look at the face of somebody who needs absolutely nothing from you today.' One lady said, 'Hallelujah!' "

     Then there's his sizeable audience at home. He and his wife, Carol, a music teacher at Christian Heritage Academy, have four children: Bonnie, 27; Ben, 25; Bethany, 20; and Betsy, 10.   All the Lamb children have grown up watching their dad clown around.  "My sister and I watched Daddy put on his makeup and become Daddy Clown. It wasn't a strange thing," said Bethany, a student at Columbus State University.  Nor is it strange, apparently, to the members of Schomburg Road Baptist Church - although Lamb warned them when he became pastor two years ago they might get kidded for his antics.

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SRBLife

     Jeff Ely is the church's chairman of deacons.  "I don't think it's weird at all because I'm also a magician," said Ely. "I don't think the church thinks it's strange. They probably enjoy it. He tries to refrain from being a clown in the pulpit. He does a fine job of balancing being goofy with being serious."

     Lamb seems comfortable with his varied roles, too.   "Preachers preach. I'll never be an evangelist like Billy Graham. I won't ever fit the stereotype. The only time I wear a tie is Sunday mornings and funerals.

     "I just want to be who I am."

Staff story by
Allison Kennedy
Contact Allison Kennedy at (706) 576-6237 or akennedy@ledger-enquirer.com


Some facts about clowns:
A clown is a type of comic performer who usually works in a circus.
There are three main types of clowns: Auguste clowns, who wear extravagant makeup and baggy suits and appear stupid and clumsy (Lamb dresses as an auguste clown); whiteface clowns are more refined. They wear white makeup and clown suits and often perform opposite auguste clowns; and hobo, or character clowns, are sad and lonely and dressed in ragged clothes.
The word clown was popularized in the 1800s by the British comic actor Joseph Grimaldi.
The American circus clown first appeared in the late 1700s.
Source: World Book Encyclopedia

Article taken from Ledger-Enquirer On-Line February 17, 2001