Fayetteville church helps Japan's tsunami survivors learn to laugh again

IMB

“Deano T. Clown” (Georgia Baptist Dean Cotton) uses clowning and coffee to encourage survivors of the Japanese tsunami. A clown ministry was part of a team from New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville to visit Japan seven months after the disaster.

OFUNATO CITY, Japan (BP) — A hush falls across the room when the odd-looking Americans arrive. The Japanese discreetly check out the bright, red hair. They whisper about the oversized clothes in primary colors. They touch their own noses, mentally comparing to the round red ones of their visitors.

The team from New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville quickly breaks the ice with big smiles and over exaggerated waves. An 86-year-old Japanese woman waves back and blows a kiss. When the red headed American feigns catching it and falls over from the sheer force of the imaginary kiss, the crowd erupts in laughter. The Georgians take the uncharacteristic outburst by the stoic Japanese in stride. After all, that’s what clowns do – bring laughter and joy.

More ...