A Visit with Bibleman

With only one hour before the curtain would rise for the first show of a six month long Bibleman Live Tour, Robert T. Schlipp, A.K.A, Bibleman invited me to sit with him in the temporarily empty theatre of Delta Junior College, in Stockton, California.

Since taking over the cape-wearing, scripture quoting, sleuth slaying, role of Bibleman from long time actor and friend, Willie Ames in 2003, Schlipp has been busy traveling around the country in spandex and armor telling kids about Jesus. Not too busy however, to spend time with me before the show, discussing what it feels like to be a Christian superhero.

“I believe with all of my heart that this is what I was created to do,” said the humble man with a gentle voice. Having been a youth pastor for Sunset Christian Center in Rocklin, California for a number of years, Schlipp is no stranger to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. But something about being a “pastor in spandex” as he puts it, who gets to share the good news of the gospel and beat up the bad guys with the Word for a living, leaves Schlipp with one thought, “This Rocks!”

In the 2004 tour alone, Bibleman and the Bible Adventure team witnessed five to seven thousand people make a first time commitment to Jesus Christ. While the audience is primarily children, the team has had the privilege of seeing parents and grandparents come forward and make commitments as well. This alone, has made all the hard work that comes with life on the road, well worth it.

While Bibleman and I sat comfortably in the red velvet seats of the theatre, discussing different aspects of ministry, his wife, Anayansi, was busy outside near the box office selling Bibleman posters, capes, masks and videos, including the most recent, “Fight the Faith” to eager children. Which led me to ask Schlipp what it was like to minister with his wife.

“I Prayed long and hard before meeting my wife” he said. “I asked God that whoever He had in mind for me to marry would not only understand ministry but be actively involved.” God answered Schlipp’s prayer by bringing him His faithful servant Anayansi, a fellow youth minister who also played Biblegirl on the 2004 tour. Anayansi has had to trade in her spandex for maternity pants however, for the 2005 tour because she is expecting their first child, A.K.A, Biblebaby.

When speaking of answering God‘s call on your life, Schlipp had this to say. “When you know God has called you to something, don’t run from it, run to it, but make sure it’s God calling.” Wanting to make sure it was God calling him to the role of Bibleman when asked by Willie Ames, Schlipp ran to God in prayer. He and Anayansi prayed together for an entire year before approaching their senior pastor with the idea. Together, the three of them then prayed for an additional year before Schlipp was certain it was indeed the Lords calling.

Having strong convictions about finishing what you’ve started, Schlipp believes it’s not Gods will for someone to walk away from one ministry letting it crumble, just to begin something else they are excited about. “You should always finish strong,” he say’s. And that he did. Once certain of his call, he gave his resignation five months in advance so that there would be plenty of time to properly turn over a strong youth ministry at Sunset Christian Center, to the one that would come after him.

When asked if he felt intimidated in anyway to fill the shoes of Willie Ames, who created the Bibleman character ten years prior in hope of reaching young children for Christ, Schlipp said, “I had to come to grips with the fact that I am a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. My sense of self worth doesn’t lie in my abilities but in knowing with every fiber of my being that I am doing what God has called me to do.”

Giving credit where credit is due, Schlipp mindfully mentioned the many unsung heroes, some who have never even seen a full Bibleman live performance yet volunteer countless of hours creating props, and preparing for productions just so that they could partake in changing lives for Christ through Bibleman.

“I cannot wait until the other side of eternity” he said tenderly, “when the volunteers get to hear kids and parents and grandparents saying, “Thank you.” “You made a difference.”

A moment of silence fell between Schlipp and me as he attempted to choke back the tears. “There will be a day of reckoning” he whispered, “where God will separate the sheep from the goats. There will be a lot of little lambs who are going to thank those unsung heroes and will say that Bible guy couldn’t have done it without you.”

Choking back tears of my own, I was moved by the sincerity of Robert T. Schlipps passion to reach the lost by any means necessary. Bibleman and I said our goodbyes but not before he took the time to sign my daughter’s soccer ball and tell my five-year-old son that if he puts on the armor of God, he can be a Bibleman too.

As expected, the show was hit! Bibleman wielded his sword of the Spirit, defeating the dastardly villain, Rapscallion P. Sinister with the scripture. And the grand finale? It was definitely the greatest I’ll ever see. Not because of laser beams, a smoked filled stage or light show but because at the end, Schlipp slipped off his Bibleman helmet, unashamed of his bad case of helmet head as he put it, and offered the call to salvation.

Hands all over the theatre went up in response to the call to commit your life to Jesus, including that of my five-year-old son Isaiah. Hearing his little voice whisper, “Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that you died for me— I believe…” was priceless. Thank you Bibleman— You really are a superhero for Christ.