This is part one of a two-part Balloonumentary. The first installment shows, in rapid motion, the creation of three alligators to be photographed in the Everglades. Stay tuned for part 3 to arrive in the near future!

I haven’t made theme parks an intentional staple in youth ministry, but they seem to roll around every year or so. After a while, just riding the roller coasters began to feel a bit mundane, so I started making balloon animals while riding. I’ve made balloon animals on everything from the Georgia Cyclone (Six Flags Over Georgia) to the Dragster (Cedar Point). The latter was the tallest and fastest coaster in the world for a while. Gratefully, the Raptor (Cedar Point) had a camera built into the coaster and had this amazing video waiting for me when I got off. Enjoy the ride!

When sharing with a crowd, I love to put myself in a giant balloon!  It’s fun and adds even more “wow” factor to the show.  This video is from the Truett Theological Seminary variety show and was taken the first time I publicly climbed inside a balloon.

After Years of Fun Inflation Tricks, it only seemed right to make a balloon while skydiving. I only got as far as the dog’s front feet before the chute opened, but considering the air in the balloon kept compacting while I was inflating, I was pretty pleased.

This video was made the day before my 30th birthday in Texas.  Maybe someday I’ll post the extended version that shows the journey after we land a mile off course in a remote cow pasture. It was fun giving my tandem jumper balloons to tie his chute closed for the walk.