Using Puppets in Ministry

A. I was born a child

1. Interest in ventriloquism from TV

a. Paul Winchell

b. Jimmy Nelson

c. Shari Lewis

B. Received a vent figure at age 10

1. No one to mentor me: quit

C. Book during college: Ventriloquism for the Complete Dummy

1. Got puppet for Christmas, did it with my kids

2. Busy life killed that dream

D. Library: Paul Winchell’s “Ventriloquism for Fun and Profit” video

1. “Son, this is a childhood hero of mine! Wanna watch it?”

2. Hey, I could learn this!

E. Throw me in prison, please!

1. Started in prisons, been entertaining ever since

F. Today, ministry work and secular work

A. People listen to puppets

1. Even when they don’t listen to you!

2. Entertaining!

B. Puppets are easy!

1. No need for years of training; it's this easy:

a. One mouth move for every syllable

b. Never have the puppet stare!

c. Look at the puppet when talking to it

d. Have the puppet look at you when it talks to you

e. Think “human” and have the puppet move

2. Kids can help – get involved

3. In ventriloquism, kids can be the puppet

C. Puppets are affordable!

1. Difference classes of puppets

a. Marionettes

b. Ventriloquist figures (not dummies!)

c. Stage puppets

d. Shadow puppets

e. Finger puppets

f. Body puppets

g. Technically oriented puppet

h. Peepers!

i. Thousands of others, including culturally based

D. Material is everywhere!

1. Internet

a. http://www.puppetresources.com/ (has some secular stuff, too)

b. http://www.geocities.com/puppetscripts/puppet.htm

c. http://www.missionaryresources.com/free_scripts.html (resource page)

d. http://www.eliab.com/Puppets/puppets.html

e. http://www.christiancrafters.com/skits.html

f. http://applesaucekids.com/PuppetLi/PuppetLi.html

2. Resource stores

a. Christian bookstores

b. One Way Street! (One of my Favorites!) http://www.onewaystreet.com/

c. Dummy Works (continuing another favorite, Maher Studios) http://www.dummyworks.com/

d. http://www.childrensministrytoday.com/ (click “Outlet Mall”)

e. http://www.markarts.net/ (My friend, Mark Thompson)

3. Joke books

4. Sunday School material

A. Be audience specific!

1. Know who you are talking to

a. Age group

b. Social areas

c. Ethnic groups

d. Church kids

e. Non-church kids

f. Mixed groups

B. Material that matches your audience

1. Hardest groups: large diversity in ages!

a. Harder than ethnic diversity

2. When adults are present: use some grown-up material

3. Kids laugh at most anything!

C. Presenting the Gospel

1. PUPPETS NEVER GET SAVED!

a. HUGE issue!

b. Puppets don’t go to Heaven, people do!

c. It confuses the kids and can mess them up (no spiritual growth!)

d. Other ways around this that work BETTER!

2. Tell the Gospel, as you would to a child, yet, know your puppets!

a. Have the conversation as you would with that character

b. When it comes time for a “decision” here’s what to do:

(script notation: “F” for figure or puppet, “V” for vent)

3. F: Gee, this salvation thing sounds serious!

V: It is!

F: I bet some of these kids need to know Jesus!

V: I’m sure you’re right!

F: What do we do then?

V: Let’s lead them in a prayer!

D. Using puppets as an object lesson

1. Example: Art Bored

A. Videos/DVDs

1. Paul Winchell’s “Ventriloquism for Fun and Profit”

2. Mark Wade’s “Successful Ventriloquism”

3. http://www.cornellpublications.com/ventriloquism/

B. Books

C. Today’s Famous Christian ventriloquists

D. Vent web sites