Church's puppet ministry helps spread the gospel
At Elgin Bible Church, outreach is carried on not only by the faithful, but also by the playful -- a large puppet community used to share the gospel with kids of all ages.
In fact, there are many more puppets than people in this congregation of about 125. People, that is. Puppets outnumber them somewhere in the hundreds.
Hands 4 Him is currently made up of four enthusiastic kids and seven adults who put the shows together from start to finish, even writing scripts and making some of their own puppet characters.
Usually the puppets are lip synced to pre-recorded music and dialogue, but sometimes the team hauls out microphones for a live show.
"We're out there to share the love of Jesus and tell (people) how much he cares for them," said Gayla Hendon, who started the ministry in 1995 with her husband, Bruce.
"Everything that we do, every song that we sing, every script that we perform always has that message.
"It's not a performance," she said. "It's a ministry, and the kids look at it that way."
Indeed, the four students -- ages 9 to 13 -- who operate the puppets have to be as fully committed to the work as the adults are, because it's not as easy as it looks.
"It's extremely tiring," Hendon said. "The kids do puppet aerobics every week to strengthen their arms."
They also train on smaller puppets to build up stamina.
The team has some extra special puppets, including a 5-foot whale operated by two people, but most in the make-believe community are "rod arm puppets" wearing child-size 2T shirts -- to give you an idea of how big they are.
"You put your dominant hand in the head," Hendon said, "and then your other hand is holding a rod arm that's connected to the puppet's arm."
To support the head, the puppeteer fully extends his or her own arm straight up -- elbow locked and wrist uncomfortably tipped so the puppet looks down at the audience instead of up at the ceiling.
The thumb manipulates the puppet's bottom jaw, which has to open once for each syllable in a word.
"That lip sync has to be right on," Hendon said. "That's what judges are looking for at the festivals."
Hands 4 Him isn't in it for the puppet festivals, but rather for reaching as many people as they can with the gospel. Still, awards are nice, and they've earned quite a few over the years.
Earlier this month there was a gold rating at a regional competition sponsored by One Way Street, a children's ministry resource provider. The Elgin puppeteers won for their black light version of the catchy song "What If," by kid band pureNRG, and also earned special recognition for originality.
A few years ago, when the team had 22 people, it took second place in an international contest. The size of the ministry varies every year, Hendon said, depending on what kids are interested and available.
The support of the congregation, on the other hand, has been a constant. The puppet ministry is a regular line item in the Elgin Bible Church budget, and church members have built a stage, made curtains and closed off half a room to create storage for the puppets, props, signs, scripts, musical tapes and all the various technical equipment needed.
The puppeteers performed last weekend for the church's Easter Extravaganza, and they'll be called on for other opportunities this year.
"You have to enjoy it because, if you don't, you're not going to be willing to put that much work into it," Hendon said.
But she's more than pleased with the team's effort.
"They do a really outstanding job."
Family unity: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will host a six-week parenting series at its Christian Life Center, 195 Nesler Road, Elgin.
"Parenting Families: From ME to WE" is a DVD series produced by Lutheran Hour Ministries that shows parents how to build family unity, teaching kids to put the needs of the family above their own desires.
The material was developed by Christian psychologist and author Dr. David Ludwig.
Sessions begin the week of April 7 and cost $15 per couple. The church even provides child care. Participants attend from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays or Wednesdays or from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
For details or registration -- due by Friday -- call (847) 695-4745 or e-mail alesh@goodshepherd-elgin.org.
Returning to the fold: St. Mary Church of Huntley has a special invitation for Catholics who've been away from the church for a while -- come home!
With "Catholics Returning Home," a program set for 7 p.m. Thursday, St. Mary is reaching out to people who may want to renew their relationship with the church, no matter how long they've been gone and no matter the reason.
For details, call Maria Maddox at (847) 669-3137, ext. 108, or e-mail mmaddox@stmaryhuntley.org. The church is at 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley.
• What's going on at your church or synagogue? Do you have an interesting program, new staff, big plans? Someone who deserves recognition or something a little out of the ordinary? Contact "In the Spirit" at cmchojnacki@yahoo.com.