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A friend and I were finishing our work building a puppet stage and I stood back and said, “It will be fun and exciting to use this in our ministry someday.” To my surprise, someday came a lot faster than I thought it would.

The following week, my husband and I began a Vacation Bible School with a rowdy group of inner-city children. What a struggle it was to keep their attention! It was obvious that we were going to need something special to keep them coming back each day.

Boldly I announced, “Tomorrow we will have a puppet show. Be sure to be here!” My husband’s eyes grew wide, but he didn’t say a word until we were on our way home.

“And who will be leading the puppet show?” he asked.

“I will!” I responded with confidence.

By taking that first step, we learned what a dynamic tool puppetry is for teaching, capturing attention and motivating children. Although our scripts that week were simple stories centering around the memory verses, they were what we needed to peak the childrens interest and to keep them coming back each day. A whole new ministry opened up before me.

The puppets were able to make it fun to listen and pay attention to the lessons for the kids, even though they had a hard time listening without the puppets. The puppets seem to be alive to the kids, and just about anything with the puppets will hold their attention more effectively than a teacher can.

Memory verses and lesson applications are easily related through animated characters. Puppets can also get children involved and thinking and can help to maintain discipline. We have discovered that using puppets is more than just fun. It is an effective way to share biblical principles and stimulate growth.

Fortunately for teachers and ministry leaders, puppets can be made for just about anything that you may have around the house, and there is no need to spend a lot of money to start a puppet ministry.

Although there are some great resources available for puppet ministries (particular resources available online), most importantly you will benefit from simply having excitement and commitment to starting the puppet ministry.

Lord, show me if You want me to include puppets in my ministry to boys and girls. And if You do, I will trust You for enthusiasm and courage.

Ann Shorb is a Christian therapist in PA, writer, and speaker. She has been using puppets in children’s ministry for more than 25 years.

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