PUPPET MINISTRY PREACHES TO REACH CHILDREN

Casey Bollinger gets her face painted by her mother at their face painting and puppet show booth. (photo by Don Shrubshell)

It is often said that the children are the future and no one believes that more than Della Bollinger. She has proven this with her Raisin' Praisin' Puppet Ministry that focuses children on their purpose in the church and in their own lives.

"People overlook little kids," said Bollinger, who lives in Fruitland. "This gives them something to do."

What the children "do" is watch a 45-minute puppet show that is put on by Bollinger and her family -- husband, Ray; son, Eric, 11; daughter, Sarah, 8; and daughter Casey, 6. Also part of the show is their next door neighbor Daniel Lusk, 15.

They put on a puppet show for children, usually in churches, to entertain and teach them something a little different.

Before the show starts, Ray Bollinger usually yells out to the kids, "The puppets are sleeping, you kids are going to have say hallelujah and wake them up."

The kids almost always yell loud enough to wake the puppets and the dead.

The Bollingers got the idea while attending a "little church" in Arkansas where they saw a similar ministry using puppets.

They have performed all over the region, mostly at churches, but also at several nursing homes.

"The Lord just put it in our hearts to do it," Della Bollinger said. "So we did."

The Raisin' Praisin' Puppets are all home-made by Bollinger's mother. The puppets have names like Chucky-Donnie, Freckles and Patty Petrie. This is so because Bollinger lets her children name the puppets.

Each puppet has a different problem that they face during the show.

Chucky-Donnie is trying to find Jesus and he doesn't know how to ask. He's a bit shy and backward, like many children.

Freckles makes excuses not to go to church. In one of the songs about Freckles and his family one puppet criticizes by singing "the whole family had to stay home and blow that poor kid's nose."

Patty Petrie loves money. She likes cars and clothes and is secretly afraid that no-one will like her without these things.

The newest puppet is Jabone, and he's a little different; he's an African American puppet who tends to be a bit hyper. He sings about how important reading is by singing "Read It" to the tune of Michael Jackson's "Beat It."

The Raisin' Praisin' Puppets always have a message, while trying to help the children sort out their problems.

"I want the kids to realize they do matter and than can do something," Bollinger said. "The kids aren't just the church of tomorrow -- they're also the church of today."

Bollinger said she feels that her ministry has been appreciated, not only by children, but by their parents, as well.

Bollinger said that after her shows, parents come up and tell them that what she and her ministry are doing is wonderful.

"I stress to the parents that it's for the kids," Bollinger said, "because it seems like we're losing them."

Bollinger says she doesn't ask for money, but the churches usually take up a "love offering" to pay for their gas and expenses. She says any money that is left over goes right back into the ministry.

"We're not doing it for money," Bollinger said. "We put any money we get into making another puppet."

The Bollingers even had a teepee set up at Homecomers last week where Della Bollinger showed off her puppets and painted children's faces.

Bollinger said she knows that her ministry is good for children and she hopes she can make a difference.

She said once a little boy approached her after her show and said he was going to go home and make a sock puppet.

"That's when I knew it was worth it," Bollinger said.

But she said she tries to maintain her focus. She said her main goal is to help children find their way to Christ.

"We're there to have a good time," Bollinger said, "but we also have a purpose."