Drew Boswell

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Letters from Valdosta Kids to Main Street Puppets; Using Puppets in Ministry

10425482_10204550298870949_4837427540623730312_n
Anna Banana and Pastor Drew talking about our theme for December “Generosity.”

This past Sunday we had a full hour instead of the normal thirty minutes for our children’s worship time. So instead of a craft we gave the children an opportunity to write a letter to the puppets that we introduced this past year. Our goal has been to give the kid’s an avenue to interact with us through the puppets.

For example, if a kid was dealing with an issue at school and didn’t know what to do and didn’t feel comfortable talking with an adult they could write a letter to a puppet. The puppet will then write them back with an answer (from the character’s point of view).

The characters are:

Professor “D” – a mad scientist who lives in an upstairs apartment. He is trying to take over the world with his overthought experiments (exploding cookies). Most of the time these experiments end up exploding in his apartment. He also shoots the kids with a water gun full of his slow acting kids growing formula.

Anna Banana – a teen girl who is focused on how she looks, who likes her, and is very prideful. She is learning that how we look on the inside is far more important than how we look on the outside, and what God thinks about us is far more important than what other people think.

10711119_1550432785170400_6413108207279361357_nRoad Kill – a slow speaking sweat spirited opossum that lives in a trashcan outside of the local pizzeria. He loves to eat the pizzas that are thrown out of Luigi’s. He makes the owner mad because he is always getting trash everywhere.

Jonathan and David – are brothers that live below Professor D. They are always arguing about something, so they are learning to get along as a family. They like football (just not the same teams), and just about any kind of sports activity.

Luigi — the owner of the Main Street pizzeria and is constantly experimenting with new kinds of pizzas. To the kids they come across as gross and usually end up getting thrown out (to Road Kill) because no one eats them.

Goober works at Luigi’s Pizzaria and is learning what it means to work. He tries to take short cuts in his work and it is constantly getting im trouble with Luigi.

 

There were many that asked what the various characters wanted for Christmas. For example;

Dear Prof. D,

What do you want for Christmas? Please don’t explode my kitchen. Also, I loved you spraying me with a water gun. Do it again please.

Sincerely,

Child’s name

P.S. write me back.

 

1509664_1564709193748519_7015106914857068366_nDear Luigi,

I’m ok, no proplims the only thing I have to ask is what do you want for Christmas? I mean what do puppets want.

From, Child’s name

 

Some of the kid’s letters were just questions about the puppet’s lives. For example;

Dear Road Kill,

You smell like a dirty diaper!

Merry Christmas,

Child’s name

 

1468634_365939650241327_4421200605261584272_nTo Anna Banana,

From Child’s name

What is your favorite color? What do you like about it? Well how about . . .what is your favorite shape? I bet it is is cool! I like that you visited me on Sunday! Bye.

 

Dear Anna Banana,

What is your favorite holiday mine is Christmas? Do you like to dance? I like your outfit that you wear. What is your favorite hobby?

Love, Child’s name (heart shape, heart shape, smiley face)

 

Dear Road Kill,

Why do you live in a trashcan full of newspaper?

From,

Child’s name

 

Out of over fifty letters that we received, there were a few that had genuine questions nested in their comments. Here’s some;

Dear Dr. D, (the actual character name is Professor D)

Hi, there is this toy at target that is like so cool, it is a dog that when you take a walk she will be at your side. It is called “gogo doggy.” When I ask mom for it she says no then I always get mad. What should I do, please help.

From,

Child’s name

P.S. When you blow stuff up it is so cool, you are cool.

 

Dear Road Kill,

My sister is a literer. What do I do? I tell her to stop but she doesn’t stop. What do I do. I hope you visit – probably soon.

Child’s name

 

Dear Dr. D,

I hope you are having a good day. I am having a hard time on open books science tests what do I do?

Sincerely,

Child’s name

 

Dear Prof. D,

Hi. All you care about is explosens. You’re trying to take over the world with cookies. There is this kid that calls me a cry baby whenever we play four spare in p.e. For secret Santa in main street Anna Banana pulled out you. You’re the best puppet exploder ever! How do you like to play video games.

Form,

Child’s name

 

To: Goober

From: Child’s name

Dear Goober, how do I get on the nice list?

 

To Anna,

From Child’s name

My week is going Bad. My mom is making me go outside in the sun.

 

Dear Prof. D.

How do I not get frustrated during the week? How do I change a bad day into a good day?

Child’s name

 

Then there were just kid’s showing concern for their puppet friends;

 

Dear Prof. D, What is your 3 things that explode that you want for Christmas. Is it a cookie that explodes and turns brown. What is it? Do you want toilet paper to wipe your butt? What ever you want don’t get your butt burned!

From,

Child’s name

 

Dear Pro D.,

I love your shows. You are old.

Love,

Child’s name

 

Dear Road Kill,

Are you actually Road Kill?

Child’s name

 

This coming Sunday we plan to introduce a new mail delivery person character who will give the kids the response letters from the puppets.

__________________

In the psychological world of dramatic play specifically with the use of puppets, “The child’s imagination creates a buffer and a flexible “space” to explore tough stuff.” [1] In Valdosta Kid’s Main Street we are able to exhibit bad attitudes, bad behavior, pain, and even frustration through the puppets and then talk about their feelings. On the outside looking in Anna Banana may be seen by other adults as being mean or rude (and sometime she is), but we are able to then talk about her behavior in a safe way.

One week the Luigi puppet said that his dad was not around very much during one of our skits. To our surprise one young boy spoke out very loudly and said, “Luigi, my dad’s not around very much either.” For a moment in time we were able to break through all kinds of barriers and speak right to his heart. His imagination was so engaged that he was “in the moment.” Those moments are what we strive for every week, but don’t always get there. But when they do happen, it makes ministry very special.

* Click here to read more regarding the use of puppets and how they have been used successfully to entertain and minister to children.

* Click here to see a video of the puppets talking about a recent t-shirt design contest.

_________________

[1] https://achildinmind.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/you-can-tell-me-anything-im-a-puppet-why-play-therapy-works/

 

Children’s Retreat Information

Our theme for this year is “being a superhero” and I am very excited about this very special event in the lives of our children. This event is designed for 1st-5th graders, but preschoolers are welcome to bring their parents with them. Our desire is that would due a “family event.” This would be a great way to focus our children’s spiritual lives this new school year on what God would desire for us to do for Him.

$50 per child, $40 per parent, $100 family maximum.

Click here to sign up!

Twenty-Two Years of Steadfast Service to the Lord

Terri Warren and granddaughter Colbie

After looking at other churches Terri Warren and her husband Mike decided to become members of First Baptist Church of Valdosta Georgia in 1979. At the time she was a stay at home mom and the Director of the preschool had stepped down. She approached Mac Weaver about filling in the interim and twenty-two years later she has become a beloved member and essential part of the children’s ministry at FBCV.

When she began she was looking for something that “she could do with the girls” and now she is able to not only have her children go through the FBCV children’s ministry, but also her grandchildren are benefitting from her love and leadership.

When asked “What is it about children’s ministry that you enjoy?” a smile came to her face and she responded, “I enjoy seeing families and parents being content with what is happening at church. I remember being a mom with little ones and how stressful it is.”  Terri has a heart for children and their families. She understands the importance of creating a welcoming, safe, and loving environment so that children feel loved and parents feel at ease.

I asked her, “What is one big life lesson that you would pass on to today’s parents?” and she said, “It is very important to be in church and for children to know that there are people who love them and that Jesus loves them.”

What more could you want from a Preschool Director? Terri is a tireless servant for the Lord, and she can be found at all hours, all days of the week in the Children’s Building serving children and their families. Most of the time she will be comforting a screaming baby, breaking up a toddler tussle, or counseling a group of mom’s through her loving disposition and style.  As with all great leaders, she has a set of responsibilities that she manages, but there are also countless other details that she does outside of those responsibilities that no ever knows about that add special touches to the children’s ministry.

As a new staff person, I look to her experience, leadership, and the many relationships that she has formed with FBCV families, and she has helped me tremendously. She is greatly loved and the church’s ministry is great because of her many years of steadfast devotion.

Terri, on behalf of the parents, grandparents, and the children of today and of many years past, we thank you for your service to the Lord and to His church. I feel so blessed that my children are able to know you and to learn from you, and you have been such a blessing to our family.

Pottery Nights in March at Valdosta Kids on Mission

 Sunday nights at 6pm Valdosta Kids on Mission will be learning about pottery from a pottery professional. They will discover how God is the Master Potterer and we are but clay in His hands (for the book of Jeremiah).

Please dress your children in old play clothes because they will be getting dirty. Our goal is for the children to make one vessel to keep at home, one to decorate our children’s building, and one to give away as an act of love.

Please note that we will walk over to the pottery room at 6:10 pm.

Don’t miss a single week in March.

Valdosta Kids Value #2 “Authenticity”

Untitled from Drew Boswell on Vimeo.

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"Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts." Rick Warren

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