Puppet Show & Pastoral Training

PASTORAL TRAINING AND PUPPET SHOW REPORT
APRIL 4, 2009

Saturday, April 4, 2009 was a very good sunny day. Buchanan is the second largest city in Liberia. This township is called Wayzon. It is not far from the LIBERIA AGRICULTURE COMPANY (LAC). This company is the second largest rubber company in Liberia. Most of the people in this township work with the rubber company.




This Saturday marked the last day of the first phase of our pastoral training. There were about 22 church leaders from 13 local churches. I taught the course “PREACHING BIBLICAL MESSAGES”. I have been teaching them the seven steps to preaching biblical messages.



At the close of our class, students were allowed to share their testimonies how the course has helped them. One pastor said the he was very grateful to be part of the training. For the course had helped him to be able to prepare sound and better messages. We were very encouraged from their testimonies and from the improvement seen from class discussion and work.

PUPPET SHOW

At about 4:15PM, we started our puppet show in a near by community, not very far from where we usually conduct our training. As we were setting up our stage, few kids started to come. But lot of kids and adults pulled in when the puppets were doing their first song. Quickly the news spread around in the community and the place was crowded. There were about 100 persons. There were more kids than adults.



After two songs by the puppets, one of our team, Pastor Malachi, preached the word of God. After his message, he gave the altar call and lots of kids as well as adults said aloud the sinner’s prayer. After the gospel message, the puppets did two more songs and we ended the show with a prayer.



We praise God for the opportunity we have to share the gospel with people through the use of puppet show.

Kindly remember us in your prayers.

Rev. Benjamin T. Munford

March 21 Ministry Training and Puppet Show

Dear Friends,

We have been carrying out training for pastors and church leaders in the morning and conducting puppet shows in the afternoon in the rural part of Grand Bassa County (about 45 miles to Buchanan). March 21 was our third day of training and puppet show. Our team consisted of seven persons on the team: David, Doris, Eugine, Thomas, Mongar, Matthew and Ben.

After the devotion by Pastor Matthew Malachi (Matthew 5:13-16), I distributed 23 Reformation Study Bibles among the pastors and church leaders. These study Bibles were donated by students at Covenant College and the members of Highlands Presbyterian Church (where Rev. Travis D. Hutchinson is the pastor). Ligonier Ministries allowed Travis Hutchinson to purchase these Bibles at cost.



These church leaders did not have study Bibles or other study materials. They were very excited and thankful to God for such a gift. These study Bibles will greatly help them to do well in the course which I am teaching (PREACHING BIBLICAL MESSAGES).



In the afternoon we took our puppet equipment on the football field where we usually have our show. Before we got on the field, some of the kids were already there waiting. Some of the kids knew we were around because they saw us coming and they were all around where we were having our training.

Again, our puppet show went very successfully. About 200 kids and adults were at the show. After two songs by the puppets, the gospel was given and again we saw kids and adults raising their hands to make a decision for Christ. I preached about the story of Zacchaeus. Many prayed out loud to receive Jesus.



After the message, the Puppets did two more songs. While they were doing their last song, some government officials and community leaders came to have a brief meeting. While they were waiting for the others, we were able to watch our show.

Many thanks to all for your prayers.

Ben Munford (Director)

March 14 Ministry Training and Puppets

On Saturday, March 14, 2009, we left with the puppet team for Wayzon, District #3 where we are carrying on the training and the puppet show. The training started in the morning at about 10:00AM and ended 2:00PM. For the two days, I have been teaching on the topic: "PREACHING BIBLICAL MESSAGES". We have 20 pastors/church leaders in attendance.



There was a very heavy rain that fell that Afternoon. But by the time we ended our training, the rain has stopped.

Before we went out for the puppet show, we have a time of prayer and practice for an hour. By about 3:00PM, we went on the football field which is not far from the training site. When the kids saw the vehicle, they knew we were there again for puppet show. They started to come. By the time we were finished with setting up our stage, the place was crowded. The kids were so many that were pressing in on us. We have rope to keep the kids at a distance, but they kept pressing in. It reminds me of the time when people crowded around Jesus by the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1). He has to get in a boat. We have to adjust our stage three times. These people and kids were hungry and thirsty for the things of God. There were about 400 person (kids and adults).



After some songs by the puppets, I shared the word of God. Lots of kids as well as adults said the prayer aloud confessing their sins and and asking Jesus into their hearts.

THE REV. BENJAMIN T. MUNFORD
Director - JEM
Director - Agape Puppets, Liberia

March 09 Pastoral Training

(more webmaster tardiness!)

JEM PASTORAL TRAINING
WAYZON #3 COMPOUND, GRAND BASSA COUNTY
MARCH 8, 2009
REPORTED BY REV. BENJAMIN T. MUNFORD



On March 8, 2009, we started our first phase of our Pastoral Training. This training has four phases: The First Phase (March 7, 14, 21, and 28); Second Phase (May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30); Third Phase (July 4, 11, 18, 25) and the Fourth Phase (September 5, 12, 19, 26).

The key courses to be taught during this training are:

CHURCH MINISTRY, ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION
PREACHING BIBLICAL MESSAGES AND PASTORAL MINISTRY
BIBLE STUDY METHODS/INTERPRETATION
PREACHING PRINCIPLES AND METHODS
PERSONAL SPIRITUAL LIFE



Those who attended the first day training were about 13 persons from seven local churches. Of the 13, eight do not have any biblical knowledge. The seven local churches were given Sunday School materials. These Sunday School Materials were given to Pastor Munford by Linda Summer (Executive Director of Agape Puppets - International) when she came to Liberia. We also distributed about 60 cassettes of various sermons preached by Rev. Travis D. Hutchinson of Highlands Presbyterian Church (Georgia, USA).



After the distribution of the Sunday school materials and the cassettes, Rev. Benjamin T. Munford taught the course “PREACHING BIBLICAL MESSAGES” to the pastors and church leaders. This course is designed to help the pastors or church leaders prepare sound messages and how to interpret the scripture.

THE REV. BENJAMIN T. MUNFORD
Director - Jesus Evangelism Ministries

Sharing the Gospel with Puppets

(note: as before, Pastor Ben sent me a timely report, but I'm posting it tardy!)

We left the city of Buchanan that Saturday morning for the Wayzon, District #3 Compound, Brand Bassa County, Liberia. It is about 45 miles from Buchanan, the second largest city of Liberia. I have six persons on the puppet team: David James, Thomas Johnson, Eugene, Doris Nagbe, Pas. Malachi and Mongar.



It was at about 3:00PM and the sun was very hot on March 7, 2009. We headed for the football field where we were to carry out our puppet show for the day. As our vehicle passed through the community, we had two of our puppets singing out the windows as the music played in the car. I looked through the view mirrors and one could see crowd of kids and adults following the vehicle.

We reached the site, the community football field, where we were to do our puppet show. By the time we got through setting up our equipment and stage, the place was crowded with kids and adults. More people came as the puppets did their first three songs. About 300 persons were in attendance, both adults and kids.



After the first three songs, Rev. Benjamin Munford gave a message from God’s word on the theme: GOD’S JUDGMENT. His text was Hebrews 9:27. When the altar call was made, about 100 persons made decisions, saying the sinners’ prayer aloud.

After the message, the puppets sang two more songs and we brought the show to an end. The kids and adults were very excited about the puppet show. They have never seen such thing before. We bless God that we can use such mean to reach people with the gospel.



We bought some packs of candy for the kids. We decided to distribute them among the kids. It was pretty difficult organizing these kids to divide the packs of candy.

I saw kids with no footwear and no good wearing (poor clothes). But this did not stop them from coming out to watch the show and listen to God’s word. I talked with some kids after the show and one could see the love for God in their eyes. Lots of these kids are not in school.

We will be having puppet shows during these times: The First Phase (March 7, 14, 21, and 28); Second Phase (May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30); Third Phase (July 4, 11, 18, 25) and the Fourth Phase (September 5, 12, 19, 26).

Kindly keep us in your prayers that God will open the eyes of these people to fully follow Him. Pray that God will grant us traveling mercy and make transportation available during these dates.

THE REV. BENJAMIN MUNFORD
Director - Jesus Evangelism Ministries
Director - Agape Puppets - Liberia

A Belated Christmas Report

(note: This report is late making it to the website because of my tardiness in posting it, not of Pastor Ben's tardiness in making it!)

On Saturday morning, December 20, I traveled to Buchanan to spend the Christmas holiday there. In the afternoon, I put together a short Christmas drama to be performed by the puppets.

On Sunday, I met and practiced with three of my four faithful puppeteers: Pastor Malachi, Eugene, and Mongar. We also have our second practice on Monday. Our practice went very well. Kids and adults came around to watch our practice show. We also fixed few balloons to give to the kids on Christmas Day.



On Wednesday, December 24, the sun was bright and the weather was great and promising. This was the day we planned to do our Christmas Drama. We brought our equipment outside from the house and decided to carry the most needed ones.

We placed two boxes of puppets in a wheelbarrow. I asked some of my kids to go with us to carry some of the equipment on their heads. One took the puppet stage and the other took the speaker. I took one bag on my back and Pastor Malachi took one bag on his back.



After 20- 25 minutes of walking, we reached the site. It was on the street, near business centers. We set up the stage and everything. It was about 5:00PM. We were four persons on the team.

As we were setting up the stage, crowd of people started to come around. More started to come around as the puppet did their first Christmas song. Even two UN vehicles stopped to watch the show. Praise God those Muslim Peace Keepers and heard the gospel through our Christmas drama.



At the end of the drama, I gave a short message about the purpose of Christmas (Matt. 1:21-25). At the end of the message, altar call was made and lots of kids as well as adults prayed out loud asking Jesus to forgive them and be their Lord and Savior. About 200 persons attended this show. However, across the street, were lots of people at the business centers who also heard the gospel.



A little girl after the show shared with me how she was greatly blessed by the drama. It is my heart burden to see these kids and adults been follow-up and discipled.

On December 25, we were not able to have our Christmas party for kids. Therefore, we gave out those balloons we fixed to the kids who came around.

New Pastoral Program Training

We will be having a pastoral training program starting on March 7, continuing weekly in March and going through Mary, July, and September.

After the morning sessions, we will be having evangelistic puppets shows on a football field.

The courses are:
Church Ministry and Administration
Preaching Biblical Messages and Pastoral Ministry
Bible Study Methods and Interpretation
Principles and Methods of Preaching
Personal Spiritual Life

Please be in prayer for this training, that many pastors would attend and be built up in their ministries.