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Church's Troupe Has Its Hands Full

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By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 2, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The Calvary Chapel Worship Center Good News puppets are spreading laughter, gifts and Christian messages throughout west Pasco County.

Formed by 13 parishioners at Calvary Chapel Worship Center in New Port Richey, the group presents free inspirational puppet shows in communities with substantial populations of low-income families.

"Our puppet ministry is based on the First Corinthians 1:27, 'But God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,'

" said Pastor Marcus Carder, founder of the puppet ministry.

"God sees something foolish, then turns around and uses it."

Good News uses puppets with a variety of appearances - male and female, young and old, of various ethnicities - to perform "The Gift."

Employing humor and ad libs throughout the script, the puppet play concerns a young lady who receives a special delivery: the gift of salvation from God.

"We're providing family entertainment with good values," said Milanne Miles, researcher and prompter for Good News.

Good News has performed the play at Holiday Lake Estates in Holiday, and is planning a Feb. 23 show at Regency Palms Apartments in New Port Richey.

"The puppet ministry is a small part of a huge outreach," said Diana Hill, who facilitates the puppet ministry with husband Doug and is also a puppeteer with the group.

Carder agrees.

"The puppets are part of the bigger picture," he said.

"The kids benefit, and it's a way to carry out the church mission of bringing to the community the love and hope of Jesus in a practical way."

Indeed, the puppet ministry works in concert with CCWC clowns and other church volunteers to bring free celebrations to the communities they serve.

Aside from puppet and clown performances, music and multimedia presentations, the shows frequently include barbecues and servings of snacks and bottled waters.

"We want to let people know we're in the community, then address their practical needs," said Diana Hill. "Before they listen to the message, you have to feed them first."

Also to this end, Good News is conducting a fundraiser for various types of donations to the communities it serves.

"We want to help provide for their needs," said Dee McGillis, fundraising coordinator and puppeteer for Good News.

"Whatever they need, be it food, clothing, school supplies, the painting and cleaning up of their areas, we want to provide."

McGillis is working with Wireless Recycle, a fundraising program that converts the donation of used and broken cell phones into cash for nonprofit organizations and causes. She's seeking cell phone donations to increase the level of aid the church can provide to the communities it serves.

On a personal level, McGillis sees her involvement in Good News as both fun and deeply spiritual.

"I'm the Lord's puppet," she said. "God put this in my heart. This brings out the child inside of me."

In the future, the Calvary Chapel Worship Center puppeteers hope to spread their "Good News" to many needy people in this area.

"We're catering to families and children," said Doni Scaglione, scriptwriter/puppeteer for Good News. "And we're looking for places to go."

GOOD NEWS PUPPET TROUPE

SOME BACKGROUND: The Calvary Chapel Worship Center Good News puppet troupe performs inspirational plays in neighborhoods with significant populations of low-income families throughout west Pasco. The group also plans to perform at church and community events.

The group consists of:

Pastor Marcus Carder - founder

Diana and Doug Hill - facilitators
Diana Hill - puppeteer

Dee McGillis - fundraising and puppeteer

Donna Daly - director, scriptwriter

Jason Daly - puppeteer, scriptwriter

Tom Sanders - master puppeteer, ventriloquist

Cheryl Beckwith - puppeteer, music

John and Diane Tiefenthal - puppeteers

Milanne Miles - researcher - prompter

Doni (Donna) Scaglione - scriptwriter, puppeteer

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: In addition to performing, Good News distributes water and food to audience members. It also hopes to generate money to meet large-scale needs of the communities it serves, such as school supplies, clothing, large food donations, etc.

A LITTLE HISTORY: Good News was formed by a group of puppeteer volunteers who attend Calvary Chapel Worship Center in New Port Richey. Most of the puppets, as well as their performance stage, are supplied by the church. The group first performed at last year's CCWC Christmas Festival.

WHAT'S NEXT?: The group will perform Feb. 23 at Regency Palms in New Port Richey.

The public is encouraged to bring donations of used cell phones to the church, to support the efforts of Calvary Chapel ministries to help people in need. The church is at 6825 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey; for information, call (727) 376-7733.

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