New Home Baptist Church will host Solid Rock Puppet Ministry for a black light puppet show. The performance will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 12, at the church’s location at 1864 Highway AA.
“It isn’t like puppet shows were when I was a kid,” said Tom Moore, co-director of Solid Rock and a Christian magician.
The show at New Home will take 14 puppeteers operating 28-30 puppets for an a hour of songs and skits in black light conditions. The puppeteers will be in black but the puppets and the 160 props in the show are treated to appear neon bright in black light.
Moore will perform his illusions and emcee the show. After the show he will be doing balloon animals for the children.
Solid Rock started in 2012 when Tom’s mother saw a similar performance at a church. Lana Moore, a wildlife painter who specializes in painting feathers, was inspired. She recruited a half dozen others and began making props. They adopted the motto of Christian Hearts Serving on a Puppet Team.
The puppet ministry grew quickly to around 20 members and they have performed at churches all over Southeast Missouri. They have also been in parades, been involved in food drives, charity sales, Christmas programs, trunk or treats and an Alzheimer’s walk.
They also perform at area nursing homes and health care facilities.
“They (the residents) can’t get out to see us so we go to them,” said Moore.
At a performance at Westwood Baptist of Poplar Bluff, a larger crowd than anticipated showed up. Solid Rock had expected a couple dozen families and their children but there were almost 200 children at the show.
“I will never forget all those kids and the smiles on their faces,” he said. “It was amazing!”
In 2019, Solid Rock traveled to Granite City, Illinois, to participate in the Midwest Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers Conference to learn new ways to proclaim the gospel in their shows.
The pandemic of 2020 halted the shows but Moore wants everyone to know that the puppet ministry is back in action.
“We don’t charge churches for the shows,” said Moore. “And we always have fun.”
Anyone wishing to book Solid Rock Puppet Ministry may call Tom at 573-429-3063 or Lana at 573-300-0022.