April 30, 2001
A PUPPETEERING GROUP from Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington traveled to Canton to perform at First Monday Trade Days.
First Mondays open doors for witness in Canton
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___CANTON--More churches are beginning to learn what First Baptist Church in Canton has known for awhile--the First Monday Trade Days held there each month are ripe for ministry.
___First Baptist Church began a ministry giving away water to hot and thirsty shoppers about 10 years ago. Mora Dossett got the idea at a Woman's Missionary Union event she attended.
AVA FLANAGAN and Mora Dossett (above right) are two of the volunteers who staff the watering station of First Baptist Church of Canton during the monthly weekend festival.
___In addition to ice water, the Baptist volunteers serve up Scripture portions and tracts. They also display signs with gospel messages.
___Ava Flanagan, a part-time secretary at the church, noted she feels honored to be a part of the project.
___"It's a ministry to people," she said. "People walk by and see the signs, and it stirs their curiosity. 'Why do you do this?' and then we get to tell them."
___Pastor Tim Watson agreed.
___"This is just another venue for sharing the Living Water, Jesus Christ, with the people who come out there," Watson said. "We just want to share the gospel by meeting these people's physical need for a drink by giving them a cup of water with no strings attached."
___Many of those cups of water lead to deeper conversations, he said. After drinking the water, people often spill the troubling problems in their lives--problems they want to share with someone who has a relationship with God.
___The ministry tent is widening, however, and church groups from across the state areencouraged to participate, especially those with puppet groups.
ALYSSA ATKINSON and her friend, Meghan, (right) share a story about honesty.
___"The thing that has always amazed me is the range of ages of people who will stand and watch," said Jo Ann West, a veteran puppeteer. "Puppets are wonderful, because almost everyone will stop and listen to puppets--not just kids, but adults too."
___West saw the opportunity and has begun enlisting puppet groups to perform on First Monday weekends.
___Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington was one of the groups to perform during April's First Monday Trade Days. The group was led by Clay and Brenda Crowell.
___"This is a great ministry for so many reasons," Mrs. Crowell said. "These puppets are such a great tool for bringing a message that everyone needs to hear--even those people who will never go to a church. It's also a fantastic tool to reach kids--they'll listen to a puppet when they won't listen to anyone else."
___The puppet ministry also allows even older children to use their talents, she said. "This is one ministry where kids even in the fourth through sixth grades can go out from their church and actually participate in ministry. This is one way we can start building that love for ministry and missions in kids at an earlier age," he said.
___Groups interested in performing in Canton may contact West at (817) 379-5102.
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