2024 INSTRUCTORS
We are very excited about the team we're assembling for FCP National! Please keep them in prayer as they prepare to share with us throughout the week during devotions, workshops and performances. You may read their biography by clicking their image. This staffing list is tentative and may be subject to change.
JJ Graves is the puppeteer behind the popular YouTube channel, Douglas Talks. His videos have been seen in more than 180 countries! He has a bachelor's degree in Student Ministry and moved from his role as a children's pastor to full-time digital ministry in 2019.
Edna is a puppeteer, educator and teaching artist. She is a drama and puppetry teacher at a performing arts magnate in Florida and is serving as Vice President of the Puppeteers of America. As an educator, she has trained at the Kennedy Center, Juilliard, and Shakespeare's Globe Theater. As a puppeteer, she was mentored by Sesame Street's Carroll Spinney and Dr. Loretta Long (Big Bird and Susan).
Since 1982, Jim and his wife Bonnie have been co-directors of the Celebration Puppeteers in Indianapolis. They are puppet designers and puppet makers for ministries all around the world. Jim is a long-time workshop leader for regional and national conferences. While Jim is "retired" from his television news career, he manages to fill-in from time to time on the news assignment desk at the local CBS and FOX television stations.
Jose, Aileen and their son AJ form "Los Soldaditos" (the Little Soldiers). Since 1996, they answered God’s calling to be full time evangelists to families. José has over 35 years of experience as a puppeteer and has authored three books on puppetry and ministry. Aileen has over 35 years of experience working with children and families, including 10 years as a Children's Church Director. They also puppeteered and wrote scripts for the "Payaso Remi" television series in Puerto Rico.
Barb Field is a professional clown and mime and NY State certified teacher. She first discovered her passion for mime in 1989 on her first mission trip to Mexico. Since then, she has visited hundreds of churches, twisted thousands of balloons, and graciously ministered on missions, streets and wherever the Lord leads her.
Dotti Seitz (Southern Cheyenne) is an award-winning ventriloquist who launched her encore career at age 64 by founding The Puppet & Story Works company with her storyteller husband, Steve. They were also puppeteers for the internationally acclaimed puppet education program, The Kids on the Block, performing interactive shows for children on Disabilities Awareness and Mental Health topics.
Bonnie, co-directs the Celebration Puppeteers with her husband, at Old Bethel United Methodist church in Indianapolis, IN. The two have been leading the puppet ministry for over 40 years. Bonnie just recently retired from being the Operations Manager of the third largest food pantry in Indianapolis but still finds time every week to volunteer.
For over 30 years, Jill Harrington and the Prince Puppets have traveled many kingdoms far and wide sharing the love of Jesus. Jill has taught hundreds of workshops in the area of puppetry and the creative arts. She is also director of “Kid’s Kingdom Adventure” an outreach ministry to the inner-city of her hometown; Pittsburgh, PA. When she isn’t cleaning the moat or fighting dragons, Jill toils within the castle workshop creating affordable and adorable puppets sold world-wide!
Creative ministry has been Britney’s passion for over 30 years. She has been sharing her experiences and talents through workshops for the past decade at regional and national conferences. She co-directs the Celebration Puppeteers in Indiana and has passion for directing out-front pieces, using mime, rods, signing, and more.
Melissa and Elijah Knuckles have been involved in puppetry and creative ministry for a combined 50+ years. Together, they are skilled in puppetry, clowning, videography, face painting and beyond! Their greatest joys are Christ and their family.
Linda and her husband Ray directed the Patchwork puppet ministry for over 35 years. She now leads "Patchwork Gen 2," an intergenerational puppet ministry that presents the Kingship of Jesus Christ in a variety of settings with a variety of techniques! Linda's a registered nurse and retired as a System Director of Education for the School of Nursing in Elmira, NY. She serves as Treasurer for the Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers.
Gabriel has been passionately involved creative arts for over 20 years and God has accomplished infinitely more than he might have ever imagined! Gabriel has a heart for teaching young people the value of pouring their gifts at Christ's feet. He is the Creative Ministries Director at his church in the San Francisco Bay Area and has trained teams and leaders throughout the United States and Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua and Ecuador.
Patsy has been working with and making puppets for 25+ years and has been teaching children's church for 45 years. She has been involved with FCP throughout the decades as Secretary, Conference Registrar and a Workshop Leader. She has been on two mission trips to Honduras where she taught how to make and manipulate puppets. She also has puppets in Ecuador, Philippines and China.
Kristofer is the man behind beloved ministry brands as Puppedcation, PlaySoup and One Way Squared and has 15+ years of experience in multi-media, puppetry, creative arts, and children’s ministry. Kristofer has trained under some of the nation’s top puppeteers. He previously served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers (FCP). Kristofer is the founder of Kristofer Sommerfeld Productions.
Debbie is a dynamic ministry leader and certified coach that has been involved in puppet ministry and leadership for 20+ years. She directed ministries in VA and MD, with new ministries branching off into other parts of the country! She is the Co-Director of Milestones Ministry, LLC and a Past President of the Christian Education Network of the ELCA.
Rebecca Ennis is an art and music teacher from Forest City, NC. She is the co-director of GLOW, a creative arts team at Florence Baptist Church. Their team incorporates puppets, sign language, blacklight and various creative movements into programs they present for their church and community. She has been involved in the creative arts for 17 years,
Bill has been involved in puppetry since childhood and wove it throughout his 54 years as an ordained pastor. His reach has extended beyond his church to decades of service in leadership positions for the Puppeteers of America and Fellowship of Christian puppeteers. He is especially interested in the history of puppetry and religion, especially its use in the church.
Peter Wray has shared a life-long fascination with puppetry and has served on the ministry team, Christ in Action, alongside his wife and 3 grown children. Peter is a puppeteer, music procurer, prop builder and enjoys exploring puppetry style outside of the traditional rod-arm puppets.