2024 INSTRUCTORS (SO FAR!)
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.
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).
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.
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.
Linda and her husband, Ray directed the puppet ministry, “Patchwork” for over 35 years. They utilized puppets, props, blacklights and human visualizations to present the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ in a variety of settings. Linda enjoys directing the choir in their Church, teaching the teen Sunday School Class and singing on the Worship team. She is a RN and recently retired as a System Director of Education/School of Nursing in Elmira, NY.
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.
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.
Peter and Laura Wray have shared a life-long fascination with puppetry and have served on their ministry team, Christ in Action, alongside their 3 grown children. Peter is a puppeteer, music procurer and prop builder while Laura is a puppeteer, costumer and prop builder and co-director.
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.