New Orleans, LOUISIANA -- A puppet ministry for children will hold training sessions from 7 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 27 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Bethany Lutheran Church for an upcoming event in Slidell.

Puppet Productions, the originator of modern church puppet ministry, will offer this session, teaching from the basic to advanced human-arm and solo puppetry. Session topics will include: directing a puppet team, technical aspects, designing shows, object lessons, costumes and props and introductory classroom illusion and balloon sculpture. The final session is set up for optional team performances and evaluations.

Donna McDonald, Bethany Lutheran's puppet ministry director, said church leaders are hosting the "puppet festival" to improve children ministries and to give members and others in the community a chance to broaden puppetry skills.

"Puppetry is a living, breathing art form," she said. "It's a powerful way to reach kids."

A puppet is an effective way of communicating a message. A group of about 14 youths and adults of puppet ministry at Bethany Lutheran leads Sunday services and partakes in music ministries and other special church events.

Festival rates are $20 per person or $15 per person in a group of at least eight people for preregistration. Walk-in registration is $23 per person or $18 per person in a group. An additional $10 fee at the time of registration is charged for each requested performance evaluation. Bethany Lutheran will provide Saturday's lunch.

For more information, call Puppet Productions at (800) 854-2151 or go to www.puppetproductions.com