At BABESWORLD some things never grow old like that April 9 th Sunday when the BABES characters actually delivered the Word before the congregation at New Bride Missionary Baptist Church on Detroit’s Eastside. Seven months later, whenever the conversation comes up, folks are (still) curious about the details, tickled at the thought of seven furry puppets at the pulpit and most are inquisitive as to what made Pastor A. Ayler make this decision.
“There was no hesitation because from what I know about BABES is that the message is a good one that everyone could relate to, even me,” states Pastor Ayler. “I recall even seeing myself in a few of the puppets.” Reflecting back to that Sunday sermon he adds, “When the presentation first started the vibe in the church was that it was some kiddy thing . . . It wasn’t long before the puppets and the way the ladies (members Nadine Rivers and Mercelle Maxwell) were presenting them, and what the puppets represented sparked an obvious interest throughout the church . . . People were actually starting to pay attention.”
Since that Sunday sermon, the church’s youth ministry has been conducting the BABES At Worship program and has completed the eight classes.
Pastor Ayler also agreed with what Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones Hood, Founder and CEO of BABES, always says, “BABES is not just for babies; it’s for everybody: the young in age and the young at heart.” With his congregation ranging from babies to age 95, he adds that, “The puppets and their story took the congregation back to various times in their lives where they could identify with each and every one of those puppets.” He recalls thinking that, “It’s not easy to tell folks that either now or at some point in their lives they were one of those puppets living in one, if not many of those situations that those little puppets were facing.” When asked if he would do it again, he responded, “definitely.”
