TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Jan and Dave Meilner simply volunteered to help out at Children's Church on Sundays at Asbury United Methodist Church.

They taught a kindergarten Sunday School class and used a puppet to help illustrate some Bible stories.

"The rest is history," Jan Meilner said to the Tulsa World . "That got us involved. It has changed a lot since then."

The Meilners have been the directors of the Asbury Puppet Ministry for 33 years, producing and participating in puppet productions around the world and in dozens of local appearances each year.

"Being a puppeteer is actually kind of simple...