A bit of chipped paint around the eyeballs and a few missing threads hint at his age but “Big Red” shows no signs of slowing down.

The longest-serving puppet at Kids Street Church officially turns 20 in August — marking two decades of trading witty barbs with “Mr. Tim” (Executive Pastor for Children and Ministries Tim Gerber), bringing smiles and helping children find faith through word, music, games, and more.

On a recent Sunday, Big Red was doing his weekly prep backstage and didn’t have much time to talk. But he still paused long enough to share highlights of his ministry and time together with several generations of Triad children.

“I’m big so I like big meals and love to eat,” Big Red began, rattling off a long list of favorite Kernersville eating spots that have since gone by the wayside including Western Steer and Fire Mountain. His current favorite is Hibachi Grille & Supreme Buffet in Kernersville.

He’s also a UNC fan and a fan of the New York Yankees, which figured in what he considers one of the lowest moments of his puppetry career. “We were up 3-0 in American League Championship Series in 2004, and I was having a great time with Mr. Tim,” Big Red said. “Then they came back and swept us to take the ALCS crown.

“I didn’t want to come in that day since I knew what Mr. Tim would say but I did it for the kids. I love singing with them and making them laugh, and know they feel the same way about me too! And I continue to pray for the ones whose parents cheer for the Red Sox and Duke Blue Devils.”

Although he’s been used other ways over the years, Gerber said that Big Red remains the cornerstone and lead puppet among the eight to 10 who make regular appearances during Kids Street Church.

Big Red is currently the exclusive puppet for the Kids Street Church geared toward third- through fifth-graders.

“Big Red goes back to the first children’s worship service in 1994 when I came to Triad,” Gerber said. “I liken him to an overgrown Elmo. The helping hand attached to him is someone incredibly gifted at maintaining two levels of conversation at all times: one for children and one for adults. There aren’t many puppeteers who can appeal to both.”

Kids Street Church members know Big Red always appears each week after they recite their sixth and final rule: to have fun.

Gerber said he enjoys the back and forth with Big Red which helps break up the songs and keep children interested. They’ve found a host of creative ways over the years to teach and train children spiritually.

One example: To teach how God knows everything about us, Gerber equipped Big Red with the ability to see numbers that volunteers were trying to guess on cards in a numbers game. When Big Red continued to rattle off the right numbers, Gerber still laughs about the child who said of Big Red, “He’s peeking!” On went a blindfold, but, with the camera’s help, Big Red continued to recite the numbers perfectly in a gag that even puzzled some of the adult volunteers.

No one missed the point that just like Big Red knew all the numbers, God, similarly, knows our hearts and everything about us.

Gerber and Big Red have been working together so long that they ad lib and don’t need a script. “I’ll say, ‘This song is called Trust and obey.’ Tell me something about how you trusted your mom, and he’ll respond and we go from there,” Gerber said.

“Big Red becomes an extension of the hand that guides him — so much so that you don't even think who is back there. He’s real. Working together as long as we have, we have a bag of gags at our disposal.”

One of Gerber’s favorites involves the song, “I love him better every d-a-y.”

Explained Big Red, “I’ll say, ‘Listen, I can do this whole song backwards,’ and Mr. Tim will say, ‘Big Red, no one can do that. Kids, do you think he can?’ And they’ll say Nooooooooo.

“Then I turn around and sing. Sure, I love to eat and love to have fun and sometimes have been known to imitate a famous person or two. But everything Mr. Tim and I do and say ultimately is about something far more important: helping children learn who God is and how much He loves them and wants them to be in His family of faith.

“That’s more than enough to keep me going for another 20 years.”