Feature Articles
02 Jun 2009
Freddie Pierce
Freddie, you have more than one talent. You are a singer, an inspirational speaker, and a ventriloquist. When did you notice that you had exceptional talents? When did you realize that these talents were from God and you needed to use them for Him?
I actually began singing, performing ventriloquism and impersonating celebrities by the age of six years old! As I grew older and more mature in my faith, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that these were talents that God had so richly blessed me with. I promised Him that I would always use these talents in clean family-oriented programs, whether I was performing for a general audience at an association or corporate event or if I was presenting God's message at a church related program. For many years I presented more at general events, but within the last two years I've felt God's call to bring more hope, joy, love and laughter to His people through churches and Christian related concerts. Through this obedience to His call, God has opened so many doors for my ministry. Recently I was ordained as an Evangelist, where I am not only presenting single service events, but also holding full week Revivals across the United States where people of all ages are coming to receive Christ as their personal Savior and now I even have a song entitled, "Hello Mama" on the Christian music charts! Our God is most certainly an awsome God!
What types of audiences do you reach with each of your talents?
Because the talents that God gifted me with are so diverse, I get the same positive reactions literally from every age group imaginable. I am constantly blown away to see as many teenagers, adults and senior adults at my presentations. I believe that we live in such difficult times these days, both the saved and the unsaved are desperately searching for the hope, joy and love that can only come through Jesus. My theme for every program is, "Keep Looking Up!" because Christ is looking down from Heaven at each one of us, calling us into his Kingdom and I want to be one of his servants to help plant the seeds to get them there through my unique talents of joy and laughter. One of my favorite scripture verses is Psalm 126:2, "We were filled with laughter and we sang for joy, while others proclaimed, 'What amazing things the Lord has done!'"
As a ventriloquist, are you limited to only ministering to children? Can you give us some examples of older people who have been reached by your "friends"?
I appreciate you asking that question. As I mentioned before, literally anyone from 3 to 103 will receive a message and, hopefully, a blessing from my programs. There is a certain misconception that my type of presentations are aimed only at the very young; on the contrary, I have more teenagers and adults at my events than any other ages. Recently at one of my programs, a woman with terminal cancer came up to me after the event was over, hugged my neck and said, "If laughter is the best medicine, then I was cured tonight!"
Is it an insult to call your "friends" dummies? Can you introduce us to some of your "Friends"? How many are there all together? How many do you use in a typical service?
My most loved buddy, "Deacon" Earl is glad you asked about that. He is very sensitive to this "Dummy" name calling. He says that the politically correct term for him and his cohorts is "Wooden Americans"! Seriously, "Deacon" Earl is by far the most requested of all of my characters. I believe it is because everyone can relate to him. We all have some "Deacon" Earl's in our lives, those folks who never get along with anybody and think that they know a little bit about most things (or in Earl's case, he thinks that he knows a whole lot about everything!) I have about a dozen little friends and when I hold Revivals, somebody new pops up every night. The latest and most exciting edition to my "family" is Earl's wife Eunice and if you see her, you will have to admit that nature has not been very kind to her!
You also have a serious side to your ministry. What musical style would you say best describes what you do?
I do have a serious side to my ministry. Every program is very Biblically-based and I share a lot of scripture at each event. The wonderful thing about the way that I present God's Word is that it is remembered so well long after I am gone, and this type of ministry will sometimes bring in those people who might not attend a church service otherwise. I begin and end every service with a song because music is such an important part of everyone's lives. I sing a wide variety of types of songs including contemperary, but my favorites are some of the old hymns that, unfortunantly, a lot of our young people today have never heard.
When you arrive at a church or concert, how do you work into the serious singing part of your program?
I am known as "The ENTHUSIASTIC Worship Leader" and I try to live up to that title. The music is interwoven throughout the entire program and everything moves at a quick pace so that I do not lose anyone, most of all the teenagers, who are easily distracted. I guarantee two things at my events; no one will go to sleep and that EVERYONE will have a fun and joyful time in the Lord. Revelations 21:4 tells us that there will be no more tears or sorrow in Heaven and I believe that we should start getting ready for that while we are here on earth. The word joy is mentioned in the Bible over 400 times! I think God is trying to tell us something!
Do you have any musical heroes? Would you say you have patterned your singing style after any of these heroes?
I would say groups such as "The Cathedrals", "The Stamps Quartet", "The Inspirations" and "The Dove Brothers". All of those folks that when the M.C. says, "Please welcome.....!" That person or group comes out and it's, "Katie Bar The Door!" until they leave the platform.
As a singer, fans take home a part of your concert through CDs. Since you have a ventriloquist ministry, do you have to share through DVDs instead of CDs?
I have both CDs and DVDs available at all of my events, as well as on my websites. Because my programs are so physically active with lots of audience participation, most people carry DVDs home with them. I would like to relate a story because I believe that it is at the very heart of my ministry. About a year ago, a woman purchased one of my DVDs and I saw her again sometime later. She said that her husband was in the later stages of Alzheimers and that he had not reacted to anybody or anything in almost two years. She said that she turned on the DVD in his nursing home room just to enjoy for herself while she sat with him. With tears in her eyes, she related to me how, for the first time in two years, her husband watched the television and actually smiled as he listened to my program. That in a nutshell, is what my ministry is all about and why I believe that God granted me the many talents that He has; so that I could carry forth His mighty word to people who are starving for hope, joy, love and laughter in what I feel are some of our last days here on earth. The Great Commision is to win the lost at any cost and I intend to do just that.
What can a Pastor or concert promoter expect to see when he books Freddie Pierce?
They can expect an incredibly effective community outreach for their event, a Biblically-based, laugh-out-loud, program of encouragement and inspiration for audiences and congregations from 3 to 103 years of age and they can expect the gospel message wrapped around singing, celebrity impersonations, visual-parable-illustrations and a hilarious cast of characters (headed up by "Deacon" Earl and his wife Eunice!)
If a Pastor or promoter wants to have you at their church or concert, what's the best way to get you there?
They can call 252-714-8286, or look for us at our websites, http://www.hope-and-humor-ministries.com or http://www.fredspeaks.com, also remember "We're Not Famous, But We Are Affordable For your Next Service Or Event!" "KEEP LOOKING UP!"
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Written: 06/02/2009 
Author: SGN
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