THE PULPIT: Learning ABCs the Christian way

It’s easy to complain about television programming, but who actually does something about it?
Well, David Hames of Colorado Springs did.
A couple of years ago, Hames noticed something lacking in the preschool television shows his children, now ages 3 and 5, were watching. None of the shows included teachings on the Christian faith.
Hames set out to combine learning to count and the alphabet with learning about Christ.
His creation is “Cranium’s Ark,” a 30-minute video that Hames wrote, produced and filmed with one camera in his basement.
He also got help from a couple of overseas animators and a local music director.
In the video, Hames, 40, portrays Capt. Cranium, who commands a Noah’s arklike ship filled with animated animals learning a preschool curriculum sprinkled with Bible teachings.
Dressed in a colorful tuxedo top, Hames hams it up as the Christian captain, singing and dancing in front of a green backdrop upon which animated scenes and animals will be added during the production process.
“I’m trying to educate, to entertain and to disciple,” said Hames, who attends Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs with his wife and children. “I want to excite children to learn and inspire them in their walk with God.”
Since completing “Cranium’s Ark” in August, Hames has sold about 600 copies, he told me.
His creation also won “Best Children’s Film” at the 2009 Christian Film Festival in Irvine, Calif.
He’s already started on the video’s sequel, which he hopes to release in January.
Though Hames said a distributor has shown interest in picking up “Cranium’s Ark,” so far Hames has marketed the video and paid for its production — about $50,000 — himself.
“There have been days when I thought this was insane,” said Hames, the founder and president of Red Balloon, a local video-production company with clients such as General Motors, Compassion International and Junior Achievement.
“I’ve turned away work to dress in an outfit and parade around in front of a green screen.”
Hames persists because he believes God has called him to combine his knowledge of video production, interest in preschool education and desire to spread Christ’s message.
“This is a free fall of faith,” he told me.
When things get tight financially, Hames finds strength in simple things, such as the thrill his kids show as they watch Capt. Cranium on the living room big screen.
“In those moments, the scary parts seem to be forgotten,” he said.
To learn more about “Cranium’s Ark” and how to purchase the video, go to my blog, The Pulpit, at www.thepulpit.freedomblogging.com.
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Call the writer at 636-0367.