By Robert Fernandez, co-founder of Herald Entertainment, Inc The Story Behind Brother Francis
I have been involved with media production, including writing, directing, and producing, for most of my career, and I have always wanted to use my talents for God. The idea for a character like Brother Francis came to me many years ago, while editing a children’s television program.
As a child, I had a lot of questions pertaining to my faith. I was raised in a Catholic family, and I had been an altar boy, but there was a lot that I didn’t understand. As a young adult, my spiritual hunger took me to the Protestant church where I learned a lot about Christ and what following Him means, but I always longed for more. On a work trip to India, I had the blessing of meeting Mother Theresa, and that singular event started me on the journey that would eventually lead me back to the Church.
When reflecting on my spiritual journey, I started to wonder what life would have been like if I had had a better grasp of my faith when I was young. As an 8-year-old, I was hungry for God, and as a young teen I knew God was to be followed and served, but I lacked the understanding and guidance to know how to do it. Brother Francis was conceived with the idea of making the deep riches of our faith more accessible to children.
The Brother Francis series and brand has grown over the years, with many people now working on a wide array of products. Some people have called it theology for kids, and I think that’s a good description of what it is. We think its success proves that children can understand the deep things of God. Perhaps the words are less complicated, but children are capable of drawing near to Him, and we are blessed to be a link in that vocation.