Fruitcake--people either love it or they hate it.  Berta Lou Scott says if you’re a hater, you haven’t tried hers.

‘“The only thing I knew about fruitcake, a lot of people just didn't care for it. ‘Oh, I don't like fruitcake. I don't like fruitcake.’ But I said, “Just try.” And once they tried that cake, they changed their mind.”’

Berta is the founder of the Southern Supreme fruitcake company. The Bear Creek, North Carolina native says growing up she wasn’t exactly fond of it either.

“My mama always cooked a lot of sweets at Christmas. She made her version of fruitcake, which I didn't care much for.”

In the late 70’s, Berta, a hairdresser at the time, decided to create her own fruitcake recipe.

“I wanted to serve something to my customers at Christmas I worked on a lot of recipes.

And they liked it. It was more like a nut cake, they said.”

Then in 1984, Berta’s husband, Hoyt, lost his job, and she prayed for a way to make up the lost income.

“All of a sudden it came to me about the fruitcake. 'cause I made it for my customers in the beauty shop for so many years and they just really bragged on it all the time.

I thought about it, but I wasn't sure that was the right path to go because so many people didn't like fruitcakes. And the Lord kept saying, ‘Make fruitcakes, make fruitcakes.” And I decided that we was going to make fruitcakes.’”

And thus began the Southern Supreme fruitcake company. At first, Berta made every cake by hand. They were so popular she began taking them to Christmas shows throughout North Carolina. Eventually, the demand was so high they had to start using special equipment designed just for them.

“Nobody had a business like ours. We was doing something different. Our cake is cooked and then stirred the whole time it's cooked and then it's molded. And it, that's the reason I think it stays so moist.”

Fruitcake first appeared in ancient Rome and has taken many forms and names through the centuries: stollen, Dundee cake, panettone, to name a few.

It’s first association with the holidays came during medieval times, when carolers were treated to ‘figgy pudding’ for their performance.

By the early 1900’s, giving fruitcake as a gift had become a tradition that continues today. In fact, every year Berta’s company delivers thousands of fruitcakes all over the world, not to mention the other goodies she’s come up with.

“I came up with a lot of new products, because we wanted to do the baskets.  The kids say my mind never quits.”

Even then, Berta says it took more than a delicious fruitcake to take them from a garage to the 40,000 square foot facility they occupy today. For starters, they’ve always been known for their hospitality, offering visitors generous samples to try for free.

‘“My husband wanted to have the samples. I said, ‘We can't afford to give 'em all them samples.’ “Well, yeah, we're going to give 'em all the samples,” he'd say.’”

She also points to their loyal customer base, and especially, her family, who for forty years have put their time and hearts into making the southern supreme fruitcake company a success, while overcoming the stigma of fruitcake in the process.

“I think we've changed a lot of people's mind about fruitcake. It's been quite a journey. But we've enjoyed it.”

All those things aside, Berta says the most important factor in their success is that god has always been in the details.

“You have to ask Him and He'll help you along the way. You can't do it without Him. I think it's very important to know that you can't handle a project without Lord being with you. We've been really blessed. I think it was God's plan.  I just tell them the Lord told me to make cakes. And I did.”

To purchase Berta Lou Scott's fabulous fruitcake! click the LINK! 

After three years of marriage, Elizabeth and Kevin were ready to start their family.

Kevin says, “We were just excited. ‘Okay, this is a new adventure.’ And I couldn't wait.”

Elizabeth adds, “You just think, ‘Oh, this is going to be amazing’ and you know, wanted people to start praying for us.”

But when months of trying produced no results, Elizabeth’s enthusiasm began to diminish. Elizabeth says, “Kinda feel like maybe this should have happened by now.  And then when you hit that like eight, nine months, and you're creeping up on a year, I started getting kinda panicky like ‘What if something's really wrong?’”

Still, they continued to ask God to bless them with a child.

Elizabeth remembers, “I remember my prayers gradually getting more anxious and more desperate.”

After one year of trying, they saw several doctors in hopes of finding a reason for their infertility.

Elizabeth says, “But we really weren't getting any answers. It was uh unexplained infertility.”

“There was no easy solution,” Kevin says. “So that was frustrating.”

Elizabeth says, “I remember the Dr. saying, ‘We need to do everything we can right now, because if you come back to me in two years I may not be able to help you.’”

With Kevin employed as a minister in Atlanta Georgia, they both spent a lot of time working within their church. But Elizabeth couldn’t help feeling like she was a failure.

Elizabeth says, “I started feeling like ‘I'm the girl who can't get pregnant.’ And I was getting some of those phone calls from friends. ‘You know we’re not even at a year yet but, we’re pregnant!’ Hanging up and I mean, I just wept for hours.”

Kevin says, “It broke my heart more to see her really sad.”

One year turned into two, and still no baby. Their faith remained in God, but for Elizabeth, the silence was becoming unbearable.

Elizabeth says, “I would show up to my morning prayer times and just kinda be like ‘Well, God, we both know what I have to say, now it's your turn.’ In that silence the enemy's voice really starts whispering doubt into it. ‘Does God hear me? Does he see Kevin and me? Does he hear our prayers?’"

Christmas time was especially difficult.

Elizabeth continues, “All throughout the month of December my refrigerator filling up with pictures of all my friends' babies in Christmas clothes and Santa hats, and I wanted so much to have that big family Christmas and…what if I never have children, like what does Christmas look like with no children?”

Kevin says, “Christmas is supposed to be loud and crazy and kids everywhere and the emptiness is right there at the surface.”

With Christmas approaching in 2004, Kevin and Elizabeth knew their chances for having children were growing thin.

Elizabeth says, “I just remember feeling very aware like, if we got to that three year point, being considered in long-term infertility, it probably won’t happen. Just this desperation, kinda this sense of now or never.”

After presents and Christmas dinner with Elizabeth’s family, they all gathered together for a time of prayer.

Elizabeth says, “So we start going around, we'll all praying for the year to come, and I mean, without fail, everybody, prayed, ‘Please God, by this time next year, give Kevin and Elizabeth a baby,’  that was our prayer, by this time next year.”

Kevin says, “It made such a huge difference, that prayer, that night. Uh and it was a very significant moment.”

Three months later, Elizabeth decided to take a pregnancy test. She and Kevin waited to see the results.

Elizabeth says, “We buy one of these digital ones. And we’re waiting. Staring at it…and when that word ‘pregnant’ popped up on there, I just burst out crying, and we’re sitting on the bathroom floor and we’re hugging each other! I can’t believe it, I’m pregnant!”

Exactly one year after the Christmas prayer with her family, Elizabeth gave birth to their daughter Cassidy!

“We’ve waited for you for so long!” Elizabeth says. “The moment they placed her in my arms, and I'm looking at this little blinking wide-eyed baby, I'm thinking, God gave her to us. And this really happened. And I’m a mom and Kevin is a dad. Happiest –happiest minute of my life.”

“She was gorgeous,” Kevin says. “We just realized what God did. And right at the moment. When we prayed, by this time next year and-and – when you start connecting those dots.”

Elizabeth says, “It was like God went out of his way to say ‘Yes. I do hear you and I was waiting for my big reveal.’”

Today, the Thompsons are blessed with 4 children, and have an extra reminder every Christmas, that God hears them, and loves them.

“I look back and I see God just guiding– all the details, just so that he could say, ‘I am always there. I have never stopped listening. I have never stopped loving you.’ And that's what God gave us through that, Little Christmas miracle baby.”

After Srey Ni’s parents abandoned her, she went to live with her grandmother, who was also raising Srey Ni’s cousins. “I had to take care of my cousins every day. Grandma Oeun was busy selling things, so she didn’t have any time for me. That made me feel sad and lonely,” shared Srey Ni.

One day, a neighbor invited her to an after-school program supported by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise. Srey Ni said, “I was very happy and excited to go. I was able to make new friends. The teacher welcomed me and I was excited to learn.” The afterschool program at the church was the first time she ever heard about Jesus through CBN’s Superbook. Srey Ni said, “I watched the story about when Jesus was born. It taught me that God loves me and that Jesus came to earth for me.”

After watching the story, she prayed with her teacher to become a Christian. Srey Ni said, “I love you Jesus and believe You will forgive me and fill me with Your love.” Immediately she said her life began to change. She became more loving towards her grandmother and her cousins. “Every morning, I prayed for my cousins and grandmother to know Jesus. I also took one of my cousins to watch Superbook. He and her grandmother become Christians.

Srey Ni said, “I am very happy that God heard my prayers for them and did such a great miracle.” Grandma Oeun added, “Srey Ni has changed. She became a good student and even helps me around the house.” Srey Ni is not lonely anymore. She said, “I know God loves me. God used Superbook to bring 'God’s Love' to me, my cousin, and grandmother.”
 

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In the vibrant and diverse land of Thailand, an 11-year-old boy named Namodi, affectionately known as Jacob, has experienced a remarkable transformation. Jacob, of Thai-Nigerian descent, faced significant challenges early in life. His parents separated, with his father returning to Nigeria and his mother struggling with drug addiction, leaving Jacob in the care of his aunt.

Jacob was a shy and reserved child who rarely spoke or expressed himself. However, his life took a pivotal turn during a church outreach event last Christmas. It was there that he watched the Superbook episode “The First Christmas.” The story deeply moved him, and he prayed to accept Jesus into his life that very day. 

After the Christmas event, the church followed up with Jacob and his family, providing necessary supplies and emotional support. Jacob became more confident in expressing himself, and he found a sense of belonging with his new friends at church. Inspired by the changes they saw in Jacob, his uncle, aunt, and cousin also began attending worship services. They soon came to believe in the Lord as well, and the entire family has since been baptized.

Jacob’s story is a testament to the power of the Gospel and the importance of community. The Superbook episode that introduced him to Jesus served as a catalyst for change, not just for Jacob but for his entire family. To watch “The First Christmas” and other Superbook episodes, download the CBN family app. If you would like to help CBN continue producing shows like Superbook to reach children like Jacob and their families with the Gospel, use the link below to donate to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry.

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