From Brokenness to Blessing
In a quiet village in Indonesia, a young boy named Ismail was growing up in the shadow of brokenness. At just nine years old, Ismail had already experienced more hardship than many face in a lifetime. After his parents separated, he was taken by his mother to live in a rural village, while his two younger siblings remained with their father in another remote area. Financial struggles made it impossible for his mother to care for him alone, and eventually, Ismail was placed under the care of a close relative who he calls “Grandmother.”
But the emotional toll of his fractured family left deep marks. Ismail became a rough and unruly child—speaking harshly, acting out at school, and often disturbing his classmates. His grandmother, deeply concerned, frequently spoke with his teachers, hoping for a way to reach the hurting boy.
Then one day, Ismail’s grandmother encouraged him to attend their church’s Sunday school, which utilizes Superbook Academy as their curriculum, and to her surprise he went.
For Ismail, Superbook was unlike anything he had ever seen in his village. The vibrant animation and powerful Bible stories captured his imagination and opened his heart. The episode that really made a lasting impression on Ismail was “Roar!” which tells the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Watching Daniel’s courage in the face of adversity and the way God protected him through it stirred something new in Ismail.
He realized that Daniel was spared because he was faithful and good. That moment became a turning point. Ismail began to reflect on his own actions—how he had hurt his grandmother, disrespected his teachers, and troubled his friends. Inspired by Daniel’s example, he made a promise to change.
And change he did.
With the loving guidance of his Sunday school teachers and the continued influence of Superbook, Ismail began to transform. He stopped bullying his classmates, started listening to his teachers, and became more helpful at home. He even developed a habit of praying before meals.
“Since he started attending Sunday school, he has changed. Now he’s excited to go. When asked to do something, he listens. Before meals, he even prays first,” said his grandmother.
Ismail’s story is a powerful reminder of how God’s Word, brought to life through Superbook, can reach even the most wounded hearts. In a small village in Indonesia, a boy once marked by pain and rebellion is now growing in kindness, faith, and love—all because someone introduced him to the stories of the Bible in a way he could understand and embrace.
CBN Animation’s Superbook is more than just a show—it’s a global mission, reaching children in their own languages and cultures with the timeless truth of God’s love. From the bustling cities of Asia to the remote villages of Africa, Superbook is planting seeds of hope and transformation.
You can be part of this incredible journey. You can share this story to encourage others, explore Superbook resources for your own family at superbook.cbn.com, and donate to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry through the link below to help bring Superbook to more children like Ismail.
Together, we can change lives—one episode, one child, one heart at a time.
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