Growing up in the 1970s, Pastor Hank Kunneman says families never had to worry much about the cultural content children consumed. For the most part, it was a given that it was family friendly.
But times have changed, Kunneman says. With advanced technology and what kids today consume, it has become increasingly challenging for parents to raise their children to love and serve God and to keep them from cultural harm.
The senior pastor at Lord of Hosts Church in Omaha, Nebraska, Kunneman is hoping he can do something to change that.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Kunneman has nurtured his love for animation and has developed a comic book series to help “fight for what is right and defend the hearts and minds of the innocent.”
Kunneman has been involved in animation for 25 years, almost as long as he has been the pastor at Lord of Hosts, which he founded in March, 1997. It began in 1984, when God gave him a unique dream—an idea for children’s cartoon characters. He awakened and immediately began sketching to develop the characters from his dream.
Fast forward almost 30 years and through a divine partnership with fellow illustrator Norris Hall, The Galactic Quests of Captain Zepto comic book series was born. When he isn’t prophesying about the next big move of God, Kunneman is working on his animation projects.
Captain Zepto is described as a larger-than-life, quirky and slight egotistical character with a big heart that wants to defend kids from the dangerous deeds perpetrated by his chief antagonist, Dr. Ab Zorb. It is a far cry from the twisted, dark animation you might see in comic book stores and on television today.
“Because animation has gone in such the opposite direction of what it once was, I wanted to create something to counter what’s out there now; something that isn’t just another version of a Bible story, although we need those in entertainment as well,” Kunneman says.
“We have a responsibility to be like Jesus, who came at a time when darkness and evil were reshaping the culture of His day. Yet those who sat in darkness saw a great light. That is my prayer for Captain Zepto, that it gives an impacting alternative to the dark animation that is out there.”
Dr. Ab Zorb’s main objective is world conquest, and that invasion begins by attacking the minds of unsuspecting kids. Captain Zepto is there to stop him. As a preacher of God’s Word, it’s a battle that fires Kunneman’s passion too.
“Evil is trying to get into the minds and hearts of children through animation and books,” Kunneman says. “We have created something that is the answer parents and grandparents have been seeking for their children, their grandchildren, for their families and for future generations.
The target audience for his animated characters is young children ages 4-12 years old, and he prays that they can win the hearts of those children.
“Captain Zepto is a hero of The Light Brigade under King Elyon, and they represent all of us who are standing against darkness today,” Kunneman says. “I’ve heard so many people attest to how Captain Zepto is such an identifiable character that parents and family members don’t have to worry about. This is something so desperately needed today, identifiable characters that can be role models teaching kids good morals that shape their lives and their values.
“And that’s exactly what I hope for, children and families having good wholesome entertainment they can trust that is funny and can help kids to better maneuver the world they live in.”
Kunneman views Captain Zepto as a “God-given response to a distress signal from spaceship earth.” While Satan is diligently trying to confuse children and win over the hearts and souls of young people in this chaotic culture, Captain Zepto is antidote to stop the enemy’s evil schemes.
“I hear parents and grandparents say they want wholesome entertainment for their children,” Kunneman says. “It’s a series that will have kids laughing while equipping them for their own fight against the forces of darkness.
On Sept. 15, Kunneman’s comic book friend will become a full-fledged animated series titled The Galactic Quests of Captain Zepto and will premiere during the Opening the Heavens Conference in Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The conference is sponsored by Lord of Hosts Church. Visit openingtheheavens.org/registration to register for the conference.
You can watch a preview of Captain Zepto at CaptainZepto.com.
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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