(Today’s Christians ran an article about Reginald Foreman and his ministry in the September 2023 issue. We thought you might like to hear what God is continuing to do.)
by Reginald Foreman
In 2021, following a divorce and experiencing homelessness, I felt a divine calling to move from Richmond, VA, to Phenix City, Alabama. Initially, I thought God had made a mistake and I mentally dismissed the idea.
For over three decades, I swore I would never return to Alabama, believing it lacked the potential to nurture the gifts and ideas God had bestowed upon me, especially compared to cities like Los Angeles or New York. Little did I know, God was preparing me to witness His incredible work.
Three years after my divorce, I met my soulmate — my God-sent wife — who just happened to live in the very place I had been reluctant to move. To complicate matters, I would have to leave my then 5-year-old son, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, in Richmond with his mother.
Eventually, I chose to obey and relocated. I married my soulmate, LaTanya, and together, our gifts began to harmonize. This was not an instant transformation, but God gradually revealed His plan. My wife’s MBA and graphic design skills were the crucial pieces I needed for the vision of “Reggie The Lion and Friends” that God had given me back in 2017.
With my wife’s help, I professionally updated the Reggie The Lion website, incorporated the business as an LLC, opened a business account, and finally received the last professional prototype plush doll.
In 2024, a television platform owner approached me about starting my own show on his channel. Initially, I hesitated, having previously encountered the high costs associated with animation. However, the station owner was persistent. After discussing it with my wife, she encouraged me, saying, “Baby, I think you can do it.” I wondered if she had hidden funds I wasn’t aware of. She proposed a fresh concept for the show, envisioning a live version of me akin to “The Cosby Kids Show” from the ’80s, where I would teach children through live action with small animated segments.
After praying, I felt God urging me to move forward. I added additional ideas for the show, including adventure segments where we would visit various businesses and organizations, teaching children important life skills, and interview segments highlighting kids making a difference in their communities.
My wife and I recognized we had a God-inspired idea. Then came the challenge of raising capital. Initially, we planned to offer commercial slots to faith-based businesses. However, our business advisor suggested waiting to gauge our weekly viewership. After fervent prayer, God instructed me to engage the community, allowing them to invest in something meaningful. Admittedly, I was hesitant because I envisioned a grand launch.
We decided to follow God’s guidance. My wife designed media graphics for donation packages, and we reached out to the community. Generously, people began to contribute, enabling us to write, produce, and film ten episodes of the “Reggie The Lion and Friends” TV show featuring Mr. Reggie.
We enjoyed considerable favor from many individuals. The production company, Crimson Studios, was thrilled to help us reach children and offered an excellent price. We secured an affordable studio for filming. Perhaps the greatest blessing was finding a reasonably priced animator. God had answered my persistent prayers.
After completing the filming, we were prepared to launch on a major network interested in our show. Two stations expressed interest in showcasing our children’s program, potentially reaching over 2.6 million homes!
As the launch date approached, one of the platforms became unresponsive. Despite my disbelief, I felt a sense of peace. This show was not created for my personal gain or recognition; it was about following God’s will for ministry.
On launch day, we ended up debuting only on one network, BeeTV, available on Spectrum TV in the lower Georgia and Alabama area, as well as streaming on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
However, God had already prompted me to establish our own “Reggie The Lion” YouTube channel, and everything fell into place. We also submitted our show to a local digital station, STL TV, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Creating this show in obedience to God has provided marketing and advertising for our brand products. Most importantly, we’ve received wonderful feedback from parents and children who love the show and are eager for a second season!
Throughout this journey, I have learned, grown, and received much, all because I chose to obey, even if reluctantly at times. In 2024, we launched our own “Reggie The Lion” merchandise line, which has been thriving. We are currently developing plush positive affirmation dolls to release this year.
I want to encourage everyone reading this: no matter how challenging things may appear or how difficult they may feel, God works all things together for our good. God’s assignment for you may seem overwhelming but it will compel you to trust Him.
You can learn more about Reginald Foreman and “Reggie The Lion and Friends” at:
www.reggiethelion.com
Email: info@reggiethelion.com
YouTube channel @Reggiethelionandfriends
