Ben King was raised in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish country, where life was defined by simplicity, hard work, and tradition. As the sixth of ten children, Ben’s days were filled with farm duties and family, far removed from the influences of the modern world.

Ben recalls, “I remember 7, 8, 9 years old, getting up at 4:00 AM having to go out and get all the cows in from, from the field and help my dad with, with the milking and all of that. Working very hard at, at that age, and helping maintain the farm.”

Also central to Ben’s upbringing was faith in God, a faith he says was rooted in fear.  

Ben shares, “If you don’t abide by all of the rules or stay within the Amish belief system. It was kind of this fear-based teaching where If you don't do all of these things, maybe God won't love you. I remember, especially younger, even having dreams of me falling into hell and just being terrified.”

As he got older, he couldn’t help but notice the differences between his life and those outside his small community. At 14, driven by curiosity and isolation, he bought a cell phone in secret. The door to the “world beyond” had been opened.

Ben says, “Very quickly becoming addicted to pornography. I think I felt betrayed really when I learned about, sex in general, because I felt no one had told me anything or taught me anything.”

Adding to the addiction, was the guilt of not measuring up to God’s standards.

Ben shares, “I thought, because I can't please God, then what's the point? I don't think I'll ever be enough, so I may as well just live. So, I think maybe the pain of rejection was coming from that as well.”

By the time Ben was in high school, parties, drugs and alcohol became his escape from the growing emptiness in his life.

Ben recalls, “I reached points of despair and giving up and feeling like I hated myself but not knowing what to do about it.”

After a party, Ben was driving behind friends when their car collided with a semi-truck. Two of his friends were hospitalized with life threatening injuries. They would survive, but the incident left Ben shaken.

Ben remembers, “I remember seeing the back of the car where I had tried to get in the car, and it was totally crushed. And I remember having that picture in my mind for days, thinking I almost died. Like I actually felt like I don't want to do this anymore. But I felt powerless to change.”

Shortly after, people he knew began reaching out to tell him about God’s love for him. One of them was his older brother who had given his life to Christ.

Ben says, “He even mentioned God has called you to travel the world and to do things that you're not doing right now. And he just ended by saying, what are you doing? And I remember just feeling like there was this, like, it kind of hit me like, 'cause that was all that I had been feeling, like, what am I doing with my life?”

Then after a night of partying, Ben passed out in a field. When he woke up, he was alone, disoriented, and covered in vomit.

Ben says, “Where is everyone. I feel like I'm dying. Like, where are my friends? I need help. And I remember realizing like, oh they don't really care about me. I was still hitting rock bottom, like feeling so frustrated about where my life was.”

Desperate, he attempted suicide by swallowing a bottle of pills. It failed and Ben cried out to God.

Ben remembers, “God, if you're real, show me who you are. In a moment, like this divine presence flooded my room. And I remember feeling the love of God in such a deep way that I had never felt before. And feeling like for the first time I felt hope. I felt like there was purpose.”

At once, Ben began taking strides to turn his life around. Now instead of going to parties to abuse drugs and alcohol, he was going to church, praying, and studying the bible. After three months, he gave his life to Christ. When he was baptized, he says everything changed.

Ben shares, “I had finally gained a victory. And from that moment forward, I never went back to cigarettes. No more drugs, no more, depression, suicide, no more pornography. And Jesus really, set me free that day.”

Today, Ben and his wife are full-time missionaries, traveling the world sharing the gospel. He tells others that Jesus is real, and His love has the power to set them free.

Ben says, “I never thought I would be doing what I'm doing now, and God has redeemed my story. I will often share my story at different places. And so, God has done way more than I thought possible, with simple obedience. Jesus is the only one. He's the only God who proved His love by dying. Give your life to Jesus and give Him everything. He's worth it.”

Jesse Bradley defends hope with the same determined desire as he once did with a soccer goal at his back, saying, “People are searching and starving for hope right now. We need to reject the narrative of hopelessness. God’s hope is indestructible. Let’s receive God’s hope and give God’s hope.”
The former professional goalkeeper now pastors, Chaplains the Seattle Sounders, and appears on national media as an invited contributor, voicing a pastoral perspective from a city that picks its preferences.
 
Question: “Here you are in Seattle, dubbed thee least religious city in the US. Why do you think there is that disconnect?”
 
Jesse Bradley: “You can’t deny that reality and we can't stay within the walls of the church. We've taken drive through prayer to the busiest street; pull into the parking lot, they pour out their hearts. There’s tears for God's presence. And they might say they're not religious, but that doesn't mean they're not open. Some people have experienced hypocrisy. What they need to separate is a negative experience from the goodness of God.” 
 
Question: ‘You were a professional goalie and then tragedy hit. What happened, Jesse?”
 
Jesse Bradley: “I played at Dartmouth College. We won two Ivy League titles to the NCAA Final Eight. From there I played in Scotland, then I played in Africa. It’s the Highlander’s Football Club. There was a prescribed medication to prevent malaria. But the toxic levels in my system tragically ended my career. I was fighting for my life for one year, and it took 10 years to fully recover. And it was brutal. Tom, I felt like I lost my identity. But God met me at that low place to rebuild and restore me and even redirect me to be a pastor now.”
 
Question: “Footing is important in any sport. Paramount in soccer! What does the game allow the player to uncommonly see from the ground up”

Jesse Bradley: “Your footwork is your foundation. Because soccer’s about moving the ball forward together, making the runs off the ball. And when you understand each other, complement each other, that’s the culture that you want to build on every teams. How can we bring up the best in each other? …”
 
Jesse Bradley: “… Learning patience and perseverance on the field carries over into every other part of your life.”
 
Question: ‘What’s the primary skill set to be an elite soccer goalie?”
 
Jesse Bradley:  “I think back to a coach I had who’s from Ghana. The 18-yard box - that’s where a goalkeeper can use your hands. He said, ‘you are the lion and they are coming in to try to steal your cubs. This is your territory and you need to lead it, make sure that nothing is going to enter into the net. That’s the mentality you have. If they don’t score we’re not going to lose.
 
Question: “You’ve got to have awareness, you’ve got to have anticipation … ”
 
Jesse Bradley: “Goalkeepers have a unique perspective. You see the entire field. And you have to think we – the other teammates to be in the right places. And if you are able to see not just what is happening but what’s going to happen, now you can extinguish the challenges before they build momentum.”
 
Question: “How have those positional instincts equipped you in having the back of a congregation and not needing to be at the forefront of it?”
 
Jesse Bradley: “Great question, Tom. When you’re upfront and when you’re in a place where no one’s watching, are you the same person? Are you abiding with Jesus? You can’t have complacency. As a goalkeeper, if you mentally start to drift when the actions further away, you won’t be ready when the ball comes. It’s about being in the right place and being ready, abiding with Jesus, being led by the Holy Spirit. Where is God moving to be available and listening before the save happens? There’s so much in our lives God is preparing us for before the breakthrough and the big moment. It’s incremental, not just monumental.”
 
Question:  “Fitting that you’re the Chaplain for the MLS Seattle Sounders. What is it about the soccer life that’s unique compared to athletes in other professional sports?”
 
Jesse Bradley:  “Soccer’s the most popular sport around the world. It’s the beautiful game. More running, more footwork, and there’s less scoring. So you really have to appreciate the nuances. The chaplain’s role is to serve.  What do you need? How can I pray for you? How can I help you in a situation or in your walk with God? Being consistent. Keeping your word. When people trust they open up. And that’s where life is rich! A lot of teams care about the souls, the mental health of the players because they know that this is an individual that should be much bigger than just their performance.”
 
Question: “With every high performance, profession, especially sports – identity and it can be about uncertainty. ”

Jesse Bradley: “Identity leads to security. And security leads to authenticity and soccer players, athletes, feel like you always have to be impressive, compete. When you’re secure, you can rest in the lord’s love. You understand that who you are is not what you do. The crowd’s gonna be fickle, you might get traded, you might get cut, so in a world that’s constantly changing – to have Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever - you have that security in your soul. You’re not as rattled by criticism because you already know whose you are and you don’t have to impress everybody. You’re secure in how God’s made you and being faithful to Jesus. That’s our north star! “
 
Question: “We often need to be reminded, each of us can be chaplains within our own occupation.”

Jesse Bradley: “Choose faith over fear! God calls us to move out of what’s just comfortable. And God makes it clear in his word that we are all ministers, we are all priests, and we are all ambassadors for Jesus. Because that’s who we are let’s live that out. And when you see lives transformed, now they come alive! As you serve people that’s when you’re going to be at your best. That’s when you’re most like Jesus.” 
 

Three-year-old, John Mark, was born with juvenile cataracts. Just recently though, his mom, who is a single parent, noticed how much he was squinting. “He often looks like he’s mad,” explained Mylene. “He can barely open his eyes when he squints like that."

Mylene travels to work in another city where they live in the Philippines. Her mom cares for the boy when she’s away.

“It hurts that I can’t always be beside him, hug him, and comfort him. It’s difficult to be a single parent,” said Mylene.

Then Mylene’s mom noticed that John’s pupils were getting cloudy.

“I remember I was at work and Mom called and said she saw something white growing in the pupils of his eyes,” explained Mylene.

John Mark was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. The doctor said that only surgery could fix them and that would cost $3,000. Mylene earns about three dollars a day.

“They said that if my son didn’t have surgery, he would go blind,” said Mylene. “When I heard that, I felt like falling on the floor. I felt so hopeless.”

Then the boy’s ophthalmologist reached out to Operation Blessing and asked for help. The organization met with the family and paid for John Mark to receive free surgery in both eyes. After the operation, John Mark was all smiles and seeing clearly for the first in his young life.

“He can now see clearly!” shared a beaming Mylene. “He can recognize people easily. He runs around and doesn’t fall or bump into anything. I am so happy. I am so grateful to God for the doctors and for Operation Blessing.”

In the bustling city of Chennai, India, a remarkable transformation is taking place among children. A year ago, a ministry partnered with Superbook to launch the first season of Superbook Academy, a systematic Bible teaching module for children, in seven churches. It was incredibly well received, and over 300 children were engaged with the Word of God every week.

This January, the children’s excitement reached new heights with the launch of Superbook Academy Season 2 at a church in Panpakkam. The event was attended by around 350 children and 150 parents, all eager to experience the new season.

The highlight of the event was the screening of the "Esther" episode. This powerful story of courage and faith resonated deeply with the children. Following the screening, the children participated in a crown-making activity, reinforcing the lesson that they are God's royal children. This hands-on activity not only made the story more memorable but also helped the children internalize the message of their inherent worth and identity in Christ.

This initiative, reaching children from several churches, was a direct answer to prayer. The success of Season 1 had already shown the positive impact of Superbook Academy, not only in imparting biblical truths, but also in positively influencing children's behavior. Parents noticed significant changes in their children's attitudes and actions, a testament to the transformative power of God's Word.

The story of the ministry in Chennai is a powerful reminder of the impact that faith-based programs like Superbook Academy can have on young lives. By supporting this mission, you can help bring hope and transformation to even more children and families. Whether by donating to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry through the link below, sharing this story, or accessing Superbook resources for your own family, your support can extend the reach of this incredible ministry.

Together, we can continue to spread the love and teachings of Jesus, one story at a time. Join us in this mission and be a part of the global impact of CBN Animation’s Superbook. Let's continue to reach more children for Christ together.

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