A new Netflix-style Christian streaming company has the unique goal of not only entertaining children but also being a “partner” with parents in their children’s spiritual growth, its CEO says.
Erick Goss is the CEO of the faith-based streaming service Minno, which offers faith-centric content for kids and has a goal of “raising the next generation of believers,” according to its website. Its new series Young David launched Nov. 10 in partnership with Slingshot Productions, Sunrise Animation Studios, and Angel Studios.
Minno, launched in 2019, is filling a “huge gap” in the U.S. entertainment market and also the world market, Goss said.
“It's a streaming app just like Netflix or Disney Plus, but specifically designed for kids first. And the way we like to describe it is: kids first, faith first,” Goss told Christian Headlines.
Goss wants Minno to be more than a “distraction” for kids during a busy family day.
“We want to be a partner with Christian parents to really help the next generation of Christians be effective,” he said.
For a title to be placed on Minno’s platform, he said, it must pass a 53-point checklist and also pass a doctrinal review. The company’s name is a derivative of the Greek word “meno,” for “abide” in John 15:4.
“We evaluate our shows in regards to their production quality, what they're teaching, what they're communicating, and whether are they entertaining. We actually got rid of a number of shows because we didn't feel like they reached that bar,” he said.
The company’s Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids is available at major retailers and won a Christian Book Award in 2020. One of its most popular series, Goss said, is 5 Minute Family Devotionals, which is available on the streaming service and combines Bible stories with beloved Minno characters.
“The idea for me is: How can we leverage media and technology where kids can experience Jesus every day, and where the conversations that parents so often want to have with their kids that they aren't able to -- that the shows and the programs actually create the catalyst for those conversations?” Goss said. “When someone signs up for us, they are basically saying: I'm trusting you to be as vigilant as I want to be for my kids.”
Photo Courtesy: minno/used with permission.
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.