Glowing Jesus in the dark
This version of their Jesus figure glows in the dark, literally. The figure comes with various props to replay the episode of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.
Toys to sell miracles of Jesus to little minds
http://christianactionfigures.org/node/4
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Jesus is selling out.
Out of Wal-Mart and Target, that is. The 12-inch, $20 Jesus Messenger of Faith talking action figure has become a holiday hit of biblical proportions. Online mega-retailers Wal-Mart.com and Amazon.com are sold out. Target.com’s supply is likely to disappear within a few days.
The response has been “unbelievable,” said Josh Livingston, spokesman for Valencia, Calif.-based One2believe, which also sells talking Moses, Mary, David, Esther and Noah action figures. The company has sold more than 20,000 dolls in the series, with Jesus far and away the most popular.
Religious toys represent less than one-half of 1 percent of the $22.3 billion U.S. toy industry, according to Packaged Facts and NPD Group market research.
Sales of all types of Christian products, though, topped $4.5 billion last year, a niche market retailers are eager to tap into at a time when films such as “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” found mainstream blockbuster success.
Sheila Daraitis of Brooklyn Park said that she resorted to online shopping to find the toys because Target and Wal-Mart stores rarely, if ever, had them. Her boys, ages 3 and 6, play with the biblical action figures more than her 8-year-old daughter, who prefers Barbie.
“They enact the Nativity and Noah’s Ark,” Daraitis said.
Shoppers at Target.com have rated the Jesus figure “five stars,” as have consumers at Amazon.com. One reviewer at Amazon.com describes the religious figure as “a real-life hero that beats all the other Superman, Spider-Man and other action heroes combined.” Another wrote, “My 10-year-old listens to the Scriptures often, but the voice of Jesus is a little loud.”
Neither the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America nor the office of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis had heard of the action figure, much less gotten complaints. People in both offices laughed in delight at the idea of such a doll.
New and improved
Clothed in a simple off-white robe with a brown sash and rope belt, the Jesus doll has moveable outstretched hands, shaggy hair and a beard. Livingston said the company introduced the new Jesus doll to Wal-Mart and Target in August after a previous version failed to sell so miraculously. That doll just spoke the Scripture and was only available through One2believe.com.
The new-and-improved version tells stories about David and Goliath or feeding the 5,000 with loaves and fishes in addition to speaking Bible verses such as John 3:16 and Mark 12:30-31.
Talking Jesus is made in China
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O’Brien said the talking dolls also sold in 425 of the discount chain’s stores this season (none were in Minnesota) to see how well religious toys sell. O’Brien said sales were brisk and many stores sold out.
One2believe founder David Socha has said that he has watched the “gradual moral decline of toys,” and that he doesn’t want his children playing with much of what’s on the market because the toys glorify the wrong things.
“A lot of the girl dolls are very promiscuous in their look and dress,” and a lot of the toys for boys are very violent, Socha said.
Wanting the toys to reach as many children as possible, the for-profit Christian company placed most of its supply into big-box stores, although some independent Christian bookstores also sell the dolls. In the past, parents have had to go to Christian bookstores to find religious toys.
Northwestern bookstores, with eight Twin Cities locations, has sold a similar talking Jesus doll in previous seasons, but there were quality issues: His beard came off too easily and the doll repeated the same Scripture passage, not multiple verses as it was supposed to, said Burnsville store manager Cheryl Dickson. Both she and O’Brien said that children’s nativity sets are also a big seller this year.
Parents who want to put the birthday guy under the Christmas tree for their children might have a Google search ahead of them this weekend if Target.com runs out.
But let the buyer beware: Talking Jesus is made in China.
Last update: December 15, 2007 – 8:18 PM
http://www.startribune.com/12535966.html?page=2&c=y
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Figure To Test How Religion, Retail Mix
PHOENIX — Controversy is swirling over a foot-long, talking Jesus doll that Wal-Mart has put up for sale at more than 400 of its stores in at least 20 states, including some in the Valley.
It’s the first time the world’s largest retailer has carried a full line of religious toys.
The battery-powered, button-activated doll is able to recite a handful of different bible verses and the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes with five loaves and two fish. It also comes with a booklet giving parents tips on how to shape a child’s faith.
Not everyone is lining up to shell out $14.97 for the made-in-China plaything.
“You can learn it at Sunday School,” said shopper Angie Librizzi. “It doesn’t have to be a doll.”
Other shoppers said it trivializes religion. They also believe children will handle the Jesus doll much like they do with secular mass-merchandised action-figures, which they don’t feel is appropriate.
But Mark Linongello, who goes to Catholic Church, said anything telling kids about Christianity is good.
“As a doll, at least they’re getting to know Him,” Linongello said.
The figure is one of several biblical dolls made by Valencia, Calif.-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. and its one2believe unit.
The owner of the company said he started making the doll because he was troubled by a lack of morals and ethics in toys.
He turned to the Internet two years ago and began selling his line directly to church groups.
Retail experts said it’s unclear how big a seller the Jesus doll will turn out to be.
POSTED: 8:52 pm MST November 2, 2007
UPDATED: 11:48 am MST November 4, 2007
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Wal-Mart has announced that it will begin carrying Christian-themed toys from One2believe.
The toys are based on Christian bible stories. For example, there’s a set of 3-inch figures based on Daniel in the lion’s den for about $7. A 12-inch talking Jesus doll is about $15. And 14-inch Samson or Goliath action figures are about $20.
Religious products have become a multibillion-dollar business, but until now, most religious-themed toys have sold successfully only in specialty religious stores, not at mass-market retailers. So, Wal-Mart’s launching the One2believe line only in stores where high volumes of bibles are sold.
From the One2Believe website:
This program represents a huge opportunity for the faith community as it is the first time a worldwide retailer has opened-up shelf-space for a strong Bible-based toy product, like Tales of Glory! However, this is only a test-run. In fact, Wal-Mart will only have Tales of Glory in about 500 stores and only for a limited time (August through January). They have temporarily made the product available, and are waiting to see the response from their consumers. The success of this program is up to us… we need to take advantage of this amazing opportunity!
This is a chance to let our voices be heard. By supporting this program we can send a message to other retailers and toy makers letting them know that we, as a Christian community, are truly concerned about the toys that our children play with! We are aware of the influence that toys have on our young children’s impressionable minds, so we would like to see more God-honoring options available. It’s a “Battle for the Toy Box”!
Please pass this exciting news along to your friends, family and church congregation, especially to parents and grandparents. Encourage them to go to their local Wal-Mart store on August 18th and ask about Tales of Glory toys.
While pushed as an alternative to the likes of Bratz and Spiderman, the Christian-based products appear to support a high-level of violence (see photo included in this post). Let’s hope One2Believe’s “Battle for the Toy Box” doesn’t turn into a bloody Christian Jihad.
No word yet on when Wal-Mart will feature Buddha, Mohammed and Ganesh action figures
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Move over Spider-Man, Sindy and Action Man – a talking toy of Jesus is set to battle for popularity on supermarket shelves for the first time.
In an appeal to young toy lovers, the 30cm (12in) figure can quote scriptures to children to turn them on to the Bible.
The range of 21 Christian dolls includes all your favourite Bible characters and scenes, including Samson, Goliath, Daniel, Noah, Jonah and the whale and the nativity scene.
Each toy comes with a book to explain its story.
The figures, aimed at three to 12- year-olds, are being sold by giant supermarket Wal-Mart in the US.
David Socha, from manufacturers One2believe, said: ‘We are aware of the influence that toys have on our young children’s impressionable minds, so we would like to see more God-honouring options available.’
Wal-Mart, which owns Asda, said it had no plans to sell the toys in British stores [source].
The Samson doll from the toy range
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Toys for Tots, has decided to put the Christ doll back into Christmas, after all.
Reversing a move the Herald and other media outlets reported earlier this week, the charity has agreed to accept 4,000 talking Jesus dolls from a California toymaker.
Toys for Tots, which gives poor kids of all faiths gifts for Christmas and other winter holidays, had originally rejected the donation.
The group feared the dolls – which recite Bible passages such as “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish” – would offend any non-Christian kids who got them.
But amid thousands of protest e-mails and calls, Toys for Tots – a private charity overseen by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve – yesterday relented.
“In hindsight, we should have taken these items and found appropriate homes for them,” group Vice President Brian Murray said.
http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2006/11/17/us-marines-bow-to-pressure-with-talking-jesus-dolls/
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A Virginia based Marine Reserve Toys for Tots program has not accepted a donation of talking Jesus dolls from a California toymaker. “We can’t take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family”… “Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun.”
Mesengers of Faith, the doll’s distributor seems to have forgotten the commandment that suggests one should not make “ any graven image”.
I am sure that this story will be spun as part of the War on Christmas, but in reality the Toys for Tots people are being truer to the bible than the Messengers of Faith.
I am curious if the inevitably outraged types will pick up on the blasphemous/idolatrous nature of the rejected dolls, probably not.
“The Lord” has become a toy?!
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Company also plans dolls of Mary and Moses at start, with dolls able to recite Bible verses.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) – A talking Jesus doll is due to go on sale in May, along with versions of Moses, the Virgin Mary and David, as a teddy bear maker tries to find a market with churches and religious families.
Talking Jesus, left, and Moses dolls in May.
The foot-tall Jesus doll will be able to recite five Biblical verses at the push of button on its back, while the Moses doll will recite the Ten Commandments. The Mary doll will recite a long Bible verse.
Joshua Livingston, one of the original founders of Valencia, Calif.-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. has returned to the company to head its new Biblical doll unit, One2Believe. In the past, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear mostly manufactured bears and other plush toys on a contract basis for other retailers.
This will be the company’s first attempt to sell direct to consumers via the Internet, Livingston said.
He said that the idea for the religious dolls has been a long-time desire of David Socha, who is the other founder of the teddy bear company. The company has hired a marketing firm with expertise reaching out to churches and church schools to generate sales, Livingston said.
“In the beginning we don’t feel it’d be right to put it in Toys R Us and be next to a Barbie or a Bratz,” he said.
The company expects to sell about 50,000 of the Biblical dolls by the end of the year, with the Jesus doll — not surprisingly — expected to be the top seller. It hopes to also bring out an Esther doll by the end of the year and hopes to have other Biblical character dolls introduced in future years.
The line of Biblical dolls is known as Messengers of Faith.
The dolls will cost $24.99, although Livingston said there will be discounts for churches as well as free shipping for those who buy three or more of the dolls. They will have hand-sewn period clothing, with Jesus wearing sandals and veils for the Virgin Mary. They will also have movable limbs and hands that can grip objects.
While Socha is Catholic and has been active in giving time and money to church groups for years, Livingston is Jewish. He said it doesn’t seem strange to him selling the Jesus doll, though.
“I have a very open mind and believe people can have their own beliefs and religion,” he said.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/12/news/midcaps/jesus_dolls/
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no2evangelism
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