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Where the Handyman Hal Story Began
Before millions of kids knew Handyman Hal on YouTube, the character began right here at Refuge.
In 2020, Refuge youth pastor Shawn Goins was looking for a creative way to stay connected with the kids in our church while everyone was stuck at home. A hard hat, safety vest, Shawn’s background in construction, and a little imagination became Handyman Hal.
What began as Sunday School videos for Refuge Kids would eventually grow into something none of us could have imagined.
From Refuge Kids to Kids Around the World
Handyman Hal started with a simple idea: find a creative way to stay connected with kids.
In 2020, when churches everywhere were figuring out how to minister in a very different world, Refuge pastor Shawn Goins began creating videos for the children in our church. Drawing on his background in construction and his natural ability to connect with kids, Shawn put on a hard hat and safety vest, picked up a few tools, and Handyman Hal was born.
What started as Sunday School content for Refuge Kids quickly began to take on a life of its own. Shawn took Handyman Hal beyond the church walls, creating fun, educational adventures that helped kids explore construction equipment, vehicles, farms, animals, tools, and everyday places in a way that made learning feel like an adventure.
Families began finding the videos. Then more families found them. What began as a creative way to serve a local church community grew into a YouTube channel reaching millions of children and parents around the world.
Handyman Hal has grown far beyond what anyone imagined when those first videos were made, but we still love the simplicity of where the story began: someone saw a need, used the gifts God had given him, and created something to serve kids.
And it all started right here at Refuge.
Meet Shawn Goins
Around Refuge, we know Handyman Hal a little differently. Underneath the hard hat is Shawn Goins, our longtime pastor to children and students.
Shawn’s passion for helping kids learn, discover and grow existed long before Handyman Hal reached YouTube audiences around the world. That same heart continues to shape the way he serves children and families here at Refuge.
F A Q s
Handyman Hal
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You can view hundreds of Handyman Hal episodes for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@HandymanHal
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Absolutely. Refuge is a local church in Murrells Inlet, and families are always welcome to join us for a Sunday service or learn more about Refuge Kidz, where Handyman Hal began.
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Yes. Refuge is where the character began, and Shawn’s connection to ministry and the church continues.
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Sometimes! Handyman Hal’s workshop is located right here at Refuge, and a number of his adventures have been filmed on our campus. But Hal doesn’t stay in one place for long. Most episodes take him out into the community, exploring locations across the Grand Strand, throughout South Carolina, and around the country as he discovers how things work and meets the people who make them happen.
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Shawn continues to be part of the Refuge church family, but Handyman Hal appearances are not a regular part of Sunday services. For official appearances and events, visit Handyman Hal’s official channels.
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We love it! We think it is a great example of what can happen when someone uses their gifts to serve God and others. The story began with a very small need and grew into something that now reaches families around the world.
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He is! Benji, who appears alongside Handyman Hal in a number of episodes, is actually Pastor Benji, the senior pastor of Refuge. Like a lot of the Handyman Hal story, what you see on screen has real roots in the people and community around the church. So when Benji shows up for one of Hal’s adventures, you’re seeing our pastor having a little fun outside his usual Sunday role.