Hey there my friends! It’s me, Handyman Hal. I wanted to tell you how Handyman Hal came to be. The idea came to me, way back in 2020, during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. You see, my other job is being a Youth Pastor. My church, The Refuge, in Murrells Inlet, SC was in need of videos to send out to our children’s ministry. Since we were all in lockdown, I had to come up with a creative way to continue to connect with the children I work with. At the time, I was also a part time construction worker and handyman. And there you have it- the idea of Handyman Hal was formed! I originally created the Handyman Hal character to teach Sunday School Lessons through videos. The kids from my church really liked Hal! A friend of mine wanted to take Handyman Hal even further and put him in real life adventures! Together, we wanted to help kids discover and learn about everyday things and places in entertaining, engaging, and educational ways! We created videos with the belief that kids can learn so much by simply exploring the world around them. Hal started with videos about trucks, car washes, animals, construction vehicles, and, of course, tools! Soon we started getting awesome responses to your favorite videos, like the car wash and school bus episodes! At that point, we knew that Handyman Hal needed a bigger plan! So we continued to post more videos and new content, so more and more families can discover Handyman Hal. We would like to thank all of our fans, young and old, for your kind words and ongoing support on this AWESOME journey of making Handyman Hal!
Shawn Goins is the student and children’s pastor at the Refuge in Murrells Inlet. He has been in the student ministry field for 9 years. He holds a BS degree from Emmanuel College and an MBA in organizational and leadership development from Charleston Southern. He is passionate about the development of our youth leaders. There is no extreme that he will not go to help children learn and grow; even if it means having the alter ego of Handyman Hal!
Chris Kirby is an Irish songwriter, producer, and performer known to families around the world as “Cool Chris,” the musical sidekick on Handyman Hal. With more than two decades of experience in studios and on stages across the globe, Chris brings a rich background in commercial songwriting, custom music production, and live performance to everything he creates.As the writer and producer behind the show’s signature songs, Chris helps shape the joyful, high-quality sound that makes Handyman Hal so memorable for kids and parents alike. He also appears on screen alongside Hal, adding energy, humor, and plenty of music-filled fun to every adventure.Beyond the show, Chris is the creator and writer of the hit children’s podcast Awesome Adventures With Handyman Hal, expanding the Handyman Hal world through storytelling and song. Fans can also catch him live as part of the upcoming 2026 U.S. tour, bringing the music and excitement from the screen straight to the stage.
