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Because they had poured all of the company's profits into expanding Big Idea, the Vischers (including children, ages 13, 9, and 6) lost everything but their house in Wheaton, an upscale Chicago suburb. There's no guarantee they'll keep even that. It's not paid for, and real estate agents have already been out to discuss the possibility of selling it.

Even so, Vischer says he's never been happier.

The person who's most upset with Phil no longer owning Big Idea is his nine-year-old son, Jeremy, who wanted to be the company's president when he grew up.

Jeremy asked his dad, "Does this mean you can't tell kids about God anymore?"

"No, this is just one way to do it," Vischer told him. "There are a million ways to do it."

"Okay," Jeremy said.

Bob Smietana is features editor of The Covenant Companion, the monthly magazine of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and a freelance religion writer based in Chicago.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

A sidebar to this main article discusses putting Big Idea back together.

Christianity Today has followed Big Idea for years. Here are more articles on the company:

VeggieTales Born Again | Big Idea primes itself for recovery with a new owner. (Jan. 21, 2004)

Weblog: VeggieTales Sold for $19.3 Million (Oct. 31, 2003)

VeggieTales Creators File for Bankruptcy | Bob the Tomato and friends sold to company that already has Lassie, Lone Ranger, and Rudolph. (Aug. 04, 2003)

Weblog: Veggies for Sale | Big Idea Productions says it's looking for a buyer (Jul. 16, 2003)

Big Idea Loses Suit | Jury says creator of VeggieTales owes $11 million to ex-distributor. (June 20, 2003)

Big Idea Responds to CT Article | Phil Vischer, CEO and founder, issues a statement regarding company's financial status. (Oct. 4, 2003)

Big Trouble at Big Idea | Former workers worry that Jonah could sink the company. (Oct. 4, 2003)

The Top Tomato | Phil Vischer's tenacious campaign to dominate family entertainment. (Oct. 4, 2003)

Runaway Asparagus | Big Idea's Jonah is both wholesome and hip. (Oct. 4, 2003)

(The Voice of) Larry the Cucumber Speaks | "Nobody thinks growing up that they're going to be a cucumber." (Oct. 4, 2003)

The Serious Business of Silly Songs | The director of music for the VeggieTales talks about bringing musical depth to the score. (Oct. 4, 2003)

The Serious Business of Silly Songs | The director of music for the VeggieTales talks about bringing musical depth to the score. (Oct. 4, 2003)

Jonah Bags Boffo Box Office | But Big Idea lays off 30 in 'heartbreaking' cuts. (Nov. 01, 2002)

(The Voice of) Larry the Cucumber Speaks | "Nobody thinks growing up that they're going to be a cucumber." (Oct. 04, 2002)

Christianity Today sister publication Books & Culture discussed Big Idea's video series in "What's Cooking When Martha Stewart Meets the VeggieTales?"

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May 2004, Vol. 48, No. 5