Can a three-hour Hollywood epic about Trojan wars, cyclopes, sirens, and capricious ancient gods actually point us back to the Gospel?

In this episode of dia-LOGOS Podcast, host Brad Kirsten is joined by Church and Culture Consultant Richard Baird and Dr. Gary Cundill, visiting lecturer at Buckingham University School of Business and speaker on faith, business, and sustainability, to break down director Christopher Nolan’s massive non-linear film adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek poem, The Odyssey.

Beyond the stunning visuals, ancient instruments, and cinematic hype, the team dives deep into the cultural, philosophical, and spiritual themes woven throughout Nolan’s epic. From the heavy weight of guilt and lawlessness to C.S. Lewis’s concept of sacred longing (sehnsucht), discover how even a secular retelling of a 3,000-year-old story reveals humanity’s desperate need for a Saviour.

Whether you're a film buff, a fan of Greek mythology, or simply curious about how to engage modern culture through a biblical lens, this conversation offers a thought-provoking look at the epic story we are all participating in.

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What happens when our busy schedules collide with someone else’s crisis?

In this moving episode Brad sits down with analytical strategist and investigative journalist Mike Burnard to unpack a profound story. It begins with a chance encounter on a Monday morning walk: a young mother named Grace digging through rubbish bags, desperate to feed her six-year-old daughter.

As Brad and Mike dive into Grace's story, they reveal a stark and uncomfortable contrast. George, South Africa, boasts one of the highest church densities in the world—yet over 73% of its population lives below the poverty line. How does a town spiritually "obese" allow its neighbors to sleep on wet mattresses under scrap material in icy weather?

Drawing powerful parallels to Jesus stopping for the blind beggar Bartimaeus (Mark 10) and the sobering call of Matthew 25, this episode challenges us to move beyond passive Christianity.

When you hear places like Bethlehem and Jerusalem, you might think of ancient history or modern conflict, but did you know there is a vibrant, living church on the ground today?

In this deeply moving episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, host Brad connects with two young men serving on the frontlines of ministry in the West Bank and Jerusalem: Alfred Ghawali (a 27-year-old Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem) and Rafi Filmon (a 24-year-old theology student from Jerusalem). Both work with Jerusalem Evangelical Outreach (JEO), bringing relief, food, youth ministry, and spiritual hope to communities experiencing intense pressure and uncertainty.

Alfred and Rafi open up about what daily life is actually like under the shadow of conflict, economic stress, and occupation. They share why so many young people dream of leaving, how they fight to keep youth anchored in their identity in Christ, and what it looks like to live out a "shepherd's heart" by listening to families who feel forgotten.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Reality of the Living Church: Why Christianity in the Holy Land isn't just about historical monuments, but active, faithfully living believers ("living stones").

The Struggle of the Next Generation: How young Palestinian Christians navigate identity, stress, and the temptation to flee the region.

Living Out Theology: How Rafi and Alfred combine practical relief work—delivering food, medication, and youth outreach—with deep spiritual care.

Stories of Unexpected Light: How God is reviving once-abandoned local churches in the heart of Jerusalem.

An Upcoming Visit: What Alfred and Rafi are looking forward to as they prepare to visit South Africa to share their stories with the broader body of Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered how to pray for the Holy Land beyond the headlines, or want to be inspired by young leaders courageously living out the gospel in tough places, this episode is a must-listen.

What happens when the host steps into the spotlight?

In this special episode of the Dia-Logos Podcast, we flip the script on regular host Brad Kirsten! Stefan takes the interviewer's chair to dive deep into Brad’s personal journey of faith, his 26-year career in radio broadcasting, and his heart for communications at Dia-Logos.

Brad opens up about a pivotal moment 20 years ago when—lonely, desperate, and living in a remote village in Taiwan—a simple prayer on New Year's Day sparked a miraculous chain of events. From chasing down Afrikaans-speaking strangers on a train platform to finding both his faith and his wife, Laura, Brad’s testimony is a powerful reminder that God takes us to the ends of the earth to reveal His purpose.

Plus, drawing on more than two decades in radio, Brad shares practical wisdom on how Christians can navigate today's overwhelming news cycle. He breaks down how to spot AI-generated "fake news," why our core values act as an internal compass, and how choosing faith over fear allows us to hold onto God's peace in uncertain times.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Taiwan Turning Point: How a moment of total isolation turned into a radical encounter with God's grace.

The Power of Christian Community: How persistent, non-judgmental friendship paved the way to Christ.

Discerning Truth in the Digital Age: Practical advice for evaluating media, managing cynicism, and avoiding the spread of fear or fake news.

Anchored Hope: Why the shifting kingdoms of this world can never steal the eternal peace found in God’s Word.

“Faith speaks to God's promises; fear speaks to worst-case scenarios. We can’t let what’s happening in the world steal our peace.” - Brad Kirsten

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#DiaLogosPodcast #FaithOverFear #ChristianTestimony #RadioHost #MediaDiscernment #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #KingdomWork #GodsGrace #PeaceInChrist #FaithAndCulture

“Many of the families I’ve built relationships with have told me, ‘You are literally the only person who cares about us.’ That’s such a wonderful thing to hear, but it’s also so sad. They lost everything. And the world has forgotten them.” - Jacobus van Zyl

In this deeply moving episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, we travel to Lebanon to speak with Jacobus van Zyl, a 27-year-old cross-cultural missionary from South Africa. Jacobus shares his unexpected journey of moving from South Africa to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to serve the Syrian refugee population - a community of over 1.5 million people living in a country facing one of the worst economic crises in modern history.

Working alongside the Nexus Centre and Dia-Logos, Jacobus steps into the gaps left by the rest of the world. From helping teach young refugee children to managing administrative tasks, his true passion lies in the hours after school, where he visits families in the camps, builds relationships, and shows the love of Jesus through consistent, practical care.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The Reality on the Ground: What life is really like inside the informal Syrian refugee camps of Lebanon.

Relational Ministry vs. Street Preaching: How to share the gospel in a Muslim-majority country where actions, presence, and genuine care speak louder than words.

Miracles in the Midst of Crisis: The powerful, real-life stories of Jana, an 11-year-old girl receiving life-saving blood transfusions, and Hayat, a young paralyzed girl whose life was changed by a sponsored electric wheelchair.

Missions Where You Are: Jacobus’s advice for anyone who wants to serve but cannot travel across the world.

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Every bit of support makes a massive difference on the ground. To partner with Dia-Logos and support projects like Jana's medical treatments, visit our website. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

How can Africa have the world’s largest Christian population, yet still be one of the most unreached continents on Earth?

In this eye-opening episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, host Brad sits down with Aron Mwasile, the Tanzania Country Director for Dia-Logos, to unpack a staggering spiritual contradiction. With over 750 million Christians, Africa leads the globe in numbers, yet statistically, it remains the second least-reached continent after Asia.

Aron takes us on a historical and statistical journey, explaining how traditional mission models successfully reached rural, traditional religious communities but left urban and Islamic strongholds largely untouched. Now, as the growth of the African church reaches a critical "plateau point," the old methods of rural charities and NGOs are no longer enough.

“When you reach a saturation point, it’s not that you are lazy. But you’re doing the same thing, the same way, and the same place. We need to reinvent missions in Africa.” - Aron Mwasile

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Data Behind the Contradiction: Why percentage-wise, Africa is still one of the "darkest" continents regarding gospel reach.

The Historical Shift: How early missionary strategies shaped the current religious landscape of mainland Tanzania versus Zanzibar.

The Saturation Point: Why the church's growth has flattened out and what it means for the future.

Reinventing the Curve: What it practically looks like to "launch into the deep" by shifting from rural charity models to marketplace ministry and Business as Mission.

If you want to understand the changing face of global Christianity and how the church can adapt to interpret global trends from a Christ-centered perspective, this conversation is a must-listen.

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What is the difference between studying the theory of faith and actually experiencing it on the front lines?

In this episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, host Brad Kirsten sits down with Mike Burnard, analytical strategist for Dia-Logos, to discuss his frequent travels to conflict zones in Lebanon and Syria. Through the lens of a famous philosophical thought experiment called "Mary's Room," Mike challenges the church to stop merely theologizing about God's faithfulness and to start experiencing it firsthand.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘴. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬-𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."

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We want to hear from you! What does stepping out of your "black-and-white room" look like in your daily life? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

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Is Artificial Intelligence merely a modern convenience, or are we outsourcing the very things God has entrusted to us?

In this episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, host Brad Kirsten sits down with church and culture consultant Richard Baird to navigate the rapidly evolving world of AI. With recent statistics suggesting that nearly 60% of pastors use AI for ministry and a growing number of Christians turning to chatbots for spiritual guidance, we face a critical moment for the Church.

Join the Conversation

What is your stance on using AI in ministry or your personal walk with Christ? We want to hear from you. Drop a comment below to share your thoughts, concerns, or experiences.

Subscribe to the Dia-Logos podcast for more Christ-centered perspectives on the world around us.

Do you feel like the church is currently being too quick to adopt AI tools, or are we just scratching the surface of how they can be used for good?

In this episode, in response to Breaking News, the Dia-Logos podcast posits that the newly agreed U.S - Iran memorandum of understanding constitutes a temporary pause rather than a resolution, outlining a 60-day pause in hostilities. The episode highlights three distinct timelines; diplomatic, economic, and household recovery arguing that lasting stability requires a transformative, supernatural catalyst. True, enduring peace emerges when individuals and nations, despite fierce political opposition, adopt a posture of undeserved grace by relinquishing pride and the desire for domination.

🎧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡:

Chinese President Xi Jinping has completed a rare, high-profile state visit to North Korea, cementing a strategic alliance with Kim Jong-un amidst heavy international sanctions.

While the world watches a display of red carpets, geopolitical posturing, and escalating nuclear threats, this episode of Dia-Logos looks beyond the closed rooms of Pyongyang.

Dia-Logos Director, Stefan van der Berg, peels back the political propaganda to explore the brutal reality on the ground, and find Christ's perspective in the most unexpected place.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞:

⏺️ The Geopolitical Front: Why Beijing treats North Korea as a critical buffer zone against the West, despite the regime's growing nuclear arsenal.

⏺️ The Cost of Faith: An inside look at survival for underground believers in the world's most closed nation, where owning a Bible is classified as treason.

⏺️ The Growing Church: The inspiring reality of an underground church that doesn't pray for freedom, but for more Bibles and the perseverance to endure.

⏺️ A Challenge for the Free: A heart-searching reflection on how faithfully we witness when worship costs us absolutely nothing.

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