Romans 13 with its command to submit to authorities has historically been used to justify all kinds of injustices and oppression, in both South African and globally.

In this episode, David and John sit down with Ph.D. student and pastor Bradley Trout to discuss the interpretation of this passage in its original historical context, as well as its history of interpretation. What is the extent of submission to authorities? When is disobedience allowed? How do we correctly interpret and apply this passage in the context of institutionalised injustices like slavery, colonialism, or apartheid? How might we reconcile this fairly positive picture of the state with the far more negative picture of the state as a demonic beast in Revelation 13?

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once-off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

In this episode, David and John sit down with the multi-talented visual artist, hip-hop performer, and pastor Ntokeko Mjijwa to talk about Justice and the Arts. What role have the arts historically played in the fight against injustice and oppression? How have the arts been used adversely to promote injustice and entrench false or harmful narratives? How might the church in use the arts to speak against injustice and promote justice? How might the church use art to promote cross-centered justice?

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once-off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

Racial trauma is the accumulative effects of racism on an individual’s mental and physical health. In this episode, David and John sit down with psychologist Helen Malgas to discuss racial trauma, what it is, and how it affects us. Can even processes of speaking out or reconciliation contribute to continued racial trauma? How has the church in the past contributed to racial trauma and how might churches today be continuing to contribute to racial trauma? What might it look like for the church to be a community of hope and of healing for those suffering from racial trauma?

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

Many of those who choose to speak up against racism and against injustice in the church, particularly black brothers and sisters, face the very real possibility that they may lose jobs, funding, career opportunities, and reputations. Isisekelo is an organization that was founded in order to ease some of those very real tangible repercussions faced by those who choose to align with and live out a more holistic gospel that speaks out against injustice and racism.

In this episode, David and John sit down with two of the founders of Isisikelo Chido Warambwa and Tristan Pringle to talk about the obstacles to building new tables, how current church models of finance can perpetuate injustice and how Isisekelo seeks to overcome some of those obstacles.

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

The brutal murders of George Floyd ("I Can't Breathe)in the States and Tshegofatso Pule, in South Africa earlier this month was a testimony to the awful reality that, in our world, some lives matter more than others. In this episode, David and John reflect theologically on the Black Lives Matter (#BLM) movement and in particular its significance for South African today. A narrow gospel focussed only on individual salvation has little to say to the realities of racism and gender-based violence, David and John argue instead for a recovery of a robust doctrine of the Imago Dei (Image of God). Finally, they explore the role of the church in the fight against racism and gender-based violence?

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

The work of anti-racism and for justice can be incredibly exhausting and even at times lonely. We have all seen or heard stories of those most passionate for justice, shipwrecking their faith, their marriages & families or even their own lives. In this episode David and John sit down with Tyler Burns, Vice President of the The Witness and co-host of Pass the Mic, to discuss the challenges & dangers to those involved in Christian anti-racism work and how we stay in the fight for justice long-term.

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

In this episode David and John sat down with Heidi Segal from Outliers to talk about the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on education, the proposed phased reopening of schools, the realities of long-term structural inequalities in education and how the work of Outliers is positioned to address some of these challenges. The discussion also touched on how we understand the gospel and the role of the church in addressing both the present crisis as well as the prevailing crisis of structural inequality.

To find out more about the work of Outliers check out their website http://www.outliers.org.za/

Follow them on social media: https://www.facebook.com/outliersedulab/

MAKE A DONATION to their vital work here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/charity/profile/outliers/

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

In this episode David sat down with Jemar Tisby, President of The Witness, a Black Christian Collective, host of the Footnotes Podcast and co-host of the hugely influential Pass the Mic podcast, to discuss his new book "The Color of Compromise: The Truth about The American Church's Complicity in Racism." They also discussed the importance of truth-telling for reconciliation, the importance of the black church, why racism is not merely an individual issue and problematic nature of American evangelicalism

Check out the The Witness: A Black Christian Collective here https://thewitnessbcc.com/

Listen to Footnotes and https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/footnotes-with-jemar-tisby/id1460240056

Pass the Mic wherever you subscribe to podcasts https://thewitnessbcc.com/pass-the-mic/

Get hold of The Color of Compromise here https://www.amazon.com/Color-Compromise-American-Churchs-Complicity-ebook/dp/B07BB6R827

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

Part 4 of our series "Not all Viruses are Equal" reflecting on the impact which COVID-19 could have on communities which are already suffering under the impact of long term structural inequality and the legacy of spatial apartheid. As well as reflecting on the role which the church could play, both during the present crisis, as well in the longer term crisis of the prevailing legacy of structural inequality around issues such as housing, sanitation and spatial apartheid.

In this episode David and John are joined by Danielle Moosajie, director of Arise, an NGO involved in family strengthening and adoption support. We discuss the effects of lockdown on families in our most vulnerable communities as it relates to emotional health, existing trauma, family violence and abuse, educational challenges and food security.

Find out more about the essential work which Arise does here: https://arisefamily.org/

Donate to their essential work in stengthening families in some of our most vulnerable and unequal communities in Cape Town https://arisefamily.org/donate/

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano

Part 3 of our series "Not all Viruses are Equal" reflecting on the impact which COVID-19 could have on communities which are already suffering under the impact of long term structural inequality and the legacy of spatial apartheid. As well as reflecting on the role which the church could play, both during the present crisis, as well in the longer term crisis of the prevailing legacy of structural inequality around issues such as housing, sanitation and spatial apartheid.

In this episode David and John are joined by Pastor Peter Makapela from Christ Church Strand, in Nomzamo as a pastor speaks about the impact of COVID-19 on his particular community. We discuss the reality of lockdown on communities already in crisis.

How do you self-isolate in already crowded housing? How do you santize without water or adequate sanitation? How do you self-isolate without food? How do you practice social distancing when community is essential for survival? We discuss the close connection of COVID-19 to the issue of the landless black majority and how this crisis highlights once again the need for a more equitable distribution of land in South Africa.

If you wish to assist Christ Church Strand in caring for their community via food, water, sanitation and other essential needs you can contact Pastor Peter Makapela via email - [email protected]

Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za

The work of Isiphambano, including Julle Mense, is advanced through the generous donations and support of those who resonate with a vision of a reconciled and just South Africa. Please consider becoming a partner in this ministry by financial giving either through a once off gift or regular monthly giving.

Donate by following this link www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/isiphambano