APOLOGIES: the sound quality from the Julle Mense hosts is below our usual standard due to a number of technical difficulties. But the content was so good we decided to release it anyway. Thanks to the team at Exilic for their brilliant work in making it listenable.

Part 2 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 Dr Vaughan Stannard from Beautiful Gate, an organisation working to protect children and empower and strengthen families in the Lower Crossroads and Philippi area.

In this episode we discuss the impact which COVID-19 could have politically, socially and economically on marginalized communities still dealing with the legacy of apartheid. In particular we discuss the growth in inequality which COVID-19 will have on education, employment, economics and food security in already vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Find out more about Beautiful Gate here (http://www.beautifulgatesouthafrica.org/)

To support the vital work of Beautiful Gate donate here

https://www.givengain.com/cc/bgsacovid19response/

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/STB20C32

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 share some initial thoughts around the Coronavirus and its potential impact on South Africa. Particularly focusing on the impact which long term structural inequality and the legacy of spatial apartheid could have. They also offer some initial thoughts on the role which the church could play and what it could mean to a good neighbours, particularly to the poor and the vulnerable, in these troubled and confusing times.

Here is the link to the article mentioned: https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/loving-my-neighbour-in-the-midst-of-covid-19/

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 discuss former deputy president FW de Klerk's recent statement (and subsequent apology) that apartheid was not a crime against humanity. We discussd de Klerk's history of similar statements, as well as his testimony before the TRC. We probed what biblical repentance could look like and explored if the church in South Africa was guilty of a cheap repentance. In particular we asked if white Christians and white churches have ever really been broken to the repentance which true reconciliation and justice requires?

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 the "godfather" of African American reformed theology Dr Carl Ellis. We spoke about black consciousness, Dr King and Malcolm X and the limited gospel of American evangelicalism.

We heard how black consciousness gave Dr Ellis the right questions with which to approach the text. And how Dr Ellis' own theological education had little to say to the context of his life and ministry in black communities. Dr Ellis reminded us that finding our identity in the Jesus of evangelicalism is not the same as finding our identity in the Jesus of the Bible.

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 One Mokgatle from Rooted Fellowship and Regional Director of Acts 29 Southern Africa to speak about black leadership in multi-ethnic church spaces. We spoke about trans-culturalism and identity in Christ; about white flight and distrust of black leadership. About Churches as prophetic voices on economic reform and racial transformation. We asked why are black pastors always talking about race?

We asked questions about white shame and black anger; about reconciliation as an identity rather than a programme. We spoke about the incredible weight put on diversity hires not to mess it up. And of course we spoke about building new and more inclusive tables.

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

Our theology and our church culture have not given us the permission, the language or the means to adequately sit with the despair, the anger and the shame of racial injustice, ongoing trauma, and a deeply scarring history. We need to recover the lost gift of lament. Without first learning how to lament we can never truly experience reconciliation.

In this episode David and John discuss biblical lament. Why is lament so crucial for a South African church so often focused on joy, celebration and victory? Does the church have a vested interest in avoiding lament? Does lament look different for black people and for white people? Does a theology formed in privilege have space for lament? What could corporate lament look like? How significant might the recovery of a theology biblical lament be for gospel witness in South Africa?

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

For too long black Christians have been begging for a place at the table of a largely white shaped evangelicalism. Seeking what has often felt like scraps of recognition and affirmation from those at the table. Or alternatively have had to compromise so much of who they are in order to get a seat at the table.

But what if we built new, inclusive tables. Tables where it was ok to be black. Tables where it was ok to talk about both a gospel which embraced both salvation and justice. One such movement doing that is the Living Legacy movement a place where young black Christian creatives – musicians, writers, rappers can be unashamedly black, tell black stories using their own mediums and measures. David and John are joined by the founder of Living Legacy Luxolo Kentane to speak more about these issues.

Check out Living Legacy's website https://livinglegacymovement.com/home

Music videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCarloN5OnH50DkqbQIUZAGQ

Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Living_LGCY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livinglegacymove/

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 respond to the ongoing violence against women and children perpetrated by men in our land. Deliberately centering the conversation on men we explore what the Bible has to say to this toxic masculinity that has so pervaded our society and our churches.

How do we respond to statistics which suggest that over 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime? Is it true that #menaretrash ? Can we really say #notallmen ? Are these kinds of hashtags useful? What are the root causes of this violence being perpetrated by men? Why is there such an outcry now? What role, if any, does our toxic history play? Does our church culture or even our theology harbour a form of male supremacy? Is the death penalty the answer?

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 Dani Moosajie and Alexa Matthews from Arise to talk about Justice and Adoption. Learn more about Arise and the work they do in family strengthening and adoption support.

Listen in as we ask some hard hitting questions about race and adoption; keeping families together; the danger of a saviour mentality in adoption; white parents raising black children, ethnic identity and churches and adoption

Find out more about the Arise Adoption Conference happening https://arisefamily.org/events/

Cape Town Adoption Conference - 7 September 2019 https://www.quicket.co.za/events/75997-cape-town-arise-adoption-conference-2019/#/

Johannesburg Adoption Conference - 5 October 2019

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/76872-joburg-arise-adoption-conference-2019/#/

Follow Arise:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AriseFamilySA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriseFamilySA/

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 Pete Portal, from Tree of Life in Manenberg to talk about his recently released book "No Neutral Ground: Finding Jesus in a Cape Town Ghetto."

While Pete tells the story of his journey from London to Manenberg, we talk about incarnational ministry, the narrative of fear around Manenberg, opening their home to recovering addicts, apartheid spatial planning, prayer walking, God's miraculous provision, white saviourism and other mistakes they've made along the way as well as the recent sending of the military into Manenberg.

Don't miss the official launch of No Neutral Ground:

When: Thursday 15 August

Where: YoungBlood Gallery, 70-74 Bree Street, Cape Town.

Time: 19:00-20:30

More Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2471429413091211/

Purchase Pete's book No Neutral Ground: Finding Jesus in a Cape Town Ghetto here:

Paperback: https://www.loot.co.za/product/pete-portal-no-neutral-ground/bjbn-5694-g460

Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Neutral-Ground-Finding-Ghetto-ebook/dp/B07FM3M8XY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1550656381&sr=8-1

Follow Peter on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pete_Portal

Learn more about Tree of Life and their work in Manenberg: http://treeoflife.org.za/

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