After more than three decades in the making, David has emerged as one of the most remarkable faith-based films of our time. The animated musical retelling of the Biblical account of David and Goliath has shattered box-office records, becoming the highest-grossing faith-based animated opening in history.

Behind this global success is a deeply local story. Directed by Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes, David was created by a global team of artists led from South Africa. For Cunningham, who has lived and worked in SA for many years, the journey began long before the film ever reached the screen – rooted in Scripture, shaped by faith, and refined through decades of perseverance…

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What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “Bible prophecy”? Do you picture old people in the ancient past, clothed in ragged robes, declaring, “thus sayeth the Lord”? Perhaps the word prophecy itself causes you to bristle with thoughts of doom and gloom awaiting humanity in the future. Maybe you think of modern-day social media influencers who self-proclaim to have received a word, vision, or message from God. Or could it be that not much at all crosses your mind when you encounter the word “prophecy,” viewing it as a subject that’s outdated, unimportant, or even irrelevant?

Indeed, it has become commonplace among many churches and Christian circles to avoid the subject of prophecy. The rationale behind such a decision is often motivated by fear of teaching on matters that can be viewed as controversial. Instead of expounding on prophetic Scripture that may be viewed as difficult or having the potential for objections and debate, some churches choose to simply overlook, omit, and neglect these portions of God’s Word…

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The story of the prodigal son is not a warning story. It is a love story. And when it is read through the finished work of Jesus, it becomes one of the clearest revelations of the Father’s heart in all of Scripture. This parable is not primarily about a rebellious son. It is about a good Father.

Jesus tells this story to people who believed God related to them based on behaviour, effort, and moral performance. And in one story, He dismantles that entire mindset. You could spend a lifetime unpacking this parable and still not reach the bottom of it. Because the prodigal son is not just a story Jesus told. It is the story Jesus came to live…

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Most people know Bear Grylls as the man who drinks questionable liquids, sleeps in extreme places, and pushes his body to the edge of what is possible. Over the years, he has become one of the most recognisable adventurers in the world. Yet, in recent seasons of his life, Bear has been less interested in survival tactics and more focused on what sustains a person on the inside. Faith, he says, has always been there, but now it sits closer to the surface…

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the latest issue of JOY!