Stephen was no ordinary follower of Jesus. He was the first Christian martyr. His death catapulted the early Christian church from its local Jerusalem roots to a cause that spread across the entire world.

Stephen was a man full of God’s grace and power. He did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. His revolutionary message got him hauled before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish council that had condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy. When Stephen preached an impassioned defence of Christianity, a mob dragged him outside the city and stoned him.

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the September issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!

So many people make the mistake of approaching God with this dignified, grown-up demeanour. They make cautious but eloquent requests that are logical and reasonable. If they don’t see an answer right away, they either assume it was not God’s will and leave it at that, or they become offended, frustrated, and discouraged.

But the prize goes to the ones who are bold enough to take hold of Heaven with reckless confidence. I am not talking about arrogant presumption but childlike assurance. Leave your incredible intellect, your proud rationale, and your deceptive self-reliance at the door. Come to terms with your utter and total dependency upon your Father.

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the September issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!

Cyber bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. South Africa has one of the highest rates of cyber bullying in the world! According to a 2018, SA ranked the highest prevalence of cyber bullying amongst 28 other countries.
As Believers, the word of God encourages us to have salty speech. In other words, we are expected to add flavour when we communicate – not to harass, bully, or intimidate others through the means of social media.

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the September issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!

If you are not familiar with the bold adventurer Bear Grylls, then you have missed more than his entertaining death-defying adventures, courageous acts of faith, and stomach-churning survival techniques (that you pray you will never need to use). Behind the rugged face that we have all grown to love is a husband, a father, and an outspoken Christian who relies on his faith to carry him through tough times.

Grylls is known for his determination and passion to seek out the riskiest and most daring adventures. He has climbed Mount Everest, crossed the Atlantic unassisted in an inflatable boat, slept inside the carcass of a dead camel in the Sahara desert, circumnavigated the British Isles on a jet ski, and more recently switched to survival and endurance TV shows. And now, Bear has just released what he has called his “riskiest journey yet”, a daily devotional book for Christians.

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the September issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!