Dia-Logos: Seeking Christ's Perspective on the News

Dia-Logos Podcast
  • 0.0 (0)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Drawing on over 50 years of global experience, we operate at the intersection of faith and world events. Rather than just observing important global shifts, we interpret them through a biblical lens, offering the Church distinct perspectives to foster understanding and meaningful engagement. We are not the ultimate authority, but Christ is, so we seek to align our perspectives on world events to His, as found in His Word.

  1. 6d ago

    Dia-Logos Podcast -Ep 19 - Transforming Communities One Story at a Time with Challenge Good News Paper

    What if a simple newspaper left on a kitchen table, found in a dustbin, or picked up in a public restroom could completely transform a life? In this episode of the Dia-Logos Podcast, host Brad Kirsten sits down with Cobus and Ilze Beukes, who lead the distribution, promotion, and management of Challenge Good News Paper in Southern Africa. Starting in Perth, Australia, Challenge has grown into a powerful, non-offensive "24-hour evangelist", a non-denominated gospel message dressed as a newspaper. In this episode, Cobus and Ilze discuss: ✅ Unstoppable Reach: How Challenge reaches communities, 140 correctional facilities, military bases, and rural areas across South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and 5 other nations. ✅ Incredible Testimonies: Heartwarming first-hand stories of lives turned around—including a drug-addicted son reading a story on a kitchen table and a pastor's brother finding hope in a Swaziland restroom. ✅ Community Transformation: How distributing the newspaper in struggling communities has revived churches, Sunday schools, and local morale. ✅ Multiple Languages & Formats: Why incorporating Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa, Shona, and Afrikaans makes the gospel accessible to everyone. ✅ How to Get Involved: How local churches, outreach projects, and individuals can get physical or digital copies to share in their own communities. Tune in to discover how everyday believers are taking hands to bring hope and the life-changing power of Jesus to Southern Africa!

    Dia-Logos Podcast -Ep 19 - Transforming Communities One Story at a Time with Challenge Good News Paper

  2. Sep 30

    DL Podcast - Ep 18 - Navigating the Season We Live In: Helen Burnard on A Journey Through the Landscape

    How do believers navigate a world fractured by global conflict, political polarization, social media anger, and rapid technological shifts? In this compelling episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, host Brad Kirsten chats with veteran mission consultant Helen Burnard to discuss her timely new book, A Journey Through the Landscape. Drawing from 45 years of global ministry alongside her husband Mike, Helen shares candid insights on why the church feels so divided and confused today. Together, they explore what it means to hold life's tensions, resist trading in the world's "anger currency," regain true moral clarity, and navigate modern phenomena like AI psychosis and digital addiction. Whether you are feeling disillusioned by global tensions or searching for a grounded, Christ-centered perspective in this chaotic season, this conversation offers practical wisdom, deep hope, and spiritual resilience. To order a copy, please Whatsapp +2782 865 7389

    DL Podcast - Ep 18 - Navigating the Season We Live In: Helen Burnard on A Journey Through the Landscape

  3. Sep 23

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 17 - Navigating Faith, Loss, and Unity in Siberia

    In this episode of the Dia-Logos Podcast, host Brad Kirsten chats with Riko Viviers, Eastern Slavic Specialist Consultant for Dia-Logos. After completing his engineering studies, Riko set out on a short-term mission outreach to Russia that turned into a 25-year career in Siberia’s remote Yakutsk region. In this episode, Riko shares: ✅ Life on the Siberian Frontier: What it’s like living and ministering in Siberia’s Far East, learning the Russian language, and connecting with indigenous communities. ✅ The Post-Soviet Spiritual Landscape: How the collapse of the Soviet Union created a spiritual hunger, followed by decades of modernization and shifting cultural values. ✅ Ground-Level Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Rare first-hand insights into how remote eastern communities face mobilization, military losses, economic hardship, and fuel shortages. ✅ The Voice of the Local Church: How Russian and Ukrainian believers navigate pastoral care, prophetic witness, and the call for Christian unity under strict legal constraints. ✅ A Siberian Romance: The heartwarming story of how God brought Riko and his Yakutian wife, Mariaana, together amidst cold winters and shared ministry passions. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that offers a kingdom perspective on conflict, faith, and perseverance in one of the most remote regions on Earth.

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 17 - Navigating Faith, Loss, and Unity in Siberia

  4. Sep 16

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 16 - Rugby, Rivalry, and Faith: Inside the Boks & All Blacks Series

    Four intense test matches between the world's top two rugby powerhouses are in the books, with the Springboks taking the series 3-1. But beyond the 31 total tries, the 1,127 bone-crunching tackles, and another trophy in the cabinet, what did this historic series teach us about leadership, sportsmanship, and faith? In this episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, host Brad connects with analytical strategist and investigative journalist Mike Burnard to reflect on the deeper moments that defined the series, from players and staff praying together on bended knee after the final whistle, to young primary school kids emulating their heroes on local fields. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ Leadership and Humility: How leaders like Siya Kolisi demonstrate that true strength doesn't make a lot of noise. ✅ The Power of Example: How the visible faith of international sports stars creates a ripple effect for the next generation. ✅ Overcoming Division: Using sportsmanship as a model for bridging cultural, political, and societal divides. ✅ Wearing Your "Jersey": What John 13:34 and Psalm 133 teach us about unity, love, and representing our convictions in a divided world. Whether you're a die-hard rugby supporter or simply looking for an inspiring perspective on character, passion, and unity, this conversation offers a fresh look at what happens when rivals find common ground.

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 16 - Rugby, Rivalry, and Faith: Inside the Boks & All Blacks Series

  5. Sep 10

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 15 - November Elections: Why South African Democracy Still Matters

    When two Airlink jets executed a dangerously low pass over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, public perception took over before the facts even came out. What does an aviation controversy have to do with South African democracy? More than you might think. In this episode, we unpack why perception, not facts, is driving voter behavior ahead of the upcoming local elections. We examine how two completely different groups of South Africans arrive at the exact same conclusion: that their vote no longer matters. We break down: ✅ The Math of Local Wards: Why victory margins as small as 139 votes mean your ballot counts more locally than anywhere else. ✅Hung Councils & Coalitions: What happens when nearly half of SA's municipalities face no outright majority. ✅ The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: How the false perception that voting is pointless creates the exact lack of accountability people fear. ✅ Testing Your Beliefs: A challenge to examine whether your political stance is genuine conviction or just a borrowed opinion. Despite the frustration, South Africa's local elections remain among the most competitive in its democratic history. The outcome is genuinely up for grabs...if voters choose to own their place in it.

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 15 - November Elections: Why South African Democracy Still Matters

  6. Sep 2

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 14 - Ep.14 On the Ground in the West Bank: Seeking Christ in the Conflict

    What does it take to remain a light in a region consumed by conflict? On this episode of the Dia-Logos Podcast, host Brad sits down with Alfred Ghawali and Rafi Filmon, volunteers with Jerusalem Evangelical Outreach. Following a recent trip to South Africa, Alfred and Rafi share how their experiences abroad reshaped their perspective on their calling back home. They dive into the day-to-day realities of living and serving in Israel and the West Bank amidst ongoing war and geopolitical uncertainty. Together, they discuss: ✅ The decision to stay and serve local youth despite the temptation to leave for safer shores. ✅ Processing the overwhelming toll of conflict and avoiding despair through faith. ✅ Seeking a "Kingdom perspective" and leadership focused on peace ahead of upcoming political shifts. ✅ How the Holy Spirit sustains the local church in the land where the gospel began. ✅ Practical and heart-led ways believers around the world can pray for the people and future of the region. Join us as we seek Christ’s perspective on the Middle East through the voices of those ministering directly on the ground.

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 14 - Ep.14 On the Ground in the West Bank: Seeking Christ in the Conflict

  7. Aug 27

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 13 - On the Ground in Lebanon: Seeking Christ in the Conflict

    In this episode of Dia-Logos, host Brad connects with Jacobus Van Zyl, field reporter and local liaison in Qabb Ilyas (Kab Elias), located in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Living right in the middle of ongoing geopolitical tension, Jacobus provides an unfiltered, first-hand account of what life in Eastern Lebanon looks like amidst fragile truces, military strikes, and a severe economic downturn. In this insightful and grounded conversation, Brad and Jacobus explore: ✅ The Truce Reality vs. Ground Truth: The current political stalemate between Hezbollah, Israel, and the Lebanese government, and what it feels like when artillery strikes disrupt the night. ✅ The refugee crisis & Aid Cuts: How international support cuts by agencies like the UNHCR are directly affecting vulnerable refugee families who now struggle for basic meals. ✅ The True Cost of Living: How government electricity blackouts (leaving towns with as little as two hours of power per day) drive up private generator reliance, causing basic grocery prices, like a single liter of milk, to skyrocket. ✅ Education & Brain Drain: The tragic impact on over 500,000 displaced children, 340+ damaged or destroyed schools, and why a whole generation of young graduates feels forced to leave the country. ✅ Seeking Christ’s Perspective: How Jesus’ approach to the poor, hungry, and disgraced offers a blueprint for restoring dignity to those caught in conflict. ✅ Finding Peace in Purpose: Why Jacobus believes the safest place to be is always in the center of God's calling, even when the ground is literally shaking. Key Scripture: Matthew 25:35-40 / Restoring dignity through presence and care.

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 13 - On the Ground in Lebanon: Seeking Christ in the Conflict

  8. Aug 20

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 12 - Radical Obedience: Serving Inside Malawi’s Dzaleka Refugee Camp

    What does it actually take to sell everything you own and move into a refugee camp? A heart-moving story on the latest episode of Dia-Logos! We sat down with Nico & Vicky van Wyk, full-time missionaries with Ethnos Movement International (EMI) in Malawi. They share their incredible journey from a quick "yes" to God, to serving over 67,000 refugees inside the severely overcrowded Dzaleka Refugee Camp. From providing daily meals and education to nearly 100 children, to offering wound care and healing arts for women facing extreme trauma, Nico and Vicky are living out hands-on compassion every single day. In this episode of the Dia-Logos podcast, we dive into: 👉 How they knew it was time to step out in faith 👉 The raw realities, struggles, and beauty of life in Dzaleka 👉 How to protect your heart against burnout when serving in hard places It's an honest, humbling, and inspiring conversation you don't want to miss.

    Dia-Logos Podcast - Ep 12 - Radical Obedience: Serving Inside Malawi’s Dzaleka Refugee Camp
See All (20)

Trailer

About

Drawing on over 50 years of global experience, we operate at the intersection of faith and world events. Rather than just observing important global shifts, we interpret them through a biblical lens, offering the Church distinct perspectives to foster understanding and meaningful engagement. We are not the ultimate authority, but Christ is, so we seek to align our perspectives on world events to His, as found in His Word.

Information