The Follower Podcast

A conversation with Afrika Mhlope

Afrika Mhlophe has been in ministry since 1998 and in 2002 he became the leading pastor of Good News Community Church in Port Elizabeth.
He ministers across South Africa with a primary focus on calling Christians to bring kingdom influence into every domain of life. This is why he speaks and writes on difficult subjects such as racism, corruption, and idolatry. 
In this conversation, we talk about culture and the importance of being defined by Christ alone. 
Afrika's books include:
Christianity and the Veneration of the Dead
Freed by God Imprisoned by Culture
A Passion for Position
You can find Afrika on social media platforms or visit his website at www.afrikam.co.za to find his resources and get in touch with him. 

A conversation with Jill Weber

Life can sometimes be monotonous, perilous, and occasionally wondrous. In this conversation with Jill Weber, we unpack how we can reconnect with our Heavenly Father when life feels blurry, and look at the beautiful, powerful, invaluable gift of prayer.
Jill Weber serves on 24-7 Prayer’s International Leadership team and is the Director of Spiritual Formation at Emmaus Road Church in Guildford. She is also the Global Convenor of the Order of the Mustard Seed, a lay ecumenical religious order.
In this episode, she shares her gift of poetry with us, quoting extracts from her book, 'Even The Sparrow'.
 
Resources:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Even-Sparrow-Pilgrims-Prayer-Following/dp/1910012718/ref=asc_df_1910012718/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=344285135448&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5289844502207092978&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045957&hvtargid=pla-835433872503&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

A conversation with Jay Kim

The technologies of our day are determined to keep us scrolling and swiping at all costs, plugged into a feedback loop of impatience, comparison, outrage, and contempt.
 
How are followers of Jesus supposed to respond? What would it feel like to acknowledge God's holy presence in that space?
 
Jay Kim, author of 'Analog Christian: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age' talks to us about how we can cultivate the contentment, resilience, and wisdom to not only survive but to thrive as we navigate the specific challenges of our age.
 
Source links:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analog-Christian-Cultivating-Contentment-Resilience/dp/1514003163/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_w=C4j8A&content-id=amzn1.sym.2d229339-2f42-4596-a90d-b81a4f52d6d3&pf_rd_p=2d229339-2f42-4596-a90d-b81a4f52d6d3&pf_rd_r=NXPXE3G1RN5NP9AHWGSR&pd_rd_wg=KH9mY&pd_rd_r=965db7f6-fcb6-492f-8ec4-ead31cbac941&pd_rd_i=1514003163&psc=1
 

A conversation with Alan Frow

Alan Frow joins us for a conversation on the wellbeing of our souls, spiritual depression, discovering comfort in the Psalms, and finding peace in a relationship of surrender with our Heavenly Father. 
 
“Our souls are not downcast because they are empty, but because they are full. So often we fill them with the wrong things… but in the Psalms we see how we can pour out our soul. In doing that, we are plunged into a waterfall of God’s love.”
 
Links to resources referenced:
 
‘Psalms for a Saturated Soul’ Alan Frow
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Psalms-Saturated-Soul-Ancient-Emotional-ebook/dp/B09YFXF8Y7
 
‘Emotionally Healthy Leadership’ Pete Scazero
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Emotionally-Healthy-Leader-Audiobook/B012BZ0KWE?source_code=M2M30DFT1BkSH11221601A7&&ipRedirectOverride=true&overrideBaseCountry=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwzNOaBhAcEiwAD7Tb6KvFhoG5IFv0DUBJu6i_HWTINnyjbs4BkvF2XLOcor_CRmg5mEBs8BoCZAQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
‘Spiritual Depression’ Martyn Lloyd-Jones
https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/personal-life/anxiety-stress-and-depression/spiritual-depression/?site_id=162595&adtype=pla&device=c&product_id=24824&gclid=CjwKCAjwzNOaBhAcEiwAD7Tb6EiclwdHIoQSTBSvBo2IKID-2sCW2GC9F2iLZVQEPakMkFioSRHKSBoC9DIQAvD_BwE
 
‘My Heart - Christ’s Home’ Robert Munger
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Christs-Home-Robert-Boyd-Munger/dp/087784075X

A conversation with Pete Portal

There are people who live the Gospel in such a compelling way that it inspires you to do the same. Pete Portal is one of those people. Having lived and ministered in Mannenberg, Cape Town for the past 15 years, Pete has many stories to tell about what it means to follow Jesus to the depths and the ends. Pete is a husband to his wife Sarah, father to his daughter Simi, servant at Tree of life Mannenberg, and author of the book No neutral ground. But above all that, he is a follower of Jesus. As always I hope this conversation helps you follow Jesus well.
All links mentioned in the conversation are below.
No Neutral ground  
Tree of life
Instagram
The Irresistible revolution
 

A conversation Langa Mbonambi

Langa Mbonambi is a founder and member of the We Will Worship movement.
You might be familiar with We Will Worship through songs like Malibongwe, Come Holy Spirit, and more. What you might not know is that Langa is also a husband and father to 4 children, a pastor, a teacher, and a businessman running a clothing label called Sinkwa Sethu.
In this episode, we hear Langa's story. What it was like growing up in the back end of Apartheid through the tensions of township life and private school education. His experience as a model in the fashion industry. His journey to a place of hopelessness and the God who met him there. We speak about worship, church, family, and what it means to be set apart as a people devoted to Jesus at this time in our world. 
As always, I hope these thoughts help you follow Jesus well. 
To find out more about Langa and We Will Worship you can visit the sites linked above or check out @wwwmovement on Instagram
 

A conversation with Carl Tinnion

Carl Tinnion is an Englishman who has worked with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) since 1994. Trying to define him is a bit like trying to nail jelly to a wall. He is unconventional to say the least. 
Having ministered in over 45 countries, led a number of missionary training communities, served as the National Director for YWAM England for 6 years as well as the European Regional Chair for over 10 years, and completed his master's degree in Applied Theology and Reflective Practice, Carl comes with a wealth of knowledge and depth of insight that I found so encouraging. 
Carl now lives in New Zealand where he and his family serve in the Anglican Church exploring fresh expressions of church planting in the region.
We hope this conversation will help you as you grow in following Jesus each day and inspire you to think outside the box as you serve others in the love of God.  
To connect with more of what Carl is doing you can have a look at the following:
Heavenly Nosh on Youtube
Carl Tinnion blog
 
 
 
 

A conversation with Madz Deyzel

Madz Deyzel is the founder of an organization called Edify that seeks to partner with local churches in order to offer hope to communities struggling with mental health needs. 
Madz has an BA Hons degree in Theology & Counselling through Brunel University UK & London School of Theology
In this conversation, we speak about her own story of healing and how that has led her to the work she does now. We also talk about the importance of knowing our identity in Christ and living in the truth of who God says we are. 
I found Madz to be inspiring not only in the depth of her insight but in the passion with which she communicates.
You can find Madz' book and all her other resources on her website www.edify-buildingthesoul.com
 

A conversation with John Lennox

In this episode, we talk with John Lennox. A professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, an internationally renowned speaker, and author of several books on the interface of science, philosophy, and religion.
John helps us critically think through the value and validity of the Christian faith in the midst of the many ideologies that fill the narrative of our time. 
Resources mentioned in this podcast include the following.
- Determined to believe, John Lennox
- Against the flow, John Lennox
- Where is God in a Coronavirus world, John Lennox
- The Matter with Things, Iain McGilchrist
- Have no Fear, John Lennox
For more about John Lennox visit his website here.

A conversation with Os Guinness

In this episode, we sit down with Os Guinness for a brain-teasing, faith-stirring discussion on a broad range of subjects including worldview, secularism, and what it might mean to be a person of faith in the midst of a rapidly changing world. 
You can find more from Os on his website