Unifiying the Arts,
letting God in to build bridges and mend fences was the order of the day. Unity being the theme of Wednesday, it has reminded Christians that this is the gift God has given for a purpose. Unity is there to remind the devil that he has no power among Gods people. The devil has got Christians fighting about the minor things to keep them divided. Christians have to get to a place where they can let down their own preferences and be comfortable enough with each other and trust each other, allowing unity to develop.
Errol Naidoo talked about how the seven important instructions of Joshua 1 can be followed to further an individual’s purpose through Christ. A few of them being: God will never nor forsake you (be inspired); every place you travel He gave you (God has given you South Africa if you are prepared); and be strong and of good courage (he is with you). Victor Masondo, a musician, highlighted the importance of group participation within the church – “the pastor or priest is not a one man show. The biggest thing about church is you", and "being at church is your calling."
The sharing of testimonies revealed the changes the people of the arts have experienced during SACLA II and how this experience will influence the way they interact with others in their churches and community. This can be done in ways such as training young Christians in media, improving relations between public media and the church, and also encouraging Christians in media to be a part of transforming secular media.

Bulelwa Jonas

Creative Excellence in Media

In addressing the theme of the day, there were many references to how Christians in the media have settled for apathy and mediocrity, and how this is a bad testimony to God and to the Church. There should be a new working ethos of excellence amongst God's people. "Let us forget what all those who do not know God are doing, and do what God wants us to do in excellence," were the words of Landa Cope.

Exciting new projects that could transform the perception of Christian programming, emerged from the speakers in the tracks. Dr Garth Japhet, creator of the television drama Soul City, shared news of a new drama to be screened, which will take place in a church. This will create waves in mainstream Christian programming. "The Church must prepare people for something that will shake the children of God," said Japhet. Working with him on this project is Jerry Mofukeng (script writer), who shared a short testimony on the many temptations faced in the entertainment industry. But temptation is no excuse to do anything contrary to God's standards. Christian leaders in the media are trying to re-iterate that glory should not be on them or their media vehicles, but that the glory should be given to God.

Telling stories is what Jesus did and people remembered them. The question posed is, "Why can't the Christian artists use the popular mediums at their disposal, to further the word of God creatively?"

Bulelwa Jonas

A clear direction for Christians in Arts
"A clear direction for Christians representing different diciplines, brought together with one common goal," was how Naomi Boshoff began the first session of Christian leaders in the Arts, Entertainment and Media track. She urged leaders to find out what God wants them to know and explained that now was the time for all to be heard and to hear from the Lord. Christians can therefore be future-oriented in the mediums in which they are specialising.
"Our destiny is to bring corporate affirmation of God's vision, and also to establish God's kingdom in the arts and through the arts," she said. These are just a few of the topical issues under disscusion in this track. The common feeling amongst the leaders is to claim back God's vision for people within the media.
As repentance was the theme of the day, the leaders emphasised that the media must be careful in not worshipping the gifts given by God, instead of God Himself, and Romans 1:25 was quoted. Nurden Cross mentioned some interesting visuals of God being creative, derived from the first words in the Bible - explaining how He created the heavens and the earth, and how it was something beautiful. He also said that Jesus was the greatest artist of all time.
Cross further mentioned an interesting quote by Dr Micheal Cassidy: "It was not the blind leading the blind, but the bland leading the bland". This is the fault of the Christians in the Arts, who have stopped being active creators in the Church. Cross ended by saying: "Church is a theatre, a place to act out symbolism. It is just like God who died as a symbol, when only His Word could save us from sin."

Bulelwa Jonas

Naomi Boshoff, the track leader for the arts, entertainment and media, outlines some of the major issues they will be dealing with during SACLA II, at the Pretoria Showgrounds this week. Such as accessing a biblical worldview within the media, which is God-inspired, informed and invigorating. Boshoff has stated that questions such as, “What are we, as communicators - who are Christians - to do?” will be addressed extensively. “As artists and media people we have within us one of the most powerful tools with which to influence society and that is communication,” Boshoff says “It’s time for us to reflect on how to combine social issue with Christianity.”