CAPE TOWN — South African scholars are lending their voices to a creative project which uses podcasts to deliver the Gospel message in a fresh, modern format, aimed at children.

The “Storytime with Joy” podcast episodes are freely available on Spotify and YouTube, while the current book series will soon be available in a digital format.

“But which family can he be from?… I’m so hungry I can eat a whole horse right now… Tell us what you know…”

Young voices retelling age-old stories. Pastor Garth van Niekerk is working with these children to create life-changing content for their peers.

Garth Van Niekerk – Pastor, Melkbos Fellowship:

“By kids, for kids. This the whole idea that kids could be telling these stories in such an exciting and colourful way that kids listening will engage with it much better.”

Once a week, a dedicated group meets to record their latest podcast episode. The original “Storytime with Joy” series included two adult characters supporting the young voice artists.

Candace De Villiers – Voice Artist, “Joy”:

“The way that it’s translated into such a easy to digest script for everyone to understand, you know. And the insights that come out. and just the conversational style of it. it was really, really lovely to do. yes, i could really see the heart behind it – to equip our children with truths that they can hold onto for the rest of their lives.”

Stephaan van dyk – Voice artist, 13 years old:

“being with uncle garth, it’s fun. laughing. Like, recording yourself on the podcast to hear your voice – it’s fun.”

The junior voice artists have quickly become confident of their own creative abilities. Their idea for a newscast made up entirely of child characters is sending the podcast in a fresh new direction.

Garth van niekerk:

“the moment we did that show, it was the first show where it was just the kids telling the story. I thought ‘man, this is really nice – these kids have now matured to a point where they could carry all the dialogue for a story’. And uncle ed and joy was not necessary anymore. And at that point it wasn’t long before we realised we could actually have a hard copy book and then have the kids record the story so that we now have an audio book, to go along with somebody reading that story.”

Each book in the current series presents the “low down” on an old testament character. The books are illustrated by garth, and the team works together to create accompanying audiobooks. The recording process is adding another layer of creativity to the entertaining stories.

Garth van niekerk:

“as they start reading, very often the kids will throw in a joke or sometimes read something wrong. And it will come out funny, it will come out sweeter or more natural. And then we actually afterwards go and adapt the script. Just because the natural flow just comes out more beautiful.”

Podcast episodes are not only about retelling biblical stories. An entire series emerged from an invitation to children to submit their “tricky questions” to the creative team.

Garth van niekerk:

“so that was a whole series that we walked through. And some of them were really brain scratchers for ourselves. Just to say how do tell this to a kid in a creative way and in a way that parents will feel safe actually having their kids listen to it?”

Candace de villiers:

“i think it’s so important, if anything, that number one it shows children where they can go to for their source of truth. But number two, the heart behind it is to evoke a hunger for the word of god. to really jump in and see, like, okay, i’m being bullied at school – what can i find in the bible that will solve this problem?”

Micah henning – Voice artist, 11 years old:

“it’s quite cool, it’s actually quite amazing that you can just have fun whilst changing other people’s lives.”

More than three years since their first recording, the original crew members continue to devote time each week to the creation of fresh new podcasts, each episode voiced by the children, for the children.

Read more news on Children’s ministry and Evangelism on Missions Box.