“Modern-day evangelism is not through crusades and open-airs; it’s through creative work.” This bold declaration is made by the visionaries of the eagerly awaited EyeCan Creative Conference set for this coming weekend. The creative conference, to be held at Great Light Church in Midrand on Saturday, May 24, 2025, is billed to be an eye-opening and thought-provoking affair as Christian creatives gather to dissect emerging concepts and discuss creative ways of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. The event organizers – Thabo “States” Setati and Tumelo “Sox” Semenya – are burgeoning filmmakers who have worked on several Christian productions. With a wealth of experience and expertise, they are set to share nuggets of wisdom, buoyed by their passion and commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of reaching the world. “Attendees can expect to be deeply inspired to create. No matter how small or insignificant you may have perceived your craft or concept to be, there’s space for it. The event will offer powerful insights into creativity and its real-world effectiveness,” says Semenya, who co-founded EyeListen Media with Setati. “One of the things we’re most excited about is seeing the finished creative work that comes out of this gathering—how people take what they’ve experienced and translate it into tangible output.” The event will see attendees glean pearls of wisdom from the likes of multi-award-winning artists and pastors. Christian movers and shakers—Dr Tumi, Hle, Apostle Joshua Sangweni, Pastor Martin Mgiba, Okuhle Speaks, and Siba Mrwebi—will address relevant topics, drawing on experiences from their world. There will be a panel discussion titled Creatives and the Church, bringing together pastors and artists. “This session will explore the role of the church in nurturing creative communities, as well as the areas where the church has either limited or overlooked creative expression,” said Semenya, who is a film producer. Setati, who has directed a number of live recordings and Christian music videos, adds that those in attendance will also have discussions among themselves. “This conversation will unpack the fears many creatives face and how to overcome them to create at their highest level. We’ve set up photo booths for professional photoshoots, podcast stations to capture live reflections, diary booths where creatives can voice their struggles, and a large community canvas where attendees can visually express their creative dreams and goals,” said Setati. Setati and Semenya, AFDA graduates, are hoping their conference will see Christian creatives collaborating in future. “We’re focused on building an ecosystem where creatives can support one another and collaborate to bring more ideas to life,” said Setati.
