Legendary voice actor Jodi Benson is a Christian with a deep passion for her faith — a devotion to God that has helped shape her life.

“It’s really neat … to see the tapestry that God has created and the puzzle pieces that have come together within my career,” Benson told CBN News. “But, for me, it’s a ministry. I really do feel that God places me exactly where He wants me. He opens the door exactly where He needs me, and it’s never usually about the job.”

She continued, “It’s usually about … a ‘God appointment,’ a relationship with a cast member, or with a crew or creative team member. It’s usually these behind-the-scenes moments that I get — that moment where I go, ‘Oh, that’s why I’m doing this project.’”

Benson is known for voicing Ariel in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and Barbie in the “Toy Story” franchise. Most recently, she reprised her role as Nia in season two of the animated hit series “The Wingfeather Saga.”

These powerful roles beg an important question: how does Benson choose projects? The actress said she relies on God and prayer to pick and choose which roles to take on.

“Once I pray about it, and my husband and I are both praying — we both are discussing — we will get an automatic door open or close, and it’s pretty clear cut there,” she said. “There is not a lot of in-between, which I love.”

Angel Studios’ “The Wingfeather Saga,” based on Andrew Peterson’s book series by the same name, happened to be one of those open doors through which Benson was pleased to walk.

“I really loved this character, and these stories, and being a part of it,” she said. “Because there’s so much adventure to it.”

Benson said her entire career — and particularly her landing of the Ariel role in “The Little Mermaid” — has been a “beautiful, wonderful surprise.”

“My focus was doing … Broadway musicals — my passion,” she said. “And … this door opened up for me to be able to randomly audition for it, and … here I am, almost 38 years later, and I’m still recording my voice, and still Ariel is a huge part of my life and my family’s lives, and we are just so grateful.”

Benson also spoke about the perceived increase in Hollywood of actors and singers speaking out about their Christian views.

“I do feel that there has always been the element of faith in so many people that I work with and in so many different companies,” she said. “But, in a lot of ways, it stays quiet, which is great. That’s fine; it really is fine to have a quiet walk, because it’s those people of influence that God has given you that are one-on-one.”

Benson said the entertainment industry went through what she called a “double whammy” in recent years, with the COVID-19 pandemic and a strike — two events that paralyzed Hollywood.

With so much chaos unfolding, Benson said some people started speaking out more. Still, she said there are fears among some when it comes to openly sharing perspectives.

“We’re going to see this kind of roller coaster going on; people can feel like they can speak out, but then, you know, they’re going to possibly get hit with cancel culture,” Benson said. “And that can be earth-shaking. You can lose your job, you can lose your paycheck, you can lose your film, your television, your agency, and your manager all in one day — so it happens a lot.”

As for her own journey, the actress makes a decision every day to “be light and salt” and to love others around her.

“Whatever realm I’m at, whatever city I’m in, I try to, personally, for me, keep it really, really simple and keep my motivation very simple,” she said. “And … walk in faith, not by sight.”

That doesn’t mean Benson, who is known for her happy persona and kind demeanor, always has it easy. She, too, has her “haters,” she said — people who simply avoid or dislike her because of who she is. But she said she still says, “Hello” on set and shows these individuals love and kindness.

Tragically, she has even faced serious threats over the years.

“With my husband and my children, I do have to think about their safety and their well-being,” Benson said. “I have had threats and so there are things that I do have to take precaution with, and have had to contact sheriff and police and things like that to protect my family.”

Ultimately, Benson focuses on her joy and happiness — and faith. She’s been blessed to portray “The Little Mermaid,” among many other roles, and she’s grateful for her life.

“[God] is ultimately in control,” she said. “He’s got everything in His hands. I can put everything onto Him, and trust Him, because I just trust Him — I just do.”
Sources:faithwire

http://theendtimeradio.com

അങ്കമാലി: സിനിമ സഹസംവിധായകന്‍ അനില്‍ സേവ്യര്‍ (39) നിര്യാതനായി. ആഗസ്റ്റ് 15 ന് ഫുട്‌ബോള്‍ കളിക്കിടെയുണ്ടായ ഹൃദയാഘാതത്തെ തുടര്‍ന്ന് എറണാകുളത്തെ സ്വകാര്യ ആശുപത്രിയില്‍ ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്നു. ജാന്‍ എ മന്‍, തല്ലുമാല, മഞ്ഞുമ്മല്‍ ബോയ്‌സ്, തെക്ക് വടക്ക് തുടങ്ങിയ സിനിമകളുടെ സഹസംവിധായകനാണ്.

തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ ആര്‍എല്‍വി കോളജില്‍ നിന്ന് ബിഎഫ്എ ബിരുദം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാക്കിയ ശേഷം ഹൈദരാബാദ് കേന്ദ്ര സര്‍വകലാശാലയില്‍ നിന്ന് ശില്‍പ്പകലയില്‍ എംഎഫ്എയും നേടി. ക്യാമ്പസിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന രോഹിത് വെമുലയുടെ സ്മാരക ശില്‍പ്പം അനിലാണ് നിര്‍മിച്ചത്. കൊച്ചി മുസിരിസ് ബിനാലെയുടെ ഭാഗമായും പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ചിരുന്നു.

മൃതദേഹം ബുധനാഴ്ച രാവിലെ 11 മുതല്‍ അങ്കമാലി കിടങ്ങൂരിലെ വസതിയിലും, തുടര്‍ന്ന് വൈകിട്ട് മൂന്ന് വരെ അങ്കമാലി നാസ് ഓഡിറ്റോറിയത്തിലും പൊതുദര്‍ശനത്തിന് വെക്കും. തുടര്‍ന്ന് ഭൗതിക ശരീരം കളമശ്ശേരി മെഡിക്കല്‍ കോളജ് വിദ്യാര്‍ഥികള്‍ക്ക് പഠനത്തിന് നല്‍കും. അനിലിന്റെ ആഗ്രഹപ്രകാരമാണ് തീരുമാനം നടപ്പാക്കുന്നതെന്ന് ബന്ധുക്കള്‍ അറിയിച്ചു.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com

http://theendtimeradio.com

Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the rock band 3 Doors Down, caught attention this month for powerful comments he made about Jesus and faith during a concert at Hersheypark Stadium in Pennsylvania.

Before belting out the band’s song “Away From the Sun” at the show on Aug. 23, Arnold told the audience he started feeling compelled two years ago to share an important message with fans during his performances.

He then asked for just a few moments to tell the thousands gathered that God loves them, according to PennLive.com. It was a truly moving monologue.

“I feel like I can identify with this song more than most of our songs,” he said, calling “Away From the Sun” his favorite of the band’s ballads. “This world surrounds by a message we’ll never be good enough, we’ll never be strong enough, we’ll never be beautiful enough, we’ll never be rich enough.”

Arnold wasn’t done there, calling out a “lie” he believes is perpetuated on social media and in other facets of life: that we’ll never be truly loved and that we’ll never “win.”

“My friends, I just want to take a second to tell you — that’s an absolute lie,” he said. “You are loved. You are enough, and you will win. Not only can you win, but you will win. You’ll always be enough for one reason, and that’s because Jesus Christ loves you.”

Despite the daily failures and struggles each person faces, Arnold said each individual is still deeply loved by God. He then proclaimed, “Repeat after me: I am the one that Jesus loves.”

These proclamations were met with cheers and claps, with the audience repeating his words.

Other online videos and posts show Arnold is no stranger to sharing his faith on stage, with the singer offering similar statements during other 3 Doors Down shows.

“Many prayers for all the kids headed back school,” he wrote in a recent Instagram post, sharing an image with text from Deuteronomy 31:6. The verse reads, “The Lord your God goes with you.”
Sources:faithwire

http://theendtimeradio.com