FROM JOSHUA & CALEB COLSON,
THE BEARDED BIBLE BROTHERS^®

Shalom, mishpacha (family). We consider you our spiritual family, as brothers and sisters in Messiah Yeshua, and literal family as partners with Zola Levitt Ministries.

From the beginning of Zola Levitt Presents, viewers appreciated Zola’s flair for the dramatic. He often dressed in ancient Biblical garb, teaching Scripture from the Biblical locations where the events occurred. Zola also composed and professionally orchestrated arrangements and songs that were revolutionary for his day.

God has even more of a flair for the dramatic — using the arts, especially music and visuals — to convey His important messages. Many ancient prophets sang their prophetic words accompanied by musicians playing powerful melodies. Other messengers like Jeremiah and Ezekiel acted out their prophecies. Yeshua continued this pattern as He delivered engaging parables in dramatic fashion. Perhaps He would have used felt boards as a teaching aid if they had existed in the first century!

Using the arts to proclaim the Gospel has been a family staple that our Jewish mother passed down to us. Her creativity as an artist extended far beyond her paintings. She taught art at our private schools when we were young, and she started a Hebraic dance program in our congregation. As children, we volunteered as puppeteers and mimes for our church’s Gospel outreaches. Imagine telling someone about Jesus without speaking!

The theater became our creative outlet in high school, and we often used skits and plays for youth group missions. Would you believe that our Southern Baptist high school cast us two Jewish students to play the most infamous Nazis in The Sound of Music? Joshua starred as Rolf, the Nazi mail carrier who was infatuated with Liesl von Trapp, while Caleb played the turncoat butler who betrayed the von Trapp family.

We developed our skills and interests by creating comedic sketches as object lessons for our youth pastor’s sermons. Later, our interest in film became our degree focus in college. After graduation, Joshua signed with an agent as he continued acting in television and film. Caleb, however, concentrated on writing screenplays; much of his research and content later inspired our Bearded Bible Brothers programs. During our professional careers, we’ve used our abilities in film production to benefit many ministries in proclaiming the Gospel message around the world.

Now, our teaching platform has moved to Israel and other global locations. The Great Commission was the theme of Bearded Bible Brothers programming for 2025. In The Lobstermen, we used the symbolism of lobstering and fishing to illustrate Yeshua’s directive to bring both gentiles and Jews into God’s Kingdom.

Throughout 2026, we will share the Holy Spirit’s new initiatives for our teaching. These include a renewed emphasis on God’s impending prophetic timeline. We believe that Yeshua is coming soon. With this urgency, we’re doubling down on spreading the Gospel while focusing on God’s End Times master plan.

Our new television series, Bearded Bible Brothers and the Third Temple of Doom, premiers this month. While fully embracing the Indiana Jones movie tropes, we explore the current conflicts related to building the Third Temple in Jerusalem. We also review the hunt for the red heifer, the search for the lost Ark of the Covenant, and the coming Year of Jubilee.

Following our new Third Temple of Doom series, we will present a repeat performance of our timely message of repentance and judgment in the series Josiah and the Last Reformation. Then, we debut our long-awaited prophecy series, Return of the Nephilim. The age-old conflict between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman foreshadows Satan’s scheme for End Times global domination. From Israel, Greece, and Jordan, we follow this “seed war” throughout time as we examine the mysterious return of the demon-hybrid spawn in our day, culminating with the eventual rise of the final chimera: the Beast.

In the spring, our production crew will travel to Turkey to film the conclusion of Paul vs the gods. This series is the exciting narrative of Rabbi Shaul’s missionary journeys and the spiritual forces that he combatted in each new region. We’ll also finish filming our creation series Let There Be, as well as teaching relevant messages on the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2–3.

Unfortunately, decreasing donations could compromise our annual fall television production trip. We pray that our ministry’s twice-a-year study tours to Israel, Jordan, and Greece will prosper with improved registrations. Though the Lord has expanded our vision and outreach goals, we can only continue these pursuits with support from faithful partners like you.

God has blessed us with the ability to produce high-quality, Gospel-centered television programs on a shoestring budget. Yet, as broadcast television becomes less popular, we need to emphasize our pursuits in social media outreach and media streaming platforms. Imagine watching Bearded Bible Brothers on Amazon Prime or Netflix! This important frontier may seem like a diversion from typical Christian broadcast platforms, but it is a crucial mission field — where lost people seek entertainment.

Lately, our pursuits have become somewhat limited because of declining donations. Consequently, we have delayed hiring some vital personnel, such as an in-house social media director, an additional editor, and a project manager. But we are keeping the faith! The world is mostly turning away from God; thus, we continue reaching out to people with His love so that the Holy Spirit can turn hearts back to Him.

Mark Levitt’s annual “State-of-the-Ministry” update follows our note. It may appear disheartening here and there as he is transparent about the red ink that ZLM is experiencing in the natural realm. Thankfully, however, our God functions in the supernatural!

Many people may be skeptical of our endless optimism and faith in God. Even so, we know the truth — our Heavenly Father meets all our needs (Phil. 4:19). We’ve also learned that He uses people as His hands and feet. Yeshua chooses to partner with us to fulfill His will on Earth. He gave us His power and authority to act in His name (Mark 16:17–20; Luke 10:19).

Yes, there are supernatural instances where, in a sense, God provides money from a fish’s mouth (Matt. 17:27). Often, however, God prompts people to partner with His vision and purposes so that each can receive a blessing. When you help support Zola Levitt Ministries’ mission to spread the Gospel of Yeshua, you receive the same reward in Heaven.

Such eternal rewards are more valuable than the kudos we get on Earth. We truly believe that God materially blesses those who bless Israel (Gen. 12:3). So, we choose to step forward in faith, believing that our Heavenly Father goes with us as we proclaim the salvation that comes only through His Son, Yeshua.

Love, Joshua and Caleb

P.S. Thank you for your prayers and support for the Jewish People. As you pray, please remember to Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim — “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:6).

A Wonderful Spring Experience

Spring is a colorful time to experience the land of the Bible. Israel is welcoming and hosting tour groups, so won’t you please join us? Our Bible study pilgrims — accompanied by Joshua and Caleb — will visit Biblical locations that bring Scripture to life.

For details or to make reservations, please contact Sandra, our tour manager, at 214-696-9760, travel@levitt.com, or via levitt.com/tours.

Spring Tour 2026

Deluxe Israel Land-Only Tour — March 17–25 — $4,088
Price includes tips and taxes, but not airfare.

A PERSONAL LETTER
FROM MARK LEVITT

Dear Friend,

Please welcome me back from the Twilight Zone, where I’ve lingered for half a century. People “in the Twilight Zone” experience situations that are surreal, confusing, or inexplicable. Of course, I’m referring to Rod Serling’s classic television series, The Twilight Zone (1959–1964). In those half-hour episodes, ordinary individuals find themselves in extraordinary, sometimes frightening circumstances that defy logic and reality.

Writer, producer, and narrator Rod Serling (1924–1975) was born in Syracuse, New York. Growing up in a Reform Jewish family, he experienced anti-Semitism in high school. Serling often channeled his experiences with prejudice and his moral convictions into the themes of intolerance, justice, and the human condition that made The Twilight Zone so powerful.

For decades, I’ve misremembered the ending of the episode “Ninety Years Without Slumbering.” Its main character is Sam Forstmann, an eccentric old man who lives with his pregnant granddaughter and her husband. Sam is obsessed with winding and tending to the immense grandfather clock that his father gave him when he was born. He believes that his life is linked to the clock’s functioning — and that if it ever stops, he will die.

A psychiatrist advises Sam to give up his superstition and sell the clock to free himself, which he does. Later, Sam envisions his own “spirit” warning him that his time has come because the clock has stopped. In a rare Twilight Zone twist, Sam rejects the vision and ignores the clock in order to visit his newly-born great-grandchild. Having released his obsessive belief, he realizes that the clock has indeed stopped. Nonetheless, he feels fine, demonstrating that he was the master of his own mortality after all.

In my memory, however, the clock stops, Sam dies, and at that exact moment, his great-grandchild is born. The clock then resumes ticking, implying that his life force was transferred to the baby.

No matter the ending, the point is that Zola Levitt Ministries feels as vital to my existence as Sam’s grandfather clock’s ticking did to him. Many ZLMers can relate to such an affinity, which has become increasingly intense over the 37 years that I’ve been its business manager.

My grandfather, Joseph Levitt (1893–1962), derived much of his identity throughout the 1950s and early 60s from the five-and-dime store that he owned and operated. I’ve previously noted his jubilant statement each Christmas shopping season, “Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus!” He was a conservative Jew who emigrated from Riga, Latvia in the early 1900s. This salt-of-the-earth entrepreneur welcomed all races and religions in his store in Pittsburgh’s humble East Liberty neighborhood, which was soon-to-be doomed.

The Housing Act of 1949 was supposed to improve our nation’s housing stock and revitalize cities by eliminating “slums” and “blighted” neighborhoods. Billions of dollars in grants and loans led local authorities to assert eminent domain to seize vast tracts of property. Homes, churches, and small businesses were bulldozed for selling land at deep discounts to private investors, displacing over a million Americans. Hindsight eventually deemed this program a catastrophic failure. The history of East Liberty is a textbook example of the program’s devastating results.

Losing his store was the death of my grandfather Joseph. His death was difficult for Zola, who was only 23 when his beloved father passed. Soon thereafter, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh built Penn Circle, a massive, highway-sized loop road. That monstrosity cut off and diverted traffic away from the small, local businesses on Penn Avenue, leading to their closure, mass disinvestment, and decades of decline.

The Pittsburgh authorities, of course, could have done something far different, which brings me back to today’s existential concerns about ZLM surviving our own do-or-die “renewal program.” We have no choice but to gradually transition away from relying primarily on TV broadcasting to flourishing with on-demand Internet broadcasting and social media — as well as continuing our newsletter outreach.

If you are willing to weigh and pray about helping with our stressful turn-around, then please revisit several Levitt Letter Notes from Mark from a few months ago:

“Low-Hanging Fruit” (July 2025, p. 14) mentions that “designating ZLM as a beneficiary of financial accounts doesn’t require changing your will.”

“Yellow Alert #4” (August 2025, p. 10) explains that while our ministry has never issued a red alert, we are facing some transitory hurdles that warrant some extra generosity on your part in the near term.

“Regarding August’s Yellow Alert” (December 2025, p. 10) seeks your constructive criticism and explains the extent of our outsized, though necessary deficit spending.

MinistryWatch.com has awarded ZLM a Transparency Grade of A and a Donor Confidence Score of 100. Researching their free, online database reveals that my income is more than one-third lower than those of my counterparts in comparably sized nonprofits. One reason behind this disparity is that I haven’t received a raise or cost-of-living adjustment since 2007. Beyond that, last year, I took a 5% pay cut. This year, I am reducing my compensation by another 8.3%. Effectively donating before-tax income is one way I legally avoid income taxes (Matt. 22:21).

Now that you better-than-ever grasp my level of commitment to this ministry, I ask you to create or update your will and/or beneficiary designations with ZLM in mind as well as increase your regular giving.

In His service,

Mark

P.S. Two recent bequests, one of which remains pending in part, are key reasons that our lights are still on.

The New Year begins with two stand-alone programs from the brothers’ visit to the United Kingdom. While in England, they reflect on God’s past movements and contemplate His future moves.

Later in the month, we premier Bearded Bible Brothers and the Third Temple of Doom. In this new series, Joshua and Caleb, along with special guests, look at Temples during Biblical times while also considering the march to a Third Temple that’s prophesied to be built in Israel.

Stand-Alone Programs

England and the Great Awakening — The Bearded Bible Brothers join Pastor Hirchie Schaffner in London to learn about past moves of God originating there. Focusing on John and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield, Joshua and Caleb consider the timing of the next outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The Rise of Zionism and the Fall of Great Britain — Concluding their England journey, the brothers parallel God’s movements in the 18th century with the rebirth of the State of Israel. They reveal how anti-Semitism eroded the largest empire in history: Great Britain. Is there hope for the UK to turn back to God? Please see the DVD set Bad Moon Rising on p. 8.

Bearded Bible Brothers and the Third Temple of Doom

Tribulation Temple of Destiny, Part 1 — The brothers, Pastor Hirchie Schaffner, and Dr. Christian Widener of End Times Berean Ministries unite for a prophetic adventure in Israel to unlock the evidence of prior Jewish Temples. Can the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient engineering reveal the location of Solomon’s Temple?

Tribulation Temple of Destiny, Part 2 — From the Temple Mount summit, the brothers uncover the Temple’s final resting place. With all eyes on Israel and the Third Temple project, will the coming Tribulation Temple bring about world peace, or will it lead to the destruction of the Jewish people?

Please see the Tribulation Temple CD.