Cowrie Shells

Meet Tope Forsyth – Nigerian-born but British-bred, Tope has lived in the UK for most of her life. Hers is a story of sensing God pursue her before she even knew Him; initially as an abstract, then increasingly as her rock and comfort when life intensified and her first daughter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Listen to her story and be inspired by her wholehearted acceptance of her circumstances; choosing to love her family with its uniquely beautiful shape, and what’s more, to empower women everywhere with a reminder that we can choose to put on the armour of God, our ‘IHAMORA’ (meaning armour in the Nigerian language of Yoruba).More information on Tope’s active and leisure wear brand, IHAMORA can be found at: www.ihamora.co.ukShe invites you to take this opportunity to be part of the unique tribe of IHAMORA women and girls – a community of strength, joy and movement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Kelda Davis – What happens when our plans don’t work out the way we had hoped? Having grown up as a vicar’s daughter, Kelda’s faith was well-established by her teens but it was during her late twenties, while waiting on a husband and children to materialize, that God presented her with a new challenge: Would she simply shoehorn what she wanted from life and ask God to bless it, or would she be content in Him - even when expectations seemed unmet? Listen in to the gems of Kelda’s story and be inspired alongside her to embrace God’s timing, prioritise His Word and keep ‘hustling’ while you wait on His best. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Genevieve Duke – Feeling crushed and silenced as a young woman in the aftermath of an abusive relationship, Gen was taken aback when God revived her dreams and invited her to journey with Him into the prophetic. Despite at times wanting to run in the opposite direction, she has persisted in leaning in to detect His still quiet voice. Tackling the sometimes tricky issues of discernment, the reality of the spiritual realm and what the prophetic can look like, be encouraged by Gen’s frankness and inspired by her desire, above all, to seek God’s heart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please note: due to a change in venue this episode features some external traffic noiseMeet Kate Patterson – Having grown up as a vicar’s daughter, Kate followed in her parents’ footsteps, marrying a vicar and co-leading a church with him. She felt that life was at its sweetest spot when sudden tragedy turned everything upside down. Listen in to Kate’s tender story of how, in the reality of her suffering, she encountered a God who cares deeply; one who not only enabled her to navigate grief but equipped her to come alongside others and empowered her to become a speaker and writer whose words are like a warm, compassionate hug. No stranger to suffering, Kate understands what it is to walk through a sense of wilderness and keep eyes fixed on Jesus. Be comforted, encouraged and inspired.For more information and to purchase Kate’s beautiful books visit: giftofblessingtrust.orgPlease note all profits generated from Ashes to Crowns – Grieving with Hope (2025) will go towards gifting the book to those who need it most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Charlotte Nall – What happens when God gives you a clear dream for something but then circumstances appear to render it impossible? What happens when your husband turns away from God? What happens when God instructs you to leave your job? What happens when miscarriage is preceded by still birth and you are left with an empty womb? Listen in to how Charlotte faced all this and more – consistently choosing to cling to Jesus and embrace His mindset. Join her at the cusp of this new year in saying ‘I’m not budging’ and planting a stake firmly in the ground of faith.For more information on Charlotte's story of Micah and the charity she founded see:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94ZBcfaF30Qhttps://littlefingers.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Rachel Jordan-Wolf - From her earliest memories, Jesus was Rachel’s best friend and she wanted the world to know Him too! Whether it was church in a chicken shed, prayer in a greenhouse, or sharing coffee with a distressed woman in the Red Light District, Rachel consistently chose to be available to God and today her vision remains unchanged. Passionate about empowering believers, she heads up Hope Together and challenges all of us this Christmas to recognise the season we’re in and get excited about what God is doing: Increasingly, our communities are full of individuals looking for Jesus … meanwhile He's looking for you and me to be willing to be His mouthpiece.Why not order some beautifully-designed Gospels as a special Christmas/New Year gift for your neighbours/friends/community from Hope Together today?To find out more, and discover other amazing resources for you and your church family, go to: hopetogether.org.ukYou can follow Rachel: @racheljordanwolf @hopetogether Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Driven by a hunger for validation from childhood, Carla sought escape in a fiercely independent lifestyle of partying, drugs, travel and work until, one night, an inner desire to ‘go home’ broke through it all. Two dreams and a camping trip later, she did a complete U-turn and became an irrepressible voice for Jesus in her community. Listen in to her dramatic stories of adventures with God, and be inspired with her to accept His outstretched hand of rescue which always offers hope, healing and purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Jasmine Gibson – What do you do when you only have £20 left in your bank account to care for your family? Since making God centre of her life in her twenties, Jazz has repeatedly been challenged by God to steward His gifts – spiritual and material – with real integrity. Listen to her faith-building stories of trusting God with finances and seeing how, again and again, His economy provided all that was needed, down to the last penny. Be challenged, and inspired with her, to listen for what God is saying every time we’re tempted to pick up the luggage of worries or financial question marks: ‘I’ve got you. Leave that thought where it is … and walk away.’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Esther Higham – Best known for her animated voice on Premier Christian radio, when it comes to empowering people with Jesus, Esther is as passionate off air as she is during her ‘Inspirational Breakfast’ show. She describes herself as a gatherer and coach, and is full of stories where she has seen faith come alive in everyday situations. How can we best grow our spiritual muscles and throw off the spiritual belly flab? How can we be 10% bolder in seizing every opportunity to see God move? Listen in and discover more.You can hear Esther on Premier’s ‘Inspirational Breakfast’ Mon-Thurs 7-9amFor more information on MOJO: https://linktr.ee/mojoministersYou can follow Esther on Instagram: @estherhigham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Story of Carrying Hope – in recognition of Baby Loss Awareness Week: 9-15th October 2025Meet Beth Appleby – Would God still be good if… you were told by medical professionals that the baby in your womb likely had a life-threatening condition? Having grown up with two missionary parents, Beth was no stranger to the reality that faith comes with its struggles. But when she had to confront this question during her third pregnancy, that faith was to be severely tested. Listen to the remarkable true story behind Beth’s book, Carrying Hope, and be inspired to stand on the knowledge that God’s goodness is unchanging and, with Him, you can embrace uncertainty - especially when it comes to a life or death situation.To get hold of a copy Carrying Hope, please purchase from Beth Appleby directly at www.carryinghope.co.ukYou can also buy online at AmazonBe sure to look out for Beth’s upcoming audio edition of the book which will be available worldwide(Excerpt from book featured during recording is used with author’s permission) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Katharine Grimes – Exchanging her host headphones for a pair of guest ones to launch a brand new season of Cowrie Shells, listen in to more of Katharine’s own stories of faith. From childhood questions to battling ME/Chronic Fatigue in her twenties, and navigating a barrage of bereavement in her thirties, Katharine has consistently been challenged to choose the path of surrender. In her words, ‘It’s not easy but it’s liberating when you embrace God’s perspective and listen to that still small voice… “Daughter, I’m inviting you to fly.”’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That's officially a wrap for Season One of Cowrie Shells podcast!Thank you for being part of the worldwide community of women of faith sharing their stories and consistently pointing others to Jesus.I’m excited to say that Season 2 will launch in October 2025 but, until it does, I want to leave you with a challenge and an invitation. No matter the depth of your passion for Jesus, why not consider once more what it means to be born again. Do you know who you are and whose you are? Listen back to the voices of several women from Season One and celebrate how they have made knowing God their greatest priority - something that can be true for you too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Faith Mwangi-Powell – born in rural Kenya, she is a woman who has defied cultural expectations and become a jet-setter and key leader in the sphere of international development and healthcare. Blessed with a supportive family - a father who valued education, a mother who prized discipline and a grandmother who prioritized prayer – it was not until she recognized the importance of having a personal, dynamic relationship with God that life really took off.Are you showing up the way God wants you to in the situations He has entrusted to you? Listen to Faith’s amazing tales of boldness and dependence, and be challenged to eclipse self-doubt, pray ceaselessly, and become the powerhouse God created you to be.You can find more information about Girls Not Brides at: girlsnotbrides.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Debz Kefford – What happens when a series of God-shaped dreams take sixteen years to materialise? Listen to Debz’ inspiring tales of a young woman who embraced a career in paediatric nursing in the UK while holding onto a dream for mission in Africa – even when, time and again, she felt God instruct her to put it on the backburner. Be encouraged by her obedience and challenged, in her words, ‘to be faithful where you’re planted.’ Whether for vocation, relationships or fresh adventure, Debz’ story beautifully proves that God’s time frame is best when it comes to fulfilling our dreams.For more information on Mercy Ships visit: www.mercyships.org.uk or read: Don Stephens, Ships of Mercy: The remarkable fleet bringing hope to the world’s poorest people (Hodder & Stoughton, 2018) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Laura Cox – Having felt like a lone ranger in a family which did not understand her childhood beliefs, Laura wrestled with the reality of a foot in two camps: was her faith just an add-on to life or the centre piece? Things came to a head when God spoke some powerful words into her heart – words that required a response and have impacted all her decisions since. Listen to her frank account of the struggles she faced and be encouraged and empowered to be in the world, not of it, pursuing Jesus wholeheartedly, as a woman of faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Paddi Mallett – Having struggled with substance and process addiction throughout her life, she readily admits, even at 58, that she is susceptible to addictive behaviours. But something else comes in tandem with that admission and it is stronger; she also knows that she is completely forgiven and restored by One who is able to fill that gaping God-shaped hole inside her. Listen to her amazing story of how God has met her in her addiction struggles and empowered her today to come alongside and inspire others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Shanta Botha – 65-years old and a woman who has known Jesus in many different seasons. Listen to her remarkable stories of restoration: how God drew her to Himself from a Hindu background, and how her faith grew in a place of physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual abuse, during her first marriage. A committed wife, mum, and granny, she has just celebrated her twenty-first wedding anniversary with her second husband and is living proof that God is able, in her words, ‘to restore one hundredfold.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Linz Daun – catapulted into a heart-breaking situation she never saw coming as a young married woman, listen to her remarkable story of how God met her in the mess, restored and re-storied her circumstances. Thirteen years later, as a single woman of 43, is it possible for her to live a fulfilled and abundant life? Listen in and be inspired by her ongoing story of courage and faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Vanessa Smith – Is it possible in the face of a cancer diagnosis to overcome survival mode and embrace the challenges it presents? Vanessa is a woman who has experienced this firsthand, watching her husband become a cancer patient overnight when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Advanced Lymphoma in 2020. Embarking on a pilgrimage they never expected, listen to how Vanessa has chosen intentionality, creativity, faith, and even OMS monkhood, in a place of ongoing uncertainty at her husband’s prognosis; ultimately learning the secret of God’s ABCD to not just deal with - but dance on - disappointment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Derin Osiname – Nigerian-born, she first experienced a sense of God when she was just three years old. As passionate about God today as she was captivated by Him then, listen to Derin’s amazing stories spanning more than thirty years of God encounter after God encounter. One of Derin’s favourite verses from the Bible is Romans 1:17: ‘The just shall live by faith’ and she is living proof of faith outworked in action. Be inspired and challenged by her stories, underlining the eternal truth that she and we can take God, literally, at His Word - and get excited by her tips for leaping deeper into engagement with the Bible for yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.