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Towards Understanding is a full-length feature interview radio program hosted by Clayton Bjelan. The show contains a mix of interviews based around the understanding and living out of Christian faith and those just doing remarkable things in our world. It focuses on three key groups of people - The Known, The Overcomer and The Unknown.
89.9 | TheLight | PositiveMedia | LightFM | Melbourne
185 Episodes
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Kuruvilla George (KG) chatted to Clayton about how passionate he is about reducing stigma about mental illness among Christians and Churches. He does a lot of teaching and speaking about a Christian perspective on mental illness and suicide. KG explained that one of the main organisations that he is involved with is the Centre for Theology and Psychology at the Melbourne School of Theology where he is the Associate Director.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Author, speaker, thought leader, Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. he spoke to Clayton on a recent visit to Australia about the idea of what redemption looks like in our society and Christian faith today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Katherine Thompson asks the question is there benefit to deep suffering? Katherine works in the area of mental health as a therapist, lecturer, author and researcher. And also personally knows the impact of long term serious physical pain. Katherine has published in the areas of youth mental health, Christ-centered mindfulness, and cross-cultural mission and chats to Clayton about her book, The Discipline of Suffering.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In July 2011 Gloria Anderson was abducted from her home in Melbourne by a boarder she had allowed to stay in a granny flat on her property. During this time, Gloria was mocked for her faith, and she endured severe physical torture while praying constantly. After escaping, she now dedicates herself to advocating for legal reform and helping others who have experienced similar traumatic events. She helps provide much needed practical items such as clothes, toiletries etc to those who have just gone through traumatic events. She head's up the organisation Thinking Of You - From One Survivor To Another.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker and theologian who addresses the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian Faith. Amy chats with Clayton about why we can trust the Bible, where to start if you are exploring Christianity, where to start if you want to best share your Christian faith and why she is so passionate about female leadership in Christian conversations around faith.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Petr Jašek, a Christian humanitarian worker and Czech national, spent 445 days in a Sudanese prison. After being falsely accused and convicted of espionage and treason, among other charges, he was sentenced to life in prison before eventually being pardoned by Sudan's president. Petr tells his story of being in a jail cell with ISIS members who made his time hell on earth. Petr is now the global ambassador for The Voice of the Martyrs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rebecca McLaughlin is the author of Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the Worlds largest religion. If Christianity is really true - it should be able to stand up to some tough questions. Rebecca discusses some of the most common and curly questions of Christianity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Simon is Executive Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. A former English and History teacher, Simon has a Masters in Christian Studies. He talks about whether it is the 'End of Men' in society and faith. Simon provides a thought provoking and articulate argument to continue good healthy conversation around this topic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since becoming Australia’s first MasterChef in 2009, Julie Goodwin has become a household name. She has had many roles since then including radio and tv host, writer and speaker and also advocate for conversations around mental health. Julie shares openly with Clayton about her journey with mental health and the opportunity she sees in sharing her story. Julie has recently released the book Your Time Starts Now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Based in Lebanon, Wissam Nasrallah is COO at Thimar – a partner of Baptist World Aid Australia, who is working with local communities and churches to help the poorest of the poor and the huge number of refugees coming into Lebanon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clare has worked for over a decade in Christian ministry, focusing on strategic leadership that enables churches to better serve their communities. As Compassion Australia CEO, she is excited to see churches and Christians around the world empowered to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. In light of The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty this week, Clare chatted to Clayton about the role of the Church in justice and exploring how Christians can actively participate in addressing poverty and injustice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In Unfailing Love, Georgia Morris shares hard-won truths of her dependence on God to fight her battles. Those who have family members or friends suffering with mental illness or going through trying times in a family relationship will be encouraged by this story of a woman who learned that God was faithful to carry her through. Georgia's husband began exhibiting unusual symptoms of behaviour on their honeymoon. She shares how he controlled every aspect of her life, cut her off from her family and friend. Her coping mechanism became a total dependence on God as the mental and physical abuse escalated and her husband was diagnosed with manic depression at first, then schizophrenia, and was often hospitalized. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Melissa Lipsett is the CEO of Baptist World Aid. She believes leadership matters, and so does the call of God on our lives. She is an outspoken advocate for the poor, for inspiring not just international action but also local action. Melissa also holds dearly to the importance of hearing women’s voices and empowering them to use their God given gifts and graces for the sake of our world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clayton chatted with author, critic and lecturer, Richard King, who talked about his newest book, 'Here Be Monsters: Is Technology Reducing Our Humanity?'. He spoke deeply about the fact that we are in the midst of a technological revolution and is this, therefore, changing what it means to be human? Richard challenged us, as modern societies, that we need to develop a more critical attitude to new and emerging technologies. We need, he suggests, to rethink our relationship to our tools from both individual and societal perspectives. It is not enough to let the market decide which technologies are good for us. We need to ask what we want from technology. And the question of what we want is a question about who we are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Philip Yancey is a familiar name in Christian households. Known for his many books, Philip spoke openly and honestly to Clayton about his recent diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease and how he still trusts a good and loving God who often chooses to reveal those qualities through his followers on earth. He has written many words on suffering and is now being called to put them into practice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David is passionate about the rescue and long-term wellbeing of children. In January 2010 David and his wife Andrea, along with their children, moved to Thailand where David served with ZOE for over 11 years. During this time David worked to prevent the trafficking and exploitation of children (as well as being involved in rescues). David now heads up the ZOE Foundation Australia and has some radical, creative and unique solutions to solve the issues for the most vulnerable foster care children in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A collective of faith-based organisations have joined together to create the Christian Foster Care Network, and to bring the issue of foster care into focus during that week. Heather Packett's organisation, ARK is a part of this network. Heather shares why you should be involved in Foster Care - and the support Ark is providing to carers. For videos and resources for churches to use to highlight foster care and have a website dedicated to Foster Care Sunday check out www.fostercaresunday.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Father's Day, Clayton spoke to Wayne Alcorn, the author of "My Father's Son", and head of the ACC church in Australia. Wayne explained he has seen God's love heal and transform men’s lives – his father’s, his own and the countless men across Australia he has talked to and helped heal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paul Syrstad is the creator, director, and executive producer of Testament, a bold reimagining of the Book of Acts set in an alternate modern world still ruled by the Roman Empire. While training as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he discovered a calling for storytelling behind the camera and creating one of the more spectacularly dynamic visual telling of a book of the Bible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rush Witt, Author of ‘Want to Escape’ is a pastor and counsellor who has some encouraging things to talk to Clayton about how to battle the desire to 'escape' during life. As you listen, you may find yourself reflecting on the 4 D's that you might escape to and how to combat them. Oh, and yes, Clayton asks if Rush is his real name!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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