Towards Understanding

Raymond Walters found himself homeless and isolated from his family due to drugs. Raymond opens up to Clayton about how he met Jesus and turned his life around. We also will hear about the incredible family connections that were re-established.

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Andrew Stevenson is the Head of Anglican Youthworks Ministry Support Team. He chatted to Clayton about the concerns about the draft report and reforms to the DGR system. The report means taking away DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status from almost exclusively religious charities – which will have a huge impact on important initiatives such as school building funds and religious education in government schools.
If you would like to have your voice heard regarding these changes, follow this link to some sample wording to send to local government, noting that the deadline for feedback is 9 February 2024.

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Guest 1:
Rabbi Lawrence Hirsch has been serving the Messiah amongst Jewish people since 1990. Lawrence is one of the Co-Founders of Celebrate Messiah Australia and works as the Executive Director of Celebrate Messiah Australia. Lawrence is the messianic Rabbi of Beit HaMashiach Messianic Congregation in Melbourne and is also actively involved in mission work in Israel, Russia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Guest 2:
Jason Damouni is the Secretary and Director of Communication for Palestinian Christians in Australia. He resides in Perth, but was born in New York after his family came from the village of Al-Damoun, a small Christian village between Nazareth and Haifa. His grandfather was displaced from his village during the 1948 Nakba and was never able to return. Jason is a sub-deacon in his local Melkite Catholic Church in Perth and is a knight of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

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Clayton chatted with Father Michael Lapsley.  Originally from NZ Father Michael has lived in South Africa for many years working to rid the country of apartheid… however, because of his involvement someone sent him a letter bomb which meant loss of his hands, one eye and effected his ears.  Hear about his life settling into South African society and his message for us in Australia.

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Amy Brown, former head of Investment NSW, explained to Clayton how she found herself at the centre of what can best be described as a political firestorm, involving an intense public inquiry and an avalanche of media coverage and speculation. As a leader who has always been very open about her Christian faith, she told Clayton that she had to work out pretty quickly what that faith really meant in the context of such a stressful, public and high-stakes situation.

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A drug dealer who went to jail, becomes a successful artist and then becomes a follower of Jesus. But another turn in the road is still to come – hear Bindi Cole Chocka’s story!

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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.

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This week – one of the most challenging, deep and personal stories we have ever heard on the show. Dale Sheppard shares with Clayton about becoming a quadriplegic at 18, the fact he now has a Victorian law named after him and why his journey with God means he wouldn’t change any part of his life – even the accident…

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John Kirkby, the founder of Christians Against Poverty shared with Clayton how, from the brink of destitution and a collapsed marriage, he founded one of the the world's largest debt charities. John explained that his life was transformed when a friend shared Jesus with him – and now, he’s setting up an app to help others do the same.

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Clayton chatted with THE Jim behind Jim’s Mowing, Jim Penman, who shared his story of trusting Jesus.

“I was kind of fascinated by God, I fought against him, I didn’t believe in Him, and I used to argue with people. When people said they were a Christian, I said ‘No you’re wrong and this is why you’re wrong.’ But it always fascinated me.”

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