Towards Understanding

How do culture, politics and faith influence one another? Historian, and author of 'Jesus and John Wayne', Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Clayton to explore the forces that shape religious communities, the relationship between belief and cultural identity, and what history can teach us about the challenges facing faith in the modern world. Kristin specifically focuses on the influence of white-evangelicals in the American culture & politics.About Kristin Kobes Du Mez:Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a historian, author and professor at Calvin University. Kristin examines the historical movements, ideas and cultural influences that have shaped generations of Christians and continue to impact society today.

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What does it mean to truly belong? Anna Dombkins joins Clayton to explore adoption, family and the life-changing impact of giving children a place to call home. Drawing on her family's own adoption journey, Anna reflects on the joys and challenges of building a family across cultures, while also sharing why supporting vulnerable mothers is a vital part of helping children thrive.About Anna Dombkins:Anna Dombkins is an Australian writer, school counsellor and advocate for vulnerable children and families. Together with her husband Mark, she adopted three of their six children from Tanzania and later co-founded Forever Projects, a charity that supports women living in poverty so they can provide for their children and build independent futures. Through both her personal experience and her work, Anna is passionate about helping children and families experience belonging, stability and hope.

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Modern slavery can feel like a problem from another era, yet millions of people around the world remain trapped in trafficking, forced labour and exploitation. Peter Williams joins Clayton to discuss the realities of modern slavery today, the work being done to protect vulnerable people, and why justice requires more than simply being aware of the problem.About Peter Williams:Peter Williams serves as Regional President for Asia Pacific at International Justice Mission (IJM), where he leads efforts to protect people living in poverty from trafficking and forced labour. A former Crown Prosecutor in New Zealand, Peter has spent more than fifteen years helping shape IJM's work across Asia and around the world. Passionate about justice and deeply influenced by his Christian faith, he is committed to equipping individuals, churches and communities to play a meaningful role in protecting the vulnerable and pursuing lasting change.

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In a crumbling Soviet Union, the Petrosyan family finds themselves as outcasts - wherever they go. Hear Violetta & Ivan talk with Clayton about how their Armenian heritage marked them out for discrimination, first in their home country of Azerbaijan and then in Russia. After finding their eternal hope through a church planted by American missionaries, the hostilities of everyday life push them to seek refuge in the United States. In the shadow of exile, hope became their home. Violetta and her family's story inspired the movie, 'Between Borders'.

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Maureen Martin shares with Clayton how the bedrock of her faith enabled her to face the challenges, including (in a 6 month period) the death of her son & her husband's horse-riding accident that resulted in brain damage. Her story encourages us that no matter what life throws at you, there can be a purposeful future up ahead as we trust in God.  

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Dave Adamson is a speaker, author, and digital ministry leader who has spent more than two decades helping churches communicate clearly, disciple people effectively, and reach beyond their walls through digital platforms. After nearly a decade as a TV reporter with Channel TEN in Melbourne, Australia, Dave moved to the US in 2008 to work at the intersection of church, media, and digital culture. He led online communities at two of Outreach Magazine’s largest churches before becoming the social media and online pastor at North Point Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by Andy Stanley. There, he helped shape digital strategies reaching more than a million people each month. Dave returned to Australia in 2020 and now leads the Australian team for the YouVersion Bible App, partnering with churches to help more Australians engage with Scripture every day. Dave is the best-selling author of 52 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know, 52 Names of God in Hebrew, and MetaChurch. He speaks regularly at churches and conferences around the world and teaches weekly to an online audience of over a million people. 

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Magnus is the founder and CEO of Mary’s Meals International, a global charity providing daily meals to over 3 million of the world’s poorest children in their place of education. His journey began in 1992 when, moved by the Bosnian conflict, he and his brother delivered aid from Scotland to Bosnia. This effort grew into the registered charity Scottish International Relief, which later evolved into Mary’s Meals in 2002 after a pivotal encounter with a family in Malawi.
 
Magnus started his career as a fish farmer in Argyll, Scotland. His vision that every child should have enough to eat and access to education has transformed Mary’s Meals into a worldwide movement operating in 16 countries. He has received numerous honours, including being named a CNN Hero (2010), receiving an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list (2011), and being recognised as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (2015). Magnus is also the author of bestselling books, including The Shed That Fed a Million Children (updated as The Shed That Fed 2 Million Children) and Give: Charity and the Art of Living Generously.
 
Magnus remains deeply committed to ending child hunger through education.

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Clayton spoke to Robert Rogers. In 2003, Robert experienced a deep tragedy. After 8 years as a father, nearly 12 years as a husband, Robert's life completely changed one night on his family's way home from a wedding in which he and the family got caught out in a wild flash flood. Sadly Robert was the only one to survive, with his wife and 4 children drowned. Through his immediate trust in God, Robert has risen above adversity and freely shares his compelling message of knowing God and living a life of no regrets. Have a pack of tissues with you as you listen to Robert's story. (Robert now heads up mightyintheland.com

Donate here: https://donate.thelight.com.au 

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Clayton chatted with Hilda John, who has been serving vulnerable communities through DAIA (Development Association for Integrated Activity) since its inception in 2002. With a professional background as a civil engineer in India, she stepped away from a successful technical career to pursue her true calling, serving people in need, bringing a wealth of leadership, professional expertise, and deep compassion for low socio-economic communities. 

DAIA was founded in 2002 by her father, Mr. Gell Joseph. The organisation emerged from his vision to empower and support disadvantaged communities in Tamil Nadu. What began as simple medical camps gradually grew into a broader mission. Initially focused on supporting individuals living with HIV/AIDS, DAIA has since expanded significantly to address critical needs such as literacy, education, and women’s empowerment. 

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Clayton chatted to Lauren Novak (an award-winning journalist) specialising in coverage of education, parenting, family violence and child safety. But, it was her personal journey of understanding why motherhood causes havoc with your life that led her to write the book Meltdown: Why motherhood makes us angry and what to do about it. Clayton and Lauren talk through the discoveries, the reserach and the opportunities of this period of time.

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