Towards Understanding

Greg Sheridan is one of Australia's best-known journalists. How Christians Can Succeed Today is his ninth book. He chatted to Clayton about the book, which is about rediscovering the radical, transcendent and downright weird message of Jesus, being the third title in Greg's bestselling trilogy about Christianity in the modern world.

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Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted in 2003 of murdering her four infant children. She was pardoned in 2023 after twenty years in prison, following a long campaign for justice by her supporters, she had her convictions overturned on appeal a few months later. 

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Peggy Callahan is the producer & co-director of the film Mission: Joy. She explained how His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu give them unprecedented access to their unlikely friendship as they shared different religions and found (neuroscience-backed wisdom) to help each of us live with more joy, despite hardship. 

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Edwin Keshish-Abnous is an Iranian-born theologian and media leader, currently serving as Executive Director of Heart4Iran at 24/7 satellite Christian TV. Not only does it provide free studio production to hundreds of partners, but it also provides free broadcast, free in-country follow-up, and free Bible distribution inside Iran. To this date, Heart4Iran has helped launch over 300 house churches across Iran. Clayton chatted to Edwin about the miraculous growth of Christianity in Iran where God is at work. With decades of experience in Farsi-language broadcasting and discipleship, Edwin is widely known for his work in contextual theology and for equipping Persian-speaking Christians worldwide. His insights draw from both academic training and firsthand experience of faith under pressure in Iran.

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Dani Treweek, who has grappled with a theology of singleness for the past 16 years, spoke to Clayton about the fact that it is frustrating that both society and the contemporary evangelical church see singleness as a state of lacking and deficiency, grounded in what it is not. Dani is the founding director of the Single Minded Ministry, and was excited to share with Clayton that she has brought together the encouraging insights from her PhD research into a new book called The Meaning of Singleness, that was launched earlier this year.

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 "Into the Spotlight" is a documentary following one season of the annual Spotlight Musical Theatre production at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas (HPUMC). The Spotlight program is a part of the church's Belong Disability Ministry (BDM), and the annual musical is unique because participants with disabilities lead the creation of a full-length musical showcasing their passions and ideas. Clayton chatted with a number of people involved in the program:Michelle is the Executive Director of Generosity and Impact Ministries at HPUMC and is the senior leadership team member overseeing HPUMC's BDM and its Spotlight Musical Theatre program. Michelle served as a producer on the "Into the Spotlight" film and was instrumental in making the vision behind the documentary come to life. Jacob is one of the breakout stars of the Spotlight production featured in the documentary. Since filming, Jacob has gotten involved in many of Belong's programs and was invited to join the ministry's Advisory Committee.

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Clayton chatted to the founder of the Table Talk Project, Neil Milton. Neil's passion for valuing time at the table comes through as he explains the importance of having intentional family conversations around the dinner table.

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Growing up in the slums of Manila, Sherwin got sponsored by an INA supporter and gained access to education, which enabled him to rise to become the Director of Vineyard of His Grace Ministries, where he now oversees all of INA’s country-level programming. His work focuses on empowering the most marginalised women and children to escape extreme poverty. Sherwin is also a passionate Christian communicator who speaks powerfully about breaking the cycle of poverty and the hope his ministry brings. 

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Tina leads service delivery at ChimeIn Recovery Services, bringing her compassionate, practical approach, dedication and significant experience working with participants seeking psychosocial or addiction recovery support. Tina shares her story of despair, hope and now providing hope for others.  In 2011, Tina was inducted into the WA International Women’s Hall of Fame for her contribution to mental health and addiction support. Her successful career was forged following a vicious cycle of drug addiction and mental health struggles over two decades ago. Tina’s lived experience is the cornerstone of her ability to aid and inspire others. She possesses a unique ability to connect with, understand, advocate and empower others, while also educating the wider community and reducing the stigma associated with addiction. 

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Naomi Reed is an ambassador for the International Nepal fellowship (INF). The INF is an international Christian mission, working in Nepal since 1952, and aiming to empower the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in Nepal, through health and community development. She is a gifted communicator who loves to use honest, everyday stories to remind us that even in the hardest moments, God has not forgotten us. She began to write really as a means of trying to work out what is God doing in all of this? And how does he work through seasons of life that are hard. But 20 years into Naomi’s unexpected career in storytelling, she has now written down the incredible stories of God in others lives.

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