What You Set in Motion

David Kennedy was a high-flying commodity trader in the boom years of the 1980s. He was also a functioning alcoholic hiding empty bottles in the garden. His wife Anne had come close to leaving more than once. Then a chance conversation on a commuter train led David to an Alpha course, a diagnosis that gave him six months to live, and a single prayer that changed everything overnight. In this deeply honest conversation, Anne and David talk about generational cycles of addiction and loss, the moment faith broke through, and what it's meant to look back thirty years later, sober, restored, and watching their children and grandchildren carry that same faith forward.

In this episode, we share the incredible story of a small farming community in rural Argentina where something remarkable is happening. What began with one couple discovering Alpha during a trip to London has grown into a movement that has transformed a village of just 2,000 people, with more than 500 residents taking part over the last decade.

From stories of grief turned into hope, to families finding faith, restored relationships, and a church overflowing with people, we heard firsthand accounts from those whose lives have been changed through encounters with Jesus. We also meet the local leaders who have helped build a vibrant community of faith in one of the most remote parts of Argentina.

Guada shares how a childhood question about Jesus led her entire family into faith and completely changed the direction of their lives. From Alpha in a small Presbyterian church in Buenos Aires to stories of revival among young people across Argentina, this episode explores the power of community, honest conversations, and how faith can impact far more than just one person. It’s a moving story of family, belonging, and discovering God in unexpected ways.

Some key takeaways

• Faith often begins with simple questions and safe spaces to explore them.
• Strong Christian community can transform not just individuals, but entire families.
• Gen Z may be skeptical about faith, but many are still deeply open to spiritual conversations.

In this episode, I’m joined by my really good friend Jem as she shares her powerful journey of faith, family, and purpose. From growing up in a home transformed by her parents’ radical encounters with God, to experiencing her own life-changing moment with the Holy Spirit, Jem’s story is one of surrender and bold obedience.

We talk about her decision to walk away from a successful fashion business to start Jesus Studio, how small acts of faith can have a huge impact, and why she and her family felt called to foster vulnerable teenagers.

Jem’s story is a reminder that God often prepares us years in advance for the things He calls us to do.

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This episode feels really special to me.

Today I’m talking to a mother and son I’ve known for over thirty years which means I haven’t just heard their story, I’ve watched it unfold.

It’s a story of healing. Of stepping out prophetically. Of the quiet, steady impact of decades of faith.

Judy is extraordinary, widowed with two small boys, building and running a hugely successful recruitment business, navigating grief and resilience with courage and humour.

Bill is her son, now the father of grown-up boys himself. He’s been a teacher, an ordained church leader, a therapist, and has written two books - Catching His Breath . But at the heart of it, he’s someone who loves people deeply and isn’t afraid to take risks for them.

Talking to them reminded me how lucky I’ve been, to grow up surrounded by people like this. And it reminded me of the beauty of the church when it truly loves others well.

Here’s Judy and Bill.

Bill's books -

Catching His Breath https://muddypearl.com/product/books/discipleship/catching-his-breath/

That Gentle Whisper - https://muddypearl.com/product/books/prayer-and-spirituality/that-gentle-whisper-hardcover/

Calum moved to Vietnam to escape a life that looked good on paper but felt empty inside. After years of chasing meaning through work, travel, self-improvement, and spiritual experiments, a serious motorbike accident left him temporarily blind and completely shaken.

In that moment, he prayed for the first time . What followed changed the direction of his life. This episode traces Calum’s journey from corporate burnout and scepticism to faith, church, and eventually Bible school in the Philippines.

This is someone who added so much fun and joy to my childhood.

In this episode, I sit down with Tricia Neill, President of Alpha International, to talk about what it really looks like to trust God one step at a time. Trish shares her journey from the corporate world into an unknown calling, how a simple invitation changed the direction of her life, and what it’s like to say yes before you feel ready.

Along the way, we talk about legacy, the power of small decisions, and how faithfulness in ordinary moments can end up impacting millions of people around the world.

This episode sits you right at the family table as I interview my own mum and dad Nicky and Pippa Gumbel about their wild, winding journey of faith, calling, and building community from a converted garage to a global movement. It’s an honest, funny, and deeply personal look at how two very normal people learned to follow God one small step and (one leaky gas cooker) at a time.

3 Main Takeaways

1. Big callings usually start in tiny, messy rooms.
The real beginnings were homemade soup in a garage, a leaky gas cooker, and thirty people squeezed into a single room because they said yes to what was in front of them.

2. How to discern what is next
They made lists, prayed, asked wise friends, tried things that flopped, tried things that flew, and learned to follow the fruit. The Holy Spirit often leads by blessing what works and quietly closing what doesn’t.

3. The front line is wherever you already stand.
Whether you’re a lawyer, a barista, a musician, a parent, or a plumber, you’re already in ministry.

What happens when a bike ride turns into a near death experience and how does that moment reshape everything in your life?

In this episode of What You Set in Motion, Matthew shares how a cardiac arrest on a bike ride threw his life into coma and memory loss, yet gave him a profound second chance. If you’ve ever wondered how to rebuild from trauma, regain purpose, or live with deeper gratitude, his story speaks directly to you.

By listening you’ll discover:

• How facing mortality can sharpen your priorities and reveal what truly matters.

• The way memory loss and recovery can redefine identity and show the power of resilience.

• Why gratitude and urgency often become the driving forces after a life‑threatening event.

Click play now to hear Matthew’s remarkable journey and learn how to turn a crisis into mission driven living.

Here is a link to his book Second Chance - https://amzn.eu/d/bBpP8RT

This is a story of miracles in one family’s life — from sneaking out to gamble in pool dens, to revival among a tribe in Borneo.

It’s about finding hope when life feels hopeless, and navigating faith when our own journey seems ordinary in the shadow of the extraordinary.

Leon runs a podcast with his Dad, Idris Jala, called The Game of Impossible - https://www.youtube.com/@TheGameOfImpossible