Send us a text

The Christian author and speaker, Lyndall Bywater, joins Kerry and Will to talk about her life and work. She explains how she's never let her blindness interfere with any aspect of her life. Known for uniting prayer groups across the UK and Ireland, she shares her passion for prayer, and the reasons she thinks so many of us feel guilty that we don't pray enough, or are simply no good at it. And she confides why so many people bend down and give street directions to a puzzled black labrador dog called Venus!

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

In a time of weariness and cynicism about politics - locally and nationally - can Christians afford not to get involved? In a special episode, Kerry and Will welcome three guests with a lot of insight on politics and their faith, including one who has been there, done the work, and taken the flak.

Listen to Former Stormont Minister Nichola Mallon, Danielle McElhinney of Evangelical Alliance NI and the Rev Dr Norman Hamilton of Contemporary Christianity .

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

Light and hope in great darkness. Kerry and Will welcome Ben McMechan, the Northern Ireland lead for IJM, International Justice Mission. In partnership with organisations and authorities across the world, they tackle slavery, violence and exploitation, case by case. Ben encourages us not to shy away from thinking about such things, but to talk about them, and expose them.

Ben knows that IJM don't fly-in claiming to be superheroes saving the day. But motivated by their Christian faith, they make a difference to anyone they can help.

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

Kerry and Will meet Chris Thompson, the Director of Tearfund NI and Lois Baillie, their Church and Supporter Engagement team Leader. Talking about Church Partnerships. How you can play your part to help train and equip local churches abroad to look at their own communities, see what needs to be done, and start to make a difference. Partnering with a church or group of churches overseas can be very rewarding. We'll even hear from people who are already doing it, and those they have met!

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

Meet one of the finest story-tellers you'll ever hear. A talented broadcaster, author and newspaper columnist, Rev Jim Rea is many more things besides. A former Methodist President in Ireland, a pastor in both countryside and city alike, Jim was a peacemaker at the centre of early talks with paramilitaries on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland. He was also a prime mover at the birth of East Belfast Mission on the Newtownards Road.

When Kerry and Will invited Jim into Studio 2 at Commission, they knew they'd hear a wonderful series of fascinating, funny, thoughtful and moving stories about Jim's life and ministry. Listen out for the best description of a committee ever!

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

Settled, adjusted, equipped and befriended. That's the hope Avril Edgar has for every person in the Refugee and Asylum Community in Northern Ireland. It's why she joined a few friends to found Acacia Path which helps the Christian community bridge the gap to the newcomers here, people from all over the world. Some are fleeing from war zones, some from religious persecution, some are here for a host of other reasons. At Acacia Path, they care, they help, they teach English, and they stay friends.

And sometimes they take a bit of stick for doing it.

Avril tells Kerry and Will about her work and her approach, often in partnership with other groups and initiatives - and traces it all back to a day in South America, some years ago, when all she wanted to do was send her brother in Co Down a birthday present...

*This episode was recorded a matter of days before the announcement of a UK General Election on July 4th 2024.

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

Kerry and Will chat with Diane Holt of Thrive Ireland. Last time we heard about a church which was reaching out to its community, in that particular case, to a local prison. But most of us don't live near one! What could other churches do in the communities where they belong? Should they shift their mindset? Diane trains and equips churches to answer those questions for themselves, in something called Church Community Transformation. We also hear from some Fermanagh Christians who, with Diane's help, have started on the journey of discovering what it could mean for where they live.

Diane is also an actor and singer - listen for stories of auditioning for the Sound of Music, being Sleeping Beauty at the Arts Theatre - and touring with the Riding Lights Theatre Company and its faith-based drama, back when we were all very young...

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Send us a text

With a prison on its doorstep, one church in south Belfast decided it would build relationships with it. No small task, given that Hydebank College and Female Prison - like any other - sometimes appears in the news in anything but a positive light.

Is it a part of the community, or apart from it?

Will Leitch and Kerry Greig welcome Ruth Walker from Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church, and from Hydebank College and Female Prison, the governor, Richard Taylor, and one of his senior managers, Hollie Murray.

For stories of encouragements, setbacks, new friendships, and sitting up all night in the lambing season...listen on!

Produced by Commission Christian Radio