Reflections from Torch Trust

Preacher and author Kate Nicholas takes us on her unusual route to finding God, and shares the journey that she’s been on with cancer.

Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, talks about how she’s been helping churches, her books and specialist degree.

Freelance Theology of Mental Health Specialist, Rachael Newham, shares her incredibly candid, powerful and honest journey of living with mental illness and God.

Join us as we mark and celebrate Sight Loss Sunday 2024 with a special church at home service

Sarah Dawkins, CEO of the Torch Trust looks ahead to 2024’s Sight Loss Sunday with Marilyn Baker and shares just why it’s so important.

Disability Awareness Sunday, organised by Christian charity Through The Roof, share how they are helping churches to become more disability aware.

We hear from online support network YouBelong to find out how they are supporting Christians living with chronic illness and disability.

British Paralympian Kare Adenegan takes some time out at Paris 2024 to talk to us about her life in sport and with God.

Rev Augustine Tanner-Ihm shares what life was like growing up in Chicago, and how living with borderline personality disorder, dyslexia and dyspraxia have all impacted his faith.

This week on Reflections with Marilyn Baker, we hear from the Reverend Shuna Body MBE, who wears a multitude of hats in her day to day life: she’s a vicar in Kent, works for the fire service, a school governor, chair of a charity, is married to a sheep farmer, she’s a fencing coach, a trustee for Wheel Power and has attended many Paralympic games in her role within sport. We hear about her life in fencing and find out how God plays His part too.

This week on Reflections Marilyn is in conversation with Craig Spence from the International Paralympic Committee ahead of this year's games in Paris talking about how the Paralympics have become one of the world’s largest sporting events, diversity and inclusion, what we can expect in 2024, and some of the positives and difficulties that surround the games too.

This week on Reflections Marilyn Baker is joined by Torch Trust’s Sheila Armstrong to chat about Sight Village Central 2024 that took place recently in Birmingham, an exhibition which offers a unique opportunity to discuss and engage with new innovations and technology for people living with any degree of sight loss.

How do you get on with getting out and about with sight loss? Hazel Dudley is a Liverpool football fan and regularly travels to games - she shares her experiences with me about her travels, enjoying sport as a fan, and the importance of Jesus in her life too.

Dave Clarke OBE is a former England and Great Britain Blind Footballer who captained sides during his 144 appearances for his country and also scored 128 goals. He has been entered into the English Football Hall of Fame for his achievements and is now the Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association and Paralympics GB . Dave is chatting to Torch Trusts’ Sheila Armstrong about the recent Euro's, England and Gareth Southgate, this years Paralympic games in Paris and about the future of E-Sports and Paralympic sports too.

With the Olympics getting underway very soon, we’re this week thinking about the Christian Missionary Eric Liddell, the famous Scottish athlete and devout Christian who during the 1924 Olympic games in Paris dropped out of the 100-metres run —his strongest event—because the qualifying heats were scheduled for a Sunday. Joining us to chat about Eric Liddell is John MacMillan, the CEO of the Eric Liddell Community in Edinburgh, a care charity and community hub founded in 1980 in memory of the inspirational Olympic gold medallist.

This week on Reflections we’re hearing from another sporting voice - in fact, in the United States he’s got a notable standing as a national champion blind bowler, securing a top-10 national ranking! He’s also a drummer, and a marriage minister that seeks to help couples bring God into the centre of their marriages. His name is John Helton and is the man behind the Blind Fury ministries.

On Reflections this week we’re turning our attention to the tennis fortnight that’s now underway at Wimbledon and hearing from Carolyn Skinner of Third Space Ministries, a charity that supports the fans trying to get into the ground with a friendly smile, eye masks, and the love of God!

This week on Reflections is the second part of our inspiring special with Penny Melville-Brown OBE, a former Royal Navy Commander who lost her sight during her time serving in the Navy. But after losing her sight, she didn’t give up on life - she turned her hand to helping those with disabilities get back into work, has worked for the government and even ended up going around the globe talking about her other passion, baking!

This week on Reflections is the first of a 2 part inspiring special chatting with Penny Melville-Brown OBE, a former Royal Navy Commander who lost her sight during her time serving in the Navy. But after losing her sight, she didn’t give up on life - she turned her hand to helping those with disabilities get back into work, has worked for the government and even ended up going around the globe talking about her other passion, baking! In part one Penny is chatting with Torch Trust’s Sheila Armstrong about her life in the Royal Navy and sight loss.

Sunday 16th of June, marks Father's Day in the UK– a day where we pay tribute to dads and the roles they play in shaping our lives. The day however also brings with it hurt for some and we’ll be looking at the highs and lows of what Father's Day is about with the singer turned broadcaster, Reverend Cindy Kent, who helps us to think about not just the role of our earthly fathers, but finding love and hope in God the father too.