Reflections from Torch Trust

This week we’ll hear from Torch Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson about some of the events Torch has participated in recently. This episode also features a devotion by Zoe Byron, Torch’s head of comms, which was first featured on Pure 24 7 breakfast bites.

Sight Loss Sunday is an annual event in which Torch is encouraging churches to focus on blind and partially sighted people and their gifts and presence in church life. This year’s Sight Loss Sunday takes place 12 October. In this episode, we first speak to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about how her awareness has evolved regarding issues blind and partially sighted people face since she started working for Torch. We then speak to Torch’s Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson, who brings some practical steps both church leaders and blind and partially sighted people can take to ensure better inclusion and fuller participation in church life. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This week, Marilyn chats with author and friend Tracy Williamson about her book 'Unashamed', which is a powerful exploration of how we can experience restoration from life’s hurts with God’s help.

This week Marilyn Baker sits down to talk to Reflections producer Linn Davies-who is a trained journalist, Afrobeats singer and writer. Linn talks about working for the BBC, growing an online platform, writing thrillers and the inspiration behind the featured songs.

Accessible Christian literature remains at the heart of Torch's mission. And this week we meet the new resources curator, Janette Sturgis, whose working on expanding our library and bookshop offerings. She talks about her love of working in retail, her evolving understanding of disabilities, and shares details about some new discipleship books which she's particularly excited about.

This week we sit down to a conversation with Torch’s newest trustee Philip Rice. He talks about his love of the Torch Holidays and his passion to bring children and young people to torch-making the client base more age diverse.

In this episode we talk to Sarah Brookman, the visionary behind the new Torch Chaplaincy telephone service, which aims to support people going through life changes relating to sight loss. We also hear from Heinrich Barth, one of the chaplaincy volunteers who lost his sight following an brain aneurism in 2019. The conversation with Heinrich is taken from season one of Torch's podcast Walking By faith.

In this weeks episode we hear from Gareth Davies who’s married to Torch Together coordinator Becky Davies. He talks about what makes a good Torch holiday volunteer and shares part of one of the talks he gave on one of the most recent holidays.

In this episode we speak to Phil Bryson who is a vicar at St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough. He shares how, after becoming partially sighted, he lost his self-confidence and how he now sees it as a strength in his job. He also talks about his long and prayerful way towards fulfilling his calling in church leadership.

Calling all podcast lovers! We are pleased to let you know that season 2 of our podcast Walking By Faith is coming out. This episode features the first of the Walking By Faith conversations, and a conversation with Torch friend and client Bernie Warren. And former Reflection's producer Linn Ball reflects on what she'd like to have written on her plaque should she ever get a bench in her honour.

In this episode, producer Linn Davies is in conversation with Revd Samuel Affel from the Ghana Bible Society about their cooperation with Compass Braille to launch a Braille Bible in Assante Twi. As well as talking about the importance of accessing scripture in ones native language, Samuel also talks about what education and employment is like for blind and partially sighted people in Ghana.

As this episode of Reflections falls close to St John's day, we're looking at the lives of John The Baptist and his mother Elizabeth through Bible readings and fictional reflections. Elizabeth reflects on her painful journey to motherhood, and then, when that longing was fulfilled, what it was like raising her son, a child and then man so unlike any others. And we follow John The Baptist from his cell to his execution, which he meets with both peace and clarity.

This week on Reflections we mark 2 special occasions - Trinity Sunday, and a special Father's Day sermon from Rev John Beauchamp too.

In this Pentecost Sunday episode, we dive deeper into the events of the first Pentecost, also dubbed The Church’s birthday. We will explore everything from bible readings and reflections to a fictional account of what it might have been like to be there when the holy spirit descended on the disciples.

In this ascension day episode,, we hear a reflection from Torch’s Church Partnership Coordinator and ordained priest Vicki Bryson about the significance of the ascension on how we live life on earth today. We also hear from Revd Canon Jean Kerr about some new resources for the 10th anniversary of Thy Kingdom Come.

As Foster Care Fortnight draws to a close, we’re chatting to Dr Krish Kandiah, the founder of the Christian organisation ‘Home For Good', a charity dedicated to finding a home for every child who needs one.' Krish is a also a Foster Carer, as well as being a government advisor, and his insight into this area is second to none. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260, email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.

This week Reflections talks to Nayoung Lee, a clarinettist from South Korea who now lives in the UK. Nayoung shares her experiences of school and church life growing up, why she chose to come to the UK and how climbing mountains made her appreciate life and God in new ways.

Tony Brown has been acting Chair of Trustees for Torch for some time now. And in this episode, we get to know the man behind the role. He talks about how he got involved with Torch and shares some highlights of his recent cruise along the west coast of Africa.

Torch started out as a charity with the mission of providing blind and partially sighted people with accessible Christian literature and this is still at the heart of Torch’s work. In this episode, we’re going to hear what happens behind the scenes in the production department, whether it is Braille, giant print or audio.

This week we hear from the Archdeacon of Sefton and Knowsley, Rev Pete Spiers, who chats about his disability, identity, and reflects on his love of God, finding faith and the Easter story too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.