Episodes

  • Ps Phil Hopwood - 3 Nov 2024

    Ps Phil Hopwood - 3 Nov 2024
    Nov 3 2024
    Phillip (Phil) Hopwood was christened an Anglican, but brought up in a Methodist church in Launceston, Tasmania. He enjoyed Sunday school and had some excellent teachers. In his teens, Phil joined the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). They observed a seventh-day Sabbath, Jewish Holy Days and food laws (eg no pork, shellfish, etc.). The church also believed the Holy Spirit was the impersonal power of God, denying the Trinity. In the early 80’s, Phil studied at the WCG liberal arts school, Ambassador College, in Pasadena, California. After graduating, Phil moved to Canada to minister at a local congregation. He married in 1986 and was transferred back to Australia to pastor the Newcastle congregation in 1992. By this time, he and his wife had three kids. In the mid-90’s the WCG leadership made a dramatic shift, announcing they were under the New Covenant and not bound by the Old Covenant. This caused massive and ongoing repercussions, but Phil was overjoyed by the change of direction. The church later changed its name to Grace Communion International (GCI). In 1997 Phil moved his family back to Tasmania to pastor three congregations. The Launceston church became the first Australian GCI congregation to move to Sunday services at that time. One of Phil’s most difficult experiences came when his first wife left and remarried. He experienced cycles of depression, shame, feelings of abandonment and deep grief. He was helped greatly by close friends and family and found that faith, hope and not burying the grief, but understanding and working through it made a big difference. After 41 years in pastoral ministry, Phil retired on June 30th this year.

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

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    52 mins
  • Isaac Harrison - 27 Oct 2024

    Isaac Harrison - 27 Oct 2024
    Oct 27 2024
    Isaac Harrison is a First Nation Australian with ancestral ties to the Kabi Kabi and Birri Gubba tribes of North and Southeast Queensland. He is a leader in Indigenous business and economic development. Isaac was born in Maryborough, QLD, and raised in Hervey Bay. He pursued both soccer and higher education, earning a Diploma in Fitness before transitioning into the energy sector, where he played a key role in the growth of the Aussie Batteries and Solar. After relocating to Melbourne, Isaac co-founded Bunjil Energy and later shifted to consulting, supporting over 30+ Indigenous-owned businesses. He now serves as Director of Towcha, an Indigenous-owned IT services company. Isaac’s work also includes helping corporates make better procurement decisions while empowering Indigenous SMEs to grow, blending innovation with cultural heritage to create a lasting impact in Australia’s economic landscape.

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    55 mins
  • Ps Russell Evans - 20 Oct 2024

    Ps Russell Evans - 20 Oct 2024
    Oct 20 2024
    Pastor Russell Evans was born on the mission field in Papua New Guinea and raised as a pastor’s kid (PK) in Adelaide. He comes from a strong Christian lineage reflected in his depth of experience, knowledge of the Word of God, and passion for the local church. Russell understands the pressures that accompany PKs and struggled as a young man to find his life purpose. This experience caused him to be passionately committed to identifying, encouraging, equipping, and raising up young people and up-coming leaders to boldly walk in their God-given destiny. During the 1990’s, Pastor Russell served under his father, Andrew Evans, as Youth Pastor at Paradise Church in Adelaide. At that time Planetshakers Conferences became annual events in multiple locations around Australia. In 2004, the band and ministry moved to Melbourne and started Melbourne City Church. This eventually became known as Planetshakers Church, which today has over 21,000 members in eleven locations (eight in Australia and three international campuses in PNG, Singapore and South Africa). Russell married Sam in 1992 and together they have two adult kids, Jonathan (married to Selina), and Aimee (married to Noah). Aimee and Noah have a little boy, Malachi.

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    51 mins
  • Ps Darren Dakers - 13 Oct 2024

    Ps Darren Dakers - 13 Oct 2024
    Oct 13 2024
    Pastor Darren Dakers was born in Brisbane to parents who had immigrated from Zimbabwe. He has one older brother and an older sister and they grew up near Beenleigh (halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast). Darren’s dad became a Christian when he was about 9. His parents prioritised church and sought to teach him the Bible and Darren made his own decision to follow Christ in grade 9 (2002). Darren attended Beenleigh Baptist Church for 20 years before moving to Ashgrove Baptist for the second of three years at Bible College. After graduating in 2012, he volunteered at Ashgrove Baptist before joining the staff to oversee Young Adults & the worship team. He also worked one day a week with Malyon Leadership College for 2 years. In 2017 Darren moved to the Gold Coast to plant a church in Coomera. Initially part of Liberti Church, the church became autonomous and became Coomera Baptist Church in 2022. Darren married Teagen in 2014 and they have three kids (ages 2 - 7).

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    51 mins
  • Ps Dermot Cottuli - 06 Oct 2024

    Ps Dermot Cottuli - 06 Oct 2024
    Oct 6 2024
    Ps Dermot Cottuli was born to Irish parents who immigrated to Australia when he was five. He was part of a big family, with six sisters and one brother. He spent most of his early years in a social housing estate in the Western Suburbs of Sydney (Mt Druitt). Dermot was brought up catholic but had a brush with the Charismatic movement when he was 14. At the time, his dad was an alcoholic and Dermot had an encounter with God where he made a promise that if God got his dad off the grog he’d become a priest. The very next day his dad woke up, turned to his wife and said 'I’m an alcoholic and need help'. Dermot’s dad went cold turkey off the grog from that moment onward and never touched another drop for the rest of his life! Dermot joined the army out of high school and was posted to Townsville. He thought a Christian youth group would be a good place to meet girls, so he ended up at Calvary youth one night. This led to Dermot committing his life to Jesus, being discharged from the army and going to Bible College. After college, Dermot moved to Tassie with a mate and his wife and helped plant a church. He also did a bachelor of education and met his wife, Debra. Over the years, Dermot has served in youth ministry and been senior pastor at two churches, including for the past 20+ years at Grace Church in Tassie. Dermot and Debra have 4 adult kids together.

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    58 mins
  • Ps Peter Earle - 29 Sep 2024

    Ps Peter Earle - 29 Sep 2024
    Sep 29 2024
    Ps Peter Earle was born in Dalby, Qld and raised on a farm. He attended boarding school from 12 years of age. Peter was raised Methodist but did not have a real experience with God until 21 years of age. After school, Peter worked as a stock and station agent until, at 23, he received a call to serve God in full-time ministry. He then left the family farm and moved to Brisbane and joined Christian Outreach Centre (now INC). After marrying and studying theology, Peter and his wife (Lindsay) started their first church plant in Bundaberg. Over the years, they have also built churches in Adelaide, Denver Colorado and in South America. Peter has served on various INC boards over the last 47 years, including Oversight and financial boards. Peter is a life-long learner and has a doctorate of Ministry with Fuller Theological College and a Master of Divinity with Oral Roberts University. He also developed the Bachelor of Ministry program while Dean of Christian Heritage College in 2000. He continues to serve on the Christian Heritage College Council and their Academic Board. Peter is 72 years of age and has been married to Lindsay for 49 years. Together they have four children and four grandchildren. They serve as senior pastors of NetworX Church in Springwood, Qld.

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    53 mins
  • Ps Shelley Ligtermoet - 22 Sep 2024

    Ps Shelley Ligtermoet - 22 Sep 2024
    Sep 22 2024
    Each week, Phil Edwards has a different guest co-host join him on Sunday Morning Together

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    50 mins
  • Rev Mark Leach - 15 Sep 2024

    Rev Mark Leach - 15 Sep 2024
    Sep 15 2024
    Each week, Phil Edwards has a different guest co-host join him on Sunday Morning Together

    Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donate

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    59 mins