Chris Clarke is the CEO of the Wilberforce Foundation, having previously worked in leadership in the health sector, followed by leading World Vision NZ.

Chris and I begin by talking about his own journey, through business, into the health sector, and then into the world of non-profits, including his time with World Vision NZ. We talk about why he got into that work, and what he learned from those times.

We then discuss the study the Wilberforce Foundation commissioned into faith and belief in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We talk about some of the interesting results from the survey, and what they are telling the church about who we are and who we could be. There are some encouraging things, some very troubling things, and some things that should make the church sit up and notice, realising that change simply has to happen if the church is going to have anything to say to people in this country into the future.

Chris is an outstanding human, with a big heart, and a big dose of humility.

Check out the faith and belief study at faithandbeliefstudynz.org

Find the Wilberforce Foundation at wilberforce.org.nz or on Facebook

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Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic or facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

A content warning right from the beginning here...the episode contains discussion around self-harm a.k.a. non-suicidal self injury (NSSI), and suicide is therefore also mentioned. So please take all the precautions you need to keep yourself safe, and skip the episode if you need to. Please also access support if you need to. You can find a large range of support services at thevoicesofhope.org/pages/find-a-helpline

Dr Kirsty Moore is a doctor of psychology, with lived experience of NSSI. She works across a range of roles, but holds a special passion for educating parents, teachers, and others who work with our young people, about NSSI and the ways to support people who are self harming, which she does voluntarily. We talk about how Kirsty got into psychology, how she became focussed on NSSI, including hearing some of her story, and how she uses this knowledge and experience for the good of others.

We talk about NSSI, some of the stereotypes that aren't so helpful, some of the common motivations, and why it's important to have thought about how you might support someone who is self harming.

Find Kirsty on Instagram, or if you are interested in having Dr Kirsty speak to your group, contact her at Kirsty@drkirstycoaching.co.nz

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Connect with me at downtoearthconversations.com or at:

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Instagram: @downtoearth.conversations

Email: downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com

Music by Strahan:

Spotify: Strahan

Facebook: facebook.com/StrahanMusic or facebook.com/commonerscommunion

Instagram: @strahanmusic or @commoners_communion

Back on Episode 33 we talked about James' time working with refugees in Ngaru, and then what he was up to in the Australian outback. This time we talk to him about his involvement in the formation of the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages that began before easter and are continuing around the world. We talk about how and why they started, how it's going, and what they are hoping to accomplish. We talk about the importance of the involvement of Palestinian Christians in the movement, and how people around the world are joining in.

It's a great reminder that we can all do something, even if it feels like not much, and that that small thing when put together with the small things of others, can make a difference in the world.

Find Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages at gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com or on Instagram or Facebook

Follow Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine on Instagram or Facebook

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Bridie Boyd is, among other things, a chaplain at Hillmorton hospital, a psychiatric care facility in Ōtautahi (Christchurch). She is also involved in advocating for, and supporting, women in the Anglican environment in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

We talk about both of these roles. What drives her in her advocating for others? What draws her to love those others neglect or even despise?

We discuss what the role of chaplain actually involves and the challenges and rewards of doing such a role with people who are struggling in their mental health. Bridie also shares about her own mental health journey, how that has helped her in her role, and what she has learned along the way.

Within the kōrero we talk about embracing awkward spaces to learn from one another, the way chaplains hold hope for people when they can't hold it for themselves, and how valuable people are no matter who they are or what they're experiencing.

If you'd like to support the work of the hospital chaplains, head to ichc.org.nz

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Caz and Em are the hosts of the fantastic podcast, the Bloody Bible.

Outside of the podcast they are Dr Carolyn Blyth and Dr Emily Colgan - academics in the world of theology who have found ways to share their research so that it is digestible for the general public. On the Bloody Bible, Caz and Em explore some of the more violent passages in the Bible, linking them to modern true crimes, and behaviours and attitudes that are still in play today. They also help us see the stories from the perspective of the victims, something the Bible itself doesn't necessarily do for us.

We talk about how they became interested in these kind of topics, why they started the podcast, and what they've learned from linking these stories to modern day true crime. We talk about power and control, patriarchy, feminism, how to read the bible well, seeing things from the perspective of others, and the harmful ways that biblical texts are used to justify heinous behaviour

A warning that we do talk about a range of violent crimes such as gender based violence, including rape, and murder, so if you find those subjects hard please look after yourself, and feel free to skip this episode, or see the list of support services below.

Check out the Bloody Bible at bloodybiblepodcast.com or on Facebook, and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out the Shiloh Project at shilohproject.blog

Support Services

Mental Health Foundation helplines (NZ) https://mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines

Lifeline Australia https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Suicide Prevention Helpline (UK) https://www.spuk.org.uk/national-suicide-prevention-helpline-uk/

Crisis Text Line (USA) https://www.crisistextline.org/

List of sexual assault support services (NZ) – https://sexualabuse.org.nz/resources/find-sexual-assault-support-near-you/

RAINN (USA) – https://www.rainn.org/

Helping Survivors (USA) – https://helpingsurvivors.org/

Rape Crisis (UK) – https://rapecrisis.org.uk/

Rape Crisis Scotland –​​ https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/

Full Stop (Australia) – https://fullstop.org.au/

Shine (NZ) - https://www.2shine.org.nz/

Family Violence - It’s Not Okay (NZ) - https://www.areyouok.org.nz/

National Domestic Violence Hotline (USA) - https://www.thehotline.org/

Women’s Aid (UK) - https://www.womensaid.org.uk/

1800 Respect (Australia) https://www.1800respect.org.au/

Find a Helpline (lists helplines internationally) https://findahelpline.com/

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Email: downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com

Dr Pauline Stewart is an educator, a psychologist, an Anglican Priest, and when she was an age when many would be hanging up their work clothes, she was starting up a charity to support the family and friends of people with alcohol or other drug habits.

We talk about her time as a teacher and why she moved into psychology. We discuss her time working for the Ministry of Education as a psychologist. And we talk about Family Drug Support, the charity Pauline founded to educate and support people whose loved ones are misusing alcohol or other drugs. Pauline shares about why and how it started. We get into evidence based practice and why that is important, and Pauline shares about the opportunity she sees in this area to use new technologies including A.I.

Find Family Drug Support on their website, fds.org.nz or find out how to financially support them here

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Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) are an organisation working with Christians in places where being Christian is dangerous. Where either there are restrictive laws, or simply open hostility towards those who follow Jesus.

I am joined in this conversation by Voice of the Martyrs NZ National Directors and their Events Coordinator.

We hear about how Voice of the Martyrs work with endangered Christians around the world. Their empowering way of supporting and getting alongside the persecuted church. The risks involved for them as they do it. And how the rest of us can partner with them to support those who are suffering for their faith.

Check out VOM on their website, Instagram, or Facebook. Also check out prisonersoffaith.org for info about writing to Christians in prison.

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This time we are Catching Up With episode 7 guest, Jeremy Faumuinā.

Jeremy talked last time about trusting his intuition, about serving neglected and abused children in Samoa, his social work with youth and the family based approach he takes to that, and about how his son coming out as gay shifted his world from anti to ally when it comes to the rainbow community. It's definitely worth a listen if you haven't heard it already.

Jeremy joins me on Catching Up With to talk about his move to the NZ Police, still working as a social worker focussed on supporting young people and helping them succeed at life, and also the work he is now involved in with the organisation Moana Vā to support Pasifika people in the rainbow community.

Connect with Jeremy at vaconcepts.co.nz

Or check out Moana Vā on Instagram, Facebook, or their website.

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Email: downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com