Adventist Radio London. Inspiration for the song We welcome the Talking Point with Ray
Sen you Angeler discussing the hot topics and answering your questions. Saturday's five to
seven pm on Adventist Radio London. It's talking Point, it's talking Point,
it's talking Point, it's talking Point conversations. You need to have good evening,
good evening, good evening, and welcome to Talking Point. It's the
twenty third of December. I hope you all had a really good Sabbath today
wherever you are tuning in from, so it may be still in your sabbath
if you're here in the UK and London, sabbath is not long gone,
has finished and we are here at talking Point, so welcome. There's quite
a few of us in the studio today. Today is a special day,
very special day, and we all shall share why in a second. But
we are in studio. You may hear some familiar voices. If you just
heard our jingle, you will know who our presenters are, well, most
of our presenters. I mean, yeah, we'll come back to that,
but thank you for joining us today. We're going to start with a word
of prayer and then we will get into our show. Today, we are
doing another look back over the year. Twenty twenty three seems to have flown
past, but we are blessed to be here, able to be able to
reflect and look back and then think about what we're going to be doing going
forward for twenty twenty four. So let's start with the word of prayer and
then we'll get into our show. Fathergadawah, thank you for blessing us with
another Saba day. Dear Lord, I thank you for enabling us to celebrate
and reflect on your life. I know where I was at church today they
were having comedian. I thank you for the sacrifars you've made for us.
And as we are looking back over twenty twenty three, I pray, Dear
Lord that it has been a good time for some people. May not have
been for many, but we're able to be at this point where we can
reflect and share. I pray, Dear Lord, that you bless what's going
out today, Bless those who are listening and preper Pray Dear Lord, that
you can take us to the end of this year into the new year twen
twenty four. This is my prayer. Amen, So I am in the
we all say the hot seat, but actually I'm not in my own in
studio today because my trusted co host, one of them is here today,
Senya G how's it going very well? Busy? Yeah, that's gracious.
I can't even what time is it. I know. I think if we
had our key words for the year, it would be busy, busy and
busy. But just grateful too, as you said in your prayer, to
be you know, alive at such a time as this, to have made
it almost through twenty twenty three. And I just want to say thank you
to our listeners who have joined us, who have I think we are in
stari. I think we are for those who have stuck with us throughout the
indeed, indeed and with us also. It's a shame one of our presenters
is not here, Pedro. We know you had engaged other engagements today,
so we are but hopefully you are listening in if you can. But we
have a couple of very special guests with us. We could almost say this
is a reunion. So if you hear that jingle, you will hear four
voices on there, myself, Angela, Zena, Pedro, the deep voice
at the end. But there's another one who I'm sure you all know very
well. Say hello, hello, mister Patrick, is it really you?
Pastor Ray Patrick has joined us today by chance I hastened to work it is,
but you know, indeed he has and we are we are ever grateful
for that. So we do have our former co host in Talking Point,
the original I know, well if it feels like that, I mean,
you know, for those people who've been listening for as long as you know,
you will know that Pastor Ray Patrick, you know, was founding member
of Talking Point, yes, found and presenters. So we're really glad that
he's been able to come on for a little short while. I know he
has a lot of engagements. He's a busy man, but we're grateful and
also joining us today, and so you know, you probably know her very
well because you would have heard her voice most mornings, despite wherever she is
in the country. We have got in the world. Yes, it's true,
we have got Josephine with us today as well. Say hello, jose
We're really glad to have you joining us todays well already not even ten minutes,
in like two minutes, but it's you know, the familiar, the
familiar ban type something. Yes, so we were going for Josephine to come
and join us today. Josephine has been a great help to us on talking
point. Maybe for me with my technical with the tech stuff. I do
believe I know what I'm doing most of the time, but there are occasions
better. Yes, it's true. But we're glad and I know she's been
on her travels. But you may be familiar for you're for your new to
advantage to Radio London, you should check out the breakfast show that both Ray
and Josephine along with Paul Lee host, but they also do a few other
shows as well. Ray's got a couple of Sundays, Josephine has one on
a Wednesday. You do Friday as well, don't you. Ray, He
does a whole So yes, it's been a full house today. I've even
got my mum here with us today. She's sitting at the other studios joining
us as well. So thank you for joining us, and today we're going
to be having a look at just a look back over the year. Really
we've, like I said, it seems to have gone really really quickly flown
past. And I think after the kind of the shutdown lockdown of COVID years
and then the kind of reopening time seems to be flying past even faster than
one could imagine. And sadly with that that has come with some kind of
so many low points for many people, but hopefully there's been some good points
as well. And I know over the year we've had some really interesting conversations,
we've had some great guests on and we've had some really interesting head some
interesting stories. So I was going to have a little look on that,
but I guess what we can start off. I know where you haven't got
very long with us, so we're going to kind of asker the question just
as a general one, how has twenty twenty three been for everybody? For
me, it's been a great year. Yeah, Yeah, a lot more
ups and downs. God took Ministry on steroids, which was great, being
to countries that I've never been to. My prayer this year was to infiltrate
Europe. I'm not sure how God was going to do it, but the
good news is is that we're able to go to Poland, to Serbia,
to Harland and Ministry as well as other places in France. One of the
biggest meetings I've done this year was in Paris, and we spoke a little
bit about that actually, because I think one of the things that's really struck
me. I mean when we interviewed some of the young people that had attended,
and you know, the sort of reception that you had, and you
know, the outcomes of the baptisms and everything. At the end, I
was really struck by the fact that we could be in another country and we
don't we all speak different languages. You had an amazing translated his name.
I really can't hide that. Yeah, fantastic, But you were able to
reach people in a way that many many of them had never sort of heard
or seen before, you know. And I spoke to one of the young
ladies that got baptized. She was just like, you know, I've been
kind of thinking about my decision and then everything you were saying it all clicks
for her, and she was like, yep, I'm making that decision and
making that choice. So it was amazing to see and for us as well
as a great we joined you. Yeah, take us along with us,
and yeah, we mustn't forget that because we did go as a collective.
Because I went in the week and you guys came on the weekend. But
I felt that one of the things that we don't do enough of on Adventist
Radio London is that kind of live evangelism where we go to a particular area
of a particular country or whatever and we broadcast event. Yeah, you know,
and I think that that's something that we need to do some more of
use. I think it or so exposes other countries to our listeners. Yes,
you know, because we're sitting in our living rooms in London, but
you know the reality is is Adventice all around the world and listeners. Yeah,
yeah, so it was definitely for me. One of the highlights was
Paris. Was that in February April? Yeah, Pastor Carrien, Yes,
yes, that's right, yeah, carrying yeah, yeah, yeah, tremendous
time we had in Paris. Taro was with us of course, as well
as Josephine and it was a good trip. Yeah, it was a very
good trip. And then you know, Darlington at the beginning of the year,
I went up to Darlington and didn't know what to expect. It was
way up there, heading towards Newcastle, freezing cold, County Durham and they
hadn't had a baptism on more than two or three in about thirty forty years,
and we ended up with almost twenty baptisms. We had to i mean,
rearrange the church to get the pool in, but it was an amazing
time spent in Darlington. And then for me, I went to Tunisia and
that was more of a holiday as supposedly, but just interacting with people and
to know that there is an Adventist church there, okay, and and they
do minister in both Arabic and English was good news. And then of course
my celebrating my sixtieth birthday, we were as well, and my son and
my daughter and I went to Portugal and uh, and then of course I
had the first surprise birthday of my sixtieth years life. And so thank you
guys and Josephine and everyone else that was involved for pulling it together. So
that was a highlight. I don't think I'll ever forget that one for the
rest of my life. We actually surprised. And then you know, leaving
there, I was going to Poland. Yeah it was Poland. I was
going to Poland, and I wasn't sure to expect one because a lot of
times you hear a lot of racist ideas coming out of Poland. And then
secondly it was a camp meeting for youth and I wasn't sure, you know,
what to expect, but we prayed, went there and and the Lord
just totally I mean my first appeal was about fifty baptism or so, and
then you know, they baptized bill baptizing people. I mean, it was
just an amazing see whole on the shore of the lake, the baptized in
the lake and off the shore of the lake was just baptism or candidates dressed
in white, kneeling down getting ready to go into the pool. Absolutely amazing,
Definitely one of the highlights of life in ministry. And yeah, it
was good. It was a very very good time, you know, to
be in Europe because those things don't happen, yeah, a lot. And
then of course I got to thank Kirk Thomas for the next thing. We
went to Serbia for the TD conference, left there and then I got a
call from Kirk Thomas at the beginning of September. He's just been voted president,
right, and so he had to try and move some of his schedule
around. One of those with an evangelistic meeting in Holland, oh right,
And so he asked me if I would go on his behalf of the at
the time, he was the BUC person, And so I went and I
didn't know what to expect. Again, last minute, jumped on a plane,
got there and began the revival. And I'm telling you, man,
what a week we had in Rotterdam Central Seven day Adventist Church. And I
think it totally baptized about ten or so people. But it wasn't so much
that it was just a revise. You know, the church was in a
situation where they needed a revival and God knew exactly what they needed. So
that was an amazing I mean, just extraordinary. And in Zimbabwe, which
is about a week ago, that was the crowning act of the Vanganism for
me for this year. You know. All in between that, of course,
we've being baptizing here. I think the Lord was blessing with about one
hundred and seven souls in total. But this next one in Zim, you
know, I thought, God, you know, God, he kind of
out does himself. You know, you think you're at the pinnacle and then
God takes you. Yeah. And in Zim, you know, we went
there for a campus wide revival at Seluci University and the week of Spiritual Emphasis,
and so I will be making it appeal to people to give the heart
to Jesus. But on the final Sabbath, we had about five people or
so to baptize, and we were just so excited. However, God,
what God did with the five was after we baptized the five, we appealed
again, and the appeal now was for those who a out there would like
to be baptized right now, Okay, come into the pool, and man,
five more came. Wow. Then we appealed again, and five more
came. Then we appealed again, and people just started coming into the pool
and baptizing there and there and there. And I had to get a plane
three point fifteen that evening from Billaway or Airport, so I couldn't stay.
I just made the appeal. I didn't know the pass was baptizing, so
I got in the car they drove me to the place, barely got on
the plane. Actually, God delayed the flight, otherwise I wouldn't have probably
made it. They said the flight was delayed by thirty minutes, which gave
me a ladier. Yeah, but the reality is is that the folk were
baptized. I don't even know the exact count finished, but that's not important.
What's important is that God continue to do what he'd been doing. So
for me it was a great year. Mummy's doing good, you know,
which is the other side of my life. Good evening Mummy. I know
she listens in on a Saturday even so Mummy is doing good. And yeah,
it's just been a good year. I mean, you know, if
I focus on the negatives, I'll be doing God and this. So yeah,
yeah, yeah, that's really exciting. I mean, you know,
when I sort of pick up on the bit of you know, taking the
radio to other places, were happy to accompany, you know in earlier turned
me down. I guess we did a bit of notice and if anybody would
like to sponsor us, you know, because you know the costs and stuff,
but you know, we can work something out. But no, I
think I think there is merit in in team ministry, not just you know,
I preach and the rest of you guys. You talk to people,
you have comes, but it gives also the local people a sense of what
life is like in the UK. Yes, and also people would rather listen
to strangers say the same thing as their local church would say, they would
respond easier. So when we go as a team and we reach out to
people, they would be more open and ready to receive. Yeah, and
I think also it's good for us as well, because I think, and
I'm sure everybody, but I know, if I speak for myself, there's
a perception I might have of certain places and what things are like there as
well, So you know, it'll open my eyes and I think getting the
blessing myself. Yeah, for what I hear what church is like in different
countries. I don't know about you guys, but I felt, you know,
in Paris, that side of Paris where we were, or just outside
of Paris outside there was different to what I've experienced in the past. So
again it was a different church in a different environment. A lot of young
people, Yeah, I mean a ton of young people, and that's not
always I mean that's a parent So I just feel that, you know that
that that whole Paris experience in in April was a highlight. It was a
real, real, big time and to your credit, passed away when we
did interviews with the young people. It was that you and Dave had preceded
it. You know, everyone heard or people had heard of you or heard
you speak before, and you know you had touched, you'd reached, you
had an ability to reach the young people and share that message. Not every
past I can. And they spoke very highly of you, and how that's
the reason why they came, and some of them came from very far and
and and again you know that's God, you know, and it's accedently part
of His this medium. Today we're in Stevenage. Josephine and I were there,
and you know the amount of people that said they came because they hear
us on the radio or they were blessed by what we do on radio,
so they can't they came to the program. So I really, I really
feel that as much as you know, it's God has given me the ability
to speak. But I think it's all of the different mediums coming together and
then people warm to that and then they avail themselves or even send their friends
if they can't come, they'll send someone that needs Jesus. Indeed, indeed,
and with that in mind, you know, if you want to join
in with our conversation today, there's various ways you can connect with us.
I'll start with email studio at Adventist Radio dot London, or you could text
us on at text us on eight triple two eight write hope and then your
message. You can also whatsappers as well on seven four five nine six four
two eight nine eight, or we are live on Instagram today, so if
you want to send the message there is in a while. In a while
again we have the tech genius over there. It's more than week into but
we're going to take a music break with that. As Ray's been talking about
preaching and spreading the message, and especially for this time of the season as
well, this is a really good time for us to be out there,
to be sharing the gospel, sharing the reason why many of us do what
we do. So we're gonna play Joe to the world by the spirituals and
yes, spread that message. Perceive joy, and Heaven and Nature say,
and Heaven and nature say chess Joy. We see John, We see John,
Joy, We see John, We see Job. J see and bay
the name us. It's not chaste the sounding joy. This this sort Joorn.
We said John. We say job Joh. We said John. We
said jo John. We said we see John. J We said John we
said, job John, John shows, I said to song that's made us
know that and stop. But it's a sign is another sun after said his
song as a russle, I never not dance say the sajo jo the say
to receive jojo sa sa j't be seen to be saved Joe. Joy to
the world. The Lord is calme. Let earth receive her kin, every
heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing.
Yes, indeed sing joy to the world. Lovely version of that from
the spirituals. So zen up to you. Of course you are my witnesses.
Oh, it's glad to have good to have you back faster away John
us more often, no problem, no problem, whenever, whenever your call.
Alright, you hear that. Yes, our listeners have heard that as
well by Facebook on social exactly exactly anyway, right passed away. Before you
go, we wanted to kind of you've been part of talking Point for a
very long time. In fact, as as you said, you sort of
started many years ago. May tell us the history of talking Point, because
I'm not sure I know I remember how did this program. The Talking Point
was actually a program that in the very early days that some individuals that were
working here used to do on a Saburth afternoon, didn't have no real format
for something to fill in the space. And then Mike Johnson asked me to
be a part of that, that the whole talking point idea with him,
and as we did start discussed topics on a Sabbath afternoon. Then we were
joined by Pastor Rys and Smith during the COVID time, particularly before COVID.
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and
uh, and then it was when did we start with you guys? Was
it before COVID? I think it was, I think cheering. So then
that, of course Mike Johnson moved on and uh and uh, you know,
how are we going to fill this gap? And then that's when I
reached out to you guys. And before then Andrew would come in whenever I
needed on zoom or something to be a part of it. Then of course
I asked Zenya and uh, and together with Claudia Walsh, we formed the
first, I would say, the first official panel discussion of this kind.
Anyway, it was you know, we had banter, we had biblical stuff
discussions, and then we covered a lot of awareness topics as well. And
during COVID or just after COVID, uh, it was during COVID, we
covered a lot of topics on vaccinations, on health stuff, all of that
kind of stuff. So we really kept that going. The listenership at that
time was high because people weren't going out. So on Saturday evening, we'll
come in take our COVID test wherever we were and come in and do our
do our thing. Yeah, so that that's that's the evolution of of COVID,
of COVID, but yeah, it's And it started as a biblical discussion,
so it was like tell me a story. It was covered biblical stuff.
Pastor worst Smiths is to come in with the Bible and have a Bible
text that he wanted to go through and all the rest of it. And
then we also did some kind of knife crime thing with Clarence while we were
trying to fill in some certain things. But then, yeah, and then
and then of course then it really took off and we started traveling virtually around
the world, and which was supposed to be remember its supposed to be like
a three week thing, and it turned into a whole eight weeks of stuff.
But it was good, but it was like being on TV. We
had to do almost had to do meetings before at midnight midnight meetings. I'm
not sure I was even I was there. Yeah, I think I was
dozing off a little to three times, but yeah, yeah, So so
you know, those those were some of some of the real high points.
And we did another series with Trinidad again, which is where we met Candice
and when she became an intricral part of Adventist Radio London on different programs and
different things. So who's she now married? Yeah, you know, she's
unmarried. And Bailey Bailey, yeah, missus Bailey, and we prayed for
her to be married. We didn't know it was gonna be this quick,
but we prayed for that and we have anybody want. Yeah, but nevertheless,
you know, but that's an evolution. And then of course this year,
because I did start the Breakfast show, I felt it was a bit
too much to try to do the Sabbath as well as the Sunday, and
so something I had to give, and talking point was the thing that gave,
and so we left it in the quite capable hands of Angie, Angie
and Zenya and Pedro and Josephine. Whenever she could be around and hence the
reason we had this point. Yeah, yes, and yeah we want to
praise God for another year. Talking point I want to say, I don't
know, we celebrated several years together, yes, ye, yeah, yeah,
and yeah we're still here. Amen. So how have you guys found
talking point as far as the year has concerned? Well, I suppose we
can, let's say talking point because you're actual your personal lives, you make
something different. Has the year gone for you? Guys? It's been good?
I mean, I think, I guess. I mean, it's not
this something I want to say something that it's not new to me necessarily,
but sometimes you forget how much of a commitment and time it takes to do
and put these shows together. Yeah, you know one thing that was great
with you Ray, You obviously being a pastor, you and you know lots
of people, you've traveled, you have lots of connections and sometimes you don't
know so many people. It's maybe more difficult to get people, guess,
et cetera. However, you still can kind of utilize connections. And we've
just been reaching out to people and you know, people have approached us about
things as well and been really willing. Sometimes we speak to people people are
really often very nervous to come on the radio and then they get here.
You know. I always kind of say that our show is a very conversational.
It's very quite laid back, and it's like having a conversation amongst friends.
That's how I kind of bill it, promote it as it were.
But you know, you realize, actually, yeah, the Textell can take
a lot, but it's been really good and I think we've met some really
interesting people. Utilize the connections. I mean, I have a few connections
made, but sometimes even I forget I know some people I think, oh
yeah. But also I think recognizing that we have so much talent, skill,
all things within our church community, you know, And something Talking Point
does bring out is who is here, Yeah, the people that we have
the expertise, that we have some of the wisdom, you know, in
different areas. And I think that was one thing I learned from being on
Talking Point was that, you know, the plethora is a lot of people
that we have in our churches, and if some how that was pulled together,
we would have an awesome directory yes skills. You know, maybe that's
something anybody out there come forward together. I think we've discussed that before.
It's yeah something yeah, And I think as well with that, we realized
just how much of an impact people are being because sometimes we may think,
you know, we've had many discussions at times about you know, is the
church doing enough, et cetera, et cetera on whatever topic or area,
but actually you realize that people are doing things within their individual churches with the
areas and really impacting the community. And kind of talking point for us,
for me has been one where we've been able to see that hear about what's
happening and recognizing where the influence and the reach has been and you know,
bringing people to Christ ultimately, you know, and sometimes we don't necessarily know
what's going to happen. But again, yeah, so that's that's been for
me having this for week to weeks sometimes be tracking down. I mean,
I have a newfound respect since Party stepped away for what he did because he
did make it look easy. I'm going to send the message here, I'm
going to text there, I got a call here. But it does take
a lot of legs. But I think, you know, I think Angie
is right, and that is you know, because I do travel and I
am in different places. Every week. I'm in a different place, I
meet people, and so you know, you tend when we discuss a program,
I'm oh, yeah, I can tap into that person. So it
makes it a lot easier. But if you know, you guys are probably
in the same church in the same area week to week, and you probably
don't meet as many people. So so from that standpoint, even though it
wasn't always easy, it was easier. Yeah, And I think I think,
I think that's the key thing. But you know, God has a
way of doing it. And I think that the transition was so swift for
me because the breakfast shows started and it was like a whirlwind. So I
think from that standpoint, you know, what you guys have done to keep
it going is admirable, especially since, like I say, you know,
I was here one day, gone the next, and it was a whole
whole different things you left us. You know, Can I say what I
can I say what I want to say? Please do please do please do?
No. No, I was just saying, I mean, you don't
leave me this way, okay, So yeah, yeah, that was no
problem. Man. Listen, guys, I gotta run and I hit the
brak next for you? What next? Same again, We'll be in Paris
twice third week of February and the first week of May be in Parish twice,
back in Zimbabwe as well as you know many London and UK dates as
well. So it's the year. I mean, the diaries are looking real
strange because normally you'll wait a few weeks of generation normally acquirementth for revivals.
But being Plumstead on the thirteenth, where's pedro them the area? How does
feel on the thirty on the last weekend, I think the twenty seventh of
January and then the international thing kicks in as well as preparing students for GCS
I mean marketing market exams for the last few weeks. Yeah yeah, the
one that you know plays the rent. But nevertheless, that's what the year
looks like. But I think ultimately for me, ministry is more about telling
people the truth yea, the times you're living in and so that's my goal
this year is not just to revive and evangelize, but to bring the real
truth some of his hardcore, hard hitting and I'm praying that God will give
me an opportunity have a book coming out and and it's it's it's a it's
a small book on help someone sitting to my left, help me design,
And it's it's about increasing your faith, transforming your faith, is what it's
dealing with. And just waiting for the press to get its finger out,
but just just waiting for the publication day. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
yeah, and then and then we'll get it out. But there's a book
coming out, hopefully more than one throughout the year. But other than that,
I'm young, gifted, and black. Well, thank you so much
for joining us. God bless you, and thank you for joining us.
No problem, no problem. And you put the guilt trip on me,
of course, such a thing, I guess. Whenever her wedding is,
I'm coming, yes, but happy Festive season and all the best of the
new year, Happy new Yeah, I'll be traveling on Boxing Day, but
yes, obviously. But you know, think about talking point on the road
as we did as well. So any churches I would like to have us
today asked for it on the road afternoon, okay, yeah cool. They
wanted to talk to me or Mark, I'm not sure I Mark came in
the equation loud, certainly loud enough. Mark's listening, he would understand.
But listen if you guys tomorrow morning, if you don't mind coming on,
we got the Christmas party. Amen, sorry, we got the question.
Josephine, thank you. Okay, you know I'm not you know, Josephine,
thank you. Here this is not the morning showment. It's been a
while. But anyway, in the morning we have the we have we do
don't We'll give you all the digits before she leaves the studio today at nine
o'clock, but at nine we finished at twelve hopefully Michael get out the studio
and we want to have a good time as we have a Christmas party here
on Advantage Radio London. Guys, thank you, thank you you and we
have that in mine. Thank you. Paster very travels safe. We're going
to go for a bit of music again. Go tell It on the Mountain.
As Ray said, you know, it's about us sharing, spreading the
good news, spreading the truth. And for this season, go to It
in the Mountain by Fred Hammond, the Share Talky jeez Us in Lonly Beth,
they saw man sor they saw the land who buried on the mountains over
the in the heavy way, buried on the mountain, Jesus Christ is born.
It's on the mountain heavyway, yeah, and saw shot and the storm
was so they knew. They sing the Savior the want of reason. Go
tell it on the mountain over the heels and the enemy God, tell it
on the mountain Jesus christing for yay, Jeezus Christ. The closet salborytion in
the heavens field, leaguers in the worthy Angel singing telling no the same as
b Go tell it on the mountain by kills and vywhere go tell it on
the mountain. The Jesus dresses an you better go here. You're hanging on
the Lord, say tell the mon tell us the same joining me just course,
good and peace some name peece go tell I'll tell them one in low
shot. How could we have peace? On it to me to tell?
Can't tell them one and all in the city and dinner Jesus crazy wa go
tell them one on all. Fred Hammond who saying for us to go telling
the mountains, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born. The
reason for this season that we're currently in. So if you're just joining us
on Adventures Radio London, you are listening to Talking Point and we're just having
a bit of a recap and thinking about over twenty twenty three, talking about
some of the things we've been doing personally, what we've been doing within our
church ministry work, and also what we've been doing on Talking Point as well
as we would just be just talking to pastorway Patrick, founder of one of
the found and presenters of Talking Points, had to step back from our show
over the last year because he's been focusing on other programs May the Breakfast Show
plus all his mystery work as well, and really the key thing, as
he said, one of the things he wants to do is obviously to be
preaching the truth and it is down for us to be sharing the story,
sharing of God's love what we're doing. But as you were saying, one
thing that we would like to do in terms of discussing things, we really
want to hear from you, our listeners. So if you were interested actually
coming on and being part of our panel, please do get in contact with
us. You can contact us at studio at Advantage Radio dot London. You
can text us on at eight eight triple two eight write hope and then your
message, or you could whatsappers on seven, four, five, nine,
six, four, two, eight, nine eight, And if you'd like
to get involved, we want to hear, whether it's live on the show
or actually if you'd be interested in joining on the zoom or even coming to
the studio to be part of our panel, or if you have topics that
you'd really like us to talk about, because that's what it's of back conversations,
highlighting work that you're doing yourself in the community, or a particular topic
they started to do. As Race said about talking about Bible topics or things.
I want to do more of that. So you know, it's not
just us talking. We want to hear from you as well, So do
get in contact. We do want to really hear from you. So one
of our rather guests that we have with us is Josephine. Now many of
you may know Josephine from the Breakfast Show, but also her show that she
does on a Wednesday evening. He hears you, So Josephine, thank you
for joining us. So as much as Josephine does do those other shows,
she does help us a lot on talking points as well, whether she's coming
as a guest or some whether she's kind of and I say behind the scenes,
she's right there in front of us with the encouragement of the motivation and
everything else. So and I know, I'm really really grateful for their help
and support that you've had on talking Points. But how was twenty Where are
we twenty twenty three? How was that? How has this year been for
you? I know you're busy, visit busy, and like we all are,
You've been doing loads of stuff and we secretly know some of the things
you've been doing. But it's been a really nice year, like a new
year in the sense of like entering too new ventures and things like that.
I started off the year by being at New Bold and from January till May,
and you just it's the year in mission course, but you just joined
the theology students in their classes there and that was just to start off my
trip which I just got back from, which was in Malawi. I was
there for three months and in between that I was working back at school at
Eden there full time in between. So, yeah, it's been a nice
year. I feel the different things very good. That's really good. And
in terms of talking Point, you know, how has that been for you?
With talking Point? I know obviously sometimes it is sometimes the technical side
of stuff where you've come on some of the shows I'm not talking about.
I can't think which ones you've done now to discuss up, but women,
yes, the conversation then everything's ago. Yeah you've been part of that.
Yeah, obviously we went to France. We've just spoken about that. But
yeah, how was Obviously you know you have your own shows, but what
is it for you then helping on other shows as well? Oh? I
enjoy it. I think you guys started the journey on radio earlier than me.
But okay, on the on another side of things, it's like the
friendship and relationship side because I joined radio I think as COVID was just tailing
off, I think, and then so before and Mum and I had just
moved to Hemil Hempstead, so all my friends and everything were in South London.
Weren't really traveling like that during that time. So then coming to Talking
Point and it became like a little fla family. So even our different backgrounds
are different ages wherever it may be. I think you guys played such a
big part during that transition out of COVID again, so this year I think
everything was a bit more settled. We had the change of Ray not being
on the show anymore, so I think that brought a different dynamic to how
we operate with this show and stuff like that. So getting to know you
guys a bit better, a bit more, and then we have the front
But yeah, it was a nice dynamic that in that sense, and taking
a back seat because not every time I had to talk, so that was
nice. Yeah, it's interesting, as you say that, because one of
the shows that we did do I think it was around August. Some of
them we've talked about. Sometimes we do sort of awareness days and as Joseph,
you will know this because I hear you on the Breakfast they do it.
There was a day for absolutely everything. You know, you could kind
of look and sometimes when we're planning it's like, Okay, there's going to
be a day for something. But actually sometimes they make really good topics of
conversation, and one of those was Friendship was Friendship Day, International Friendship Day.
We have another actually presenter on Eugenny came on with myself and Zenya and
she does family Matters on a Sunday morning, and it was really interesting just
to have a conversation about friendship, and you know, I'd like to think
everybody has a friend somewhere, but I say that we can't always take that
for granted because many people don't necessarily have those connections and friendship. And when
you sort of think about different times of the year, maybe around this time
of the year as well, you know, people may not have people close
to them, you know. During COVID, loneliness was one of the biggest
things that came out of that. People are kind of you know, we're
kind of dealing with that. So the concept of friends and friendship, and
I think sometimes and I've discovered as I've got older, that you don't make
as many friends as you used to, you know, especially if you're not
out and about March, not traveling much. COVID put a stop to a
lot of that, so, you know, but been able to use other
platform forms and other things to do. Actually was you know, if we
can widen our sort of network and everything else. So definitely, as you
get old as well, you recognize that it isn't just about quantity, it's
about quality. Yeah, and you're a bit more specific about who you engage,
who you let into your circle and things like that. And for me,
adventures radio is like family. Yeah, we've come to know each other.
We're at each other's engagements, birthdays, you know, we meet up
for me or you know, there's a lot of fellowship going on. And
to extend that to our listeners, I think they as well feel a part
of the family. When we do things like this where we're on Instagram and
people can see here the banter, the behind the scenes and all that kind
of stuff, it's really good and I think if nothing else, I think
we value that. Yeah, and again it'd be at the same thing that
as well. You know, we did a show on gratitude as well.
You know, sometimes we can be quite grateful for even though sometimes you know,
I would sometimes think, you know, a Sabbath, I think our
time of the show, it can be a bit of an awkward one.
You could have a really you know, good morning and then kind of rushing
five or seven. Sometimes it's a tricky one. Often people are at you
know, church with a way programs and you sometimes think, oh, people
are really listening it this time, But I know they are. And even
if they don't listen on the you know, on the Sabbath evening, they'll
go back. We're on Spreaker, So if you ever want to listen in
again, you know, either on the website or on Spreaker, you can
find our shows that you kind of realize that yep, you know, even
if it's one person, it's still worth it. And you know, it
always brings a smile to my face to sort of say, you know,
we're engaging with people. I learned from people, So yeah, I mean
in the hecticness of it and the hustle and bustle of it and all that,
once you sat here and you know you're delivering and you're sort of appreciating
all the platform and this is this is a magnificent platform we're reaching. You
know, I only haven't walked out what our reach has been and who has
been impacted, and it's just it's amazing to be part of it. I
feel very privileged. Yeah, I think so, because when I'm thinking of
like relationally between us behind the scenes, I think before this year, I
was really socially withdrawn, so had had a breakup during lockdown, and then
lockdown's there, so you're not seeing the people you would normally see. Then
the move on top of that, so to come back out there was like
quite like high anxiety dealing with getting back into church activities or seeing people that
I used to. So radio has really been that place of like just having
security in that and trusting friendships in that moment. But I think sometimes I
don't know if people think you have it all together being on radio like like
spooitual walk smooth, life smooth. But I do think we do not right
job, you know. Help. Yeah, when we talk, when we
talk about our days and check ins and stuff like that, we're not all
like, oh, it's a bed of roses like we do say, this
week's been tiring, this week's been stressful, and it makes us like real
and understandable because even just today, and it's a trend that keeps coming up,
this rhetoric that as Christians, you can't be stressed, you can't have
depression, you can't have anxiety, when these are real human emotions that God
acknowledges and sees so much that he reminds us so many times in the Bible
not to fear or reminds us that He is with us. He wouldn't do
that that many times if we weren't literally allowed to have those feelings. So
when we come on and no matter how joky or serious the show is,
we have a moment to share Okay, how our week's been or how we're
doing. I think it's good to hear other Christians like, Okay, we've
got our ups and downs in the midst of that. So yeah, because
I think somebody actually commented to me it's like every time, you know,
how is your weeping? Oh yeah, it's been good, and it's like,
is it really? And so you know what, You're so right?
Actually we're talking about you know, I think our strapline is real conversations you
need to have. So we do. We try to keep it real,
and that's not necessarily about exposing everything. We share what we're comfortable with sharing,
but if I could be real about something that I may be going through
or any else is going through, or to be that support as well,
because sometimes when we talk about things, we can add an encouraging word,
we can talk about, but we can be the reminders that, as you
said, Josephine, God is there for us. You know, He's holding
us with his righteous right hand. One of my favorite text which I can't
remember, it's fun, but I shall check again. You know, that
can be what somebody else who's listening can benefit from. So yeah, absolutely,
keeping it real, Yeah, I would say, yeah, the stress
everything is, you know, I would say, as much as twenty twenty
three has been a good year, it's been a tough year. I mean
there's no smooth sailing. I think we all go through the highs and laws
of life. I think, as Bastaray said, his year, there were
more high and laws. But that's if we expect next years to be next
year to be different, then we're going to be shocked. There's going to
be more of the same, and we just have to pray that it's more
high than loss. You know, the difficult times we can get through them
with that help. But I mean that's like the way our minds are wired.
Like even in a day, a whole twenty four hours, the day
can be whether average or fantastic, and literally one moment's worth of something not
going well, we'll change our mood for the entire day. And so having
the reminder and ability through God's spirit, because it's not natural for us humans
to just be like, Okay, this was a moment, let me refocus,
let me be back in the moment where things are actually okay would be
a game changer for us going through out our lives, because it's very easy
to focus on what's not going well. I found your text. It was
as I are forty one ten. Yes, So do not fear, for
I am with you. Do not be dismayed, For I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand. Yeah, and that's that's a powerful one. And I
think even on radio, as we minister to other people, you guys can
attest on not you're actually ministering to yourself as well. Because I'm trying to
think if I took out my radio work times where we do devotion and pray,
I don't know how consistent I might have been outside of this context or
in low times where maybe I wouldn't have the energy to do it myself by
myself. When I'm on radio, you know, it's that nudge in the
right direction, and sometimes it hits you even more. Yeah, totally.
And I think even the kind of the whole kind of researching and looking at
things, it's just you know, great minds and all of that. You
know, it's just like, actually I am then reminded of these the God's
promises, you know, and then I kind of think, you know,
the things that I really want to share with people. You know, what
can I say that's going to encourage somebody else, or you open up somebody's
mind to something, or you know, remind us reminded me. You know,
we have our weekly meetings and it's just like, yeah, it's a
good opportunity to talk about everything. But we're thinking about the shows and thinking
what message do we want to get out there, what impacts can we have?
You know, that's what we really try to do in terms of what
we talk about is to make sure it's relevant. I mean, our tagline
is the conversations you need to have, and we're trying to make them about
things that really matter matter to our listeners. And again, we just encourage
you. If there's a topic you want to discuss, if there's an issue
you want to unpack, let us know. We will bring in the experts.
I think that's the beauty of Talking Point and how it differs to many
of the other shows is that we try to get the experts in a lot
of our shows. This year we have tapped into Cornerstone counseling. We have
had doctors, We've had them all and if you're an expert, I should
say here now as well that you can join us if there's a conversation that
you'd like to be a part of. But that for me is what I
take away week. And it's funny how the year flies when you do a
weekly show or a monthly show. But that's what I take away a week
from week gets to research is getting prepared and doing the Bible study and doing
all that in preparation for the show. And as do Fine says, I,
if I didn't do that, I'm not sure how much of it I
would do on my own back on my own account. And of course,
whatever I learn and I gather, I'd like to share it with our listeners
because I feel that they may be in the similar boat or well, that's
what you're saying, and that's what I'm saving them the time perhaps of doing
the research themselves, or encouraging them or pointing them in the right direction.
I think that's for me what Talking Point does more than anything. Yeah,
And one of the things following up for that, we did a whole series
of We've been looking throughout the year on various mental health topics, and there's
different awareness days throughout the year World Mental Health Day, there's various ones so
to list. But again, so you know, we will have our practitioners
on and so i'd like to sort of thank you know, Dorothy naming names
Alison and the connection that I've heard everyone about Semple, There was Kelly,
There's there's there's so many. Yeah, there are all the practitioners that we've
had on and again, you know, mental health and the impacts of challenges
that we have. You know, this year has been a tough year for
many people in terms of coming out of COVID and the lockdown we were in
kind of you know, oh economic crisis, you know, plus all the
wars and what have you, and how that's impacting people, you know,
changing people's dynamics and thought pressers about certain things. You know. So it's
impacting people's mental health on a big, big way. And often what we've
been trying to encourage is people to actually reach out. God has got us,
but He's also blessed people with a gift to be able to listen,
to empathize, and to help you explore and work through the challenges that you're
going through. So we've had a practitioner. We did a whole series with
Cornerstone Counseling, which is our own counseling service with the Adventist Church, and
you know, they kind of went through, you know, from the real
basics because again, we hear mental health and there's so many, so much
stigma attached to that, and we wanted to kind of debunk a lot of
that been people on who can talk about that, make it relatable to things
that you're doing, and then encourage people to reach out. So, you
know, we talked about trauma and you know, many people have gone through
a lot of traumatic situations of the last few years. Also talked about mental
health for older people, for seniors as well, you know, you and
your twilight years. We had a group from a group at Balam, the
Autumn Rose Club that did a project with Dorothy with that sort of again and
that was that had a really good kind of turnout for that and kind of
the impact of that as well. You know, there was a couple of
people, you know, again isolation, loneliness, the loss because many people
have lost their partners and what have you of the years, you know,
had actually been able to explore different topics with people. Grief was a big
thing actually from what I understand, you know, been able to kind of
help them, kind of do that en theyble people to share, talk openly
and offer the supporter as well. So yeah, definitely, mental health is
one that we would encourage you to if you need the help and support,
do reach out. Don't suffer in silence. There is people out there who
can help you. Lots of services within our church, outside the church as
well. So and before the end of the show, we'll share the Cornerstone
jingle so you can capture the number. And then there's several several of organizations
out there who are focused on mental health, particularly after the COVID lockdown,
because that's I think really emphasis lay. Yeah, so we've got mind,
We've got some Maritians, We've got so many of them. So just google
if you need somebody to talk to, reach out. I think that was
the main message of our our conversations this year. Just do not suffer in
silence, do not suffer alone. Yes, God loves us. Yes,
part of a Christian community, and there's a certain taboo about saying that we
are in you know, in the weeds and we need help. But it
really shouldn't be. I think we suffer in silence because we don't want to
share. We don't feel it's a safe space to share, you know,
all of it going on. We feel we'd be judged, et cetera,
et cetera. But long and short is there are people available. Yeah,
and just leverage the support that you have and love the people around you.
That's important your life is sure. Yeah, And it's supporting we you know,
we're talking about gratitude, friendship, it's looking out for each other as
well. You know, we say we're a church family, and you know
where that's by blood and again we've we've done the whole. We've talked about
families as well, sibling relationships, friendships, et cetera. So you know,
it's really important that we are trying to support each other within the church
and outside of the church as well. You know. So, Josephine,
in terms of going into twenty twenty four, might be OK, ahead,
We've got twenty four. We've got to unpack that. True, so true,
so true. I'm going ahead. I'm not sure how much you've shared
on the breakfast, and I'm not sure how much of our listeners missed that
or got that or what what would you like? I certainly want to know.
I mean, was it what you expected? Was it what you anticipated?
I mean, this is your first sort of solo mission, and what
was it like. I tried not to have too many expectations, but I
realized when things didn't go to plan, I had expectations. Yeah, so
that was interesting. Gone, no, no, no, I was just
gonna say Pedro's on high, Pedro Petro. But yeah, so this one's
different. Normally when I've gone, I go with a group and then we
have organized things that we're doing, so it's really setting stone what you're about
to do whilst being there. But this time I picked the country and then
I was saw out what I'm going to do, okay as I go along,
so I present what I'm open to. They had my CV before I
left, so they were supposed to like work with that and try and get
things established just before I came. But it wasn't established just before I came.
So there was a good portion of time where I was meeting different people
and trying to get started getting the flow of things. So things that I
touched on whilst being in Malawi prison ministries. They had their Hope channel helping
them out with their media side of things. A local school and that's where
I was predominantly. I was doing the one to one mentoring with the children
there and then helping out with the church. Those were the main things that
I was working on whilst being there. They focus on young people in terms
of what ages were you talking about In terms of the school, Oh,
the school I was in secondary school, they're kind of mixed, they're not
as clear cut the classes. So I think the youngest was thirteen and the
eldest was twenty. Yeah. Yeah, so that was interesting. But I
found culturally things like mental health are not talked about a lot, even though
when I spoke to I think it was the president of the union SDA union,
they were saying the suicide rates in Malawi are really high with young people.
But you know, the sentiment of if we don't talk about it,
it won't happen is very prevalent. Yeah. So when I'd come to the
school to offer, you know, okay, let's try this because there's a
need for it, there was kind of like a bit of uncertainty, like
who's this girl coming across saying that we need this, our kids are fine
sort of thing. So it did take a bit of time for them to
accept, and I think it was mainly down to the kid's word of mouth.
They were like when I had I think two or three initially no,
I had two initials. They went to tell their friends or you can talk
like about and come to me and talk about it. And then gradually more
and more kids came on that side of things, So it worked out eventually.
It was just hard to get to that's what. Yeah, that's really
interesting actually because there is such a stigma around mental health. I mean,
I mean in the work that Idea work at a university and there's a lot
of international students and so many and I was I mentioned this in one of
my team meetings the other day, so many of them will be like,
I don't want my parents to know. I don't my family to know what
I'm going through because it would be the list of the shame, the embarrassment,
all of those things, or just the real lack of understanding. And
it made me feel really sad that you just think they're just not getting this,
possibly won't get any support around this, you know. But every little
thing that you could do. So it's great that actually they were open to
a certain degree, and it's about building up the trust and everything else,
I suppose, but how needed it is, especially when you because I'm going
you're saying about the suicide rates. I would not need be aware of that,
but something like that, there must be a reason that's happening. And
if there's that need, it's frustrating to think that they're not actually trying to
meet that need for various reasons, you know. So it's good that if
you were able to offer something and show something that could be done in that
area. I think the only thing when it comes to especially things like that
like one to one, especially because it started so late in my stay,
is the like they need this, not just for the period of time I'm
there. So that's when the difficulty does come in, whereby you would ideally
want to continue this time with them. Some of them I could keep contact
with because they're older than a certain age, but most of them were younger
than a certain age, so to keep that contact all communication. Yeah,
So it was a good experience and I really learned a lot. I think
it was a wake up cool for independent traveling and things like confidence in what
you're going to share with them, clarity with what you're going to do.
I had to really learn to do better whilst being there because the humble,
meek and mild stuff is not going to get you heard if you're there for
a purpose. Yeah, did I see what you post about that? That's
not that recently I was saying about being humble and being meet but you're going
to be overlooked. Oh is it? Oh it wasn't me, but it's
interesting. But then, you know, but we are cool to be bold
in what we're going out. You know, if you're going to go and
spread a message, the chances are that everybody's going to want to hear it.
So you're either going to talk as loud as you can in the right
kind of way, et cetera, et cetera, or not all you possibly
will get overlooked. But that's kind of you know, if we talk about
going to spread the must message and how kind of mission is to go out
there and teach your nations, it's and it's like, well, yeah,
if you've got to be bold with that, especially think about today's climate,
it's not easy and many people are open to that, but so many people
aren't, especially with everything that's happening around the world. So I think for
me, it would be confident in Christ. Yeah, that's that's the difference,
because there's a fine line between confidence and cockie, isn't it. Of
course, Yeah, paradent and et cetera. And I think that's where you're
coming from in terms of the humility, you know, Yeah, we're called
to be humble, but yeah, it's about being confident in Christ. And
I wish I was because well more so and earlier on, because there was
definitely a part of me going by myself. I'm like, oh, is
what I'm going to do be valuable? And even though it made sense logically
and I know God was calling me to do certain things, there was still
a part of me that didn't just do it with confidence. Yeah, and
then when it started working out, bearing in mind this is when there's been
resistance initially to it. When it works out and the kids are talking and
changing and developing, then they're like, oh, we wish you did this
sooner. And then I was thinking, Josephine, like I just got to
trust God and move with confidence in that sense, because some people think the
biggest thing is making the decision to take the trip to the country. For
me, that doesn't phaze me, but what happens in the country, that's
the biggest jump that was made for myself, that was needed. Yeah,
And I asked the question, based on what you've said about working with the
young people, did you find that the issues there differed to the issues here?
Do the young people struggle worldwide with the same Yeah, same problems.
It's same problems, but maybe, for instance, sexuality is a hot topic
at the moment here, not a hot topic in the country as a whole
in Malawi, but I had a student that was struggling with that and the
repercussions. Yes, there are repercussions here in a religious sense, in a
cultural sense in extent, but there is greater it's some serious consequences to it.
So one of the things that I had to do from the start is
established that whatever the children share with me, I don't share with the teachers
unless their lives are in danger in that sense. So that did create a
safety for something that would not like even within the family unit, can't be
talked about. Otherwise you're taken out of school, they're taken out of the
church, you know, exiled from your community, and you know there are
extremes that people will take in the name of this is not what God wants.
So you are not what God wants. That's that's scary. That is
really scary, and it's really sad as well, because it's because it's something
in the situation like that. I think, what would Jesus do in that
situation? And we know what Jesus we're doing that because we've seen the stories
very madaline, you know, Yeah, it's just like yeah, but for
many I guess I don't see that. It's like that. Yeah, and
we're governed by culture. That stuff a sad reality. We have to break
through some of these barriers and stereotypes and all that. That was another interesting
aspect was the church. So I would help out prayer here or a song
here, praise team and worship at the local church. But you know,
the contrast with the SDA church and here is not a big contrast. No,
Yeah, So I actually spent a lot of and mission comes in different
ways because I'll never be the person to maybe go to the street and say,
okay, come follow Jesus. Mine comes maybe in more interpersonal ways.
So some of the conversations I had, I spent a lot of time like
just maybe challenging their way of thinking. You're sitting there sweating in a three
piece suit, Why do you think it's necessary for church? Oh? I
think it's necessary because God will accept me, Like I need to bring my
best to God. So why is your traditional breathable clothing, like you know,
they come in smart ways? Why is that not enough for God?
They're like, no, we need the suit you need, And it's just
such a shame those rhetorics. Same with music. I go on and on
about it in my show. You know, hymns, the exact same hymns
that we sing here allowed for church service and nothing else. And as soon
as Sabbath's over, they're going to listen, not even to secular music,
but just music that has their roots in it, gospel music that has their
roots in it, straight after church. Why is that not as valuable in
the church? Why is it not as holy? So, yeah, those
conversations were fun. I think they of me by the end. But as
long as I've planted the sea, Yeah, it's it's about raising awareness because
the reality is, because you know, you talk about hymns and that you
know, as a lover of hymns, well, do you know there's sometimes
a history of the story behind some of them or where the music's coming from.
You know, you're just like, actually, if you knew this,
you might change your mind. And that's what you'd all bee. It's neither
here nor there sometimes, But actually when you kind of level it out,
as you said, what's the difference or why is that better than the other
thing? Or I mean even when hymns were introduced into the church, there
was still like not conflict, there was resistance against the hymns when they first
came. Anything new we have a struggle with. So there's no innate holiness
in a hymn. It's all about the hearts, about the words, about
the music, and that can come in any form and any culture. Yeah,
so yeah, I'm sure in other denominations it might be different, but
Adventism is very traditional corporate in that sense. Yeah. Yes, it's interesting
because I also think with that as well. You know, when you think
about how our church was started, and you know, the young people who
kind of we're doing something different and kind of whatever, I kind of think,
are we still going to have that same kind of effect, because in
some ways for me at times, it feels like we've got to appoint nothing's
really changed. It may do in certain areas, but it's almost like this
sort of big revival and kind of be starting something and it's very different,
and I wonder whether that's something that's maybe needed, especially as times are changing.
Times are in the time of trouble is here and we're all saying that,
but it really is, and how things may have to change up to
have such a bit much bigger impact. Yeah, yeah, that's a debate
that well, that is a conversation. Yeah, that is a debate.
I mean, we had Antwine on that's a young man who I know was
raised in the church. Met him many many years ago, his dad,
musician, his mom. And when we spoke to him a few days ago
or weeks ago in the knife crime conversation or the mentum man to man conversation,
he said, you know what, he's drifted out of the church and
he was honest about it, and he was sharing why. And his story
is not unique. You know a lot of our young people are leaving or
have left, and we need to find a way. And I guess it's
just striking the balance because I know if you talk to Pastoray and so forth
and give or take, he will say, you know, the church is
not for entertainment. We're not there to try to entertain the young people.
You know, we're trying to change their lives. But we have to find
a way to package this information, to package the gospel so that is palpable.
You know that the young people enjoy and find value in it and not
fall asleep on it. Well, we have to. We have to enjoy
them. We have to enjoy it ourselves and find valuing it. I don't
think sometimes we know we just say Christianity is hardship and we'll get the reward
after. But I think there are rewards here on earth. Yeah, but
it seems you say that that almost makes that a contradiction in terms used to
think, really bigger christian can't just be there. Yeah, it can't be,
and we know it isn't. If God has got all these promises that
he be reading the Bible, you know, the amount enough of one each
day. That's not all about hardship. And whilst they you know, we
will go through hard times, we then should be encouraged that actually it's not
going to be that. So why can't my Christian experience be one of joy,
one of happiness, one of enjoyment, And for many of us it
is. And I'm certainly not suggesting that it's not for people, but as
you said, that kind of narrative that sometimes comes across, it's very,
very different from that. Yeah, but let me say hello to sim to
Karina, to Sue, to Naomi, thank you for joining us on Instagram.
Yes, yeah, yeah, So with that, I'm going to just
have another piece of music coming. Oh, so our show sometimes goes really
quickly. We also five till seven, and so it was like, oh,
it's a really long time, and then we get to this point and
I'm like, oh, coming down. But but again another I realize I've
kind of picked a few kind of fistive songs for the show today, but
this is what's to come. Indeed, But this is kind of one of
one of my favorites. I mean, I love I love like we're talking
about ymns, I love the carols, et cetera. But I really love
different arrangements of this. So this is a come all you faithful by an
A cappella group called Pentatonics, which I really have been playing that a lot
this week. Actually my mum have been singing along to the Christmas music as
it were. But yeah, so I want to you to share with me.
Come all you faithful by Pentatonics. Come joy for for Come come YouTube
line buck Come, let us to talk about cous coming. Let us a
door. Emperor, my name, my bed, Come my bad, go
to background my dad, Come my bad, come my back, go to
bad. Oh see why is I'm seen in ex Come come to be by
the kings Oncome us fun the sort you come. Welcome my bed, boil
lock, come my bedcil to my best, go to better, Come my
bed, come my bear, oil, come my best, go to bed
to pocomb spoke, Come I to spocme my locome Spotcome my fa, Come
I welcome, I fave locome full my become, welcome my co pocome my
head. Come come come. Are you struggling to cope with life? Conflict,
bereavement, fear, relationship, anger, depression, negative thoughts, trauma,
and uncertainty can all cause emotional imbalance. Don't struggle alone. CCS your
trusted confidential counseling service is here for you. Call our listening line on zero
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appointments on zero two zero double seven two three eight zero five zero, or
visit our website www dot CCS Counseling dot org dot UK. Our counselors speak
various languages. CCS a shoulder to lean on. We are here to listen.
Indeed, Constan Counseling is here to listen. As we were saying before,
if you do need any support. Whilst the spiritual support is the most
important thing, there are professionals, practitioners who out there who can offer support
and help you explore those challenging things that many of us are going through.
We're coming to our last half hour of talking Points, and if you haven't
just joining us now. We've been just having a look back over the year,
myself and Zenya I hear from talking Point. We've also spoke to Ray
just a little while ago, and we've also got Josephine. I think that's
stopped the music, so so we are, yeah, looking back over twenty
twenty three. This is going to be our last show for the year.
We take a bit of a break before and start preparing for our new year.
And as we said before, you know, we've had lots of things
that we want to sort of talk about, lot's of things that we want
to share with you. So if you do have anything that you would like
to talk about, do you let us know. If you're interested in being
one of our panel to join the discuss, do get in touch with us.
There are various different ways to do that. We'd love to hear from
you, and we also want to hear what you're doing in your local areas,
in your churches, in your local community and the impact you're having.
We want to talk and yeah, there's various ways you can get involved,
so please do get in contact with us. So joseph for the music,
Josephine was just sharing with us about her time in Malawi, what she's been
doing this year. So Josephine for twenty twenty four, What's what's coming up
for you at the moment. I'm trying to do mini jobs, okay,
So I'll go back to school but only part time, okay, and then
continue with radio. Yeah, just because I'm going to be off again from
March, so it's like midterm time, so I don't want to start a
whole Yeah, the whole teaching again with that, So I'm trying to find
little jobs. If anyone's got a job out there, Jose, be great,
so much I'll be heading to Ghana. This one will be a bit
different because I'm just going to one school and doing what they need there,
so that would be the focus that much to May. Then I'll come back
look for the jobs, continue and then head back out maybe at the end
of the year, towards the end of the year, and do another three
months somewhere else, either Uganda or turns in there. Okay, Yeah,
are the particular reasons why you chose, like, say Malawi then you're going
to Ghana any particular reasons for those particular countries. Malai just because past they'd
been there and he had the family there, so the family hosted me while
I was there. I didn't know them, but Ray had known them and
trusted them, so that would make the process a bit easier. So yeah,
the opportunity just came. They were quick to say we'll take you on
board. So I was like, okay, I'll go somewhere new Ghana that's
my home, so I haven't been there in years and one of my friends
families they started a school there, one of the Adventists, so they were
asking for help with that, so I thought, okay, let me pop
down and do that. And then Tanzania i've been to, so I'll just
continue what I was doing with the church there. And Uganda they built a
school that I don't know if you remember, we were fund raising for them
in Tbe School Noah's Ark. Okay, we were raising money for them.
So they've completed that building and they're getting things up and running, so it
would be nice to go and support and see how that is. Oh,
that's really cool. As you said about that, I remember actually going to
where made many it feels like years years ago now, doing a trip to
Peru to help build a school as well, and we were literally physically out
in the heat, which was like okay, you think that a school and
they're like, okay, never saw myself as a bricklayer or like that,
you know, my little bit to status. Well, but again, you
know, the opportunity is she said to see different places and meet different people,
so you know, I kind of think to myself. I was speaking
to a student actually from Peru this week and I thought, Oh my goodness,
I'd love to go back and actually see what's happened. I never you
know, it's one of those things I never really kept in contact with anybody
or to look back. And it's been a long time ago, so I'd
like to think it's been established and it's all you know, students are doing
really well there. But yeah, okay, no, that sounds really exciting.
And if there's one kind of I don't know, if there was a
word that you're going to describe you'd like to sort of focus on for the
year, what would that be for you? If there was anything a word
Okay, this is I guess it's an angela thing, a word for the
year I have. In fact, I'm going to look at my old ones
I can't remember, but have a think in terms of, yeah, but
if there was a way that summed up twenty twenty three for you, what
would that be? I think, oh, that summed up twenty twenty three?
Yeah, yeah, before we go into there, and maybe oh dear,
maybe something like rebuilding. Okay, well, something along those lines,
because I think this year I really put into motion things that I've desired to
do for a long time, right, and just trying to get back on
my feet and get back to my old self, which I feel like I
lost a bit for a few years. So I feel like doing things like
mission work. I enjoy giving. I love giving, so to get back
to doing that, I think it was just a step in the right direction.
Right. So yeah, rebuilding this year, Yeah it was nice.
H I'm trying to remember what my year words by my words for this year,
I can't even remember. Mine was supposed to be self care and that
we started off well mid January. I'm not sure what happened, So I'm
going to choose another word. Well, I'm still working on self care.
But I think for me for next year, my prayer would be for wisdom.
I just want to be able to make better decisions, to know where
to go, where to stay, what to do. I struggle with that
because I'm I need to. I guess I feel like I've heard something,
or I've heard God's saying goal or whatever, and I will doubt or there
will be issued when I think, well, did he actually say it?
Am I meant to be here? When you come across roadblocks and things like
that, you wonder, well was it God? Was it? Just me.
So I'd like to be, you know, more in tune with him
and sort of understand his leading and his purpose. Fear. Yeah, it's
funny, as I was just having a look, I think what were my
worst for twenty twenty three, And I'm looking at some of these and thinking
I've taked some of these through. Actually yeah, I mean yeah, I
mean I think one of mine was Connection I spill, Actually, but I
don't see the must be reasons why I wrote all these other connection change,
strength and breakthrough lessons, Creations, health, and power. Maybe the focus
is but I think there's probably a lot that I could probably do more on
this. And I think if I'm thinking about for twenty twenty four, I
think it would be definitely kind of refreshing, as in refreshed starting something again
and really action. I think this year for me, there's been a lot
that's kind of felt like I've not been able to achieve things, got things
done, been able to move forward on stuff. For me, it's been
quite a tough year. But I think it's actually I suppose when you sometimes
you go through stuff, you may solutions may come your ways or just different
ways of doing things. And I think sometimes action just needs to be you
just have to do it, you know, not that when I'm promote particular
sports brand, but just do it and just yeah and just going for it
because in some ways, what if you got to lose kind of things.
So we try to wonderful SLC. Yes Charlie, oh Charlie, love to
see you. Oh so yes, so yeah, so this is that's just
kind of a thing that I kind of I'm trying to think the way I
came across, but having a word or something to focus on for the year,
switch that out to our Instagram family family. Yeah, that's the word.
What's your word for twenty twenty four or your word for twenty twenty three?
Yes, yeah, let us know, And this could be something that
we'd love to be hearing throughout the whole of the year because I guess,
depending what you're going through, that word may change. And I was like
the idea of kind of you may set something at the beginning of the year.
I'm not necessarily necessarily one for resolutions, et cetera. And I think
if you are going to set those, you start setting those from like September.
I don't think there's a year I've ever kept to me as well.
But I think, you know, if you've got because it's good to have
some kind of focus or kind of you know, something to kind of work
towards or just something to focus and to think about. You know, it's
good to write the right the vision. So yeah, definite may not get
there, but if you're sort of reach for it, yeah, yes,
And I think ultimately as well, Yeah, and I think answer it's being
as well as well just trying to get closer to God as well, you
know, and just kind of getting close to God in a different kind of
way because sometimes you kind of think, you know, you go to church,
you pray, you worship, all those kind of things, but how
can I do that differently? How can I can make those connections with Him
differently? So I may find myself going on prayer walks or just you know,
kind of you able to talk to somebody or having those kind of discussions
and what have you. So and let's put the question out to all of
Ouriston's studio at Adventist Radio dot London, or you can text eight triple to
eight hope and then your message or what's up to you're seven four five nine
six four two, eight, nine eight. What is your word that sums
up twenty twenty three or your word for twenty twenty four. Yes, do
let us know. No. As much as some of the things that we've
been talking about throughout this year have been really positive, there have been also
some kind of quite tough topics that we have covered over the last I think
over last month, and sadly, you know, it's it's not a new
phenomenon in any shape or form, but the kind of scourge and I'm going
to use that word of gun and knife crime and you know the impact out
of that will have on families, that that's had on families and families,
communities, what have new churches? You know, there's you know they've been
I don't know what the I don't want to think what the number is because
you know, when you think, look at the news they'll talk about and
I'm sure there'll be a report at some point to sort of say, you
know, how many people have been lost to knife crime? Young, old,
in between. It's not necessarily in the ties, I think when I
stuff like that, Yeah, just in London, I think, yes,
so too many, one, too many? Yeah. So again, you
know, we've spoken about that at various points throughout talking point, We've had
various people come on and speak and I know, Zen, yeah you did.
I was having technical difficulties on that day. So Zanya held the thought
down on that one with the discussion with par and so Sidnya, tell me
a little bit about Yeah, me a little bit about how that came about
as well. Sadly it was a visual that I met Fara and one of
our young persons within the church and this is scary how it's creeping in was
killed recently, and we went to the vigil and I met Sara and he
and a number of people are on the front line. We spoke to Nathaniel
many moons ago. You know, we've spoken on radio, not ourselves,
but with the Youth director, et cetera. So a lot of people are
championing because and sort of raising awareness to this really sort of cancer really within
our community. And I met Farren there and I just I recognized him because
we had shared a clip when we were talking life crime sort of three or
four episodes before for his conversation on the BBC, and I recognized him and
I went over to him and I said, you know what we do a
program. Would you be willing to come on and just share what you do
and why you do it? And so yeah, the circumstances wasn't ideal,
but it was just good to hear how many people at that vigil were just
shouting and championing for change. You know, Let's reach our young people,
let's teach how young people, let's haggle on young people. Let's love our
young people, because what's happening in our community is just sad, and it's
getting worse. It's getting i mean more and more commonplace. And as I
said before, it's creeping into the church. And so yeah, he was
willing, he was up for it. I'm always surprised when I reach out
to people, and these are people who, like, I mean, I
think Saren has like seventeen thousand followers, Like, how did you even see
my DM? You know, I'm just always surprised when people when you reach
out to people, and I think, again, it's the platform that we're
working from, and it's God. Let me say that first and foremost,
Because everyone's responsive when I reach out to them. You know, I don't
even get dare I say it as much response from the chat for when I
reach out, but the community, people, international speakers all want to come
on board and to share their knowledge, and that's what I love talking point
for. And Faran was willing to come on. And you'll spit dicey at
times, because I mean, he's a street war and he had street talk,
and I like far I get me fat. But if we can't keep
it real, then and what are we doing? Yeah, And so it
was really refreshing to hear his take on things and to hear how he's every
day out there doing what he can within the community and taking the knives off
the street and the guns and the weapons. And I just want to encourage
people. I will share it later, but I just want to encourage people
to support him and all the people. We are on the front line.
If we can't get out there ourselves, support the work in whatever way you
can tangibly, you know, offering your surfaces, giving money to the cause,
because every knife he takes off the street saves how many lives we do
not know, we cannot know, and it could very well save our own.
Sorry, I have a young boy, sixteen, and you can hear
the passion in my voice. This is really really important. To me,
not just because I have a young boy who's sixteen, but just because it's
the community that I'm a part of. And this is just really really saddening.
Every time I hear it, every time I see it, I just
yeah, yeah, So my heart goes out to anybody who you know has
been impacted and initials you. We went to that Vigel Vi Jamain Wong sung
and actually today this today I saw a clip I think I saw on LinkedIn
the video that he did where he'd asked his son, who at six,
you know, what is what should life been about in terms of there's been
some kind of stabbings in the area at that time as well, you know,
and his son the way his son answered, you know, in terms
of you know, for a child, you know, life should be about,
you know, hanging up with your friends, enjoying life and what have
you. And you know, it's so sad to then think, you know,
many years later, unfortunately you know, he's he lost his life in
that way. So my heart goes out, you know, keeping these families
Germaine and your family and all those impacted by knife crime and gun crime,
you know, in our prayers forever, I'm committed to doing it. I
know as a team we are to forever beat that drum whenever we can.
Whoever is involved in knife crime and whatever, we have've reached out to the
gentleman. We've got a community service and center right next to me, Box
up crime. Okay. I don't know if you've heard of it, but
he has various sort of hubs where they do boxing. He teaches young people
boxing, okay, and I'm in amongst that. He has a studio,
he has counseling services, so the young people come in under the guise of
boxing and self defense, but he just does a whole burther of other things
with him and one of his one of his studios he has a picture with
Prince Harry and all that. So he's got supporting, he has the ears
of playing him who can maybe make a difference. And I've asked him to
come and he will and as I said, whenever we can, however we
can, we will continue to have these conversations and raise awareness to ye.
And as you said that, a few weeks ago at Ballament's where their mends
menage, they had Mark Prince on there and again you know, he's starting
a new project as well. And again, you know I sort of said,
you know, we'd be interesting coming on, and you know he would
do. I know, he's a busy man, has a busy schedule,
but again, you know, willing to share because again they're doing the work.
They're out there running like a mentoring program, what have you. And
it's about choices as well. You know, we want to encourage people to
be making smart, sensible choices. Sometimes you get people get caught up in
things, but you know there's a ways in which we can help, we
can influence, we can kind of support. So definitely, you know,
in the new year twenty twenty four, we will definitely still be as she
says, then, yeah, covering those topics it is really difficult, and
it's really hard because you just think, oh, how are we still here?
You know, when we did the trauma conversation, when we did the
conversations with Mark and simple, I mean sometimes talking point can get very heavy.
Yes you're here thinking, oh boy, drop the mic, But it's
conversations that we do have to have. Indeed, indeed I want to have
them indeed. So yeah, so to change there, So we're ending on
that kind of a bit more of a higher point on that. But you
know that just goes to show how Talking Point really has covered a lot of
different topics, and you know some of them are where it's just us talking
and we're sharing music. You know, both of us love music. This
music show afterwards, you know, because sometimes I think, you know,
there's also an opportunity for to say, yeah, we're talking about a topic.
But for me, music can mean so much, whether it's the word,
I like to sort of look at the stories behind them, the lyrics,
things that are being said. You know that can enhance create, you
know, an environment and emotions, et cetera. So you know that can
be that's been some of our shows. Many of our shows are talking about
We talked about health, mental health. We had a guest on who you
know runs a program we're talking about self care and she actually approached us.
Actually I say she, I'll get her name in a second to you know
with that. We also talked about menopause and you know that's a lot in
the news at the moment. I've noted. You know, I can relate
to that myself. But you know, had a for me that had an
old friend who I hadn't seen for years and again just by a conversation,
happened to talk to a friend as a male friend at that actually who was
like, oh, do you know this person? You remember this person.
That's what they do, that's what they talk about. And again been able
to get them on to kind of talk about that topic as well. So
we've kind of we've covered a lot of things and I think you know,
yeah, a lady called Claire Thomas from Nourish to Saul and actually she was
really great. It was really interesting to hear her talking because she came from
her own personal experience of ill health and you know, the doctors were telling
her that actually there's not much she can do with the challenges that she was
having, and she's just like, well, you know what, I'm a
Christian. I know God can help me. And if the doctors are saying
they can't do much, I know God is bigger, greater and can do
all these things. And you know, through her own kind of researchment that
she did and obviously you know she was praying, worshiping all those things.
You know, she eventually found healing and was then able to set up her
own practice and now sort of shares the work that she does with other people
as well, you know, in the kind of coaching, health, nutrition,
etc. So yeah, it was really it was really good to hear
from her as well. And she was again someone who wanted to share with
our listeners the work that they do and how they can support and again make
a difference. So yeah, all the time, I mean, ministry is
often birthed out of mistakes, out of messes, mishaps, and yeah,
that's that was her story, and it was really refreshing to hear her angle
on it because she's not she's not a ventists, et cetera. Yeah,
and I like that about talking point as well, that we get people are
right perspectives or you know, are willing to say, you know what,
the church hasn't met my needs or you know, I've had to what I
have, and then we can look at how we can find solutions and how
we can make a difference and make things better and make change. So it's
good. So twenty twenty three, oh, it's it's been a year.
So what have you got planned for twenty twenty four? I hear you all
asking. I hope you're asking because we want you to stick with us.
There have been changes are different. Like I said, we kind of open
to other people joining our team and coming on and discussing what have you.
So, yeah, what have you got planned for twenty twenty four? Ooh,
let's see January, We've got Allison. Yeah, she's a counselor therapist
and she's been I mean, we call her an honorary member of the Talking
Pointing. There are a few honorary members now and she's been a regular on
the program and she's promising to come back. She did a series called Breaking
Big and Stronghold, Breaking Strongholds, Thank You. She did that within her
own church, and I was just so impressed with the delivery of that,
the message of that content of that that have invited her to start us off
in twenty twenty four with the same campaign, breaking Strongholds. So I'm really
looking forward to sharing with her and sort of sharing in the content there.
And we know what those strongholds are for each of us. They may be
different, but we know that God can help us to break through and break
the chains. So yeah, looking forward to that in January and February.
Pedro I used to still there. Petrick is going to be leading, He's
going to be leading the charge in February. He does a programming with the
lovely Tara, his wife, Heal My Marriage, and so we've we've commissioned
him, yeah, because February is usually a kind of found about love,
relationships, et cetera. So we've asked him to lead in February with a
either a version of Heal My Marriage or to bring Tara on. He hasn't
really divulged what exactly he'll do, but it will be focused on marriages and
looking forward to that as well. And then in March we may take a
break. That's all right, No, no March, I say. Traditionally
we have a bit of a formula, I guess in some ways, but
it's usually our Women's mom we having starts off with International Women's Day, but
we like to make it a whole month. And whilst it's not necessarily about
us taking over, we want to celebrate the women within our church or in
our communities, and we've had some great women on throughout the year, so
we want to hear more of what they're doing. We probably get something,
Yeah, definitely get some of them to come back, because many have sort
of you know, they're doing their own projects there was a woman who from
Trinidad who joined us from Trinidad who has a breast cancer clinic. Yes,
reached out to her recently and said, you know, it would love to
have you back. Just let us know what's happened since what you're doing now,
And I think that's led the way for us maybe looking at a revisiting
type or revisit type programs where we just touch base with people who have been
on before and just see where they're at now and how things are going with
them. And yes, that's probably what we'll do in March, but we'll
probably do that periodically throughout the year, just bring people back on the topics
and the awareness days and so forth that have been in the person. Obviously,
anybody else I keep I keep hammering on, but anybody who wants to
be part of the conversation. I find our listeners are too quiet, and
we've got to encourage them to be more responsive. I know they're out there.
I feel they're out there, but it can be quiet when you're over
here and you can't see faces and so forth. So if you're there and
you've been blessed by the show, let us know which show you've enjoyed the
monster which show you've caught and you've sort of been blessed by let us know
and if you'd like to be part of the panel, if you know someone
who might share the word, we're looking for a fourth person. Unless past
Away was willing to come back past the Away, you're still there, but
yeah, we're looking. It doesn't have to be every week, it could
be whenever you're available. And that leads us nicely into a Bible study this
campaign that we are wanting to do, because that's how it started. I
think we had questions come in on different topics within the Bible and we would
just discuss them, and we want to go back to that, go back
to basics. So maybe one month or throughout the year we'll look at just
talking about or discussing a question that's come through. So if you've got questions
that you want to answer, then again send it through. It's studio at
Adventist Radio dot London. I believe we have or we'll have a talking point
email soon. But in the meantime, you know we'll get to us if
you send it to studio at Adventist Radio dot London and yeah, we'll be
happy to pick that up. Absolutely, definitely deffinitent. And also, as
you said, and we mentioned it earlier, if you'd like the Talking Point
team to come to your church. We started doing talking Point on the on
the road where you know we'd come and join your AY programs. Do get
in touch with us about that as well, because again, you know,
again going into the churches hearing what's being discussed, what are the challenges that
you may be facing, or what's the hot topic that you're talking about,
you know, it gives us a good perspective of what's happening within your churches,
what's been talked about, and what kind of things we want to share
and get out there as well. So and Theise of Days, I think
we did Colchester and that was fabulous. It's one of my favorite shows.
Me I'm croaking in it and I apologize if you listen on Spreaker you'll hear
me for you. It was lovely. It was wonderful to be part of
the church service there. So I will say, I mean, you know,
I'm a music person. If you're doing Music Days and you want us
to host or be part of it, absolutely absolutely. It had such a
lovely time in Colchester, and I'm saying decent greetings to the Colchester Church.
Indeed, indeed, oh, twenty twenty three, Yes, so twenty twenty
four years around the corner. It is God willing, we'll make it there,
you know. So as so, coming to the end of our show,
I guess what do we want to kind of leave with our listeners in
terms of a final thought in terms of whether what we've thought of twenty twenty
three, what's been our kind of inspiration motivation for the things that we've done,
something that we can kind of share if you're kind of thinking of you.
We've talked a little bit about some of our highlights, some of the
things that we've done for the show, and our own kind of work that
we're doing. Yeah, what can we What would be your kind of final
thought in terms of going into twenty twenty four. I hadn't prepared a final
thought. I feel like what's coming to mind now is that we need to
go beyond talking. Now. That's something we've spoken about here and there.
But the conversation is excellent, But the conversation is the starting point. Yeah,
And I don't know if we will have the bandwidth or the capability to
become more active. But I'm thinking workshops, I'm thinking on the road stuff,
just to sort of get more hands on. That would be my vision
for talking point moving forward. We talk talk about a lot of really good
stuff, and I think generally when we are done talking, we've got a
few action points, a few things that could be done to solve the issue.
What we need to now do is to follow us through and see if
we can help to implement or be part of the process in implementing some of
the changes, or just like you said, take the discussion out into the
community, out in the church and see where we can we can be more
helpful. Okay, So lots of talk and plenty of action. Yes,
that's it. That's it. That's our next tag. But and personally,
as I said before, my prayer for next year is wisdom. Okay.
I think that's the basis on which all other blessings will flow. Josephine,
think from yourself as a honorary talking point. The honorary well, I won't
for in terms of just something thinks. Okay, it's our final thoughts as
just like let's move through the next few days next year, like with confidence,
like God confidence, because sometimes he has things ready and waiting for us,
and we're just a bit nervous or shy to step into it. But
it's always better just to walk away. He's going. So, yeah,
no, I realized that. Yeah, I guess it's just I just think
it's just whole. I think I think it's just I would just be encouraging
people to hold on, you know, And I'd say that in the good
and the bad times, because sometimes you know, when things are going good,
we sometimes maybe even slightly forget why it's so good and how it's so
good. But sometimes you need to hold on to some of those those moments
and kind of celebrate those and recognize those because and I think, Jos when
you mentioned this earlier, that's sometimes it's very easy for us to really kind
of focus on all the negative things. That's all we talk about, so
we kind of remember and you know, sometimes but if somebody asks you how
you are, I think to myself, how many times we I should say,
you know what, I'm great, I've had a fantastic week, what
have you? You know, I'd love that, But it's very easy for
us then to just say, oh, you know this happened, This happened,
This happen happened. So hold on to the good times and then just
hold on to again. Going back to my verse, hold onto God's hand
and just you know, Summer right says, you know, is not We're
not given more than we can bear. It doesn't feel like that many times.
But you know, we have got a hopefully and I say, God,
Willie, We've got a bright future with him. We've heard the kind
of term he's coming soon for many many years, many many years, but
actually it really feels like he really is now when you see everything happening.
We read about this should when we do this kind of you look at Prophecy,
read through Danual actually them things are becoming realer and realer. So it
really is to kind of hold on and kind of just know where you are.
And as you said, Josephine, you know the God confidence, because
there's going to be a point where we're going to have to really stand for
that. You know, we're seeing people around the world who are being persecuted,
who are being you know, not able to worship freely, et cetera.
I recently went to Hong Kong and actually and I met when the church
is there. I met a guy who's from China, did a lot of
work in China and was in prison for about twenty five thirty years for preaching,
and I thought, wow, twenty five years is a long time,
you know, would we be willing exactly? So my encouragement would be too,
hold on and yeah, keep going and yeah, continue with the faith
and yeah. I think for me, in terms of encouraging the listeners,
it would be to go back to my original point about and yours about support.
Yes, there's a saying that you could be so heavenly minded that you're
not earthly good. And our focus, yes, is heaven and our soon
returning King. But we've got to get through. We've got to get through
the day by day, and we pray, we seek his help, but
sometimes he's saying to look outsewhere, or he's providing us with additional support,
and we ignore it. We think we're strong or we're tough, for we
shouldn't or we can't. My message to because we are struggling with so many
different issues, from mental health issues to financial lists, to relational issues,
and I can put my hand up for every last one of them. To
some degree, we really need to learn how to say I need help.
Yeah. And with that final words on that, you know, thank you
all for being with us, sticking with us throughout twenty twenty three on Talking
Point, I hope you have been blessed, You've been informed, encouraged,
you've learnt something. You may be laughed along with us sometimes, you know,
with there is a banter, they're the jokes there as well where we're
trying to keep it real. But ultimately we hope that you have been blessed
and you can take it away and share that. Do check us out on
spreaker dot com. Just search for Advantage Radio London and Talking Point. You'll
find the shows there and do join us next year twenty twenty four, wishing
you all blessed New Year when it comes, and the rest of the enjoy
the rest of the festive season. We're going to close with a prayer when
our shows are finish it with mind praying for us, and then we'll end
with a track from James Fortune and Worship the King. Let us pray,
dear lorda thank you for bringing us together today. Lord you've seen it fit
to bring us through this year and it's truly something we cannot take for granted,
no matter our age, no matter our circumstances. So we just bless
your name for that. During the season, I pray we really stick close
to you and understand the true reason or the best that we can make out
of this season. Let us give, let us have peace in you,
Let us draw closer to You at this time and spend time with our loved
ones. I thank you for the Talking Point Team and this show, Lord,
where they've been able to open up topics sometimes we shy away from,
Lord, and I pray that it will continue and grow as a show.
Lord. May we reach needs, may we encourage, May we inform,
maybe just have a spirit of authenticity in this Christian walk where we can learn
and grow from one another. So bless each member of the Talking Point team
and all our listeners, the aar Our family, Lord for their encouragement for
their words as well. Bless and keep us as we go through the night.
In your name, we pray, Amen, thank you once again for
joining us on Talking Point. Enjoy the rest of this week. Do oh
before I forget, Josephine, there's a special thing happening tomorrow morning. Ready
to mention at the beginning. Do we have the details of the Arl Christmas
Party. So from ten wrong time, from nine am till twelve pm,
we will be in studio and we are welcoming you guys to either come into
studio. So that's twenty five Saint John's Road, Watford, w D seventeen
one p set one PZ so W seventeen one p Z So you can join
us in studio. We have snacks and drinks and good vibes, or you
can join us on zoom if you can't make it in and the zoom id
is seven nine to one nine six one three eight five five. That's seven
nine one nine six one three eight five five. If you didn't get that
and want it written down, just drop us a message or an email,
or you can check out our Instagram and Facebook page and the poster is up
there. We'll love to have you with us. Cool and thank you Josephine
for that and Senia. Anything happening after talking point, Yes, I do
believe Saturday Night Praise will be next time, so do stick with us.
So it's going to be taking it to a couple more hours of music and
festivities. So thank you again for joining us on talking point. So it's
good night from Angela, good night from Zenia, Happy New Year when it
comes, and Josephine, and we'll see you next year. We're hoping to
start back on the sixth of January, so enjoy the rest of the week,
join the party if you can tomorrow, and we'll see you next year.
And we're going to end with James Fortune Worship the Kig good Night from
US Adventist Radio London. Inspiration for the song m