Reflections from Torch Trust

It’s nearly the end of October. And since this is the first Sunday after the clocks have gone back, Marilyn reflects on different aspects of time, from how Jesus always made time to heal those who needed it, to how time is a love language. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call […]

This episode features some reflections from Marilyn’s personal podcast Hope For The Heart. She touches on how different people in the Bible dealt with the huge responsibilities and blessings they were entrusted, including Mary, who became the earthly mother of Jesus. She also shares a real life story about the positive effects of love and […]

In this week’s episode we give you a special edition celebrating Sight Loss Sunday. This is Torch’s invitation to churches to wake up to the gifts of blind and partially sighted people. We hear this year’s sermon by Phil Bryson and reflections on what it’s like to be blind and partially sighted and in leadership […]

Today Autism and neurodiversity is something we’re getting a much better understanding of, though, if you’ve met one Autistic person, you’ve only met one. When author Robert Noble was growing up in the 50s and 60s however, his conditions were not well understood, landing him in a variety of different situations from the funny to […]

This week, we’re sitting down to speak with Revd Canon Michael Mitton, writer, speaker and director, who is going to lead the upcoming 2025 Torch Retreat. We talk about how he got into writing, and dig deeper into the subject of God through the four Seasons, which he will be talking about at the retreat. […]

Angels appear frequently in the Bible, and many of us probably have an idea of what angels might look, feel or sound like. This episode features an interview with Stephanie Sergeant, who shares the many ways she believes angels have come to her aid. Marilyn also shares a remarkable angel encounter of her own. To […]

This week we’ll hear from Torch Churches Partnership Coordinator Vicki Bryson about some of the events Torch has participated in recently. This episode also features a devotion by Zoe Byron, Torch’s head of comms, which was first featured on Pure 24 7 breakfast bites. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 […]

Sight Loss Sunday is an annual event in which Torch is encouraging churches to focus on blind and partially sighted people and their gifts and presence in church life. This year’s Sight Loss Sunday takes place 12 October. In this episode, we first speak to Torch CEO Sarah Dawkins about how her awareness has evolved […]

This week, Marilyn chats with author and friend Tracy Williamson about her book ‘Unashamed’, which is a powerful exploration of how we can experience restoration from life’s hurts with God’s help. Tracey’s book is also available from Torch in a variety of formats for people wishing to find out more. To contact Torch Trust with […]

This week Marilyn Baker sits down to talk to Reflections producer Linn Davies-who is a trained journalist, Afrobeats singer and writer. Linn talks about working for the BBC, growing an online platform, writing thrillers and the inspiration behind the featured songs. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or […]

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

This week we sit down to a conversation with Torch’s newest trustee Philip Rice. He talks about his love of the Torch Holidays and his passion to bring children and young people to torch-making the client base more age diverse. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit […]

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

This week, Christian Vision For Men’s Carl Beech chats to us about living with Early Onset Parkinson’s, and shares how his struggle to live with the disease turned into a remarkable innovation to help battle his Parkinson’s symptoms. Carl demonstrates the device he’s developed during the programme, which when he turns it on demonstrates just how […]

In this weeks episode we hear from Gareth davies who’s married to Torch Together coordinator Becky Davies. He talks about what makes a good Torch holiday volunteer and shares part of one of the talks he gave on one of the most recent holidays. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 […]

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

Calling all podcast lovers! We are pleased to let you know that season 2 of our podcast Walking By Faith is coming out. This episode features the first of the Walking By Faith conversations, and a conversation with Torch friend and client Bernie Warren. And former Reflection’s producer Linn Ball reflects on what she’d like […]

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

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

As Foster Care Fortnight draws to a close, we’re chatting to Dr Krish Kandiah, the founder of the Christian organisation ‘Home For Good’, a charity dedicated to finding a home for every child who needs one.’ Krish is a also a Foster Carer, as well as being a government advisor, and his insight into this […]

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

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

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

In this episode of Reflections, we hear the fascinating story of Emily Owen, a Christian author who has had to learn to navigate the world with deafness after NF2A caused her hearing loss. She shares how becoming deaf has impacted how she worships God, and how her journey gave voice to her writing and the […]

This week we hear a special sermon from Rev Canon (Emeritus) Steph van der Toorn that explores the peaks and troughs of motherhood, and considers the struggles that so many can battle with too. To contact Torch Trust with any comments or feedback, call 01858 438260 email info@torchtrust.org or visit torchtrust.org.