The Commission Files

Dave Linton, the founder of Madlug, joins Will to explain how a former youth and church worker became a modern entrepreneur with a difference.  Madlug sells bags - and each time it does, a child in the care system is given a free bag for their possessions when they change accommodation. Traditionally, they've often had the indignity of stuffing their things into black bin bags.  Dave's p...

Dawn McAvoy is used to having calm, thoughtful, respectful conversations, even when others sometimes don't seem to want to.  She's the UK Lead for Both Lives at Evangelical Alliance UK . It describes itself as a pro-women AND a pro-life movement.  As Dawn tells Will, they're imagining a people and a place that value the life and health of women and unborn children, and pursue the we...

Jim Crookes is a Christian apologist. He explains Christianity and Christian thinking to those who are curious, sympathetic, or antagonistic.  And he teaches other Christians how to do the same.  His very successful podcast The Equip Project is popular, much-followed, and has helped change lives. Yet Jim started out in adult life as a software engineer and corporate mover and shaker. Through perso...

How do Christians respond to the recent moves to make Assisted Dying legal across the UK and Ireland?  In a sensitive and nuanced discussion, Ian Bingham of Care NI joins Will to argue that there is a better way - through palliative care. Alan Sheppard tells the story of the death of his wife Anne from cancer in July 2023.  Passing these laws, he says, is a Rubicon Issue for our societies. Once we...

"If we are treating AI in a more human-like way, in turn we are treating ourselves...in a more machine-like way".  The thoughts of Dr David Glass who teaches mathematics, and computer  science at Ulster University, and is part of the Artificial Intelligence Research Centre. So how does David - a committed Christian, view the new technology which is changing all our lives?  Does AI have c...

A Special Extra Episode.  A look at the JR87 UK Supreme Court ruling which will see changes in the way Religious Education and Assemblies are conducted in Northern Ireland's Schools.  Will hears from educationalist Dr Andrew Brown and Ian Bingham of CARE NI, both of whom know what the ruling says - and what it does NOT say. This interview is reproduced with the kind permission of the producer...

The band Redemption Arc are a husband and wife.  Clements and Becca - one from Northern Ireland, one from the USA.  A music critic once called them "Musical Misfits".  Perhaps there's something in that.  They're singers, musicians, teachers, and parents.  But when the couple joined Will in Studio 2, through their music they revealed a remarkable story of life, and love, and und...

If faith is to mean anything, you have to put it to work.  Belfast YMCA has just celebrated 175 years of work, from the initial Victorian vision, through two World Wars and Northern Ireland's own Troubles, to a present where our society is still very divided.  Director Chris Cupples tells Will about their origins and current programmes.  And former Youth Director, Joe Campbell explains the co...

Will welcomes the celebrated singer songwriter Eilidh Patterson to Studio 2 at Commission just in time for Christmas!  Click play for a musical journey of Folk, Americana, and Faith, as Eilidh tells her story of success, setback, and renewal. You'll hear plenty of her music, and enjoy her singing live in the studio! * All music and lyrics in this episode are by Eilidh Paterson, and are used w...

Join Will and his guest for a remarkable insight into life as a chaplain in the Armed Forces.  Rev James Burnett from Belfast is a chaplain in the Royal Naval Reserve.  Known as "Bish" or "Padre", whilst on deployment he regularly hears serving men and women ask why they rarely meet any Christians.  This is his mission field. And his wish is that church life could be like the b...

One to enjoy without the younger kids listening - because we're dealing with how to teach our young people about love and sex.  Judith Cairns from Love for Life joins Will to explain their work in schools, churches and the community.  There's no doubt the issue is complex and nuanced.  Jude talks candidly about the times they are challenged or misunderstood, sometimes deliberately misund...

In a special extra episode, Belfast man Gerry Blain tells Will his own life story, a story of turning away from God, and of being one of the worst-behaved  Bible study group members imaginable!  But God called Gerry back to Himself.  His witness ever since has impacted the lives of many others.   This interview was arranged at Gerry's request, when he knew his life was coming to an end.  With...

Lisa Keys is the Chief Officer of Boys Brigade Northern Ireland   An experienced business leader, she has steered the organisation through a major change as it began to work in partnership with, rather than as part of, the BB in Great Britain.  BB NI now has hundreds of companies with thousands of volunteer leaders. In an era when society is re-examining the way we bring up our boys and young men,...

David Blevins is the Senior Ireland Correspondent for Sky News, but is spending most of 2025 seconded to cover the biggest news stories happening in the United States.  He's been a News Journalist for more than 30 years.  In a fascinating interview he tells Will how he carries his faith with him.  And he makes a plea for listening to others without rushing to judgement. In a world of full sto...

"A peaceful, friendly, calm place".  That's how Dr Angie Minion describes The Big House , "a place to discover more of God's love".  She's joined by counsellor, Katie Mounstephen , as they explain their work, which also includes pastoral support, youth sessions, and residentials. A place founded from a vision, a vision which came from a moment of healing after ye...

   Will meets Daniel Jackson of The Genesis Network - which offers support to Ireland's people of business.  Can you imagine a marketplace transformed by Christ in an era of instability and uncertainty?  A time many describe as "permacrisis"?  Can you imagine business and political leaders meeting together over breakfast to pray for our island, north and south?  It's already ha...

    How do you begin to get a grip on the conflict in the Middle East?  Gaza?  Israel? Death and Suffering? What do you pray for?  Do you pick a side?  Will has been meeting Safa Hijazeen , Tearfund 's Regional Director with responsibility for the Middle East.  He's a man tasked with doing all that can be done for anyone who needs help, food, clothing, or medical treatment. In this short...

     What is Northern Ireland to you?  Home?  Or a strange and alien land?  To people using the International Meeting Point venues in south and north Belfast it can be both.  Kerry and Will have been to visit and meet the Project Leader, Rev Colin Dickson.  Colin's own story and insights into his work, and Western, Islamic and Jewish culture are remarkable.  But we also hear about an academic...

     What does "counting the cost" mean for 380 million Christians around the world? Chris from  Open Doors UK and Ireland joins us to explain why they keep a World Watch List of the Top 50 countries where it's dangerous to live your faith openly. And we meet John Ghanim from Yemen, 3rd on the list.  John explains how he receives death threats every day.  His remarkable story illust...

     There hasn't ever been a generation which didn't quite understand its young people, nor a group of teenagers who didn't roll their eyes at their parents.  They're different.  And they're just the same.  Will and Kerry welcome Jose Cummings of Exodus to Commission as they look at how it cares for and disciples young people.  And this in an era where a world of distract...

      A sadly all-too-common news story - a police raid on a property, and people rescued from their abusers.  People who'd been trafficked to Northern Ireland and forced into sex work.  But what happens after the story is largely forgotten? How does a victim become a survivor? Jill Robinson of Flourish NI joins Kerry and Will to explain how they can help, and we hear the true story of one wo...

      Three guests join Kerry and Will in the Commission studios they know very well already.  Commission's Head of Programmes Colm Flanagan accompanies  Hilary Jewhurst and Drew Gibson.  All three are Commission actors, presenters, producers and writers.  Learn the scope of the charity's work, a bit of our 50 years of history and our approach to story-telling from the Bible. Plus you ca...

      Music, chat and laughter in this special Christmas episode where Kerry and Will meet Marie Lacey, founder and director of Belfast Community Gospel Choir.  She describes the choir as a way of helping people from all walks of life sing truths about Jesus Christ as they come into contact with his Word. But she's also their leader, and confidante.  She's "Mama Lacey". *All mu...

      The Christian author and speaker, Lyndall Bywater, joins Kerry and Will to talk about her life and work.  She explains how she's never let her blindness interfere with any aspect of her life.  Known for uniting prayer groups across the UK and Ireland, she shares her passion for prayer, and the reasons she thinks so many of us feel guilty that we don't pray enough, or are simply no...

     In a time of weariness and cynicism about politics - locally and nationally - can Christians afford not to get involved?  In a special episode, Kerry and Will welcome three guests with a lot of insight on politics and their faith, including one who has been there, done the work, and taken the flak. Listen to Former Stormont Minister Nichola Mallon, Danielle McElhinney of Evangelical Alliance...