AccessTheStory Radio: Recent Episodes
Trav Johnson
We're talking about faith formation, culture and the Story of God.
Trav Johnson runs AccessTheStory - a fresh Aussie not-for-profit committed to immersing an emerging generation in a story that is beyond them.
"Most Australian young people don't see the relevance of the Christian narrative, so we are helping Christian Communities cultivate learning practice that enables young people to 'find faith through God’s Story' - discovering who they truly are and how they fit in the world."
I've always loved telling stories. Pictures in our minds capture the imagination in a way that moves us to response. In my opinion, a parable trumps data and lecture any day.
This episode gives commentary around the value of story in the realm of mental health, and interacts with three parables I've been working on:
"A hundred dollars";
"Peach Stones and the Tree of Life.", and;
"Elvis in the Judean Foothills".
Music credit:
And then I wake up - spring gang
Some Air - Gloria Tells
Where She'll Go - Mimmi Bangoura
Fly Back To Me - Gloria Tells
A reflection on four conversations I had in late January -- identifying some key questions and musings on the relevance of the Resolute Love Project.
"Resolute Love can become an on-ramp into best practice therapeutic care through a lived experience learning approach."
Music credit:
Silhouettes - Ray & Ray.
The blame game - Dasloe.
Pulling back the curtain on some of my planning for the Resolute Love project this year.
It feels a bit like I'm building the plane as it prepares for take-off, but perhaps that's the nature of innovation!
These are some of my 2024 priorities as I grapple with the question of how my own experiences and skills intersect with the needs of parents supporting young people.
Music credit:
The Blame Game - Dasloe.
My All Time - Ray & Ray.
Our third and final episode discussing the profile of a Mental Health Caregiver. As part of a focus on our Resolute Love project, we're introducing the final aspects of the Caregiver Profile - 'resource aware' and 'marginally supported'.
We'd love it if you could complete (or share) the next round of our survey: www.resolute.today
An infographic of findings from the pilot survey can be found here: https://accessthestory.com/projects/resolute-love
Other research referred to in the episode can be found here: https://wildlabadelaide.org/
and here:https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21
Music Credits:
Red Pool by Jobii - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/0KHFnVVruh/
Shelter by Across the Great Valley - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/mnAugOhqJr/
Hopeful by Nebulae - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ncRJBdskYE/
This is our second episode with a focus on our Resolute Love Project, giving insight into the profile of a Mental Health Caregiver. This episode furthers our discussion with another two aspects of a Caregiver Profile.
We're in the midst of gathering more data on the subject -- the survey can be found here: www.resolute.today
An infographic of findings from the pilot survey can be found here: https://accessthestory.com/projects/resolute-love
Other research referred to in the episode can be found here: https://wildlabadelaide.org/
and here:https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21
As part of our Resolute Love Project, we've launched a survey to assist us in discovering the profile of a Mental Health Caregiver. This episode is a discussion around the findings from our pilot survey - presenting two aspects of a Caregiver Profile.
The current survey can be found here: www.resolute.today
An infographic of findings from the pilot survey can be found here: https://accessthestory.com/projects/resolute-love
Other research referred to in the episode can be found here: https://wildlabadelaide.org/
and here: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/social-isolation-and-loneliness-covid-pandemic
AccessTheStory is thrilled to be able introduce our newest team member, Adrian Blenkinsop.
For many years we have worked alongside Adrian in his coordination of the CONVERGE network in Australia and New Zealand, and we're now excited to be able to see him continue in this work as part of the AccessTheStory team.
This episode we get to hear a little of Adrian's story, his heart for ministry, and the current work of CONVERGE.
You'll find info regarding CONVERGE on our website here: https://accessthestory.com/workshops/converge
And a little bit about Adrian here: https://accessthestory.com/team/adrian-blenkinsop
Today, on a bonus episode in our 're-engage' season, I'm chatting with Richard Sharp.
Richard and I have been good friends for many years -- working alongside one another on a number of projects, and being responsible for the encouragement (and sometimes distraction) of one another.
Richard's new initiative: 'project nexus', not only complements the direction that ATS is headed, it also brings a fresh opportunity to see innovative leaders equipped for ministry in a complex and unpredictable climate.
Check Richard's work out here: https://www.projectnexus.org.au/
We are four episodes in to our 're-engage' season -- having covered questions like 'what we're about' and 'what we do', we then spent some time thinking about our VERGE project.
Each of our projects are a response to a roadblock to faith formation. For the VERGE project we thought about the metaphor of 'pulpit' as an obstruction to learning.
The RESOLUTE LOVE project seeks to overcome the roadblock of the 'platform' -- where the distance created by depersonalised messaging can amplify a sense of feeling disconnected. If you're someone who is caring for a person struggling with their mental health, then we want to help you find connection with others in the same boat. We're still exploring the best ways to do this, but if you know anything about ATS, you'll know it starts with story -- which is why we're beginning by giving you the opportunity to tell yours.
The first step of this project is gathering some stories through our online survey - you can find it at www.resolute.today
The projects we adopt are responses to roadblocks to faith formation.
VERGE is a project seeking to overcome a big obstruction to learning -- the pulpit. Notsomuch the piece of furniture, but what it can represent in people's minds as they engage with the Story of God.
In this third episode of our 're-engage' series, you'll get to hear a couple of examples of how the power barrier of the pulpit is dismantled -- opening up some significant moments for people to access God's Story.
You'll find more information about the VERGE project on our website -- https://accessthestory.com/workshops/verge
The second episode in our short 're-engage' season deals with the mission or 'ambition' of AccessTheStory. Following a season of retreat -- more like sabbatical -- we've identified the opportunity to broaden our scope while still valuing the work we've done so far.
Here's some of our thinking around that, and an introduction to our new mission statement -- 'releasing people into God's Story through timely ministry responses.'
Coming back to the airwaves after a season of retreat, we're starting a short season to re-enage our support-base and ministry networks.
Today you'll get an unfiltered insight into Trav's heartbeat for AccessTheStory, a bit of the story over the years, and some core practices that sustain our hopes for the future.
Enjoy!
how mental health first aid helps us go deeper in our understanding and experience of the incarnation
As Trav reflects on some recent conversations with churches who are trying to find Youth Pastors, he asks the question: "Is the apparent lack of good youth ministry practitioners in local churches symptomatic of a larger problem?"
Trav gives four suggestions to help navigate this larger problem.
In the midst of a mental health epidemic, and overly-simplistic religious posturing, what if the care of God is more holistic than we ever imagined?
My church has experienced a migration of sorts over the last few months. Covid seems to have accelerated the process for people to change their spiritual home, but I'm not sure a church transfer will necessarily equate to spiritual renewal.
We're exploring what it means to plant a micro-church - here's a short reflection on one of the key questions we ask our group.
Part two - where Bekk Sellars explains what she means by "My Calcutta". Do yourself a favour, and listen to Bekk unpack the story of how she initiated the youth outreach community in her neighbourhood, and how she has seen God bring light into the darkness. (Part one of two).
We're chatting with Bekk Sellars again - where she explains what she means by "My Calcutta". Do yourself a favour, and listen to Bekk unpack the story of how she initiated the youth outreach community in her neighbourhood, and how she has seen God bring light into the darkness. (Part one of two).
"In all my times of meeting people - especially in my local area - I haven't really met anyone who hates God. A lot of people hate Christians. But a lot of people just want someone to care, or be interested in them."
Bekk Sellars is no stranger to stepping into unchartered waters when it comes to reaching people with God's love - serving young people in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, she'll admit she's often tired, but her perspective on mission is sharp, and her heart for others is large.
I am always encouraged through the stories she tells - here's an insight into what makes Bekk tick!
"Rather than looking for the silver bullet, we need to come back to our faith, and humble ourselves before God."
"We're not actually important enough to stuff up God's plans."
Beth Hoy shares her stories, frustrations, insights, and hopes for how we might see followers of Jesus raised up from the next generation.
Beth is the Generations Facilitator for Baptist Churches in South Australia, and she is living out the message she carries to emerging leaders.
As her 2yo daughter, Hosanna, schools us on Mr Happy and Pokemon, Beth Hoy pulls back the curtain on some of her own story.
Beth is the Generations Facilitator for Baptist Churches in South Australia, and she is living out the message she carries to emerging leaders. May your heart be encouraged as you hear her story.
Today our friend Riley unpacks his passion of 'bringing credibility to the gospel'. We couldn't help but reflect on the annual opportunity for serving young people at the Victor Harbor Schoolies Festival.
Riley Smith is Families Pastor at Victor Harbor Baptist Church in South Australia. As you hear Trav and Riley chat together, we trust your imagination is sparked for being good news in your neighbourhood.
Part of what we want to do with our podcast is champion everyday stories of faith - today we'll hear from Riley.
Riley Smith is Families Pastor at Victor Harbor Baptist Church in South Australia. As Trav interviews Riley, we hope his story inspires and encourages you in your own faith journey!
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session seven' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around some practical insight for completing your FORMATION PLAN.
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session six' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around the value and practice of cultural analysis in a local ministry context.
We're chatting with Hannah again about her experience in using AccessTheStory's approach to learning and formation. Hannah Juanta is Youth Director at Edwardstown Baptist Church, and her honest and practical insights to our resourcing are super-helpful!
We're chatting with Hannah again about advent ideas. Hannah Juanta is Youth Director at Edwardstown Baptist Church, and we think some of her practical ideas and pastoral reflections are important for you to hear!
Part of what we want to do with this podcast is champion everyday stories of faith - today we'll hear from Hannah. Hannah Juanta is Youth Director at Edwardstown Baptist Church, and long-time friend of AccessTheStory. As Trav interviews Hannah, we hope her story inspires and encourages you in your own faith journey!
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session five' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around some ministry implications from Jesus' life and ministry.
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session four' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around the purpose and priorities of Jesus.
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session three' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around the question of the identity of Jesus.
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session two' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around the story of God, and how we might see this ancient story shape our own.
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session one' - where we join Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser in a conversation around how culture influences us, and how we can respond to it.
We're excited to be hosting some conversations for SHERPA - a 12 month journey through God's story with the intent of personal and leadership formation.
This is 'session zero' - introducing Adrian Blenkinsop and Nathan Vawser - part of the small team who are developing SHERPA.
This isn’t a podcast about inerrancy, inspiration, or textual criticism - but about how our metaphors of the Bible represent (or mis-represent) the story of God.
"SPEAK out the story". Learn how to create space for meaningful response from learners as they SPEAK out God's story by moving from the mindset of a 'drover' to that of a 'shepherd'.
"WALK in the story". Learn how to create space for meaningful experience with learners as they WALK in God's story by moving from the mindset of a 'librarian' to that of a 'curator'.
"SIT in the story". Learn how to facilitate great dialogue with learners as they SIT in God's story by moving from the mindset of an 'info-booth attendant' to that of a 'guide'.
"STEP into the story". Learn how to provide the best environment for learners to STEP into the story of God by moving from the mindset of a 'teacher' to that of a 'story-teller'.
Here’s my first podcast on Anchor - less about what I do, and more about why I do it ...