New horizons for Jewish Christian relationships, on Jewish radio, J-AIR

November 21, 2020
Barry Rodgers OAM and Nathanael Lawrence
Barry Rodgers OAM and Nathanael Lawrence training at Vision Christian Radio. Ian Worby and Vision were a great help in assisting us set up our own fully fledged studio.

We live in a time of unprecedented constructive Jewish Christian relationships. Never before in church history have Christians reached out to Jews with such unconditional love and with a heart to serve.

Whether it be to help underprivileged Jews in Africa, the Middle East or the former Soviet Union make Aliyah (emigrate to Israel) or helping bring in the grape and olive harvest in Judea and Samaria, to name just a few of the many initiatives taking place currently. Getting the message out to the wider Jewish community that an increasing number of Christians are standing with them in solidarity, is one of the aims of our new weekly radio program being broadcast to the Jewish community here in Australia on a Jewish radio station J-Air. It is then seen more widely on podcasts.

The program was the initiative of the late Peter Kentley of Beersheba Vision, who sadly suddenly passed this year, after only a few broadcasts. Peter was a member of the Australian Light Horse Association that took part in the much-publicised centenary of Beersheba event, that rode through the Negev with 100 horses following the steps of our horsemen in 1917.

Having a Christian presenter on a Jewish radio network is a new development and does expand the horizons for Jewish Christian dialogue.

Peter, a former airline captain, was so impacted he felt that there was a need to “keep riding on” to further the relationship between our two countries that was birthed as a result of that momentous ride in 1917. Beersheba Vision was started with Tim Fischer AC. MP, the first patron and following his death, was succeeded by Barry Rodgers OAM and Neville Clarke OAM, MC.

Barry has now taken on the role of presenter for the “Beersheba Vision” weekly radio program to continue the legacy. Having a Christian presenter on a Jewish radio network is a new development and does expand the horizons for Jewish Christian dialogue.

Wide-Ranging Discussions

Our program focuses on educating our listeners about the amazing shared history that Australia and Israel have had, in both war and peace.

More importantly, we share stories from some amazing bridge-building Christian organisations and individuals that are working tirelessly in support of Israel.

Broadcasts, for Example, Include:

  • Items of historical interest from Kelvin Crombie on the battle of El Alamein in WW2 and how the Australian 9th division was instrumental in defeating the German thrust towards the Middle East, thus averting a second holocaust for the 700,000 Jews living there.
  • Pastor Ray Minniecon and Mark Pollard sharing on the amazing and little known Indigenous Australian/Israel connection.
  • Associate Professor Dr. Jennie Bickmore-Brand talking on the Israeli Education system and what we can learn from them.
  • Ian Worby from C4I, Rabbi Riesenberg and an orthodox Jew Sondra Baras, sharing on Jewish and Christian relationships, to name a few.

Enthusiastic Acceptance by the Jewish Community.

These sessions have been accepted with enthusiasm by the Jewish Community. Barry, along with other members of the Beersheba Vision Committee, realises that although there are deep theological and historical issues that are stumbling blocks in Jewish Christian relationships, however, as we reach out in love with a no strings attached approach, we are building strong bridges of trust. This approach takes us to a place where we can have the heart to heart transactions that transcend the theological divide and in that place, we can discover each other afresh as sons and daughters of our father Abraham. Although there is a long way still to go, hearts are being opened on both sides of the divide and we can only look in wonder at what God is doing in our day.

The broadcasts can be heard on 87.8FM Melbourne every Wednesday at 2pm, or downloaded from our website, beershebavision.org by opening the ‘J-Air’ tag.

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Barry Rodgers

The Australian Light Horse Association Ltd is a non-profit organisation, whose aim is to preserve the history and tradition of the Australian Light Horse and its predecessors.

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