Steve explores angel experience on radio
22 Dec 2006
Do you believe in angels? That's the question Steve Hollinghurst from Church Army's is going to be answering as a guest on The Psychic Show which airs today from 10pm to 1am on
LBC 97.3. The Psychic Show which is one of the most popular programs on LBC has an audience of 92,000 every Friday night and deals with a whole host of psychic phenomena. "I was approached by Colin Lowther of
HCJB Media who runs shows on secular commercial radio stations but as a way of getting faith issues into that media," explains Steve. "He wanted to offer a show on angels this Christmas to
LBC 97.3 and had been put in touch with me because of the work I do at Mind Body Spirit fairs, where angels are really popular. I helped explore some of the themes and how many non Christians see angels at work in their lives. LBC liked the idea and decided it was perfect for the Psychic Show just before Christmas. I think it's a really good opportunity as a Christian to engage with what will be a largely non-Christian but spiritually seeking audience, so I'm pleased to be a part of the show, if also slightly daunted!"
Along with Steve Hollinghurst, other guests on the show include author John Woolmer and angel artist and channeller Alison Knox. The Archbishop of Canterbury's wife Jane Williams will also feature giving pre-recorded readings and explanations of the angel bits of the Christmas story.
Steve says that he sees the show as a great way to communicate with a large audience on a subject they care about. He says, "I want to be affirming of the experiences non Christians have of angels and say I see them as messengers of God, who want to lead us and offer us guidance. I think for many angel encounters are times of reassurance, sometimes connected with miraculous rescues from danger, but I want to encourage people to go deeper in their spiritual journeys. At Christmas of course we remember the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and challenging her to be open to a radical new life direction. We also remember the shepherds led to Mary's son. I think if we too are open, the angels can lead us forward too, deeper into God and for me I think that will also involve being led like the shepherds to Jesus, his life and his teachings.
"The subject is really popular and my hope is that people will be able to relate their own belief in angels to the Christmas story and the Christian faith. I suspect some of the listeners will have had bad experiences of church, indeed perhaps because of their spiritual experiences and won't be very positive to the Christian faith. I hope they'll be open to a different experience of Christian faith."
The Pyshic Show airs tonight on LBC 97.3 and will be pod cast on the LBC website for a few weeks following the live show, visit: LBC Podcast page.
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