Restore Ministries Podcast

Kurt Peters is a pastor, church planter, counsellor and ministry supervisor. He has walked alongside Pete and the Restore Ministries team since it's inception and from 2019 has served on the board. He is passionate about providing honest and loving spaces for people to encounter Jesus and be transformed. In this episode, Kurt does just that as he shares with Peter his experience of Parkinson's Disease from diagnosis to now. This is a powerful episode of the raw reality of significant health diagnoses and how they impact both our identity and the questions and ways we relate to and understand God.

Trauma. Some of us have experienced it, some of us have watched people we love experience it, some of us have just watched it effect our community and people we know from a distance. No matter what our engagement with trauma has been, we have all seen the effects that this type of “death” has had on people and the world we live in. Listen to Peter's interview with Ed Welch as he shares about trauma and how the experience of trauma can intersect with our identity and what we can do about it.

Have you ever wondered about the intersection between our identity and our personality? In Peter's conversation with Tim Lane (author, speaker & counselor) they break down both the helpfulness and unhelpfulness of personality tests, how our identity and our personalities differ and how the two intersect.

In the latest episode Peter Sondergeld sits down and talks with counsellor, author and CCEF Faculty member, Mike Emlet to talk about the interplay between our emotions and our identity. This is a not to be missed episode!

In the latest episode of the Restore Ministries Australia podcast Peter Sondergeld sits down with Pastor Steve Nation to talk about his experience of living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and how it intersects with identity. Steve has been a pastor for 17 years in Sydney, Brisbane and now Canberra, Australia. He is currently serving at the Canberra Austral-Asian Christian Church. He is married to Keiyeng and they have three delightful kids.

Pour yourself a coffee and sit down on the lounge with Jess, Peter and Kurt as they chat about what has been keeping Restore Ministries quiet over the past few months, what is coming up and how you can engage with us.

The Restore Ministries Australia Podcast team are back for season two! This season we are excited to be exploring the self and identity as we hear from people who fight the battle against the things that threaten and assault our becoming who God has created us to be.

In the latest episode of the Restore Ministries Australia Podcast Peter Sondergeld speaks with Elenne Ford, who breaks down some practical approaches to various conflict situations and offers a gospel-centred perspective on navigating resolution in relationships.Elenne is an independent dispute resolution consultant who resides in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, with a Master in Counselling from Westminster Theological Seminary and over 27 years experience in private practise as a barrister-at-law. Elenne is passionate about helping people to resolve conflict in God-honouring ways and to experience the power of the gospel in their day-to-day lives. She views conflict and the struggles of life as opportunities to functionally embrace the gospel and press into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

In the latest episode of the Restore Ministries Australia Podcast Peter Sondergeld provides an update on the progress of his first book, as well as some insight into the content we could be expecting and the intent for the book. Join us as we get a glimpse into what it is like to wrestle with the concept of our identity in the light of scripture as Peter shares some of his experiences in the writing process so far.

In the final episode of our three-part sustainable ministry series, Jess Fernance speaks with Craig Lyons, who shares with us the ups, downs, challenges and miracles he gets to experience as a case worker for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.Craig has committed the last 14 years to Teen Challenge Queensland, after previously serving as a Youth Pastor, and through this episode shares openly about how he has learnt to serve sustainably, long-term, in ministry which is both rewarding, but also emotional, hard and disappointing at times.

In the second episode of our three-part sustainable ministry series, Jess Fernance speaks with Sue Patterson - a mum and a counsellor, group facilitator, pastoral carer for Restore Ministries, The Project Church and The Restore Centre.Sue shares of her 35 years of serving in various ministries, and the common thread that runs through her serving: people, and her heart to bring God's heart and the truth of the Gospel to those around her. With beautiful imagery that likens God's word to the sweet trickling of honey, Sue paints a picture for us not only of the beautiful victories that serving in her types of ministry allows her to witness, but also the difficulty of serving whilst raising a young family, and the hard things that come alongside being in a position of leadership.

In in the first episode of our three-part sustainable ministry series, Peter Sondergeld speaks with Jeff Pierce, Pastor of Leroy Community Chapel in Ohio. As we look to see and discuss what contributes to serving effectively in ministry long-term, Jeff shares with us some of the highlights and struggles from his 20 years of serving God in various ministry positions.This episode is a must listen for anyone whose heart is to serve God, and continue doing so effectively long-term (dare I say it, all of us). Whether your role is paid and pastoral, or volunteer and in another capacity, there is a wealth of beauty and wisdom to glean from the way Jeff shares about his love for people and his love for the Lord.

Small groups. Most of us have been a part of one, and no doubt we have seen some small group interactions go well, and some perhaps not quite as well. In this episode Jess Fernance and Peter Sondergeld are joined by Renee Gilmour & Mick Eley, to discuss participating effectively in small group situations.Renee & Mick have both served as leaders for small groups with Restore Ministries, and draw upon their experiences as both participants and leaders to share some helpful ways we can connect within our small groups and develop deeper, well connected relationships in a safe space that move us closer to Jesus and being known by one another.

Peter Sondergeld is joined by guest Kirsty Castle in this bonus episode of the Restore Ministries Australia Podcast as we discuss the current effects of COVID-19 in Melbourne, Australia, as they face their second lockdown experience. Kirsty shares what she has seen in her role as a mother, biblical counsellor and pastor's wife during this time, and how we can helpfully love and pray for Christians in Melbourne during this time.

How do leaders be appropriately weak in front of the people that they lead?Are you a leader of a small group? Have you ever wondered about creating a culture of safety within your group? Or, how to appropriately share vulnerability whilst in a position of leadership?In this episode Jess Fernance and Peter Sondergeld are joined by Kurt Peters & Renee Gilmour, to discuss exactly that, as well as some personal stories around connecting with God, and spending time reflecting with Him.Kurt Peters is the Pastor at St Matts Botany, as well as a board member of Restore Ministries, whilst Renee Gilmour serves as a leader for the small group discipleship programs of Restore Ministries.

Peter & Jess are back, joined again by Sue Patterson, talking relationality and how our vulnerability has shifted during the COVID-19 isolation. There are some great practicalities in this episode to help us do relationships and open vulnerability well, as well as some good laughs and intimate moments. If you've ever felt the riskiness of being vulnerable with other fallen humans, this is a good episode for you.

In Episode Three Peter Sondergeld and Jess Fernance are joined again by Col & Sue Patterson, a husband and wife team who both actively serve in Restore Ministries small group ministry as group leaders. In a round table discussion Peter, Col & Sue delve into the character of God as our Father, and His togetherness with us in our pain as we explore our own neediness and shame.

“God is not a God who separates from evil and has nothing to do with it, but He's a God that actually gets His hands dirty, get's down in the midst of it and turns it back to being good again. He restores and redeems it.” - Peter SondergeldIn Episode two Peter Sondergeld and Jess Fernance are joined by Col & Sue Patterson, a husband and wife team who both actively serve in Restore Ministries small group ministry as group leaders. In a round table discussion Peter, Col & Sue share their own personal experiences of times of trouble and the truth of who they know God is, and how He is present in times of trouble.

This bonus episode comes from Restore Ministries Australia's first webinar, Walking Together Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, presented by Peter Sondergeld on April 22nd, 2020. Peter shares some practical strategies on how we can walk helpfully with those around us struggling with fear and anxiety, as well as a short Q&A segment.​To download the presentation used for this webinar visit our podcast page.

Join us for Episode One of Restore Ministries Australia podcast with Founder Peter Sondergeld and Podcast Host Jess Fernance where you will discover the heart, the history and the hope of Restore Ministries Australia. For more information on Restore Ministries Australia visit www.restoreministries.com.au