Today's show featured a pre-recorded article with author and journalist Charles Gardner.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Charles came to England in 1970, at
the age of 21, to visit his half-Jewish grandmother. He ended up
staying, though South Africa is still home to him.
He became a committed believer shortly afterward this visit through
the influence of a South African friend, through athletics. He
worshipped at All Souls, Langham Place, a famous church in central
London, for the rest of the 70's. He had a 'spiritual mother' who led
the class for new believers, and she always referred to herself as a
'completed Jew'. One of the first jobs he accepted at the church was to
write to some of their missionaries, and this included a couple who
worked with CMJ (Church's Ministry to the Jewish people) among the
Falasha Jews of Ethiopia. Charles supposed he had always had something
of an understanding about Messianic issues, but this has gone much
deeper in recent years through involvement in a Prayer for Israel group.
In 2010, while on holiday he had a strong word from God about being a
'Helper of Israel' and, being a journalist by profession, he eventually
realized God wanted him to write a book answering the question as to
why the Jews are so important to him. It's called Israel the Chosen,
available on Amazon. Having just recently taken early retirement, at the
age of 64, he intends to continue writing. He would love to see his
longtime vision fulfilled —that of launching a new UK national newspaper
reporting and interpreting the news (especially on the Middle East)
from a biblical perspective.
Great music also -- from Beckah Shae, Barry & Batya Segal, Sue Samuel, Lamb, and John Waller.
