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Don Botham

Don Bothan is a television producer, media consultant and writer based in Newcastle in the North East of England. He has produced many different TV shows for various networks including GOD TV, with programming ranging from music shows to documentaries, conferences, and the award-winning In Depth interview series.

Articles

The Transgender Anomaly

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

As you may realize the transgender issue is all over the media. I have prayed over the subject and had great difficulty deciding just what to say.  I feel the Christian press must in all humility remember that love and humility play an important role in resolving conflict…

This headline and many others in recent months have caught my attention in the UK national press and broadcast media.   

Parents banned from school in Great Britain

A parent challenged the governors of a primary school after it compelled primary-age children, as young as five, to take part in a ‘Gay Pride’ transgender meeting. Izzy Montague is one of a group of parents of children at Heavers Farm School in South London that complained at their children being forced to take part.

Izzy said, “I complained about my young child being forced to take part in the event that goes against my Christian beliefs. When one family asked to meet the headteacher to discuss the issue, they were joined at the meeting by a staff member who confrontationally wore a t-shirt asking. ‘Why be racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic, when you can just be quiet?'”

‘Trans Kids: It’s Time To Talk’

In November 2018: this Channel 4 broadcast certainly made me consider my ignorance regarding transgender people, and I have striven to keep an open mind, and show understanding to all the different viewpoints.

TV presenter writer and therapist Stella O’Malley showed real bravery by daring to ask the question on everyone’s lips. “Is it right that 11-year–old children are being enabled and encouraged to take powerful, puberty-blocking drugs?”

At a public meeting to discuss different transgender issues, she was shouted down and saw youths in balaclavas and masks barricading the entrance to the hall to prevent people from going in.

It is this vehement hatred that O’Malley risks bringing down on her head  simply by suggesting society should consider the health risks before prescribing life-changing drugs to adolescents that should be informed that changing gender could lead to a lifetime of medication, and perhaps irreversible surgery.

These considerations must be brought to the general public to consider whether ‘transgender mobilization,’ rushed into without satisfactory research, will lead to future disabilities?

Sacked for daring to say her girl guides shouldn’t share sleeping areas and toilets with transgender girls who were born male

When Girl Guide leader Helen Watts in 2013 heard that to satisfy a demand for ‘inclusiveness,’ the Guides dropped the word ‘God’ from the pledge made by new members, she said. “I’m not a Christian but it’s a complete overreaction.”

What followed was a troubled series of events worthy of George Orwell’s 1984. (That is, a totalitarian system in which there is only one party, which allows no opposition.)

In November 2018, Helen made serious concerns about the culture of NOT telling parents that their daughters would be sharing facilities such as sleeping areas and toilets with transgender girls while the Guides were away.  Later she received a phone call from head office saying that she was under investigation. This was followed by a letter which Helen said could have come directly from the ‘thought police.’ She was broken but said, “I had to speak out.”

Within weeks of the investigation and after 26 years of dedication to the Guides, Helen was told by telephone that she was no longer welcome in the Girl Guides.

How should Christians address this gender culture? How should the Church respond?

I’m not a theologian and confess there are no easy answers, but some suggestions to ponder on. Well Jesus welcomed broken people, the poor, and outcasts, and all the people the self-righteous establishment dismissed  – He welcomed everyone, including the Ethiopian eunuch.

The public and the ‘Church’ must understand and realize there are genuine people that are born with gender anomalies and they should be treated with compassion, love, and understanding.

Our hope should be above all else that they’ll come to know Jesus, in order for them to know His love. We need to exhibit that love. So I hope that ‘Church’ will follow His example and show a warm welcome to everyone, and that our love and non-judgmental attitude will draw them to ask that eternal question – “What must I do to be saved?”    

“For God so loved the world that He give his only begotten Son,  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

In conclusion I would ask that Christians, all people of different faith’s, and people of no faith walk in love and humility to play a role in resolving conflict.

This article was written by Don Botham. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily the opinions of GOD TV.

  

 

 

   

 

    

 

                                                         

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Articles

An Evil Drug Left Them Dead Or Disfigured. Where Is The Justice?

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

Martin Johnson is the author of the The Thalidomide Catastrophe which has been making headlines in the UK. I’ve known Martin for some 30 years, and this is his amazing, compassionate, and at times heart-breaking story that he has related to me regarding the Thalidomide catastrophe.  – Don Botham.

Martin’s Story

I was a hospice manager, and in February 2000 we finished building a children’s hospice. The new children’s hospice was receiving its first patients when a couple of different people asked me what I was going to do next. I was content for the Lord to move me if He wanted, but I was not looking for a new job. On the journey home one evening in my car I felt prompted to talk to God, “my boss”, and said: “If you want to move me to a new job, that’s up to you, but I will not look for anything, you’ll have to bring it to me.

“And by the way, if you’re going to do that, I would like to try running a national charity rather than a regional one, and to manage a foundation rather than a fund-raising charity. I would also like to be able to work closely with the beneficiaries, rather than through doctors and nurses as I currently do. Oh, and if I have any say in this, I would like it to be closer to home, as I am finding this commuting tiring,” I prayed.

Then I laughed, as I was sure there was no such charity. About two days later the phone rang, and it was my friend Graham, another hospice manager. He asked if I was thinking of moving, and I said I had no plans to do that, but why was he asking? He said he had seen that the Thalidomide Trust were looking for a new director, and they were based in St Neots (only 15 miles from home), and it sounded “as if they need someone a lot like you”.

I knew this was the hand of God at work, as each detail of my prayer was exactly matched by the Thalidomide Trust, so I applied for the post. At the end of July I began work, and soon realised I needed to travel and visit all the surviving British Thalidomiders, so we would know what their situations and needs were.

Blood of the innocent

I planned to start with those most severely injured, so in September 2000 I met Tina Gallagher (pictured), born with no hands or arms, and only two ‘flippers’ for feet. Thalidomide was a medicine, which left at least 2,000 babies in the UK with severe deformities, and causing the miscarriage or stillbirth of thousands more. The worldwide total was over 100,000 babies destroyed or injured by this drug, with only around 500 in UK, 6,000 worldwide, surviving to adulthood.

Tina operated her mobile phone with a pencil held in her teeth, and told me she was trying to catch up with her education. “So what are you studying?” “A level Psychology and Sociology” “Why those subjects” “So I can train to be a counsellor. I may not have much, but I’ve got two ears and a mouth, and with those I can help people”.

On the day I met Tina I also met a woman with no arms or hands who was struggling to support her six children with the £12,000 a year we provided, less tax at 34%. I started to understand how very unjustly these people had been treated. The amounts we could provide were far too small, and this tax was savage, and exacted by a government that was itself partly to blame for the disaster.

Our MP John Major wrote to Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking for help with the tax, but he said “No.” Just a couple of days later, a journalist for the Daily Mirror rang up to ask if there was anything newsworthy happening, so I told him about our problem with Gordon Brown. He investigated, and a few days later there was a front-page headline “Cruel Tax!”, and a two-page spread inside, featuring Tina, speaking on behalf of her fellow Thalidomiders. Members of the group who had never been involved with campaigning before got in touch, particularly Nick Dobrik and Guy Tweedy. These two men met for the first time one night in Parliament.

Our new MP tabled an adjournment debate in the House of Commons. Dawn Primarolo, a Treasury Minister came to give the Government’s response – No! Watching this was a group of Thalidomiders, including Nick and Guy. They had similar arm and hand damage, and I discovered they were both Jewish. They decided that they should join forces and begin lobbying Parliament.

I joined them for our first day of lobbying. We had booked meetings with about 14 MPs, but several didn’t turn up. We had quite a bit of time to chat, and at one point Guy said to me “Here, you’re a born-again Christian, aren’t you?”, to which I replied “well yes, and I must warn you to be careful hanging around people like that, as they can get you into all kinds of trouble!”

That evening, as we left Parliament, Nick was despondent. He said “I don’t think we can succeed.” It suddenly came to me to say “Look, you’re both Jewish, and I’m Christian, but we all serve the God of Avra’am Yitzhak and Yakov, and He is a God of Justice. We will get justice.” From that time on, their skill at lobbying grew until they became one of the best-known lobbying teams in Westminster. By autumn 2003 they had a couple of hundred MPs in support.

We also got the support of a top tax barrister, free of charge. One day in October 2003 I took a call from the head of trust taxation at the Inland Revenue. This day he sounded unhappy, he told me how the activities of our team in Parliament “were not being helpful, they’re upsetting the Minister.” I understood he wanted me to “call the dogs off.” I said that was outside my power, but would he be interested to know we’d had an expert counsel’s opinion on our case? He was, and I said we’d been told to look at the Finance Act 1996 sections 329 AA and AB. He said, “thank God you’ve found that.” and in August 2004 a new law came into effect stopping tax payments on the grants we made!

Then Nick said, “We’re going after Diageo now.” This was the company that had inherited the original company which supplied the drug in UK. I said I didn’t think that would work, as they had only recently agreed to top-up funding, a total of £35 million. My opinion was supported by our chairman, an eminent High Court judge. We were both wrong, and by the end of 2005 we were negotiating a new stream of payments worth £160 million.

Nick and Guy then visited Thalidomiders in Germany, where more than 2,500 lived, and where the drug had been called Contergan, to encourage them to fight for a better deal. We linked with the 100-strong Swedish group too. In January 2008 they formed a global campaign, ICTA (International Contergan and Thalidomide Alliance). Nick next decided it was time the British government should make a public apology for their role in the affair, and make regular payments to assist with their health problems.

In January 2009, when this campaign began, the Secretary of State for Health was Alan Johnson, and he was totally opposed to us. In this he was backed up by his Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo (again!). This time the team moved at speed, and by the summer had the committed support of the great majority of MPs.

Political resistance from the top was still strong, when suddenly, there was a cabinet reshuffle, and Alan Johnson was replaced by Andy Burnham, and Dawn Primarolo by Mike O’Brien. With the full support of these ministers, the NHS staff now began figuring out how to make the deal work. By December we had cracked it, and one afternoon Nick rang me up and said “I’ve been thinking and I can see there have been far too many coincidences to make this happen. I have to say, it’s a miracle and the Lord is in it.”

In January 2010 the Health Minister delivered a statement of behalf of the Government apologising for the part they had played in the Thalidomide catastrophe, and a promise of funding, which by 2014 had topped £120 million.

After 2008, campaigns began in 12 other countries. By the end of 2015 new funding deals had been delivered to around 4,500 thalidomiders all over the world, to a total value of billions of dollars.

In 1987, German Thalidomiders marked the 30th Anniversary of the drug going on sale with an all-night vigil outside the factory, near Aachen. They released a cloud of black balloons, in memory of the children who never survived. The ICTA campaign began with a demonstration outside the German embassy in London in 2008, where for the first time in UK a cloud of black balloons was released in memory of the Thalidomide babies who died.

That was when I started writing the story of this catastrophe, and I found an expert on the German records and chemical history who wanted to help, and one of the world’s top historians of the German chemical industry, so in 2010 we agreed to turn what we were gathering into a book. We found we would be the first people to make public the full scale of this catastrophe, the worst of its kind in history.

This book, The Thalidomide Catastrophe was published in May 2018, but here I want to tell you the previously unwritten story of how the power of God is at work. In this affair, the hidden secrets keep getting exposed. One example was that we found a record of a meeting, secretly convened within the German government to decide how to (illegally) shut down the criminal trial of the executives of Grünenthal. This meeting minute was unearthed just shortly after we saw a letter from the German Health Minister in 2014 saying that such a thing could never have happened, and it would be unconstitutional! Coincidence?

7 ways I have seen the hand of God at work

I can say I have seen the hand of God at work – reaching out to those who have been damaged or destroyed by this evil drug:

  1. How He put me in charge of the Thalidomide Trust.
  2. Revealed His heart for the many injustices inflicted on the survivors.
  3. Had a national newspaper journalist call up at just the time our story needed to be broadcast.
  4. Raised up a host of men and women all over the world with the gifts and talents needed to present the case to governments and companies implicated in causing the catastrophe.
  5. Changed the hearts of company directors and politicians to do what was right.
  6. Removed unwilling politicians from office at the necessary times.
  7. Uncovered evidence of Government corruption and collusion.
  8. Privileged me to be in a place where I could tell the story.

Where is this story going? Well, while the survivors have received a measure of justice through compensation, there is still a big issue about the – “The Blood of the Innocent,” all the babies slaughtered by this drug. I think the final stage will see the Lord address this question of guilt, and those who corruptly covered up the crime. God will one way or another deliver justice.

About Martin Johnson

Martin Johnson has degrees in Divinity BD. Management PhD, and Behavioural Science MSc. He has lectured at Kings College London, and Warwick Business School and at the Royal Society  of Medicine.

His book The Thalidomide Catastrophe is published by Onwards & Upwards Publishers. “This momentous book is the first comprehensive history of Thalidomide… It demonstrates how many thousands of lives could have been spared very late in the day if Chemie Grunenthal had taken notice of the early alarms … It carries conviction by it’s scientific rigor, and the clarity of writing. Fifty years on after the deaths and sufferings the thalidomide tragedy is marked by… the odour of corruption and cover up.” – Sir Harold Evans, former editor of The Sunday Times and The Times.

 

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Articles

Little Girl Spurs Us On, To Keep Going No Matter What

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

In April 2018 I was asked to urgently pray for two young children – Bobbie Pye (aged 2)  and her younger brother Archie (1). Since then, the Pye family have been through a traumatic journey in a harrowing fight against what we now know to be meningitis.  People have been praying for Bobbie from all over the world via various prayer groups and especially in the Blackburn community in Lancashire, England where the family live.  This is the story of the remarkable little girl as told to me by her mum, Megan. 

On the morning of 27thApril 2018 Bobbie was feeling unwell, with a high temperature and vomiting. Archie also looked poorly. As it was Friday I wanted to get them both checked over and arranged an appointment for that afternoon. Around the time of the appointment Bobbie was so sick I had to change the time to later in the day.

When we left the house there was little change, but on arriving at the GP’s surgery, Bobbie had started with a rash. Everything from then on happened in a blur. The quick action from the GP to alert the ambulance was crucial and the paramedics’ administered her first antibiotic. If we had stuck to the original appointment the rash would not have been evident and the outcome would have been so much worse.

We were whisked to the nearest available hospital where a team of consultants took over Bobbie’s care, inserting drips, taking bloods and monitoring her SATS. But before our eyes, bruises were appearing all over her tiny body. In no time at all she was unrecognizable. Archie was also monitored closely but he was not showing the same critical symptoms.

The doctors had to sedate Bobbie as she was struggling to breathe and we were informed that she needed specialist care, but the nearest bed available was in Stoke on Trent. Both Bobbie’s daddy and I went with her, while my mother and sister stayed at Blackburn Hospital with Archie, who after antibiotic treatment made a complete recovery.

On arrival in Stoke Bobbie was in a critical condition and upon meeting the consultant for the first time, she confirmed that the first 90 hours would be crucial. From then on our lives went from high to drastically low within the blink of an eye. We were devastated, scared and emotional wrecks.

To watch your child surrounded by banks of machines and not be able to hold her is beyond heartbreaking. I am so grateful to all the people who donate blood as Bobbie had countless transfusions.

She survived the 90 hours, but day by day her hands and feet were changing colour, going through shades of grey to black within the first day. This is because her body was centralizing the blood flow to her torso to keep her vital organs functioning.

In total Bobbie was in PICU for 12 days in an induced coma and a further week once off sedation.  All through this stage she was classed as purple butterfly (end of life).

Bobbie was visited daily by the plastic surgeons as they monitored her limbs. Originally we were informed she would be losing fingers and toes but this diagnosis worsened on an almost daily basis as her condition deteriorated. Also with all this, Bobbie had kidney failure and had to have dialysis for over a month; each time they tried to take her off, her blood pressure would fall.

Bobbie was transferred to the PICU at Manchester Children’s Hospital on 8th May, still as a purple butterfly, as they felt they had the best renal team there. Slowly she was weaned off the dialysis, but Bobbie is going to need a kidney transplant at some point in the near future.

When Bobbie left the PICU, as she slowly started to respond, she was moved to the burns unit where she spent the next 10 weeks undergoing weekly trips to theatre for dressing changes and debridement.

It was here; on 20thMay she had her first major operation where her right fingers, left arm and right lower leg had to be removed.  On the 22nd May she went back to theatre for the removal of her left lower leg. In total Bobbie spent thee months in hospital at both Stoke and Manchester before being discharged to specialist reality centre for rehab in terms of prosthetic therapy and physiotherapy.

Since leaving Manchester Children’s Hospital Bobbie has been going to physiotherapy, learning how to walk on her knees while waiting to be measured for prosthetic legs.  She is coping the best way she knows how and has amazing support from her family and the wider community where we live.

Bobbie amazes all who meet her

Bobbie has astounded everyone she meets with her zest for life and her beaming smile. The journey she has taken so far has brought many difficulties and she faces many more operations as she grows, but I know she will not let this stop her enjoying life to the full.

I can’t begin to thank all the people, whose expert care brought Bobbie, back to us. From the quick thinking of the GP at the very start and the rapid response of the paramedics to give Bobbie that vital first antibiotic; to all the consultants, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.

The nursing staff created a diary for Bobbie for when she is older to help her understand exactly what she went through. Now it’s time to move forward with God’s blessing and the support of family and friends.

In Mark 9:23,  Jesus said, if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Bobbie’s story exemplifies the triumph of faith over fear’.

 

 

 

 

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Video

Man With No Voice To Perform For The Queen This Month After Surprise Win

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

Lee Rigley won Britain’s Got Talent in June this year in an almost super human feat that surprised many.  No comic act had every won the show before, but more than that Lee is a comedian without a voice. Known as ‘Lost Voice Guy’ he has to rely on a synthesizer to communicate – nevertheless he is able to overcome this huge hurdle in such a way that he literally has audiences in stitches. Now this month, as part of his prize he gets to perform for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance….

“There are too many people praying for mountains of difficultly to be removed, when all they really need is the courage to climb them.” – Anonymous.       

Lee is an inspiration to all of us to put aside the things that hold us back and embrace life to the full. It was in 2011 when I first heard of a local Newcastle man called Lee Rigley who was trying to break into the comedy circuit. I was amazed as I heard that Lee had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby which had affected his movement and rendered him totally unable to speak.  I thought, “he wants to be a comedian, but can’t speak?  I really must meet this guy!”

After making some inquiries I found out that Lee was working as the Online Content Manager for the city of Sunderland and I duly contacted him, and he kindly invited me to his home for an interview. Arriving at Lee’s home a couple of days later I watched intrigued as he moved slowly around the house, gave me tea and biscuits and I felt blessed by his warm welcome.

Lee explained that because of his disability he had suffered loneliness as a child and had no friends at school, but added that his childhood was made easier by attending a school for disabled children. From an early age he was fascinated by comedy and wondered whether, in spite of his disability, he could maybe one day become a comedian and follow his dream. He purchased an iPad voice synthesizer that allowed him to communicate with people and later he began to use pre-programmed sound clips for his comedy routine.

After much dogged determination, hard work, and some disappointments he moved slowly up the comedy circuit and success followed by an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival and a starring role on Radio 4 sitcom ‘Ability.’ (Ability! Irony, stretched a little. Ah what). Then in June 2018 I saw that Lee had made it through the audition stages of Britain’s Got Talent! And to crown it all he won the 12th series of the popular show on ITV, which is ultimately decided by a public vote.

During his audition and subsequent broadcasts Lee’s comedy, humility, and winsome personality greatly changed the public’s perception of people with a disability. (Or should that be ability). His prize for winning was £250,000 and the honour of performing at the annual Royal Variety Performance on 19th November 2018. So later this month, Lee will perform in front of senior members of the royal family, which will be televised and watched by millions around the world.

Don’t give up, try and try again

Lee Rigley is a great example that your disabilities do not define you. Others that readily come to mind are Helen Keller, Stephen Hawking and Joni Eareckson Tada. Like ‘Lost Voice Guy’ they have all overcome their disabilities and life’s challenges with perseverance, determination, and resolve, thus encouraging other people facing life’s disappointments to ‘not give up, but to try, and try again.’

  • Helen Keller was stricken by a severe illness when she was a child, and grew up unable to hear or see. She became a celebrated author, speaker and activist for deaf, blind, children, and adults.
  • Stephen Hawking was the celebrated physicist, writer, and television personality who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease when he was only 21 years of age. Like Lee Rigley he used a voice synthesizer.
  • Joni Eareckson Tada suffered a diving accident in 1967 as a teenage girl that rendered her a quadriplegic and she has had to use a wheelchair for over 50 years. Today Joni leads an international Christian ministry, advocates for people with disabilities, is a sought after speaker, bestselling author, and radio host.

One can hardly imagine how hard it was for Stephen Hawking to handle his disability as an atheist, and how much faith helped Helen Keller and Joni Eareckson Tada. For those of us who are believers we know that it is our belief in God that inspires us during our darkest days and our life experiences help shape us into the people we are today. As people we are called to move forward with hard work and dedication that will hopefully inspire others to do the same.

“Success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he/she has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T Washington.      

Watch the video below from ITV News that captures a little of Lee’s story. Thank you Lee and your friends for showing us that disability can become ability.

https://youtu.be/JqqAMBxI-I8

Credit: ITV – Photo Lost Voice Guy on Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

          

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ed Sheeran
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‘Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing!’ – Ed Sheeran

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

How British music sensation, Ed Sheeran found success after facing many challenges is one of the most inspiring stories that could bring hope to a starving artist or unpopular kid. That’s why he believes in being yourself rather than following the crowd or hiding your differences. Despite winning two Grammy awards, he recently said – “My most prized award is for raising awareness on stuttering.”

As a kid Ed had surgery that went wrong and left him with a lazy eye and severe speech problems. At school, other kids mocked his stutter, bright ginger hair, and large National Health glasses, but for all that Ed realised he had a special talent for music, and at a young age started to write his own music and lyrics. And, as time passed his stutter gradually faded.

“Success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington.

In his teens Ed realised he must follow his ‘Dream’ – He spent every spare minute writing songs and practicing his guitar. He never gave up, and moved to London. Being on the road was tough, and when he couldn’t find a sofa for the night he had to sleep in parks or on the subway. He said. “When I had no money for food, I really wanted to give up! But I didn’t.”

He knew that if he wanted to make it big, then he had to go to America, and arrived in LA without a recording contract, or a place to stay. He sent his music to anyone who would listen, and eventually got booked to do a radio show. The host shoved him up onto the stage, and he was terrified!

Slowly the audience began to smile and sway with the music, and he got a standing ovation. The radio host, Jamie Foxx,was so impressed he let Ed use his recording studio. Soon Ed received a call from a singer who asked him to go on tour with her. The singer’s name was Taylor Swift!  After years of hard work he finally got his big break and his last album debuted at number one in 14 countries, and his songs and videos have been streamed billions of times on Spotify and YouTube.

Ed Sheeran in concert

Perfect

Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Perfect’ has been recorded with as a Christian makeover by Gospel artists including Beckah Shae and Damien Horne. I can only guess what Ed Sheeran thinks of this, just maybe he asked: “I wonder if there really is a God?” For the lyrics are gently searching, morphing into the deep recesses of the mind with God’s Grace, mercy, and amazing love. Beckah also recorded a remake of Ed’s chart smashing song ‘Shape of You,’ transforming the single into a Christian worship anthem.

“So shall My Word that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void. But it shall accomplish what I please. And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”  (Isaiah 55:11)

A search on Ed Sheeran reveals that it is thought that he is a Christian but this is something he hasn’t really talked about as yet.

From what I understand I don’t know if he has professed Christ as his Saviour, but I do believe that he is a caring, sensitive, gifted and compassionate man, and watching this remake by Beckah Shae and Damien Horne must have had a profound effect on him.

“God wants all to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

Like Ed, Beckah Shae and Damien Horne have had to face some challenges

Beckah’s parents divorced when she was very young, and went through many challenging times with her mother, including abusive remarriages. “We were very poor and spent lots of time in people’s homes and battered women’s shelters. I suffered lots of insecurities and went through a season of eating disorders, but even in the midst of it all, I knew that God was with me, and for me.

“My mom introduced me to Jesus, and through her humility, Grace and love, I saw God’s faithfulness first hand.

Progress has been slow, but she has stayed persistent and consistent in being faithful to God.  “I want to tell people that are going through great difficulties that God can and will see them through for both Christians and not-yet Christians, if you will only ask Him.”

At an early age, Damien Horne made a decision that would change the course of his life forever. “I asked Jesus into my life and to become my Saviour, I remember a change happening in me and being so excited learning about Christ.

“My favourite verse is Jeremiah 29:11.”For I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you, and give you a future, and to give you hope, and an expected end.”  

At the age of 18 Damien moved to Hollywood to pursue a music career, he was ill prepared, really young and naïve, and ended up homeless and felt like a failure. He gigged on the streets playing for pocket change, and then one day it all changed when he met singer-song writer John Rich, and his career took off.

But he always remembers being homeless and what it taught him. He said “When you have a dream or a purpose it’s never going to be easy. In those dark times I have to remember, you’re always a second, a moment, one event from turning it round.”

“As sure as God puts His children into the furnace of affliction, He will be with them in it.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

So what can Christians learn from these recording artists? Firstly, we don’t all aspire to be famous singer-song writers like Ed Sheeran. Your dream may be to become a teacher, or a pastor, engineer or a mental health worker. But you to be successful you must have the same passion, persistence and belief. And like Beckah Shae and Damien Horne, ask for God’s Will and calling for your life. Our prayer should be: “Father show me the gifts you have put in me, and how I can develop them for your glory.”                       

“And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”  (Galatians 6:9)

This article was written by Don Botham

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Poverty
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The Incredible Story of One Man’s Mission to Rescue Thousands From Poverty

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

Introducing John Kirkby of Christians Against Poverty

It was around about 1999 that I first heard of a Yorkshireman called John Kirkby. He had once been a very successful businessman who had faced a desperate financial situation. And, it wasn’t just one aspect of his life that had gone into meltdown, it was many. He freely admitted his past mistakes were to be seeds of the breakdown of his first marriage.

In his darkest days, John’s accountant told him: “You need to find £1,000 a week to meet interest payments or face bankruptcy, also your house is in great danger of being repossessed.” John slowly fell apart, and said. “I felt so guilty that I’d had so much and blown the lot.”

He added, “I now know that God used this and other desperate experiences in my life. It was through these traumatic times that a greater sense of His love, forgiveness and heart for me became more and more real. I remain to this day a man who can struggle, who has weaknesses and difficulties but still He uses me.”

“Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

John Kirkby

John Kirkby, CBE, Founder of Christians Against Poverty.

 

John still owed huge debts to various companies and he had to contact all his creditors and make arrangements to pay reduced payments. He would never have thought in those dark, dark days that God was even then preparing him for what was to come. What God was actually doing for him Christians Against Poverty (CAP) now does for so many others, yet at that time John had no idea.

In 1995 while experiencing his financial nightmare John met a wonderful girl called Lizzie and the first thing he noticed about her was her face, so bright and joyful. She said in jest, “John hoped, that she was waiting for a knight in shining armour to sweep her off her feet  and instead she got an old bloke on a donkey, with emotional baggage and two children in tow!” John and Lizzie were married at Church on the Way in July 27, 1996.

John said: “Over the following years I saw things that really opened my eyes, families with hungry children, people in trauma having no hope, broken marriages, and the sheer havoc and distress financial difficulties bring about in people’s lives. Their plight had a profound effect on me, and were what inspired me to drive forward with an enterprise that would help people get out of debt.

“And no matter what discouragement that I often personally felt, the thought of not pursuing this never entered my mind. One of the most encouraging scriptures that the Lord laid on my heart for this new enterprise, and for continuing it no matter what the difficulties was Proverbs 31: 8-9.”

“Speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all that are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  (Proverbs 31: 8-9)

Christians Against Poverty

On August 22, 1996, John founded Christians Against Poverty (CAP). The years that followed were difficult in many ways, cash flow was a continual problem and some weeks employer’s wages could not be paid. John said, “I didn’t know what to do?”

But the faithful staff said: “Carry on.”

“And in God’s good Grace we did, and success came beyond our wildest dreams.”

“There are too many people praying for mountains of difficulty to be removed, when what they need is the courage to climb them.” Unknown

In August 1996 CAP went from just one client to thousands. The charity’s latest mid-year impact report (July 2018) includes the following highlights.

  • In March CAP launched the annual client report at the House of Lords. The event was attended by MP’s, members of the credit industry and national journalists.
  • In May CAP had a visit from TV’s Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, whose public endorsements of CAP always leads to an increase in calls to our helpline. John said – “It was a pleasure to show him round CAP HQ, and say thank you.” Martin said – “Every time I mention CAP, I get people who tell me how it’s changed their lives.”

Some 2018 CAP mid-year statistics

  • Overall 4,474 debt bookings have been made since the beginning of the year.
  • 38% of CAP Job Club members find work – higher than any other initiative.
  • 1,151 families have become debt free – an increase of 10% compared to the first half of last year.
  • Local centre teams have visited over 3,883 new homes.
  • 1,670 members have attended a job club.
  • 731 have taken part in a CAP Life Skills group.
  • 326 people have chosen to make a faith commitment because of their involvement with CAP.

Looking to the future, CAP needs more churches to take a stand against poverty in their communities by opening a CAP centre, and speaking up for the poor, vulnerable and lost across this nation.

John Kirkby receives a CBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours.

John was presented with the CBE at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 8thJune 2018. He  said, “I am absolutely bowled over to receiving such an honour and it just shows you what God can do with an ordinary bloke from Bradford who meets an extraordinary God and says yes.”

John also said – “I’d like to dedicate this to all our incredible supporters and volunteers, staff and clients that sustain the charity helping some 23,000 people a year.”

CAP’s Chief Executive Matt Barlow, said. “No one could have put more into this than John has, and I know more than anyone that he didn’t do it for the recognition.”

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

For more information about Christians Against Poverty visit the CAP Website 

This article was written by Don Botham who is a TV Producer and writer based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North East of England. For many years Don faithfully produced GOD TV’s In Depth Series capturing the life stories of diverse men and women of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Down syndrome
Articles

Down Syndrome: We Wouldn’t Wish Our Daughter to be Any Other Way

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

Currently the media is being saturated with conflicting views of abortion and infanticide, especially in Northern Ireland and the many pro abortion street parades in England and this has really concentrated my mind on my own experiences with my daughter, Lisa who has Down syndrome.

“In 30 to 40 years’ time there will be multi-million cases of abortions worldwide, and an increasing numbers of infanticide deaths.” These are the prophetic words of American Theologian and Philosopher Dr Francis Schaeffer in the early 1980s. However abortion is not the answer, especially for Down syndrome as many parents have discovered.

On Friday July 6th Premier Radio reported that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says he doesn’t pray for God to take away his daughter’s disability. The Archbishop said: “I haven’t prayed for Ellie,” turning to Ellie, he said: “Your younger sister Katharine said. ‘If God changed Ellie she wouldn’t be Ellie, and we love Ellie. So there’s that person, that’s Ellie – she’s precious.”

When I read this, I can fully understand the Archbishop saying he doesn’t pray for his disabled daughter’s healing and the younger sister saying Ellie is precious. My daughter Lisa was born with Down syndrome, and with all her disabilities mentally and physically she personifies humility, a childlike personality, and a love of people, music and life. We would not wish for Lisa to be any other way!

When Lisa was 16 she said she wanted to become a Christian. I spoke to Lisa the best way I could about salvation, (John 3:16). She confessed that Jesus died for her and that she wanted Jesus to be her Saviour. Lisa said. “Sorry Jesus,” and immediately her whole body and manner turned from frustration to an absence of anxiety, to joy, and a total peace of mind.

“Jesus said: ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’.” (Matthew 21:16)   

Lisa’s Story – ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’

After Lisa’s birth in 1966,  I was serving in the Royal Navy in the region of Singapore and Hong Kong, and my wife, Heather and Lisa were living in Northern Island with Heather’s mum. In early 1967 and after coming off watch the navigating officer said. “Quick Donald get your bag packed the ‘choppy’ (helicopter) is warming up on the flight deck and you are going back to the UK, your daughter Lisa is seriously ill in hospital.”

During the long journey from Singapore I didn’t know what to think, but thought it must be an emergency flying me over 7,000 miles back to the UK! Londonderry, home at last and after a quick hello, Heather said, “I need to tell you what’s happened, I had an appointment with the doctor because Lisa was blue around the mouth, and it was sore looking. After consulting with a colleague he has confirmed that Lisa is a Down syndrome baby and she has been admitted to hospital.”

Heather went on to say that she left Lisa in the mixed children’s ward and went home.  But, when she returned to the hospital the following day she was concerned to find that Lisa was not in the children’s ward. The duty ward nurse said she has been put in a side ward on her own. Why?

On entering Lisa’s ward Heather looked at Lisa and was shocked at her condition.  She was laying on her back moving her head from side to side, her eyes closed, and her lips were cracked and she desperately needed something to drink. Heather asked to see the doctor in charge, but after waiting some time, and now feeling frustrated and terribly anxious, there was still no sign of the doctor.

Providentially Heather’s Uncle Davy worked at the hospital and had called in see Lisa, and after finding Heather so upset asked the nurse to please try again to find a doctor. A doctor finally arrived and somewhat abruptly said after looking at Lisa: “Lisa is a Down syndrome baby with a heart mummur, she will never be able to walk and will not live beyond two years. This is why I agree with the famous German professor that Downs babies should be destroyed at birth.”

Heather’s mind couldn’t comprehend what her heart was experiencing, and now totally distraught, left the hospital sobbing. In the long hours of the night she wondered if the doctor had instructed the nursing staff to stop feeding Lisa.

“For You formed my inward parts: You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139: 13/14)

The next day Heather went to Sea Eagle naval barracks and spoke to the welfare officer explaining the situation. He immediately organized transportation for me to return to the UK. Two months later I was discharged from the Navy, because with Lisa’s many disabilities Heather would not be able to bring up Lisa solely on her own.

“The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble. And He knows those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

On 31stAugust 2018 Lisa will celebrate her 52 birthday with a family evening at the Metro Arena in Newcastle to see ‘Cirque du Soleil.’

Tragically Dr Francis Schaeffer prophetic words have come to pass. In 2018 the number of abortion deaths in the world has increased to multi-billions, infanticide has also increased and the number of unjustified children’s deaths has never been accurately collated. Thankfully, both the archbishop’s daughter, Ellie and my daughter, Lisa are not among these tragic statistics.

This article was written by Don Botham who is a TV Producer and writer based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North East of England. For many years Don faithfully produced GOD TV’s In Depth Series capturing the life stories of diverse men and women of God.

 

                                                                           

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moon
Faith

Did Buzz Aldrin secretly take Holy Communion on the moon?

by Don Botham
written by Don Botham

Did Buzz Aldrin secretly take Holy Communion on the moon? This was a question answered in a reader’s letter to the Daily Mail on May 3rd, 2018 by William Jacks. In an article entitled ‘Buzz’s Giant Leap For God’, he wrote, “Yes: Buzz Aldrin took Holy Communion on the lunar module after it had landed on the moon in 1969”.

William tells how Buzz brought the consecrated bread and wine from Webster Presbyterian church near Houston, where he was an elder. He had received permission to administer it to himself. The astronaut later wrote about this experience in his book ‘Magnificent Obsession.’

“I reached into my personal kit and pulled out the elements along with a card which I had written the words of Jesus: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without Me.’

“I silently read the Bible passage as I took the wafer and the wine, and offered a prayer for the task at hand, and the opportunity I had been given.”

However as William points out, the communion service on the Moon wasn’t made public until after the mission: “Aldrin had planned to share the event with the world over the radio. However, NASA was embroiled in a lawsuit filed by a leading atheist, so he was asked to keep it a secret. Madalyn Murray O’Hair, founder of American Atheists, wanted a ban on astronauts practising religion on Earth, in space, or around and about the Moon, believing it violated the constitutional separation between Church and State.”

50 years after the moon landing

Today nearly five decades later, Madalyn Murray O’Hair is remembered as one of the ‘most hated women in America’ following the case of Murray v Curlett, which led to the ending of compulsory Bible reading in US public schools in 1963.  

Time moves on and Murray O’Hair, her son Jon, and granddaughter Robin disappeared in Austin, Texas in 1995. A year later, with no sign of the family The New York Times speculated they had gone on the run with money misappropriated from American Atheists. However in 2001 the family’s murdered bodies were found on a ranch in Texas.

An awful tragedy, and an indicator of the dangers we face when we have no God to protect us. As I considered this period of history and the irony that the atheist lady thought she could hinder the Word of God, it made me realise that God’s Word will not return void.

Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Today in 2018 Buzz Aldrin’s story is again remembered in a tabloid national newspaper, with a large print following and online readership of millions.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven.”

This article was written by Don Botham who is a TV Producer and writer based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North East of England. For many years Don faithfully produced GOD TV’s In Depth Series capturing the life stories of diverse men and women of God.

 

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