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“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”. Explore different themes with the Salt 106.5 team to be deeply encouraged and inspired each day.
Real Hope Devotional
Abby McPharlin
Abby is Hope 103.2’s development manager. After spending 10 years serving in international development in some of the most impoverished communities in the world, she is a mum of two, a self professed donut-aholic, an avid musical lover and F1 fanatic who loves exploring faith and God over good food and, of course, good coffee.
Ben McEachen
Ben is Hope 103.2’s Afternoons host. He’s a follower of Jesus, husband to Amy, dad to Elodie and Ingrid, and a lifelong fan of checked shirts. Ben was a full-time movie reviewer for more than a decade, including for Open House and The Big Picture, and now he’s keen to share the things of God, the universe and the everyday issues.
Chris Parfoot
Chris has worked in the education sector for many years, assisting teachers with technology in the classroom. He has masters degrees in both biblical studies and theology and is passionate about God’s Word. Chris is married with three teenage sons, and he and his family love serving in their local church.
David Barker
David is Hope Media’s chief financial officer. He is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor in Business and a Bachelor of Christian Studies – an unusual degree for most accountants. David loves the Old Testament and thinks it is a ‘goldmine’ that most Christians don’t delve into. He is married to Kim and they have two adult children.
David Smethurst
An accountant prior to ministry, David has pastored two churches in South Africa, and throughout schools, universities, military and prisons in different countries. David and his wife Margurita head up a charity that supports 11,000 orphans in Ukraine and Latvia. He has also been a chaplain to Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, and Rugby World Cup athletes.
Druvi Perera
Druvi grew up in Colombo, Sri-Lanka, for the first 19 years of his life but Sydney has been home ever since. Married with three boys under the ago of seven, he left his engineering career in order to follow God’s calling. Druvi is passionate about the Word of God, family, leadership, the local Church, fishing, adventure, cricket and the F1.
Dwayne Jeffries
Dwayne is Hope Media’s chief content officer. He has commercial experience leading on-air teams in Australia and Europe but, today, Dwayne works with Christian media professionals and volunteers in sharing the good news of Jesus through their media ministries. Dwayne and wife Bronwyn have two daughters.
Heidi Wysman
Heidi’s desire is for everyone to understand and experience the love of God, that she encountered in 1993. She is the founder of Hope with Heidi, a ministry to help disciple people to have a revelation of Jesus. Heidi is a recognised speaker and lecturer. She has a BA in Ministry and is the author of One – Complete Intimacy with God.
John North
Hope 103.2’s Time with God podcast presenter and director of Ambassadors for Christ Australia, John was born in India to Australian missionary parents. He grew up in the USA, which is reflected in his accent. He’s passionate about applying the Bible to daily life.
John Scott
John is a relationship manager for 96five in Brisbane. Having trained and worked as an agriculturalist, he swapped vocations to become a church planter and missionary in Australia and Thailand. He is married to Kathryn, a teacher, and they have three children and seven grandchildren all living closely together.
Kath Henry
Kath’s nursing background covers 20-plus years in midwifery, intensive care, education and research. She is a Kairos Outside Ministry chaplain, member of International Network of Christian Women in Leadership (Tirzah), an International Justice Mission (IJM) ambassador, and loves seeing people discover a God who truly loves them.
Laura Bennett
Laura is the host of Afternoons with Laura Bennett. She is a Masters media graduate, author and film reviewer who is just as comfortable interviewing the biggest stars on the red carpet as she is curled up on the couch in comfy pants. Laura self-published her bestselling book Live Your Dream in 2015, and edits her own online magazine.
Lucy Weil
Lucy has been working on the Hope Media team for a number of years and considers it a privilege to be part of an organisation that speaks encouragement, hope, unity and the peace of Jesus into a world that is increasingly divided and uncertain. She loves the outdoors – hiking with friends or getting out on the water – where she remembers to “look up” and think bigger.
Naomi Reed
Naomi is an acclaimed storyteller, speaker and author of 10 books for adults and children. She previously served with INF in Nepal, and particularly loves to draw people back to the hope we have in Christ. Naomi has qualifications in theology and physiotherapy, and is perpetually intrigued by other people and their stories.
Neri Morris
Neri is an accidental entrepreneur and author of Single Me: Learning to Love the Unwanted Path of Singleness is an insightful, funny and challenging look at singleness in the modern-day Christian context. Fortified is Neri’s next book, and her first fiction novel. She is creative director of Thread Harvest and a speaker.
Robbie Parkin
Robbie has been with 96five FM Brisbane for over 17 years and currently loves serving in the area of relationship management. With a background in creative writing, directing and performing in live theatre, film and TV, he has a passion for God and representing Him through written word and the media and arts industry.
Sam Robinson
Sam, is a hubby and a dad to two adorable kids, as well as being a massive Survivor fan. He has a knack for poetry, particularly focused on everyday items, while helping keep you up-to-date on essential topics from what’s trending and the unusual to sports and parenting.
Tania Harris
Tania (PhD.Cand, MA.Min, B.Ed, Dip.T, Cert IV TAA) is a pastor, speaker, author and founder of God Conversations, a global ministry equipping people to recognise and respond to God’s voice. With her church planting background, Tania ministers across the globe and is a popular voice on radio in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Real Hope Devotional Guest Writers
Andy Park
Worship leader and Vineyard Music songwriter (In the Secret and The River is Here) Andy has authored three books including Living in Humility: Following the Humble King and To Know You More. He has served as a worship pastor in several Vineyard churches over four decades. Originally from Los Angeles, Andy lives with his family in Vancouver, Canada.
Chris Llewellyn
Northern Irish singer Chris and Rend Collective Experiment band members Gareth Gilkeson, Ali Gilkeson and Stephen Mitchell are best known for songs like Your Name Is Power, Counting Every Blessing and the platinum single My Lighthouse. The Christian experimental, folk rock, worship band is on a mission to chase down joy.
Jon Owen
Jon has dedicated his life to living and serving among Australia’s most disadvantaged including sharing his home with people seeking asylum, refugees, people in recovery, and ex-prisoners. His stories include being attacked by samurai swords and mistakenly being sent to immigration detention. Jon is also Wayside Chapel CEO.
Scott Lavender
Scott is the music director at St Paul’s Castle Hill, songwriting pastor of CityAlight and frontman and songwriter for Whitefield. He is married to Fiona, and father of Annie, Juliet and Seth.
Tim Costello
Rev Tim Costello is one of Australia’s best-known community leaders and sought-after voice on social justice issues and ethics. He is executive director of Micah Australia, with a strong vision to gather, inspire and empower Australian Christians to share God’s heart for justice. From 2003 to 2016, Tim was World Vision Australia’s CEO.
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Freelancer Journalists
Amy Cheng
Amy has over five years’ experience in the media industry across social media, print and digital platforms. Her work has been published in The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph and on news.com.au. Amy loves hearing stories about ordinary people who have been transformed by God’s extraordinary work.
Michael Crooks
Michael is a senior journalist and former news editor of Who magazine. His work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, news.com.au, Qantas magazine, QantasLink Spirit, Who and The New Daily. When not reporting and writing he is trying to keep up with his two young kids.