Courageous Church: Welcoming Autistic Worshippers with Dr Léon Van Ommen

Sometimes holding onto hope can feel difficult. In the latest episode of Holding Hope, Growing Hope founder Naomi Fox is joined by our Chief Executive, Vicki Smith, to talk about what it means to hold hope for one another — especially in those seasons when we might struggle to hold onto it ourselves. They share stories of hope from across Growing Hope, reflect on the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness, and talk about the people who can come alongside us and say: “If you can’t hold onto hope, I can for you.” You’ll also hear about children growing in confidence through therapy, families finding support and community, and the ways Naomi and Vicki have seen God’s faithfulness through the Growing Hope journey. If you haven’t come across us before, we’re Growing Hope. We champion accessibility and inclusion for children and young people with additional needs, offering free therapy and support to them and their families in partnership with local churches. We believe that Jesus brings hope in every situation we face, and we created the Holding Hope podcast to share some of those stories.

In this episode of Holding Hope, Naomi Fox is joined by Rev Chris Lee. Chris is the Vicar of St Saviours Wendell Park, a growing Church in West London. He is married to Jenny and father to Rose, Saoirse and Jack. He is an Instagram influencer with over 150k followers (@revchris7) and a YouTuber with over 350 million views on the various videos he is involved in. He uses his social media platforms to communicate the love of God and of self. His 60 second sermons have brought him national coverage, being called by Holly Willoughby ‘the internet’s favourite vicar’. Chris is a multi-published author with Penguin Century and Tyndale. He has been a regular contributor to Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2 and Sky News and has spoken at conferences at home and abroad. He is passionate about prayer and encouraging people to deepen their relationship with God.

In this episode of Holding Hope, Naomi is joined by Simon Guillebaud MBE. Simon spent two decades living in war-torn Central Africa, and speaks out of that context with raw urgency and passion for the last, the lost and the least. He is the Founder and International Director of Great Lakes Outreach, host of the popular Inspired podcast, author of the award-winning book Choose Life, and travels widely, stirring up the Church for radical discipleship. He and his wife Lizzie live in Bath with their three teenage children. In this episode of the Holding Hope podcast, Simon and Naomi discuss some of their experiences in sharing life with people in need, and how hope has often shone through, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Find out more about Simon's work at www.simonguillebaud.com and www.greatlakesoutreach.org

In this episode of Holding Hope, Naomi is joined by Natalie Williams, Chief Executive of Jubilee +, for a powerful conversation about belonging, neurodiversity, leadership and the mercy of God. Natalie shares openly about growing up in poverty, struggling to feel at home in church, and discovering a hope in Jesus that widened her horizons and changed the direction of her life. She reflects on what it means to be seen, valued and welcomed; especially when life has felt shaped by disadvantage, exclusion or brokenness. Together, Naomi and Natalie explore how churches can hold hope for people in the midst of life's challenges and questions of identity. Natalie also shares moving stories from Jubilee +, including how children are learning God’s heart for people who are vulnerable, overlooked or pushed to the margins. 00:02 – Welcome and introduction01:10 – Natalie’s story of poverty, faith and hope05:54 – When church feels inaccessible09:21 – ADHD, autism and understanding yourself15:26 – Stories of hope from Jubilee Plus20:18 – Holding hope in the middle of challenge25:21 – Choosing compassion and encouragement29:31 – Leadership, calling and God’s faithfulness33:24 – Connect with Natalie and Jubilee Plus Get Involved: Follow Jubilee+ on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jubileeplus Follow Jubilee+ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JubileePlus Find out more: jubilee-plus.org/ Join the Growing Hope newsletter: www.growinghope.org.uk/newsletter

This is a Holding Hope podcast from Growing Hope, a charity offering free therapy for children and young people with additional needs, and support for their families. Join our host and founder, Dr Naomi Fox, as she explores how organisations and individuals can hold onto the hope of Jesus when supporting people in difficult circumstances.