Simon Hood: The Recurring Question: "Will You Trust Me?"

Rod Best: Forgiveness Isn't Enough When It Comes To Protecting Children

What happens when the church's greatest virtue becomes its greatest blind spot? In one of the most important conversations on faith and institutional responsibility you'll hear, Karl Faase sits down with Roderick Best - a Sydney lawyer who spent decades at the coalface of child protection, and ultimately served as Senior Solicitor for Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Rod brings rare insight: the legal mind and perspective of someone who shaped national reform, and the honest thoughts of a committed Christian wrestling with what the church got wrong. This is not an easy conversation at times, but it's a necessary one. Roderick Best is a Sydney-based lawyer with over four decades of experience across private practice and government. He served as the longest-tenured senior child protection lawyer in New South Wales before being appointed Senior Solicitor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (est. 2013) — one of the most significant public inquiries in Australian history.  A note before you listen: This conversation touches on child sexual abuse and the findings of Australia's Royal Commission. Rod speaks with care and without graphic detail, but if this is a sensitive topic for you, please be aware before listening. Key Moments and Takeaways * The Royal Commission was deliberately scoped to institutional abuse — roughly 20% of all child abuse — because it was actionable. Family-based abuse, the larger problem, is far harder to legislate. * Rod was not surprised by the scale of abuse uncovered — but was surprised by the diversity across denominations, and by research showing celibacy made no statistical difference to abuse rates. * The key risk factor wasn't theology — it was vulnerability. Institutions working with the most vulnerable children had the highest rates of abuse. * The church's instinct to "move people on" rather than report was compounded by disbelief, reputational concern, and over-powerful old-boy networks in church governance. * Professor Patrick Parkinson identified the core theological error: the church drew the wrong line on forgiveness, treating it as a substitute for accountability rather than something that must coexist with structural safeguards. * Rod's framework for the failure is theological: the church forgot it was operating in a post-Fall world. Forgiveness doesn't reset human nature — it requires structures that account for ongoing human frailty. * Working with Children checks, introduced in the lead-up to the Commission, are already showing statistical results — particularly in reducing institutional sexual abuse. * The biggest ongoing child protection issue isn't sexual abuse — it's poverty and neglect, which remain largely unaddressed. * Rod still fields questions from former colleagues who say they "never understood why you go to church." Reputational damage is real and ongoing. * The church's greatest asset in a fragmented, anxious society is community — but it must normalize belonging and be seen as a safe, ordinary place for ordinary people. Find Out More Olive Tree Media: www.olivetreemedia.com.au [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/] Watch+ Platform: www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch [http://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch/] Daily Nudge: www.dailynudge.org [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/nudge/]    Special Thanks To Excelsia University College [https://excelsia.edu.au/] Christian Finance  [https://bfs.org.au/] Vision Christian Media [https://vision.org.au/]

Simon Hood: The Recurring Question: "Will You Trust Me?"

This episode features Simon Hood, a passionate advocate for children's ministry and faith-based creativity, sharing his journey from a puppeteer in Hornsby to a global influencer in children's evangelism. However, alongside growing a global ministry, he and his wife travelled a long road through infertility, IVF, international adoption, and living through the joys and challenges of neurodiversity.  During some of the most painful years, Simon felt God continue to ask him: "Will you trust me, even when you don't know what I am doing?" This conversation is powerful, emotional, and a helpful reminder about how to show up for people who are in grief and difficulty.  Simon Hood is the founding director of Logosdor - a global ministry serving kids worldwide. He is a professional puppeteer and creative innovator in sharing the gospel with kids through media.    Key Moments and Takeaways: - The power of creative evangelism through puppetry and media - Personal journey through infertility, adoption, and international ministry - Navigating neurodiversity, mental health, and faith in family life - The importance of movement thinking and multiplying Kingdom work - Lessons on trust, lament, and resilience in suffering   Find Out More Olive Tree Media: www.olivetreemedia.com.au [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/] Watch+ Platform: www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch [http://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch/] Daily Nudge: www.dailynudge.org [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/nudge/]    Special Thanks To Excelsia University College [https://excelsia.edu.au/] Christian Finance  [https://bfs.org.au/] Vision Christian Media [https://vision.org.au/]

David Bennett: Truth Is Not A Concept, It's A Person Named Jesus

How does a gay man find faith in Jesus? David Bennett's story is a must listen to. In this episode of Insight, Karl hears David share his story, which journeys from coming out as gay when he is a teenager in a Sydney private school - to studying and living in Oxford.  The turning point of the story is when David meets someone in a pub who doesn't try to convince him that Jesus is the truth, but instead, embodies the compassion, presence and love of God.  As she prays for him, something life-changing happens as David experiences the love of God not as words - but as an encounter.  David Bennett is a now a Christian, a theologian, and a writer who works at Oxford University. He also identifies as gay - a reality that once felt completely incompatible with his faith. His story isn’t a simple one, and it doesn’t offer easy answers - but it does invite us into a deeper conversation about belonging, and the cost and beauty of following Christ.   Key Moments and Takeaways - Faith Through Doubt: Explore how genuine faith is built through questioning and vulnerability. - The Power of Presence: Discover the impact of empathy and presence in conveying love. - Redemptive Suffering: Understand how hardship and rejection play a role in transformation. - Trust in Scripture: Learn the importance of surrendering control and trusting divine authority. - Identity in Divine Love: See how rooting identity in love offers stability beyond societal labels.   Find Out More Olive Tree Media: www.olivetreemedia.com.au [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/] Watch+ Platform: www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch [http://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch/] Daily Nudge: www.dailynudge.org [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/nudge/]    Special Thanks To Excelsia University College [https://excelsia.edu.au/] Christian Finance  [https://bfs.org.au/] Vision Christian Media [https://vision.org.au/]

Tim Kirk: From Theologian to Award-Winning Winemaker

What does theology have to do with winemaking? In this fascinating conversation, Tim Kirk from Clonakilla Wines shares how faith, creativity, craftsmanship and the landscape itself all shape the wines he creates. From the cool climate to the spiritual symbolism of wine throughout the Bible, Tim offers a unique perspective on what makes great wine truly memorable. Karl unpacks his story, his faith, his perspective on ministry and how he returned to the family business of making wine. Tim has such a passion for wine and understanding creativity as an expression of our faith - you'll love this conversation.    Key Moments and Takeaways: * How landscape and terroir shape flavour * The story behind Clonakilla Wines * Why craftsmanship matters in winemaking * His journey from theology to wine * The spiritual significance of wine and creation * Building a reputation for quality and excellence   Find Out More Olive Tree Media: www.olivetreemedia.com.au [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/] Watch+ Platform: www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch [http://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch/] Daily Nudge: www.dailynudge.org [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/nudge/]    Special Thanks To Excelsia University College [https://excelsia.edu.au/] Christian Finance  [https://bfs.org.au/] Vision Christian Media [https://vision.org.au/]

Greg Low: Finding Light In The Darkest Places

Most people only see the surface of a life filled with trauma, adventure, and profound faith. Greg Low’s story reveals how even in the darkest moments - plane crashes, the loss of his mother, and dangerous war zones - there's a remarkable thread of hope, purpose, and discovery. In this episode of Insight, Greg shares stories from decades of filming in the world's most volatile regions - from Rwanda to Somalia, Ethiopia to Mozambique - and how he’s confronted death firsthand more times than he can count. Greg’s courageous stories aren't just about danger; they’re about finding good in the chaos and God’s presence in unexpected places. Karl's guest, Greg Low, is an accomplished cameraman and author, whose career spans filming across war zones, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises around the globe. His experiences have shaped a life dedicated to capturing truth and living it with faith, despite the chaos. His story is a reminder that light and hope can be found in the darkest places!  Buy Greg's book here: https://www.gdu.com.au/book [https://www.gdu.com.au/book]   Key Moments and Takeaways: - Greg's early career in media and how he transitioned from student to cameraman for major political moments in Australia. - Experiences filming in war zones like Rwanda, Somalia, and Ethiopia, including close encounters with danger and death. - The story of losing his mother and how that tragedy shaped his faith and outlook on life. - Greg’s reflections on faith, how God met him through a Supertramp song, and his evolving relationship with spirituality. - Personal stories of family, adoption, and balancing a life of danger with raising children.   Find Out More Olive Tree Media: www.olivetreemedia.com.au [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/] Watch+ Platform: www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch [http://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/watch/] Daily Nudge: www.dailynudge.org [https://www.olivetreemedia.com.au/nudge/]    Special Thanks To Excelsia University College [https://excelsia.edu.au/] Christian Finance  [https://bfs.org.au/] Vision Christian Media [https://vision.org.au/]