What does the church need to let go of to survive the future?

0:00 – Trailer

0:42 – Intro: Faith. No Filter.

5:40 – The “gift” of declining numbers

9:26 – Dying to resurrect: a new church

12:54 – The danger of predictable faith

15:11 – The loudest noise is an empty church

19:30 – Honouring legacy without repeating it

22:54 – Building community outside the building

23:43 – Housing crisis: activating church assets

29:28 – Practical justice: more than just prayers

34:11 – The punk ethos: planting future churches

In this episode of Filthy Hope, Ness and John sit down with Moderator-elect Reverend Pablo Nunez to discuss the radical shifts needed in the Uniting Church. Pablo argues that Australia is moving into a "pre-Christian" era, where traditional church structures no longer make sense to a generation with no memory of Sunday school. He challenges the church to move away from political entanglements and predictable comfort to become a prophetic voice once again.

From turning empty church houses into youth rental communities to moving beyond religious platitudes when meeting physical needs, this conversation is an unflinching look at institutional survival vs. missional purpose. Pablo calls for a "punk ethos" that values authenticity and action over perfect notes and empty pews, urging the church to "go out swinging" in its pursuit of hope.

#FilthyHope #FaithNoFilter #ChristianPodcast #UnitingChurch #ChurchGrowth #Justice #PropheticVoice #ModernFaith #HousingCrisis

What happens when God calls you somewhere you never planned to go?

0:00 – Trailer

0:42 – Intro: Faith. No filter.

1:26 – Rev Pablo Nunez: The Moderator-Elect

3:00 – Uruguay: the most secular country in the Americas

6:33 – My “boring” christian sister

11:44 – Drugs, psychedelics, and a kitchen floor revelation

16:53 – The absurdist call to Australia

22:08 – My partner in mission

24:54 – 21 days to leave Australia

27:53 – Moving to the margins of Adelaide

32:27 – Changing the institution from within

In this episode of Filthy Hope, hosts Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries sit down with Reverend Pablo Nunez, the Moderator-elect of the Uniting Church (NSW/ACT). Pablo shares his journey from a secular upbringing in Uruguay to a life-altering encounter with grace following a period of rebellion and drug use. He reflects on the "whisper" that led him to Australia as a missionary and the brutal 10-month visa battle that tested his family's faith and sense of home.

The conversation dives into the reality of ministry, from working with the homeless in Adelaide to the challenge of stepping into high-level leadership during a pandemic. Pablo explores what it means to "toughen up without losing tenderness," offering a raw perspective on institutional change, the necessity of practical faith, and the radical, undeserved goodness of God.

#FilthyHope #FaithNoFilter #ChristianPodcast #UnitingChurch #UruguayToAustralia #RadicalGrace #ChurchLeadership #MissionaryLife #Homelessness #MigrationtoAustralia #FaithJourney

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses terminal illness, death, and voluntary assisted dying. Please take care while listening. If you need support, Lifeline is available in Australia 24/7: 13 11 14.Can you ever truly prepare for the exact moment someone you love will die?

0:00 – Trailer

0:38 – Intro: Faith. No Filter.

2:34 – The life of Warrick “Wonka” Dawson

7:52 – The brutal speed of motor neurone disease (MND)

15:28 – Watching the nerves “fire”

16:41 – Scheduling a Wednesday to die

19:01 – Humor as a pressure valve

23:49 – The strict criteria for Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)

33:51 – One last sunny breakfast

39:18 – The clinical “lights off” moment

48:59 – Re-packing the backpack of grief

In this episode of Filthy Hope, Rev Ness Williams-Henke and Rev Jon Humphries sit down with Sascha Dawson to unpack the reality of losing his father, Warrick, to motor neurone disease – and the deeply complex decision to pursue voluntary assisted dying (VAD). From the trauma of the initial clinical diagnosis to the surreal nature of a final sunny breakfast, Sascha explores what it means to maintain agency in the face of the horrific.

The conversation dives into the messy reality of grief: how it starts long before the end and why professional counseling is essential to "unpack the backpack" of trauma. Sascha and Ness reflect on the jarring cognitive dissonance of a scheduled death and the transition from "lights on" to "lights off." This episode is a "grit with grace" exploration of end-of-life choices, family culture, and the long road to finding a new normal after the unthinkable.

#FilthyHope #FaithNoFilter #ChristianPodcast #VAD #AssistedDying #MND #GriefJourney #RadicalHonesty #EndofLife #TraumaRecovery #GritWithGrace