Russ Parker:
An Anglican Priest who travels extensively around the UK and abroad, teaching on Christian Healing, Reconciliation and Church Transformation. A Director of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation between 1995-2013. A co-founder of Wholecare, supporting and resourcing Christian healthcare professionals in the NHS. His many books include “Healing Wounded History” and “Rediscovering the Ministry of Blessing”. Russ has great experience of God’s merciful action in the world with great ideas on how to access Gods Kingdom. Married to Roz, he is lifelong supporter of Liverpool FC for good or ill!
Last year when we gathered, we began the process of reflection on our need to heal the father wound. Dr Mari Kovanen wrote ‘the father wound, which refers to father absenteeism, whether emotionally or both emotionally and physically, and/or your father being of a very critical, negative and even abusive character, can impact individuals and their future relationships in so many ways.’ So, we reflected and prayed and many of the men started their own journey of healing.
This year we want to take that further and to remind ourselves of the call we’re given to be wounded healers, that is people who are on the journey towards healing and who, at the same time, hear the Gospel call to allow the spirit to bring the same healing into the lives of others.
Do you have to have been on last years weekend to come on this on?
Absolutely not. Each weekend stands alone but we wanted you to know why this year’s theme is ‘Called to be a wounded healer.’
Rónán Johnston:
We are delighted to welcome Rónán Johnston as a speaker, workshop presenter and contributor to the worship, at this years Harvesters Weekend in September . Ronan is a psychotherapist living in Ireland, but he worked for more than 30 years as a music composer, producer and broadcaster in TV radio, film and theatre, having started his career on Irish TV, RTE in the mid 1980s. He has also worked for UK channels ITV, Channel 4, MTV as well as RTE.
He and his wife Joanne led the Emmaus Community in Dublin for 20 years, and played with their band of the same name, and they continue to produce contemporary Christian, devotional and worship music (their 15th albums since 1989 is currently in production). He worked for a number of years as the morning anchor on Ireland’s Christian radio station, Spirit Radio, and then in 2013, both he and Joanne retrained as psychotherapists, and have been working as clinicians for the past decade.
In the UK, many will know him as worship leader at Celebrate and New Dawn and also as a teacher for YMT in the Newcastle diocese. He has spoken internationally and has written two books on worship, “Trust, Surrender, Believe, Receive” and “Light a Fire”. He lives in County Wicklow in Ireland with his wife Joanne and their two (adult) children
Praise and Worship
We will be led in worship by the talented and Spirit led worship leaders ; Gerry Markland & Chris Power