The Tearfund Australia Podcast

In this fourth episode of The Table series, we head to South Africa to sit down with René August, a global peace building specialist and Anglican priest. As we approach Easter, René leads us to the communion table, reflecting on the Last Supper as a radical site where Jesus intentionally pauses and rewrites the story. She beautifully describes how the table is a "divine collaborative" space where God’s gifts of wheat and grapes meet our human contribution to become the bread and wine of peace.
Through personal stories of radical hospitality and a deep dive into the Gospels, René challenges us to stop rushing and instead linger at the table. We explore the "self-offering love" of Jesus, which calls us to say yes to being broken and poured out for the benefit of our neighbors. This conversation is a powerful invitation to be truly present—to grab a cup of tea, allow God to stir something new within us, and embrace a radically different way of being in a polarised world.
Go deeper with René's reflection in The Table - Tearfund's 2026 Lent devotional series

In this episode of The Table, we travel across the African continent to Mozambique and Zimbabwe to chat with Armando Licoze and Blessing Chaipa. Sitting around the table in Matthew 9, we see Jesus doing something truly scandalous: eating with tax collectors and "sinners." Armando and Blessing help us see this through a fresh lens, showing how Jesus uses the table to break down social walls and invite the very people the world pushes aside to a place of belonging and purpose.
The conversation dives deep into the idea of "God’s Economy"—a way of living where we move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance. We explore how community-led development and shared meals can actually restore dignity and heal old wounds. Whether it's through a local savings group or a quiet conversation with a neighbour, this episode is a beautiful "call to adventure" to be fully present with one another and open our hearts to a different way of being in the world.
Go deeper with this week's content in The Table - Tearfund's 2026 Lent devotional series
Looking for table conversation cards that prompt meaningful discussions around justice? You'll find them in the Host Kit when you Share the Table - a resource for groups to turn a meal into a moment of abundance, belonging and justice.
Check out Armando Licoze's book, Dare to Breathe: From Lament to Liberation - a Theology of Hope from the Margins

In the second episode of The Table series, we gather with Melbourne-based songwriter and worship leader Rory McKenna (of the band Tekoa). Together, we explore the challenging yet transformative invitation found in Luke 14, where Jesus encourages us to invite those who cannot repay us to our feasts.
This conversation reminds us that true hospitality isn't just about being friendly—it’s about choosing to delight in the presence of someone different from ourselves. We are invited to move from "doing for" people to simply "being with" them, making room for joy, celebration, and mutual respect. We're challenged to consider what keeps us in the doorway instead of coming in and joining the celebration.

Go deeper with Rory's reflection in The Table - Tearfund's 2026 Lent devotional series

Welcome to the first stop on a transformative gathering around The Table, where God feeds the hungry, lifts up the excluded, and overturns injustice.
In this episode, we travel to the U.S.-Mexico border to meet Sami DiPasquale from Abara. Drawing on the wisdom of Proverbs 9, Sami invites us to Wisdom’s feast—a table that requires us to leave our agendas at the door and enter with curiosity and humility. It’s a beautiful reminder that the most life-giving "ecotones" are often found in the uncomfortable spaces where different worlds overlap.
Through stories of "re-humanising" migration, we discover what it looks like to be a guest in spaces we don’t control and how to expand our empathy toward those on the "edges" of our lives. Whether it’s a shared meal in a border shelter or a picnic in your own driveway, this conversation is a warm invitation to move your table into the unknown and be changed by the wisdom of the community.
Go deeper with Sami's reflection in The Table - Tearfund Australia's 2026 Lent devotional series
Learn more about Sami's work with Abara

New season landing Monday 16th February!
Welcome to the table: where God feeds the hungry, lifts up the excluded, and overturns injustice.
From unlikely invitations to a promised wedding feast, scripture reminds us that Jesus’ table is a place of justice, generosity and hope.
In this season of the Tearfund Australia podcast, we’ve gathered theologians, musicians, and frontline development workers from around the world to share stories that will challenge and inspire you. Each episode centers on a different Table in scripture, exploring how these ancient moments of pulling up chairs, breaking bread, and leaning in to listen invite us into God’s modern-day work of justice.
Come, take a seat.

This season is released as part of Tearfund's 2026 Lent Devotional series. Sign up to get access to the full series including resources, prayers, reflection questions and ways to take action:
The Table | Tearfund's 2026 Lent Devotional series