Glenda Rouxel spices up Thursday Morning with her co-presenter Simon (the British bloke) [STOP PRESS: Simon went back to England. We miss you Simon!]. Short of our own biographical note, we have borrowed this one from Glenda’s website:

Born in the beautiful city of Sydney Australia into a loving but eccentric Christian family consisting of Dad; who was so convinced of my potential he bribed me to write stories, Mum; whose mirthful mishaps have supplied much humorous fodder for my pen, and three fabulous, good looking and intelligent siblings, who now owe me dinner.

When I was aged three my Grandmother spied me bossing my siblings and cousins around on her back porch, and commented to various collected relatives with a bemused grin “She’ll be a teacher that one, mark my words”. They did and I was, a teacher I mean. Driven by a desire to have little children follow me around adoringly I went into teaching passionately, loving the children, and the teachers I worked with, learning from them more than I am sure anyone ever learnt from me. I met my husband, Colin, at church when I was 12 years old, although it would be at least another four years before he would even notice my existence. Once he did it was love, then many years and four beautiful children later, it still is.

Although my pen and I have a close affinity I have previously never called myself a writer, but the desire to do something with my written words was strong. One day I recall discussing with God that if it was his will, then he could find a way. It was, and he did.

Months later my husband was offered a tree-change transfer with his job as a paramedic to the country, which meant me leaving my teaching position and picking up our family to move to beautiful Blayney in rural New South Wales. It is here that God has given me the time to let my daily reflections grow into characters, stories, messages and inspiration. It was here that Amber Glass, the Embarrassed Evangelist, was hatched.

Source: www.glendarouxel.com

Andy Armytage was born in Colac, Victoria (1954). His family left the farm after the 1967-71 drought and moved to Coff Harbour where he completed his final year of school at Bellingen High. A few of his mates from the school became Christians at uni and started working on Andy who was too busy learning to fly with RAAF and embarking on a sales career.

Later, through these friends, I met Sue, Jesus and a whole new life (not forgetting thanks to Billy Graham at Randwick, 1979). I prayed in 1980 to fly for Hazelton Airlines. The prayer was answered immediately and led to 27 years of service. (It was God’s idea first).

In 1981, Andy scored a basing at Cudal and brought Sue and their 2 week old son to live in Orange. They still live in the same house (extended and renovated) and added a son and a daughter with a healing miracle the specialist said couldn’t be done. To date, they have four grandsons growing up in a Christian household, a son in Bible College and a daughter bent on a life of mission to the downcast.

Since 1998, Andy has enjoyed a position on the board at Rhema FM Orange and sees Rhema as an essential part of Christian community life in our region.

Steven started volunteering at Rhema in 2002. He can be found working at the Station on Tuesday and Friday evenings, uploading The Reality Zone, The Countdown Magazine, Ravi Zacharias, and Hour of Decision with Billy Graham. He also maintains the studio equipment and computer network.

Steven and Leonie are members of Mountain Hope Church (meeting at the CWA Hall in Robertson) and are both involved in their church music team.

I am very thankful to have been born in a home where both my parents had made a decision for Christ and my childhood Sundays were occupied the entire day with our Congregational church and church related activities.

My uncle was an LMS missionary in the Pacific and we often had girls from Nauru (in Australia for school) stay with us during the holidays.

When I was 8 years old, a missionary to New Guinea spoke to us about her work there and when she asked for those who would like to receive the Lord and dedicate their lives to mission work, I responded.

This decision led me to spend 5 years training at RPAH Camperdown and KGV. Graham lived next door to the hospital, but I didn’t meet him till I was at a WEC mission meeting at Strathfield inviting people to a Bible Study at St Stephens, Newtown. We got to know each other doing door to door work for the Anglican church.

Graham and I were on the first YWAM Summer of Service in Australia and we married at the end of a YWAM outreach in Fiji.

The Lord led us to Orange 36 years ago. In 1992 a friend of ours rand to say that there were community frequencies that could be applied for in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo. We saw this as a tremendous opportunity for Christians throughout the Central West to grow in their knowledge and love for Christ.

Since the of our involvement with Christian Radio some of the most exciting things to see have been the growth of the Vision FM Network throughout Australia currently with 290 stations, the Laef FM Station in Port Vila where our son Michael assists with training, and the National Radio of Nepal reaching people who have never heard the name of Christ. Radio Nepal’s Message of Hope is supervised by Simon Pandey. His son and daughter-in-law (Dr Bijay and Tabitha Pandey) are living in Orange.

One of the golden oldies of Rhema, Kerrie began as a live radio announcer ten years ago. Kerrie now enjoys reading Word for Today.

A Sydney girl, I came up for a farm holiday in 1976, and married the farmer …. eventually! Together, Phil and I had Ben, Joel, Oliver, Sarah and Lydia. The three boys are married and one grand-baby is due soon. I became a Christian in 1979 and it has been an amazing journey … taking me along paths of volunteer building, teaching, and medical missions, witnessing God’s power and presence cross culturally. Currently working locally in District Nursing, Yeoval Hospital and at our home church in the Molong Community. Blessed to be part of Rhema FM

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I grew up as a child in Eumungerie between Dubbo and Gilgandra. After getting a scholarship to Hurlstone Agicultural HS, instead of going onto the grandparents property, decided go to University where I was converted to Christ in 3rd year dentistry and then met Pam who was next door to St Andrew’s College at RPAH.

After marrying Pam spent my honeymoon with 500 blokes training for the Vietnam war and saw her once during officer training!

We were planning on becoming missionaries and attending Bible College but lost one of our twins from a cot death, instead finding our way to Orange where we felt led to buy a big house and have children’s as well as other ministry such as Teen Challenge there. On one occasion, we had nearly 40 children staying here with Child Evangelism Fellowship! We were trained by Teen Challenge in the USA in 1974 nearly losing our lives in Brooklyn.

After returning to Orange to use our home for Teen Challenge we met with the Ministers Association who didn’t think there was a drug problem, so didn’t go ahead with it.

So after studying under Dr Francis Schaeffer in the same year, we decided to get involved in redeeming our culture specially in education, government and media. Hence the commencement of Rhema in 1993 with a temporary licence. January 2008 is our 10 year anniversary of a permanent licence.

I grew up in Sydney, Wagga and Goulburn and through my childhood and school days attended the Anglican Church. However, it was not until just before my HSC that a friend invited me to the Inter-School Christian Fellowship group. There one of my teachers explained the Gospel, and I realised for the first time that simply believing in God and attending church was not enough. I needed to acknowledge that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for my sins, ask for forgiveness for them, and commit my life to Him. As the Christian songwriter Keith Green put it, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger”.

The Lord soon showed that he had taken charge of my life as, although I had applied to the University of NSW to study Economics, I was granted a scholarship to the University of Sydney to study Agricultural Science. With nowhere organised to stay, my local church minister suggested I try Moore Theological College, which took in a limited number of boarders. I was accepted, and there were three other Christian Agricultural Science students staying there at that time, including Brian Lukins. Brian and the others encouraged me to be involved in the Uni Evangelical Union (EU), and to attend St Barnabas’ church with them. This was a great time of growth for me as a Christian, and I thank God for the many Christians who helped me along the way. I met my wife, Rosemary, at church and University.

After a year as co-leader of the Ag/Vet Science EU group and finishing Uni, I completed a Diploma in Education. I was then employed as a District Agronomist with what was then the NSW Department of Agriculture (now Industry & Investment NSW). After being based in 5 locations around the State I was transferred to Yass, and spent 12 years working there (responsible to Regional Director Don McDonald) and attending the Baptist Church. During that time I married Rosemary and David and Melissa were born.

After starting a Master’s degree in Spatial Information, I was offered a transfer to Orange as a Research Officer in 1994, working in the spatial information field (still with Industry & Investment NSW). Our children attended Calare Public School and later the Orange Christian School. We all attend the Orange Evangelical Church, and have done so since its inception.

The major influences on me as a Christian have been writers such as Robert Murray McCheyne, J.C. Ryle, John Owen, C.S. Lewis, John Stott, Don Carson, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Jerry Bridges and Corrie Ten Boom. I also enjoy reading the Christian fiction of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Stephen Lawhead and Charles Williams.

I have been an association member and supporter of Rhema Orange since 1994, and been involved as a volunteer since 2004. My major duties have been in loading programs and acting as a backup to Steven Palmer in the weekly program scheduling. More recently, I have been involved as a member of the board.

The reason for my involvement is that I believe that Christian radio has an important role in both spreading the good news about Jesus Christ and encouraging Christians in their walk with Him. Also, I believe it’s an important service to those Christians who are isolated (either geographically or as a result of age or illness) and as a result can’t regularly attend church or meet with other Christians, and to those who are travelling.

As it’s critical what we fill our minds with, is it not better to listen to Christian music and programs if we have the opportunity (Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 4:29, Psalm 101:3)?

Why not consider supporting your local Christian radio station in its task to serve the Lord?

“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” Isaiah 55:11.

Karl grew up on the Central Coast. He studied Ancient History and Law at Macquarie University before moving to Orange in 2006. Karl currently manages the Orange Christian Book Centre. His wife is a primary school teacher at Orange Christian School. He is still struggling to acclimatise, particularly on frosty Wednesday mornings.

“At first I didn’t want to have a bar of talking on the Radio, and when asked if I was interested, I would say “No way!” All until our Chairman Graham McLennan came along and asked me to do the News and weather on a Wednesday -interestingly, I haven’t looked back!

Working at Rhema has showed me just how evident God is in my life. I believe He blesses me in this line of work as much as hope I can bless others through what I do there. I often reflect on how God has a purpose for us all, which is so different from our own plans. I had never envisioned working in Radio! – Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you..” God Bless…

Both my parents were Christians, which had a lot to do with where I am today. I enjoy being involved in radio ministry through Rhema. I have a heart for helping people. I love preaching the Word, and seeing people grow in their Christian life. I shall keep on doing this while the Lord gives me health and strength.