Steve Bradbury was the national director of Tear Australia (now Tearfund Australia) for 25 years, served for several years on the executive of ACFID, the peak body of aid and development organisations in Australia. He was instrumental in establishing Micah Global, a network of evangelical faith-based development organisations and its global advocacy program Micah Challenge. Steve designed and facilitated Eastern College Australia’s Master of Transformational Development for 11 years (this is the course that I completed in 2018 and now help facilitate), and he remains heavily involved in the the course in a voluntary capacity.

Steve’s contribution to faith-based development is nothing short of phenomenal. But I would argue that the volume of his contribution is second to the way that he has done it. I’ve had the pleasure of studying under Steve and now working alongside him, and he approaches every aspect of his life with integrity grounded in a firm conviction and commitment to biblical principles. This has at time caused significant difficulties and challenges for Steve, but has – in my opinion – been a brilliant and encouraging example of faith-integrated poverty alleviation and a life that seeks to follow the narrow path of Jesus in a messy and broken world.

Over the past few years I’ve had a growing sense that capturing something of Steve’s story and contribution to faith-based development would be an important task that’s helpful for development practitioners and Christians who are keen to explore the implications of a holistic gospel. I’m really thankful that Steve agreed to do this, and so every month or two we’ll be recording a new podcast episode.

You can also listen to it here.

In this first episode, Steve outlines formative moments in the years leading up to his appointment as national director of Tear Australia.