The Beacons Podcast · Episode 04 · Full episode · 51 minutes
Faith & Forgiveness.
Rowan Welch.
This time Rowan takes the guest’s chair. He talks with Chris about losing his father, years of distraction, the experience of forgiveness and why other people’s stories inspired Beacons.
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Episode notes · A written companion
The story behind Beacons.
An editorial summary by Beacons of Rowan’s conversation, prepared using the episode’s captions. These are selected themes, not a word-for-word transcript or a contributor-written testimony. Watch the full episode for context.
01Grief he did not know how to face
Rowan describes losing his father while still at school and struggling to know what to do with the grief. Gaming became a way to avoid painful feelings. Years later, during his military service, he recognised how disconnected he had become. He speaks about this as his own experience of distress and distraction, not a diagnosis of everyone who uses games.
02Forgiveness as a turning point
While reading the Bible on a bus journey, Rowan began reflecting on a family relationship in which he had felt betrayed. He describes an inward decision to forgive and a powerful sense of release. It led him to read more of the Gospels and explore Christianity further. This was a significant personal moment, not a timetable or emotional response others need to reproduce.
03Being welcomed, not pushed
Joining a church brought Rowan into contact with people whose faith he could see in the way they treated others. Hearing their stories helped him feel connected and became a reason to start the podcast. In this conversation, he emphasises the importance of allowing people room to seek and respond for themselves.
04A creative response to faith
Rowan describes writing prayers and poetry as a way to express what he struggles to say. He reflects on moving from constant consumption towards creating something meaningful. Luke 23:39–43, the account of Jesus and the criminal on the cross, is especially important to his understanding of grace. He also refers to Mark 13:37 when reflecting on life’s uncertainty.
Scripture discussed
Read on Bible Gateway (NIV). Each passage opens in a new tab.
Something to sit with
After the conversation.
Is there a part of your story you have been avoiding—and what would a safe, supported first step towards speaking about it look like?
A reflection prompt from Beacons, not a quotation from Rowan. One person’s story is not a prescribed pathway for everyone. Forgiveness does not require returning to an unsafe relationship or abandoning appropriate boundaries. You do not have to rush this process.