60 sec interview with......
Name?
Birgit Whelan
How long have you been saved for?
I’ve always known that God existed, but I don’t believe I was saved until I was 20. God revealed Himself to me through a vision at this time, with words from Scripture being part of this. It was a very powerful experience of His reality, and there was no way I could live any other way but for Him from that time.
What is your favourite scripture and why?
“’And you shalllove the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ...”
Because to me, this captures a heart and life wholly dedicated to the love and worship of God.
Favourite food?
Hmmmm. So hard to pick just one J. Strawberries. And chocolate.
If you could take a trip to any location where would it be?
Israel. I can only imagine what it would be like to experience where Jesus Himself lived. Scenes that mean so much biblically. A few years ago I visited the ancient city of Ephesus where Paul had ministered for over two years, and also the island of Patmos, where the apostle John was exiled and received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I remember how significant it felt being somewhere physically, which means so much to you spiritually.
How long have you been presenting at Revelation TV?
I joined the team full-time nearly five years ago. I worked in the Office but also helped out wherever it was needed, including in the studio. I think taking part in the programmes started that first day, when Lesley asked me onto R Mornings with her for a little while. I’ve contributed on and off over the years since then.
What was your very first presenting experience like at Revelation TV?
My very first time presenting was actually before I joined the team on staff. This was back in Cleveland Street, and it was with Howard and Gordon on World In Focus. It was Halloween 2005 and we were talking about the event from a Christian point of view. It was definitely nerve-wracking taking part, but Howard and Gordon really put me at ease, and it just felt like having a conversation. There were only a handful of us in the studio that night – the three of us, Tom, our director, and my husband, Michael. Afterwards we all sat around and had a great time talking and having fellowship really. It’s something that stands out for me thinking back, and a great note to end on after that first programme!
What’s your favourite topic that you like to discuss whilst presenting?
Jesus. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End ... who is, and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
If you could interview any individual throughout history who would it be and why?
Jesus. Imagine seeing Him face to face. Talking with Him face to face. God incarnate (John 1:1;14). Full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Whose very essence is love (1 John 4:8). Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Who is your presenting hero?
I really admire lots of presenters, and think they do a brilliant job, but I don’t really have a presenting hero. I think as Christians, we are simply being given the work of drawing out the incredible grace of God in people’s lives as we interview them, and in all of our discussions on the programmes, to be continually pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ. If a presenter is seeking to glorify God in this way, I really respect them.
If you were not part of Revelation TV what would you be doing?
The other work I’m involved with is writing, and looking after things at home. I’m currently working on writing a novel as part of a course at Journalism School. It’s the story of a person coming to know God. Someone whose life was falling apart because of bad choices, regret and disillusion, until an encounter with God and with His grace ... These are the things that mainly keep me busy when I’m not at the station.
What’s the best presenting experience that you have ever had?
It’s not so much one experience for me, it’s more the experience of God and His purposes through the programmes that I like the best. Jesus said “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” Matthew 18:20. God also says of His Word that, “It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
These are incredible promises, and what I love most about being part of the programmes - that as we seek to lift Jesus up in our discussions, and His Word, that He Himself is present with us, and His purposes are being served.
What’s the worst presenting experience that you have ever had?
Part of my own testimony is overcoming fear and anxiety. Before I became a Christian, I would experience fear really forcefully at times. Even when I became a Christian I still struggled with these feelings from time to time, and this was often the case in the early days of presenting. It was really distracting and horrible, and there were times when I didn’t think I could make it through the whole programme. God has thankfully done a work of grace in my life since then so that it’s no longer like this, but I think that would have to be the worst presenting experience I’ve had.
How do you generally prepare for your shows?
I do a lot of preparation. I once heard a really godly pastor and preacher speak of the twenty hours he would put into preparing his one sermon each week. Toiling over the Word of God. Seeking God. Praying. This really spoke to me. I’m by no means a pastor or preacher, but what I felt God impress upon me through his reflection, was the profound significance of handling the Word of God, and the things of God, particularly if it might touch the lives of others.
For this reason I really try to honour God in my preparation before taking part in a programme as much as I can. I pray - about which guests to invite, about which passages of Scripture or themes God may want to be highlighted in a discussion, those kinds of things. And I study. I read passages from the Bible related to the topic, and books written by Christian teachers on the topic, or the guests themselves. My hope is that this will give the Holy Spirit a lot to draw on, and that by His grace, something encouraging might be offered to those viewing.
Do you ever watch your programmes and analyse them?
No. Because then I’d just be reminded of all the mistakes I make! I just try to leave it all with God.
A final word of encouragement for the viewers?
We’ve already mentioned Mark 12:30, but that would be my encouragement. “’... love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’” Love God. Follow Christ. Surrender to the Holy Spirit.