Since the
news of Josie Raath's suicide became known,
Radio Pulpit has published a complete,
correct and factual statement. Although it
was placed on our website, broadcasted on
our airwaves and widely distributed to our
listeners and supporters, the secular media,
with one exception, chose not to use it.
I'm not going to defend Radio Pulpit against
such defensive articles, because I do not
need to do it. We have the facts and believe
the truth will set us free. The management
of Radio Pulpit has always acted with
integrity and we have done our best in this
time of pain to protect Josie’s relatives
and his three young children against further
grief that can be caused by a mudslinging
match. We prefer that they will remember
their father as "a good man who has not
always made the right decisions". (As his
daughter Rhonwyn said) Unfortunately, the
media does not necessarily share our
sentiment and prefer to find out the
sensation so that the situation can be
milked, even if it means that one-sided and
distorted facts have to be presented.
However, in Rapport of 29 January 2012 an
important piece of information was
published: the definition of "bipolar
disorder" i.e. depression (Source: World
Health Organization).
By reading it, any sound-minded reader will
understand that this forms the background
for the events of recent times. It is
proposed that bipolar depression amongst
other things is characterized by the
following: It is a chronic (long term)
illness; patients are subject to depths of
depressive phases, and then often make
irresponsible decisions, that could also
negatively affect interpersonal
relationships, which in itself can be
self-destructive. Suicidal thoughts are
often a feature of depressive phases such as
life seen through dark glasses. The source
states that this should be seen as one of
the "greatest psychological disorders in the
world."
The fact is that Josie was a self-confessed
depression sufferer, who wrestled with the
disease for many years. Against this
background, I would urge our listeners to
consider the recent events with sober minds
and to understand that Christians could also
contract devastating diseases of our time.
Our counselling department helps many of our
listeners with such severe cases of
depression and understands that individuals
suffering from depression often doubt God’s
love for them and lose their trust in Him.
Fortunately, we can testify that God does
heal these people, usually with the help of
Christian-based counselling, combined with
medical science.
Pray with us at this time - especially for
those with a sense of helplessness because
of difficult depressing thoughts.
Blessings
Dr. Roelf Petersen
Managing Director
