Christian Media

Finding Your Voice

Based on my conversation with Gareth Cottrell on the Follow Forward Podcast 

Gareth Cottrell is the Founder and breakfast show presenter of Konnect Radio.

We’re from the same part of Greater Manchester but only got to know each other a couple of years ago. I’d heard glimpses of Gareth’s story, but it was only through the Follow Forward podcast that I gained a deeper appreciation for the remarkable way God has worked in and through his life.

I recognised three sides to his story…

1. The Obstacle

Gareth’s reality and identity were shaped by a debilitating stammer. He explained it like this:

“Everybody takes communication and speaking for granted. So it’s like breathing in a way. Nobody has to think about breathing and going, ‘I’ll just inhale and exhale.’ It just happens. And that’s the same with speech for many people. But if you imagine that being taken away from you to the point where you have to think so much about the words you’re going to say that you kind of reach a point and you think, ‘I can’t be bothered doing it.'”

I’ve never heard it explained in this way. It is humbling to consider that something many of us take for granted can be such a struggle for someone else. It’s a challenge that impacts not only how a person communicates, but also how they perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others.

Yet despite this pervasive obstacle, Gareth developed a deep passion for radio from the very first moment he saw a radio presenter in action. That passion came from deep within him and launched him on a surprising and inspiring journey.

2. The Passion

For Gareth, radio was never just a career to pursue. It was a passion he couldn’t ignore.

While studying broadcasting at university, he discovered something remarkable. Once he stepped behind the microphone, his stammer no longer held him back.

“The stammer was never a problem on the radio. Never has been.”

It was a life-changing discovery.

He cut his teeth in hospital and community radio, volunteering countless hours, learning on the job and taking every opportunity to be in a studio and get behind a microphone.

While others may have balked at volunteering, Gareth saw opportunities to grow and move closer to his dream. Eventually, he broke into mainstream radio, building an increasingly successful broadcasting career. His determination enabled him to succeed where many others would have walked away.

“If you tell me I can’t do something, that’s the worst thing to do. Because I will prove that I can do it.”

Yet through it all, the passion never diminished.

“It was never about the money. I’d be doing this for free if I could afford to.”

3. The Journey

As Gareth’s radio career progressed, so did his journey of faith.

Having grown up in a Christian home, faith was always familiar to him. However, it was in adulthood that he truly surrendered everything to follow Jesus. This transformation impacted both his character and his career.

“The old Gareth was very selfish. He was career driven, he had a lot of arrogance… but now God wants me to work for him using the skills that I’ve picked up.”

His relationship with Jesus gave him the confidence to take increasingly bold steps of faith.

“I don’t see my career as my career; I see it as a ministry.”

The Birth of Konnect Radio

This integrated approach to life, passion and faith enabled Gareth to respond when he sensed God leading him to establish Konnect Radio.

“Now God wants me to work for him using the skills that I’ve picked up.”

Founded in 2021, Konnect Radio is a pioneering radio station that combines family-friendly Christian and mainstream music. Its unique approach creates a platform that engages both Christians and those who are not currently following Jesus.

As a follower of Christ, Gareth has been willing to take significant risks, and he has seen God open doors in remarkable ways.

His story challenges us to consider our own lives.

• What perceived weaknesses might God want to turn into strengths for His Kingdom?
• How could your passions be used to reach people with the Gospel?

Gareth’s journey encourages all of us not to be defined or restricted by our perceived weaknesses. Instead, it inspires us to live with expectancy, believing that God has new opportunities and adventures ahead of us.

“You always have to keep things in the palm of your hand and not your closed hand, because you never know what God’s got for you next.”

*To find out more about the Follow Forward Podcast, click here.
To listen to Gareth’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.