- by Deborah Longe
- April 2, 2026
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The following is a transcription of On the Lord’s Side Podcast presented on GospelBellsRadio on April 2, 2026 by Olufemi Oguntokun. It may not fully match with the audio, but represents a near perfect transcription of the broadcast.
On the Artemis 2 Moon Mission
And it’s good morning to you once again. It’s Thursday, the 2nd of April 2026. The programme is On the Lord’s Side: Christian Perspectives on News and Current Events. My name is Olufemi Oguntokun. You can follow me on Instagram at Olufemi OG. You can follow Gospel Verse Radio on X at Gospel Verse Radio.
Masses of spectators cheered a dazzling Florida launch as astronauts head to the moon for the first time in almost 54 years. Astronauts head to the moon for the first time in almost 54 years.
Many people listening to this will wonder and say, well, I’ve not heard of many other voyages to space. How is it that Artemis 2, this second rocket that took off from Florida and landed yesterday, would be the second visit to the moon by human beings in almost 54 years? And it is so.
Before now, there have been a number of voyages to outer space, but of course we recall that it was all the way back in 1972, Apollo 17 when human beings landed on the moon and returned safely back to Earth.
That was the first human voyage to deep space to the moon. And yesterday, Artemis 2, which would be NASA’s first crewed mission in the programme, took off on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Centre and carried four astronauts on a 10-day journey.
Quite understandably, many people are fascinated with this development. There are a number of fascinating facts about this voyage.
Number one, it is said to achieve record-breaking distance. The crew will travel about 250,000 miles from the Earth, that’s about 402,000 kilometres. That is the farthest any human has travelled away from Earth according to records.
They are going to fly past the moon’s far side on a free-return trajectory.
It is also said that the crew and the rocket itself are programmed to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at a blazing speed, approximately 40,000 kilometres per hour.
Where I do not know if you have ever tried to race in your own car, I do not suppose that I’m speaking to any astronauts, but if you have driven at maybe 120 or even 150 kilometres per hour, imagine 40,000 kilometres per hour.
This is all fascinating news.
But this latest voyage is different from the Apollo landings in the late 1960s.
Number one, there will be no landing on the moon. It is a test flight. The astronauts will fly past the moon but will not land.
We also have a bigger crew, four astronauts. It is the first time a woman will travel to deep space. It is also the first time a non-American, a Canadian is travelling that far.
There is also a technological leap. This is said to be the most powerful rocket ever flown.
In short, Apollo proved where we could go, but Artemis 2 proves that we can go again, better, and stay.
They are expected back in Earth’s orbit on the 10th of April. Let us pray for their safe return.
Interestingly, during the flight, there was a fault with the toilet facilities. The crew had to troubleshoot and fix a broken toilet system about six hours into the flight.
At least one astronaut had to resort to using a bag.
NASA confirmed the issue was due to a malfunctioning controller in the toilet system. In zero gravity, airflow helps pull waste into the toilet, so this was a real issue.
But the astronauts were able to fix it.
And when we reflect on stories like this, what should Christians think?
Some will say this proves that man can do anything, like the Tower of Babel. But it actually proves what God has already said about man, that He has given us dominion.
The most important reflection is to be awed at God’s creation.
Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.”
Imagine travelling 402,000 kilometres away from Earth and the universe still continues endlessly.
How great is our God?
And think of this: when we are called home, we will not need a rocket. Imagine the sights that will greet us.
Let us never fail to be awed at God’s creation.
On the Florida Vice Mayor’s Death
I want to go to another story.
A distressing one from Florida in the United States: Florida vice mayor found dead in home after a domestic violence incident; husband in police custody.
A South Florida city leader was found dead on Wednesday. Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen was found by police at around 10 a.m. after a welfare check.
Her husband, Stephen Bowen, is in police custody.
This reminds us that many women suffer domestic violence silently, even successful women.
Domestic violence is never excusable, especially when it leads to death.
Women should not suffer in silence. Speak out. Seek help.
Where it becomes dangerous, leave that environment. Protect your life.
Anyone who inflicts violence is not on the Lord’s side.
Let us pray for the victim’s family and for protection for others.
On the Twin Paternity Case
Another story:
A woman’s relationship with identical twins has led to a court ruling that it is impossible to determine the father of her child.
The woman had sexual relations with both twins four days apart.
DNA testing shows a 50–50 chance for each twin.
The court ruled that paternity cannot be determined.
This reminds us that human systems and knowledge can sometimes be confounded.
Like the story of King Solomon, where wisdom, not technology, resolved the issue.
God, however, knows all things.
On the Attempted Train Attack
Another story from Seattle:
A man allegedly tried to push a stranger onto train tracks.
The suspect, Eliseo Melendez, carefully timed his attack as a train approached.
The victim escaped narrowly. The attacker tried again before fleeing.
This is disturbing.
Such acts reflect the work of the devil, whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy.
Violence is not just physical; it has spiritual roots.
That is why Christians pray.
We must ask God to keep us from evil.
On Violence in Jos and National Crisis
We return to Jos, where disturbing videos emerged of violence.
Let us remember our brothers and sisters in Northern Nigeria.
These acts of violence are the work of the devil.
We must pray for protection and peace.
On a Christian Saving a Muslim During the Jos Attack
Finally, a heartwarming story from Jos:
A Muslim man, Seyedu Muritala, shared how a Christian man saved his life during a Palm Sunday attack in March 2026.
He was selling when gunshots began.
A Christian man opened his home, hid him, fed him, and later reunited him with his father.
Despite knowing his faith, he showed him kindness.
This man said, “If all people were like this, the world would be at peace.”
This reflects the goodness of Christ.
May we learn from Christ’s gentleness, even in suffering.
Let us pray for peace in Jos, in Nigeria, and in the world.
Thank you so very much for staying with us this morning. We will see you again tomorrow by the grace of God.
Whatever you do today, remain firmly on the Lord’s side.
God bless you.
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