Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Profile

Helen Thorne-Allenson is Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK, where she helps churches to offer compassionate and theologically grounded care to those who are struggling. She's worked with London City Mission and is an experienced speaker and counsellor, known for tackling difficult pastoral topics like mental health issues, domestic abuse, anxiety and sexual purity with honesty and Gospel hope. She is the author of several books, including Hope in an Anxious World, Walking with Domestic Abuse Sufferers, 5 Things to Pray for a Suffering Friend, Purity Is Possible, and Mental Health and Your Church: A Handbook for Biblical Care, co-written with Dr Steve Midgley. Her latest book, A Church That Cares: A Biblical Guide to Loving One Another Well, is out now and continues her focus on helping congregations to support one another through life's hardest seasons. In this episode of The Profile she talks to Premier Christianity's AJ Gomez about her conversion to Christianity as a young woman, how you can tell if a church is fostering an emotionally open culture and what it was like marrying for the first time in her fifties. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity

At 16-years-old Terry Virgo became a Christian through his sister during the years of Billy Graham’s greatest impact on Britain. He went on to train at London Bible College at a time of the charismatic movement of the 1960s. It shaped his early faith and ministry. Virgo spent 11 years leading an Evangelical Free Church in East Sussex, before moving to Brighton in 1979. From there a network grew into what became Newfrontiers, a movement that sought to combine Biblical principles whilst being open to the Holy Spirit. It now has more than 1,500 congregations in over 70 countries. In this episode of The Profile Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes talks to him about his first experiences of becoming a Christian, how the Holy Spirit changed him and how being "born of the Spirit" is an idea that cuts right to the heart of Christianity. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Bishop of Kensington and acting Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Dr Emma Ineson has spent more than 25 years in ordained ministry and now holdsone of the Church of England's highest-ranking posts. She began with a curacy in the Diocese of Sheffield, moved on to the Lee Abbey community in Devon as a chaplain, and then spent years training the next generation of clergy at Trinity College, Bristol. She became Principal of Trinity College in 2014, and in 2019 she was consecrated Bishop of Penrith in the Diocese of Carlisle. In 2021 she moved to Lambeth Palace as Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. In 2023 she became Bishop of Kensington, and since October 2025 she has also served as acting Bishop of London. As well as a bishop, Ineson is also an author. Her 2019 book Ambition looks at what Jesus said about power and success, while Failure was the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book for 2023. Her latest book is Middling: What Jesus Said About Perspective, Being Between Things and Not Yet Knowing Stuff In this episode of The Profile she talks to Deputy Editor of Premier Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle about never knowing a time when 'Jesus didn't love me," what her journey has been like to become a female bishop and her latest book which treasures the 'middle' of things. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Theology and National Director of Alpha UK, Chloe Swart was raised as a pastor's child, she had early exposure to stories of faith and the miraculous through her parents, an influence that shaped her later academic and ministry work. Chloe holds a PhD in theology, where she studied healing miracles in Wales. Sending out questionnaires, she gathered testimonies from over 600 people who reported physical healing. Her research found that healings typically came through prayer from an ordinary friend, colleague or family member rather than a senior leader outside church buildings, and that while 40% of accounts involved life-threatening conditions, 60% concerned everyday ailments like arthritis or sciatica. In 2026, Chloe published 605 Everyday Miracles: Learning to Do What Jesus Did, Today (IVP), drawing on her research to help readers pray more boldly and live out an everyday faith of healing. In this episode of The Profile she talks to Premier Christianity journalist AJ Gomez about her experience of studying those who've been healed and bringing Jesus's healing into people's lives herself. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Canon Yvonne Tulloch was born into a Christian Brethren household and grew up attending church several times a day. From a young age she had a close relationship with God, married as a teenager, trained as a secretary but with her heart set on missionary work. Following a series of powerful visions she felt God call her to ministry despite the fact that as a woman at that time, she was barred from entering. But she did go on to become an Anglican church minister and by 2008 was serving as a Cathedral canon. Tulloch's later work in bereavement support grew directly out of personal tragedy when she was suddenly widowed following her husband's heart attack, a loss that upended her life. Within a few months she went from being high-functioning to facing job loss, home loss, and suicidal thoughts. The experience taught her something she felt society as a whole had failed to grasp: that grief is poorly understood, and bereavement support in the UK was fragmented. She began consulting with bereavement charity leaders in 2015 about creating a single, trusted place bereaved people could find the right support for their circumstances and the experience led to AtaLoss, a UK wide bereavement charity: raising awareness of bereavement issues; signposting to support; and equipping community support, in particular The Bereavement Journey run by churches in hundreds of locations across the UK. In this episode of The Profile Tulloch speaks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about her childhood, her dramatic call to new mission and how the loss of her husband led to this new chapter where God is at work in churches growing and people coming to faith. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

British entrepreneur and Christian philanthropist Peter Vardy leads the Vardy Group, the automotive dealership business built by his family over three generations. Now 47, he is the son of Sir Peter Vardy, whose Sunday Times Rich List fortune is estimated at around £140 million. Like his father before him, Vardy has shaped the family business according to his faith. It's one that was delivered to him as a child in a simple and direct way|: God loves you, look what he has done. In his own business, every employee, from CEO to cleaner, wears the same uniform, reflecting his conviction that all staff hold equal value in God's eyes. He also made the contentious decision to close showrooms on Sundays, a policy that proved commercially successful despite early scepticism. Alongside his father, Vardy is a prominent philanthropist. The Peter Vardy Foundation funds numerous Christian charities and ministries, including Premier, Alpha and The Message Trust. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about his favourite car (it's a BMW 507), the divisions within the Church and the power of hard work. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

As a child, Lebanese-born broadcaster Rita El-Mounayer had first-hand experience of war. Both her parents were Christians, but came from different traditions. After her mother died, her father used to distract his family from the violence outside by hooking up a car battery and turning on a black-and-white TV. It fostered a lifelong interest in broadcasting and how powerful it could be. El-Mounayer began her career studying History and Social Science at the Lebanese University in Beirut later training in communications. In 1996 she became the first presenter to appear on screen for SAT-7 when it launched with a two-hour weekly Arabic broadcast, hosting its debut programme Ears of Wheat which ran for twelve years and became one of the channel's most successful shows. Later her role expanded to Programming Director for SAT-7's children's programmes when she launched SAT-7 KIDS, becoming the much-loved host of Bedtime Stories with Rita. SAT-7 is the oldest and largest Christian satellite broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa. It broadcasts free-to-air across 25 countries in the region and around 50 countries in Europe. In this episode of The Profile she talks to Premier Christianity magazine journalist AJ Gomez about her childhood living under conflict, the honour she has had in broadcasting and working with children and who Jesus means to her. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

British Theologian and Apologist Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing began her early academic work at Oxford and holds a doctorate there in theology, later serving as President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Her faith has shaped a career spent defending Christianity's intellectual credibility to sceptics, students and secular audiences worldwide, from university campuses to the UK Parliament and US Capitol Hill and in 1996 it took her to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, smuggling Bibles and engaging Islamic leaders in dialogue about faith. She has authored several books, including the bestselling Why Trust the Bible? and her more recent Forgiveness, Reclaiming Its Power in a Culture of Outrage and Fear. In this episode of The Profile she talks to Premier Christianity's deputy editor Emma Fowle about early attempts of academics to dissuade her from her faith, receiving death threats in Peckham and the weaponisation of forgiveness. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

WayMaker founder Andy Robinson grew up in a Christian household in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, describing Jesus as just 'always there'. As a younger teenager he took the opportunity to forge his own unique relationship with God and consciously became a Christian, deciding to dedicate his life to Christ. He went on to have a family and a successful career in software, and, at the same time volunteered as a youth leader at Lifespring Church, later linked to Brighton Road Baptist Church in Horsham and went on to became a church leader. In January 2023 Robinson was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 bowel cancer, given two to three years to live, a prognosis he has since outlived. Adopting the motto "The Big C in Me - Christ in me, not cancer," he wrote the 2023 memoir of that title, followed by a second book, The Thread. Robinson also founded WayMaker, an international development charity which operates in Africa. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity journalist AJ Gomez about what his relationship with God is like whilst living with a terminal illness, how he received a greater peace upon hearing the initial news and why he's stopped thinking 'why me' and now asks 'what's next?' The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Cris Rogers is an 'urban theologian' best known for reviving church life on one of East London's toughest estates. He was born and grew up in a working-class environment in West Yorkshire and studied art before moving onto theology at Trinity College, Bristol, and later King's College London. He became a priest in 2008 and was among the first clergy commissioned specifically to the Church of England's newly created "pioneer minister" track for planting churches in non-traditional settings. In 2010, he and his wife Beki moved to Tower Hamlets to take on All Hallows Church in Bow, then down to around seven members. Under his leadership the church grew into a diverse, deeply rooted estate congregation. Rogers has become a leading voice on Church planting in working-class contexts, arguing that no single model transfers between neighbourhoods and that planters must work "shoulder-to-shoulder" with residents rather than arrive as outside saviours. He champions small, relational congregations, incarnational mission rooted in local need, and multi-ethnic inclusion, while warning against imported megachurch or multisite models that can alienate working-class communities. In this episode of The Profile he talks about his latest book: Positive Urban Theology: Finding God in the Grit and Glory of the City, realising that his humble beginnings were exactly what God had made him and how the 'social credit' of housing estates is close to heaven and the early church. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Graham Daniels grew up with football in his blood, signing for Cardiff City as a young player while still at school. He went on to study philosophy at Cardiff University, playing for the club throughout his studies but it wasn't until he reached 21, that he really gave his life to Christ. Rather than leaving football behind, Daniels found a way to weave his sporting career together with a call to ministry. He played professionally for Cambridge United and then Cambridge City, all while pursuing theological training. He has also moved into football management too, taking charge at Sudbury Town, Histon, and eventually Cambridge City. In 1989, upon completing his ministry training, Daniels joined the staff of Christians in Sport, a UK charity dedicated to reaching athletes and the sporting world with The Gospel. He became its General Director in 2002 and has held the role for decades. Daniels later earned a PhD for research into identity formation among Christian professional footballers, and has written and co-authored several books exploring the relationship between faith and sport, including Born to Play. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to deputy editor Emma Fowle about the huge numbers of Christians he now sees in sport, how he avoids profiles of 'famous' athletes and the support Christians in Sport shows to young people in clubs around the country. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one? Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Joel Muddamalle. He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India. His grandparents were arguably the he strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the joy when you did. "There", he says, "there was a passion for the ministry." Later his parent moved to America, where he became a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD on the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament. Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that. As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization women's ministry. In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one? Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Joel Muddamalle. He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India. His grandparents were arguably the strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the joy when you did: "there was a passion for the ministry." Later his parent moved to America and he became a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD in the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament. Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that. As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organisation. In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

With 18 Grammy Awards and decades of ministry behind her, CeCe Winans remains a living example of a life surrendered to God through the gifts He gives us. Winans grew up as one of ten children in Detroit, straight into a household saturated with gospel music. Her parents raised their family in the Pentecostal tradition, and church was the foundation of everything, including the music that would define her life. Winans first found fame singing alongside her brother BeBe as the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans before launching a solo career that would make her best-selling and one of the most-awarded female gospel artists in history. Her 1998 album Everlasting Love showcased her talents and songs like Alabaster Box and Goodness of God have become worship staples in churches worldwide. In the course of her career she has sold 27 million records worldwide, is an inaugural inductee in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville. The now 61-year-old says she considers her music to be her ministry though she has spoken openly about stepping back from it at points to focus on things such as co-founding a church alongside her husband, Alvin. Today, CeCe and Alvin co-pastor Nashville Life Church, where their son serves as lead pastor. In this episode of The Profile she talks to deputy editor of Premier Christianity magazine Emma Fowle about musical life as ministry, her hopes for the next generation and prioritising her marriage over her work. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Pete Hughes is the founding and senior pastor of King's Cross Church (KXC), an Anglican church he planted in central London in 2010. Back then, the zone 1 destination was a grimy, transitional area on the brink of massive transformation. The vision behind the plant, in Hughes's own words, was "to recklessly give themselves away to God, each other and the people of King's Cross and beyond." Without a permanent building, KXC began by renting space for Sunday gatherings while meeting midweek in homes and pubs around the area. But it paid off. Over more than a decade, Hughes grew the church from that small core group into a larger community, with a strong emphasis on worship, prayer and mission in what he has described as one of the most secularised parts of the West. Now he's got a vision for something else. It's what he calls the 'heavy rain' of revival. A reference to Elijah in 1 Kings 18, and he is looking expectantly for the first signs of spiritual awakening, even when the immediate evidence seems small. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity's editor Sam Hailes about the growth of KXC, what it feels like to have the keys to his neighbour's church and his thoughts on Gen Z's search for God. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Luke Smith the national leader of the Fusion Movement, a Christian student mission, has spent his life calling students to follow Jesus. His own journey began at university in the 1990s. Since then Luke has walked alongside students through the transformative journey from "nervous fresher to confident graduate" - convinced that the university years are formative for the whole of a person's life. At the heart of his ministry is a deep conviction: that the local church, not a parachurch movement alone, is best placed to reach students with The Gospel, disciple them well, and send them out as missionaries to their own generation. Now serving as National Team Leader for England and Wales, Luke leads Fusion Movement's work of equipping local churches to reach students across the country. He's convinced that students carry extraordinary potential for the Kingdom, and believes it's the biggest missionary opportunity that the UK has had since Billy Graham came in the 1950s. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes about how 'being an idiot for Jesus' helped him overcome issues with the Church, what drew him to student mission and what comes after surviving cancer. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Ashley Banjo, is best known as the dance troupe leader of the hugely successful group Diversity who first captured the nation's hearts on the talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2009. They famously beat off favourite Susan Boyle for the crown and all when he was just 21. Banjo was raised in Essex, the son of a former heavyweight boxer and a dance teacher and began dancing at age five. It was a passion that was nurtured by his parents. He was raised with some exposure to Christianity and he has spoken candidly about drifting from it before rediscovering a deep, personal faith during the isolation and uncertainty of the Covid pandemic. That season of reflection led him back to The Church and to a renewed relationship with God, one he has since described as central to how he navigates fame, family, and purpose. His faith took on public dimension in 2026 when he joined BBC Two's Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, walking alongside people of differing beliefs, including an atheist, a Muslim, and a non-practising Jew, along ancient routes tied to Celtic Christian saints, through Whitby Abbey, Durham Cathedral, and finally Lindisfarne. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Inspirational Breakfast's Esther Higham about his walk with God and the things he learned on the pilgrimage. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the executive director of Wycliffe Bible Translators which featured in the Sunday Times best places to work survey last year. Why was this charity able to achieve such good results? They explore why they believe they are able to get so much right and how this might translate into your working environment. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Jay Painter and Lewis are digital creators who have captured global online attention by documenting a unique, real-time journey through faith. It's a compelling premise: Jay, is a Christian and felt a strong conviction to invite his best friend, Lewis very much an atheist, to attend an Alpha course. What began as a personal invitation transformed into a social media docuseries where they can now been seen on TikTok and Instagram documenting the entire multi-week process. Each episode captures Lewis’s raw, unfiltered reactions to core Christian theology, moving from initial scepticism to deep, heartfelt reflections on life, meaning, and the supernatural. The pair avoid aggressive debates and manage to resonate with millions due to the genuine respect, vulnerability, and deep-seated friendship. In this episode of The Profile they talk to Deputy Editor of Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle about pushing their friendship through big questions, Jay's own testimony and journey to Christ and the personal journey the Alpha course has taken Lewis on. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the co-founder of Eastgate Church, Gravesend about setting a biblically based cultural shift in a church in the UK and the Netherlands where he helps lead a team part-time. They talk about the importance of demolishing the strongholds that can grip the thinking of a congregation and how to set a new course that enables communities to flourish under God. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

British journalist Lauren Windle has had quite a faith journey. After years of cocaine and alcohol addiction, she got sober 12 years ago and went on to study neuroscience and addiction studies grounding her recovery in faith and academic rigor. Windle has built a career as a journalist for outlets including Vogue, Marie Claire, HuffPost, MailOnline and Woman Alive often writing about faith, dating, addiction and womanhood from a Christian perspective. She is the author of several books including: Notes on Love: Being Single and Dating in a Marriage Obsessed Church, Notes on Feminism: Being a Woman in a Church Led by Men and Drawing as Prayer. Each of which blend candid personal testimony with practical theology for younger Christians navigating modern life. In her latest iteration she has stepped into the role of Commissioning Editor for the leading Christian publishing house SPCK. In today's edition of The Profile she talks to Woman Alive editor Jemimah Wright about the business of books; what publishers are looking for in new pitches and talks about the roster of new authors on their books. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks with the co-founder of A Rocha UK and now Head of Theology, A Rocha International. What led him to be concerned for the environment? Why found a charity? Has the UK church ‘got the message’ several decades later? How different is leading in the UK and Internationally? How might church leaders today get involved? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Laura Anderson, known to hundreds of thousands of followers as Less Waste Laura is one of Scotland's most passionate voices in the fight against plastic pollution. Raised in Newton Mearns, Scotland, with a lifelong love of the outdoors, her environmental awakening came on a New Year's Day walk when she discovered plastic waste strewn across a white sandy beach on the east coast of Scotland. Inspired by the BBC's Blue Planet II, she made a resolution to live more sustainably and began documenting that journey online. Anderson went on to study Geography and Environmental Science. She became a Christian at university, a time when she actively thought about what her faith meant to her. She has spoken about how she came to see The Bible as the foundation for her campaigning, recognising that Christians are called to be stewards of God's creation. She is a Tearfund ambassador, and has partnered with organisations ranging from local independent businesses to global brands. Among her most celebrated achievements is her campaign to ban single-use disposable vapes which resulted in a UK-wide ban that came into force last year. She was awarded Scottish Influencer of the Year 2024/25 in recognition of her work. In this edition of The Profile Laura talks to Deputy Editor of Premier Christianity magazine Emma Fowle about her desire for people to live less consumerist lives, how climate awareness is directly tied up with her notion of being chosen by God and her current 'battle' with single-use plastic communion cups. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the chief executive of Spear about her work helping young people back into employment. They look at the challenging stats suggesting one million aged 16-24 are not in training, education or employment in the UK. They look at Spear’s highly successful programme that coaches young people in Centres dotted around the country. What do they do and what is the secret to their success? How can coaching serve leaders as a tool to encourage and empower others? Young people find out more at https://www.spear.org.uk/spear-programme/ Check out the Speak conference for church leaders https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-spear-conference-tickets-1984055848452The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

In this week's edition of the Profile we celebrate Professor John Lennox, one of the most compelling voices at the intersection of Christian faith and modern science. Born in Northern Ireland in 1943, he was raised in a family of deep faith and went on to earn doctorates from both Cambridge and Oxford universities, specialising in mathematics and the philosophy of science. He served for many years as Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, where he remains Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College. Lennox is a gifted mathematician, philosopher, and apologist who has authored more than a dozen books exploring the relationship between science, reason, and Christian belief. Works such as God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?, Gunning for God, and 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity have found audiences far beyond the academy. He is perhaps best known internationally for his public debates with prominent atheists including Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, in which he made the case with wit and warmth that science and Scripture are not enemies but allies. As President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, he has lectured in universities and churches across more than sixty countries. During the Cold War he made repeated visits numerous communist countries behind the Iron Curtain sharing Bibles and his faith meeting believers living under atheist regimes, details of whch are included in his 2026 autobiography, My Story. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about his extraordinary life sharing The Gospel with people of wildly different backgrounds and the privilege it has been. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the Learning and Partnership Development lead for the Gregory Centre for Church multiplication about her call to serve in the church, as a mum and as one keen to see the church engage in culture. Do we still have a sacred-secular divide and how easy is it combining running a home of small children with work in a charity? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

The theologian Andrew Ollerton is probably best known for presenting Christian theology in an accessible and engaging way and his work as a pastor and author centres on making the Bible accessible to modern audiences without sacrificing intellectual rigour. He grew up in a Christian home where The Bible was 'part of the furniture' but when he hit his teens, he pushed back, sometimes, like Peter, publicly, despite having a father who worked at the nearby church. But from around eighteen he began to show a renewed interest in Christ's teaching, going on to study Geography then moving onto Theology, and completing a PhD in Historical Theology. Despite his academic credentials, Ollerton has intentionally focused on communicating theology in clear and practical ways for churches and the general public and his most significant contribution to this is “The Bible Course” an eight-session guide to the whole story of Scripture, developed in partnership with Bible Society. Ollerton has also written several books aimed at making The Bible understandable to modern audiences, including The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life, Romans: A Letter That Makes Sense of Life, and God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s 7 Toughest Topics. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes about making Scripture as clear as you can and how companionship is transformational when it comes to understanding it. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with one of the editors of The Oxford Handbook of Digital Theology about how we lead differently when we are conscious of the changes in technology that are transforming our world. What does this mean for our discipleship? Is AI an enemy to be aware of or a tool to embrace? How might we engage with The Global Network for Digital Theology conference coming up soon? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Rich Johnson wears two hats quite comfortably. On the one hand he's an archetypal parish vicar working out of a parish in Worcestershire, and, on the other, he is the leader of New Wine England a non-denominational charity supporting Christian leaders in their everyday work. Johnson grew up in Manchester and moved abroad with his family where he was educated in Belgium and Hamburg. He went on to study Geography at Cambridge and through a college chaplain was introduced to Jesus. He describes his conversion as 'intellectual' with the Holy Spirit coming in later and he realised quite quickly that he wanted to become a vicar. He now ministers at the 'dreamy church' of All Saints in Worcester which he took over in 2009, a place for and by families. Stewardship of New Wine came later. The organisation has made a name for itself primarily through its summer festival in Bath - a hit for those who like loud worship and family focussed seminars. "What is new wine?" he answers, "it's about renewal." In his latest book Holy, Healthy Humble he invites the reader to a smaller more authentic vision of Christian leadership in a world saturated with look-at-me celebrity and explores the idea of what the Lord is doing in the Church right now. In this edition of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about his happy but non-Christian upbringing, how everyone needs therapy and how to keep new wine 'new.' The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the author of ‘The Glorious Risk: Freeing the Church from managerialism and the martyr complex’. The lecturer in practical theology at London School of Theology explores why having friends in the local church, may not be just vital for a church leader but a key way of leading. How has she come to this view, and what happens when the pathway is painful? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one? Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle. He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India and says his grandparents were arguably the strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the level of joy when you did: "there was a passion for the ministry." Later his parent moved to America, with him becoming a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD in the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament. Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that. As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization women's ministry. In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Husband and wife Makoto and Haejiin Fujimura are a couple who have blended their two passions and found a deep connection between them. Makoto is a Christian artist born in the US to Japanese parents. His scientist father instilled in him a deep appreciation for beauty and creativity from childhood and after spending his formative years in Japan, he later began to pursue traditional Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. Fujimura encountered Christ in his late twenties. The poems of William Blake became instrumental in his conversion, helping him reconcile his newfound Christian faith with his artistic expression. Today, Fujimura is recognised as one of the most significant contemporary Christian artists, creating stunning abstract works while advocating for the role of beauty and art in culture, faith, and renewal. Haejin Shim Fujimura is a Lawyer and Justice Advocate who was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States during her teenage years. She pursued a career in law, bringing her Christian faith into her professional calling. Today, she is a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience and the founder and managing partner of Shim & Associates, P.C., a firm founded on the vision of cultural renewal within the legal industry. Her Christian conviction animates her work as a human trafficking advocate. She is the co-founder and CEO of Embers International, a global NGO dedicated to protecting, restoring, and empowering victims of injustice. She also serves as the NYC Area Leader of International Justice Mission, the world's largest anti-slavery organization. Together with her husband Makoto, their joint missional work is around the transformative movement of beauty and justice, exploring how Christian principles of justice and redemption apply across every sector of society which has resulted in their latest book: Beauty and Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage. In this edition of The Profile they talk to Deputy Editor of Premier Christianity magazine Emma Fowle about how their professions have informed their practice of restoration, justice and beauty, how it is not the job of the Christian to 'end' evil and the impact of being a 9/11 survivor. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks with founder of the Satellites Youth Event, and deputy director of Youthscape about the extraordinary events surrounding the call to run a youth event following the closure of Soul Survivor in summer 2019. They discuss stories of how God gave both a green light and a red one, and what is unique and fresh about this Youth Event running for its fifth year in 2026. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

In this week's edition of the Profile we remember the late Lord Richard Harries, who was one of the most beloved and influential voices in British Christianity of his generation. Born on 2 June 1936, he served briefly as a British Army officer before answering the call to ordained ministry in the Church of England. He was consecrated Bishop of Oxford in 1987, a role he held until his retirement in 2006, when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Harries of Pentregarth. Harries was a gifted theologian, broadcaster, and writer and authored 26 books on Christian ethics, prayer, art, and faith in the public square. For more than fifty years he was a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, where he brought The Gospel into everyday life with warmth, clarity, and humility. He was a long-standing contributor to the Church Times and a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christians and Jews. Lord Harries died peacefully on 29 April 2026, aged 89, after a short illness. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks with a retired head teacher about what he’s learned from several decades leading Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School. What parts of his role has he warmed to, what Christian influence does he think he has been able to have and what are the transferable principles for leaders in other walks of life? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Best known for leading the multi-site National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, D.C., Pastor Mark Batterson has also authored nearly 30 books, most notably The Circle Maker, a guide to persistent prayer which has sold over a million copies. Batterson came to Christ at the age of five after watching a Billy Graham film and describes himself as a "congregational mutt" going Church to Church in his early years, not settling on a particular tradition. That sense of being something of an outsider must surely have led to his inventive approach to Church planting that would eventually follow. At the age of 24, having abandoned a Church plant in the Chicago area, he spotted an ad in a Christian magazine for a role at the Urban Bible Training Center and went on to found National Community Church, famously transforming a former crack house into the largest coffeehouse on Capitol Hill and converting an abandoned apartment building into a community centre. Today, NCC owns and operates Ebenezer's Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center, the Capital Turnaround, and Culture House, a portfolio that reflects his idea that Church belongs in the marketplace. In this interview with Premier's AJ Gomez he talks about his business successes and failures, taking the long-term approach and why he takes his shoes off when he writes. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks with the founder of ‘28 Too Many’ about her work helping raise awareness of the downsides of FGM (female genital mutilation) in African nations and the diaspora and her progress since the work started in 2010. How have local churches responded to the campaign, which nations have seen a reduction in the practice and what would she say to younger leaders who have a similar passion to see change? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Philippa Hanna, the British Christian singer-songwriter, is best known for her heartfelt vocals that bridge worship and mainstream music and which have made her a familiar face at large-scale Christian festivals for the last two decades. Hanna was born in Sheffield in the mid-80s and grew up in musical family, influenced by her Irish father, who was a touring performer. As well as her own musical success, her brothers Stuart is the former bassist of the band Jamiroquai, and, as discovered in 2025, Peter Cunnah, the lead singer of 90s band D:Ream Hanna discovered song writing aged 10. After a turbulent teenage period she met a Christian musician who introduced her to church and the concept of Jesus and was later saved at a worship event. Understandably she is passionate about music and its spiritual effects and is protective and outspoken about how the traditional music industry 'objectifies' it for profit. Through her multiple albums such as: Through the Woods, Speed of Light, Come Back Fighting, and the worship-focused Stained Glass Stories her music has taken her beyond Christian festivals into wider audiences and she has performed alongside major artists such as Lionel Richie, Little Mix, Marti Pellow, Lulu, and Anastacia. In this episode of The Profile she talks to deputy editor of Premier Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle about the responsibility she feels as a mentor to young women, the surprise and joy of finding out she had a half brother and how she copes with unsolicited parenting advice. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

In a repeat of a classic episode Andy Peck chats with Kathryn Segal about how God led her to share her challenges with depression on social media, and how she saw so many helped by her revelations. As a pastor’s wife in Canterbury, they look at the value in a leader sharing their weakness. There must be limits to what and how you share? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

In a repeat of a classic episode Andy Peck chats with Kathryn Segal about how God led her to share her challenges with depression on social media, and how she saw so many helped by her revelations. As a pastor’s wife in Canterbury, they look at the value in a leader sharing their weakness. There must be limits to what and how you share? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Broadcaster Swarzy Macaly is known for her infectious energy and can be heard on both BBC Radio 1 and the BBC Radio 1XTRA's Weekend Breakfast Show. She's not shy about being real about her faith and tells the story of finding God after being caught shoplifting, and praying to be let go. Not long after that she found herself in church, gave her life to Jesus and hasn't looked back since. After winning a national competition with KISS FM to become a presenter for the weekend breakfast show she admits her 'yakking' helped secure her first job and now blends broadcasting with other interests. She is also an activist and has been vocal about the injustice facing victims in the wake of London's Grenfell Tower fire. Her latest venture is The Last Supper Club, a series that blends faith, food, and community: "Cooking never tires me" says the presenter, who hopes matching The Bible mixed with delicious food will be enough to entice people to hear more about what has changed her own life so much. In this episode of The Profile with Premier Christianity deputy editor Emma Fowle, Swarzy talks about her parent's reticence towards her conversion, being out and proud about her faith in the workplace and her thankfulness for God's grace. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

In a repeat of a classic episode, Andy Peck talks to the co-authors of Mid-Faith Crisis: Finding a path through doubt disillusionment and dead ends, about their own journeys and how we might help those we know whose faith is 'not working'. How can we listen well to their concerns . The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Dr Martin Shaw the storyteller and mythographer - someone who studies myths - was well exposed to the ancient tales from an early age. He grew up in a Baptist household in Devon in 1970s with a preacher for a father ad in a house with no television or phone but with access to lots and lots of books. It is no wonder then, that he became fixated with stories and particularly myths. However by his early adulthood he had grown tired of the way the stories of Jesus were told in church, always with a message and a point that made a "muscular sermon." He came to a point, where, in his own words, he "hit the enough button." A number of decades later, following a long stretch living in a tent, as well as writing and performing as a musician and oral storyteller, he found himself praying to God in nature and had a profound spiritual encounter. The experience brought him back to Christianity and he is now a practising Orthodox Christian. Shaw has written a number of books drawing on Celtic, Siberian, Greek myths as well as Christian traditions. His latest title: Liturgies of the Wild released earlier this year is already New York Times bestseller. In this episode of The Profile with Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes he talks about his early life story, how myths and stories provide a link to our ancestors and the incredible story of what brought him back to Christ. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with one of the directors of Eastgate Church in Gravesend and author of ‘Unwrapping Lazarus: Free to live as God intended’ and ‘Faith: Discovering and using the resources of Heaven’. They discuss his new venture supporting a church in the Netherlands and how particular mindsets might affect a nation. They also consider developments in a ministry he founded, 'Heaven in Healthcare', which aims to unite those in healthcare to be a heavenly influence where God has placed them The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

As the world waits to see how humanity might be reshaped by artificial intelligence, Al Gordon believes now is the time to protect human creativity. As rector of SAINT Church Hackney in East London, he is passionate about the idea that our creativity comes from our connection with the ultimate creator, and that this divine spark is something worth guarding. SAINT itself has undergone a remarkable restoration. The church has stood in East London since 1275, but with an injection of £6 million in National Lottery funding, it has been transformed into a landmark building, now serving both its parish and hosting international musicians and world-class artists. Gordon became a Christian alone in his bedroom while listening to worship music. Raised outside The Church, that moment led to a journey of curiosity as he began asking questions and exploring faith more deeply. In his twenties he worked in film before being drawn to Holy Trinity Brompton in London. He later became a church leader himself and helped found Renaissance movement, which encourages artists and creative professionals to integrate faith and vocation, while also reimagining cathedrals as centres of culture. Gordon is also the author of Spark: Ignite Your God-Given Creativity, where he encourages Christians to resist burnout and the algorithm driven culture, instead rediscovering their God given creativity. In this edition of The Profile, he speaks with Sam Hailes, editor of Premier Christianity, about why he believes technological change may be accompanied by a new spiritual and creative renaissance, much like the one that followed the Middle Ages. He also reflects on his visit to the revival at Asbury University in 2023 and the signs of what he describes as a quiet revival already stirring. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought provoking Christian content including the latest news, inspiring interviews and commentary on all that God is doing around the world today. Get your next three issues for just £6 at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks with the Associate Minister, Lansdowne Church and Director of the School for Discipleship about how the importance and assurance of the resurrection of Jesus. They also talk about how the Discipleship School began and is run.The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

With a Catholic mother and a Jewish father perhaps Aaron Abrahamson was always set to spend his life bridging two different traditions. He grew up in America and after his mother converted to Judaism his parents brought him up in the Jewish faith eventually moving to Israel themselves when he was a teenager. There Aaron attended Yeshiva - a traditional Jewish school which focuses on studying the Torah, Talmud and Jewish law. He completed his mandatory military service in the Israeli army and served in Lebanon 1992-95 which he describes as a "volatile period". During that time a close friend was kidnapped, tortured and killed and the experience shook him. After three years he left the military with a desire to look for answers to life's big questions. He came back to America and began travelling, encountering people along the way, some of whom introduced him to The Bible and one of whom who directly challenged him to read The Gospels: "I felt drawn to his person of Jesus and I couldn't explain why and a lot of the things he (Jesus) was addressing were questions I had had in the Yeshiva." Abramson joined Jews for Jesus over 20 years ago, directly evangelising to the Jewish community in places like New York, often on the streets in bald, quite direct ways sometimes garnering criticism for that -but he hasn't looked back. His new book Mission Design talks through how the organisation deconstructed their approach, figuring out what worked and what didn't and sharing it with people undertaking similar missions of their own. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Sam Hailes, Premier Christianity magazine editor, about his own search for Christ, the struggles connecting his Jewish heritage with his Christian faith and how unique and important Jews for Jesus mission is. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the author of ‘Beautiful Leadership: your personal framework for authentic impact’ about how the book came about and two themes explored in the book: listening and empowering. Can we listen too much? How does empowering differ from delegating and how might be better empower those we lead? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

As the former head of Religious Broadcasting, Michael Wakelin knows a thing or two about producing programmes about God, often to audiences who have little or no faith. He spent his early life in Africa with his missionary parents, first in Sierra Leone and then later in Kenya, which he says influenced his own faith in his formative years. Returning back to the UK he went on to study theology at Birmingham University. As a graduate he landed his first job reporting church news at BBC Radio Norfolk before moving onwards and upwards, later working for The Sunday Programme at Radio 4 as well as the iconic Thought for the Day - eventually heading up Religious Broadcasting for the BBC. Wakelin is now Executive Chair of the Religion Media Centre, an independent charity which serves to improve the quality of media coverage of religion and belief by offering daily religious news briefings, context and background information to big news stories as well as media training. In this episode of the Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Magazine Editor Sam Hailes about his life and career, his desire for what he calls 'religious literacy' in the media and his passion for Norwich City football club. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.