Explore every episode of the podcast In:Dependence
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Conversion Therapy' Again, Ben Stokes, and Dressing Correctly // In the News | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:35:47 | |
Should church leaders be fearful of another "conversion therapy" ban? How can you leave your role well? What should preachers wear? In this episode, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news and what lessons we can learn for church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC update 02:52 - Revisiting a ban on 'conversion therapy' 12:45 - Facing repeated opposition 19:36 - Ben Stokes and leaving badly 27:45 - What should church leaders wear? | |||
| The Leader as Steward (with Colin Smith) | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:30:05 | |
Church leaders can be described as stewards of the mystery of God and his church. How does this description help leaders in their ministry? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Associate National Director) is joined by Colin Smith (Founder and Teaching Pastor of Open the Bible) to discuss the parable of the faithful manager in Luke 12:42-48. This episode was recorded at the 2026 European Leadership Forum where Colin preached from this passage. In this episode, he helps to unpack a little more of the parable and see how it applies - in both its warnings and encouragements - to leaders serving in our churches. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introducing Colin Smith 03:48 - Church leaders are stewards 07:29 - The parable of the faithful steward 11:03 - The temptation to be harsh 13:43 - The temptation to self-indulgence 17:00 - Stewarding your time 21:16 - Serving food at the proper time 23:49 - Stewarding in the light of the Lord's return 26:43 - Advice for faithful stewards | |||
| Choosing Leaders, Adoption & Abortion, and Banning Social Media // In the News | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:33:34 | |
What is the best way to choose our leaders? How do we pastor those impacted by adoption and abortion? Is social media that bad for us? In this episode, Phil Topham, Adrian Reynolds, and John Stevens discuss stories in the news from the past weeks and what lessons we can learn from them for church leadership. Show notes:
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC update 03:56 - Andy Burnham: MP or PM? 14:54 - Forced adoptions, abortion, and supporting pregnant mothers 19:46 - Pastoring people impacted by adoption and abortion 23:42 - Social media ban for under 16s 31:35 - Culture change from rules and laws | |||
| Replanting and Revitalisation (with John James) | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:34:17 | |
You might know faithful but smaller churches that are struggling to keep going. Replanting and revitalisation could be the Lord's provision to bring new life to that gospel work. In this episode of In:Dependence, FIEC Associate National Directors Adrian Reynolds and Graham Beynon are joined by John James - current Lead Pastor at City Church Birmingham but formerly involved in a revitalisation or replant at Crossway Church. John shares his experience of joining Helier Chapel in Northfield, Birmingham, and leading a revitalisation - including a name change to Crossway Church - and the ingredients needed for such a replant or revitalisation. This is the fourth in a series of podcast episodes to explore different ways to plant a church. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 05:35 - Ingredients of a revitalisation 11:05 - The desire to replant 13:40 - Making changes in a replant 21:07 - Church structures and church dreams 25:42 - Vision, leadership, and core team at Crossway 30:08 - Managing group dynamics in a revitalisation | |||
| Embezzlement, Mandelson Files, and Spygate // In the News | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:33:32 | |
How can we ensure church money is spent wisely? What are the dangers of leadership structures being influenced? How should we treat junior team members? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past weeks and what lessons we can learn from them for church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC update 06:21 - Peter Murrell, embezzlement, and where the buck stops 17:33 - The Mandelson files and influencing leadership 25:34 - Southampton FC spygate and mistreating interns | |||
| Parachute Church Planting (with Mark Selby) | 29 May 2026 | 00:31:30 | |
To reach people in areas without a gospel presence, we need to plant new works, often starting with a very small team. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and Graham Beynon (FIEC Associate National Director) are joined by Mark Selby, pastor at Grace Church Hilton. Grace Church started in Mark's living room in 2013 with a small team of four adults, one child, and a dog, planted in Hilton to reach an area with no gospel presence. Mark shares the reasons why you might "parachute plant" into a new area, what the benefits are, and what the challenges are. This is the third in a series of podcast episodes to explore different ways to plant a church. Show notes: About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 03:20 - Reaching Hilton, Derbyshire, with the gospel 11:09 - Mark's church planting journey 16:01 - Starting with a small team 18:31 - Early stages of growth 24:13 - Grace Church 12 years on 27:46 - Difficulties with parachute planting | |||
| Single-Sex Spaces, Married at First Sight, and Premier League Lessons // In the News | 22 May 2026 | 00:33:35 | |
What does the guidance on single-sex spaces mean for churches? What should we think of reality TV abuses? What can we learn from successful football managers? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news and lessons we can learn from them for church leadership. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Thrive and Ministry Wives Retreat 04:01 - European Leadership Forum 09:44 - Visiting Auschwitz and acknowledging evil 12:45 - Equality Act guidance on single-sex spaces 20:04 - Married at First Sight sexual abuse 24:01 - Leadership lessons from Premier League football managers | |||
| Mother-Daughter Church Planting (with Steve Baraniak) | 13 May 2026 | 00:33:55 | |
Planting a church from a larger church can have advantages as well as challenges. The story of Rylands Community Church in Beeston, Nottinghamshire gives examples of both. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and Graham Beynon (FIEC Associate National Director) are joined by Steve Baraniak (minister, Rylands Community Church) to discuss mother-daughter church planting: when a core group from a larger church start a new church nearby. Rylands Community Church was planted in 2013 from Beeston Free Church and began as a congregation of Beeston Free, before becoming fully independent itself. This is the second in a series of podcast episodes to explore different ways to plant a church. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Series introduction 02:40 - Rylands and Beeston in Nottingham 06:14 - Why plant a church in the Rylands? 15:40 - Starting a new church 19:08 - When does the daughter church leave the mother church? 25:29 - Challenges of mother-daughter plants 30:27 - How to recruit a planting team | |||
| Attenborough at 100, Leadership Failures, and Polarised Politics // In the News | 08 May 2026 | 00:34:06 | |
What can we learn from David Attenborough's 100 years of life? How should we respond to leaders that fail? How can we help people navigate polarised views? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss the stories in the news from the past weeks and what lessons we can take for church leadership. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 01:11 - The life and ministry of Basil Howlett 05:28 - David Attenborough's 100th birthday, and living with integrity 10:50 - Education or entertainment? 19:31 - Responding to leadership failures 22:20 - Sam Allbery's disqualification from ministry 28:30 - Local elections and polarised views | |||
| Ways to Plant a Church (with Graham Beynon) | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:31:13 | |
We need more churches across the UK, so every church leader should be concerned for new churches to be planted. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and Graham Beynon (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss why all church leaders should care about church planting, and what different methods there are to start a new church. Graham has been involved in three church plants in the past and now leads the FIEC Church Planting team, offering support and coaching for church plants and planters. This is the first of a series of podcast episodes to explore different ways to plant a church. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Church planting is a topic for us all 05:38 - Has church planting slowed down? 07:32 - What makes a church planter? 11:07 - Mother-daughter plants 14:57 - Parachute plants 18:13 - Re-plants or revitalisations 21:54 - Common ingredients for church plants 27:00 - Graham's planting stories | |||
| Religious Violence, Trump's AI Imagery, and Leicester City's Decline // In the News | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:34:13 | |
How do we respond to religious violence? How should leaders post on social media? What can we learn from the decline of former champions? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past weeks and what we can learn from them for church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Rising Lights review 04:32 - A new Local Director 08:20 - How do we respond to violence inspired by religion? 17:50 - Donald Trump's AI Jesus image, and social media use 28:01 - The decline of Leicester City and complacency in leadership | |||
| Quiet Revival Issues, AoC Installation, and Social Media Addiction // In the News | 27 Mar 2026 | 00:33:54 | |
Should we now disregard the Quiet Revival findings? What kind of leader will Sarah Mullally be? How can we combat social media addiction? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news and what we can learn from them for church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - News in brief 03:48 - FIEC update 07:40 - Quiet Revival issues and withdrawal 13:20 - Archbishop of Canterbury installation 22:39 - Taking responsibility in leadership 27:43 - Addiction to social media | |||
| The Power of Testimony in Evangelism (with Karl Faase) | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:32:03 | |
How can telling personal stories help in sharing the gospel? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by Karl Faase (Olive Tree Media) to talk about evangelism, the role of stories and testimonies when witnessing, and how the Encounter video series can help churches make the most of the stories in their congregations. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 02:11 - Who is Karl Faase? 05:22 - Spiritual openness in Australia 10:45 - Specific opportunities for evangelism 12:26 - The role of stories in sharing the gospel 14:37 - Stories in Encounter 21:17 - How can churches use Encounter? 27:38 - Encountering God through the church | |||
| Conflict in Iran, "Anti-Muslim Hostility", and Wes Huff // In the News | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:31:55 | |
How do we lead through the complexity of the Iran War? Does a new government definition curb free speech? How can reframing questions help share the gospel? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past weeks and what lessons we can learn for church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC update 05:03 - War in Iran and the Middle East 14:14 - Supporting others' causes 18:31 - "Anti-Muslim hostility" government definition 25:11 - Wes Huff sharing the gospel on The Diary Of A CEO | |||
| The Impact of Bible Translation (with James Poole) | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:31:19 | |
Is the work of Bible translation done? What impact does it have when the Bible is translated into a new language? One in five people across the world do not have access to the Bible in their language, around 1.5 billion people. Translating the Bible in these languages not only allows them to read God's word in their first language, but has many more benefits including evangelism, church growth, refuting false religion, and literacy levels. In this episode, we are joined by James Poole (Executive Director, Wycliffe Bible Translators) to explain the work of Bible translation, its impact in different areas of life, and how it plays a vital role in world mission. Find out more about Wycliffe Bible Translators: https://wycliffe.org.uk/. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 00:59 - Is the work of Bible translation done? 05:00 - How does translation impact churches and their communities? 09:49 - Revising translations 13:05 - The impact of a language's first Bible translation 15:53 - The impact of translation on preaching 17:47 - Bible translation as mission 23:09 - Technology's impact on Bible translation 28:14 - The blessing of translation already done | |||
| By-Election, Royal Arrest, and Church Toilets //In the News | 27 Feb 2026 | 00:33:19 | |
How do we deal with polarising views in church? What can we learn from the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor? What does a toilet say about a church? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss news stories from the past weeks and what we can learn from them for church leadership. Show notes
Podcast music: Drifting by Future Infinite. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Planters, women's retreats, and Rising Lights 05:12 - Four years of the Russia-Ukraine war 08:03 - By-Election and polarising views 16:31 - The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 24:32 - BAFTAs, Whitechapel preacher, and free speech 30:11 - Aircraft carriers and toilets | |||
| Intercultural Stories: Trinity Church, Oxford | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:36:01 | |
The story of how Trinity Church, Oxford are becoming an intercultural church and what they do to welcome those from different cultures. In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director) is joined by Peter Comont and David Ojeabulu from Trinity Church in Oxford to hear about how they are becoming an intercultural church, what wisdom they have to share, and what challenges they still face.
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction to Trinity Church, Oxford 08:52 - Different preferences in an intercultural church 16:03 - How can church leaders serve and serve with those from other cultures? 19:24 - Confusing ethnicity and culture 22:15 - The importance of 'bridge people' and representation 30:00 - Taking steps towards intercultural church services | |||
| Ignoring Abuse, Racist Social Media Posts, and Foolish Vows // In the News | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:32:48 | |
Is ignoring abuse a case for resignation? How can we ensure caution when speaking in public and online? When is it appropriate to make a vow? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past weeks and what they can teach us about church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC news 06:30 - Epstein Files, Peter Mandelson, and Keir Starmer 13:48 - Lament and honouring victims 17:50 - Donald Trump and racist social media posts 22:45 - How should leaders apologise? 25:56 - Caution with social media use 28:20 - Manchester United and foolish vows | |||
| First Steps in Cross Cultural Mission (with Nick McQuaker) | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:28:57 | |
What are some simple things that churches and Christians can do to reach out to their increasingly diverse communities with the gospel? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by Nick McQuaker (Mission Director, A Passion for Life) to discuss reaching people of other faiths, cutting through the complexities that can get in the way, and how to take some first steps towards cross-cultural mission as churches. Show notes:
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 03:13 - Cross-cultural mission forum 06:50 - Reaching people of other faiths 12:26 - How to cut through the complexities 17:30 - First steps towards cross-cultural mission 23:40 - Growing a heart for other cultures | |||
| Opposition in Leadership, New Archbishop of Canterbury, and Tennis Coaches // In the News | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:33:23 | |
How do you lead well under opposition? What impact will the new Archbishop of Canterbury have? What is the importance of coaching and mentoring? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past few weeks and how they relate to church leadership. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Journeys and Rising Lights 09:48 - Suella Braverman, Andy Burnham, and leading under opposition 20:03 - The impact of the new Archbishop of Canterbury 25:42 - Emma Raducanu and mentors in leadership | |||
| Gather, Refresh, Grow at Rising Lights | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:32:05 | |
Why is it important for Christians to gather with others, to take time to be refreshed, and to continue to strive for growth in their faith? Gathering as believers, taking time to rest, and growing in faith are important priorities for Christians. Rising Lights - taking place this Easter in Torquay - offers the opportunity for all three. In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director) and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss why Rising Lights is good for Christians and churches, what the teaching programme involves, and what else is planned for the event. You can find out more about Rising Lights and book: risinglights.co.uk. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - What is Rising Lights? 03:36 - Why is it important to gather as God's people? 08:12 - Why should church leaders encourage their churches to go to Rising Lights? 10:58 - The importance of rest and refreshment 18:28 - Teaching and tracks 26:49 - Groups for 0-18s 28:25 - Students and young adults | |||
| Leading in Instability, Ministry Disqualification, and FA Cup Giant Killings // In the News | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:33:31 | |
How do we lead our churches through global instability? How should we respond to Philip Yancy's affair? What can we learn from an FA Cup upset? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss news over the past few weeks and how they can teach us about church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC news 07:44 - Leading in global instability 12:45 - Gospel movement in and from Iran 15:06 - The language and leadership of Donald Trump 21:01 - Philip Yancy's affair and disqualification from ministry 26:25 - FA Cup revitalisations and giant killings | |||
| 2025 In:Review (with John Stevens) | 29 Dec 2025 | 00:40:51 | |
2025 has seen encouragement and growth in the church in the midst of division and polarisation across the culture. As the year comes to an end, Adrian Reynolds (Associate National Director) and John Stevens (National Director) look back at the big picture of 2025 and the themes that have impacted church leadership during the past 12 months. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - "The Quiet Revival" and growth in churches 11:22 - Responding to "The Quiet Revival" 21:19 - A fractured world full of polarisation 27:58 - Unity in evangelicalism 33:50 - FIEC serving churches in 2025 | |||
| Bondi Beach Attack, Putting Christ in Christmas, and Losing the Ashes // In the News | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:34:06 | |
What should we make of the terror attack in Australia? Do we need to put Christ back into Christmas? What can we learn from losing a cricket match? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news and how they relate to church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Different experiences at Christmas time 02:35 - Anti-semitic terror attack in Australia 12:15 - Is Europe facing civilisational erasure? 21:17 - Putting Christ back into Christmas 28:54 - Losing the Ashes and contextualisation | |||
| Covid Inquiry, BBC Bias, and Religious Education // In the News | 21 Nov 2025 | 00:35:28 | |
What lessons are there to learn from the Covid-19 inquiry? How can bias in the media help us in church ministry? Is the UK becoming more secular? In this episode, Phil Topham (Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (Associate National Director), and John Stevens (National Director), discuss stories in the news from the past few weeks. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC Leaders' Conference 07:32 - Lessons from the Covid-19 inquiry 19:02 - BBC bias, media trust, and corporate responsibility 27:56 - Religious education in Northern Ireland 34:35 - An Ashes winter | |||
| How to Make the Most of Music at Christmas (with Phil Moore and Keith Getty) | 20 Nov 2025 | 00:32:46 | |
Christmas carols continue to be popular across Western culture. How can we make the most of music at Christmas to build up the church and to reach out to others? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by Phil Moore (Cornerstone Church, Nottingham) and Keith Getty (hymn writer and musician) to explore why Christmas carols are so popular, how to prepare to sing at Christmas time, and which carols to choose. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 04:46 - Why is music at Christmas so popular? 10:16 - How do you choose which carols to sing? 15:41 - Go-to Christmas carols 18:32 - Preparing the congregation to sing 22:32 - Singing carols with children and families 28:16 - Christmas music in smaller churches | |||
| Immigration, Praying with the Pope, and Prunella Scales // In the News | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:33:32 | |
How can we pastor people with polarising opinions on immigration? Can we pray with Catholics? How should we care for those in later life? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past few weeks and what we can learn from them for church leadership. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC update 06:29 - Immigration and polarising opinions 18:53 - King Charles, the Pope, and Protestantism 28:44 - Prunella Scales and care in later life | |||
| BONUS: Wycliffe Bible Translators at the Leaders' Conference (with Martin Dixon) | 30 Oct 2025 | 00:13:42 | |
Our fund raising campaign at the 2025 Leaders' Conference will be for a specific Bible translation project in Africa. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by Martin Dixon, the Director for Churches at Wycliffe Bible Translators, to talk about the work of Bible translation across the world and a particular project that we will be collecting donations for at this year's Leaders' Conference. Please note: We initially understood the £70k target would allow the project to be completed, but now understand that, while it would enable substantial progress, it would not complete the project. We're sorry for any misrepresentation or confusion. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - Wycliffe Bible Translators and the need for translation 04:12 - Raising funds for Bible translation at the Leaders' Conference 10:00 - How Bible translation leads to church planting and more | |||
| Reaching Muslim People (with Dan Strange and Rob Scott) | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:29:26 | |
There are four million people in the UK who say they are followers of Islam. In our rapidly changing communities, how can we reach out to Muslim people with the gospel? Muslim people make up 6% of the UK population (as of 2021), which increase to 15% within London. Reflecting on their experiences in church ministry, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director), Dan Strange (Director of Crosslands Forum), and Rob Scott (pastor, Asha London), discuss the complexities of engaging with Muslim people and how churches can hold out the hope of the gospel to them. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 04:31 - The growth of the UK Muslim population 08:54 - True faith and false faith 13:32 - Diversity within Islam 18:30 - Making a start in reaching Muslims 22:23 - Touchstone issues for Muslims 26:25 - Exploring more at the FIEC Leaders' Conference | |||
| Israel-Gaza Ceasefire, Persecution in China, and Leadership Humility // In the News | 16 Oct 2025 | 00:31:05 | |
How should we continue to pray for Gaza after the ceasefire? What should we make of persecution of Chinese Christians? How do we encourage humility in leadership? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past weeks and what we can learn from them for church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - CRIB conference 04:02 - The Everything Conference 06:39 - Israel-Gaza ceasefire 11:22 - Humility in leadership 15:37 - Chinese espionage and persecution 22:35 - Leadership lessons from Emmanuel Macron and Archie Norman | |||
| Preparing for Mission (with Nick McQuaker) | 10 Oct 2025 | 00:32:41 | |
Sharing the good news is a joy and a privilege. How can churches pray and prepare for an extended mission of evangelism? "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Isaiah 52:7)! A Passion for Life exists to help churches reach out to their communities with the gospel by equipping, encouraging, and enabling every Christian in their personal witness. This includes a week of mission organised every four years with resources to help equip local churches - the next being in 2026. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by A Passion for Life's Mission Director, Nick McQuaker, to talk about the current spiritual scene in the UK, the difference between mission and evangelism, and how churches can make the most of the 2026 mission. May our churches stand firm with "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - The privilege of sharing the good news 01:42 - The spiritual scene in the UK 08:03 - Church services as an evangelistic moment 11:13 - What are people lacking? 13:23 - Mission or evangelism? 19:03 - Prayer and preparation for mission 21:27 - Resources for churches to train for evangelism 25:38 - Life '26 branding assets | |||
| Synagogue Attack, New Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Ryder Cup // In the News | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:31:37 | |
How do we lead our churches in response to evil like the anti-semitic attack in Manchester? How should Independents respond to the new Archbishop of Canterbury? What can church leaders learn from Europe's Ryder Cup victory? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past weeks and what church leaders can learn from them. Show notes
00:00 - FIEC update 04:45 - Anti-semitic attack in Manchester 13:29 - Charlie Kirk memorial service 14:47 - Voddie Baucham's death 17:10 - Dame Sarah Mullally, the new Archbishop of Canterbury 25:11 - Golf, the Ryder Cup, and team players | |||
| Charlie Kirk, Due Diligence, and State Banquets // In the News | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:34:06 | |
How can we lead our churches through division? What needs to be considered before appointing someone to a role? What is it like to dine with the king? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past weeks about what we can learn from them in church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC update 10:01 - The death of Charlie Kirk 14:58 - How can church leaders lead through division? 21:00 - The gospel opportunities from Charlie Kirk 23:23 - Peter Mandelson and due diligence 30:01 - Dining with the king | |||
| Making Mistakes, Free Speech, and Gaining Trust // In the News | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:32:35 | |
What can Angela Rayner's stamp duty mistake teach church leaders? Does the UK have a free speech problem? What does Daniel Levy's exit tell us about trust? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds, Phil Topham, and John Stevens discuss stories in the news and how they relate to church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - UCCF Forum and Uncover Luke 05:42 - FIEC news 11:07 - Setting the tone amidst bad news 14:22 - Angela Rayner and stamp duty tax 20:44 - Does the UK have a free speech problem? 26:36 - Daniel Levy's exit from Tottenham Hotspur and the importance of trust | |||
| Trump & Putin, Crime in Church, and Exam Results // In the News | 22 Aug 2025 | 00:37:03 | |
Can true peace be found? How should we respond to crimes committed by church leaders? Should we pray for good exam results? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and the North of England) discuss some of the stories in the news and how they might relate to church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Trump/Puitin: can true peace be found? 14:02 - Crimes committed in the church (Chris Brain and James Haram) 24:20 - Moving a church building in Sweden 32:00 - The importance of exam results | |||
| Prayer for Gaza, Adult Content Checks, and Exposed Sin // In the News | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:32:45 | |
How can we pray in light of the images coming from the Middle East? How are new online checks good news for our churches? What does a recent Coldplay concert teach us about sin? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and the North of England), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news and how they relate to church leadership. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Keswick Convention 03:45 - How to pray for Gaza 09:11 - Age checked for adult content 13:24 - The problem of porn in churches 16:41 - Should the Epstein files be released? 20:55 - Are Christians more susceptible to conspiracy theories? 26:34 - Affair exposed at a Coldplay concert | |||
| Moving Towards Intercultural Church (with Tim and Justin Gill) | 24 Jul 2025 | 00:33:21 | |
What do we mean by 'intercultural church ministry'? What steps can churches make to move from being 'mono-cultural' towards being 'inter-cultural'? Each group of people shares a pattern of doing things: its culture. As cultures from around the world mix more and more, communities can be mono-cultural or multi-cultural. When we read about the great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue in Revelation 7:9, we see an 'inter-cultural' community united around the throne. In order for churches to reflect this vision of heaven, they need to move from mono- or multi-cultural to inter-cultural: welcoming people from all cultures, being blessed by then, and blessing them. In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director) is joined by Justin Gill (FIEC's Intercultural Ministry Advisor) and Tim (a form FIEC pastor with experience in intercultural ministry) to explore what intercultural church is and how we can make steps towards being more intercultural in our churches. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - What do we mean by "culture"? 05:58 - Is intercultural church a biblical idea? 11:30 - How do we recognise the culture of our community? 14:30 - Recognising cultural blind spots 16:22 - Evolving a church culture 23:31 - How do we move from mono-culture to inter-culture? 30:49 - Reflecting Heaven, November 2025 | |||
| Rumours of War, Abortion & Assisted Suicide, and Festival Season // In the News | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:32:31 | |
How do we lead our churches through a time of uncertainty? What do votes for abortion and assisted suicide tell us about society? How can festivals remind us of the glorious normal? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director), discuss stories from the news over the past weeks and what we can learn from them about church leadership. You can get the show notes and more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/rumours-of-war-abortion-assisted-suicide-festival-season. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Evangelical Ministry Assembly (EMA) review 04:33 - Leading through war and rumours of war 11:33 - Abortion and assisted suicide votes 14:46 - Unanswered prayer 18:31 - Keir Starmer's u-turn and church u-turns 27:00 - Festival season and the glorious normal | |||
| Reviewing Spending, Leading Through Tragedy, and Obituaries // In the News | 13 Jun 2025 | 00:31:04 | |
How do we lead our churches well in the use of money? What happens when a tragedy affects the church? What do recent deaths teach us about the changing world? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news and what we can learn from them about church leadership. You can get the show notes and more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/reviewing-spending-leading-through-tragedy-and-obituaries Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Israel/Iran attacks and just war theory 03:34 - UK spending review and leading the church financially 12:57 - Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and relationship breakdown 16:50 - India plane crash and leading through tragedy 23:39 - Obituaries that teach us about the changing world | |||
| Trump's Tariffs, Masculine Church, and the Professor of Dishonesty // In the News | 30 May 2025 | 00:34:19 | |
How can Donald Trump help us to be aware of overstepping? What is the place of masculinity in church? How does integrity affect our ministry? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news from the past few weeks and how they relate to church leadership. You can get the show notes and more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/trumps-tariffs-masculine-church-and-the-professor-of-dishonesty. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC news 04:07 - Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed 10:44 - Donald Trump's tariffs, and overstepping 20:59 - The Russian Orthodox Church and hyper-masculinity 28:48 - Francesca Gino, 'professor of honesty' | |||
| Immigration Rhetoric, Assisted Dying Bill, and AI Hallucinations // In the News | 20 May 2025 | 00:32:53 | |
How should church leaders think and speak about immigration? How should we engage with the Assisted Dying Bill votes? What does AI teach us about being human? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director), discuss some of the stories in the news and how they relate to local church leadership. You can watch a video of this episode and get and more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - European Leadership Forum and Korean connections 08:55 - The challenge of immigration 15:53 - Speaking about immigration 20:05 - The Assisted Dying Bill in Scotland 25:18 - When AI gets it wrong | |||
| Church Without Borders | 14 May 2025 | 00:30:37 | |
The world is changing and the way we reach the world with the gospel is changing. In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director) and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) discuss the importance of world mission and how this year's Leaders' Conference can help church leaders get it on the agenda in church life. Find out more about the 2025 FIEC Leaders' Conference and book your place: https://fiec.org.uk/events/leaders-conference-2025. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Why world mission? 05:27 - Preaching from the book of Acts at the 2025 Leaders' Conference 07:39 - Telling stories of mission today 08:50 - How do we get excited about world mission? 12:13 - Seminar topics on world mission 19:01 - More at the conference 23:27 - Making the most of the opportunity 27:00 - Preachers and contributors | |||
| Reaching Catholics, Transgender People, and Liverpool FC Succession // In the News | 02 May 2025 | 00:30:43 | |
How do we reach Catholics with the true gospel? How should Christians respond to the Supreme Court ruling on gender? What can we learn from Liverpool FC? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss the stories in the news of the past weeks and what they can teach us about church leadership. You can watch a video of this episode and get and more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Rising Lights 2026 03:01 - Evangelism to people from other faiths 07:36 - Pope Francis' funeral and reaching Catholics with the gospel 14:40 - Implications of the Supreme Court gender ruling 24:24 - Succession lessons from Liverpool FC | |||
| Reaching the Lost in Rural Places (with Rob Scothern) | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:31:44 | |
10.6 million people live in rural communities in Great Britain. If we want to reach all of the country for Christ, we need to reach rural areas. Whether you live and serve in an urban city, a rural community, or anywhere in between, we need to be thinking about reaching people in rural places. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) and Rob Scothern (pastor, Peak Trinity Church, Bakewell) discuss life in rural places, the benefits of rural life, and the challenges of sharing the gospel there. You can watch a video and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 01:58 - Rural places in Britain 05:05 - Reaching the lost in rural places 13:24 - Decline from past revival 15:47 - Peak Trinity Church in Bakewell 17:59 - Challenges of rural ministry 23:49 - The Rural Project 26:49 - We all need a heart for rural ministry | |||
| Trump's Economics, Freedom of Speech, and a Quiet Revival // In the News | 11 Apr 2025 | 00:33:44 | |
What can church leaders learn from Trump's economic u-turn? How can churches freely preach in public? Can we be gospel optimistic for the UK? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past weeks and how they relate to church leadership. You can watch a video of this episode and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/trumps-economics-freedom-of-speech-and-a-quiet-revival. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - Trump's bombastic economic leadership 07:46 - Plurality and admitting failures 11:54 - Freedom of speech and Christian persecution 22:31 - The Bible Society's "The Quiet Revival" report 29:48 - Rising Lights at Easter 2026 30:34 - The most wonderful time of the year for Christians | |||
| Why Bi-Vocational Ministry? (with Rob Scothern) | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:32:48 | |
Leading a church alongside another salaried job can open opportunities for church planting, smaller church ministry, and more. In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) is joined by Rob Scothern, pastor at Peak Trinity Church in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Rob was involved in planting Peak Trinity whilst also working as a teacher in a local primary school. He shares his story and experience of what this bi-vocational ministry enabled him to do, and the challenges it brought. You can watch a video of this episode and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/why-bi-vocational-ministry. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 05:25 - From army officer to church planter 12:07 - Why bi-vocational ministry? 22:30 - Challenges for bi-vocational workers 28:33 - Opportunities for bi-vocational workers | |||
| Signal Chats, Political Arrests, and Independency // In the News | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:32:17 | |
How can we balance confidentiality and integrity? Is democracy under attack in Turkey? What are the benefits of independency? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss the stories in the news over the past weeks. You can watch a video of this episode and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - FIEC news 04:40 - Signal chats and confidentiality 13:25 - Political arrests in Turkey 16:24 - Religious or secular societies 20:17 - Opposition to the Assisted Dying Bill 25:16 - Wigmore Hall and independency | |||
| Planning for Mission in 2026 (with Nick McQuaker) | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:28:40 | |
How can a nationwide week of evangelistic events equip and help local churches to reach their communities and contacts with the gospel? For fifteen years, A Passion for Life have been equipping, encouraging, and enabling local churches to be involved with a national week of mission events - most recently in 2022 with Life '22. As they gear up for the next week of mission in 2026, Adrian Reynolds is joined on the In:Dependence podcast by Nick McQuaker, A Passion for Life's Mission Director, to learn more about the mission and why being part of a nation-wide mission week can be a help for local churches to reach their own local communities with the gospel. You can watch a video of this episode and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - A history of A Passion for Life 09:00 - The benefit of running events alongside others across the UK 14:23 - Why plan so far ahead? 16:04 - Contextual evangelistic events 21:10 - Evangelistic event ideas 23:43 - Connecting with other church leaders in similar contexts 25:10 - Next steps towards Life '26 | |||
| Ceasefire Peace, Cutting Welfare, and Longing for Justice // In the News | 14 Mar 2025 | 00:34:47 | |
What can a Ukraine ceasefire teach us about biblical peace? How can we pastor people well who are affected by welfare cuts and NHS changes? Where can we find the true justice we long for? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past weeks and how they relate to church leadership. You can watch a video and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/ceasefire-peace-cutting-welfare-and-longing-for-justice. Show notes
About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ.. 00:00 - FIEC update 05:29 - Ceasefire in Ukrain and biblical peace 12:55 - Cuts to welfare in the UK and compassion for the vulnerable 20:18 - Changes in the NHS and hope in uncertainty 26:23 - Two-tier justice, Kyle Clifford, Lydia Mugambe, and true justice 33:15 - Adrian Reynolds banned from driving for speeding | |||
| A Culture of Evangelism (with Nick McQuaker) | 07 Mar 2025 | 00:32:09 | |
How can churches develop a culture of evangelism in all of church life? Are we ready to receive people who are searching for spiritual answers? With more people becoming open to spiritual things, churches need to be ready to be the place they can find answers and meet Jesus. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) and Nick McQuaker (A Passion for Life) discuss what a culture of evangelism might look like in our churches and what small steps church leaders can take to begin to develop one. You can get the show notes and more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website: https://fiec.org.uk/resources/a-culture-of-mission. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC’s official podcast, where you’ll hear conversations on topics for church leaders. About FIEC: We are a fellowship of Independent churches with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. 00:00 - Introduction 02:08 - The mission climate in UK churches 06:51 - Sunday services as an evangelism strategy 12:34 - Displaying the gospel away from Sunday services 15:50 - How do you make a start in developing a culture of evangelism? 18:49 - Mission dependency, mission heat, and mission pathways 25:17 - Understanding your context 29:31 - Help for churches | |||