The Profile

Content creators Jay Painter and Lewis Rebaudo: Atheist to Christian in just 12 weeks? 03.07.2026 57m

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.

Leadership Special Pete Carter: ‘Leading a cultural mindset shift’ 01.07.2026 26m

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

Christian author and publisher Lauren Windle on why books need to give answers 25.06.2026 49m

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.

Leadership Special Dave Bookless: ‘Leading people to care for creation’ 24.06.2026 26m

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

Less Waste Laura - her call to Christians to reject consumerism and put the planet first 18.06.2026 48m

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.

Leadership Special Iona Ledwidge: ‘Leading young people back into employment’ 17.06.2026 27m

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

Professor John Lennox: The world's foremost Christian apologist on his remarkable life story 11.06.2026 51m

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.

Leadership Special Rev Jo Trickey: ‘Leading in home, church and charity’ 10.06.2026 26m

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

Bible Course host Dr Andrew Ollerton on making sense of scripture in a confused age 04.06.2026 1h 3m

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.

Leadership Special Jonas Kurlberg: ‘Leading in a digital world’ 03.06.2026 27m

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 - Leading New Wine England and the challenges of keeping things fresh 28.05.2026 53m

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.

Leadership Special Chloe Lynch: ‘Leading people through friendship'’ 27.05.2026 28m

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

Theologian Joel Muddamalle on identifying spiritual warfare 23.05.2026 54m

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.

Makoto and Haejiin Fujimura the artist and lawyer on the relationship between beauty and justice 21.05.2026 1h 1m

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.

Leadership Special Martin Saunders: ‘Starting a Summer Youth Event’ 20.05.2026 27m

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

Remembering the former Bishop of Oxford Lord Richard Harries 14.05.2026 27m

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.

Leadership Special Marcus Culverwell : ‘Influencing the Next Generation’ 13.05.2026 26m

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

Mark Batterson — The Pastor Who Turned Washington D.C. Into His Church 07.05.2026 44m

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.

Leadership Special Ann-Marie Wilson: ‘When a cause forces you to lead’ 06.05.2026 26m

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

Christian singer songwriter Philippa Hanna: "The music industry objectifies what is sacred" 30.04.2026 55m

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.