Episodes

  • Fr Jamie Franklin: From independent evangelical to catholic Anglican

    Fr Jamie Franklin: From independent evangelical to catholic Anglican
    May 15 2025
    As priest-in-charge at Holy Trinity in Winchester, an Anglo-Catholic neo-Gothic church built in the mid-19th century, Jamie Franklin is a far cry from the charismatic Christian upbringing he experienced as a child in Essex influenced by the Toronto Blessings. His parents divorced when he was young and although he admits his childhood made him receptive to The Gospel it wasn't until he reached university and read The Bible that he really began to take it seriously. Later, a profoundly spiritual experience in church drew him to the Anglican Catholic tradition which he has found a home in ever since. Franklin says he has always felt a drawn towards art and literature believing, one day, he would be a writer. He currently hosts Irreverend and the Holy CofE podcast and is author of the new book The Great Return which explores the need for a return to traditional Christian values in Western society. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes. about the effect his early charismatic Christian childhood had, his love of music, the unique character of English Anglican Catholicism, assisted dying and how AI helps him in his role as a priest. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    58 mins
  • Leadership Special Kathryn Segal: ‘Leading through weakness'

    Leadership Special Kathryn Segal: ‘Leading through weakness'
    May 14 2025
    Andy Peck talks to the pastor’s wife who shared her struggle with depression on Instagram and quickly found an audience of 4000 followers, many of whom were Christians blessed by her vulnerability. They chat about her story and how God can use each of us to be an influence where he has placed us. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    27 mins
  • Ray Comfort - why the fear of God is healthy

    Ray Comfort - why the fear of God is healthy
    May 8 2025
    Ray Comfort is a New Zealand-born Christian evangelist and author but is perhaps best known for his street preaching and bold public debates on atheism and Christianity. Though his parents called themselves Methodists he says he was not explicitly brought up as a Christian only later becoming born again. Comfort went on to start Living Waters Publications and co-hosts the evangelism television show Way of the Master with actor Kirk Cameron. Now he is known for his public square biblical evangelism on YouTube where he engages people in the street challenging them on issues of sin and the fear of God. He has written over 80 books, including God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life and The Evidence Bible. He has also designed many Gospel tracts, some of which resemble paper money like dollar bills. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about why he doesn't start evangelistic conversations with the phrase 'God loves you' and how the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    34 mins
  • Leadership Special Maureen C Chiana: ‘Thinking better as a leader’

    Leadership Special Maureen C Chiana: ‘Thinking better as a leader’
    May 7 2025
    Andy Peck talks with the author of ‘Rewire your brain with neuroscience and Scripture every day’, about how understanding the brain can enhance your understanding of yourself and those you lead. What does fear do? Why is vision so important and how might small actions repeated daily bring the outcomes you are looking for? They also look at her work with The Mindsight Academy and the free resources available there. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    28 mins
  • Pastor Colin Smith speaking on the Bible as a living seed

    Pastor Colin Smith speaking on the Bible as a living seed
    May 1 2025
    Pastor Colin Smith is a familiar voice to Premier Christian Radio listeners as he presents Open the Bible which can be heard every weekday evening at 7.30pm. As listeners will know from his accent he's originally from Scotland but for the last two decades has been the senior pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Illinois. He grew up in a Christian home and came to faith independently quite early in life announcing that at aged 12 he was going to be a pastor. Aged just 22 he did just that at church in Enfield where he presided for 16 years. The move to American happened after a holiday where he had been given a guest spot to preach and had thought he was just passing through. But the church was undergoing a transition and, impressed with his style, asked him to come over as the permanent pastor. Smith has a deep love for Scripture believing it to be not just the word of God but the very work of God likening it to a living seed which can renew our spirits. He has recently announced he'll be stepping down from Orchard to focus on his work with Open the Bible which in addition to Premier is broadcast on over 650 radio stations and reaches millions of listeners worldwide. On this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity Magazine Editor Sam Hailes about his upbringing, how he prepares to deliver a sermon and why Scripture should speak for itself. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    53 mins
  • Leadership Special Marg Mowczko: ‘Leading and preaching as a woman’

    Leadership Special Marg Mowczko: ‘Leading and preaching as a woman’
    Apr 30 2025
    Andy Peck talks with the theologian and blogger about her journey into Bible teaching from a church that didn’t believe women should. What were her key steps in the journey? How does she interpret tricky passages and what does she say to women in churches that take a different approach? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    29 mins
  • The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts on churchgoing and writing political satire

    The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts on churchgoing and writing political satire
    Apr 24 2025
    Quentin Letts is a British Journalist and political sketch writer best known for his satirical portraits of Westminster politics. Over the course of his career he's written for most major national newspapers, including the Daily Mail, The Times, and The Daily Telegraph since Tony Blair became Prime Minister. Growing up, his parents ran a prep school and his father gave services in the school chapel. Church was always a big part of Sunday and he always enjoyed singing hymns calling himself as "an enthusiastic but imprecise singer." 'Churchgoer' rather than a Christian is what Letts feels most comfortable being described as though he believes Christianity is a force for good and that more Britons would be happier if more went to Church now. As well as a satirist he's also a published author and his new novel Nunc! is set in 1st century Jerusalem where he creates a backstory for the prophet Simeon whose Nunc Dimittis became one of the great canticles of Christendom. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about his public school upbringing, his take on faith as well as his thoughts on politics, climate change and Brexit. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    1 hr
  • Pioneer's Billy Kennedy on the highs and lows of church leadership

    Pioneer's Billy Kennedy on the highs and lows of church leadership
    Apr 17 2025
    Billy Kennedy is the International Leader of the Pioneer Network. He was the Senior Leader at New Community Church in Southampton for 20 years from 2002 to 2022 and in 2014 was appointed one of the six Presidents of Churches Together in England. Kennedy was instrumental in forging partnerships particularly between the Pioneer Network and other denominations, including the Methodist Church. In his latest book, Generations, Generations, Generation: The Story of a Church and a Movement, he looks back at his ministry at that time. Kennedy grew up in Scotland and Northern Ireland and his father was a Baptist minister. He admits that traditional forms of Church at the time he was young weren't reaching him. At community church in Southampton he encountered the Holy Spirit powerfully and moved from a job in retail to working at the Church going onto be influential in the growing House Church and Youth movements that were taking shape at the time. The House church movement initially took off in the 1980's. Kennedy, along with other figures such as Terry Virgo's Newfrontiers and Ichthus Christian Fellowship with Roger Forster were key in forming larger groups that eventually planted churches. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity's Editor Sam Hailes about his life in ministry during that period and the bumps in the road he's faced and how God helped him navigate them. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    59 mins