Podcasts from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Building faith in our children is something that works well when the partnership between parents and churches works well. Faith in Kids, headed up by Ed Drew, long to see confident parents and thriving churches working together to raise children who trust in Jesus eternally. In this podcast, Ruth Bromley (PCI’s Children’s Development Officer) is joined by Ed Drew as they talk about what Faith in Kids aims to do and how parents and churches might work together to encourage children to have a lasting trust in Jesus. They also highlight the Starting Strong event this autumn, which Ed is coming to speak at, in High Street Holywood Presbyterian Church. Details of the event and how to book can be found at Starting Strong | Presbyterian Church Ireland

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, David Thompson, Secretary of PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness talks with Gary Millar, Principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia about his recent book called Both/And Ministry: Living and leading like Jesus’. Present is a denomination wide initiative inviting and encouraging congregations and their members to make themselves fully present to God who is ever present to us. Find out more and watch a video about the Present initiative here www.presbyterianireland.org/present

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, Jonny McClune and David Thompson from PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness are joined by missiologist David Smith to explore what it looks like for congregations to be present in today’s changing communities. Present is a denomination wide initiative inviting and encouraging congregations and their members to make themselves fully present to God who is ever present to us. Find out more and watch a video about the Present initiative here www.presbyterianireland.org/present

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, David Thompson, Secretary to PCI's Council for Congregational Life & Witness, explores what it means to be an intergenerational Church family with Ruth Bromley, PCI Children’s Development Officer, and Graeme Thompson, PCI's Youth Development Officer.  This podcast is part of the denomination wide Present initiative, inviting and encouraging congregations and their members to make themselves fully present to God who is ever present to us.

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, Andrew Dickson, PCI’s Congregational Life Development Officer, explores being present to God as we read the Bible with David McCullagh, Rosie Donaldson and Richard McChesney.  This podcast is part of the denomination wide Present initiative, inviting and encouraging congregations and their members to make themselves fully present to God who is ever present to us. Find out more and watch a video about the Present initiative here www.presbyterianireland.org/present

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, Jonny McClune, PCI’s Congregational Witness Development Officer, explores with Darin and Joy Stevens from the organisation Start to Stir, why sharing our faith with our friends can be so challenging.  We can see examples in the Bible of people who struggled to speak up for God like Moses and Jonah but we take time to explore on the podcast the things that are holding us back today and how we can have more confidence to share Jesus with those around us. This podcast also highlights the Stirring Spiritual Curiosity event happening on the morning of Tuesday 28 January 2025 from 10.30am to 12.45pm in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, at which Darin and Joy will be opening up this theme further.  Further details and booking can be found here: www.presbyterianireland.org/stir This event is free but you do need to pre-register.

Food insecurity is an issue that's affecting many parts of the world – it is said one in ten people in the world live in food insecurity. To discuss this important issue and to introduce this year's World Development Appeal, Rev Richard Kerr, Convener of PCI's Global Development Committee, hosts the episode with guests - Ruth Cooke (Christian Aid Ireland’s Head of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement), Chris Thompson (Tearfund’s NI Director) and Rev Liam Rutherford, PCI’s World Development Agent and Convener of its World Development Appeal Task Group.  The 2024 World Development Appeal is entitled: “Hunger Pains: Scarcity to Abundance.” You can find more resources, including a promotional video, here: www.presbyterianireland.org/worlddevelopment

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, Ruth Bromley, PCI’s Children’s Ministry Development Officer, hosts a conversation with Andy Frost, Director of Share Jesus International and contributor to the Kitchen Table Project, Caroline Bradley from Care for the Family and Andy Lamberton from Legacy, about sowing the seeds of a growing faith in the lives of our children.   This podcast also highlights the Starting Strong event happening on the evening of Thursday 14 November 2024 from 7.45pm to 9.15pm in High Street Presbyterian Church, Holywood at which Andy Frost is the keynote speaker. It will pick up and develop this theme, providing the opportunity to explore this territory further with others and be encouraged and envisioned in this crucial area of church life. Further details and booking can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/startingstrong

This episode explores PCI’s vision for church planting across Ireland. It considers why we need more churches on this island, and how that can be an effective way to reach new people with the good news of Jesus Christ. Tom Gilliam, an elder in Maynooth, and Josh McCance, church plant leader in Balbriggan, share their experiences and insights into church planting along with ways everyone can be involved. PCI is holding a Church Planting Taster Day in Maynooth on 16 November 2024. For more information and to register visit: www.presbyterianireland.org/churchplanting

In this latest episode of the PCI podcast, Will Leitch interviews Rev David Thompson, Secretary of PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness, on the thinking behind and hopes for Present - the new, denomination wide, initiative designed to encourage congregations in this season of life and witness, launched at this year’s General Assembly. The initiative will roll out over three successive church years, inviting and encouraging congregations and their members to make themselves fully present to God who is ever present to us. It offers a framework to encourage congregations to explore and express being present in four particular ways: Be present in this season of life and witness; Be present to God as his people; Be present for one another in God’s family of the church; Be present where God has placed us to be his witnesses. Find out more and watch the introductory video here www.presbyterianireland.org/present

Neil Hudson is Senior Leader of Salford Elim Church, but is better known to us in PCI for his work on the Imagine Church project for the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. That is the project that birthed the Frontlines small group material which many congregations have used and found helpful, along with two books authored by Neil, Imagine Church and Scattered and Gathered. David Thompson is Secretary of PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness and brings extensive experience and qualifications in consultancy for ministry and mission.  This podcast also highlights the Leading for a change event happening on the morning of Thursday 17 October 2024 from 10.30am to 12.45pm in Assembly Buildings, Belfast. It will pick up and develop this theme, providing the opportunity to explore this territory further with others and be encouraged and envisioned in making space in our church life to adapt and respond to changing challenges and circumstances, new opportunities and options. Further details and booking can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/leadingforachange 

The 2024 General Assembly opens on Thursday, 20 June and will run until Saturday afternoon, 22 June. In this episode four guests, each with different roles in next week’s event, look ahead to the annual gathering of ministers, elders and other representatives from home and overseas. They are the Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, Deputy Clerk, Rev Dr David Allen, PCI’s Public Affairs Officer, Dr Rebecca Stevenson, and Rev Albin Rankin, Convener of the Council for Congregational Life and Witness. In a new departure, this podcast is in two bite-sized chunks, in which you will get a good overview of proceedings and insights from our guests to a number of the significant reports that will come before the Assembly. The podcast is hosted by PCI’s Press and Media Officer, Mark Smith. Further information on the 2024 General Assembly, the reports that are discussed in this episode, schedule of business, and news stories, can be found here: http://www.presbyterianireland.org/ga24

The 2024 General Assembly opens on Thursday, 20 June and will run until Saturday afternoon, 22 June. In this episode four guests, each with different roles in next week’s event, look ahead to the annual gathering of ministers, elders and other representatives from home and overseas. They are the Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, Deputy Clerk, Rev Dr David Allen, PCI’s Public Affairs Officer, Dr Rebecca Stevenson, and Rev Albin Rankin, Convener of the Council for Congregational Life and Witness. In a new departure, this podcast is in two bite-sized chunks, in which you will get a good overview of proceedings and insights from our guests to a number of the significant reports that will come before the Assembly. The podcast is hosted by PCI’s Press and Media Officer, Mark Smith. Further information on the 2024 General Assembly, the reports that are discussed in this episode, schedule of business, and news stories, can be found here: http://www.presbyterianireland.org/ga24

In both good times and dark days, pastoral care is a vital ministry of the church. We all want to be confident to walk alongside and care well for those God has placed in our lives. But how do we do that? In this podcast, Andrew Collins (Director of the Certificate Course, Biblical Counselling UK), Marion Hadden (Family and Youth Coordinator and Elder, Terrace Row Presbyterian Church), and Rev Ben Walker (Minister, Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church) reflect on some ways we can build pastoral connection, hold quality conversations, and bring biblical and prayerful content into our pastoral care.  This podcast highlights the now sold-out Confident to Care three-week practical training course being delivered by Andrew Collins, in conjunction with the Council for Congregational Life and Witness, at Union Theological College in May. To find out more about similar events in the future, sign up to E-quip www.presbyterianireland.org/equip

We hear so much about how we are an increasingly aging society and an aging church. The focus often falls on the challenges that brings, but that reality also offers enormous possibilities for ministry and outreach through the local church if we have eyes to see them.  Alex Drew who leads the work of a ministry called Faith in Later Life and David Thompson, Secretary of PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness, which will be partnering with Faith in Later Life to bring an event called Age of Opportunity on this theme to Assembly Buildings, Belfast on 16 May 2024 discuss the untapped potential of this area of ministry and mission for the church.  Links to an upcoming event and resource mentioned in the podcast can be found below: Age of Opportunity - Presbyterian Church Ireland (presbyterianireland.org) All the days of my life

All around the world, people are on the move, displaced from their homes by conflict, natural disasters, persecution, and land grabbing. In this podcast episode, Pip Florit, PCI’s Mission Support Officer for Partnerships talks to Rev Richard Kerr, Convener of the Global Development Committee, and Ruth Cooke, Christian Aid Ireland’s Head of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement about displacement and our response to it. Richard and Ruth share stories and reflections on their visit to Sierra Leone for this year’s World Development Appeal, ‘Starting from Scratch’ and talk about where we can find hope in a world of injustice.  You can find out more about the World Development Appeal here: www.presbyterianireland.org/worlddevelopment

Leading in the church today can bring lots of encouragements and joy – lives transformed, people growing as disciples, a sense of purpose and community. But leading in the church can also feel difficult. Emerging from the retreat and restrictions, limitations and loss, disruption and disaster brought by the last number of years, many leaders feel weary and lonely. Whether we are a minister, elder, other ministry staff member, or volunteer, it’s important that we regularly take time to be encouraged, envisioned, and equipped as we continue to lead and serve.  To reflect on ways leaders across PCI can be refreshed and sharpened to fulfil their calling, we are joined by David Thompson (Secretary, Council for Congregational Life and Witness), Rev Angus Stewart (Minister, Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church), and Anne Dines (Clerk of Session, West Church, Ballymena).  This podcast also highlights two upcoming initiatives facilitated by CCLW:  Refresh – a series of one-off evenings to encourage, envision, and equip ruling elders in PCI.  Leading Edge, is a five-session programme offering ministers, elders, and other ministry staff the opportunity to come together with others to explore some key aspects of leading in the church today.   

The world today can be overwhelming. Culture wars. Constant connectedness. Covid’s impact. A changing church landscape. Crisis after crisis local and globally. The list of challenges impacting how people faithfully follow Jesus goes on.  So, how do we craft a disciple-shaped life? And how can we shape aspects of local church life – our corporate worship, Bible engagement, and congregational community – to effectively equip members to follow Jesus with courage, commitment, and conviction in today’s world?

The 2023 General Assembly opens on the evening of the longest day of the year, Wednesday, 21 June, and will run until Saturday afternoon, 24 June. In this episode, four guests, each with different roles in next week’s gathering, look ahead to the annual gathering of ministers, elders, and other representatives from home and overseas. They are the Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt Rev Dr John Kirkpatrick, Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, Deputy Clerk, Rev Dr David Allen, and Karen Jardine, PCI’s Public Affairs Officer. During this episode, you can get an overview of proceedings and insights into a number of the significant reports that will come before members. Dr Kirkpatrick also reflects on his year in office. The podcast is hosted by PCI’s Press Officer, Mark Smith. Further information on the 2023 General Assembly, the reports that are discussed in this episode, the schedule of business, Assembly procedure, and news stories, can be found here: www.presbyterianireland.org/ga23

Over the past few weeks, much attention has been drawn to the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with many visiting dignitaries and special events across Belfast and further afield.  In this podcast episode, Karen Jardine (PCI’s Public Affairs Officer) is joined by Rev Dr Tony Davidson (Convener, Peace & Reconciliation Panel and recently retired from First Armagh), Rev Dr Marty McNeely (Ballykeel), and Jack McQuillan (Eglinton) to reflect on the unfinished work of peace 25 years on from the Agreement. Together they will explore the role of PCI in peace and reconciliation across the island of Ireland, and whether peace-making is still part of the mandate of the church today – as a denomination, in congregations, and as individual members.