The Profile

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

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

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

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

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

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

Andy Peck chats with the founder of Kingdom Living Ministries about hearing God’s voice. How does she respond to the evidence that some church leaders have data mined information and claimed that God had given it to them? How does she understand prophecy today and how might we better hear from God for our own leadership? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Grace Jin Drexel was thrust into the spotlight because of her father Pastor Ezra Jin. On October 10th 2025 he was arrested and imprisoned by Chinese authorities along with other pastors from Zion Church in a suburb of Beijing. He is officially charged with the "illegal use of information networks” and still remains in jail. The persecution against Zion Church and Christians more widely in China began in 2016 when the first rewriting of the regulation of religion in China began. It led to independent churches- those not associated with the state - beginning to feel a fresh wave of repression from the authorities. Pastor Ezra founded Zion church in 2007. It went on to become one of China’s largest underground Christian house church networks. "China is a hard country to minister to," Grace says, speaking as someone who is now an American citizen. Now, with her background in human rights, she advocates for her father and his release. In this intimate episode of The Profile Grace speaks to Tola Mbakwe, Premier's News Editor, about what it was like growing up as the daughter of a Christian pastor in China, her hope for his release under President Trump's administration and how God is not giving up on China. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the Head of Training and Principal of Westbrook Academy, at Urban Saints about how training youth leaders is to be a major part of the charity’s ministry going forward. They talk about why the change was needed, what kinds of training opportunities now exist and how God had prepared Keith for this new ministry role The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Chadwick “Chad” Gardner is pretty transparent about wanting a hit song. One that could take care of the kids college fund, "could I just get one, that would be great!" But the American Christian singer songwriter and founder of the Seattle-based band Kings Kaleidoscope knows their music is niche and that's fine too. They're a musical outfit that blend alternative rock, orchestral, hip-hop and modern worship all in one. Throw in personal testimony, hymns and some honest doubt and you have a bold, unfiltered kind of worship music that refuses to hide the struggles of faith while still reaching for hope. Chad grew up in a Christian home playing piano then drums and says he "didn't have a before and after moment of knowing Jesus" it was just always there. But, he struggled with anxiety and had panic attacks. When he did, he imagined God was with him. Early in life his music brought him to the megachurch Mars Hill where he was a worship director for a number of years and before the ministry was hit by controversy in 2014 over bullying allegation against founder Mark Driscoll. While members of Kings Kaleidoscope come and go, Chad remains the existing founding member and they now tour internationally, most recently in London at Koko in Camden Town. In this interview with Premier's Jamie Pratt, Chad talks about his slow by steady climb to 'niche' success, being cancelled from the Christian music events after swearing in a song and his honest desire for a hit. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the author of ‘Kingdom apprenticeship: Dallas Willard’s Formational Theology and Missional Vision’, about Willard’s approach to leadership. What does Dallas mean by his belief that we are ‘training for reigning’ and ‘what God gets out of our life is the person we become’? How might his approach to spiritual formation help leaders today? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Lindz West who heads up the popular Christian electronic dance band LZ7 has every reason to be happy. He's part of one of the most successful UK Christian bands. They've achieved multiple top 40 singles in their 20 years together. They're now supporting one of the biggest popstars in the world - Jason Derulo - in his The Last Dance tour. For the band whose whole purpose is to communicate the love of Jesus to young people it's just another chance to get their faith across. West was born to Christian parents and as a child his father had a role working on the Billy Graham revival missions. While he grew up in the Church he drifted and went to America to play basketball and hangout with friends though later got pulled back on track by a pretty girl at a beach mission. Following a stint in the city, he realised he needed more purpose in his work and began working and playing with The Tribe, the genesis of which would later become LZ7, touring and working in school clubs sharing the message and love of Jesus. LZ7 is deeply rooted in evangelism and mission, beginning life in a young offenders prison, with strong links to the Christian charity The Message Trust which works with tens of thousands of teenagers in schools each year. West believes that music, especially LZ7's kind, has a way of cutting through which is universal and that the 'big music event' has a way of capturing the imagination of young people in a way nothing else can. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about his latest single The Perfect Duet, the difficulties of being a Windsor boy when working with inner city kids in Manchester and why LZ7 is not a boyband but a 'man band.'

Andy Peck chats with the author of ‘Rediscovering Church as Networks: The ongoing story of the non-denominational Charismatic Churches. What kind of leadership did they develop and what might we learn from their development and leadership challenges they faced? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Spring Harvest is arguably one of the most identifiable UK Christian festivals in the calendar seeing between 10 and 20 thousand people descend upon Butlins in Minehead each Easter for family-themed activities, worship and bible study. Now it has a new leader at the helm- Jo Moir - whose deep background in the Salvation Army has given her plenty of experience mucking in and dealing with different types of people. The former midwife grew up in Guernsey to parents who were part of the Salvation Army but in her early teens she walked away and got in with a 'rough crowd'. A prayer brought her back as her mother went to Africa and looking back now she regards her time as a prodigal as valuable. Moir describes the Salvation Army as Christianity with 'its sleeves rolled up'. It is no doubt her open and vibrant personality that brought her to the attention of the BBC, which led her to feature in a documentary, later becoming friends and mentor to the comedian Paul O'Grady . In this interview with Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes, she talks about her fascinating family history, the opportunities she believes there are for God to move at big Christian events and the importance of all Christians to ask themselves 'why' they're doing whatever it is they're doing. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the founder of Growing Hope, who five years ago shared her vision of having 20 therapy clinics to help families with children with additional needs. They discuss how the vision has grown, how many more clinics are needed and what she has learned about leadership along the way. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Adineke Adewale has forged an unusual but successful career path in not just one but two fields. After studying law she went on to work in the Ministry of Justice in the International Team of the Judicial Office of England and by day rubs shoulders with judges and chief justices from across the world. But by night it's a different matter. Back in 2021, the then 29-year-old auditioned for The Voice, reaching the semi-finals with her powerful vocals. The experience launched her music career and she can now be seen performing as Whitney Houston in Queen of the Night, the musical about the American singer's life. It's an interesting dual life which Adewale seems to manage effortlessly. Growing up with Christian parents she learned to hold two different things together quite easily, often attending different churches- a catholic tradition from her mother and a Baptist one for her father. Since then she has gone on to work in Christian youthwork and speaks openly about her walk with God and her faith in his purpose for her life. In this episode of The Profile the Londoner talks to Premier Christianity magazine Deputy Editor Emma Fowles about her stage nerves, the advice she'd give her younger self and her belief that anyone can be a powerful witness for Christ no matter what they do for work. 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.

Andy Peck chats with the creative consultant, who spends his time with people who run organisations of all kinds, helping them clarify and communicate vision and overcome obstacles that lie in the way. They look at why people come to him for help, how he helps them communicate better and what to do if you have lost your joy engaging in the ever challenging work of leading a local church. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Harry Benson, Research Director at the Marriage Foundation didn't start out with an interest in psychology and relationships. In his early life he became a Royal Navy helicopter pilot serving in the Falklands during the conflict aged just 22. He went on to work in finance in Asia and had two children with a thriving social life. His marriage and life, seemed perfect from the outside but from the inside it was falling apart. He and his wife had little time to spend with each other and were living more as flatmates than intimate partners. They were on the brink of divorce. But following a series of counselling sessions that helped he and his wife Kate learn to communicate the pair reconnected. Now Benson helps other couples navigate family breakdowns, which, according to Benson, now stands at an all-time high. In this interview with Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes, Harry talks about the mistakes he made in his early life, the issues of children living without both parents and why a lack of attention to one another is more dangerous than adultery. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy the thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the founder of The Good Book Company about the books that have shaped his leadership journey, Desert Island Discs style, in particular in shaping the growth of TGBC. The books include: Good to Great by James Collins, The Three-box solution by Vijay Govindarajan and Faithful Leaders by Rico Tice, and many more. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

The New York born preacher Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell admits he ran from God at first. The 2819 Church founder grew up in Queens to Bible believing parents who took him to church and yet, in his own words, he still chose sin. His running took him to the south of America where after some soul-searching he turned to Christ, married and following a powerful experience in Israel returned to the US. In the next ten years - which he refers to as being 'forged' - and with his wife Lena, he began 2819 Church in Atlanta. Mitchell's preaching and ministry is focussed on calling America back to a more orthodox Christianity and now prays and preaches for a revival away from materialism which he believes, amongst other things, has gripped the Church in his home country. In this intimate interview with Premier's AJ Gomez he talks through the twists and turns of his early life and powerful experience he had in Israel which lead him to the path he is now on. 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.