The Profile

It was a marathon that began Mike Dickson's journey into giving and launched him into starting one of the UK's most unique charities. Back in the nineties Dickson was running to raise money for a child who he had met who had cerebral palsy and had limited mobility. He was inspired to do something for her and any money raised from sponsorship would go towards a motorized wheelchair. They made £9 but after the race, Dickson wanted to do more. He founded Whizz-Kidz, which provides mobility equipment for disabled children. 35 years later is it now the largest UK supplier of paediatric mobility aids outside of the NHS. Dickson is also the founder of Rainmakers, which finds philanthropists and marries them up with charities that need financial support and of which Desmond Tutu was a patron. The subject of giving is close to Dickson's heart and he is the author of Our Generous Gene and more recently How to Be a Better Human. On this episode of The Profile he talks through his work's life, it's up and downs and why he thinks we are more blessed when we give than when we receive. 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 catches up with his first ever guest 20 years later. He’s still leading Church Without Walls as part of Eleos Ministries. They talk of the loss of his wife, being a single parent and the place of mercy ministries for the church today? What would he say to a young leader starting out? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Andy Peck is joined by Wayne Dixon, from Christian Connections in Schools, working with pupils and staff in schools in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead. They talk about what is concerning young people today and how to best connect. What changes has he noticed since he began working with young people 40 years ago? Has he noticed an upturn in interest in Christianity? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Andy Peck talks with Jenny Pillar and Rich Gower, who are involved in a new venture, ‘Counselling Carers’, which has as its strapline: improving the lives of the most vulnerable by caring for their carers. He asks Jenny Pillar, founder and clinical director about her vision for the work and Rich Gower, the managing director, about the options he faced when looking to structure the work to be sustainable. How can we develop our visionary ideas to serve others? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

American missionary Heidi Baker says she's been preaching God's word for 50 years but 1995 was the year when life changed and she answered the call to go to Mozambique. She has been there ever since. Through her humanitarian organisation Iris Global she has been serving some of the most poor in the region whether that was helping families in crisis, caring for orphans or being a vessel of healing for those with real debilitating illnesses through God's grace. Her work has put her and her family in the cross hairs of ISIS militants and she has had to make difficult decisions about the safety of those closest to her. However, through all that she has found a way to minister to those in her community and found a way to love her enemies. In this powerful interview Heidi talks about her decades of dedication to God, her hope and happiness for the future of the quiet revolution, her pride in her own university work and God's unfailing Grace. 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 latest HALF PRICE offer plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Celebrating 20 years and 1000 episodes of The Leadership Show, we repeat part of the first ever show with Kurt Erickson, founder of Church Without Walls, looking at his call to leave New York for London. In the second half we repeat part of an interview with Sarah Mullally, then a vicar in Sutton and now Archbishop of Canterbury designate. Why did she leave a senior position in the NHS for ordination? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Celebrating 1000 episodes of The Leadership Show this month, we dip into the archive to feature parts of two classic shows as Andy Peck talks with Dallas Willard, author of 'Personal Religion, Public Reality?: Towards a Knowledge of Faith' and David Heywood, author of 'Reimagining Ministerial formation'. With Dallas they look at the four questions everyone has to deal with and what it actually means to follow Jesus in the kingdom of God. With David they look at why ‘every member ministry’ requires a major change in culture in many local churches and at a practical way to help Christians grow spiritually. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Celebrating 1000 episodes of The Leadership Show this month, we dip into the archive to feature parts of three classic shows as Andy Peck talks with Eli Gardner of Kids Matter, Jenny Costa of Rubies in the Rubble and Carrie Longton of Mumsnet about how their respective ventures came about. What might we learn about responding to an idea or prompting we receive? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Allan Finnegan's stint on Britain's Got Talent in 2020 made him known to millions. The Baptist minister turned stand up comedian, who wears his dog collar in stage and draws on his experience as a minster, impressed all the judges, including Simon Cowell who gave him a standing ovation. Finnegan made it to the semi-finals but his journey there was unorthodox. He grew up in Bootle in the 70s, a poor area of Liverpool where 'he knew no different' and went into work in construction. It was only when he began dating a girl that he was encouraged to go to church, realised people there really did believe what they were saying, and got the bug. He became a Baptist minister himself, then feeling a similar call to comedy began doing gigs in the Liverpool circuit, eventually having his talent acknowledged by the judges audiences of BGT. More recently Finnegan's been diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer which ultimately has spread to liver. In his new book I Didn't Ask for Any of This he draws on his unique faith journey amid the realisation that the tumour is now incurable. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Next Gen's Gareth Crispin about what led him to Christ, how 'bad' he felt he was at his first role as a minister, why one-person-one-mic is still as relevant as it's ever been and how cancer helped him re-evaluate his faith. 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.

Celebrating 1000 episodes of The Leadership Show this month, we dip into the archive to feature parts of two classic shows as Andy Peck talks with Ian Parkinson author of Understanding Christian Leadership and then with Trevor Waldock founder of Emerging Leaders. Should Christian use ‘secular’ approaches? What does the Bible say? What role does story play in a leader’s understanding of self and others? 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 Archbishop of Melbourne Ric Thorpe is no stranger to change. He's an accomplished church planter and until very recently served as the Bishop of Islington. But even with that experience, he still admits that moving with his wife over 10,000 across the world is both exciting and daunting. Thorpe grew up going to church and as a schoolboy attended a boarding school where chapel was mandatory. It was only when he reached university that he encountered the Christian Union made some lifelong friends and had a deep and personal relationship with Jesus for the first time that set him off on a deeper relationship with God. After university he put a promising career with Unilever on hold to work at a Christian bookstore at Holy Trinity Brompton in London for 2 hours a week, eventually becoming ordained and later rising to bishop. His passion and experience for church planting gave him a name following a successful church plant from HTB to St Paul's Church in Shadwell which combined with an openness to listen to different traditions, particularly around prayer. Now, in his new role he is the first bishop to be installed as the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne in Australia in nearly 70 years. In this episode of the Profile he speaks to Premier Radio's David Senior, himself a Church of England priest, about his Christian walk and how we need to be bolder in talking about the hope that Jesus brings, as he insists, "don't let the costs stop you." 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 talks with the founder of Jubilee Leadership and former pastor, Andy Hickford, about engaging in politics from the pulpit. What are the dangers? How might we do it and what should we make of the rise of what is called ‘Christian Nationalism’? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

The British broadcaster, journalist, and campaigner Charlie Webster has known her fair share of trauma. As a child in Sheffield she was abused by her stepfather and watched her mother be the victim of domestic abuse. Later as a young teen she was groomed and abused again by her running coach. She speaks openly about her experiences and its effect on her and campaigns for greater scrutiny on the issue calling for greater understanding around women's mental health and trauma. Fortunately her interest in sports never waivered and Webster became a journalist initially working as a TV presenter for Real Madrid going on to work for ESPN, Sky Sports, Channel 4 and British Eurosport covering boxing, cycling, athletics and ice hockey among other sports. In 2016, she became critically ill with malaria after a 3,000-mile charity cycle from London to Rio and was told she might die. She credits the help of a nurse who found the Church she had connected with in the UK before she left and God's purpose for her along with people's prayers for her recovery from around the world. In this interview with Emma Fowle, Associate Editor of Premier Christianity magazine, Webster talks openly about the trauma that made her, the battles she faced in a sexist world of sports journalism and how she's happy to speak out for those who cannot speak. 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 talks to the founder of Destiny Coaching about tricky areas leaders may not easily address. What about imposter syndrome? What do we do when we doubt our faith? How can coaching provide a healthy context for discussion and ultimate growth? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Dr Matthew Porter admits he may not be a greatest or even the most natural Evangelist himself but says his own passion for sharing The Gospel tends to override that. It must be this quality that has lead him to his current position as Champion Lead Bishop in Mission and Discipleship in the Church of England. Porter is also Bishop of Bolton and serves as one of three Anglican bishops within Greater Manchester bringing over 30 years of ministry experience with spells serving as Honorary Chaplain to both Queen Elizabeth II and Charles III. He grew up in a Christian Methodist household and says he heard the voice of God quite early on, much like Samuel, also learning that prayer was powerful- it could do things. The call to ministry came at university and with a move over from his Methodist childhood to the Anglican Church. Bishop Porter is also the author of number of books including The Art Of Journalling and the A-Z of Prayer, providing practical guides on some of the key elements of faith. In this interview he talks to David Senior, a Church of England vicar himself in the Diocese of Guildford, about his early life and coming to faith, his love of journaling and how sharing faith and evangelism is simply speaking about the joy that exists within you. 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 talks with the missiologist and assistant professor about how AI might assist pastoral care and theological study, from his book ‘AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence’. How might AI serve as a tool for pastors and will AI revolutionise College study? Todd shares principles from his vital book. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

The writer and publisher Stephanie Duncan Smith was raised by Christian parents in the state of Maryland in the US, so from a very young age faith was woven into her life. Smith likes to talk about in terms of 'rhythms' and says there were three that dominated her early life: Church, dinner and reading. It didn't take long for her to develop an instinct for 'the word'. She is now the senior editor for HarperOne which produces books on religion, spirituality and growth, among other things, and is part of the Harper Collins publishing house stable. She also writes herself publishing the Slant newsletter on Substack which is aimed at writers hoping to hone their craft. Her book, Even After Everything: The Spiritual Practice of Knowing the Risks and Loving Anyway, explores her personal experiences of loss alongside themes of joy, and hope. In this conversation with Emma Fowle, Associate Editor of Christianity Magazine, she talks about the changing of the seasons and the sacredness of the year focussing particularly on Advent and how it ended up having deeper meaning to her after a period of personal grief. 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 talks with the author of ‘When Jesus Met Hippies: The Story and Legacy of the Jesus People Movement in the UK’ They look at what we might learn about revival from those days. What are the similarities between 70s and today? What might we learn about the sad fall outs that occurred and what is the key message for church 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

"God gives us human curiosity" says the renowned American physician-geneticist Dr Francis Collins whose is best known for his leadership of the Human Genome Project and his contributions to finding a vaccine for Covid. It's curiosity which has helped Collins play a part in some of the most extraordinary scientific discoveries of the modern age. Born in 1950, Collins trained as a physician and geneticist, eventually becoming the director of the Human Genome Project. Under his leadership, scientists successfully mapped the entire human genome providing the first complete blueprint of human DNA. He went on to serve as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) being a guiding force in the medical advances in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also a pivotal member of the team that discovered the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis. Collins’ grew up in a secular home but embraced Christianity, finding that faith and scientific inquiry are not enemies but complementary paths to truth. His latest book The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith and Trust examines the challenges society faces and suggests a way forward that emphasises the importance of truth, science, faith, and trust. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about his work and the resistance he has had to it in recent years, how he sees politics divide people - especially Christians- and how he believes studying science is worship. 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 talks to the former Baptist minister and Bible college lecturer about Christian journalling. They look at how he got into it and how might journalling help a Christian leader? Why is it supported by the Bible and how practically might you go about it? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com