The Profile

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

John Dickson didn't set food in a church before the age of 15 but says, looking back, he would probably have described himself as a 'thoughtful child'. After his father died in a plane crash he began thinking more about faith and was encouraged to explore Christianity by a secondary school teacher who was very open about her own faith. Dickson went on to become a singer songwriter in 1990s for the rock band In the Silence before pivoting to academia. His wider work aimes to bridge the worlds of music, popular culture and church history which he's also very passionate about. His latest documentary film has him artistically exploring the very first hymn. The film charts the discovery of the 1800-year-old papyrus fragment in Egypt and follows Dickson as he works with worship leaders Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding to transform the ancient tune into a modern song. You can hear a part of that collaboration in this conversation. On this edition of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about a wide range of subjects including his own upbringing and how he once promised to eat a page of the bible if someone could find a professor of theology who argued that Jesus never existed. 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 a former pastor and senior leader about the challenges faced when stepping down from formal church leadership. They discuss the need to ‘repurpose’, the importance of financial provision and creating a new rhythm for life so you can continue to be fruitful in God’s service. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

The MP David Smith says that while he never wanted to be a 'pigeonholed' as a Christian neither would he ever deny how central his faith is to his work. He's only newly been elected to the Labour seat in North Northumberland last year. His previous work included being Chief Executive with Oasis as well as senior roles in faith-based organisations such as Bible Society and Tearfund. It was work that deeply influenced his deep sense of vocation to politics. In government he's also succeeding Fiona Bruce as the new UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief highlighting his longstanding commitment global human‐rights advocacy. Smith grew up in the west of Scotland into a family where faith was real and meant something. It become something real to him too after the death of his father in his teens and where in the period after he says God "held him". In this edition of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christian Radio's Esther Higham, usually found on the Inspirational Breakfast Show. She explores his upbringing, his ultimate path to politics and how he doesn't have much time for the idea that UK Christians are losing their freedom to express their 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.

Miel de Botton is a Swiss-born singer-songwriter, psychologist and philanthropist. In this podcast she describes a loving but strict upbringing along with her brother, the author Alain de Botton. As her interests grew she went onto study law at Oxford before then switching to clinical psychology in Paris, where she worked with people overcoming addiction. Miel began her professional musical career later in life. Her debut album, Magnetic showcased her as someone with a smooth, melodic pop style. That was followed by Surrender to the Feeling. Her latest i s Love Ones, Vol a personal tribute to her family and friends. Beyond music, de Botton is passionate about philanthropy and supports mental health, environmental, and scientific causes, including marine research initiatives with the Weizmann Institute of Science where faith and healing are a major part of her work. On today's edition of the Profile she speaks to Gareth Crispin edits the Premier NexGen website, which helps all parts of the Church to raise faith in the next generation. Their conversation covers, faith, music, her upbringing and the journey she's taken as a parent. 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. 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 church and community consultant about his work bringing reconciliation for people devastated by human conflict, including the people of Ukraine. What does it mean to be ‘messengers of reconciliation’? Why is a disposition of peace to be the pervasive stance of the Christian and how can we work towards this in our relationship with other churches? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Phil Knox is best known for his work with the Evangelical Alliance - an organisation which represents and connects evangelical churches and people across the UK and where he serves as evangelism and missiology senior specialist. Knox grew up in a Christian household and attended church regularly. Home was a place where Scripture was regularly referenced. On car journeys he describes his parents teaching him to memorise Bible verses before he was allowed to discuss football. His father was a lawyer and specialised in social housing. For a time, Knox also believed he would follow in his footsteps but a stint working at Youth for Christ got him hooked on mission and on seeing "young people become Christians." Working with his friend and colleague Gavin Calvert, CEO of the Alliance, he has written: Good News People: Hopeful evangelicals yesterday, today and tomorrow. which he describes as celebration of the UK evangelical Church. During his research he says he discovered a Church which was 'rich', 'diverse' and full of 'life' and that any decline in nominalism - the idea that people attend church because of mindless duty - has been replaced by a people that are alive for Jesus fronted by some extraordinary Church leaders. On this edition of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about the vital element friendship plays when sharing faith, particularly between men, a subject he has already written about in his book The Best Friends and how we need to be both braver and kinder. 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 two men involved in Wellbeing Church, a new style of church in Hertfordshire which creates opportunities for young people to engage with Christian faith. Jim Thornton is one of the pioneer leaders and Reiss Gillingwater on the team that develops connection with Gen Z through online gaming and Football. They discuss how this fresh expressions approach came about and the leadership challenges that have arisen. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Andy Flannagan has an irrepressible energy. The Northern Irishman, who is now based in Luton, began his adult life as a medical doctor before quickly deciding that singing and song writing was a passion he had to explore. His albums include Advertising the Invisible, Son, Drowning in the Shallow, with his music often addressing social injustice, global poverty, environmental concerns, and human suffering His love of music lead him to writing about political issues and soon he was knee-deep in political activism heading up Christians on the Left for ten years and is now Executive Director of Christians in Politics making regular contributions to national debates on Premier Christian Radio. He's a strident social activist who believes God's people need to take part in politics at every level, whether it's a parish council or supporting (or grilling) a member of parliament. In this interview with Premier Christianity Magazine Editor Sam Hailes he talks about his involvement with politics and how he sees his armchair peers getting more and more radicalised plus his new links with the homeless social enterprise Green Pastures. 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 Christians for Impact about their ministry helping Christians to invest their time in work that best serves God’s kingdom. They look at their selection of the key evidence-based areas of impact and look ahead to their conference in the UK on November 22nd and 23rd. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Australian high jumper Nicola Olyslagers has achieved a lot in her life already. Aged just 28 she is the newly crowned World Champion, winning the gold at the recent World Athletics Championships in Japan. She has won silver medals at the Paris 2024 & Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is the Australian and Oceania high jump record holder (2.04m). She is also the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion and will be looking to defend her title next year at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Olyslagers has always been very open about her faith, often speaking about how it motivates her both on and off the track. In this episode of The Profile she talks to Victoire Eyoum about how her career was completely transformed from the moment her faith was an integral part of it, how she met other Christians through the sport and the way they encourage one another to be all that they feel God has called them to be, and how love should be at the start of everything we do in life. 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.