The Profile

Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Cook is best known for penning ‘You make me brave’ which she wrote at Bethel Music in California as worship leader there. The 40-year-old grew up on a grain farm in Manitoba understanding there were things bigger than humans controlling their lives, in that case it was the weather. Aged six she began playing the piano, later accompanying her father musically at church services. Now, after three albums and a stint with Bethel Music she says she's interested in finding God in the quiet and the space. In today's podcast she sits down with Assistant Editor of Premier Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle and talks about how being labelled a worship leader doesn't always sit right and what it felt like to be told she had ADHD. 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 CEO of Worldshare, serving ministries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Central America These ministries include education, tackling justice, community work, healthcare, evangelism and relief work as well as responding to crises such as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. How does he juggle the many needs? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

Ken Ham grew up in Australia in a Christian household where biblical authority was king and the world was created by God in 6 days. Aged just 24 he preached his first sermon countering the growing evolutionary teaching that theologians were beginning to incorporate into the story of Genesis. After becoming a science teacher he went on to be CEO of Answers in Genesis, an apologist ministry for young earth creationism which teaches the first book of the Bible as literal truth, not just metaphorical stories. Ham's views aren't shared by all evangelicals, and in this interview he responds to common criticisms of his position. Ham is now based in the US where he oversees two popular attractions: The Creation Museum and Ark Encounter which features a life-size 510-foot-long Noah’s Ark. On today's podcast we'll hear how Ken's upbringing helps him counter challenges to his faith from scientists and rationalists and argues why all Christians should believe the literal truth of the Bible. 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 minister of Pathway Church, Sheffield and author of The DNA of Healthy Discipleship about his belief that God is looking to ‘re-code’ Christians so they become the kind of people who will naturally live out the Great Commission. Most churches have this aim, but how can we stay faithful in the task? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

Brooklyn-born Rich Villodas didn't have far to go to find his calling. The native New Yorker is lead Pastor at New Life Fellowship, a large multi-racial church in neighbouring Queens. It's one of the most densely populated cities on earth with New Life Fellowship representing over 75 different countries in its congregation alone. Its mission is to use spirituality to bridge racial, cultural, economic and gender barriers. He was introduced to church as a child through his grandparents but only began taking the gospel seriously after dating a pastor's daughter, later finding he had a natural aptitude for preaching. He's the author of Good and Beautiful and Kind and The Deeply Formed Life. His latest title is The Narrow Path which explores Jesus's counterintuitive yet timeless wisdom. On today’s podcast, we'll hear how he came to faith, how the Sermon on the Mount was the inspiration for his latest book and his belief that Christ has the power to cut through political and cultural differences. 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 Principal of Westminster Theological Centre (a hub based College with an HQ in Cheltenham, Glos), and former church pastor, about the value of teamwork. They look at the challenges teamwork provides and some tools she has found valuable in assessing who to appoint and how people like to function. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

Premier Woman Alive's deputy editor Jemimah Wright sits down with Australian singer-songwriter Darlene Zschech to talk about her achievements and meeting God while battling cancer. Darlene was worship pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney from 1996 to 2007, producing more than 20 albums under the Hillsong Music label and writing more than 80 published worship songs, as well as six books. You can also read this interview in Premier Woman Alive magazine at womanalive.co.uk

Andy Peck talks with the founder of the charities’ RUN (Reaching the Unchurched Network) and Lead Academy about the importance of vision. How does vision differ from mission statements and goals? How do you develop it and re-cast it frequently? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

In Shepherds for Sale, US journalist Megan Basham accuses high profile evangelical leaders of "trading the truth for a leftist agenda" on issues ranging from Black Lives Matter to covid, climate change and sexuality. Her book has proved to be highly controversial since its publication earlier this summer, with some contributors alledging it is full of innacuracies, misunderstandings and quotes out of context. Megan Basham joins Sam Hailes on this week's edition of The Profile to talk about the issues raised in the book, why its been so contentious, and why she still stands by its content. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe for a reduced rate at premierchristianity.com/podcast

Andy Peck talks with the founder of Emerging Leaders and The Youth Compass Project about the value of true elders in church and society. How can the next generation spot their need for elders in their own lives? Might you be the solution for those aspiring to be something more? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

Though you will have heard of many of the household names that Ashley Null has worked with, he will not discuss any of the athletes he works with in this interview, nor are we permitted to namecheck them in this introduction. Too many wish to trade on their connections to star power, he says, and he will not be one of them. What Emma Fowle does hear, though, is a man with a fierce intellect and a pastor's heart discuss the unique pressures of elite sport. Paris was his sixth Olympics. "The gospel is the antidote to performance-based identity," he says. And who, more than anyone else, he asks, needs to know that their achievements aren’t the basis of their relationship with God, or their hope for wholeness than sports biggest athletes?You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity ]]>

Andy Peck talks with the author of Do Manage Lead: Essential Bible Tools for leaders, about some models for understanding how we should manage change. They discuss how Christian leaders might usefully use these models to effect the change God is looking to bring. Why is change so hard and why don’t people embrace it quicker? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

‘It’s bonkers’, ‘God is blowing my mind’ ... Despite the dire statistics around church attendance in the UK, stories of God working miracles are proliferating, especially among young people. Emma Fowle is joined by four ministry leaders to discuss what’s going on. In this special edition of the show, Jamie Price (Limitless), Josh Green (24-7 Prayer), Susie Aldridge and Zeke Rink (Dreaming the Impossible) share their encouraging stories.

Andy Peck chats with the Youth and Children's Ministry Consultant and manager and founder of Paraklesis, who has developed umpteen leaders, especially young people. They look at what attributes to seek in a potential leader, what red flags to look for and how to make sure our own ego doesn’t get in the way The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now from $1 per month

The motto of the London Olympics in 2012 was “Inspire a Generation”. For one eleven-year-old from Coventry whose disability meant she’d never been allowed to play sport at school, this slogan became a reality. Just four years later, Karé Adenegan would win three medals in the 2016 Rio Paralympics. In Tokyo, she added two more. Now 23, the softly spoken wheelchair racer is bidding for a medal in her third successive games. Ahead of her final preparations for Paris 2024, Marcus Jones asks if she can sum up her remarkable journey in one word. “Mind-blowing,” she says simply. In this interview you'll hear more about Kare's faith, including the one prayer she always recites on the startline. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. See subscription offers now at premierchristianity.com/subscribe