The Profile

Graham Daniels grew up with football in his blood, signing for Cardiff City as a young player while still at school. He went on to study philosophy at Cardiff University, playing for the club throughout his studies but it wasn't until he reached 21, that he really gave his life to Christ. Rather than leaving football behind, Daniels found a way to weave his sporting career together with a call to ministry. He played professionally for Cambridge United and then Cambridge City, all while pursuing theological training. He has also moved into football management too, taking charge at Sudbury Town, Histon, and eventually Cambridge City. In 1989, upon completing his ministry training, Daniels joined the staff of Christians in Sport, a UK charity dedicated to reaching athletes and the sporting world with The Gospel. He became its General Director in 2002 and has held the role for decades. Daniels later earned a PhD for research into identity formation among Christian professional footballers, and has written and co-authored several books exploring the relationship between faith and sport, including Born to Play. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to deputy editor Emma Fowle about the huge numbers of Christians he now sees in sport, how he avoids profiles of 'famous' athletes and the support Christians in Sport shows to young people in clubs around the country. 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.

How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one? Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Joel Muddamalle. He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India. His grandparents were arguably the strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the joy when you did: "there was a passion for the ministry." Later his parent moved to America and he became a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD in the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament. Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that. As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organisation. In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel. 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.

How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one? Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Joel Muddamalle. He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India. His grandparents were arguably the he strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the joy when you did. "There", he says, "there was a passion for the ministry." Later his parent moved to America, where he became a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD on the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament. Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that. As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization women's ministry. In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel. 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.

With 18 Grammy Awards and decades of ministry behind her, CeCe Winans remains a living example of a life surrendered to God through the gifts He gives us. Winans grew up as one of ten children in Detroit, straight into a household saturated with gospel music. Her parents raised their family in the Pentecostal tradition, and church was the foundation of everything, including the music that would define her life. Winans first found fame singing alongside her brother BeBe as the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans before launching a solo career that would make her best-selling and one of the most-awarded female gospel artists in history. Her 1998 album Everlasting Love showcased her talents and songs like Alabaster Box and Goodness of God have become worship staples in churches worldwide. In the course of her career she has sold 27 million records worldwide, is an inaugural inductee in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville. The now 61-year-old says she considers her music to be her ministry though she has spoken openly about stepping back from it at points to focus on things such as co-founding a church alongside her husband, Alvin. Today, CeCe and Alvin co-pastor Nashville Life Church, where their son serves as lead pastor. In this episode of The Profile she talks to deputy editor of Premier Christianity magazine Emma Fowle about musical life as ministry, her hopes for the next generation and prioritising her marriage over her work. 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.

Long-time presenter of The Leadership Show Andy Peck has died aged 64 following a short battle with cancer. Andy spent over three decades encouraging and equipping Christian leaders through presenting Leadership special editions of this podcast, as well as wider broadcasting for Premier Christian Radio and writing for Premier Christianity magazine. In this special episode, we air a previous interview with Andy about his own faith journey, and hear tributes from his colleagues. 

Pete Hughes is the founding and senior pastor of King's Cross Church (KXC), an Anglican church he planted in central London in 2010. Back then, the zone 1 destination was a grimy, transitional area on the brink of massive transformation. The vision behind the plant, in Hughes's own words, was "to recklessly give themselves away to God, each other and the people of King's Cross and beyond." Without a permanent building, KXC began by renting space for Sunday gatherings while meeting midweek in homes and pubs around the area. But it paid off. Over more than a decade, Hughes grew the church from that small core group into a larger community, with a strong emphasis on worship, prayer and mission in what he has described as one of the most secularised parts of the West. Now he's got a vision for something else. It's what he calls the 'heavy rain' of revival. A reference to Elijah in 1 Kings 18, and he is looking expectantly for the first signs of spiritual awakening, even when the immediate evidence seems small. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity's editor Sam Hailes about the growth of KXC, what it feels like to have the keys to his neighbour's church and his thoughts on Gen Z's search for God. 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.

Luke Smith the national leader of the Fusion Movement, a Christian student mission, has spent his life calling students to follow Jesus. His own journey began at university in the 1990s. Since then Luke has walked alongside students through the transformative journey from "nervous fresher to confident graduate" - convinced that the university years are formative for the whole of a person's life. At the heart of his ministry is a deep conviction: that the local church, not a parachurch movement alone, is best placed to reach students with The Gospel, disciple them well, and send them out as missionaries to their own generation. Now serving as National Team Leader for England and Wales, Luke leads Fusion Movement's work of equipping local churches to reach students across the country. He's convinced that students carry extraordinary potential for the Kingdom, and believes it's the biggest missionary opportunity that the UK has had since Billy Graham came in the 1950s. In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes about how 'being an idiot for Jesus' helped him overcome issues with the Church, what drew him to student mission and what comes after surviving cancer. 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.

Ashley Banjo, is best known as the dance troupe leader of the hugely successful group Diversity who first captured the nation's hearts on the talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2009. They famously beat off favourite Susan Boyle for the crown and all when he was just 21. Banjo was raised in Essex, the son of a former heavyweight boxer and a dance teacher and began dancing at age five. It was a passion that was nurtured by his parents. He was raised with some exposure to Christianity and he has spoken candidly about drifting from it before rediscovering a deep, personal faith during the isolation and uncertainty of the Covid pandemic. That season of reflection led him back to The Church and to a renewed relationship with God, one he has since described as central to how he navigates fame, family, and purpose. His faith took on public dimension in 2026 when he joined BBC Two's Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, walking alongside people of differing beliefs, including an atheist, a Muslim, and a non-practising Jew, along ancient routes tied to Celtic Christian saints, through Whitby Abbey, Durham Cathedral, and finally Lindisfarne. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Inspirational Breakfast's Esther Higham about his walk with God and the things he learned on the pilgrimage. 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 executive director of Wycliffe Bible Translators which featured in the Sunday Times best places to work survey last year. Why was this charity able to achieve such good results? They explore why they believe they are able to get so much right and how this might translate into your working environment. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Jay Painter and Lewis are digital creators who have captured global online attention by documenting a unique, real-time journey through faith. It's a compelling premise: Jay, is a Christian and felt a strong conviction to invite his best friend, Lewis very much an atheist, to attend an Alpha course. What began as a personal invitation transformed into a social media docuseries where they can now been seen on TikTok and Instagram documenting the entire multi-week process. Each episode captures Lewis’s raw, unfiltered reactions to core Christian theology, moving from initial scepticism to deep, heartfelt reflections on life, meaning, and the supernatural. The pair avoid aggressive debates and manage to resonate with millions due to the genuine respect, vulnerability, and deep-seated friendship. In this episode of The Profile they talk to Deputy Editor of Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle about pushing their friendship through big questions, Jay's own testimony and journey to Christ and the personal journey the Alpha course has taken Lewis on. 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 co-founder of Eastgate Church, Gravesend about setting a biblically based cultural shift in a church in the UK and the Netherlands where he helps lead a team part-time. They talk about the importance of demolishing the strongholds that can grip the thinking of a congregation and how to set a new course that enables communities to flourish under God. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

British journalist Lauren Windle has had quite a faith journey. After years of cocaine and alcohol addiction, she got sober 12 years ago and went on to study neuroscience and addiction studies grounding her recovery in faith and academic rigor. Windle has built a career as a journalist for outlets including Vogue, Marie Claire, HuffPost, MailOnline and Woman Alive often writing about faith, dating, addiction and womanhood from a Christian perspective. She is the author of several books including: Notes on Love: Being Single and Dating in a Marriage Obsessed Church, Notes on Feminism: Being a Woman in a Church Led by Men and Drawing as Prayer. Each of which blend candid personal testimony with practical theology for younger Christians navigating modern life. In her latest iteration she has stepped into the role of Commissioning Editor for the leading Christian publishing house SPCK. In today's edition of The Profile she talks to Woman Alive editor Jemimah Wright about the business of books; what publishers are looking for in new pitches and talks about the roster of new authors on their books. 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 talks with the co-founder of A Rocha UK and now Head of Theology, A Rocha International. What led him to be concerned for the environment? Why found a charity? Has the UK church ‘got the message’ several decades later? How different is leading in the UK and Internationally? How might church leaders today get involved? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Laura Anderson, known to hundreds of thousands of followers as Less Waste Laura is one of Scotland's most passionate voices in the fight against plastic pollution. Raised in Newton Mearns, Scotland, with a lifelong love of the outdoors, her environmental awakening came on a New Year's Day walk when she discovered plastic waste strewn across a white sandy beach on the east coast of Scotland. Inspired by the BBC's Blue Planet II, she made a resolution to live more sustainably and began documenting that journey online. Anderson went on to study Geography and Environmental Science. She became a Christian at university, a time when she actively thought about what her faith meant to her. She has spoken about how she came to see The Bible as the foundation for her campaigning, recognising that Christians are called to be stewards of God's creation. She is a Tearfund ambassador, and has partnered with organisations ranging from local independent businesses to global brands. Among her most celebrated achievements is her campaign to ban single-use disposable vapes which resulted in a UK-wide ban that came into force last year. She was awarded Scottish Influencer of the Year 2024/25 in recognition of her work. In this edition of The Profile Laura talks to Deputy Editor of Premier Christianity magazine Emma Fowle about her desire for people to live less consumerist lives, how climate awareness is directly tied up with her notion of being chosen by God and her current 'battle' with single-use plastic communion cups. 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 chief executive of Spear about her work helping young people back into employment. They look at the challenging stats suggesting one million aged 16-24 are not in training, education or employment in the UK. They look at Spear’s highly successful programme that coaches young people in Centres dotted around the country. What do they do and what is the secret to their success? How can coaching serve leaders as a tool to encourage and empower others? Young people find out more at https://www.spear.org.uk/spear-programme/ Check out the Speak conference for church leaders https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-spear-conference-tickets-1984055848452The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

In this week's edition of the Profile we celebrate Professor John Lennox, one of the most compelling voices at the intersection of Christian faith and modern science. Born in Northern Ireland in 1943, he was raised in a family of deep faith and went on to earn doctorates from both Cambridge and Oxford universities, specialising in mathematics and the philosophy of science. He served for many years as Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, where he remains Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College. Lennox is a gifted mathematician, philosopher, and apologist who has authored more than a dozen books exploring the relationship between science, reason, and Christian belief. Works such as God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?, Gunning for God, and 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity have found audiences far beyond the academy. He is perhaps best known internationally for his public debates with prominent atheists including Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, in which he made the case with wit and warmth that science and Scripture are not enemies but allies. As President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, he has lectured in universities and churches across more than sixty countries. During the Cold War he made repeated visits numerous communist countries behind the Iron Curtain sharing Bibles and his faith meeting believers living under atheist regimes, details of whch are included in his 2026 autobiography, My Story. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about his extraordinary life sharing The Gospel with people of wildly different backgrounds and the privilege it has been. 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 Learning and Partnership Development lead for the Gregory Centre for Church multiplication about her call to serve in the church, as a mum and as one keen to see the church engage in culture. Do we still have a sacred-secular divide and how easy is it combining running a home of small children with work in a charity? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

The theologian Andrew Ollerton is probably best known for presenting Christian theology in an accessible and engaging way and his work as a pastor and author centres on making the Bible accessible to modern audiences without sacrificing intellectual rigour. He grew up in a Christian home where The Bible was 'part of the furniture' but when he hit his teens, he pushed back, sometimes, like Peter, publicly, despite having a father who worked at the nearby church. But from around eighteen he began to show a renewed interest in Christ's teaching, going on to study Geography then moving onto Theology, and completing a PhD in Historical Theology. Despite his academic credentials, Ollerton has intentionally focused on communicating theology in clear and practical ways for churches and the general public and his most significant contribution to this is “The Bible Course” an eight-session guide to the whole story of Scripture, developed in partnership with Bible Society. Ollerton has also written several books aimed at making The Bible understandable to modern audiences, including The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life, Romans: A Letter That Makes Sense of Life, and God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s 7 Toughest Topics. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes about making Scripture as clear as you can and how companionship is transformational when it comes to understanding it. 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 one of the editors of The Oxford Handbook of Digital Theology about how we lead differently when we are conscious of the changes in technology that are transforming our world. What does this mean for our discipleship? Is AI an enemy to be aware of or a tool to embrace? How might we engage with The Global Network for Digital Theology conference coming up soon? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Rich Johnson wears two hats quite comfortably. On the one hand he's an archetypal parish vicar working out of a parish in Worcestershire, and, on the other, he is the leader of New Wine England a non-denominational charity supporting Christian leaders in their everyday work. Johnson grew up in Manchester and moved abroad with his family where he was educated in Belgium and Hamburg. He went on to study Geography at Cambridge and through a college chaplain was introduced to Jesus. He describes his conversion as 'intellectual' with the Holy Spirit coming in later and he realised quite quickly that he wanted to become a vicar. He now ministers at the 'dreamy church' of All Saints in Worcester which he took over in 2009, a place for and by families. Stewardship of New Wine came later. The organisation has made a name for itself primarily through its summer festival in Bath - a hit for those who like loud worship and family focussed seminars. "What is new wine?" he answers, "it's about renewal." In his latest book Holy, Healthy Humble he invites the reader to a smaller more authentic vision of Christian leadership in a world saturated with look-at-me celebrity and explores the idea of what the Lord is doing in the Church right now. In this edition of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about his happy but non-Christian upbringing, how everyone needs therapy and how to keep new wine 'new.' 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 ‘The Glorious Risk: Freeing the Church from managerialism and the martyr complex’. The lecturer in practical theology at London School of Theology explores why having friends in the local church, may not be just vital for a church leader but a key way of leading. How has she come to this view, and what happens when the pathway is painful? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one? Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle. He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India and says his grandparents were arguably the strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the level of joy when you did: "there was a passion for the ministry." Later his parent moved to America, with him becoming a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD in the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament. Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that. As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization women's ministry. In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel. 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.

Husband and wife Makoto and Haejiin Fujimura are a couple who have blended their two passions and found a deep connection between them. Makoto is a Christian artist born in the US to Japanese parents. His scientist father instilled in him a deep appreciation for beauty and creativity from childhood and after spending his formative years in Japan, he later began to pursue traditional Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. Fujimura encountered Christ in his late twenties. The poems of William Blake became instrumental in his conversion, helping him reconcile his newfound Christian faith with his artistic expression. Today, Fujimura is recognised as one of the most significant contemporary Christian artists, creating stunning abstract works while advocating for the role of beauty and art in culture, faith, and renewal. Haejin Shim Fujimura is a Lawyer and Justice Advocate who was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States during her teenage years. She pursued a career in law, bringing her Christian faith into her professional calling. Today, she is a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience and the founder and managing partner of Shim & Associates, P.C., a firm founded on the vision of cultural renewal within the legal industry. Her Christian conviction animates her work as a human trafficking advocate. She is the co-founder and CEO of Embers International, a global NGO dedicated to protecting, restoring, and empowering victims of injustice. She also serves as the NYC Area Leader of International Justice Mission, the world's largest anti-slavery organization. Together with her husband Makoto, their joint missional work is around the transformative movement of beauty and justice, exploring how Christian principles of justice and redemption apply across every sector of society which has resulted in their latest book: Beauty and Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage. In this edition of The Profile they talk to Deputy Editor of Premier Christianity magazine Emma Fowle about how their professions have informed their practice of restoration, justice and beauty, how it is not the job of the Christian to 'end' evil and the impact of being a 9/11 survivor. 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 talks with founder of the Satellites Youth Event, and deputy director of Youthscape about the extraordinary events surrounding the call to run a youth event following the closure of Soul Survivor in summer 2019. They discuss stories of how God gave both a green light and a red one, and what is unique and fresh about this Youth Event running for its fifth year in 2026. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

In this week's edition of the Profile we remember the late Lord Richard Harries, who was one of the most beloved and influential voices in British Christianity of his generation. Born on 2 June 1936, he served briefly as a British Army officer before answering the call to ordained ministry in the Church of England. He was consecrated Bishop of Oxford in 1987, a role he held until his retirement in 2006, when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Harries of Pentregarth. Harries was a gifted theologian, broadcaster, and writer and authored 26 books on Christian ethics, prayer, art, and faith in the public square. For more than fifty years he was a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, where he brought The Gospel into everyday life with warmth, clarity, and humility. He was a long-standing contributor to the Church Times and a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christians and Jews. Lord Harries died peacefully on 29 April 2026, aged 89, after a short illness. 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 talks with a retired head teacher about what he’s learned from several decades leading Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School. What parts of his role has he warmed to, what Christian influence does he think he has been able to have and what are the transferable principles for leaders in other walks of life? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Best known for leading the multi-site National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, D.C., Pastor Mark Batterson has also authored nearly 30 books, most notably The Circle Maker, a guide to persistent prayer which has sold over a million copies. Batterson came to Christ at the age of five after watching a Billy Graham film and describes himself as a "congregational mutt" going Church to Church in his early years, not settling on a particular tradition. That sense of being something of an outsider must surely have led to his inventive approach to Church planting that would eventually follow. At the age of 24, having abandoned a Church plant in the Chicago area, he spotted an ad in a Christian magazine for a role at the Urban Bible Training Center and went on to found National Community Church, famously transforming a former crack house into the largest coffeehouse on Capitol Hill and converting an abandoned apartment building into a community centre. Today, NCC owns and operates Ebenezer's Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center, the Capital Turnaround, and Culture House, a portfolio that reflects his idea that Church belongs in the marketplace. In this interview with Premier's AJ Gomez he talks about his business successes and failures, taking the long-term approach and why he takes his shoes off when he writes. 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 talks with the founder of ‘28 Too Many’ about her work helping raise awareness of the downsides of FGM (female genital mutilation) in African nations and the diaspora and her progress since the work started in 2010. How have local churches responded to the campaign, which nations have seen a reduction in the practice and what would she say to younger leaders who have a similar passion to see change? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Philippa Hanna, the British Christian singer-songwriter, is best known for her heartfelt vocals that bridge worship and mainstream music and which have made her a familiar face at large-scale Christian festivals for the last two decades. Hanna was born in Sheffield in the mid-80s and grew up in musical family, influenced by her Irish father, who was a touring performer. As well as her own musical success, her brothers Stuart is the former bassist of the band Jamiroquai, and, as discovered in 2025, Peter Cunnah, the lead singer of 90s band D:Ream Hanna discovered song writing aged 10. After a turbulent teenage period she met a Christian musician who introduced her to church and the concept of Jesus and was later saved at a worship event. Understandably she is passionate about music and its spiritual effects and is protective and outspoken about how the traditional music industry 'objectifies' it for profit. Through her multiple albums such as: Through the Woods, Speed of Light, Come Back Fighting, and the worship-focused Stained Glass Stories her music has taken her beyond Christian festivals into wider audiences and she has performed alongside major artists such as Lionel Richie, Little Mix, Marti Pellow, Lulu, and Anastacia. In this episode of The Profile she talks to deputy editor of Premier Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle about the responsibility she feels as a mentor to young women, the surprise and joy of finding out she had a half brother and how she copes with unsolicited parenting advice. 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.

In a repeat of a classic episode Andy Peck chats with Kathryn Segal about how God led her to share her challenges with depression on social media, and how she saw so many helped by her revelations. As a pastor’s wife in Canterbury, they look at the value in a leader sharing their weakness. There must be limits to what and how you share? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

In a repeat of a classic episode Andy Peck chats with Kathryn Segal about how God led her to share her challenges with depression on social media, and how she saw so many helped by her revelations. As a pastor’s wife in Canterbury, they look at the value in a leader sharing their weakness. There must be limits to what and how you share? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Broadcaster Swarzy Macaly is known for her infectious energy and can be heard on both BBC Radio 1 and the BBC Radio 1XTRA's Weekend Breakfast Show. She's not shy about being real about her faith and tells the story of finding God after being caught shoplifting, and praying to be let go. Not long after that she found herself in church, gave her life to Jesus and hasn't looked back since. After winning a national competition with KISS FM to become a presenter for the weekend breakfast show she admits her 'yakking' helped secure her first job and now blends broadcasting with other interests. She is also an activist and has been vocal about the injustice facing victims in the wake of London's Grenfell Tower fire. Her latest venture is The Last Supper Club, a series that blends faith, food, and community: "Cooking never tires me" says the presenter, who hopes matching The Bible mixed with delicious food will be enough to entice people to hear more about what has changed her own life so much. In this episode of The Profile with Premier Christianity deputy editor Emma Fowle, Swarzy talks about her parent's reticence towards her conversion, being out and proud about her faith in the workplace and her thankfulness for God's grace. 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.

In a repeat of a classic episode, Andy Peck talks to the co-authors of Mid-Faith Crisis: Finding a path through doubt disillusionment and dead ends, about their own journeys and how we might help those we know whose faith is 'not working'. How can we listen well to their concerns . The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Dr Martin Shaw the storyteller and mythographer - someone who studies myths - was well exposed to the ancient tales from an early age. He grew up in a Baptist household in Devon in 1970s with a preacher for a father ad in a house with no television or phone but with access to lots and lots of books. It is no wonder then, that he became fixated with stories and particularly myths. However by his early adulthood he had grown tired of the way the stories of Jesus were told in church, always with a message and a point that made a "muscular sermon." He came to a point, where, in his own words, he "hit the enough button." A number of decades later, following a long stretch living in a tent, as well as writing and performing as a musician and oral storyteller, he found himself praying to God in nature and had a profound spiritual encounter. The experience brought him back to Christianity and he is now a practising Orthodox Christian. Shaw has written a number of books drawing on Celtic, Siberian, Greek myths as well as Christian traditions. His latest title: Liturgies of the Wild released earlier this year is already New York Times bestseller. In this episode of The Profile with Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes he talks about his early life story, how myths and stories provide a link to our ancestors and the incredible story of what brought him back to Christ. 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 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.