Podcast appearances and mentions of sam hailes

Rev Dr Sam Wells has been described as one of the most influential public theologians in the world today. He's also the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which is situated opposite Trafalgar Square in central London. The church is well known for hosting many musical and cultural events, but it is also bucking the trend of decline in the Church of England. For Sam, the Bible is "all about poverty", and that belief has influenced the church's pioneering work among the homeless in London. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Rev Dr Wells opens up about his early life, and his disappointment that while his Christian friends seemed to be enjoying a "personal relationship" with Jesus, this seemed missing from his own life. This, along with his interest in poverty and apologetics, sent him on a lifelong journey of going deeper with God. Sam is visiting professor of Christian Ethics at King's College and the author of over 40 books, including Humbler Faith, Bigger God (Canterbury Press), which explores the key tenets of Christian faith while also engaging with common objections. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. For a half price subscription offer visit premierchristianity.com/podcast

As part of mental health awareness week, Sam Hailes talks to Patrick Regan, founder of Christian mental health charity Kintsugi Hope on mediating between Jamaican gang leaders, facing criticism from fellow Christians, and why the Bible is full of wisdom on mental health. You can also read this interview on premierchristianity.com The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Visit premierchristianity.com/podcast for a HALF PRICE offer just for podcast listeners

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson believes she's proof that the world isn't as antagonistic towards Christians as many assume. In this in depth conversation with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, she explains her love for Calvinism, why she's written a commentary (of sorts) on the book of Genesis and reveals how her theology has changed over time.

In a special interview, Matt and Beth Redman open up on the abuse they suffered under Mike Pilavachi at Soul Survivor and urge the wider Church to learn lessons for the future. Matt and Beth were speaking following the release of the Let There Be Light documentary. More details can be found here: https://www.lettherebelight.life/ Soul Survivors is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine. For a special half price offer, head to premierchristianity.com/podcast. This series is produced by Megan Cornwell and Kelly Valencia. Sound design by Bradley Howard. Additional research by Anna Clarke. Executive producers are Charmaine Noble-McLean, Sam Hailes and Marcus Jones. The theme song is Toxic by Chris Llewellyn, featuring Propaganda.

"Low grade, slow grade, slow cooked church changes you in ways you can't imagine." That's according to experienced church planter, author and cultural commentator Stephen McAlpine. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Stephen argues that regular, habitual church attendance is vital. "If you say, 'we'll go to this service, but next week we won't go, and the week after that we have a sporting event...' don't be surprised that your teenagers don't end up Christian." Born in Belfast, Stephen has experience ministering across many nations including Northern Ireland, England and Australia, where he is now based. He's the author of Being the bad guys: How to live for Jesus in a world that says you shouldn't and most recently Futureproof: How to live for Jesus in a culture that keeps on changing (The Good Book Company). Much of Stephen's work is designed to help Christians in the West share the good news with a world that is increasingly antagonistic towards faith. The appropriate response to Christians being perceived as the 'bad guys', is not for us to become angry or dismayed, argues Stephen. "Let's own our stuff. We have divergent views from the mainstream culture about what human flourishing is about, and what sex and gender are about." It may be uncomfortable, but we're called to stand firm. After all the Gospel is "suffer now, glory later", he says. "You can't get away from that," he adds. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Enter 'PODCAST' at checkout for a half price offer premierchristianity.com/subscribe

We look into the formation of Soul Survivor and the ministry of Mike Pilavachi prior to that. Soul Survivors is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine. For a special half price offer, head to premierchristianity.com/podcast. This series is produced by Megan Cornwell and Kelly Valencia. Sound design by Bradley Howard. Additional research by Anna Clarke. Executive producers are Charmaine Noble-McLean, Sam Hailes and Marcus Jones. The theme song is Toxic by Chris Llewellyn, featuring Propaganda. Additional material in this episode from Link FM, Facing the Canon Youtube, Soul Survivor Youtube, Catch the Fire Toronto Youtube, Vineyard Church Mombassa Youtube, New Wine Youtube, David Armstrong STV Productions, Awesome City TV Youtube, Ecat Wright Youtube. Refelection provided by Rev Jonathan Edwards, former general secretary of the Baptist Union.

We look into the allegations made in the Church of England's report into safeguarding relating to "the physical wrestling of youths and massaging of young male interns" by Mike Pilavachi. Soul Survivors is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine. For a special half price offer, head to premierchristianity.com/podcast. This series is produced by Megan Cornwell and Kelly Valencia. Audio editing by Bradley Howard. Additional research by Anna Clarke. Executive producers are Charmaine Noble-McLean, Sam Hailes and Marcus Jones. The theme song is Toxic by Chris Llewellyn, featuring Propaganda. Additional material in this episode from Link FM, Jonathan Cook, Church Unlimited and Harvest Christian Church. Refelection provided by Rev Dr Kate Middleton - psychologist, church leader and one of the directors of the Mind & Soul Foundation.

We hear the stories of those who joined Soul Survivor's gap year programme Soul 61. Each individual shares their first hand experience of the inner workings of the church. Soul Survivors is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine. For a special half price offer, head to premierchristianity.com/podcast. This series is produced by Megan Cornwell and Kelly Valencia. Audio editing by Bradley Howard. Additional research by Anna Clarke. Executive producers are Charmaine Noble-McLean, Sam Hailes and Marcus Jones. The theme song is Toxic by Chris Llewellyn, featuring Propaganda. Additional material in this episode from Soul Survivor Youtube.

How did an atheist professor who wrote articles against evangelical Christians become one? In this week's episode Sam Hailes sits down with Rosaria Butterfield who describes her journey from being a liberal sceptic to becoming a Christian. Rather than a clean or easy process, she describes her conversion as "messy and dangerous." A significant part of Rosaria's journey involves her sexuality. From a young age, she found herself more drawn to women than men. However, it wasn't until the age of 28 that she came out as a lesbian to her friends. Her journey towards Christianity began when she decided to explore the religious right's views and beliefs regarding homosexuality. She wrote an article criticising them for infringing upon the rights of consenting adults. This article gained much attention and resulted in a letter from a pastor named Ken Smith who invited her to his home for a discussion. She accepted the invitation, seeing it as an opportunity to better understand evangelical Christianity for her research. Little did she know that this interaction would play a crucial role in her conversion, as she suddenly found herself absorbed in Bible study for hours each day. Rosaria is now an author and speaker whose books include The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, The Gospel Comes with a House Key and most recently Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe to receive full access in 2024 for just £24.

Who is Mike Pilavachi and how did he become one of the most influential figures within the UK Church? Soul Survivors is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine. For a special half price offer, head to premierchristianity.com/subscribe. This series is produced by Megan Cornwell and Kelly Valencia. Audio editing by Bradley Howard. Additional research by Anna Clarke. Executive producers are Charmaine Noble-McLean, Sam Hailes and Marcus Jones. The theme song is Toxic by Chris Llewellyn, featuring Propaganda. Additional material in this episode from Soul Survivor Youtube, Facing the Canon podcast, E Cartwright Youtube, God TV and Buffess Youtube.

Joshua Youssef has dedicated his life to serving the persecuted Church around the world. In this in-depth interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Joshua shares stories of Muslims in the Middle East who have found faith through dreams and visions. Joshua grew up in a strong Christian family (his father, Dr Michael Yousef, is the founder of Leading the Way and a previous guest on this show). But Joshua tried to "run away" from God as a student, before his friends brush with near-death brought him back to faith. The CEO and President of Help the Persecuted explains how the ministry is able to track and verify genuine conversions to Christianity, gives his view on whether Christians in the West are persecuted, and shares honestly his struggle with "the idol of comfort and safety" which he says is a prevalent temptation for Christians in the West. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe to enjoy more interviews, features, columnists and reviews at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

2023...What a year it's been! We've heard from Boyzone's Shane Lynch, Bridgerton's Adjoa Andoh, Newfrontiers founder Terry Virgo and many more on The Profile podcast. But who would you like us to interview in 2024? In this brief message, our presenter and producer Sam Hailes explains how you can get in touch and recommend future guests.

Fergus Butler-Gallie: Confessions of a young priest God calls into ordained ministry those who he cannot save any other way. That's what Fergus Butler-Gallie was once told. It was a tongue-in-cheek remark, nevertheless, Fergus thinks there's something in it. The 31 year-old was ordained in his mid 20s and has since enjoyed a front row seat to the peculiarities and eccentricities which make up the fabric of ordained ministry. His latest book, Touching Cloth, is a treasure trove of entertaining anecdotes and in this candid interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Fergus retells some of the stand out moments, including the time he and a group of flower arrangers were stuck in the vestibule trying to disable an exceptionally loud rape alarm. He also opens up about the difficulties he's faced within the institution of the CofE and gives his view on what the future of the Church might look like. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Subscribe now to get our Christmas special, plus the next two print issues for just £5.99. Visit premierchristianity.com/subscribe

The CEO of the Christian charity, CARE, speaks to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes about his life and faith. Ross Hendry was born in Wales, has worked for a trade union and held senior positions at a number of Christian charities. Opening up about the time he stood to be a Labour MP, Ross recalls the hostility he encountered from his opponents who portrayed his evangelical faith as something to be feared. "There was the suggestion I was running a homophobic campaign as an evangelical Christian. There was no evidence of that...for example there was a suggestion that because I had a picture of my wife and I on our campaign literature I was somehow flaunting my heterosexuality." Despite these, and other challenges, Ross continues to be a passionate advocate for Christians being involved in all areas of politics. Today, CARE campaigns on a variety of issues, from euthanasia to artificial intelligence and has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. In this interview the pair discuss various Christian attitudes to politics and Ross comments on how people of faith can ensure their voices are heard. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

Edward Stourton has been the main presenter of the BBC's Sunday programme for over a decade, and has worked in broadcasting for more than forty years, during which time he has been a foreign correspondent for the BBC, ITN, and Channel 4. In this in-depth interview with Premier Christianity's editor Sam Hailes, Edward recounts the highs and lows of his career, tells us about his Catholic upbringing and continued faith, and introduces his latest book, Sunday, which chronicles half a century of religious affairs and ethical issues. Sunday by Edward Stourton is available now The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine, the UK's leading Christian magazine.

The former director of Youth for Christ, now founder of Gospel Entrepreneurs sits down with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes to talk about his life and ministry. In this in-depth interview, Roy Crowne shares his testimony and reminisces about a unique outreach program at the popular theme park Alton Towers. The pair also discuss the state of youth ministry today, whether internal church debates on sexuality have the potential to hamper our evangelism, and why the Church is at its best when every Christian discovers and operates in their own distinct God-given gifts. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Join the community and become a subscriber at premierchristianity.com/subscribe For more on Gospel Entrepreneurs visit gospelentrepreneurs.org/ Roy Crowne's biography Here's Hope is available from hopetogether.org.uk/shop

It's a bold move, and one the lead singer of Rend Collective knows will be controversial in some circles. Nevertheless, the songwriter of some of the Church's most well known worship songs, including 'Build Your Kingdom Here' and 'My Lighthouse' is releasing a record which touches on themes of doubt, mystery and even abuse in the church. In this in depth interview Chris Llewellyn explains he's not leaving the much-loved joy-centred collective, but wanted to explore other themes which are rarely touched on within Christian music. The result is Honest, an 11 track record which sees Llewellyn experiment with new musical styles and deliver challenging and thought provoking lyrics. Hear sneak peaks from the record as Chris opens up about his experiences of depression, suffering and celebrity culture in this conversation with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes.

Dear AllYou can watch the YouTube version of this podcast here.Thank you for listening to Into the Pray — our little offering of sanity amidst the ramping chaos of the Church and the anti-Christ world. You can support this work here.Title music can be listened to here. Based in the United Kingdom, “Premier Christianity” are the largest “Christian” media organisation in Europe, influencing hundreds of thousands of people.This week I happened to see a job advert on their website entitled, “Pastoral minister, part-time, LGBT inclusive church”. So I wrote to Premier to enquire as to what was going on.The email that I received back from their Editorial Director, Sam Hailes, was absolutely sickening.**Timestamps**0:00 Intro0:23 Highlights2:37 The email40:50 Hosea study1:04:08 Jackie Hill Perry example1:11:19 closing prayerYou may disagree that I should have taken this course of public action, but it is the Lord Jesus Who is my witness; He will have a Bride prepared but it will be through travail.“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”(Ephesians 5:11)The largest “Christian” media organisation in Europe is joined to the spirit of whoredom. Therefore the book of Hosea is a pivotally important book for the reforming Church in the years ahead. “Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.” (Hosea 4:17)My books are available here with info about the latest, The Glorious Few, here. Order our new gospel tract for your parish here. You can watch my "whistle-stop" response to the horrible situation with Hillsong here.Our flagship content:

The bestselling author of The Bondage Breaker and the founder of Freedom in Christ ministries sits down with Sam Hailes to reflect on his lifetime of ministry. The pair cover a range of topics including how Dr Anderson came to faith, why unforgiveness is the greatest danger to the Church and how the leader overcame both spiritual opposition and heavy criticism from his fellow Christians. Dr Anderson's latest and final book, Thriving Through the End Times is out next month. Find out more at freedominchrist.org You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. Premier Christianity is here to help you think through the biggest issues of the day and keep you informed on issues that matter. Subscribe now and take advantage of our special offers

Speaking to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes, the founder of Iran Alive Ministries, Dr Hormoz Shariat, shares his testimony of coming to faith from a Muslim background, and explains why he is confident - both by faith and by sight - that his home nation of Iran will turn to Christ. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Receive the next 3 print issues for just £5 premierchristianity.com/subscribe

The opinionated, and often divisive, journalist Peter Hitchens talks to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes about how he talked himself out of faith…and then back into it. The pair also discuss how Hitchens once tried to burn a Bible, the place of doubt within faith and his views on marriage and the Church of England. As for pessimism, Hitchens has embraced it. "I love being a pessimist and I think I'm quite good at it...Pessimism is the key to happiness. You're never disappointed. I really don't see why everybody doesn't adopt it."

"Your band could be massive without God." That's what John Cooper was once told. But the Skillet frontman unashamedly ignored that advice and has doubled down on sharing his views on God and theology (he once declared a 'war' on deconstruction). He talks to Sam Hailes about what it's like to be in a Christian band that's loved and adored by a largely non-Christian audience. In part two, Premier Christianity's assistant editor Emma Fowle meets the Bridgerton actor and activist Adjoa Andoh. The pair discuss Adjoa's journey to faith, and her view that the Church should be "the place where you can be a hot mess; you don't have to be fine. It's you and God." The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe now for HALF PRICE and receive our special Windrush 75 edition premierchristianity.com.com/subscribe

When the Christian author and speaker John Bevere had a dramatic experience of the awesomeness of God it changed his life and ministry forever. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, John explains what took place one night in Brazil and why every believer needs to grapple with a healthy fear of the Lord. John's latest book The Awe of God is available now. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Subscribe for HALF PRICE now at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

The Eton-educated authorised biographer of Margaret Thatcher, whose full title is Baron Moore of Etchingham, knows his way around the British establishment. National newspaper editors like Charles Moore are widely regarded as wielding immense power. But Moore says he wasn't conscious of that during his tenures at The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Lord Moore comments on the religious nature of the upcoming coronation, reveals how he broke the story about the Archbishop of Canterbury's real father and shares his own journey from Anglican to Catholic.    You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. premierchristianity.com/subscribe

It was the sermon that brought down a government. Last autumn, Rev Les Isaac gave an address at the annual Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast which resulted in a string of resignations, ultimately resulting in Boris Johnson standing down as Prime Minister. In this episode of The Profile, Sam Hailes meets the Rev Les Isaac who not only gave that sermon but has also founded one of the UK Church's most successful outreach projects. Street Pastors is a simple idea - teams of Christians from all denominations patrolling city streets late at night in order to take care of vulnerable people and be a practical display of Christ's love within the night-time economy. The pair also discuss why Les gets "bored" inside church and how preachers can better connect with their congregations.    You can also read this interview in the latest issue of Premier Christianity. Subscribe here

For this very special Easter episode, we're looking at The Chosen. Giles is joined by writer and RS Teacher, Natalie Minaker and the lovely literary editor, Claire Gough. We spoke to Sam Hailes, editor of Premier Christianity who got to interview the cast and creators of the show over in Texas. We talk about the significance of the name Lilith, Jesus before his ministry began and why we should seriously rename 'Doubting Thomas'.    Finding the Faith in the Film begins at 21:37   To read Sam Hailes' coverage on season three of The Chosen, check it out here: https://www.premierchristianity.com/features/the-chosen-exclusive-behind-the-scenes-of-the-tv-show-aiming-to-reach-one-billion-for-christ/14069.article

After being bullied as a child, Oli London struggled with low self-esteem and self-worth. He had hoped a series of transitions and expensive plastic surgery would him feel better. Instead, he became addicted to surgery, spending $300,000 on botox and skin-whitening injections in order to look more Korean - a culture he had become "obsessed" with. The controversial decision to appear more Korean resulted in critical articles and hateful messages on social media. But in the end it was the kindness of a priest that drew him to the Christian faith and turned his life around. Sam Hailes hears the full story   You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe now at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

The first black woman to be ordained as a vicar in the Church of England speaks to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes about her life and faith. Earlier this month, Canon Eve, 72, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride of Birmingham Awards, in recognition of her anti-racism work and service to the wider community. It was the culmination of a calling which began at a very early age - when God called her to ministry as a young child. "I found myself alone in a room and heard a voice calling me...My grandmother said don't tell anyone, God will reveal his promise when it's the right time for you," she remembers. Canon Eve also recounts going to church from a very early age - regardless of whether her parents accompanied her, and explains why she refuses to "romanticise" the Windrush Generation. She wants to be defined as a "priest who happens to be a woman and happens to be black", adding "I am a vibrant, gorgeous human bring who sets her sights high and is grateful for this gift of priesthood."   The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe now and receive 3 issues for £5 at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

The man behind of the world's most popular worship songs including '10,000 Reasons' and 'Blessed Be Your Name' releases his 14th album this weekend. In this special in-depth interview with Matt Redman, the songwriter explains what listeners can expect from Lamb of God and unpacks why he's so passionate about singing more songs regarding the holiness of God. "I love it when we don't even get a mention at all in the lyrics", comments Redman. Speaking to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Redman also defines what success looks like for him and addresses common criticisms of the modern worship movement. For Redman, reverence in worship is everything. "It's a bit of a lifelong pursuit, honestly," he says, "trying to bring a little more reverence into these expressions of songs, because I think that's what's been lacking."   You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. See here. Lamb of God is available on all major streaming platforms. See here

The poet, author and comic John Roedel knows what it is to suffer. From the collapse of his family business, to his son's autism diagnosis, Roedell wrestled with the big questions of life. Witnessing the inner workings of a local Catholic church didn't help, instead it led him toward atheism. For years he suffered serious depression. The turning point came when Roedel discovered God was far more personal than he'd been led to believe. "My relationship with God had always been very formal", he remembers. But something was changing. By imagining a two way conversation with God - and posting the results on Facebook - John's perception of the divine was changing for the better. "This was different. This was a relational moment I hadn't experienced before." Ultimately those short posts went viral and led to a new career for this writer/poet. Sam Hailes hears the full story.     The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe from $1/month at premierchristianity.com

Francis Chan left his thriving US megachurch, turned his back on the fame that ministry had brought him and moved his family to a developing country. He tells Sam Hailes the full story.  This interview was first broadcast and published in 2019.  You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe now from $1/month

Jack Graham never set out to build a megachurch – he doesn't even like the term. Nevertheless, under his watch, Prestonwood Baptist Church has grown to a membership of 45,000 – becoming one of the biggest congregations in America – since Graham became senior pastor more than three decades ago. Sam Hailes travelled to Texas to meet Dr Graham and find out why he backed Trump, how early trauma has influenced his ministry and how he guards himself from temptation.   The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Receive the next 3 print issues for just £5 now. Hurry - limited offer! premierchristianity.com/subscribe

As the year draws to a close, our presenter and producer Sam Hailes says thank you for joining us in 2022, and asks - who would you like to hear being interviewed next year? Send your requests to sam.hailes@premier.org.uk Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year, with lots of love from all the team at The Profile podcast and Premier Christianity magazine PS there's still time to bag a HALF PRICE subscription to the UK's leading Christian magazine - premierchristianity.com/subscribe (offer expires at the end of December)

Autumn Miles was trapped in an abusive relationship, until a powerful encounter with God during the depth of her despair set her on a path to freedom. She tells Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes the full story.    You can also read this story on premierchristianity.com

Calvin Robinson has attracted a huge following online in recent months, and is known for espousing strongly held opinions on contentious subjects such as the Covid vaccine. He's said that to be labelled a "conspiracy theory" is a "badge of honour", yet he doesn't want to be known as "controversial", arguing instead that he's voicing views which are shared by millions of others. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Calvin explains how the Church of England "blocked" his ordination at the last minute, and argues there's "no place" for conservatives in the CofE. Now ordained in the Free Church of England, Calvin is continuing his media work, presenting a new show on GB News entitled 'Common Sense Crusade', where he speaks on a range of topics, including sexuality and transgender. The Church needs to get back to tradition and scripture, he says. "That's what people want, and that's why the Church has survived for 2,000 years."   The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Subscribe from $1 at premierchristianity.com/subscribe 

Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years inside an Alabamian prison waiting to be executed. Hinton doesn't use the word “hell” lightly; nevertheless, that's what decades of solitary confinement was like, he says. So how did he cope? “Faith keeps you from getting caught up in everyday trauma, because your life is so consumed with trying to live like Jesus. And it was no different for me on the row. I had a job to do, and that was for those men to see Christ in me." Remarkably, Hinton believes God had a plan all along, and he was sent to death row on a special mission. He has also been able to forgive those who were responsible for this grave injustice. In this in-depth interview, Hinton shares his story with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, and explains why he believes US Christians must campaign against the death penalty.    The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Subscribe now from just $1 at premierchristianity.com

Joseph D'souza is a civil rights advocate and Anglican bishop whose work in India has drawn the praise of many civil and religious leaders. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, the primate of the Good Shepherd Church of India talks about his calling to advocate on behalf of poor and marginalised groups, and stand against the caste system, which he says is pervasive not just in India, but around the world. Neither Christians nor other religious groups have a good track record in this area, he argues. Bishop Joseph also speaks about the reality of persecution which is faced by many Christians in India (see Premier Christianity's special report on the subject here), why the sacramental tradition of Anglicanism is so appealing, and his own story of coming to Christ.  The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Subscribe now from just $1 at premierchristianity.com

Anthony Evans is a worship leader, artist and vocal producer, well known for putting his own unique spin on some of the world's biggest worship songs. In this in depth interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Anthony talks about the moment he discovered he could sing, his subsequent tour with Kirk Franklin and why the Christian music industry has been slow to bring diverse voices and sounds together. The producer, who appeared on the US series The Voice and worked with Christina Aguilera explains why moving from America's Bible Belt to Los Angeles was such a good decision, and also opens up about his emotional health. Anthony recently waived his right to anonymity in order to write a book on mental health with his therapist.   Anthony's latest book When Faith meets Therapy is out now The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Subscribe today and receive the next 6 print issues for just £9.99. (Are you living outside the UK? Purchase a digital subscription from just $1/month)

Jay Lowder was seconds away from ending his life when an unexpected interruption, followed by a dramatic revelation of Jesus' love for him, changed everything. He tells Sam Hailes the full story.    The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity. Subscribe from $1/month at premierchristianity.com

How did a former stand-up comedian, referee and Argos manager become the vicar of St Matthew's the Apostle, Burnley? In this in-depth interview Fr Alex Frost speaks to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes about his call to ordained ministry, the challenges of working in an area where poverty and addiction are commonplace, why he struggles to read his own book and his passion for inclusion within the Church of England. Fr Alex featured in a BBC documentary entitled 'The cost of Covid' which shone a spotlight on deprivation in the town. But today, Fr Alex says "no one cares" and is angry that despite widespread media coverage of the serious challenges facing Burnley, many politicians continue to appear disinterested. What's the answer to the problems he's witnessing? "You'd perhaps not be surprised to hear a Christian minister say this, but...the Gospel of Jesus Christ" he says.  Fr Alex Frost is the author of Our Daily Bread (Harper Collins) which is published on 27 October.  The Profile is sponsored by Premier Christianity magazine. Receive our special Queen tribute edition, plus the next 5 print issues for just £9.99. Visit premierchristianity.com/subscribe

"Christianity isn't about rules, it's about a relationship." It's a common phrase said by many Christians, but it isn't true. That's according to Bible teacher Jen Wilkin. In this in depth interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, which was recorded on location at The Village Church (Dallas, Texas) Jen reveals the deeply personal reason behind her passion for Bible literacy among women. She also explains why she's never had a typical "quiet time", comments on the best way church leaders can handle the 'deconstruction' movement and unpacks some of the teaching contained in her popular books.  The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity magazine. Get the next 3 issues for just £5 premierchristianity.com/subscribe For more on Jen Wilkin, visit jenwilkin.net

In her student days, Cole Arthur Riley was an atheist eagerly searching for peace, in what she now smilingly describes as a "grand search for ultimate truth". Reflecting back, she thinks that journey turned out to be a mask to placate her own discomfort with mystery. In this in-depth interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, the author of the critically acclaimed book This Here Flesh and founder of Black Liturgies unpacks how she ultimately found faith.  The Profile is sponsored by Premier Christianity magazine. Receive the next 3 print issues for just £5. Visit premierchristianity.com/subscribe

The British entrepreneur and founder of Vitae London is our guest on The Profile podcast this week. William Adoasi sits down with Sam Hailes to explain how profits from the sale of every watch funds a school uniform for a child in sub-Saharan Africa. Given that he has been mentored by Richard Branson, the company has generated £1.1m of revenue and celebrities such as Paloma Faith and Emeli Sandé have been spotted wearing Vitae timepieces, you'd think it would be mission accomplished for William. “It has been an amazing journey,” he agrees, “but I would say we're just getting started.” You can also read this interview in the latest issue of Premier Christianity. Receive the next 3 print issues for just £5. Visit premierchristianity.com/subscribe  

Natasha Hemmings has spent her career smashing stereotypes. Can you be a Christian and a Miss England star? Can you be a classically trained vocalist who makes pop music? The answer, it seems, is 'of course!'. Speaking to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Natasha shares her testimony, which includes her never-before-told story of encountering "a warm glow" in her bedroom, which she knew to be the presence of Jesus. Natasha also shares honestly about her struggle to find her place in church and introduces her new single 'Invisible'.   Natasha is currently touring with Ronan Keating. Her new single 'Invisible' is out now, ahead of her forthcoming album I AM. For more information visit natashahemmings.com   The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Subscribe now and receive Rob Parsons' new book free of charge http://premierchristianity.com/subscribe

Ordained Baptist minister Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana grew up in Nigeria in a polygamous family. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes he explains more about his 'tough' family background and the story of how he came to the UK to work as a reverse missionary. Israel also speaks about his role at the Evangelical Alliance, and why we need to keep talking about race within the UK Church.   The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy full online access plus the print magazine delivered to your door for just £4.95/month at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

Shermara Fletcher might be the Principal Officer for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multi-cultural Relations at Churches Together in England, but she's also learned to appreciate - and even embrace - other Christian traditions. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Shermara explains how Anglo-Catholic spirituality is nourishing her right now. She also opens up about her experience ministering alongside the homeless in Birmingham and London, and reflects on how her deeply Christian upbringing has shaped her life. Shermara, who has been invited to address politicians on the impact of Brexit on homeless women, says: "We don't worship politics, but the reality is policy governs and shapes our lives and the decisions we're able to make. The text talks about praying for leaders who are in charge, so I don't think we can detach from the political conversation. We should be pointing to morality and showing a different way, but not disengaging from the conversation altogether." The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK's leading Christian magazine. Enjoy full online access plus the print magazine delivered to your door for just £1/month at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

He might be best known for penning congregational hits such as ‘Amazing love' and ‘Shine, Jesus, shine' (the latter is now fondly referred to by millennials as a “primary school assembly banger”), but Graham Kendrick started out by writing story-based songs. This year marks 50 years since the release of Graham's first album Footsteps on the Sea. In order to celebrate, Graham has re-recorded the song that started it all, and put out a new EP entitled Where It All Began which sees him collaborate with singers Lucy Grimble and Lurine Cato MBE. The four-track EP is a tribute to that 1960s/70s era when the bearded guitarist was pioneering musical evangelism in coffee bars and folk clubs. In this in-depth interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Graham reflects on his life and career in music, comments on the highs and lows of the modern worship movement and explains why the Church needs to be singing the stories of scripture.  You can also read this interview on premierchristianity.com. Subscribe now for just £1   Join the listening party for Graham's new EP Where It All Began, airing on Premier Christian Radio at 2pm on Easter Monday. 

It's a double bill this week as Jemimah Wright interviews the legendary campaigner and humanitarian Baroness Cox, and Sam Hailes sits down with the head of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) to talk about the importance of whole life discipleship.    Read the interview with Baroness Cox in Premier Woman Alive magazine. For more on LICC's 40 cities tour, see http://licc.org.uk   The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity. Subscribe now for just £1 at premierchristianity.com/subscribe

38 per cent of pastors are considering quitting the ministry. A combination of Covid and significant cultural shifts is arguably making it harder than ever to be a church leader. Having researched this worrying trend, the US based theologian, worship leader and pastor Rev Dr Glenn Packiam is visiting the UK in order to share his findings. In this interview with Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes, Glenn shares his testimony, explains why he is simultaneously the leader of a non denominational evangelical church and ordained in the Anglican church, gives his view on how congregations can better support their pastors and also comments on how the Church can avoid further ministry scandals. Glenn's latest book The Resilient Pastor is out now.  The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity. Subscribe now and receive John Mark Comer's new book free premierchristianity.com

Glen Scrivener was invited to speak on Premier Radio's ‘The Profile' podcast with Sam Hailes.Support the show