PEP Talk

Here at Solas we love hearing about how Christians are living out their faith and sharing it creatively in all kinds of contexts. Today we hear from a policeman about the particular challenges and opportunities he finds in his line of work.  Graham Alder is a Police Sergeant and Christian Police Association Scotland Branch Leader & Trustee. He has over 18 years Police service in a variety...

Today we welcome back a previous guest on the podcast to discuss Gen Z, deconstruction and the role of apologetics in the church today. Mary Jo Sharp also introduces Darkroom , a new, free resource for young people and youth leaders to address the issues Gen Z cares about in terms they understand. Clare Williams also joins the podcast as our guest co-host for this episode. A former atheist who cam...

We have recently heard more stories of Christians "deconstructing" their faith before eventually leaving it. But today we speak with an academic and historian about how her atheism was "deconstructed" when she discovered its true implications for morality, value and equality.  She goes on to show how hospitality and relationship can be radical evangelistic tools in the context of our secular...

Andy Moore joins us this week to bring us insights from his unique background spanning full-time evangelism and corporate finance. Looking at the shifts happening in big business and the personal lives of his financial colleagues, how can we respond to the questions of purpose, moral responsibility and meaning that dominate these worlds? Andy Moore is a Director and Entrepreneur with experien...

Andy's just moved house and discovered a new neighbour sharing the gospel on his street! They meet up in a local cafe to discuss evangelism, spiritual MOTs, church planting and encouraging others to share their love of Christ. Eavesdrop on their conversation in this unique episode of PEP Talk. Carl Porter is married to Sarah and has two daughters. Carl became a Christian in 2014 and since then has...

Today on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with a chaplain working in a hospice setting. Here, mortality is a daily reality, as are experiences of suffering. What is it like to talk with folks and share the hope of Christ in such an environment? Although most of us aren't in that position, many of us will go through the process of dying with loved ones, and our guest Jackie helps us think through ho...

Pray. Care. Share. Such a simple approach, but one that J. John has been employing for over four decades of ministry. He shares with us about how he first became a Christian at college, and how he carries his passion and enthusiasm for the gospel with him today. Listen now for more memorable insights and encouragement for you to pray, care and share! J. John (Revd Canon) has been an evangelist for...

Get ready for some real inspiration from today's guest! After years of keeping his faith quiet, he's found incredible liberty and opportunity to share Jesus within his workplace - a modern and sprawling local council.  Many would say it's an environment pushing "inclusion and diversity" policies that sideline Christians, but Matt explains the incredible openings this gives for the real messag...

We often speak on PEP Talk about sharing our faith with "friends, colleagues and family".  Speaking of family, how do we share our faith with our children? Is that even evangelism? Or is it something we just assume will happen? Today Andy speaks with a self-described "regular guy" who thinks Christian parents can be intentional and persuasive (without guilt or pressure!) in the way they share...

In our western cultures, the way we present the gospel and the way it is embodied appears to be anything but "good news". It's worrying, disappointing, even life-diminishing news! But in a world of pandemics and Putin, how can we hold out real, authentic good news to our friends who are so desperate for it? Andy and Kristi explore this question with Paul Woolley this time on PEP Talk. Paul Woolley...

Apart from toddlers, teenagers probably ask the most questions about difficult subjects! Spare a thought, then, for Christians teaching adolescents in our schools. What can we learn about how to handle faith-questions in such an environment, where a mis-step can land you in hot water so easily? Today we hear from a science teacher about using questions like "Do you believe in aliens?" to encourage...

Jesus didn't spend his life in church, he ministered in the real world. How can we think about life with Jesus as an adventure in the real world, not just someone we meet in church? Today's guest Tracy Cotterell speaks to Andy and (filling in for Kristi) Gavin from Solas. She encourages us to identify our primary role as God's child, participating in the Father's business to reach the world. ...

Today on PEP Talk we hear from an inspiring couple in evangelistic ministry together. Andy and Kristi cover all sorts of ground with them, from experiences in street evangelism, the gospel opportunities across Ireland,  to the joy of working together. Mitch and Amanda have been married for 22 years and together they lead Crown Jesus Ministries in Ireland. Their passion for evangelism drives t...

Top Tip: If you want to start a conversation, give yourself an unusual ministry job title that gets people intrigued! Today's guest tells us about the fantastic opportunities his unique position affords him in the armed services. What is it like sharing the gospel amongst service personnel? Lee McDade has worked with SASRA (Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association) for 13 years, based...

 Pete Nicholas joins us today to speak about sharing Jesus in a diverse part of London. What are the questions cropping up and challenges to be had when sharing the gospel?   Pete Nicholas is Senior Minister at Inspire Saint James Clerkenwell in London and Chair of Trustees of City to City UK. After working for Christians in Sport, Pete co-led the church plant 'Inspire London' which star...

Chris Sinkinson chats with Andy and Kristi about using your passions to share the gospel. For him, archaeology and the history of the ancient world opens up the Bible as a rich historical document - where we discover the amazing person of Jesus Christ. Chris Sinkinson is on the teaching staff at Moorlands College . He has been involved in Christian ministry with UCCF as a Regional Staff worker and...

Today on PEP Talk we explore the changing relationship of culture and Christianity, with a look into the example of Northern Ireland. How do we adapt as Christians and churches to be authentic salt and light whether we are a cultural majority or marginalised minority? Andy and Kristi speak to a pastor, author and poet for some great thoughts on reaching out. Andrew Roycroft recently became pastor...

When sharing the gospel, perhaps no response is more common or more scary than "How can God allow suffering?" It's an ancient question, but can relate to the present moment more than anything else. Sharon Dirckx joins us today to think about how to navigate this particularly sensitive and personal area of evangelism. Sharon Dirckx is a Senior Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (O...

With all the topics, arguments and questions one could address in speaking about the gospel, sometimes it's hard to know where to start. Today we hear from someone who decided to investigate the simple question "Was Jesus the Son of God?" and was surprised at the overwhelming amount of convincing evidence he found. Derek McIntyre comes from a science background and came to Christianity in middle-a...

The life of a Hindu monk can seem extreme–celibacy, poverty, thousands of miles of pilgrimage–but what are they searching for? Today we hear from a former priest about how Christianity met his heart's desire. He offers some important guidance on how to reach out to others from Eastern religions, when the cultural gap can seem so daunting. As a Hindu priest Rahil Patel was a renowned international...

During the periods of restrictions we've had during the pandemic, some churches have become very creative with their outreach activities. Today Andy speaks with the pastor of a small church plant about their "drive-in church" and Christmas carols on the back of a tractor and trailer. Full of ideas and enthusiasm, it's great to hear how a small church is having a big impact. Richard Gibb is on the...

Street Evangelism. A phrase conjuring up images of crazy preachers with placards reading "The End is Nigh", one that strikes fear in many Christians. Is it a thing of the past, with no place in our multicultural 21st century cities? Or is it still a means that God can use, even one He still calls us to? Dominic  Muir is an evangelist, teacher, author ( 'God Hunger: Meditations from a Life of...

Today we are joined by historian and academic Mike Licona to discuss his specialist topic, the resurrection of Christ. Although we'd expect our secular society to dismiss such a miracle, Mike shows us that the supernatural is a real part of more people's lives that we might expect.  Michael R. Licona, Ph. D. is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University and president of Ris...

For many people, God and faith aren't the things they're most interested in. But most people are interested in (and have an opinion on!) big questions about life. What are those questions? How have they changed over the years? And how can we show that a Christian worldview makes the best sense of these life questions? Michael Ots was Minister of Evangelism at Lansdowne Baptist Church in Bournemout...

What has driven the shift in recent years from hostility towards apathy in relation to the gospel? When people don't care about the questions of God and faith anymore, what DO they care about? Answering that can help us return our conversations back towards the joy in our salvation and pique the interest of the apathetic. Kyle Beshears is teaching pastor at Mars Hill Church in Mobile, Alabama and...