PEP Talk

One of the biggest reasons for people to reject Christianity is because of their experience of the Church or other Christians behaving badly. How can we deal with abuse of power, hypocrisy and loss of trust? In an age of scandal, misinformation and conspiracy theories how can we point people to the love, truth and safety of Jesus Himself? Andy and Kristi speak with author and pastor Mark Meynell a...

Medical professions can often be useful for overseas mission work, but today's guest tells us all about the mission field here in today's NHS. In her work with the Christian Medical Fellowship, we hear about how young doctors and nurses are learning to share their faith - and seeing God at work! Georgie Coster is an intensive care nurse in the English Midlands and Associate Head of Nurses and Midw...

Why are we afraid of talking about sexuality, especially when sharing our faith? Probably because many people today see religion as oppressive to their sexuality, and, by extension, their personal identity. However, today's guest suggests that marriage and sexuality is one of the quickest routes into telling people about how much Jesus loves them and the hope He offers them. Ed Shaw is the pastor...

"And then something strange happened..." probably means you're about to hear about what the Holy Spirit has been doing in someone's life. As today's guest reminds us, God is at work in far, far more people than we know. With some fantastic thoughts on sharing faith, especially in the face of suffering, Jeremy Marshall chats with Andy and Kristi on today's PEP Talk. Jeremy Marshall worked in bankin...

Today on PEP Talk, we interview the great interviewer himself, Justin Brierley. For years he has hosted discussions with top Christian thinkers and thought leaders from other backgrounds. What has he learned from this, and how has it impacted his personal gospel conversations? Justin Brierley is an international speaker, author and much-loved host of the podcast Unbelievable?  His show on Pre...

What happens when the dreaded "God and science" topic comes up when you're speaking about Jesus? Today's guest reassures us that most people who assume that science explains away the need for God, are only merely assuming it. He encourages us to dig deeper and points us towards some resources that will help give us confidence if the subject arises. David Galloway is a gastroenterological surgeon,...

In this "down to earth" episode we speak with a career dairy farmer who has only recently become a local church pastor. As you'd stereotypically expect, he is full of practical wisdom and a can-do attitude when it comes to sharing faith, both in new ways online and in the age-old ministry of feeding the needy. Mark Oliver spent the first 40 years of his life living on dairy farms in Devon or Cornw...

It seems that in our culture today, it is all too easy to offend a person by disagreeing with their ideas. This fuels our fear of rejection, broken relationships, consequences for career or reputation when it comes to discussing our faith. What can we do to foster respect, humility and love that wins the heart of a person, instead of winning an argument? Today's guest urges us to look to Jesus for...

Today we hear from Craig Dyer about how the popular Christianity Explored courses have adapted to life in a pandemic. How can we best use these evangelistic tools, still make connections online, and meet people where they're at during a difficult period for us all? Craig also shares about the unique opportunities his home church in Glasgow has to reach out to asylum seekers. Craig Dyer is the Trai...

What happens when presenting the Gospel puts you on the wrong side of 'cancel culture'? In places like our work or university, we can sometimes feel like the 'bad guys' when we try to espouse Christian truths. Today's guest has thought long and hard about how we can adapt to these difficult environments with his book Being the Bad Guys . Stephen McAlpine is a blogger and ex-journalist who writes o...

In today's episode we think about the relationship between the Gospel and our culture.  Is there merit in finding touchpoints between the two, or should we always seek to share the "pure"  or "transcendent" Gospel?  Our guest Tony Watkins finds that arts and media can provide helpful inroads for the Gospel into individual lives, as we consider the values, needs, and aspirations foun...

When we hear from those with degrees in theology and positions in ministry, it can be tempting to feel inadequate or guilty about our own efforts in evangelism. So how can we make efforts at sharing the gospel without falling into a performance-driven mindset? Susie Ford works in ministry and studies theology part time with Highland Theological College. She is a member of the Passion for Evangelis...

We can sometimes make too much of the distinction between practical ministry and spiritual ministry, emphasising one at the cost of the other. But what is it about meeting physical needs (especially in a deprived urban environment) that lends credibility to our spiritual efforts in the area of evangelism? This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi hear about how both are being put into action at Edinb...

Is there any mission field as close to our hearts as our own family? If you are a parent, it can be an overwhelming burden to pass on your faith to your children.  It is a unique form of "evangelism", much different to sharing with other adults but still has some similarities. Today Andy and Kristi speak to the authors of Faith That Lasts: A Father and Son on Cultivating Lifelong Belief ...

Whew! It is finally 2021 and everyone is glad 2020 is behind them. But wait, something good must have happened. Although it was different and challenging, there was still a lot to thank God for in terms of how His gospel was advancing.  Whether it was reaching new people online or a new openness brought about by difficult circumstances, Andy and Kristi reflect on the highlights of sharing the...

Church outreach events and evangelism courses sound like a great idea, but do they actually work? Here on PEP Talk we discover that, yes, they can! We hear today from an ordinary guy (chartered accountant, no less) from an ordinary church that is developing an amazing culture of outreach - and seeing God at work through it all! Murray McNicol is a member of Maxwell Mearns Castle Parish Church, jus...

If you haven't heard of the Alpha Course , it's a popular tool used by churches and small groups to create a welcoming place for others to ask questions. This year has seen an sudden move to online Alpha courses, which continue to be effective places for ministry. In this episode, Kristi and Andy welcome the Director of Alpha Scotland to learn about his journey to faith and the various ways he's s...

The workplace is not a place for rocking the boat by discussing politics or religion, is it? Not always the case, as today's guest has found the business environment incredibly ripe for ministry. Jim Grimmer chats with Andy and Kristi about how he's using his Christian faith to fill the voids of personal and spiritual support found in many workplaces. Jim Grimmer has over 40 years work experience,...

For those involved in church leadership, getting evangelism and outreach into the natural life of the church family can sometimes be a challenge. In today's PEP Talk we hear from Inverness pastor Alasdair Macleod, speaking about the extension of discipleship and preaching into the culture of outreach in his congregation. Alasdair Macleod has been the lead pastor at Culduthel Christian Centre in hi...

What are the issues and challenges around young people and faith? Whether we're thinking about peer-to-peer evangelism, parents passing faith to their children, or the impact of growing up in a digital environment, both the opportunities and the pitfalls are immense. Here to offer her insight is Ruth Jackson, speaking with Andy Bannister and stand-in co-host Gavin Matthews. Ruth Jackson is a produ...

When you're a "professional" evangelist and "qualified" apologist, that means it all comes easy when sharing your faith, right? But we all have to start somewhere. This time on PEP Talk, Kristi interviews her normal co-host Andy Bannister about how God called him into public ministry and what he's learned along the way. Andy Bannister is the Director of Solas and an adjunct speaker with Ravi Zacha...

In our Christian churches today we often extol the virtues of "friendship evangelism". But does the low-key, latte-sipping, long-term approach really do justice to the gospel? Aaron Edwards joins Andy and Kristi to help us navigate between awkwardness, courage, sincerity, fear, and initiative in our relationships with others. Aaron Edwards is the MA Programme Lead and lectures in Mission, Theology...

This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with Andy Steiger from Apologetics Canada. Drawing especially from Paul's letter to the Colossians, Andy unpacks the importance of how we see God and how we see ourselves as human beings. From this flows our view of human purpose, relationships and community - which can be so attractive when we share them with others. Andy Steiger is the founder and pre...

Everyone is afraid of evangelism. But guess what? Almost everyone in the Bible expressed fear when God called them. Maybe it is time to re-evaluate the role of fear in evangelism. For a bit of a re-think, and information on great practical initiatives like the Weekend of Invitation and ACORN groups, we welcome Michael Harvey to the podcast. Michael Harvey is married to Eike and they have three adu...

From classical literature to throw-away tweets, communication and language are part of how we reflect the image of a God who is revealed by his Word. This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with US academic and author Karen Swallow Prior, exploring the touchpoints we have with the entire human race in the great books and stories of our culture. How can we make use of these when sharing the go...