Healthy Gospel Church

Is small-town ministry a stepping stone—or a calling worth ambitious investment? Today, Rev. Stephen Witmer joins us to unpack the unique dynamics, opportunities, and tensions of rural church life. 👉 Visit https://freechurch.org to learn more about Engage2026 and the work of the Free Church of Scotland. 💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to date with future episodes! — #he...

We’re delighted to welcome former Free Church of Scotland Moderator Rev. David Robertson to the podcast this week. David is an author, formerly minister of St Peter’s Free Church in Dundee and now serving at the Scots Kirk in Newcastle, Australia. The Wee Flea: https://theweeflea.com 👉 Visit https://freechurch.org to learn more about Engage2026 and the work of the Free Church of Scotland. 💬 Don’...

We’re delighted to welcome Christian author and experienced church leader Chic Lidstone to the podcast, sharing insights from his life in ministry and his thoughtful new book Take My Yoke on discovering the rest and grace Jesus promises. Take My Yoke - https://chiclidstone.com 👉 Visit https://freechurch.org to learn more about Engage2026 and the work of the Free Church of Scotland. 💬 Don’t forge...

This week we welcome Rhiannon MacKintosh and Alasdair Macleod to the podcast to discuss the new initiative from the Mission Board of the Free Church of Scotland called "Engage2026." Its purpose is to encourage Christians to pray for ten people they know who are not followers of Jesus yet. If everyone in the denomination prayed that would be over 100,000 prayed for over the next year. 👉 Visit http...

Should churches blend in or stand out? Our guest this week, Derek Lamont, unpacks what it means for a church to reflect — or reshape — the community it serves. 👉 Visit https://freechurch.org to learn more about the work of the Free Church of Scotland. 💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to date with future episodes! — #healthygospelchurch #FreeChurchofScotland #dereklamont...

This week, we’re joined by Rev. Dr. Cory Brock, minister at St. Columba’s Free Church in Edinburgh, as he shares his story from Mississippi to the Royal Mile, reflecting on faith, theology, and what makes a Healthy Gospel Church in today’s culture. Cory discusses his journey from a Southern Baptist upbringing to Reformed ministry, the marks of a healthy church, and the importance of cultivating pr...

This week, we’re joined by Rev. Joe Barnard, minister of the newly renamed Holyrood Church in Edinburgh and founder of XTrainingMinistries , an organisation dedicated to forming mature, godly men in a spiritually distracted age. Joe reflects on the landscape of discipleship today, the unique pressures men face in modern culture, and why intentional, rigorous spiritual formation is essential for th...

This week, we’re joined by Robin Silson, Free Church of Scotland minister and church planter in Winchburgh, as he shares his journey into ministry and the vision behind planting a gospel-centred church in one of Scotland’s fastest-growing new towns. Robin speaks about the opportunities and challenges of church planting in a rapidly developing community, the importance of relational ministry, and h...

This week, we’re joined by Esther Dickson, Scotland Team Leader for UCCF (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship), an organisation committed to giving every student the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Esther shares her passion for student mission, the unique challenges and opportunities facing university ministries today, and how local churches can partner mo...

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Diane Langberg, internationally renowned psychologist, speaker, and author of Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church. Dr. Langberg brings decades of wisdom and pastoral insight to a deeply important conversation about power, trauma, and the witness of the Church. With grace and clarity, she challenges us to consider how we use power in our c...

Our guest this week is Mairi Murchison.   Mairi is a Gospel Worker in Merkinch Free Church , Inverness. In this episode she shares her story and why she felt called to support church planting in one of Scotland's most deprived areas.   And for the first time you can now watch the episode as well on YouTube ! 📺   -- freechurch.org   #church #christian #freechurch

Paul grew up in Wales and worked as a dentist for ten years before studying theology at Moore College in Sydney. Married to Shiona they have four children. After leading a church in the US they moved back to the UK in 2009 and now live in Edinburgh where he is Lead Pastor at Charlotte Chapel . Paul is an enthusiastic supporter of Welsh rugby, Scottish dancing, live music and eco-houses. -- freechu...

In this episode of the Healthy Gospel Church podcast, we’re joined by Rev. Dr Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society and a leading voice in evangelical Anglicanism. We explore key issues shaping the Church of England today — from the impact of liberal theology on church life, to the structures that define Anglicanism, and the vital role of systematic theology. Dr Gatiss also reflects on the evolut...

This week, we welcome David's brother, Rev. Dr Ian Meredith, to the podcast. Ian is currently the vicar of St Mary's in Portchester, which is part of the Church of England .    Topics this week: - The Evolution of the Free Church of Scotland - Reflections on the Charismatic Movement - The Role of Worship - The Concept of Parish in a Modern Context - Keys to Church Growth - Class and Church Dynamic...

Our guest this week, Rev. Ivor Macdonald, has recently been appointed as the Director of the Centre of Rural Ministry. Ivor unpacks some of the vision for the Centre and his hopes for rural ministry in Scotland.    Conversation topics:   - The Centre for Rural Ministry - Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Scotland - The Future of Rural Churches and Communities Engagement   Centre for Rural Mini...

This week's Healthy Gospel Church Podcast guest is Rev. David Moore. David is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and currently serves in Belfast.   Topics Include:   ➡ Celtic Heritage and Language ➡ The Benefits of Being Presbyterian ➡ William Still and Gilcomston ➡ Ministry in Northern Ireland ➡ Engaging with Different Communities ➡ Building Relationships Across Divides   https://ww...

Our guest today is Tim Clemens, the lead pastor of Grace City Church in Sydney, Australia.  This episode's topics include: Pathway to Minister and Church Planting City Ministry in Australia Evangelism Strategies Prayer Culture and Community Engagement Vision and Philosophy of Preaching https://www.freechurch.org #healthygospelchurch #church #christian 

We are delighted to have Kathy Keller as our first guest in this new series.  Kathy formerly served as assistant Communications Director for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. She is the author of Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles: A Case for Gender Roles in Ministry and co-author with her late husband, Tim Keller, of The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with t...

We are delighted to welcome Canon J. John to the Health Gospel Church podcast this week.   J.John is an Evangelist, minister, speaker, broadcaster and writer. He has been in ministry for four decades. He has spoken in towns, cities and universities in 69 countries. J.John lives near London in England. He is married to Killy and is a father and grandfather.   Contact the show: communications@freech...

Our guest this week is Rev. Dr Paul Blackham.  Leading since the summer of 2021, Jonathan, and the Blackham family, has been a part of Church plants around the country for the past decade. But at the centre of this life and current ministry is a love of Jesus, throughout all the bible! Ordained in 1997, Paul served at All Souls Langham Place as Associate Minister for theology until 2008, and has s...

Our guest this week is Graeme Shanks. Originally hailing from Glasgow, Graeme is married to Alex and they have 3 girls Chloe, Grace and Eve. Having qualified as a solicitor and worked in Commercial Property for a few years upon graduation he joined Bruntsfield Evangelical Church staff team back in 2012 and has been our Pastor since 2017. He has studied at both the Cornhill Training Course and latt...

Our guest today is Hannah Nation. Hannah Nation is a writer, editor, and content strategist. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the Center for House Church Theology and as the Content Director for China Partnership. She has published in Christianity Today, the Gospel Coalition, Comment, and Plough. ​Her topics of interest are: urban Chinese house church movements; print and digital t...

Chris Smart joins us this week on the Health Gospel Church Podcast. Chris was born and grew up in the Scottish Highlands. Chris' family didn't grow up in the church, but when he was 18 he went to study Chemistry in the city of Aberdeen and there through the witness of a fellow student, came to faith in Christ. After about a year he began to sense God’s call to ministry finishing his Chemistry degr...

Our first guest of the new season is Derek Lamont.   Derek has ben a minister for 33 years spending 22 of them in the centre of Edinburgh as minister of St Columba's Free Church. During his time there St Columba's planted four new churches and now Derek has decided to get stuck in himself and plant a new church in Leith. Derek is married to Catriona with four grown-up kids – two of whom live in Am...

This week's guest is Rev. Alex MacDonald.   Alex was brought up in the Highlands of Scotland and is a former Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, having served as minister in Bishopbirggs Free Church, Bon Accord Free Church and Buccleuch Free Church.   This week's theme is "A Life in Ministry"   Topics include: Highland Clearances  Tackling Social Issues in Preaching  Right to Life  Christian...