In:Dependence

How can churches in diverse contexts work together to reach people in 'forgotten places' with the gospel? What might partnership look like? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Graham and Dawn Thomson (Spen Valley Church, Cleckheaton) to talk about church ministry in deprived areas and what gospel partnerships might look like to...

What is the definition of extremism versus free speech? How do we differentiate between guilt and consequences? How can we discern the truth of visual media in the era of artificial intelligence? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Graham Beynon (FIEC Head of Local Ministries) discuss some of the stories in the news ov...

What is so important about London? What is the church landscape like in the city? What are the opportunities for the gospel? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) discusses the capital city with the outgoing Director for London Trevor Archer and the incoming Director for London Johnny Prime: what church ministry is like in London, how it impacts the rest of the country, an...

Having unbelieving children is a painful reality for many Christians, especially for church leaders. How can we deal with the guilt and heartbreak, whilst holding on to the hope of the gospel for our children? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Paul Mallard (FIEC Director for West Midlands and the chair of the FIEC Theology Team) to discuss the pain of...

What can we learn from Alexei Navalny's life? What does chaos in Westminster teach us about church life? How can we show that life is valuable from conception? In this episode, Phil Topham, John Stevens, and Adrian Reynolds discuss some of the stories in the news from the past fortnight and consider how we can learn as church leaders from them. 00:00  - Introduction 01:00  - FIEC news 03:24  -...

How can we protect family life when serving in church ministry? What changes when a ministry wife moves from voluntary to paid work in the church? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) chats with Richard and Carolyn Lacey (Woodgreen Church, Worcester) about ministry life as a couple and a family, how the church seeks to protect family life for their staff, and the journey...

Trevor Archer, FIEC's Director for London, has served in church ministry for decades. As he comes to stand down from serving at FIEC, he shares what he has found are the essential elements of a long-lasting ministry. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) reflects with Trevor on his 45 years of service in local churches and with FIEC. 00:00  - Intr...

Why do church leaders need to care especially for their treasurers? How can they do it in a way that helps treasurers to grow and flourish? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Manny Kemp, a church treasurer and volunteer trainer with  the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers (ACAT) , to talk about the needs of church treasur...

What is the value of keeping up with Christian news - both for church leaders and church members? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Mike Judge, pastor at  Chorlton Evangelical Church  in Manchester and editor of  Evangelical Times , to talk about the benefits of reading and listening to Christian news. 00:00  - Introduction 05:49  - W...

How should leaders react to opposition? Where should Christians stand on capital punishment? Should secular schools make space for religious practice? In this episode, Phil Topham (Executive Director), Graham Beynon (Head of Local Ministries), and John Stevens (National Director) discuss some of the stories in the news over the past weeks. 00:00 - Introduction 07:35 - Is changing a leader the way...

Conferences for women in ministry are invaluable opportunities to invest in and care for women who serve in the local church. In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) is joined by Elinor Magowan (Director for Women's Ministry) and Rachel Sloan (Director for Women's Ministry) to discuss the importance of investing in women in ministry in the church and how conferences...

Administration is a spiritual gift to serve the church ( 1 Corinthians 12:8 ). What is the role of an administrator in church life, and how can they be supported best? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director) is joined by Gavin Smith (Christ Church Newport) to discuss the role of administrator in the church, where it fits into church life, and support and resources f...

What can we take from the 'Alan Bates vs the Post Office' drama and scandal? How should we respond to miltary action in the Middle East? How could the conversion therapy plans in Scotland affect church ministry? In this episode, Phil Topham (Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (National Director) discuss stories from the news over the past w...

How can church leaders encourage and support those who are working in our churches with children and young people? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) is joined by Ed Drew, Director of Faith in Kids, to discuss encouraging and recruiting volunteers for children's work, the problems faced by both larger and smaller churches, and how to train and equip volunteers. Show...

In the final episode of In:Dependence in 2023, Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries) and John Stevens (National Director) take a look back at the encouragements and challenges for FIEC and FIEC churches over the past year. Show notes A Passion for Life  (apassionforlife.org.uk) Different, Yet the Same: Is Complementarianism Unjust?  (fiec.org.uk) Embracing Complementarianism (Book Review)...

Christians are foreigners and exiles in this world. So, how do we help people in our churches think about how they live in and engage with the world? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by David VanDrunen, professor at  Westminster Seminary California  and author of  Living in God's Two Kingdoms , to discuss how churches and Christians...

What was voted for at the November General Synod? How can we pray and support friends in the Church of England? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) discusses the current events in the Church of England with regards to blessings for same-sex couples with Ros Clarke from Church Society. What happened at the General Synod? What are the pressures on chu...

How significant is the Church of England vote to trial same-sex blessings? How should we respond to another bill to ban 'conversion therapy'? What can leaders learn from the cabinet reshuffle? 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - FIEC Leaders' Conference 04:06 - Changes to the FIEC Doctrinal Basis 07:29 - Church of England vote on blessing same-sex marriage 16:48 - New conversion therapy bill...

What are the challenges and needs of gospel work in Scotland? How can people pray and support gospel work in the nation? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Rachel Sloan (FIEC Director for Women's Ministry) and Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and North England) to discuss the needs of gospel work in Scotland and how they can...

How should leadership decisions be made? What happened at the Leaders' Conference? How do you include the news in preaching? In this live episode, recorded at the 2023 FIEC Leaders' Conference, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss topics in the new over the past few weeks, the conference...

What is the gospel landscape like in Scotland? What are the challenges that evangelical churches in Scotland face? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Rachel Sloan (FIEC Director for Women's Ministry) and Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and North of England) to discuss gospel ministry in Scotland over the centuries, how thin...

How should we continue to respond to the conflict in Israel and Gaza? What could a conversion therapy ban mean for church leaders? Can we plagiarise sermons? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss some of the stories in the news over the past fortnight. 00:00 - In...

Why is it important to consider how your church communicates? How can digital technology help in outreach and discipleship? In this episode of In:Dependence, Joel Murray (FIEC Communications and Media Officer) and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) are joined by Peter Murden, co-founder of  Digital Church Toolkit , to discuss digital church communications. 00:00  - Introduction 05:...

The church treasurer is maybe the most demanding volunteer roles in church life. How can church leaders help and support treasurers best? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) is joined by Manny Kemp, a deacon and the treasurer at Eden Baptist Church in Cambridge, to talk about the role of treasurer and how the pressures and demands on them can be les...

How can church leaders help their churches respond to the terror attacks in Israel? How can Christians stand with the Jewish community in response? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss some of the stories in the news over the past fortnight. 00:00 - Terror attac...