PEP Talk

We know there are many different immigrant communities behind our corner shops, kebab houses and barbershops across Britain. How can we begin to understand their history and culture, to find where the Gospel might reach? With examples from the Kurdish culture, today's guest helps us understand this particular group, with lessons that can help us reach many of our Muslim friends and neighbours. Jer...

In our modern life, it is rare to actually listen to other people, or to feel listened to. But we have the immense privilege in prayer to know that God listens to us. So perhaps one way to share the gospel of God is to take the time to listen. Today on PEP Talk, Dr Karamat Iqbal shares his experience of hospital chaplaincy, where patient listening is a powerful tool for showing God's love. Dr Kara...

But I'm not an evangelist! Well, that doesn't stop you from being evangelistic! In this wide-ranging conversation, Simon Wenham and Gavin Matthews chat with Graham Albans about how "normal people" can be sharing the gospel in everyday life. With reminders about authenticity, prayer, patience, and joyful living, there's plenty for everyone to consider in the day-to-day life of a Christian. Graham A...

If a promising gospel discussion turns into an argument or reaches an impasse, that's often a sign of conflicting worldviews. Many of us don't think too much about our worldview, the underling values and assumptions that inform our more obvious beliefs and opinions about, for example, sexuality and gender. Recognising and discussing our worldviews can be a great way to progress gospel conversation...

The Big 'Yes'. Conversion. Public declaration of faith. That's what evangelism is all about isn't it?  That might be the destination, but the journey of faith is full of little 'yeses' and healthy 'maybes' as well. And sometimes, only God knows how important each step is for each individual. How can this perspective encourage us as we seek to share the gospel with those in our lives? Mark Gre...

Many people are afraid to share their faith because they're worried about the questions they might encounter. But one church chose to turn the tables on that idea. They asked the people of Maidenhead what questions they had for God. After receiving 468 responses, they invited respected Christian thinkers to give their answers to the most popular topics on the Maidenhead’s Questions Podcast . Here...

Sam is a youth worker who wanted to reach thousands of students across 11 schools in his area – within the schools themselves. Impossible? Maybe not when you tap into the "best-kept secret" network of scientists, researchers, and academics who profess Christ. By bringing credible, yet faith-grounded, professionals to speak at assemblies, Sam has created an incredible system for helping schools, ge...

What if evangelism on the street, speaking to random strangers, wasn't the scariest thing ever? We are British, after all! PEP Talk is here to break down the barriers, exploring the role of prayer, the importance of community, the release of expectations and the joy of joining God's work in sharing Jesus on the streets of London. Isaac Olaleye works in tech and is also a musician with a heart for...

“Did Jesus really live, die, and rise from the dead? " Using ancient sources, historical records, and reasoned logic, Jesus the Evidence invites readers and listeners to explore the evidence and draw their own conclusions. Here on PEP Talk, we speak to the honest, no-nonsense Derek McIntyre about his own journey through the evidence and how he is bringing his findings to churches across the countr...

Whether it's a young person encountering the first challenges to their childhood faith, or a curious person anonymously ordering a Bible online, it can be easy to be thrown off track by stories of slavery, animal sacrifice or other tricky topics found within the Bible. Or if we're in a position to speak about the Bible to others, what happens when we're asked a question about these potential pitfa...

God reveals Himself to humanity in two "books" - the Bible and Creation. We're used to using the Bible to explain the gospel, but is it possible to use the natural world to draw people to Christ? Andy Bannister and Simon Wenham explore this possibility with American biologist Xandra Grieme. Xandra's book is Forty Answers From Nature: What We Can Learn about God, Life, and Ourselves by Studying the...

What does it really mean to live out your faith in the marketplace? In this episode of PEP Talk , Simon and Gavin sit down with Gideon Okoli for a powerful conversation about purpose, leadership, and influence beyond the church walls. Drawing inspiration from Biblical figures like Joseph, Esther, and Daniel, Gideon challenges the idea that spiritual impact only happens in a 'ministry setting' — ar...

Your church might have the best outreach programmes and top-notch facilities, or maybe its struggling to survive on a dying high street in a small market town. Either way, God surprises us with unexpected seekers, especially during this 'odd cultural moment', coming on unconventional journeys to faith. How can we be ready to participate in what God is doing, wherever He's placed us? Simon and Gavi...

What is it that holds you back from sharing the Gospel? For most of us, it boils down to a lack of confidence. We don't have confidence in our knowledge to field difficult questions, we don't have confidence that we won't get 'cancelled' and we might even lack confidence in our own faith itself. So you're not alone! That's why Solas runs 'Confident Christianity' training across the UK to help chur...

Here in the UK, we might encounter Jewish people that range from secular atheists to highly religious. But Christians can be reluctant to engage in gospel conversation for fear of political pitfalls or cultural offence. How can we navigate the issues we might encounter when sharing the message of Jesus with his original ethnic group? In this episode of PEP Talk, we find some great encouragement an...

'A Better Love ’ is a new book from Living Out that features a range of people who experience same sex attraction, talking about their experience of encountering God. Today’s guest is one of the contributors, who helps us think through the issues of community, discipleship, acceptance and confusion that we may navigate when sharing our faith with the LGBT+ community. Adam Curtis is a Curate in Sid...

Research indicates that many people will first consider whether Christianity is something good, before they consider whether or not it is true. But for both these questions, the discipline of philosophy informs how we think about them. Can a stuffy old academic discipline really help much with modern spiritual questions? Steve Osmond and Simon Wenham learn more about what philosophy and apologetic...

In the first few weeks every year, Christian Unions across the country put in a concerted effort to reach their campuses - with around 85 'events weeks' happening recently.  For many young people, their time at university is a formative and energetic experience, and it is a great opportunity for students to reach their friends for Christ. UCCF is helping them do this through 3"D" ministry: De...

Have you ever wondered why music moves us? It transcends culture, yet is an important part of most cultures. Today on PEP Talk, we reflect on how the gift of music speaks to us about God's character. That makes it an excellent medium for communicating God's truth not only within the church, but also with the culture around us. Greg de Blieck is a Glasgow-based musician and hymn writer. He serves a...

Many sporting clubs are the largest social group in any given local community. Do the local churches view them as rivals, or mission fields? Today, more clubs are recognising the competitive benefits of caring emotionally and spiritually for their athletes, opening up huge opportunities for Christian ministry. Here on PEP Talk, sport enthusiasts Gavin Matthews and Simon Wenham learn more about the...

Is it the dawn of an utopian age? Or will humans be relegated to the Matrix? It certainly seems that recent developments in artificial intelligence will bring profound changes to our world. But right now, profound questions are there to be asked. How can we show that the Christian message gives the best answers, and use AI as a platform for the gospel? Andy Bannister and Simon Wenham chat with Aus...

Many Christians will be familiar with the practice of praying for and visiting those from their own church who might be sick in hospital. But the role of the hospital (or hospice) chaplain can allow for ministry to all kinds of people. What are the challenges, joys, and opportunities experienced in this unique role? This time on PEP Talk, we hear from a hospital chaplain who himself spent eight mo...

What happens when Christians truly embrace reaching out to the 'least of these' right here in the UK? Those marginalised even by mainstream society - sex workers on the streets of our cities. While we don't think of it as 'evangelism,' surely being 'the hands and feet of Jesus' is a concrete way of sharing the gospel? It's certainly a challenging one! Find out about how Embrace is ministering to t...

“When people realise that their questions about faith aren’t brand new in the last two minutes, but have been asked thousands of times with really good answers - that would be how history and apologetics meet.” Gavin and Simon (the resident Solas history buffs) hear about an amazing project to bring the history of Christianity to the world - via animation on YouTube! Check out the results at chris...

Following in the footsteps of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Donald Trump, today's PEP Talk guest runs a social media platform. It may be a bit smaller than X or Facebook, but it's purpose is much narrower and nobler. As Christians grapple with what it means to live out their faith online, the team at Grow Faith has built a platform just for them. Simon Wenham finds out more... Richard Matthews is...