PEP Talk

This week on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi chat with Kiri from British Columbia. She shares her story of conversion from a non-Christian household and journey through different cultural landscapes ministering to young people. An emphasis on discipleship shows how the gospel touches our deepest longings, sufferings and hopes. Having Co-Lead Soul Edge Ministries (Canada) for over 12 years, Kiri Jane Erb...

Today on PEP Talk we're all about workplace ministry. The opportunities, resources and support are extensive for Christians who want to connect with other believers in their places of employment. And stories of the creative ways employees find to share their faith at work are surprising and encouraging.  Download the Starting A Christian Workplace Group booklet from the Transform Work UK webs...

Looking at the state of the church in the UK today, it can be quite discouraging. Although there are areas of growth and dynamism, there can be quite challenging situations in rural areas or even cities with disconnected communities. What are some effective strategies for sharing the gospel and developing healthy churches in these "spiritual deserts"? Stephen McQuoid spent the first twelve years o...

In today's PEP Talk, Andy chats with a church pastor with a passion for evangelism through the local church. What are the challenges for developing a culture of evangelism, whether your church is rooted locally or a "commuter" congregation? What is pre-evangelism? And how can pastors "lower the bar" on evangelism so that everyone feels confident to do it? Tom Heasman currently serves as Co-Pastor...

In today's culture, sexuality and gender are the embodiment of happiness, fulfilment and our sense of self. It's no surprise that especially young people can find a God-centred view of sex to be oppressive, unfair or even hateful.  No wonder Christians can find this area such a stumbling block to presenting the gospel. How can we help our friends and family discover a deeper and more satisfyi...

Have you ever heard someone dismiss the Bible "because it's just a fairy tale"? Or maybe that it was basically invented by the early Church to peddle their religious fiction? But if either of those were true, would the Bible be what it is today? Today's guest on PEP Talk introduces us to the myriad reasons why the Bible would be impossible to invent. Mike D'Virgilio's latest book is Uninvented: Wh...

If you have friends, colleagues or neighbours from Muslim backgrounds, this episode is for you! There are incredible opportunities in our own diverse society to interact with followers of Islam. What are some of the best ways to introduce them to Jesus? Andy and Kristi have a guest from Australia with some helpful advice. Richard Shumack is a philosopher of religion who is fascinated by how and wh...

Solas is often involved helping Christian Union groups at universities across the UK, as they put on evangelistic events and missions. It is a privilege to answer questions from students and help them think through aspects of the gospel message. Today we're joined by someone involved full-time in student ministry, to hear about the questions, opportunities and priorities found in the student world...

From a cross-cultural guest, today's episode picks up two different strands to sharing faith. First, how do we respond to those who reject their experience of church, even those who have suffered spiritual abuse? As well, what can the contrast between "Christian" and "secular" cultures teach us about conversations centred on Jesus? In both areas, it can be tricky to unpack the individual's experie...

Today's guest reflects on a traumatic childhood event and how it shaped his pursuit of God. These kind of experiences can cause many to wrestle with the love or the hiddenness of God. How can we journey with others to find a God of purpose and hope? Dan Paterson is the founder of Questioning Christianity , an Australian ministry helping you connect the Christian story to life’s deepest questions....

Fear. Lack of knowledge. Busyness. These are some of the top reasons given when Christians are asked why they don't share their faith. How do we address these issues within the church? Today's guest has years of experience teaching seminary students, and shares how he prepares them for a life of confidence in sharing the gospel. Tim Beougher ( pronounced Boo – ker ) has served as the Billy Graham...

In this guest-free episode, Andy and Kristi reflect on the many questions they've heard in discussions of faith over the years. Traditional apologetic questions about the rationality of faith, once so prominent in the era of Richard Dawkins, have largely been replaced by questions of desirability, longing and meaning. How has this impacted the approach we make in listening to and responding to sce...

With the recent death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, her life of service and character has been honoured and spoken about throughout society. Her Christian faith was the source of those qualities, admired by everyone from prime ministers to hairdressers. What a great time to show our friends or colleagues that these qualities of servant leadership they respect and value are modelled on Christ'...

The Church Behaving Badly can be an insurmountable obstacle for many people in coming to faith in Jesus. In the case of religious justification for racism and slavery, this issue impacts whole communities and ethnic groups. How can we de-bunk the concept of "the white man's religion" when speaking to our friends in black communities? Andy and Kristi speak with Clare Williams on PEP Talk to unpack...

Have you put a "no" in the mouth of a non-Christian friend before you've even invited them to investigate the Bible? Isn't it surprising how people we know well react once they're given an opportunity to speak about Christ? Today on PEP Talk we chat about some great resources helping Christians walk through the Bible with their enquiring friends - why not invite yours? John MacKinnon is based in E...

All the way from Australia, today Andy speaks with Natasha Moore on PEP Talk. Both there and here in the UK, there are similar needs to speak into our changing cultures, whilst retaining the winsomeness and grace that remains attractive whether we have a public platform or a private conversation. Natasha Moore is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity . She has a PhD in Eng...

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...