The Profile

He might be best known for penning congregational hits such as ‘Amazing love’ and ‘Shine, Jesus, shine’ (the latter is now fondly referred to by millennials as a “primary school assembly banger”), but Graham Kendrick started out by writing story-based songs. This year marks 50 years since the release of Graham's first album  Footsteps on the Sea . In order to celebrate, Graham has re-recorded the...

It's a double bill this week as Jemimah Wright interviews the legendary campaigner and humanitarian Baroness Cox, and Sam Hailes sits down with the head of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) to talk about the importance of whole life discipleship.    Read the interview with Baroness Cox in Premier Woman Alive magazine . For more on LICC's 40 cities tour, see  http://licc.org...

The journalist and activist Genelle Aldred was just 19 when an unplanned pregnancy ended in the stillbirth of her daughter. It was an experience that still drives her to tackle inequality wherever she sees it. In this interview with Abi Thomas, Aldred details her varied career so far, which has seen her present the news for some of the world’s largest broadcasters, including the BBC and ITV, and i...

Stacey Morgan kissed her husband goodbye before he donned his space suit on July 20, 2019, and headed to his waiting Soyuz rocket. With an overwhelming mix of pride, excitement, and terror, she and her children held hands and watched the rocket ignite and lift off for a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station. In this interview with Premier's Rachel Matthews, Stacey speaks about...

The straight-talking pastor who isn't afraid to preach on controversial topics speaks to Emma Fowle about embracing God’s heart for the lost and why he’ll always value honesty over self-preservation. The pair also discuss the impact of Covid and social unrest on his ministry, how he's able to read hundreds of books a year and what made him leave his home nation of Australia in order to minister in...

38 per cent of pastors are considering quitting the ministry. A combination of Covid and significant cultural shifts is arguably making it harder than ever to be a church leader. Having researched this worrying trend, the US based theologian, worship leader and pastor Rev Dr Glenn Packiam is visiting the UK in order to share his findings. In this interview with  Premier Christianity 's Sam Hailes,...

Having worked as paediatrician specialising in the care of newborn babies at a leading neonatal intensive care unit for more than 25 years, Dr John Wyatt became increasingly aware of the ethical maelstrom caused by advancing technology and contentious debates about the nature of humanity at the beginning and end of life. Now retired, he spends his time writing and speaking on a range of subjects i...

The desire of Delirious? frontman and principal songwriter, Martin Smith, to reach the masses is undiminished. He loves leading worship in church (“I’ve given my life to it. I believe in it”) but doesn’t want to be constrained by it. Performing at Glastonbury is top of his bucket list and when  he doesn’t hesitate when asked about his dream collaborations: Adele, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Stormz...

Despite a career that might suggest otherwise, talking about ‘it’ was never the aim, says youth worker and church planter Rachel Gardner. Her latest book is  The Sex Thing: Reimagining Conversations with Young People About Sex  but   “My big thing is Jesus,” she says, adding, “ b ecause  my big thing is Jesus,  of course  I talk about sex and masturbation and eating disorders and exam results and...

The Northern Irish philosopher Peter Rollins chats to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes about his vision of a "religionless" Christianity. For Peter, the good news that we can’t be satisfied, that life is difficult, and that we don’t know the secret. It's a highly unusual take on faith, but for Rollins its grounded in a vision of Christ crucified. The pair discuss his upbringing during the Trouble...

Pastor Mick Fleming shot to prominence in 2020 after the BBC filmed him helping the homeless and addicted in Burnley. Described as a 'Covid lifesaver' the man behind Church on the Street Ministries suddenly found his astonishing testimony was being shared in mainstream media outlets and hundreds of thousands of pounds was being donated from Christians and non-Christians alike. In this interview wi...

Northern Ireland's longest serving MP could be months away from being First Minister. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaks to Premier's Marcus Jones about how his faith sustains his work, and why he believes socially conservative Christians like him are sometimes not treated with respect by wider society. In part two, Sam Hailes speaks to the director of the Nazareth Trust Richard Mayhew. The medical orga...

Three years before the pandemic struck, Greg Boyd received an unusual prophetic word, which prompted him to move his church’s material online. We asked him about this seemingly unique warning about Covid-19, and how he feels about being labelled both ‘charismatic’ and ‘progressive’. You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. The Profile is brought to you in association with...

The Egyptian-American pastor and evangelist speaks to Premier's Charmaine Noble-Mclean about his life, faith and ministry. Youseff believes many churches around the world are failing to preach the Bible in its fullness and says Christians must take a stand for truth in an increasingly godless world.    The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity. Get John Mark Comer's ne...

Aled Jones’ path to stardom was littered with occurrences that many would call God ordained. His first break came, aged twelve, after a congregation member wrote to a record company without his knowledge. Soon afterwards he'd recorded his debut album, toured the Holy Land with the BBC and shot to fame as the angelic, golden-haired chorister who sang ‘Walking in the air’. More than three decades la...

Five years on from a cancer diagnosis that changed her life forever, the Christian academic Kate Bowler speaks to Premier Christianity's Sam Hailes about her new book 'No Cure for Being Human'. The pair also discuss the pressure often felt in churches to be positive, and how even well-meaning comments about faith, healing and prayer can often be hurtful or damaging. For Kate, real Christianity off...

Sheila Wray Gregoire is a popular speaker, blogger and author of  The Great Sex Rescue . The book is based on an in-depth survey of 22,000 Christian women, and argues that generations of women have grown up with messages about sex that have made them feel dirty, used or invisible. In seeking to provide a better biblical understanding of sex and intimacy for Christian women and men, Sheila touches...

Max McLean, founder of the Fellowship of Performing Arts talks to Justin Brierley about his life, faith and playing the role of CS Lewis in the new film biopic ‘The Most Reluctant Convert’. For The Most Reluctant Convert: http://www.cslewismovie.com The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine. Subscribe now and receive a copy of John Mark Comer’s book ‘Live No L...

Yvonne Orji is a Nigerian-American actress and comedian. She talks to Premier's Cassandra Nelson about new book  Bamboozled by Jesus . In part two, Justin Brierley meets the Catholic priest and noted CS Lewis scholar Michael Ward. The speak about Michael's role in the new CS Lewis movie and his new book  After Humanity: A Guide to CS Lewis’ The Abolition of Man .  For ‘After Humanity’:  https://ww...

The CEO of Christian Vision for Men (CVM), Nathan Blackaby, chats to Emma Fowle about finding faith in the mean streets of Brazil, what it was like to cycle a bathtub across the UK, and his organisation's plan to reach a million men with the Gospel.   The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine.  Subscribe now  and get a FREE copy of John Mark Comer's new book ...

It's a double bill this week as we hear the life stories of church minister and founder of the Pentecostal Credit Union Rev Carmel Jones and the veteran worship leader and songwriter Chris Bowater.  The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine.  Subscribe now  for only £1

Joshua Sutcliffe has lost his job twice, and been caught up in media storms over his Christian views on sexuality, gender and other religions. Sam Hailes asks the maths teacher turned street preacher why he keeps finding himself at the centre of controversy. You can also read this interview in Premier Christianity magazine. The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity mag...

Claud Jackson was dealing class A drugs and driving expensive sports cars before an encounter with God changed everything. Sam Hailes sat down with Claud to hear his testimony in full.  You can also read Claud's story here . The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine.  Subscribe now  for only £1 Find out more in Claud's book  From Guns to God  (SPCK)

Journalist-priest Giles Fraser talks to Justin Brierley about his conversion, ministry, change of politics and new memoir ‘Chosen’ which tells the story of his spiral into depression after resigning from his ‘dream job’ at St Paul’s Cathedral, and how he found healing through reconnecting with his Jewish ancestry. Read this interview: https://www.premierchristianity.com/giles-fraser-how-the-journa...

Chrissie Chevasutt battled gender dysphoria for decades. They explain how a dramatic encounter with the Holy Spirit during a transgender dressing appointment changed everything. Read their story in full  here .  For an alternative perspective on transgender,  see here . The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine.  Subscribe now  for only £1