To conclude a 2025 that featured everything from challenging expose-style reporting and extraordinary testimonies to pastoral wisdom and cultural analysis, our editor Sam Hailes shares his favourite articles from the past year
1. Are revival fires spreading again? We asked 18 Christian leaders
As reports of renewal gathered pace, I spoke to Christian leaders from a variety of churches and locations across the UK about what they’re witnessing. Not everyone was convinced a ‘quiet revival’ is really happening, but most were upbeat and full of stories of new things God is doing.
My own view is what we’ve seen so far is not ‘revival’ (quiet or otherwise) but there is a significant and welcome new cultural oppenness to the gospel message. This is undoubtedly good news! Let’s see what 2026 brings…
For too long, Christians have felt the need to downplay the supernatural aspects of our faith in the name of ‘seeker sensitivity’. In this piece Pete Greig makes a compelling case that miracles, mystery and encounter are not embarrassments to be explained away, but central to what makes our faith so compelling today.
3. A UK Church has paid £100,000 to settle a sexual absue case. Here’s Claire’s story
One of the more difficult pieces we published this year, but equally one of the most necessary. Claire’s brave testimony is another sad example of church abuse, and a failure of leaders to deal appropriately with survivors. This report by Emma Fowle is vital reading for all leaders in the church today as it doesn’t just detail the mistakes made, it helps us all learn the lessons too.
4. ‘Drink, drugs, sex, career, travel - I’ve tried it all. Nothing satisfies like Jesus Christ’
Calum Mackenzie grew up in a Christian family, but walked away from faith while at university. During the next 22 years he tried everything the world could offer, but nothing seemed to satisfy him. Until one day, a desperate expletive-laden prayer changed everything.
5. What Christians get wrong about Satan
The devil isn’t called Lucifer, he can’t make you sin and he’s surprisingly useful to God. Jared Brock busts the myths you’ve been told about ha-satan
6. Crosses and Bible verses dominated the Tommy Robinson rally. Is a new Christian right on the rise?
After Tommy Robinson announced his major ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally this past summer, we sent journalist David Campanale to central London to report on it. He spent the day asking Christians why they were there, and seeking to understand this new movement dubbed ‘Christian Nationalism’. David’s careful analysis is the best place to start if you want to understand how the political and religious landscape is shifting in the UK today. See also our opinion articles for and against.
7. Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Why is the media silent?
For as long as I can remember, Christians have bemoaned the mainstream media’s apparent lack of interest in the persecution of Christians around the world. “Why don’t the media ever report this?” has become a very common question among believers. For those of us who are interested in the answer to this question (and aren’t just using it as a rhetorical device to make a point), Heather Tomlinson’s investigation is a must-read.
8. The strangest miracle you’ve (probably) never heard of
Can an ordinary communion wafer miraculously transform into tissue from the heart of Jesus? I’ll be honest, my knee jerk answer was ‘no’. Nevertheless, I am intrigued and fascinated by the subject of Eucharistic miracles. Tony Wilson’s report is an excellent introduction to the subject.
Some church leaders have been the perpetrators of abuse. But it’s arguably far more common for leaders to be victims. This investigation makes for sobering reading, and contains tips to bear in mind next time you’re tempted to give your own church leader negative feedback.
10. ‘We can’t keep up with the number of students requesting baptism’
As reports of God at work among Gen Z continued to flood in from around the globe in 2025, Tony Wilson headed to Toulouse, to investigate a remarkable renewal among the town’s student population
11. Dynamic Discipleship: Your practical how-to guide for growing followers of Jesus
Discipleship doesn’t just happen. This is the best article I’ve ever read on how to ensure our churches are full of people growing in their faith. Thank you Luke Smith.
12. The Forgotten Door: In our rush to prove truth, the Church forgot about beauty
It’s not always a solid argument that wins a heart to Christ but, increasingly, an encounter with something far more transcendent. Andy Kind’s piece argues that beauty and transcendence are essential in drawing people toward God. Let’s get rid of the moss and bring on the beauty, he says.
13. Careless People, boiling frogs and why you should try sharing this article on Facebook
Former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams is the author of one of the year’s most talked about books. Careless People exposed a dangerously dysfunctional culture at the social media giant. In his culture column, Martin Saunders analyses the explosive memoir and reflects on what the Church can learn from Silicon Valley’s failures.
14. 8 ways to prevent prophetic abuse in your church
How can your church create a safe, biblical culture around the powerful gift of prophecy? David Shadbolt shared some wisdom on guarding against the manipulation it’s vulnerable to, while making room for the Spirit to move. It’s a timely and helpful article, after so many high profile failures in this area.
15. Attention spans are shortening and ADHD awareness is increasing. Should we do church differently?
Our ability to concentrate has been universally diminished by technology, and that’s just one of a complex range of interweaving factors – including ADHD – that means many of us are struggling to maintain attention. Does the way we do church need a radical rethink, or is this merely a question of self-discipline?
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