October
I was a Black child in care. Here’s why I’m passionate about fixing the system
Black children are more likely to end up in care, and less likely to be adopted. If we want to pursue God’s heart for justice, we need to address the racial inequalities that exist within our care system, says Simon Jay
I am Everything: Little Richard was full of contradictions. But he wanted to be remembered as a child of God
Credited with being the original father of rock and roll, Little Richard careened between religion, sex, drugs and music. Derek Walker reviews I Am Everything, the documentary which charts his complicated life and sexuality
Phillip Schofield: Sin, power and how to resist the urge to be a Pharisee
In the court of public opinion there is rarely room for forgiveness or redemption, observes Tim Farron MP
Christians shouldn’t be attacking Phillip Schofield. We should be praying for him
Rather than joining the chorus of outrage, Christians should be counter cultural in showing love - even to those who have wandered far from God’s standards, says Steve Cox
How do you solve a problem like poverty?
It’s an injustice that worldwide more than 356 million children live in extreme poverty. And as Christians, we have a Biblical call to care for the poor and love our neighbour.
Rev Les Isaac & Jake Isaac: Faith, family and facing death
Street Pastors founder Rev Les Isaac OBE hit the headlines last year after his sermon at the parliamentary prayer breakfast prompted a string of cabinet resignations that led to Boris Johnson’s demise. He and his son, musician Jake Isaac, share their thoughts on the illness that put Les’ life at risk just months before, the impact of ministry on family life and the ongoing fight for racial justice
Unconventional - Sharon Dickens
When Sharon Dickens was asked to set up a women’s ministry in her church in Glasgow, she looked for resources to help her. She found many that outlined good theological foundations, but nothing practical. After a decade of trial, error, growth and setbacks, she wrote the resource she wished she ...
Talking about death: a pastoral guide by Sue Walker
Despite the title, this is not just a book for those in pastoral ministry. All of us have to face tough questions about death, and this offering from hospice chaplain Sue Walker will help.
On getting out of bed - Alan Noble
Suffering is normal. Many of us will experience some form of mental health struggle during our lives. Depending on your own unique situation, medicine, counsellors and/or friends may help. However, when it comes to deciding to get out of bed each morning, no one else can make that choice for ...
Forgive - Timothy Keller
The latest book from prolific teacher and pastor Timothy Keller, Forgive is as good a book on the topic of forgiveness as you could hope to find.
CalledOut Music: My top 8 songs
MOBO award-winning Samuel Nwachukwu, who performs under the pseudonym CalledOut Music, shares the songs on his playlist
A stunning sight
It was one of those: Is this God speaking to me? moments. Seemingly from nowhere a thought surfaced, and the persistent luminosity of it made me wonder if the Holy Spirit was broadcasting on my personal wavelength.
How can you worship the God of the enslavers?
Q: When the rapper Jahaziel renounced his Christian faith, he listed a number of objections to belief, including “Christianity’s involvement in the slave trade”. He spoke about wanting to “return” to the religious traditions of his African ancestors. His story is representative of a large number of young Black people ...
How I stopped my chronic alarm-snoozing and learned to love early mornings with God
Want to be the best leader you can be? You need to sleep well, eat well, exercise well and pray well, says Natalie Williams. Here’s how she changed her daily habits
The Church is being damaged by scandals. Here’s 3 reasons why I still have hope
The relentless news of scandals and failures in the Church is breaking my heart. It can feel really hopeless - and then it becomes easy to slide into despair.
Communion then and now
Traditions may have changed over the centuries, but wherever and whenever we eat the bread and drink the wine, we share fellowship together as one family – and with Jesus – says David Instone-Brewer
From a life of crime to street evangelism
Nigel Williams was put into care as a child and has been in 18 different prisons. But meeting Christ set him free from his addictions and self-harm, and now he loves to share the good news with everyone he meets
Surveillance state: How digital tools are being used to persecute Christians
With the rise of advanced technologies, the ways of suppressing religious freedom are increasing exponentially. From facial recognition software to firewalls, Tim Wyatt spotlights the new ways repressive regimes are targeting Christians
Sonic waves: How Generation Windrush brought Gospel to the mainstream
The Windrush Generation brought the sounds of the Caribbean into British worship. But the music would have an impact far beyond the walls of the Church, explains Colin Tomlin
Nicky Gumbel: ‘If we want to see revival, we must address the sin of racism’
The rejection of the Windrush Generation was a self-inflicted wound from which the Church is still recovering, says Alpha pioneer, Nicky Gumbel
How Windrush changed the British Church for good
As the UK marks the 75th anniversary of Empire Windrush, Mark Sturge unpacks the enormous impact of this generation on the British Church
Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh: ‘Church is the place where you can be a hot mess; you don’t have to be fine’
The actor and activist on growing up in the Cotswolds, coming home to the Church and what it means to take every opportunity God gives you
Leroy Logan: ‘The Lord commissioned me to join the police’
Despite his father being severely beaten by police officers in a racist attack, Leroy Logan persevered with his application to join the Met. His career has seen him valiantly fighting for change – even at significant personal cost. Now a new challenge awaits
The cancer specialist: 'My faith compels me to seek solutions'
The Church is made up of Christians from a myriad of different professions, and yet their ordinary tales of God at work rarely get told. In this series, we bring you stories of faith on the frontline
What is the ethnic pay gap and why should Christians campaign on it?
On average, minority ethnic staff earn less than their white colleagues in the UK. If we are to tackle racial injustice, companies must be transparent about their ethnicity pay gap, says Sarah Edwards
A church divided on ethnic lines cannot stand
It’s a sobering thought, but the next time the Census religion data is revealed in ten years’ time, the Church in England and Wales is unlikely to have grown. Look ahead to 30 years’ time, and the number of Christians will make for even more grim reading. Unless revival happens, ...
Rosemarie Mallett: ‘Jesus calls us to bring about justice. But we can’t do it without him’
The Bishop of Croydon on slavery, racism and the role of repentance
The Windrush scandal
Christian leaders say the government’s decision to pursue a ‘hostile environment’ policy against immigrants has led to ‘triple trauma’ for the Windrush Generation
Holy Russia, Holy War?
The Ukraine war is not only a geopolitical war with Russia, but actually a war within Orthodoxy itself. So argues Katherine Kelaidis in her new book Holy Russia? Holy War? Her rather fatalistic assessment of the situation is tinged with hope for change, says Paul Valler
Mike Pilavachi has been suspended from Soul Survivor. Here’s what we know so far
Soul Survivor Watford has suspended Mike Pilvachi “with immediate effect” as the investigation into safeguarding allegations against him continue
Banned Christian teacher speaks out: ‘Students had a vendetta against me’
Joshua Sutcliffe has been found guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct” and banned from teaching by the regulator for mis-gendering a pupil and failing to safeguard their emotional well-being. In this interview with Sam Hailes, the 33-year-old hits back, accusing the students of telling lies, and the regulator of being prejudiced against Christian beliefs
3 biblical principles on freedom of speech
Transgender rights protesters were unsuccessful in their campaign to prevent Kathleen Stock from speaking at the Oxford Union this week. The Bible doesn’t specifically address the topic of freedom of speech, but it does provide Christians with these helpful principles, explains CARE’s Peter Ladd
10 tips on social media…brought to you by the Pope
The Vatican has released a dense 20-page document on how Christians should approach social media. Rev Peter Crumpler distils the highlights
‘Our first loyalty is to God’s purposes’ Why Quakers are protesting outside courts
The right of juries to exercise their moral common sense is being eroded, says Paul Parker.
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Enough of the culture wars. We need Christian peacemakers
The National Conservative Conference may have featured Christian voices, but it nevertheless stoked societal divisions, argues Savitri Hensman. She believes the Bible calls us to lay down our weapons and instead pursue peace
If God answered Luton’s prayers, does that mean he loves them more than Coventry?
Much has been made of the winners this past weekend. But what would God say to the sportspeople nursing big losses? Jonny Reid gives his view
Seven Psalms: Paul Simon's latest album is blatantly spiritual
The 81 year-old's latest project sees him musing on God, forgiveness and his own mortality
I was abused by a deacon in my church. God helped me forgive AND seek justice
Forgiveness was not the end of the story for Cerys Morgan. She explains how God also led her to seek justice in her abuse case
Here's what the Bible actually says about masculinity (it's different to what you've heard from some Christians)
As mental health awareness month draws to a close, Lau Ciocan makes the case for why churches should lead the way in addressing the crisis in male suicide and toxic masculinity
Thousands of Christian teachers are at risk of losing their jobs for holding biblical views on trans
For every one teacher such as Joshua Sutcliffe, there will be thousands of other Christian teachers who hold to the same biblical beliefs about gender and sexuality. And though they may not communicate these beliefs in precisely the same way, each of them, sooner or later, may have to make costly decisions, whether the repercussions are minor or major. That’s the view of Lizzie Harewood from the Association of Christian Teachers. What do you think?
5 ways ordinary Christians can show extraordinary hospitality
Hospitality is not about our cooking or entertaining skills, but learning to welcome the people God has put in our lives, says Carolyn Lacey. Here’s her top five tips for not letting the call to care for others overwhelm or intimate us
Braverman and Welby were caught speeding. So what?
Good law should protect most of the people, for most of the time, says George Pitcher. He won’t condemn the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Home Secretary for speeding, but he does expect them to face the consequences honourably
4 ways to tackle Church decline
If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got, says Rick Hill. It’s time to dream again, and let God reignite a vision for the evangelisation of the nation in each and every one of our hearts
I don’t care about Suella Braverman’s driving, but I do care about her politics
Getting upset about the Home Secretary’s speed awareness course is missing the point, says Jonty Langley. Christians should be more concerned about unjust systems and the policies that create them
Cancel culture needs a new type of Christian apologetics
In our postmodern culture, lived experience and personal conviction trump evidence, reason and appeal to authority. Benjamin Chang suggests that instead of arguing and reasoning, Christians need to tell a better story
Hatun Tash's evangelism to Muslims nearly cost her life. Are you too polite to face persecution?
If we are never offending people, then it is highly unlikely that we are preaching the gospel, argues Tim Dieppe
Tim Keller (1950-2023): The evangelical statesman was a pastor first
Tim Keller had a soft spot for the UK, notes Krish Kandiah. The pastor, theologian and best-selling author exerted a worldwide influence while maintaining a humble spirit and modelling generosity towards those he disagreed with
NatCon is correct. Our nation will not last without humility and gratitude before God
Parts of the media has grossly misrepresented the aims of the National Conservative Conference, says Rhys Laverty. Having attending the event, Rhys believes it could result in conservatives putting God back into their politics
Why are hundreds of churches being destroyed in Manipur, India?
At least 64 Christians have been killed, thousands displaced and entire villages razed to the ground in Manipur. While reports from the region vary, Ben Cohen from Open Doors says the extent of the violence has dramatically increased in recent weeks. He unpacks the factors driving it
God help conservatives – heaven knows we need it
Pro-life campaigner Lois McLatchie gave an impassioned defence of Christianity’s role in the conservative movement during a speech at the National Conservative Conference entitled ‘On Fighting Lost Causes’. Here it is in full
The Church of England's safeguarding crisis explained
Survivors are losing trust in the Church of England's ability to do justice in cases of abuse, while a leading bishop says his name has been unfairly “besmirched”. Rosie Dawson has the full story
Wayne Drain: ‘God has given me a song! And it sends people to sleep…’
Christian musician Wayne Drain says his ‘Lullaby for Adults’ has helped tens of thousands find untroubled sleep.
This article won’t change your mind
Your mind is tricking you, making you blind to truth, explains Chris Goswami. But it is possible to think more clearly about God, theology and the Bible. Here's how
What is Ascension Day and why do Christians celebrate it?
The marking of Jesus’ ascent into heaven is a profound celebration of his triumph over death, says Rev Dr K Augustine Tanner-Ihm. Here’s why we celebrate it, and what it means for Christians of all denominations
Writing about Julian of Norwich helped me through cancer
It is 650 years since Revelations of Divine Love, the first book to be written in English by a woman, was published. As Claire Gilbert reflects on losing her mother as a child, battling cancer and living through the Covid-19 pandemic, she finds Julian’s writings are as relevant today as they were six centuries ago
‘How I prepared to bless King Charles at his coronation’
What was it like to pronounce a blessing over King Charles III in front of a global audience of millions? Bishop Mike Royal writes about the unforgettable moment inside Westminster Abbey, and how he narrowly avoided a coughing fit!
Paul Burbridge (1953-2023): The theatre pioneer who enabled audiences to hear the gospel gladly
The Riding Lights Theatre Group has become well known in the UK Church for their faith-influenced productions. Bridget Foreman pays tribute to the organisation's co-founder Paul Burbridge, who has died aged 69
‘Hope-carriers assemble!’
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So you've 'cast your cares upon God' but still feeling anxious? These 5 insights from psychology might help
As Mental Health Awareness Week begins, Sharon Hastings shares her top tips on how to combat anxiety
I hated the people who bullied me. When a Christian told me to forgive, it made me angry. But God had a plan
Sy Garte’s experience of childhood bullying led to him becoming a bitter, angry man. When a miraculous encounter with God replaced those emotions with a supernatural joy, it started him on a journey towards faith in Jesus
Poor reporting on Soul Survivor is damaging for everyone - alleged victims included
Media coverage of Mike Pilavachi and Soul Survivor has lumped serious safeguarding allegations together with vague and nonsensical claims about the festival in general. It distracts from the allegations and does any potential victims no favours, says Tim Wyatt
How should Christians respond to the culture wars?
Ben Chang’s new book Christ and the Culture Wars aims to help Christians speak for Jesus in an increasingly divisive world. Heather Tomlinson says that although the ideas aren’t new, they may prove useful for those who are new to the subject of identity politics
Our society wants justice. But God’s justice doesn’t always seem fair
God’s justice isn’t the same as ours, explains George Pitcher
Donate and make dreams come this Christian Aid Week
Your gift this Christian Aid Week will help make dreams come true for vulnerable families like Esther’s in Malawi.
Ant & Dec were among thousands who received a gospel tract at the coronation. I'm praying for them
A quarter of a million gospel tracts were printed and distributed over the coronation weekend. Author Jonathan Carswell says although the campaign was a drop in the ocean, early reports suggest it may already be bearing fruit
Christians can learn from Queen Camilla’s refusal to fight back
Once described as “the most hated woman in Britain”, Camilla Rosemary Shand is now Queen. Chris Goswami argues that there is much Christians can learn from her quiet resolve to turn the other cheek
Justin Welby: ‘Jesus put aside all privilege. He gave his life for us’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby used his coronation sermon to speak about the nature of service and invite those listening to “choose God’s way today”. Here’s his message in full
Charles will be hoping the coronation is free from these amusing mishaps
From sleeping monarchs to rancid anointing oil, past coronations have not always been straightforward. Ian Bradley looks back at a litany of errors
When leaders fail, it makes me want to leave the church. Here’s why I’m still clinging on
Recent years have seen a number of prominent evangelical leaders fall from their pedestals. Jacinta Read says although such revelations have made her want to walk away from the church, she’s choosing to stay in the hope of rebuilding on more solid foundations
Anyone can be anointed by God, not just King Charles
God’s anointing is not just for kings. The gift of the Holy Spirit means all believers are part of the royal priesthood, with all the authority that brings. Let’s use it well, says Andy Flannagan
Christians should only swear allegiance to Jesus. The coronation oath is not OK
In introducing an oath of allegiance into the coronation service, the Church of England has forced Christians – even those who support the monarchy – into a difficult position. We have only one King, says George Pitcher, and his name is Jesus
Ofsted’s problems are theological: here’s how to fix them
Nick Megoran has interviewed dozens of teachers and church leaders in order to understand how we can better manage and motivate people in the workplace. As the suicide of head teacher, Ruth Perry, continues to cast a spotlight on Ofsted inspections, Nick argues that our theology of success needs to change
Why is the King known as Defender of the Faith?
Here’s our explainer on why King Charles III will take on the Defender of the Faith role
The Green Man might be pagan. But for Christians, he’s still useful
Some Christians are concerned about the pagan overtones of the Green Man positioned at the foot of the King’s coronation invites, but let’s not be scornful of this symbol, it might just open up a fruitful evangelistic discussion, says Tony Wilson
A worship flashmob is happening this Pentecost. Here's how you can join in
The convener of the National Day of Prayer UK, Jonathan Oloyede wants Christians to take to the streets at 3pm on Pentecost Sunday. Here's his vision in full
The pressure to impress
I was eagerly looking forward to my annual school reunion. Inevitably, we’d pass the hours reminiscing about the classes we’d loved and loathed, the girls we’d fancied, the pranks we’d played.
Penny Lyon: My worship playlist
Together with her husband, Kevin, Penny leads jazz, blues and R&B band Out of the Ashes. Here are the top eight worship songs she can’t get enough of.
Broken by love - Val Jeal MBE
Val Jeal was 50 when her work with homeless men in Bristol began. Over the next 20 years, her reach extended to sex workers, drug users and their families.
A curious faith - Lore Ferguson
A Curious Faith will especially help those who are perhaps flirting with deconstruction, asking questions about the faith they’ve inherited. Ferguson Wilbert makes space for doubt within an orthodox theology: “I need God to be more sovereign than I am, more faithful, more kind, more creative, more of every good ...
By bread alone - Kendall Vanderslice
Professional baker and practical theologian Kendall Vanderslice unpacks an everyday truth: that “our spiritual lives are deeply connected to bread – the bread we break with family and friends, and the Bread that is Christ’s body”.
Lennon, Dylan, Alice, and Jesus - Greg Laurie with Marshall Terrill
Greg Laurie’s enjoyable book hurtles along like a train, travelling from the gospel roots of rock and roll and terminating at Justin Bieber.
I, Julian - Claire Gilbert
Julian of Norwich’s 15th-century classic, Revelations of Divine Love, is widely regarded as the earliest manuscript written in English by a woman. But beyond that text, little is known about the remarkable woman who lived as an anchoress (or hermit) bricked into a small cell on the side of St ...
Better than fire
Writing ahead of Pentecost Sunday, Lucy Peppiatt says the greatest gift the early Church received was not signs and wonders, but a fresh revelation of the love of God
The Premier Christianity guide to summer festivals
From all-weekend worship to preaching, teaching and fellowship in a field, here’s our pick of the Christian festivals coming your way
Is a new move of the Holy Spirit taking place? 3 leaders weigh in
After reports of a fresh outpouring at Asbury University, Emma Fowle speaks to three leaders to discuss what God might be doing
Rick Warren: ‘I’m embarrassed by a lot of things done in the name of US evangelicalism’
The pastor and best-selling author tells Megan Cornwell how he changed his mind on women in ministry, why he’s ashamed of American evangelicals and what convinced him that gay relationships are ‘not God’s best’
‘Civil war displaced our people. But even in the wilderness, God is there’
When civil war ravaged South Sudan and displaced his community, Rt Rev Joseph Aba, Bishop of Liwolo, followed his people into exile. He says God is powerfully at work in the Ugandan refugee camp in which he now ministers
The sceptics were wrong. Religion still dominates the world’s biggest news stories
This month marks 20 years since Alastair Campbell famously told a reporter: “We don’t do God.”
Jesus rose from the dead. Here are 3 reasons why we can be confident
Two thousand years on, why are Jesus’ teachings still so influential in our world today? And why is he appearing in people’s dreams? The answer to that question lies in the evidence for his death and resurrection, says Justin Bass
Was the Bloom review worth waiting for? The jury’s out
Nearly four years in the making, the Bloom Review attempts to answer the question: “Does government ‘do’ God?” The answer is yes, but not always as well as it could, says Danny Webster. If they want to improve, they need to action the findings - and quickly
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The Bloom report says faith has value - but Christians in the UK are more marginalised than ever
More than half of adults believe freedom of religion is under threat in the UK, according to the Bloom report. Valuing faith means accepting that holiness and adherence to scripture are not optional for Christians - even when it doesn’t fit with popular opinion
War in Sudan puts Christians in mortal danger. We must pray
Fierce fighting has rocked Sudan in recent weeks as two rival factions vie for control. Caroline Duffield explains what is happening inside the tenth most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian, and how we can pray for those still trapped there
Faith is a force for good. The government must engage better with it
A landmark review into faith engagement has found the government needs to recognise faith groups as a force for good. Much more must be done to improve religious literacy, as well as tackling harms such as extremism, says it’s author, Colin Bloom
The coronation should be a Christian event say one third of Brits
What do a funeral and a coronation tell us about Christian Britain? A lot, as it turns out, says Bible Society’s Mark Woods. He unpacks their latest research
The Archbishop’s report on families is a capitulation to our times
The CofE’s Love Matters departs from the traditional Christian view on marriage, and fails to examine the evidence for why it is still the most secure structure within which to raise children and protect long term relationships, says Harry Benson
Diane Abbott was wrong to claim a hierarchy for racism
In looking to the Bible’s example of humility, we can all learn something about empathising with others, rather than fighting our own causes, suggests George Pitcher
Don’t let Diane Abbott’s experience shut down the conversation on racism
Hackney MP Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour party for comments about racism. Rt Rev Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon, says we need to talk about how racism impacts different groups, even if Abbott’s words – for which she has since apologised – should have been wiser
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