In his new book, In Good Faith: How the Nature of Belief Shapes the Fate of Societies, author and former Economist journalist Ryan Avent argues that faith shapes how we cooperate, how we build institutions, and how we imagine the future we’re working towards. He joined Lydia Bennett to explain how he came to that conclusion.
The Bucket Ministry, which exists to share God’s love through the gift of clean, safe drinking water. Founded in 2012, the ministry has since grown into a worldwide movement. Christopher Beth, the Founder, Chief Storyteller, and Director of The Bucket Ministry, joined Lydia Bennett to share his testimony and the vision behind the ministry.
What happens when the healing we’re praying for is delayed, looks different from what we expected, or doesn’t arrive at all? That is the tension that Andy Robinson had to wrestle with after learning he had stage 4 cancer. In his new book, The Big C in Me, Andy shares his cancer journey and the testing of his faith. He joined Lydia Bennett to share his testimony and how he learned to go from "Lord, why me?" to asking "Lord, what now?"
The Bible reminds us in Song of Songs 2:15, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.” It’s often not the big dramatic moments that damage our relationships; it’s the small, everyday “foxes”. So how do we clear out what hinders us and make space for healthier, God‑honouring connections to flourish? Certified Marriage & Relationship Coach, and Affair Recovery Specialist, Adaeze Chiwoko, joined Lydia Bennett to unpack this
Becky Chaplin was abandoned as a baby on the side of a road in Kenya but she was miraculously found and later adopted by missionary parents - this is when Becky’s life took a remarkable turn. Today, she serves as an occupational therapist with Mercy Ships and is mentoring Sierra Leone’s first cohort of physiotherapists. So how did this extraordinary journey unfold? Becky shared her powerful story with Lydia Bennett.
Easter is a reminder that we have access to the power of the resurrection every single day of the year. The very Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is at work within us! So what does it look like to actually live out that resurrection life? Retreat leader, speaker, author and spiritual director Amy Boucher-Pye sat down with Lydia to unpack this before leading a beautiful time of extended meditation.
Shaping identity starts young, which is why it’s so important that children grow up with strong, godly role models. That’s something Dr Nkechi Ifediora is deeply passionate about. As the founder of Sparkle Queen Global Ministries, she joined Lydia to share how Sparkle Queen Dolls are helping young girls discover their God-given identity, through the power of play.
When you think about worship, what’s the very first picture that comes to mind? Daniel Johnson, Programme Leader for Theology, Music, and Worship Studies at the London School of Theology, joined Lydia Bennett to explore what the Bible actually says about worship, Christian worship throughout history, and the practical nuts and bolts of congregational worship.
Can music speak into something as complex, and sometimes as painful, as the asylum system? For Josh Asokan, the answer is a resounding yes. Josh is the founder and director of Odyssey Ensemble - the UK’s first professional orchestra devoted entirely to telling and amplifying refugee stories through music. He joined Premier’s Lydia Bennett to share his story.
From the Gospel accounts not lining up perfectly to the differences across the resurrection narratives, the nature of biblical truth can sometimes feel unclear. Church historian, theologian, and senior pastor of Stirling Baptist Church, Alasdair Black, joined Lydia Bennett to explore why we can trust the Bible even though it isn’t always tidy.
Have you ever felt like your faith has slipped into autopilot? You’re praying, but distracted. Reading Scripture, but it’s not landing. Church is good, but something feels off. If that’s you, you’re not alone. We all hit seasons where our spiritual life needs a reset. Joe Warton is a writer, researcher and coach and he joined Lydia Bennett to unpack what a spiritual rut really is, how to recognise it and the simple, practical ways to bring your faith back to life as we head into a new season.
Ahead of the Everything Leadership Conference, Ed Michaelson joined Lydia Bennett to share his remarkable journey and how the Lord cultivated a passion for mission within him. Ed is the founder and CEO of a charity called 500k International, which is based in India and partners with local people to ensure that God’s love reaches them in practical, meaningful ways.
We all know life rarely goes to plan… but what happens when it feels like it's gone completely off course? It can be hard to hold onto God's promises when everything starts to fall apart, but He is with with us always, even in the valley of the shadow of death. Few understand that more than Vaneetha Rendall-Risner. She joined Premier’s Lydia Bennett to share her experiences of child loss, divorce, serious health challenges and to share about her new book 'This Was Never the Plan'.
It’s no secret that music can move us like nothing else. And there’s something especially powerful about Gospel music. The energy, the joy, the sense of unity - it’s on full display as university Gospel choirs from across the UK come together for this year’s University Gospel Choir of the Year final. Ahead of the showdown on the 21st March, Premier’s Mal Pope caught up with six choir representatives to talk about the impact of Gospel music on students today.
Over the past 14 years, churches across Wales have been praying together, working together, and experiencing fresh spiritual momentum through New Wine Cymru. Churches are growing again, people are coming to faith regularly, baptisms are increasing, and Alpha attendance has doubled in a single year. Julian Richards from New Wine Cymru joined Mal Pope to unpack what God is doing in Wales and to explore the practicalities behind this revival.
