Faith, Hope, and Love

We live in unprecedented times. If you keep an eye on the news you’ll know that the world is unsettled. Wars, political uncertainty, cost of living crisis, cultural change - it's no wonder people are anxious. How should Christians respond to all of this? Berni Dymet is a Bible teacher, broadcaster and former leader of ChristianityWorks. He sat down with Lydia Bennett to share some encouragement and challenge on staying rooted when the world around us is so turbulent.

Careena and Nigel Van Zyl's love story began when they were on a singles ministry course in their church. They've now been married for 2 years and lead their own singles ministry called Cherish. They shared their stories of faith with Lydia Bennett and how God was forming them and shaping them in both singleness and marriage.

Matthew 6 says "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness". The things that we watch can have a significant impact on our walk with Jesus so does that mean we stay away that aren't explicitly Christian? Charles Merritt from Youthscape joined Lydia Bennett and Tash Kusi to chat all things films, including thoughts on The Lion King, K Pop Demon Hunters and Harry Potter...

Melanie McDonagh is a distinguished journalist who has written extensively about religion and ideas for the Spectator, The Times, and the Daily Telegraph. She sat down with Lydia Bennett to discuss her latest book 'Converts: From Oscar Wilde to Muriel Spark, why so many became Catholic in the 20th century', the class-defying nature of the contemporary Catholic Church and why we may be going through a similar era of Catholic rediscovery now...

Dionne Simpson is a survivor of extreme domestic and spiritual abuse but she has turned her pain and trauma into advocacy for the vulnerable in the Church. Dionne encountered Jesus in a powerful way when in rehab, and now trains faith-based communities in safeguarding and victim support. She shared her story with Carlton Baxter.

What makes preaching truly powerful? Is it information, inspiration, or the Spirit who breathes through both? Rev. Malcolm Duncan, Senior Pastor of Kensington Temple, theologian, and communicator, joined Carlton Baxter to unpack the vital role of teachers in the life of the church.

Sr Gemma Simmonds sat down with Premier's Carlton Baxter to share why cultivating the spiritual disciplines is vital for a healthy relationship with God. They chat about the life-changing effect of gratitude, keeping good rhythms when things get tough and the habits that make prayer exciting! Sr Gemma is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus and a theologian working at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge.

The Great Commission calls us to “go and make disciples of all nations...” but what does that actually look like in our world today? Colin Piper, Director of Global Community at NXTMOVE, and a leader with over 40 years of youth ministry experience across 80 nations, joined Carlton Baxter to unpack this.

Emma Fowle grew up in the shadow of her father, Arthur White—a four‑time world powerlifting champion whose drive for strength and success nearly tore their family apart. In her new book, All the Times You Were Not There, she shares what it was like to live through addiction, debt, and infidelity, and how her family ultimately found recovery, faith, and redemption. Emma joined Carlton Baxter to share her story.

What does raising godly children actually look like in the midst of real family life? That’s at the heart of Anna Hawken’s work. She leads Parenting for Faith, part of BRF Ministries. In a world where formulas and quick hacks promise faster success, is there something parents can intentionally do to help raise godly children? She joined Lydia Bennett to unpack this question.

God delights when we live out the purpose He created us for, yet we often drift and try to go our own way. That tension sits at the centre of Leanne Evans Harknett’s story. As the founder of Lifted Spirits Wellbeing, her journey began with a search for meaning that led her into dark places, until a life‑changing moment pulled her out. She joined Lydia Bennett to share how it unfolded.

Dr Naomi Fox is the founder of Growing Hope, a Christian charity that provides free therapy for children and young people with additional needs in collaboration with local churches across the UK. Naomi sat down with Mal Pope to share the story of Growing Hope and to combat some long-held beliefs and myths about additional needs that need challenging.

David Shosanya wears many hats but is widely known for his consultancy work at Paideia and serves as Regional Minister for Mission with the London Baptist Association. Like every believer, David’s journey to faith is remarkable, beginning in his case from seeing another person get baptised He joined Mal Pope to unpack how this all unfolded

Rev. Dr Alasdair Black, Senior Pastor of Stirling Baptist Church, joined Mal Pope to unpack how we can uncover the rich mysteries of scripture in a guided and balanced way.

Julie’s bold childhood faith was shaken at sixteen, but God continued to shape her story. Now completing a PhD and leading Compassion for Women, she brings together trauma theology, lived experience, and hope. She joins Mal Pope to share her journey and her work with the charity Beam.