Does God care about your local pub, sports team, or town centre?
Playback speed
One in three Britons says their area is in decline, yet fewer than 7% are trying to improve it. Do Christians have a particular call to strengthen their local communities? Should we spend less time inside church walls and more time in our neighbourhoods? Esther was joined by Mark Hirst from the Message Trust Community Groceries programme and Peter Crumpler, journalist and Church of England minister, to discuss why a strong local presence matters for sharing the Gospel.
Released on 25 Feb 2026
Coming up next
Youth unemployment sky rockets...what can your church do?
Youth unemployment is at its highest level in over a decade — with nearly one in six young people struggling to find work. So does the Church — small c and big C — hold part of the answer? Lucy Rae from Spear and Emma Winmill of Urban Devotion Birmingham joined Esther Higham to explore what life is really like for young people who feel locked out of the jobs market — and how you can help to rebuild their confidence, identity and hope.
How to call out racism when you see it
Benfica’s Prestianni has been suspended by UEFA after alleged racial abuse towards Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in the Champions League. Madrid went on to win the second leg, with one of their players calling it a victory “for everyone who stands against racism”. But outside of football, how should we respond when we face racism in daily life — in public, at home, or even in church? Richard Reddie, director of Justice and Inclusion for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, joined Esther.
How can we end the plague of gambling in sport?
With major events like the World Cup and Commonwealth Games ahead, concerns are rising. Research suggests two-thirds of gamblers plan to bet more in 2026 than last year while the Government is considering banning unlicensed firms from sponsoring teams, including Premier League clubs. Graham Daniels, General Director of Christians in Sport and director of Cambridge United F.C joined Esther to share his concerns and why his club doesn't accept front-of-shirt betting sponsors..
