Clacton was once one of Britain’s best-known seaside resorts, but it’s now closely associated with Nigel Farage and Reform UK. After resigning as MP earlier this month, Farage is standing again in the by-election he triggered. With the main parties not standing and a record number of independents competing, could this be an opportunity for outsiders — and even Christians — to make their mark in politics? Esther spoke to Nims Obunge MBE and comedy writer James Cary.
Can a government really end rough sleeping? Esther spoke to Jon Kuhrt, CEO at Hope into Action, and Mick Fleming, founder of Church on the Street, about Prime Minister Andy Burnham's bold pledge to end rough sleeping. They discuss what actually works, whether politicians can deliver on such promises, and why the Church needs people experiencing homelessness just as much as they need the Church.
Heatwaves at home, wildfires across Europe – there's no doubt the weather is heating up in every sense of the word. In Job 37, we're reminded that God directs the clouds, the rain, the ice and the storms. So is God behind rising temperatures? And if he's sovereign over creation, why does he allow the devastation of wildfires and drought? Esther was joined by Rev David Gregory, a Baptist minister and trained meteorologist, to explore what Scripture says about God and the weather.
When do you become a man? Prince George celebrated his 13th birthday this week. In Judaism, 13 marks a boy's Bar Mitzvah, while at just 12 years old, Jesus amazed the teachers in the temple with His wisdom. As Christians, have we lost meaningful rites of passage for boys? Mal Pope was joined by Jonathan Eales, CEO of The Boys' Brigade, and child psychologist Dr Selone Ajewole to explore how boys grow into good men.
The Green Party is proposing a system of “fair shares” that could limit things like meat, dairy, petrol and flying. But should reducing consumption be enforced—or is it something Christians should choose for themselves? How do we enjoy God’s gifts while caring for creation? Dr Ruth Valerio, Dr Martin and Revd Dr Margot Hodson joined Esther to explore the faith questions behind the debate. Esther also spoke to Brother Samuel about living a climate-conscious lifestyle.
Have you ever considered inviting the Holy Spirit on holiday with you? When she’s not presenting, Esther Higham leads MOJO (Ministers of Jesus Out There) — recently taking her team to Malaga to explore what happens when you use your gifts to bring ministry into everyday holiday moments. She was joined by MOJO team member Katie Drew, and Will and Lara Sussman from Altitude Mission, to reflect on what it means to take a “Holy Spirit holiday” — and why dialect is no barrier to sharing your faith.
With so many festivals to choose from, you could be forgiven for thinking Christian festivals are all competing. Esther spoke to Rich Johnson, National Leader of New Wine, Rev Tim Alford, National Director of Limitless, and Sarah Yardley, speaker at Wildfires Festival, about what really goes on behind the scenes. They share stories of festival chaos, why big-name speakers matter less, and a remarkable story of self-harm scars disappearing before their eyes.
What do you know about LinkedIn? The platform has more than 1.3 billion users, helping people find jobs, build connections and showcase their skills. But beyond that, could it become a new public square for sharing faith? Or are there places where bringing up Jesus might feel like a step too far? David Olusegun, who actively uses LinkedIn to share his faith, joined Esther to explore how Christians can talk about Jesus without turning a networking opportunity into an awkward sales pitch.
Christopher Nolan's long-awaited adaptation of The Odyssey has finally arrived in cinemas—and it's already winning rave reviews. But what can Christians make of one of the oldest and most influential stories ever told? Predating the New Testament by centuries, some scholars believe Homer's epic may even echo in Luke's Gospel and Acts. Esther Higham was joined by writer and journalist Beatrice Scudeler to explore the faith, myth and meaning behind the classic.
Andy Burnham officially takes over as Prime Minister today after Sir Keir Starmer stepped down. What can we expect from his leadership, and how might his Christian upbringing shape his time in office? Esther first spoke to CARE's James Mildred for a political perspective, before hearing from Phil Jump of the North West Baptist Association on how Burnham is viewed in his home region—and why he believes the new PM is keen to work with churches!
Middle age gets a bad press. For men, it's the sports car and midlife crisis; for women, it's the menopause and fears of becoming invisible. But with people living longer than ever, where does middle age really begin—and is it time for a rebrand? Esther Higham and Guest Editor Rt Rev Emma Ineson were joined by author of The Dark Night of the Shed and co-host of the Mid-Faith Crisis podcast, Nick Page, to find out.
When disagreement turns into division, can Christians choose a better way? Esther Higham was joined by Guest Editor Rt Rev Emma Ineson, alongside Rev Christina Rees and Fr David Houlding—who hold diametrically opposed views on women in church leadership. Despite standing on opposite sides of one of the Church's most contentious debates, they shared how an unlikely friendship blossomed!
Frustration. Impatience. Irritation. Last week, Ofcom fined Virgin Media £28 million after customers were repeatedly kept on hold or disconnected when trying to cancel contracts. James 1:19 urges us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry"—but that's not always easy. Youth pastor Dwaine Morgan joined Esther to explore how faith helps us when we're stuck on hold.
Nigel Farage has framed his upcoming by-election as 'the people vs the establishment' – but who does he mean by that? And is this helpful language to use? Esther spoke to Nick Spencer from think tank Theos and Reform UK's Dan Barker to unpack the broad term, explore its history, and ask whether the Church itself is part of the establishment.
25 years on from The Fellowship of the Ring, why does Tolkien’s Middle-earth still captivate millions? Esther spoke to theologian and Tolkien scholar David Rowe about the Christian ideas woven into Tolkien’s world. They discuss the story’s ‘ugly duckling’ nature, how The Lord of the Rings can accompany and enrich faith, and why he believes the author is “one of the greatest writers of goodness”.
