How much do statues of Jesus draw people to faith? The world’s tallest statue of Jesus is being built in Armenia, with the 33-metre figure standing on a 44-metre platform. Due for completion in 2027, it’s already attracted attention — including opposition from the Armenian Apostolic Church. So when does a statue become a symbol of faith, and when could it become idolatry? Esther was joined by Dr Ian Bullock, CEO of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, to discuss.
How friendly is the place where you live? A new survey has ranked the friendliness of 296 places across England, looking at trust, connection and loneliness. The Isles of Scilly came top, while Barking in East London came bottom. Esther spoke to Barking resident, writer and actor Silvano Griffith about her hometown’s dubious accolade — before chatting to Andy Hawthorne, founder of The Message, for some practical tips on building stronger community.
What do you think of when you hear “social justice”? For many Christians, caring for the vulnerable is central to the Gospel. But others worry the term has become politicised, distracting from salvation. So how do we hold justice and the Gospel together? Father Joash P. Thomas, priest, theologianspoke to Jamie Pratt about his new book, The Justice of Jesus — and what Jesus’ approach to justice really looks like.
Following fatal crashes in Ireland and near Middlesbrough, concerns have grown over dangerous driving videos shared online for likes and attention. Risky trends are nothing new. So how should Christians respond? And is the Church doing enough to help young people navigate the digital world? Digital Evangelist Ruth Weller and history student Austin Colwell joined Esther to explore how we can clean our feeds and solve this problem!
How much of the Bible could you recite in one go? A couple of verses? A chapter? A whole book? Actor and spoken-word artist Errol McGlashan learnt every single word of the Gospel of Mark — and spent the last few weeks performing it at the Edinburgh Fringe in his show Whoever Has Ears To Hear. Errol joined Esther live to prove how much of Mark he could still recite in one go!
The ADHD Myth? has already become one of the most controversial shows of the year — labelled “inaccurate” and “dangerous” by various charities and sparking widespread backlash online. But is there any truth to the programme’s claims? And how should we talk about and adapt to ADHD in our churches? Esther spoke to psychiatrist Philippa Savage, psychologist Dr Jeremy Rowe and author Sophie Killingley to unpack the nuances of ADHD, the rise in diagnoses, and why it's never something to be 'prayed away'.
A couple set up a church lunch club offering free meals to children in Sheffield — but hardly anyone came, so what happened? If you have the faith and the calling, is that enough? Or does effective social action require more? Esther Higham spoke to Graeme Hodge and Daniel Jones about faith, planning and how to make your project sustainable.
Stephen Sneed from Samaritan’s Purse joined Esther to share what life looks like in the aftermath of a major earthquake, and how relief efforts are supporting communities across Colombia, Venezuela and the Philippines. Plus, how prayer helped open the way for vital food aid to reach people living in conflict zones.
New research has revealed that we're using 388 fewer words per day every year. We're texting more, calling less, wearing headphones at the bus stop and even choosing self-service tills rather than speaking to a human being! So could Christians be the people who still stop for a natter? Esther spoke to Sheridan Voysey, founder of The Friendship Lab, and Nick Amis from the Hive Network, which helps reach communities for Jesus, to share the importance of a good conversation!
The White House has called opposition comments about the relationship between Trump and aide Natalie Harp “cringeworthy”, which inspired Esther to talk about the Billy Graham Rule — the idea of avoiding time alone with someone of the opposite sex. But is that wise for every couple? Salomé Criddle, relationship expert, joined Esther to discuss the rule, healthy boundaries, and whether Jesus, if he were alive today, would have followed it.
GCSE Results Day can bring a huge range of emotions — from celebration and relief to disappointment and uncertainty. So what should young people do if their results weren’t what they hoped for? And how can family and friends offer encouragement and reassurance? Chernise Neo, Head of Impact and Strategic Projects at Spear, spoke to Esther Higham about making the most of results day, whatever the outcome!
Who do you tell when someone you love is diagnosed with a serious illness? And what happens when they ask you to keep it secret? Following Queen Camilla’s comments on the pressure of keeping King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis private, Esther was joined by Professor of Oncology Tim Maughan and Richard Cox from Firm Roots to explore the difficult conversations and practical challenges families can face when navigating illness together — and why Christians can be just as anxious about what to say and do.
Following the death of Jason Arday, what is it like to be a Black Christian in the public eye — and what can our media, academic institutions and churches learn from the events leading up to his death? Esther was joined by pastor and theologian Jeronne Rudder and journalist and broadcaster Roger Bolton to explore the complexities and controversies surrounding Jason’s story.
A new twin study from Lund University suggests IQ is around 75% genetically influenced. Ruth and Claire Jackson join Esther to chat about the unique bond they’ve formed as (near) identical twins, using their likeness to escape detention at school, the continued confusion at family gatherings, and how being a twin has shaped their faith.
How do you get out of debt when it feels like there’s no way out? With 8.5 million working-age adults experiencing material deprivation, what needs to be done to tackle poverty? As Andy Burnham takes his cost-of-living tour around the UK, CAP CEO Stuart McCulloch tells Producer Jamie Pratt what he makes of the new PM’s commitment to tackling poverty — and how CAP is entering a new chapter!
