Pastor Mick Fleming from Church on the Streets joins Esther to talk about serving those living homeless or with addiction — and why we need to change our perception when they walk through our church doors.
How would you respond if someone with Tourette syndrome had vocal tics during church? Esther spoke with Mark Arnold, Additional Needs Ministry Director at Urban Saints, to reflect on the BAFTA's incident and how churches can equip themselves for similar situations.
Children as young as four are sleeping on the streets, according to an ITV News investigation, which says some councils are unlawfully turning families away from emergency housing. Behind the headlines are real children facing fear and uncertainty. Isaiah 58:7 calls us to shelter the wanderer. Have we lost that priority? Elyse MacKinnon from Glasgow City Mission joins Esther Higham on what Christians can do to support those without permanent housing...
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..
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.
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.
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.
When life takes you to a new town, a new job, marriage or children, how do those solid, biblical David-and-Jonathan or Ruth-and-Naomi friendships endure? Premier Christianity’s Emma Fowle joined Esther as a guest presenter and brought her long-time friend Sarah Yardley, lead pastor of Emmaus Road, to share what keeps a friendship thriving, especially when you live hundreds of miles away.
Guest presenter and deputy editor of Premier Christianity, Emma Fowle, joins Esther and Betsy de Thiery, founder of Trauma Recovery Global, to talk about confronting our past, experiencing true healing, and her new memoir, All The Times You Were Not There — which reveals how her dad’s steroid addiction nearly upended her family.
Did you ever read Lord of the Flies at school? Golding’s 1954 novel has haunted generations and is back in the spotlight with a new TV adaptation. But how can Christians interpret the seminal text? Are humans naturally evil, or does society create monsters? Broadcaster and writer Tony Wilson joined Esther to explore why the book still resonates today and what we can learn from it.
Have you heard of Curfew? The thriller envisions a world where men are required to observe a 7pm–7am curfew for the safety of women. Fiction, yes, but the issues are real. In the UK, violence against women and girls is a national emergency, making up nearly 20% of crime. Bekah Legg, CEO of Restored, and campaigner Gavin Drake join Esther to discuss how churches can address blind spots and improve the safety of their female congregation.
We’re at the start of Lent, a season of fasting and spiritual discipline. Some give up treats or social media… but what about giving up all your comforts at once? Programmes like Exodus 90 are growing in popularity, challenging participants to 90 days of prayer, sacrifice and accountability. Leadership coach Matt Parkes joined Esther, alongside Ayoola Bandele of Daily Bible Devotions, to discuss whether the harder path is always the holier one.
Jasper Warwood may be fresh out of school, but he’s already seen God do some remarkable miracles in his lifetime, particularly through Alpha. Now spending a discipleship year at St Thomas’ in Newcastle, he joined Esther to talk about how we can respond to young people’s growing openness to faith and why God never stops!
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, but unlike Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, it often passes us by. So what’s it all about, and what could we be missing? Sister Gemma Simmonds, theologian and spiritual director, joined Esther with a quick “Bluffer’s Guide” to the season, fresh from her early-morning Ash Wednesday service.
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid caused a storm on the slopes last week when he publicly apologised for having an affair. But was such openness wise? Speaker and entrepreneur Kika Ashanike and Jack Valero, founder of Catholic Voices, joined Esther Higham to unpack the Sacrament of Confession, public vs private apologies, and why we can't live without forgiveness.
