How do you navigate a stag or hen do as a Christian, especially when your mates don’t share your faith? What happens when the group crosses a line? How do you stay “in the world, but not of the world”? And can you have a Christian stag or hen do without excluding your non-Christian friends? Rev Jamie Sewell, Jamie Pratt and Jessica Njopa-Kaba share their experiences and explore how Christians can enjoy these occasions without compromising their faith.
How would God deal with a football club falling foul of the rules? Manchester City could face huge consequences following 114 financial rule breaches. But what happens next — and given how much the club means to hundreds of thousands of people, is there a pastoral need for fans too? Former professional footballer and Christians in Sport director Graham Daniels explains why the case matters — on and off the pitch.
As hundreds of prisoners are released early amid overcrowding, how can churches help ex-offenders rebuild their lives? Esther spoke to Luke Carson from London City Mission, Ruth McBryan from The Message Trust, and Ben, who has experience of prison life, about what happens when someone walks out of the prison gates and tries to start again.
The Conservatives want to spend £10bn on a new missile and drone defence system for Britain. But how much should we be spending to protect the country from emerging threats, and what does the Bible have to say about defence? Major General Roddy Porter joined Esther to unpack the thinking behind the proposed ‘Britannia Shield’ and the bigger questions around Britain’s defence.
A government review into mental health suggests young people aren't simply becoming more vocal about their struggles, but that levels of mental distress have genuinely increased. Esther Higham spoke to Dr Gareth Crispin, an academic specialising in youth, children and family ministry, and Sara Taylor, UK Director for Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, about what this could mean for ministry, why the ‘snowflake’ narrative is nothing new, and the three things young people are looking for.
Would Jesus crack on with a cold? Esther spoke to Juney Muhammad, Director of Spiritual and Pastoral Care in Mental Health, about whether we should push through when we’re ill, after reports that young people are going to work despite carrying colds, flu symptoms and potentially worse!
Could the Church be part of the answer to the growing child mental health crisis? More than 75,000 children, including some as young as six, attended A&E for mental health-related concerns in 2025: around 200 every day. With young people facing unprecedented pressures, should churches step up? The Psalms are full of fear, anxiety and lament, but how can churches help? Esther was joined by Tim Morfin, who leads TLG, working with schools and churches to support children and young people.
A new State of Theology survey found significant confusion among UK evangelicals about some basic Christian beliefs, with more than half of newer evangelicals saying the Bible contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but isn’t literally true. Chris Larson from Ligonier Ministries and theologian Dr Michael Tang joined Esther to discuss what Christians really need to know, why theology isn’t just for academics, and how we help newcomers get to grips with the jargon.
Martyn Link, co-founder of The Business Connection, joins Esther for another Christian Workplace Clinic, tackling X Factor-style job auditions, being interviewed by a chatbot, and dealing with toxic work environments.
Is this simply correcting an historic wrong, or should Church of England appointments stay within the Church? As Andy Burnham prepares to address Labour conference as Prime Minister, his government is introducing legislation to remove a historic restriction on Catholics advising the King on Church appointments. The restriction dates to 1829, meaning Burnham currently cannot perform that part of the PM’s constitutional role. Esther spoke to former Anglican, now Catholic commentator Gavin Ashenden.
How political do you want your pastor to be? Following the Ed Sheeran tour fiasco, Esther was joined by church leader Tony Uddin and journalist George Pitcher to ask whether staying silent on issues of the day is a form of complicity. They discuss why the Gospel is inherently political, how to speak out, and the irony of a politician telling church leaders to stop “preaching from a pulpit”.
Producer Jamie Pratt spoke to Gordon McKechnie, author of The Christian Almanac, exploring the Christian calendar and some of the traditions and stories behind it. From Harvest and Maundy Thursday to Allhallowtide, Gordon explains how the Christian year goes far beyond Christmas and Easter — and why these traditions still matter today.
Two respected Christian leaders have recently shared stark prophetic warnings with the UK Church. Pete Greig says he received the words “prepare for war” and reluctantly shared them after praying and speaking with senior figures in government and the military. Steve Uppal has also warned of “real disruption” and called Christians back to a “wartime mentality.” After following up with Steve, Esther spoke to seasoned prophet David Stark about how Christians should respond to frightening words of knowledge.
Are your views on migration based on reality? With boat crossings and net migration sharply dropping, Esther Higham was joined by guest presenter Dr Richard Reddie and Inderjit Bhogal, founder of Seeking Sanctuary, to talk about the latest figures, having wisdom and compassion when it comes to asylum seekers and refugees, and 'reverse mission'.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, saying “settler terrorists” are carrying out “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians. But will his language exacerbate antisemitism in the UK? How do we criticise the government of Israel without veering into prejudice or historical tropes? Esther spoke to Ruth Valerio from Embrace the Middle East and Jules Freeman from the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism.
