Episodios

  • Grace Jin Dexel: The Chinese Christian campaigning for her father's release

    Grace Jin Dexel: The Chinese Christian campaigning for her father's release
    Mar 19 2026
    Grace Jin Dexel was thrust into the spotlight because of her father Pastor Ezra Jin. On October 10th 2025 he was arrested and imprisoned by Chinese authorities along with other pastors from Zion Church in a suburb of Beijing. He is officially charged with the "illegal use of information networks” and still remains in jail. The persecution against Zion Church and Christians more widely in China began in 2016 when the first rewriting of the regulation of religion in China began. It led to independent churches- those not associated with the state - beginning to feel a fresh wave of repression from the authorities. Pastor Ezra founded Zion church in 2007. It went on to become one of China’s largest underground Christian house church networks. "China is a hard country to minister to," Grace says, speaking as someone who is now an American citizen. Now, with her background in human rights, she advocates for her father and his release. In this intimate episode of The Profile Grace speaks to Tola Mbakwe, Premier's News Editor, about what it was like growing up as the daughter of a Christian pastor in China, her hope for his release under President Trump's administration and how God is not giving up on China. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    48 m
  • Leadership Special Keith Foster: ‘When leading requires transition’

    Leadership Special Keith Foster: ‘When leading requires transition’
    Mar 18 2026
    Andy Peck chats with the Head of Training and Principal of Westbrook Academy, at Urban Saints about how training youth leaders is to be a major part of the charity’s ministry going forward. They talk about why the change was needed, what kinds of training opportunities now exist and how God had prepared Keith for this new ministry role The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    26 m
  • Kings Kaleidoscope frontman Chad Gardner: The cost of emotional honesty in worship music

    Kings Kaleidoscope frontman Chad Gardner: The cost of emotional honesty in worship music
    Mar 12 2026
    Chadwick “Chad” Gardner is pretty transparent about wanting a hit song. One that could take care of the kids college fund, "could I just get one, that would be great!" But the American Christian singer songwriter and founder of the Seattle-based band Kings Kaleidoscope knows their music is niche and that's fine too. They're a musical outfit that blend alternative rock, orchestral, hip-hop and modern worship all in one. Throw in personal testimony, hymns and some honest doubt and you have a bold, unfiltered kind of worship music that refuses to hide the struggles of faith while still reaching for hope. Chad grew up in a Christian home playing piano then drums and says he "didn't have a before and after moment of knowing Jesus" it was just always there. But, he struggled with anxiety and had panic attacks. When he did, he imagined God was with him. Early in life his music brought him to the megachurch Mars Hill where he was a worship director for a number of years and before the ministry was hit by controversy in 2014 over bullying allegation against founder Mark Driscoll. While members of Kings Kaleidoscope come and go, Chad remains the existing founding member and they now tour internationally, most recently in London at Koko in Camden Town. In this interview with Premier's Jamie Pratt, Chad talks about his slow by steady climb to 'niche' success, being cancelled from the Christian music events after swearing in a song and his honest desire for a hit. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    44 m
  • Leadership Special Keas Keasler: ‘The leadership thought of Dallas Willard’

    Leadership Special Keas Keasler: ‘The leadership thought of Dallas Willard’
    Mar 11 2026
    Andy Peck chats with the author of ‘Kingdom apprenticeship: Dallas Willard’s Formational Theology and Missional Vision’, about Willard’s approach to leadership. What does Dallas mean by his belief that we are ‘training for reigning’ and ‘what God gets out of our life is the person we become’? How might his approach to spiritual formation help leaders today? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    28 m
  • LZ7's Lindz West on preaching the gospel to 600,000 people through dance music

    LZ7's Lindz West on preaching the gospel to 600,000 people through dance music
    Mar 5 2026
    Lindz West who heads up the popular Christian electronic dance band LZ7 has every reason to be happy. He's part of one of the most successful UK Christian bands. They've achieved multiple top 40 singles in their 20 years together. They're now supporting one of the biggest popstars in the world - Jason Derulo - in his The Last Dance tour. For the band whose whole purpose is to communicate the love of Jesus to young people it's just another chance to get their faith across. West was born to Christian parents and as a child his father had a role working on the Billy Graham revival missions. While he grew up in the Church he drifted and went to America to play basketball and hangout with friends though later got pulled back on track by a pretty girl at a beach mission. Following a stint in the city, he realised he needed more purpose in his work and began working and playing with The Tribe, the genesis of which would later become LZ7, touring and working in school clubs sharing the message and love of Jesus. LZ7 is deeply rooted in evangelism and mission, beginning life in a young offenders prison, with strong links to the Christian charity The Message Trust which works with tens of thousands of teenagers in schools each year. West believes that music, especially LZ7's kind, has a way of cutting through which is universal and that the 'big music event' has a way of capturing the imagination of young people in a way nothing else can. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about his latest single The Perfect Duet, the difficulties of being a Windsor boy when working with inner city kids in Manchester and why LZ7 is not a boyband but a 'man band.'
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    53 m
  • Leadership Special Richard Roberts: ‘God’s work through Charismatic churches’

    Leadership Special Richard Roberts: ‘God’s work through Charismatic churches’
    Mar 4 2026
    Andy Peck chats with the author of ‘Rediscovering Church as Networks: The ongoing story of the non-denominational Charismatic Churches. What kind of leadership did they develop and what might we learn from their development and leadership challenges they faced? The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    28 m
  • Salvationist Jo Moir, the new leader of Spring Harvest

    Salvationist Jo Moir, the new leader of Spring Harvest
    Feb 26 2026
    Spring Harvest is arguably one of the most identifiable UK Christian festivals in the calendar seeing between 10 and 20 thousand people descend upon Butlins in Minehead each Easter for family-themed activities, worship and bible study. Now it has a new leader at the helm- Jo Moir - whose deep background in the Salvation Army has given her plenty of experience mucking in and dealing with different types of people. The former midwife grew up in Guernsey to parents who were part of the Salvation Army but in her early teens she walked away and got in with a 'rough crowd'. A prayer brought her back as her mother went to Africa and looking back now she regards her time as a prodigal as valuable. Moir describes the Salvation Army as Christianity with 'its sleeves rolled up'. It is no doubt her open and vibrant personality that brought her to the attention of the BBC, which led her to feature in a documentary, later becoming friends and mentor to the comedian Paul O'Grady . In this interview with Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes, she talks about her fascinating family history, the opportunities she believes there are for God to move at big Christian events and the importance of all Christians to ask themselves 'why' they're doing whatever it is they're doing. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.
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    50 m
  • Leadership Special Naomi Fox: ‘A vision to give hope to families’

    Leadership Special Naomi Fox: ‘A vision to give hope to families’
    Feb 25 2026
    Andy Peck chats with the founder of Growing Hope, who five years ago shared her vision of having 20 therapy clinics to help families with children with additional needs. They discuss how the vision has grown, how many more clinics are needed and what she has learned about leadership along the way. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com
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    27 m