Best Churches Together In Britain Podcasts (2026)

1
2025 In:Review (with John Stevens) 40:51

Play Pause

3h ago40:51

40:51

2025 has seen encouragement and growth in the church in the midst of division and polarisation across the culture. As the year comes to an end, Adrian Reynolds (Associate National Director) and John Stevens (National Director) look back at the big picture of 2025 and the themes that have impacted church leadership during the past 12 months. Show no…

1
Explaining the Soviet Union 2:41:23

2d ago2:41:23

2:41:23

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine Soviet communism from czarist origins through Stalin's totalitarian brutality to collapse and explore how Marxist ideology created history's most psychologically destructive regime. -- SPONSOR: SHOPIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses w…

1
When Buildings Help and Hinder Mission // Jon Broome 57:49

6d ago57:49

57:49

Is our church building project serving the mission - or have we made it the mission? Church property can be a powerful servant of mission - or a costly distraction. In this seminar, Jon Broome (Cuckfield Baptist Church, West Sussex, and Kingdom Bank) helps us to explore how property can point to Christ and become a flexible space that supports miss…

1
Mission in Action (Evangelistic Mercy Ministries) // Ray Evans & Jon Putt 51:45

6d ago51:45

51:45

Many church leaders continue to wrestle with the question of ministries of mercy and their place in church life. FIEC’s Theology Team invited Ray Evans and Jon Putt (both Grace Community Church, Bedford) to share their experience of seeking to develop ministries of mercy in ways that are theologically informed, evangelistically fruitful, and practi…

1
Mission Central (Strategic Mission Partnerships) // Michael Prest & Anthony Adams 1:00:15

7d ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Lots of church leaders inherit (or are responsible for) a haphazard and opportunistic approach to mission. How can we refocus, downsize (if necessary), and be strategic about mission partnerships in the church? What does it mean to lead the church in this area? In this seminar, Michael Prest (UFM Worldwide) and Anthony Adams (Radstock Ministries) h…

1
All Roads Lead to Rome (Reaching Catholics with the Gospel) // Leonardo De Chirico 55:28

18d ago55:28

55:28

There are more than 1.4 billion Catholics in the world – the second largest religious group of unreached people only behind Muslims. In fact, they outnumber Muslims in the UK. Are they really unevangelised? What do Catholics believe? And how can we reach them? In this seminar, Leonardo De Chirico (Reformanda Initiative) gives a brief outline of Cat…

1
“First to the Jew” // Joseph Steinberg 53:51

18d ago53:51

53:51

When we talk about Jewish people, our conversations quickly turn to politics and current events in the Middle East. Perhaps we also reflect on the terrible rise in antisemitism. These are real issues, but we mustn’t let them distract from the high calling of taking the gospel of Jesus the Messiah to Jewish people. In this seminar, Joseph Steinberg …

1
Bondi Beach Attack, Putting Christ in Christmas, and Losing the Ashes // In the News 34:06

10d ago34:06

34:06

What should we make of the terror attack in Australia? Do we need to put Christ back into Christmas? What can we learn from losing a cricket match? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news and how…

1
Our Mobile World // John Stevens 51:38

16d ago51:38

51:38

Our world is changing. What challenges does this pose for Christians, what opportunities are there for gospel work, and where does the UK church fit into global mission? The books of Acts shows how the church grows - that persecution doesn't stop the growth of the gospel but in fact is often the context for gospel opportunity and growth. As the gos…

1
The Goal of Mission (Acts 2:42-47) // Graham Beynon 29:05

21d ago29:05

29:05

The aim of mission is to build the unified church to glorify Jesus the head. The goal of mission is to build gospel churches; the gospel message produces gospel churches. We don't get to decide what church looks like; but we get to help church look like the gospel. And gospel churches become a vehicle for mission. This message is the fourth of four…

1
The Message for Mission (Acts 2:22-41) // Alan McKnight 38:13

21d ago38:13

38:13

Churches must have continued confidence in the gospel as a message about a person: Jesus. If Jesus has been raised from the dead, it is the most important news in the cosmos. We need to share this news with every country and culture. Just as for Peter in Acts 2:22-41, our message must be Jesus: his life, his death, his resurrection, and his exaltat…

1
The Power for Mission (Acts 2:1-21) // Matt Waldock 36:05

21d ago36:05

36:05

The coming of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to witness and cuts through cultural boundaries. Acts 2:1-21 signals the first fruits of the era of the Spirit and the mission to go to the ends of the earth. The gospel is preached cross-culturally, with power, by those we'd least expect. The church today has this same power, from the Holy Spirit, t…

1
The Call to Mission (Acts 1:1-26) // Julian Hardyman 43:01

21d ago43:01

43:01

Jesus calls the church to move out with the gospel from where it is to the ends of the earth. In Acts 1:1-26, we read Jesus' call to his disciples to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The call of local churches today, then, is to take the gospel out from the centre, across cultures, to all nation…

1
Covid Inquiry, BBC Bias, and Religious Education // In the News 35:28

1M ago35:28

35:28

What lessons are there to learn from the Covid-19 inquiry? How can bias in the media help us in church ministry? Is the UK becoming more secular? In this episode, Phil Topham (Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (Associate National Director), and John Stevens (National Director), discuss stories in the news from the past few weeks. Show notes FIEC…

1
How to Make the Most of Music at Christmas (with Phil Moore and Keith Getty) 32:46

1M ago32:46

32:46

Christmas carols continue to be popular across Western culture. How can we make the most of music at Christmas to build up the church and to reach out to others? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by Phil Moore (Cornerstone Church, Nottingham) and Keith Getty (hymn writer and musician) to …

1
Explaining the Rise + Fall of Modern Britain 2:09:54

2M ago2:09:54

2:09:54

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine Britain's arc from Tudor origins through imperial dominance to modern decline, analyzing how internal unification of the British Isles catalyzed global expansion. -- SPONSOR: SHOPIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, handling …

1
Explaining the Age of Romanticism 2:16:29

2M ago2:16:29

2:16:29

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze romantic era Europe's dueling philosophical currents—romanticism versus utilitarianism—through the Congress of Vienna, industrial capitalism, and the political tensions preceding World War I. -- SPONSOR: SHOPIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shopify powers millions of bu…

1
Explaining the History of Trade (feat. Ryan Petersen of Flexport) 1:26:57

2M ago1:26:57

1:26:57

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch sits down with Ryan Petersen, Flexport CEO to examine how commerce shaped civilizations—from ancient maritime networks through containerization's revolution. They trace currency systems' societal impacts, exponential post-war growth, and how technological shifts from coins to the…

1
Explaining Europe's L'Ancien Regime 2:20:14

2M ago2:20:14

2:20:14

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore 18th-century Europe's L'Ancien Regime: aristocratic culture, Louis XIV's Versailles, military revolutions, European warfare, Enlightenment developments, and the economic and political conditions leading to the French Revolution. -- SPONSOR: SHOP…

1
Immigration, Praying with the Pope, and Prunella Scales // In the News 33:32

2M ago33:32

33:32

How can we pastor people with polarising opinions on immigration? Can we pray with Catholics? How should we care for those in later life? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over the past few…

1
BONUS: Wycliffe Bible Translators at the Leaders' Conference (with Martin Dixon) 13:42

2M ago13:42

13:42

Our fund raising campaign at the 2025 Leaders' Conference will be for a specific Bible translation project in Africa. In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) is joined by Martin Dixon, the Director for Churches at Wycliffe Bible Translators, to talk about the work of Bible translation across the world an…

1
Reaching Muslim People (with Dan Strange and Rob Scott) 29:26

2M ago29:26

29:26

There are four million people in the UK who say they are followers of Islam. In our rapidly changing communities, how can we reach out to Muslim people with the gospel? Muslim people make up 6% of the UK population (as of 2021), which increase to 15% within London. Reflecting on their experiences in church ministry, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate …

1
Explaining the Enlightenment 2:14:35

3M ago2:14:35

2:14:35

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine the Enlightenment's philosophical transformation from medieval religious to modern mechanistic worldviews, analyzing French rationalist, British empirical, and German romantic traditions that fundamentally shaped contemporary Western civilizatio…

1
Explaining the Mediterranean's Decline 2:27:33

3M ago2:27:33

2:27:33

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore the Mediterranean's decline from civilization's epicenter to peripheral status, examining Islamic stagnation, Spanish-Ottoman authoritarianism, and Northwest Europe's technological and institutional ascendancy. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY The ri…

1
Israel-Gaza Ceasefire, Persecution in China, and Leadership Humility // In the News 31:05

2M ago31:05

31:05

How should we continue to pray for Gaza after the ceasefire? What should we make of persecution of Chinese Christians? How do we encourage humility in leadership? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in t…

1
Explaining the Catholic Church 2:05:35

3M ago2:05:35

2:05:35

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze the Catholic Church's 2000-year evolution from Constantine through modernity, examining its role in shaping Western civilization amid profound historical transformations. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY The right technology reshapes politics and cul…

1
Preparing for Mission (with Nick McQuaker) 32:41

3M ago32:41

32:41

Sharing the good news is a joy and a privilege. How can churches pray and prepare for an extended mission of evangelism? "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Isaiah 52:7)! A Passion for Life exists to help churches reach out to their communities with the gospel by equipping, encouraging, and enabling every Christian in their p…

1
Explaining Capitalism's Rise + Fall + Rise 2:23:44

3M ago2:23:44

2:23:44

By Turpentine

1
Synagogue Attack, New Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Ryder Cup // In the News 31:37

3M ago31:37

31:37

How do we lead our churches in response to evil like the anti-semitic attack in Manchester? How should Independents respond to the new Archbishop of Canterbury? What can church leaders learn from Europe's Ryder Cup victory? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Rey…

1
Explaining Steppe Empires 2:12:07

3M ago2:12:07

2:12:07

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore Eurasian steppe nomads from Aryans to Mongols, analyzing how small mobile populations repeatedly conquered and influenced much larger sedentary civilizations. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and cultu…

1
Charlie Kirk, Due Diligence, and State Banquets // In the News 34:06

3M ago34:06

34:06

How can we lead our churches through division? What needs to be considered before appointing someone to a role? What is it like to dine with the king? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), John Stevens (FIEC National Director), and Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) discuss stories in the news over…

1
Explaining Colonialism in Asia 2:10:33

4M ago2:10:33

2:10:33

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a historical analysis examining European colonialism's impact across Asian civilizations, exploring patterns of conquest, resistance, and cultural transformation to understand broader geopolitical dynamics. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The r…

1
Making Mistakes, Free Speech, and Gaining Trust // In the News 32:35

4M ago32:35

32:35

What can Angela Rayner's stamp duty mistake teach church leaders? Does the UK have a free speech problem? What does Daniel Levy's exit tell us about trust? In this episode, Adrian Reynolds, Phil Topham, and John Stevens discuss stories in the news and how they relate to church leadership. Show notes FIEC Leaders' Conference 2025 (fiec.org.uk) In:Pr…

1
Explaining Inner Asian History 2:10:37

4M ago2:10:37

2:10:37

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine Inner Asia as the overlooked crossroads between China, Islam, Europe, and India, tracing ancient migrations through modern geopolitics in this forgotten spine of Eurasian civilization. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology r…

1
Explaining the Gunpowder Empires 2:02:14

4M ago2:02:14

2:02:14

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore why gunpowder democratized Europe but enabled Asian autocracy, examining Hawaii, Ottoman, Ming, and Mughal empires to understand how identical technologies create divergent civilizational outcomes. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE…

1
Trump & Putin, Crime in Church, and Exam Results // In the News 37:03

4M ago37:03

37:03

Can true peace be found? How should we respond to crimes committed by church leaders? Should we pray for good exam results? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director) and Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and the North of England) discuss some of the stories in the news and how they might relate to ch…

1
Explaining Imperial China 2:23:08

5M ago2:23:08

2:23:08

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze 2,000 years of Imperial China's civilizational patterns, examining how Confucian bureaucracy, geographic divisions, and cyclical dynastic struggles shaped one of history's most enduring empires. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE Th…

1
Explaining Japanese History 2:48:05

5M ago2:48:05

2:48:05

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a deep-dive analysis of Japanese history exploring cultural patterns, honor systems, political development, and societal evolution from ancient origins through modern stagnation. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology re…

1
Explaining the Mongol Empire 2:14:39

5M ago2:14:39

2:14:39

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a deep-dive into the Mongol Empire's rise, conquests, and civilizational impact, examining how Genghis Khan's brutal campaigns reshaped Eurasian politics and accelerated Western Europe's ascendancy. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | SHOPIFY | NETSUITE | ORACLE The…

1
Explaining Mysticism in History 2:36:37

5M ago2:36:37

2:36:37

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett go into a deep philosophical exploration of mystical traditions throughout history, examining Plato, Aristotle, Eastern and Western mysticism, and how ancient spiritual knowledge shaped modern civilization and consciousness. -- 📰 Be notified early when …

1
Prayer for Gaza, Adult Content Checks, and Exposed Sin // In the News 32:45

5M ago32:45

32:45

How can we pray in light of the images coming from the Middle East? How are new online checks good news for our churches? What does a recent Coldplay concert teach us about sin? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Andy Hunter (FIEC Director for Scotland and the North of England), and John Stevens (FIEC National …

1
Moving Towards Intercultural Church (with Tim and Justin Gill) 33:21

5M ago33:21

33:21

What do we mean by 'intercultural church ministry'? What steps can churches make to move from being 'mono-cultural' towards being 'inter-cultural'? Each group of people shares a pattern of doing things: its culture. As cultures from around the world mix more and more, communities can be mono-cultural or multi-cultural. When we read about the great …

1
Explaining Sex and Power in History 2:47:45

6M ago2:47:45

2:47:45

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine how sexual dynamics between men and women have shaped civilizations, arguing that modern society's departure from archetypal gender roles threatens societal stability. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.t…

1
Explaining the Holy Roman Empire 2:20:39

6M ago2:20:39

2:20:39

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett do a deep dive into the thousand-year Holy Roman Empire, exploring how this decentralized German confederation shaped European civilization, from Charlemagne's coronation through medieval peak to Napoleonic dissolution, revealing patterns that illuminat…

1
Explaining the Crusades 2:13:40

6M ago2:13:40

2:13:40

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett analyze the Crusades through civilizational patterns, exploring the clash between ascending Western Europe and declining Islamic civilization during medieval power transitions. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: ⁠⁠https://ww…

1
Explaining the Volkerwanderung 1:58:08

6M ago1:58:08

1:58:08

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore the Völkerwanderung—the massive Germanic, Slavic, and Arabic migrations (200 BC-600 AD) that transformed Europe from Mediterranean-centered classical civilization into the foundations of medieval Christendom. -- 📰 Be notified early when Turpenti…

1
Rumours of War, Abortion & Assisted Suicide, and Festival Season // In the News 32:31

6M ago32:31

32:31

How do we lead our churches through a time of uncertainty? What do votes for abortion and assisted suicide tell us about society? How can festivals remind us of the glorious normal? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Associate National Director), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director), …

1
Reviewing Spending, Leading Through Tragedy, and Obituaries // In the News 31:04

7M ago31:04

31:04

How do we lead our churches well in the use of money? What happens when a tragedy affects the church? What do recent deaths teach us about the changing world? In this episode of In:Dependence, Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries) and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss stories in the news and what we can learn from them abou…

1
10 Minutes on the Comprehensive Spending Review: Insights and Implications 11:34

7M ago11:34

11:34

Join Alex Clare-Young and Paul Morrison from the Joint Public Issues Team as they delve into the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and its impact on government departmental budgets over the next three years. The episode explores the implications of the CSR on poverty, local government funding, and international development, highlighting the signi…

1
Explaining the Death of God 1:58:21

7M ago1:58:21

1:58:21

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore how Western civilization shifted from a deeply religious, meaning-filled worldview to modern materialism and nihilism over the past 500 years, and discusses why this "death of God" is a global phenomenon affecting everything from birth rates to …