In the heart of London, 600 people – me included – gathered for Speak Life’s Responding to the Rebirth conference on Saturday.
The venue was All Souls Langham Place. And it saw an eclectic mix of evangelicals - from across denominations - gather, along with seekers as well, to discuss a phenomenon you might be familiar with: the "Quiet Revival". Or, as co-host Justin Brierley, of the Think Faith newsletter, coined it with the title of his 2023 book: The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God.
Perhaps describing the day as solely a discussion of the reported 50 per cent increase in church attendance over the last six years is too simplistic. The "Quiet Revival" felt like a starting point for speakers to discuss everything from evangelism to evidence, New Atheism to New Age, and revival to rebirth – as I’ve already mentioned.
The UK's 'spiritual openness' is both an opportunity and a challenge
In recent months, I’ve noticed something shifting. Church leaders across the UK tell me that political conversations are becoming more …