Features

‘We need each other’ – ten questions with Fran Kirby

‘We need each other’ – ten questions with Fran Kirby

en staff
en staff
Date posted: 4 Aug 2026

Fran Kirby works part-time for Affinity managing their publications and is a part-time MTh student at Edinburgh Theological Seminary. When she’s not reading theological journals, she can be found exploring the Peak District with her husband and their border collie.

1. How did you become a Christian?

Living in a  hostile world
now this...

Living in a hostile world

Ian Hamilton
Ian Hamilton
Date posted: 4 Aug 2026

The Bible is full of remarkable statements. One of the most remarkable is 1 Peter 1v17. Peter is instructing Christians how to live in an essentially Godless, anti-Christian society. He writes: “Honour everyone. Love the brothers. Fear God. Honour the emperor”.

This is surely remarkable. Love the brothers and fear God we can readily understand; but honour “everyone” and especially “the emperor”? The emperor in question was probably Nero, the fanatically anti-Christian megalomaniac. Honour him? God’s Word can be deeply unsettling.


Good news to the poor
the ENd word

Good news to the poor

Femi Adeleye
Femi Adeleye
Date posted: 3 Aug 2026

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4v18-19).

The Scriptures tell us that one Sabbath day, as His custom was, Jesus went into the synagogue in Nazareth where He had been brought up. That day he read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, what we may consider to be His mission statement. He began by declaring, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor”; … and “… to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” When He finished reading from the text, and with all eyes fixed upon Him, Jesus declared: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The Gospels bear witness to the fact that the words of Jesus were not merely a declaration but a reflection of both proclamation and demonstration of the good news of God’s saving grace.

Meet Gen Z's Christian entrepreneurs

Meet Gen Z's Christian entrepreneurs

Jake Owen
Jake Owen
Date posted: 1 Aug 2026

A research briefing in the House of Commons Library records that between February and April this year, “there were 735,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed, 109,000 more than the previous year.”

Do not think, however, that all of Gen Z has become passive and lost determination. According to the business support platform, Enterprise Nation, in 2025 62% of Gen Z were “thinking about starting a business or side hustle”, 11% higher than Millennials.

Praying for our families
en & Keswick Ministries

Praying for our families

Katharine Hill
Katharine Hill
Date posted: 1 Aug 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Ukraine: 'When tragedy becomes routine...'

Ukraine: 'When tragedy becomes routine...'

Ryan Burton King
Ryan Burton King
Date posted: 31 Jul 2026

It is never a slow news day in Ukraine.

Recent headlines have featured protests (democracy and free speech are thriving!) against the Government’s decision to replace the popular 35-year-old Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, after merely six successful months.

‘How would you like to be known?’
en & Keswick Ministries

‘How would you like to be known?’

Adrian Reynolds
Adrian Reynolds
Date posted: 31 Jul 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Standing firm – lessons from history
en & Keswick Ministries

Standing firm – lessons from history

Clare Heath-Whyte
Clare Heath-Whyte
Date posted: 30 Jul 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Why gathering together is such a good thing
en & Keswick Ministries

Why gathering together is such a good thing

Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis
Date posted: 29 Jul 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Keswick Convention 2026: Behind the scenes...
en & Keswick Ministries

Keswick Convention 2026: Behind the scenes...

Sarah Bennington
Sarah Bennington
Date posted: 28 Jul 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Fighting the world, the flesh and the devil
en & Keswick Ministries

Fighting the world, the flesh and the devil

Graham Beynon
Date posted: 28 Jul 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Should you learn a musical  instrument for your church?

Should you learn a musical instrument for your church?

Matt MacGregor
Matt MacGregor
Date posted: 27 Jul 2026

J.C. Ryle used to worry about people misreading the Parable of the Talents: “The word ‘talents’ is an expression that has been curiously turned aside from its original meaning. It is generally applied to none but people of remarkable ability or gifts: they are called ‘talented’ people. Such a use of the expression is a mere modern invention. In the sense in which our Lord used the word in this parable, it applies to all baptised persons without distinction. We all have ‘talents’ in God’s sight: we are all talented people.”

I think those last five words are crucial for any Christian to ponder, but it is especially helpful in how we think about musical talent.

Glamazon women?
culture watch

Glamazon women?

Rebecca Chapman
Rebecca Chapman
Date posted: 27 Jul 2026

Reality TV has not had a good summer. Married at First Sight has been in the media for all the wrong reasons. Despite this, Netflix has brought us the third season of its megahit America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

The show follows the iconic cheerleading squad as potential members navigate auditions, training camp, and then the ups and downs of the (American) football season. Series One was a breakout hit in 2024, Series Two showed us the women fighting to unionise, despite their highly controlled environment, in an attempt to secure better pay (spoiler: they succeeded!) Series Three holds up a mirror to the new-found fame the team have – now they are globally famous Netflix stars, with all the scrutiny and social-media horrors that this brings. It’s a damning portrayal of how social media can provide an ugly forum for the harsh judgement of others, encouraging us to see commodity over humanity.

Artificial minds: AI and church life
en & Keswick Ministries

Artificial minds: AI and church life

Ruth Bancewicz
Ruth Bancewicz
Date posted: 23 Jul 2026

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

The New Testament’s P45
defending our faith

The New Testament’s P45

Chris Sinkinson
Chris Sinkinson
Date posted: 22 Jul 2026

Have you ever held a P45 in your hand? Most likely you have, and it is the document you were given when you left a job in the UK. A P45 refers to things like the tax you have paid on earnings.

However, there is another P45 that refers to one of the earliest surviving New Testament documents. Dated to around AD 200 it includes parts of the four Gospels and the Book of Acts. It is enormously important to reconstructing what was originally written by the apostles and their friends. While substantially in agreement with the later manuscripts that the Authorised King James Version was based upon, there are enough variations to help clarify the original text.

How do we rest in a restless world?

How do we rest in a restless world?

Alistair Chalmers
Alistair Chalmers
Date posted: 21 Jul 2026

We live in a restless world. Our phones never sleep, our inboxes are never empty, and our diaries often look less like tools for wise stewardship and more like evidence in a court case proving how busy we are.

Even leisure has become hurried. We scroll, stream, shop, travel, exercise, and socialise, often not because we are truly resting, but because we are desperately trying to recover from lives that are running too fast.

A year with Pope Leo
evangelicals & catholics

A year with Pope Leo

Leonardo de Chirico
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 21 Jul 2026

One year after his election in May last year, is it possible to discern some key themes of Leo XIV’s pontificate?

Here are three remarks.

Simple, not shallow: Reaching children with the gospel

Simple, not shallow: Reaching children with the gospel

Josh Williamson
Josh Williamson
Date posted: 20 Jul 2026

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Begin early to teach, for children begin early to sin.” This giant of the pulpit, who preached the Word of God to thousands of people each week, was also known for his heart for instructing children in the Biblical gospel. For Mr Spurgeon, ministering the gospel to a child was just as important as sharing the good news with an adult.

I doubt many within the wider evangelical scene would argue against such views. We know that children’s ministry is vital, but there is debate about how best to go about such an important endeavour.

Before you make that decision, ask this question...

Before you make that decision, ask this question...

Phil Moon
Phil Moon
Date posted: 20 Jul 2026

Some years ago, I was chatting to Peter Lewis, the former pastor of Cornerstone Church in Nottingham. We were having coffee at half-time in a meeting for pastors, and I was wondering how he had stayed so long at Cornerstone. I think at that point it was 37 years, but I may be mistaken. And I’ve never forgotten what he said.

Peter told me how every so often he’d pause and ask himself one question (undoubtedly surrounded with prayerful thought and discussion with at least Valerie, his wife). That one question was this: "Where can I be of most use?"

Waiting for God’s timing

Waiting for God’s timing

Sam Pibworth
Sam Pibworth
Date posted: 20 Jul 2026

I was rewatching Casino Royale (the best Bond film; no need for further debate) on Amazon Prime the other night. It was during a particularly gripping scene that I was interrupted by an advert for toilet rolls.

The change in tone between Bond frantically chasing an Albanian terrorist and the fluffy Andrex dog was quite jarring, but the thing that struck me was not the loo roll, but rather an icon in the top left corner. BUY IT NOW, the button urged. With just a press of my TV remote, the accommodating folks at Amazon would send me a 32-pack of rolls, the very next day, without me even needing to get the app up on my phone.