At the end of a Sunday morning service at Minster Christian Centre, Cardiff – during a weekend visit to the Welsh capital – I introduced myself to a gentleman called Richard. “I’m a journalist,” I said. “I work for Evangelicals Now.”
Richard’s response was one of enthusiasm and encouragement – as I found out that he has been an en reader for 40 years! It was quite fitting, really, seeing as this year en is celebrating its 40th anniversary. I wanted to know more about Richard’s story – and, sure enough, he was kind enough to share it with me. So, allow me to share it with you, too.
“We have been reading en since it was first published,” Richard began. “Our pastor at the time (Hefin Elias) had a bulk order to start with, and everyone paid him for each copy that we took.
“After a while, this became a bit complicated, so Hefin stopped the bulk order, and every reader then sourced their own copy each month. There were a number of bookshops where you could get hold of one, and not all Christian bookshops stocked en at first, but we usually managed to track down a current copy. Needless to say, sometimes we were disappointed!
“The advent of an annual subscription was the turning point for us, and the arrival of each month’s edition is eagerly awaited in the Budd family.
“We like the variety of articles (provided that they are not too dense [or hard] to absorb), as well as the variety of UK and international news. Most of all, we appreciate the fact that en is solidly evangelical in content, without being doctrinaire.
“We think en provides a much-needed place in creating a viable, constructive voice across the spectrum of evangelicals in the UK, whilst always upholding the fundamental things that unite us – principally our knowledge and experience of the Living God amongst us, His eternal love for us in sending His Son to save us, and the Holy Spirit making us alive to God. Perhaps it could be summed up in the words of Scripture: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him’ (Mark 9v7).”
Have you been reading en from the very beginning? If so, we’d love to hear your story – and how the ministry of en has served you over the years, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2026. Do get in touch.
Here’s to 40 years of en – thanks be to God!
