In Depth:  John-Edward Funnell

John-Edward Funnell

I am not a social scientist, statistician, or expert in trend analysis. I have no qualifications in psychology or anthropology. I am a simple pastor in the Welsh Valleys who has made a cultural observation, from my own experience, that has captured some attention.

There are three lies that British culture promotes, all of which sound lovely, and we all wish they were true.

John-Edward Funnell

Most people born in the 1980s will be familiar with the character Thomas the Tank Engine. First published in a book in 1945, his adventures were later adapted into a TV show Thomas and Friends which ran from 1984 until 2021.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of this British classic, an unseen version of the pilot episode, discovered in the Mattel archives, filmed back in 1983, has been made available on YouTube.^[1]

John-Edward Funnell

I have just returned home from a missions conference in Constanta on the Black Sea, where I was invited to speak on “Gen Z and the exclusivity of Jesus.” 

Hundreds of people attended from across Europe, Asia, Africa and even South America, yet we met together as one, to worship the same Father in Heaven. We had a beautiful time together.

John-Edward Funnell

By God’s grace I have a busy life. I pastor a large church in a deprived area. I am a husband and a father of four wonderful children and have many other ministries and responsibilities that cause much worry to dear Christian friends.

Many have gifted me books filled with advice on how to prevent “ministry burnout.” Not only do these books add to my burden, they are often embarrassingly out of date, reminding me of the same Human Resources (HR) rhetoric I heard in business 20 years ago.

John-Edward Funnell

The Joe Rogan Experience is a global phenomenon. The podcast features up to three hour long conversations with diverse and interesting guests, including recently with President-elect Donald Trump. 

Encapsulating the zeitgeist of our age

Rogan's laid-back interview technique allows him to explore controversial subjects in ways that mainstream media cannot. The Joe Rogan experience has attracted millions of followers for this reason. 

John-Edward Funnell

Each year, during the festivities, I like to take in a performance of Handel’s Messiah. This year was no exception, made even more special under candlelight in the magnificent venue of Llandaff Cathedral.

The Messiah was composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, whom Ludwig van Beethoven declared as 'the greatest composer that ever lived.' I adore Handel's epic oratorio, but my love for this annual event is entirely theological. Each year I am presented with a taste of Heaven, an image of the new humanity whom God gave His Son to redeem.

John-Edward Funnell

The fertility rate across the UK is now the lowest on record, with 1.44 children being born per woman of childbearing age.

There are many theories as to why: the cost of living crisis, the lack of affordable housing and the expense of childcare. Many dream of being able to one day afford a home in the suburbs, close to a good school, with a nice garden for their children to play in, but for now, they are stuck in the rut of long working hours and ready meals and can barely pay the rent for their apartment. Not ideal for family life.

John-Edward Funnell

I was interested to see the demographic breakdown of our church's YouTube channel.

Scrolling through the various analytics, I was surprised to find that a majority are males - 55%, watching our content. This trend is being recognised across many other theologically based YouTube channels with some reporting up to an 86% male audience.

John-Edward Funnell

Each summer, I have the opportunity to serve the next generation of leaders, missionaries and committed church members at youth camps in Wales and Romania. What I have observed recently is a growth in an almost puritanical movement within our youth.

As I teach the Bible and engage with Gen Z and Gen Alpha*, I am encouraged by their deep commitment to Jesus and their desire to live authentic holy lives. They have all grown up in a post-Christian secular society, saturated with sexual ideology and they are seeking refuge. I see a counter-culture that is being refined by secularism, calling a new generation back to holy living.

John-Edward Funnell

The running debate over transgenderism has revealed the obvious conflict between two ideologies that the Olympics are attempting to unite.

The controversy around boxer Imane Khelif has been one of the many at this year’s Paris Olympics. Viewers were horrified to see Italian hopeful Angelina Carini pull out of the fight in just 46 seconds to 'save her life.'

JK Rowling tweeted: 'Explain why you're OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment.' However it was intended, this comment from such a public figure turned a single boxing match into a global debate about transgender issues.

John-Edward Funnell

Although I encourage my congregation to exercise their right to vote in good Christian conscience, I do refrain from bringing politics into the pulpit. I would hate to alienate anyone from the gospel over something so trivial as my political views. I make no exception in this article; my favoured choice remains a secret between me and the ballot paper! So the piece below is written as a mere commentary from a position of neutrality.

It is fair to say that many in our country have suffered in recent years. We have endured five Prime Ministers under the last Conservative government, as the party struggled to navigate the nation through Brexit, the pandemic, the passing of our late Monarch and a return to trench warfare on our continent in Ukraine. The popular axiom 'Christ is King' has got me through the electoral fatigue.

On 4 July 2024, the people of Great Britain went to the polls and cast their vote for change. Labour won an impressive majority with 411 seats in Parliament promising 'stability and moderation.' But I fear that this election outcome is unlikely to change much in Wales. Labour has won every Assembly and Senedd election since 1999, and the constituency where I serve as Pastor, Torfaen, is a Labour stronghold.