Helen Locke
Helen joined the Evangelical Alliance in October 2020. Prior to this, she trained in ministry for a year in Birmingham where she worked with students and was immersed in church life, in between summers working for the charity Open Doors. Helen studied English literature with creative writing modules, and loves writing, painting and walks with friends in all weathers.
Heart behind the art: an interview with Adam Harding Willis
24 September 2024Friends and family would describe Adam as creative, spiritually led – and a little bit mad – with a ready sense of humour that can catch people off-guard! The themes which emerge as Adam speaks are hard work, authenticity and a clear vision – whether it’s the studio which he, his wife and his dad converted from a humble garden shed, or the innovative company which it houses. Family life is important to Adam, and he has two boys with wife Hope – Oakley (three) and Jagger (one) – who love nothing…
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Heart Behind The Art: an interview with Nicola Morrison
28 June 2024Those who know Nicola as the bubbly, confident and assured presence she is today might be surprised to learn of the difficult start she had in life. “People will struggle to reconcile the girl in the book with the reality of me today, but at the same time I think that’s an amazing testament to God... it could only be God.” She hopes people want to know Jesus after reading her story and that it could even be used as a tool for evangelism amongst her friends and family that are not-yet…
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Heart Behind the Art: an interview with Chris Poch
1 April 2024It was a different story as a teenager. Chris recalls ‘coasting’ through school and university: “I was probably having a bit of an identity crisis. I probably got to that age, you’re having to start figuring things out for yourself… there was a part of me that didn’t really know who I was and I think that also came into my faith journey as well.” Growing up steeped in faith, his parents (church leaders Ruth and James) encouraged him towards genuine friendship with Jesus. They led by example;…
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Heart Behind the Art: Interview with Steve Thompson
21 December 2023The way Steve spends his time and lifts others up testifies to the humble, perceptive and generous heart he has for God’s kingdom, behind what is an impressive CV. He and his beloved wife Velveta (also a gifted musician) recently relocated to the Midlands and are ready for the next phase of God’s plan for their ministry, Beracahmusic Ministries International. Steve’s late father Rev Sydney Thompson was a pioneer in the New Testament Church of God, and Steve grew up listening to his sermons,…
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Church leaders burn out too – let’s embrace our limits as Jesus did
20 December 2023The truth is that among church leadership, statistics on emotional and mental burnout are concerning. During our Changing Church survey in autumn 2021, 1 in 10 of our member church leaders reported that their emotional wellbeing was poor or very poor. Mark Massey, leader of Frinton Free Church, Essex, shared some of his thoughts as a leader going into a busy season. He and his church are active in local evangelism, and Mark and his wife Liz have been running a massive summer mission week in…
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Meet Rani Joshi, our new South Asian Forum co-ordinator
8 November 2023Rani, can you tell us a bit about yourself? Hello, I’m Rani, based in wonderful Leamington Spa, single, a convert originally from a Hindu background. As well as my SAF role, I am a marketing consultant and coach. I spend some of my ‘spare’ time podcasting as well as reading, walks, growing veg, and experiencing other cultures through travel and conversations. How did you find God and what does Jesus mean to you? I had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit in a church in Windsor during a…
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Heart Behind the Art: an interview with Cath Woolridge
2 October 2023“Hope, not hype” is what revival is all about, says Cath – and it’s clear that undeterred hope is what’s fuelling her bubbly personality too. Cath’s ministry springs from a willingness to “remain” in the quiet, alone with God, His word, her journal and her imagination. She seeks to be part of the story of revival in her nation and minister to worshippers and non-Christians, from reworking old Welsh hymns in new ways from her home in the valleys, to jet-setting to Singapore with the ministry she…
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Alcohol ruled my life – until I experienced God’s CPR
5 July 2023Born in 1946 into a large, loving family, David (Davey) Hoy was his mum’s “blue-eyed boy”. Growing up, he was taught right from wrong and attended Sunday school, but as a teenager his life went in a totally different direction from the one he had been brought up in. Ex-drinkers in that time would say that drink makes you feel like John Wayne – until the morning – and this felt very true. “In my ignorance I liked this new world, it took away all shyness and gave me a confidence and courage. I…
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Heart behind the art: an interview with Sam Suriakumar
28 June 2023Growing up, Sam had a longstanding “deep and trusting relationship with God”, but over time he grew to realise the extent of God’s faithfulness. A child of immigrant parents from Sri Lanka, Sam was encouraged in his twin passions of South Asian and Western music. His mum and dad supported him to start learning classical piano aged six, and a drummer got him into the mirudangam (Indian drum) after spotting young Sam tapping away at a party. Sam confesses he has always been “quite loud, wanting…
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Being human in an AI world
20 April 2023Every week, I hear more stories about the rapidly accelerating capability and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). There are some good news stories – from helping to diagnose health problems in sick patients, to ongoing efforts to analyse wildlife and poacher data and predict their behaviour to aid conservation. But, for every good news story, it feels like there are 10 more that cause concern. Here’s just a few you may have seen recently… Goldman Sachs warned AI could replace 300…
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Heart Behind the Art: an interview with Emily Feltham
31 March 2023Emily, 33, has a huge sense of FOMO and wants to join in every interesting conversation she overhears around her. Friends might even joke that she has an opinion on everything, and that those opinions are liable to change, but Emily says she just loves other people and is curious about exploring their point of view. Born and raised in Bristol, she lives with husband Joseph, and says she loves the town’s “friendly, creative feel – scruffy and authentic.” As a child, Emily’s mum took her to…
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