The Profile

Find out what makes influential Christian leaders tick! Hear the faith stories of a huge range of church leaders, musicians, preachers and more, as they share how God has led and guided them through both valleys and mountain-top experiences. The Profile brings you in-depth interviews to help you learn from the wisdom and experiences of people who have gone all-in for God. Past guests include church leaders such as HTB’s Nicky Gumbel, the world renown DJ Moby, Bible teachers Joyce Meyer and John Mark Comer, missionary Jackie Pullinger, Gospel superstar Fred Hammond and worship leaders Martin Smith and Tim Hughes. New episodes are published every Friday, PLUS check out bonus episodes every Wednesday, where our resident leadership expert Andy Peck interviews a range of pastors, preachers and practitioners on the topic of Christian leadership. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. If you enjoy The Profile you’re sure to love Premier Christianity magazine which will help you understand the changing culture around us and what God is doing through his Church today, read for free now at premierchristianity.com.

  1. -10 H

    Grace Jin Dexel: The Chinese Christian campaigning for her father's release

    Grace Jin Dexel was thrust into the spotlight because of her father Pastor Ezra Jin. On October 10th 2025 he was arrested and imprisoned by Chinese authorities along with other pastors from Zion Church in a suburb of Beijing. He is officially charged with the "illegal use of information networks” and still remains in jail. The persecution against Zion Church and Christians more widely in China began in 2016 when the first rewriting of the regulation of religion in China began. It led to independent churches- those not associated with the state - beginning to feel a fresh wave of repression from the authorities. Pastor Ezra founded Zion church in 2007. It went on to become one of China’s largest underground Christian house church networks. "China is a hard country to minister to," Grace says, speaking as someone who is now an American citizen. Now, with her background in human rights, she advocates for her father and his release. In this intimate episode of The Profile Grace speaks to Tola Mbakwe, Premier's News Editor, about what it was like growing up as the daughter of a Christian pastor in China, her hope for his release under President Trump's administration and how God is not giving up on China. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

    48 min
  2. 12 MARS

    Kings Kaleidoscope frontman Chad Gardner: The cost of emotional honesty in worship music

    Chadwick “Chad” Gardner is pretty transparent about wanting a hit song. One that could take care of the kids college fund, "could I just get one, that would be great!" But the American Christian singer songwriter and founder of the Seattle-based band Kings Kaleidoscope knows their music is niche and that's fine too. They're a musical outfit that blend alternative rock, orchestral, hip-hop and modern worship all in one. Throw in personal testimony, hymns and some honest doubt and you have a bold, unfiltered kind of worship music that refuses to hide the struggles of faith while still reaching for hope. Chad grew up in a Christian home playing piano then drums and says he "didn't have a before and after moment of knowing Jesus" it was just always there. But, he struggled with anxiety and had panic attacks. When he did, he imagined God was with him. Early in life his music brought him to the megachurch Mars Hill where he was a worship director for a number of years and before the ministry was hit by controversy in 2014 over bullying allegation against founder Mark Driscoll. While members of Kings Kaleidoscope come and go, Chad remains the existing founding member and they now tour internationally, most recently in London at Koko in Camden Town. In this interview with Premier's Jamie Pratt, Chad talks about his slow by steady climb to 'niche' success, being cancelled from the Christian music events after swearing in a song and his honest desire for a hit. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

    44 min
  3. 5 MARS

    LZ7's Lindz West on preaching the gospel to 600,000 people through dance music

    Lindz West who heads up the popular Christian electronic dance band LZ7 has every reason to be happy. He's part of one of the most successful UK Christian bands. They've achieved multiple top 40 singles in their 20 years together. They're now supporting one of the biggest popstars in the world - Jason Derulo - in his The Last Dance tour. For the band whose whole purpose is to communicate the love of Jesus to young people it's just another chance to get their faith across. West was born to Christian parents and as a child his father had a role working on the Billy Graham revival missions. While he grew up in the Church he drifted and went to America to play basketball and hangout with friends though later got pulled back on track by a pretty girl at a beach mission. Following a stint in the city, he realised he needed more purpose in his work and began working and playing with The Tribe, the genesis of which would later become LZ7, touring and working in school clubs sharing the message and love of Jesus. LZ7 is deeply rooted in evangelism and mission, beginning life in a young offenders prison, with strong links to the Christian charity The Message Trust which works with tens of thousands of teenagers in schools each year. West believes that music, especially LZ7's kind, has a way of cutting through which is universal and that the 'big music event' has a way of capturing the imagination of young people in a way nothing else can. In this episode of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes about his latest single The Perfect Duet, the difficulties of being a Windsor boy when working with inner city kids in Manchester and why LZ7 is not a boyband but a 'man band.'

    53 min
  4. 26 FÉVR.

    Salvationist Jo Moir, the new leader of Spring Harvest

    Spring Harvest is arguably one of the most identifiable UK Christian festivals in the calendar seeing between 10 and 20 thousand people descend upon Butlins in Minehead each Easter for family-themed activities, worship and bible study. Now it has a new leader at the helm- Jo Moir - whose deep background in the Salvation Army has given her plenty of experience mucking in and dealing with different types of people. The former midwife grew up in Guernsey to parents who were part of the Salvation Army but in her early teens she walked away and got in with a 'rough crowd'. A prayer brought her back as her mother went to Africa and looking back now she regards her time as a prodigal as valuable. Moir describes the Salvation Army as Christianity with 'its sleeves rolled up'. It is no doubt her open and vibrant personality that brought her to the attention of the BBC, which led her to feature in a documentary, later becoming friends and mentor to the comedian Paul O'Grady . In this interview with Premier Christianity editor Sam Hailes, she talks about her fascinating family history, the opportunities she believes there are for God to move at big Christian events and the importance of all Christians to ask themselves 'why' they're doing whatever it is they're doing. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

    50 min

À propos

Find out what makes influential Christian leaders tick! Hear the faith stories of a huge range of church leaders, musicians, preachers and more, as they share how God has led and guided them through both valleys and mountain-top experiences. The Profile brings you in-depth interviews to help you learn from the wisdom and experiences of people who have gone all-in for God. Past guests include church leaders such as HTB’s Nicky Gumbel, the world renown DJ Moby, Bible teachers Joyce Meyer and John Mark Comer, missionary Jackie Pullinger, Gospel superstar Fred Hammond and worship leaders Martin Smith and Tim Hughes. New episodes are published every Friday, PLUS check out bonus episodes every Wednesday, where our resident leadership expert Andy Peck interviews a range of pastors, preachers and practitioners on the topic of Christian leadership. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. If you enjoy The Profile you’re sure to love Premier Christianity magazine which will help you understand the changing culture around us and what God is doing through his Church today, read for free now at premierchristianity.com.

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