PEP Talk

Down through the ages, the Christian message has been shared via new technology, from Gutenberg's Bible to TikTok. But with recent advancements in AI, what would it look like to share the gospel with a chatbot? Today on PEP Talk, Andy and Gavin find out about one project to explore the possibilities and challenges.

Try it out now at apologist.ai or try bots focussing on Islamic or scientific backgrounds.

Jake Carlson is the founder of The Apologist Project, a nonprofit that develops conversational AIs for Christian apologetics and evangelism. Jake grew up as a missionary kid in China, where he first became interested in apologetics and Christian worldview study. He has over 25 years experience in software product development, leading product and engineering teams in both small startups and Big Tech companies. Jake founded The Apologist Project two years ago to develop digital products to further the Kingdom. The Apologist Project recently won 1st place at the Indigitous #HACK event — as well as 2nd place in challenge at the Gloo AI & the Church hackathon — for its work developing a Muslim-serving chatbot.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Andy and Gavin speak with Angela Mackenzie about the role apologetics has had in her life. Her unique blend of artistry, femininity, scholarship and cross-cultural experience are an incredible inspiration as she integrates them all in the service of Christ.

Angela Courte Mackenzie is a musician, speaker, broadcaster, apologist and Florida native. She holds a B.A. in Music and, at age 50, she completed an M.A. in Christian Apologetics exploring the intersection of music, faith, and apologetics. Angela has decades of experience presenting and performing music on television. She currently hosts Praise Around the Piano and directs the Amazing Life Gospel Choir in Stirling. Since 2014, Angela has called Scotland home, where she lives with her husband, Kenneth, and their blended family of 31, including 19 grandchildren. Learn more at angela.org

Today on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi learn about the Lumino research project from the Bible Society. Its in-depth surveys and analysis offer great insight into attitudes towards the Bible. What can it tell us about Biblical literacy, relevance and attractiveness across UK society? And what should we keep in mind as we help introduce others to the message of Jesus in the Bible?

The Lumino project surveyed 20,000 people to find out what they thought about Christianity, the Bible and faith. Explore its resources and insights here.

Dr Rhiannon McAleer is Director of Research and Impact at the Bible Society. After completing her PhD at the University of Exeter, Rhiannon worked for a number of charities including Meningitis Now and the British Red Cross. Since joining Bible Society, Rhiannon has led innovative research projects on belief, Christianity and the Bible. She leads the Research and Impact team, which is responsible for producing high-quality insight to support Bible Society and the wider Church in mission. She and her husband live in Gloucestershire with their two daughters.

There was a time when a famous sports star giving their testimony was considered the pinnacle of evangelism. These days, there's a richer and more accessible relationship between sport and sharing the gospel. We have two guests from Christians in Sport on the podcast today, exploring the opportunities sport has for us, either as participants or observers. 

Dr Graham Daniels is a former professional footballer, now the General Director of Christians in Sport and a director of Cambridge United Football Club. He also holds positions at St Andrew the Great Church and Ridley Hall Theological College in Cambridge. He is married to Michelle and has three children and five grandchildren.

Jonny Reid is the Director of Engagement at Oak Hill College and writes regularly for Christians in Sport. He plays cricket at Cumnor Cricket Club and is one of the leaders of Town Church Bicester.

Whilst street drama and puppet shows might be a dying form of outreach these days, today's guest started there and continued on to become a professional comedian and magician. How has he achieved success in this field without compromising the gospel or his own values? And how might the church use arts and entertainment better in reaching the world today?

Tom Elliott works as an Event Host & Comedy Magician, performing across the UK hosting corporate events, whilst also performing at holiday parks, churches, theatres and comedy clubs. Once described by Miranda Hart as ‘Such Fun’, Tom has appeared on BBC TV & Radio, had a feature piece in the Times Newspaper and received significant crowdfunding support for his arts-based initiatives. He also hosts a weekly show on Konnect Radio.

To book Tom at your church, or find out more, go to tom-elliot.org

This week Andy and Kristi chat with a creative evangelist (he once taught Kristi how to share the gospel with a paper clip!) with experience of student ministry and church pastoral work. Drawing on these areas and reflecting on the cultural changes over the years, he offers insight and encouragement for parents, pastors and lay people as they seek to "drip the gospel" into daily conversations.

Clive Parnell is Teaching Pastor at Kirkliston Community Church on the northwest side of Edinburgh. He has served in the church since 2012. Previously Clive was with UCCF for nine years speaking at mission weeks all over the UK and abroad, training staff and students in creative evangelism.

Clive is a singer/songwriter currently with Goldfinch Music whose recent release received airplay on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Ulster. He has also written Bible notes for “Daily Bread” and is currently working on his first book called “Everyday Worship.”

"So what? Who cares?" the battle cries of the apathetic ring out from the young (and not-so-young) people of the UK. It seems today the conversation for winning souls needs to start by convincing people they've got souls in the first place! As Christians, what can we do to stir up spiritual curiosity and show that Jesus really matters for everyone?

Darin and Joy Stevens recently launched Start to Stir, which exists to help Christians share faith in a culture that is largely indifferent towards faith and God.  Fuelled by their over twenty years experience working with youth from outside the church, and training youth ministry students at ForMission College, they want to help everyday Christians learn how to stir curiosity in the gospel.  Their first tool, the Stir Course, is already being used in over 200 churches and schools across the country.

Bringing an African perspective to PEP Talk today powerfully reminds us of the spiritual and experiential realities that we often minimise in our Western culture. With wonderful enthusiasm and amazing stories, get inspired by the host of the Inspired podcast as Simon Guillebaud chats with Andy and Kristi.

Check out the Jesus At The Door app here. Or search "Jesus at the door" on your app store.

Simon Guillebaud MBE, spent two decades living in war-torn Central Africa, and speaks out of that context with raw urgency and passion for the last, the lost and the least. He’s the Founder of Great Lakes Outreach, host of the popular ‘Inspired’ podcast, author of the award-winning book Choose Life, and travels widely stirring up the Church for radical discipleship. His wife Lizzie and he live in Bath with their three teenage children.

Though we might not like to admit it, all of us struggle with doubts in our Christian walk. And for those who don't yet have a faith, doubt can feel like an insurmountable obstacle to truly embracing Christ. So whether we are helping others on their journey, or treading the path ourselves, safely navigating the terrains of doubt can be a challenge. 

Our friend Randy Newman recorded this interview with us just before he passed away earlier this year. He wrote about doubts in his final book, Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt.

Randy Newman (1956-2024) was senior fellow for apologetics and evangelism at the C. S. Lewis Institute. He was formerly on staff with Cru, ministering in and near Washington, DC. He authored several books, including Questioning Evangelism, Unlikely Converts and Mere Evangelism. He has contributed a number of articles to the Solas website. Randy went home to be with the Lord in May 2024.

With a rich Christian heritage, but a bleak spiritual present, Wales is in desperate need of the Gospel right now. God is not unaware of the situation however, and is calling people to pray, share the Word and plant new churches right now. Andy and Gavin chat with a leader of 100 Cyrmu and hear about the vision for 100 new churches in the next 10 years!

Visit 100Cyrmu and sign up to pray for Wales.

Ben Franks planted Hope Church Rhondda with his wife Lois in 2013. The church meets in a converted shop on Tonypandy’s high street and is hoping to launch two new congregations in the next 12 months. Alongside leading the team at Hope, Ben chairs the board of his family’s business while Lois runs a marketing company in Pontypridd.