Gospel singer songwriter Michelle John has sung with some great names in the music industry including Eric Clapton and Maria Carey though as she says - she still feels like "Michelle from Peckham".

John grew up on a council estate in South London and was encouraged to go to church by a neighbour and local institution 'Mr Grant'. She began singing in the choir. Through Providence and talent she was picked to sing lead vocals in an episode of BBC One's Songs of Praise. A music producer spotted her and her career took off.

As a professional backing singing she has sang for some truly great names including George Michael, Annie Lennox, Barak Obama and even the Queen.

But it wasn't until she featured in BBC One's The Voice UK on Will.i.am's team, reaching the final, that she broke out as a solo artist.

Now she's released her first solo album, God Is, which is a selection of Gospel songs from her childhood.

She spoke to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about music, growing up mixed race and God's Providence.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chatted with the leadership enabler at CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society) about the work of equipping lay leadership to serve in the local church. They discuss how moving from Holy Trinity, Brompton to revitalise a church in Fulham helped shape his ministry and what we might look for and why it is that so are reluctant to step into leadership roles.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

With parents in full-time ministry Joy Clarkson lived in several American states growing up including Texas, Tennessee, Colorado and California. She was often home schooled which lead, as she says to a 'transitory childhood.'

But moving while young also allowed her to witness different types of Christianity and people. Books became 'friends' and she began keeping a journal as a young person admitting in her diary that she was a writer and a poet.

As an adult she became just that, throwing in a move to the UK as well and earning a PHD in Theology from the University of St Andrews. She's now a Research Associate at Kings College London.

Joy is the author of Aggressively Happy and You are a Tree: and other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought and Prayer and on this episode explains how writing helps make connections.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chatted with the founder of ‘The Stones Cry Out’ about how planned Holy Land tours were halted by the Israel v Hamas hostilities but ended up adjusting his work in even better ways. They also discuss why the traditional nativity scene is way off reality.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Evangelist Rico Tice had a classically English boarding school upbringing but his early life was more international. Born in Chile he grew up in Africa, later attending Sherbourne boarding school in Dorset in the sixties and seventies which he describes as 'tough' and 'Darwinian'.

Like many men of his generation it instilled in him a sense of duty. After his Godfather died in a climbing accident he began to think about mortality and God. He became a Christian, actively evangelising in school which led to bullying and repressed lifetime trauma.

Earlier this year Tice left the Church of England as a Minister, saying it has abandoned its Biblical views on sexuality. He now runs Christianity Explored Ministries which aims to help people tell others about their faith.

In this wide-ranging conversation with Christianity Magazine Editor Sam Hailes we hear about his early life story, his views on evangelism, the state of the church and what he makes of Russell Brand's conversion.

Rico Tice is also the host of the Premier Christian Radio podcast The Bible Explored.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the Principal of Cliff College, Derbyshire about the challenges of leading a Theological College. How has the focus changed over the years? How are issues regarding sexuality covered given the divisions with the national Church? How might character be formed alongside the necessary academic focus?

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Lex Renick has lived many different lives and she's still only 27-years-old.

When she was still in middle school she began to experience gender dysphoria going on to identify as a transgender man taking testosterone and even having a double mastectomy.

She grew up in a Christian household in California but it was not a happy home. She experienced emotional and sexual trauma which, in her own words, made it difficult to have a relationship with God.

After a friend at school invited her to church she reaffirming her faith and built a relationship with her mother in the last years of her life.

But her journey in faith accelerated when she met her husband - himself a gay man - and got married. After 14 years living as a man she went back to being a female and how has a daughter and is pregnant with her second child. She is also a pastor.

She talks through her incredible story of faith, rejection and life in the army with Deputy Editor of Woman Alive magazine Jemimah Wright on this week's Profile.

Please note, this podcast contains graphic descriptions of the female body and adult themes and may not be suitable to listen to around children.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks to the author of ‘On the way to work: a Christian approach to thinking differently about success and fulfilment’. Chris has 30 years’ experience working at director level in financial services and shares four important principles for leading and managing well: selfless service, acting authentically, solving problems and developing diversity.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

At the age of just six Nancy Goudie felt the powerful presence of God to the point she was unable to move. She became a Christian and later with her husband Ray set up the band Heartbeat which had mainstream, international and TV success appearing on BBC1's Top of the Pops in the 1980s.

As the founder and singer, Goudie describes it as a 'vehicle' helping thousands to draw closer to God.

Trust in God is a cornerstone of Goudie's faith in a life which has witnessed miracles and heartache.

She now runs the creative ministry NGM in the South West of England where she using art, music and sometimes cream teas to evangelise.

In this episode she sat down with Jemimah Wright, Deputy Editor of Woman Alive magazine to discuss her life, music and ministry, the death of her husband and the faithfulness of God.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity Magazine, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Through our publication, you’ll access thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary. Take advantage of our special offer - just £6 for 3 issues plus full digital access to our website and back issues. Enrich your faith journey and subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck talks with the CEO of Food For Purpose (FFP) about how our diet and exercise levels affect our life as a leader. If we are to ‘love God with all our strength’, what should be eating and not eating to ensure we are capable of leading well for years to come?

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com