Did you know that anxiety is contagious?
Matt Waldock
Date posted: 28 Jan 2026
At least once a year a member of the staff team will drag themselves into the office with their nose running, full of cold and with a hacking cough; then everyone else will roll their eyes in the knowing frustration that unless their immune system is like an athlete, it’s only a matter of time before the whole team gets sick.
But what if there is a far more dangerous contagion that stalks among our congregations? That contagion is anxiety.
At a distance: Are we only willing to follow Jesus up to a point?
Wallace Benn
Date posted: 27 Jan 2026
“And Peter had followed him at a distance right into the courtyard of the high priest” (Mark 14v54).
This describes the worst moment in dear Peter’s life, of which he was later so ashamed, and about which he needed the Lord’s forgiveness and reinstatement, which he graciously received (John 21). It was not that Peter had given up following Jesus, it was that at a crucial moment when he was under pressure he denied his master and Lord. Peter wanted to follow Jesus, but he did not at this time want the hassle and danger of doing so – it was all too much for him to cope with. Later Peter thankfully showed that he was more than willing to take up his cross and follow Jesus wherever that led.
Learning from Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Adam Ramsey
Date posted: 26 Jan 2026
Over the next few months, en will be running a series of articles written by Adam Ramsey, of Liberti Church, Gold Coast, Australia, exploring what we can learn from Martyn Lloyd-Jones today about the questions set out in the headline. The essays, of which there are five in total, need to be taken together. They are taken from original, yet-to-be published research undertaken by Ramsey for his Doctor of Philosophy thesis. They also, we hope, represent something of the generous-hearted, thoughtful, Biblical approach that en was founded 40 years ago in 1986 to embody.
Introduction
During the 20th century, it was no secret that Calvinists and Charismatics frequently viewed one another with mutual suspicion. Rarely would those who affirmed a high view of God’s sovereignty in salvation in the Reformed tradition, and those with a high experiential expectation of the Holy Spirit’s direct and supernatural activity, find themselves worshipping in the same church. Or, for that matter, even cooperating outside of their respective churches.
Evangelicals after John Smyth: Andrew Graystone interviewed
Rebecca Chapman
Date posted: 23 Jan 2026
Rebecca Chapman speaks to Andrew Graystone, who has been instrumental in exposing the scandal around abuser John Smyth.
Graystone is the author of Bleeding for Jesus, detailing the story of what went on, and was also involved in Channel 4’s exposés of what happened. A review of the book’s second edition, which has just been published, can be read on en's website here.
scattering seeds of hope
Sharing my faith with friendship, patience & coffee
Marcia McLean
Date posted: 20 Jan 2026
Mocha. Black coffee. Milky coffee. Latte. Latte with oat milk. While my coffee preferences have changed over the years, one thing that has not changed is my love for coffee! And while my love for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ has not changed either, I have definitely changed in how I share my faith.
As an extrovert, I love to meet new people. Not to build on the stereotype, but I am also an American living in the UK. I love getting to know people and building friendships, and in God’s kindness sometimes these overlap with my love for coffee.
Peter's counter-cultural words to slaves
Tim Vasby-Burnie
Date posted: 15 Jan 2026
Who is a "model Christian"? A pastor-evangelist who can both disciple a congregation and reach the lost effectively? A nurse putting in long hours, working with compassion and praying silently for her patients?
Peter says: think of a slave. A slave - with no power, suffering for doing good - is a model Christian.
Have you noticed the endings of these Psalms?
Mitch Chase
Date posted: 15 Jan 2026
The book of Psalms has five smaller books. They’re not equal in length, but the ending of each book is marked by various climactic statements.
Book I is from Psalms one to 41, Book II is from Psalms 42 to 72, Book III is from Psalms 73 to 89, Book IV is from Psalms 90 to 106, and Book V is from Psalms 107 to 150.
A message to those who are doubting
Alistair Chalmers
Date posted: 14 Jan 2026
There are moments in the Christian life when faith feels sturdy and sure, and others when it feels as thin as glass. Prayers seem to fall flat. Scripture feels dry. Christian music maybe doesn’t lift your heart as it once did.
For many Christians these seasons can be unsettling, even frightening. We can wonder whether something has gone wrong with our faith, or worse, with us.
Retirement: What should our approach be?
Graham Nicholls
Date posted: 13 Jan 2026
As we entered 2026, I was watching Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. It’s a show welcoming in the new year with musicians performing songs, mostly with the backing of the vast and hugely talented band Jools has pulled together.
Along with the younger performers like Olivia Dean (26) and Jessie J (37), there were quite a few near or beyond what you might call "normal retirement" age. There was Ronnie Wood putting in a reasonable shift at 78 and there was Lulu bringing the house down with an energetic performance at 77. Even the host, Jools, and his regular singer Ruby Turner, are both 67. They could be claiming their state pensions, but they were showing no signs of retirement.
Review: 'Blue Letter Bible' versus 'Logos'
Paul Jackson
Date posted: 12 Jan 2026
I was inspired by Jordan Brown’s round-up of Bible apps (see en article here) and wanted to make a further, more specific, contribution to the debate in terms of Logos and Blue Letter Bible.
As a middle-aged Christian, I have been using Bible software since the days of CD-ROMs! Bible software has helped me craft numerous Bible studies and sermons.
The 'broken' are God's most useful instruments
Dan Steel
Date posted: 12 Jan 2026
I know we’ve only just celebrated Christmas and the Incarnation, but as Arsene Wenger famously (allegedly) said: “Christmas is important but Easter is decisive.” And the thing about the Easter story for pastors and ministry leaders is it’s not merely a doctrine we proclaim but a pattern we embody.
We follow Jesus who moved through betrayal, abandonment, agony, and the darkness of death before the stone was rolled away on the third day. He told his disciples plainly: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
Why theology & psychology need to be friends
Dave Burke
Date posted: 11 Jan 2026
Please note: This article contains reference to attempted suicide and mental distress. For help and support, see the bottom of this page.
I ran downstairs to answer the doorbell and found a paramedic waiting, his ambulance on the road behind him with its engine still running.
Christmas is over, but don't pack away your faith!
Josh Williamson
Date posted: 9 Jan 2026
After months of Christmas songs being played in shops and our homes being decorated, we no longer see the stockings hung by the chimney with care.
The decorations are down, nativity sets are packed away, and Christmas trees are no longer dropping debris in our living rooms. Christmas is over for another year; however, the message continues.
Aiming for excellence in children's ministry
Jonny Woodbridge
Date posted: 7 Jan 2026
I recently read a great book on children's ministry called Build on Jesus by Deepak Reju and Marty Machowski. It was a really stimulating read.
While some of it was more appropriate for an American context, there was loads to take away.
How do we lead without manipulating?
Phil Moon
Date posted: 7 Jan 2026
Note: This article contains content that may be triggering for some readers.
I recently had a really helpful call from someone, and it made me think more about manipulation in Christian ministry.
A life faithfully given: The funeral of Richard Turnbull
Chris Sugden
Date posted: 5 Jan 2026
A packed and full-throated congregation of family, colleagues and friends of Rev Dr Richard Turnbull (who died on 26 November 2025) gathered at his funeral service at St Mary Magdalene, Woodstock on a very wet Friday 18 December.
Richard had known for some weeks that the recurrence of his breast cancer was terminal. His mother had died from the same condition when he was 18. He had carefully planned the details of the service.
Be an encourager
Tom Brewster
Date posted: 5 Jan 2026
Recently a member of our congregation approached me after the service. She had come to offer a word of encouragement. I wasn’t feeling especially discouraged – in fact, the service had run smoothly, and the music and tech had worked well. But this gentle word of encouragement from a sister in Christ brought me joy and filled my heart with thanksgiving to our generous Father. It was an application of Proverbs 12v25 "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."
Many of your musicians and technicians will feel anxiety on Sunday mornings – their minds are probably filled with the “what-ifs” of a church service. Amidst those anxieties your voice, dear reader, can cheer their hearts. How? By offering encouragement that follows two simple rules:
A new movement to multiply gospel workers
Robin Sydserff
Date posted: 4 Jan 2026
In May 2024, an important event was held at Yarnton Manor in Oxford. Organised and hosted by 9:38 (which exists to resource and train up church leaders), it brought together training stakeholders – networks, churches, training providers – to reflect on the crisis in ministry recruitment. This was reported in en (July 24) under the headline “Major consultation event addresses ‘recruitment crisis’.”
As training stakeholders, we left convinced that ministry is a noble task, convicted to pray to the Lord for workers, and committed to working together. Lydia Houghton’s en feature article “Is there really a ministry recruitment crisis?” – is an encouraging read. There are hopeful signs.
