The J.John Podcast

This week, J.John is joined by Dr Sarah C. Williams, a historian with deep Christian roots as the granddaughter of evangelist Tom Rees and daughter of Jennifer Rees Larcombe.
Trained in history at Oxford University, Sarah brings a rich historical perspective to faith and society, with a particular focus on the life and legacy of Josephine Butler and her impact as a pioneering social reformer. In this conversation, she reflects on Butler’s courage and convictions, and what they can teach us today about faith in action, especially for women sensing a call to preach and lead.
Sarah also shares from her own life, including the loss of a child, and how that experience has shaped her understanding of grief, faith, and hope alongside her study of history and Christian witness.

This week, J.John speaks with Professor John C Lennox, mathematician, author and Christian apologist. Together, they discuss his new autobiography and book "God, AI and the End of History", drawing out reflections from his life and faith story as they explore what Christianity means at its core.

This week, J.John is joined by Migdalia van der Hoven, a professional drummer whose journey began in Mexico, growing up in a Christian and musical family and playing in church from the age of eight. After studying at Berklee College of Music, she went on to build a career performing at the highest level, including in London’s West End. In this conversation, Migdalia reflects on the realities of life behind the scenes; balancing her work as a musician with being a wife and mum, and the challenges of holding together family life, faith, and a demanding career. Named Mexican Woman of the Year in 2022, her story offers an honest look at calling, perseverance, and what it means to stay grounded while navigating a busy and creative life.

This week, J.John is joined by Debra Green, who shares of encountering God in a deeply personal way on her wedding day. After going on to pastor Ivy Church in Manchester, Debra became increasingly aware of the challenges facing her city, once labelled “Gunchester,” and began gathering hundreds of churches to pray. In this conversation, she also shares from her own family life, including the arrest of her son during her time in leadership, and the remarkable story of prayer, worship, and his encounter with God while in a police cell. Debra shares about her work through Redeeming Our Communities and the story behind her book 'Way Maker;, co-written with her son Josh.

This week, J.John is joined by Gary Wilkerson, who reflects on a remarkable family heritage of Christian ministry, from a chaplain in the American Civil War to generations of revivalists and church leaders. As the son of David Wilkerson, Gary shares the story behind his father’s ministry, including his work with young people in New York, the well-known account of Nicky Cruz, and the founding of World Challenge, which Gary now leads as President. In this conversation, he offers insight into the ongoing work of World Challenge in supporting and resourcing the global Church, and reflects on themes from his book The Jaw-Dropping Beauty of Jesus, based on the book of Hebrews, exploring a deeper understanding of Christ and its relevance for faith today.