September 2025

Dear Friends,

We have a busy time ahead of us, but where there are gaps, I plan to look at the Talking Jesus Report in our services because I believe this could give us all confidence to share our faith with others. The first teaching took place in the joint service on 17th August, and this is a summary for those of you who didn’t hear it.

In 2015 and again in 2022 Savanta (ComRes) carried out research on Christian faith in the UK. They wanted to learn more about what people believe and how they self-identified in faith terms, hoping to gain information to help us evangelise among our friends and family. Whilst 6% of the UK population say they are practising Christians, attending church monthly and praying weekly, a huge 48% describe themselves as Christians. This leaves 42% calling themselves Christians but not attending Church regularly. If we want to extend our family and friend’s relationships with Jesus Christ, it is incredibly helpful if they already call themselves a Christian! This should give us great confidence in starting conversations.

The researchers also asked what people think of Jesus? Amazingly 45% believe in Jesus’ resurrection and 20% believe he was God in human form. When starting a conversation, you may well be talking to someone who is already open, informed and accepting. The research also showed people had a high opinion of Jesus with the majority describing him as Spiritual, Peaceful, a Leader, Loving, Wise, Moral and a Role model. The research also suggested 1 in 3 non-Christians would like to know more about Jesus and 36% of them say they are open to having an encounter with Him. There is huge potential here!

Now you might say: Yes, this is all good news. But how do I know that I’m the right person to “Talk Jesus”. I don’t have all the answers. The research went on to say how non-Christians described the Christians they knew as caring, friendly, encouraging, hopeful, good humoured and generous. Only a minority of people described the Christians they knew as hypocritical, narrowminded, homophobic or naïve.

Rachel Jordan-Wolf, former Evangelism Adviser to the Archbishops’ Council, said: “We are the right people in the right place to do mission... they know us, they like us.... We are the essential link between Jesus and our family and friends.” 15% of Christians said a conversation with a Christian prompted them to come to faith so starting a conversation may be more crucial than we realise.

If you feel prompted to have a conversation with family or friends:

1. Pray. Pray that God would go before you and guide the conversation.
2. Think and pray about what is happening in this person’s life. What is God already doing? What questions are they asking? What are they wrestling with? What does the Christian faith have to say to all of this?
3. Use the name of Jesus in the conversation – as they may well have positive views on Jesus already. What might Jesus have said about their concerns?
   Most importantly talk about what Jesus has done for you and what you have witnessed in your life.
4. What is the next step for their faith – what could help them? A book, a film, hearing a speaker on you tube, a church service to invite them to? Pray about what might help them.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20.)

Every Blessing,

Larissa