The Profile

Luke Smith the national leader of the Fusion Movement, a Christian student mission, has spent his life calling students to follow Jesus. His own journey began at university in the 1990s. Since then Luke has walked alongside students through the transformative journey from "nervous fresher to confident graduate" - convinced that the university years are formative for the whole of a person's life.

At the heart of his ministry is a deep conviction: that the local church, not a parachurch movement alone, is best placed to reach students with The Gospel, disciple them well, and send them out as missionaries to their own generation.

Now serving as National Team Leader for England and Wales, Luke leads Fusion Movement's work of equipping local churches to reach students across the country. He's convinced that students carry extraordinary potential for the Kingdom, and believes it's the biggest missionary opportunity that the UK has had since Billy Graham came in the 1950s.

In this episode of The Profile he speaks to Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes about how 'being an idiot for Jesus' helped him overcome issues with the Church, what drew him to student mission and what comes after surviving cancer.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Ashley Banjo, is best known as the dance troupe leader of the hugely successful group Diversity who first captured the nation's hearts on the talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2009. They famously beat off favourite Susan Boyle for the crown and all when he was just 21.

Banjo was raised in Essex, the son of a former heavyweight boxer and a dance teacher and began dancing at age five. It was a passion that was nurtured by his parents.

He was raised with some exposure to Christianity and he has spoken candidly about drifting from it before rediscovering a deep, personal faith during the isolation and uncertainty of the Covid pandemic. That season of reflection led him back to The Church and to a renewed relationship with God, one he has since described as central to how he navigates fame, family, and purpose.

His faith took on public dimension in 2026 when he joined BBC Two's Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, walking alongside people of differing beliefs, including an atheist, a Muslim, and a non-practising Jew, along ancient routes tied to Celtic Christian saints, through Whitby Abbey, Durham Cathedral, and finally Lindisfarne.

In this episode of The Profile he talks to Inspirational Breakfast's Esther Higham about his walk with God and the things he learned on the pilgrimage.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the executive director of Wycliffe Bible Translators which featured in the Sunday Times best places to work survey last year.
Why was this charity able to achieve such good results?
They explore why they believe they are able to get so much right and how this might translate into your working environment.
The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com

Jay Painter and Lewis are digital creators who have captured global online attention by documenting a unique, real-time journey through faith. It's a compelling premise: Jay, is a Christian and felt a strong conviction to invite his best friend, Lewis very much an atheist, to attend an Alpha course. What began as a personal invitation transformed into a social media docuseries where they can now been seen on TikTok and Instagram documenting the entire multi-week process. Each episode captures Lewis’s raw, unfiltered reactions to core Christian theology, moving from initial scepticism to deep, heartfelt reflections on life, meaning, and the supernatural. The pair avoid aggressive debates and manage to resonate with millions due to the genuine respect, vulnerability, and deep-seated friendship. In this episode of The Profile they talk to Deputy Editor of Christianity Magazine Emma Fowle about pushing their friendship through big questions, Jay's own testimony and journey to Christ and the personal journey the Alpha course has taken Lewis on. The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Andy Peck chats with the co-founder of Eastgate Church, Gravesend about setting a biblically based cultural shift in a church in the UK and the Netherlands where he helps lead a team part-time.
They talk about the importance of demolishing the strongholds that can grip the thinking of a congregation and how to set a new course that enables communities to flourish under God.
The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Check out the latest offers at premierchristianity.com