The J.John Podcast

This week, J.John is joined by Sir Peter Vardy, who shares his journey from leaving school with just one O Level in Music to building a major car dealership business employing over 6,000 staff and selling around 200,000 cars each year. Although he grew up in a Christian home, it was after leaving school that his faith became personal and began to shape the way he approached both life and work. In this conversation, he reflects on running a business with clear Christian values, and how, through The Vardy Foundation, he has supported the building of schools in England, helped launch Safe Families for Children, and contributed to the work of organisations such as Mercy Ships.

This week, J.John is joined by Stuart Bell, whose ministry spans more than 50 years, beginning as the son of a Methodist local preacher and playing in a Christian band, The Advocates. What started with discipling young people grew into Alive Church, now across six locations, and the Ground Level Network, connecting around 80 churches with a vision to reach communities “from the Humber to the Wash.” In this conversation, Stuart reflects on what it means to “reinvent church” today, while also sharing from personal experience, including his book Mud in the Eye and the challenges of leading through difficult seasons and questions around healing.

J.John sits down with Peter Anderson, Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Church in Edinburgh, to explore the journey of building a church from humble beginnings to a thriving, multi-community movement. Starting with just 30 members after four years, Peter shares how City on a Hill has since grown to reach hundreds across seven communities. In this honest and inspiring conversation, he reflects on the tension of holding onto a big vision while facing the challenges of a small reality. Peter also opens up about the powerful culture of prayer among church leaders in Edinburgh and what it looks like to witness signs of a spiritual awakening across Scotland today. If you’ve ever wrestled with slow progress, big dreams, or staying faithful in the early stages, this conversation will encourage and challenge you.
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Follow Peter Anderson on Instagram: @peteedinburgh.
Visit the church website: cityonahill.org.uk.
Find his book 'Foundations' at https://amzn.eu/d/0bTYOZ6X

This week, J.John is joined by Girma Bishaw, who shares his powerful story of growing up in Ethiopia and his journey of faith. Girma reveals how someone who wasn’t fully living out their own faith still played a significant role in helping him discover the grace and love of Jesus. Girma shares about the 'Gratitude Initiative', an organisation that aims to change our culture by resourcing and gathering communities to talk about and practise gratitude.
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Follow the Gratitude Initiative on Instagram: @ukgratitude.
Visit their website: gratitudeinitiative.org.uk.
Find his book 'The Gratitude Way' at https://ivpbooks.com/the-gratitude-way.

Before meeting Jesus, Daniel believed that he was “on fire for the devil,” living a life far from God. But everything changed when he faced a possible prison sentence. In that pivotal moment, he surrendered his life to Jesus and experienced the overwhelming freedom of having sin, shame, and condemnation lifted from his shoulders. This week, J.John sits down with Daniel Chand, an inspiring evangelist whose powerful story of redemption is now impacting lives around the world. From darkness to purpose, Daniel is witnessing incredible signs and wonders through his ministry. You won’t want to miss this honest and hope-filled conversation.
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Follow Daniel Chand on social media: @evangelistdanielchand.
Visit his website: wljm.org.
Find his books and resources at https://dcmi.org.uk/shop.