Encouraging Stories of Living Hope Shared on BBC Radio Nottingham This Easter
On Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, stories of living hope were broadcast on BBC Radio Nottingham, featuring familiar voices from across the diocese. As the UK began its long Easter weekend, it was wonderful to hear these stories of transformation and grace, reminding us of the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection, alive and at work in our world today.
Revd Garreth Frank describes a new spiritual climate in Nottingham
On Maundy Thursday morning, Revd Garreth Frank and Sasha Andresier from Holy Trinity Lenton, joined Verity Cowley live on BBC Radio Nottingham to share their experiences of God moving in their lives and in the parish.
“We have noticed a different spiritual climate,” Garreth said, “Our congregation at Holy Trinity Lenton has probably doubled in the last three and a bit years and our student contingent has grown from two or three to 20-25 students, depending on how you measure it.”
When asked what has led to the openness that he has seen in his parish, Garreth responded with three factors:
“We’ve gone from being a post-Christian culture to a post-post-Christian culture. People are no longer rejecting church, they’re discovering the good news that we have to offer about Jesus for the first time.
“Secondly—and this is not something I would have predicted a few years ago—it’s almost now an act of rebellion to be religious. 10 or 15 years ago, turning away from religion was seen as an edgy, rebellious thing to do; it’s almost the opposite now. If you’ve grown up in a more skeptical context, it’s an act of defiance to check [Christianity] out. And when people do check it out, they discover someone bigger than themselves. They find home and they find hope.
“Thirdly, it’s no massive surprise that some of this interest and engagement has taken place post-COVID. There’s been a bit of a crisis of meaning and there’s a lot of anxiety in our culture. People are finding peace and purpose in the person of Jesus and in the family of the church.”
Use the button below and skip to 16:25 to listen to the interview.
Sasha’s journey to baptism
Sasha Andresier (an Apprentice Track intern at Holy Trinity Lenton), who was preparing to be baptised on Easter Sunday shared how her journey to baptism came about.
“I joined the church about a year and a half ago. I wasn’t a Christian, but I came to uni and lived in a house right near a church. One day I just walked in and I haven’t left!
“I’ve met some really kind people who cared about what I thought and what I believed, but didn’t pressure me into anything. They were so kind that I wanted to come back. I actually think that the bigger decision was coming back the next week, because I had no reason to. It wasn’t like I believed anything in that moment. But I just decided that these people believed in something that I want to believe too.”
Reflecting on her baptism, Sasha continued, “I view it as a celebration of the commitment that I have already made. I became a Christian about six months into going to church…so eventually they wore me down! But I heard what they really believed and I felt that there was truth there. After that, I spent about a year exploring it even more and, ultimately, it’s the truth. I believe it and I want to commit to it in a public, celebratory way.”
Use the button below and skip to 33:20 to listen to the interview.
Ryan’s story of hope on Good Friday
Later, on Good Friday, Ryan Loft was interviewed on Dean Jackson’s show. Ryan attends St Michael’s in Farnsfield and shared his story of how he discovered the Living Hope of Jesus through Alpha and his newly purchased Bible.
“I grew up in a non-Christian household where we didn’t really speak about anything faith-related,” Ryan explained, “Growing up, I was always fascinated with the meaning of life, but I never really explored those questions in great depth. It wasn’t until in December ’24 and January ’25 that I had two bereavements which ultimately made me seek answers to those questions.
“One day I was walking through Farnsfield and bumped into Chris, our local vicar. He invited me to the Alpha course that the church was running, which aims to provide answers to the questions that I had. After the Alpha course had finished, I wanted to learn more about Christianity, so I purchased my first Bible and found myself reading it at every opportunity that I had. There is a reason it’s called the Living Book—because of its ability to transform lives, change hearts and offer guidance that’s still relevant today.
“Faith has made me kinder, more patient, more calm, more thoughtful. It’s made me reflect on how I treat people. It’s made me more aware of where I’m going wrong and more forgiving. It’s transformed how I see the world and treat others.”
Use the button below and skip to 1:30:30 to listen to the interview.
Discover more Living Hope Stories
Sasha and Ryan are just two of the countless people whose lives have been transformed by their encounters with the living hope of Jesus. The so-called Quiet Revival has been a topic of much discussion in the last 12 months—even more so following the recent news of the Bible Society’s retraction of their data—but nothing changes what those of us living and working in the diocese can see for ourselves: God is moving powerfully in many different ways across the city, towns and villages of Nottinghamshire and beyond.
If you are curious about how God is working in the diocese right now, watch our Living Hope Stories on YouTube, in which people from our churches share how God’s love has changed them and brought them hope.
Do you have a story to share about how God is working in your church? We’d love to hear from you – get in touch here.