The Roots for Churches podcast

Suicide prevention starts far earlier than most churches realise. In this episode, Melanie Cave speaks with Bejoy Pal of Ascension Trust, the organisation behind Street Pastors, Rail Pastors and Bridge Watch, about how Christian volunteers are supporting people in crisis through simple presence, listening and practical care.

Bejoy shares how Street Pastors began in response to youth violence and has grown into a nationwide movemen...

Melanie Cave speaks with Justin Brierley about the surprising shift from New Atheism to renewed openness toward Christianity. Justin shares how his own faith journey began in a churchgoing family and became personal as a teenager, before intellectual questions at Oxford and years in broadcasting led him deeper into Christian apologetics. Together, they explore why the culture has changed, why thinkers like Tom Holland and Jordan Pe...

Melanie Cave speaks with Peter about his book Collaborative Sermons and the Living Stories approach to preaching, where sermons become facilitated conversations rather than one-way monologues. They explore how this emerged from St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, why it fits intergenerational worship, and how it changes what a congregation can hear, remember, and carry into the week. They also discuss trust, aut...

Melanie Cave speaks with the Reverend Dr. Dave Bookless about the new Feast of Creation in Christ (Creation Sunday), the church’s environmental conversion, and how scripture and theology can inspire faithful stewardship of the planet.

They discuss the history of creation care in the church, biblical perspectives on new creation and eschatology, practical ways churches can celebrate and engage during Creation Time, and how to ...

Melanie Cave talks with Dr. Andrew Ollerton about how to understand violent and judgmental passages in the Old Testament, including the conquest narratives, the plagues, and commands that trouble modern readers. They give historical and theological context, distinguish descriptive from prescriptive texts, and explain how these stories point toward Christ and the new covenant.

Practical and pastoral, the episode equips preachers, yo...

Melanie Cave interviews Andrea Campanale about the rising spiritual hunger in Gen Z and how churches can respond with curiosity, friendship and empathy.

Andrea shares stories from New Age and green fairs, fresh expressions of church, and practical ways to disciple seekers who practise manifesting, crystals, tarot and other spiritualities.

The episode explores embodied worship, addressing shame and powerlessness, reclaiming Christia...

Melanie Cave and Dr. Henna Cundill explore predestination, suffering, free will, and how to pastor people through hard questions with honesty, hope, and trust in God. Starting with the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers, they discuss what it teaches us about predestination, God’s knowledge and the problem of suffering.  They explore biblical tensions between God’s plans and human freedom and how scripture model...

Join Melanie Cave and Cameron Lee Hume as they explain how churches can host safe, welcoming solar-eclipse viewing events on August 12, 2026 — a rare opportunity visible across much of the UK. The episode covers practical safety tips, free Methodist resources (posters, planning guides, Canva materials), and ideas for using the eclipse as a gentle gateway to faith conversations.

Learn about the Methodist Day of Outreach, regis...

Melanie Cave interviews Anglican priest and family ministry consultant Gail Adcock about the theology and practice of play in church. They explore how play appears in scripture and Jesus’ interactions, the difference between being childlike and childish, and how play can be a spiritual discipline that fosters connection, emotional expression, and wonder.

The episode also covers practical ideas and barriers: sensory activities...

Melanie Cave speaks with Andy Frost of Share Jesus International about making evangelism less intimidating and more practical for churches. They explore starting small — prayer, telling brief personal stories, and ‘dropping the Frisbee’ into conversations — building church cultures of prayer, hosting accessible events, and supporting people to take their next steps in faith.

Andy shares practical ideas, enco...

Melanie Cave speaks with Joy and Darren Stevens of Start to Stir about sharing faith with young people who are indifferent or exploring spirituality, manifesting, crystals or witchcraft. They outline a gentle, relationship-based approach: listening well, finding common ground, stirring spiritual curiosity, and pacing conversations over time rather than expecting one-off conversions.

The episode offers practical tips and resources f...

In the next in our series on helping young people share faith, Melanie Cave interviews Jill Appleton of The Feast. They discuss how interfaith dialogue and the guidelines for respectful conversation can empower young people to share their faith confidently, build bridges between communities, and foster understanding in diverse societies. In these settings Christian teenagers become more confident in their Christian identity. Jill s...

Imagine grandparents, grandchildren and whole families boarding a vintage train for the journey of a lifetime — meeting Jesus at every station through prayer, games, serving, learning and collaborative crafts. Together they eat, laugh, share stories of faith and explore Bible stories from Luke with simple spiritual practices that welcome every age.

Explore the innovative intergenerational holiday club 'A Journey of a Lifetime...

Melanie Cave talks with Jess Masters-Carrer about why Gen Z and Gen Alpha are increasingly drawn to sacramental spirituality and how churches can welcome and equip young people to share faith. They explore themes such as belonging before believing, the role of liturgy and ritual, embracing mystery, and practical mission approaches focused on invitation and relationship.

The episode offers practical ideas for youth workers and churc...

The spiritual climate is shifting and Gen Z and Gen Alpha are more open to the gospel than many expect. Melanie Cave interviews Aaron Routledge about why evangelism can feel awkward, how culture has changed, and why we need to move from scripted presentations to natural, curiosity-led conversations.

They explore practical steps (the Five B's), encouraging stories, and resources for churches and youth leaders to equip and release yo...

From a talk at the Intergenerate '26 conference, this episode explores Roots’ Bread & Wine research into making communion accessible and invitational for the whole church.

Melanie Cave shares findings, practical case studies (toddler services, multilingual parishes, youth-led reflections, outdoor and care-home eucharists), and adaptable prayers and choreography to help churches include children, people with dementia, neur...

Melanie Cave interviews Martin Shaw, exploring the profound role of storytelling, myth, and wilderness in our spiritual growth. We explore the importanceof stories in church life, personal initiation, and cultural identity, unpacking how stories shape our understanding of God, community, and ourselves, and advocating for a more untidy, questioning approach to faith and spirituality.

Keywords

storytelling, myth, spirituality, Christ...