Blog Archives - Instant Apostle

Centring Christ in a Darkening World this Advent

Light is a fundamental necessity. Plants and other organisms need light to create their own food, which forms the base of most food chains. Human beings need light energy to regulate human circadian rhythms, mood, and health. It is often said that there are five basic needs for living things: sunlight, water, air, habitat and food and when one considers how dependent some of these areas are on light, one gets a picture of how important it is to our very existence.

But just as much as we need the light from the sun, the Bible speaks of our need for another type of light… Read More »

When Churches Merge: A vision for mission which puts relationships first

The idea of merging with another church came suddenly and unexpectedly in 2023.

As a church in North West London, we had been growing steadily in numbers over recent years, and had even given thought to the idea of having a second service. But in my view, we clearly remained some years away from that. After all, by ‘Baptist definition’ we were a medium sized church… Read More »

NEW NOVEL: Family Matters

A Novel to Make Faith Real for Gen Z Teens

Gen Zers are turning to God. The Times reports 62% of the older cohort saying they are ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ spiritual, and church leaders across the UK are seeing signs of God being at work. But what does faith look like for young teens, and where can they look for guidance?

Family Matters, CRT award-shortlisted author Helen Parker’s third YA novel, offers… Read More »

NEW BOOK: Carrying Hope

The Medical World Destined Their Pregnancy to End in Death – but God Had Other Plans…

‘An intensely personal, deeply moving story of hope in the face of despair. Carrying Hope will, I have no doubt, bring comfort, provoke reflection, and even save lives.’
Pete Greig, 24-7 Prayer

How would you feel if doctors told you there was something terribly wrong with your unborn child? This was what Beth Appleby and her husband had to face after a routine antenatal scan for their third child.. Read More »

Sample Chapters: Live Deeply

Introduction

I’ve changed.
I’m not the person I once was.
In my twenties I was primarily focused on my purpose. My goal was to discover why God had given me the gifts, skills, personality and opportunities I had been given. I wanted to ensure that I wanted to ensure that I lived from a sense of calling, that I was clear about my assignment and that I was moving forward with a clear sense of purpose.
In my thirties my focus began to shift… Read More »

Celebrating an inspirational life of Christlike service

Many years ago, before I was a Christian, at a time when I was chasing money and essentially living for myself, I would often say to my wife that I wanted what her mother had. Life hadn’t dealt her a great hand, yet she was by far the happiest person I knew.

She had a peace and joy that were painfully lacking in my own life. Where did they come from? Read More »

AUTHOR BLOG: Choosing hope this Easter

It’s ‘impossible to read without encountering hope’.

I was so thrilled by these words! They were written by one of the very first people to read my novel – a dear, retired pastor friend who I had nervously approached to endorse the book. His words now appear inside The Healing, and on its back cover, and I was thrilled because they highlighted the message I wanted the book to convey… Read More »

AUTHOR BLOG: Oh, Happy (Mother’s) Day!

Last Monday, it was International Women’s Day where we celebrated half of the world’s population. Today is Mothering Sunday and/or Mother’s Day, whichever you prefer. As an actual woman, it felt pretty good having two days devoted to me in a seven-day period. As a freelance writer, pre-Covid, I used to spend a fair chunk … Read more …

AUTHOR BLOG: Questions to help kids with lockdown change

Last week, my three-year-old grand-daughter was turned away at the nursery school gate because someone had tested positive for coronavirus. The situation was explained carefully and kindly to her, and she said, ‘OK.’ But on the way home she commented dolefully to my son, ‘Daddy, I like school.’ She was missing learning and meeting friends, … Read more …

AUTHOR BLOG: Helping our children hear from God

Over the last year, many of us who are parents have been more up-close and personal with our children than ever before. Often it has been a real challenge, particularly with home-schooling, and I think we are all more grateful to teachers now than we were before! We are also more aware of our spiritual … Read more …