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On Tuesday 1st Sept 2026, The Well Sheffield staff team sat down to think through some of the likely reactions, theology and responses to the tragedy at The Big Church Festival on 28th August, when one person died and others were injured in an accident. Several of our folk from The Well were involved in the event, and it has made national headlines and provoked a lot of conversation on social media. In this episode, we share our incomplete thoughts and reactions in the hopes it helps you to grapple with some of the questions around suffering, circumstances, and where God may be found. The quality isn't perfect, it was an impromptu group discussion so you might need to adjust the volume occasionally. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Amy Orr-Ewing's article 29 August 2026: 'When Disaster Strikes: How could this happen at a Christian event?' https://amyorrewing.substack.com/p/when-disaster-strikes WISE LIVES Social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠

Our second episode with Josh Muse, who leads Kaleo International, a family of churches, missionaries, and ministries in 14 nations. Nick (Minister The Well Sheffield) and Josh get under-the-surface into the questions of leadership which can help or hinder missional movement. What is the internal journey of a leader? What can we learn from the early church about growth? How do we structure our churches and organisations to be more like 'movements'? What structures and practices help them become fit to multiply and decentralise? Kaleo & Josh Muse Resources: ⁠https://kaleointernational.org/⁠Youtube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/KaleoInternational Josh's book 'Called by Fire': ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/0iGm44Vv⁠ WISE LIVES Social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠

We hear from Josh Muse, who leads Kaleo International, a family of churches, missionaries, and ministries in 14 nations. Josh shares his story with Nick of how God radically caught his attention as a farmer's son aged 9 with a call to the nations. Over the years much mindset shift was needed to get Josh ready to live a naturally supernatural life which is seeing the kingdom of God multiply internationally. Kaleo & Josh Muse Resources: https://kaleointernational.org/Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/KaleoInternational Josh's book 'Called by Fire': https://amzn.eu/d/0iGm44Vv WISE LIVES Social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠

What is it like to unexpectedly face the real possibility of death? We can't practice it in advance, but can we prepare our lives for it? Two friends David and Nick reflected together on their personal experiences of sudden medical emergencies in their late 40s. How did God and faith fit into those moments, and what was different afterwards? Facing death is not a topic which charismatic Christians often dwell upon, but its a crucial aspect of faith and hope in life, and into eternity. CONTENT WARNING: topic of death, dying, medical trauma, Covid Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠

Friend of the pod Phil Knox joins Marjorie to muse about what God is stirring in the UK at this time. Recorded at Easter 2025, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in church, the Bible and the Christian faith, particularly amongst the young. The talk about having hope and perseverance in sharing our faith with others. Phil is Evangelism and Missiology senior specialist at The Evangelical Alliance. Marjorie is the joint senior-leader at The Well Sheffield. Mentioned in this episode: The Evangelical Alliance : https://www.eauk.org/Recent research on people coming to faith and church: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠⁠

What difference does the coming return of Jesus make to our everyday lives here and now? How can we grow in love, forgiveness, and hearing God's voice - and how can parents raise children into these things? Towan and Becky of The Well Sheffield sat down with Canadian pastor and author Patricia Bootsma (Catch the Fire Toronto & Kansas City) to find out. Mentioned in this episode: Patricia's latest book 'When Jesus Splits the Skies': at Amazon Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠

Asher Byrd is a part of Circuit Riders and The Send UK & Ireland, as well as Youth With a Mission (YWAM). While visiting Sheffield he spoke with Marjorie Allan (senior leader of The Well Sheffield) about the signs and stirrings of passion and revival which many are witnessing amongst his Generation Z (aged about 13-28) in the UK. Be ready to be stirred for sharing the gospel and praying for this move of God, whatever generation you're a part of! Mentioned in this episode:The Send UK & Ireland: https://www.thesend.uk/ Circuit Riders: https://circuitriders.com/ Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠

You may be surprised to learn that recent research has revealed how core values that are familiar to Christians - like hope, reconciliation, humility, community, collaboration, meaning - play a key role in recovery for some those people seeking to break free from addiction and crime. David is an academic in Criminology and specialises in studying addiction recovery. He spoke with podcast host Nick Allan about how we can learn and be challenged by people who society often seeks to marginalise. Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠

What does a Nigerian, born into a royal family and raised in Scotland, think God is doing amongst the nations today? Yinka Oyekan has helped to plant dozens of churches and is overseeing an international evangelism move through 'The Calling'. He is a Baptist Minister in Reading, UK and in this episode he shares his remarkable story of faith and perspectives on where the church is going. Mentioned in this episode: The Turning : https://theturning.eu/⁠ Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠

Jonathan is a regular guy in his middle-years with a talent. He swims competitively at the highest level. Jonathan tells us his story from the perspective of being a Christian: what has training hard, facing set-backs, and ultimately achieving a world record taught his about the journey of discipleship to Jesus in everyday life? Mentioned in this episode: City of Sheffield Swim Squad : https://cosss.uk/ Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): https://www.wellsheffield.com/

How would a busy, fulfilled Christian respond when it seems that God asks you to lay down everything you are working for, to simply pray and wait upon Him? This was Ann's experience, when as a church minister, national speaker and mum she heard God's prompting and had some tough decisions to make. Mentioned in this episode: Ann & Gavin Calver's book: 'Unleased The Acts Church Today' https://amzn.eu/d/bkalg4R Evangelical Alliance : https://www.eauk.org/ Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠

We begin Season Three and 2025 by taking a step back and asking 'what is God doing in the UK today, and how can I join in?' What's changing in our nation and in church as a response? There's a move of ordinary people starting micro-churches, and teens/twenties turning to God. Am I willing to change if necessary, and champion it? Our guest John McGinley heads up Myriad, a national training program for lay micro-church planters. And The Send UK/Ireland, a movement to mobilize the new generations into mission at home and abroad. Mentioned in this episode: Myriad The Send UK/Ireland John's book The Church of Tomorrow Nick's book The XYZ of Discipleship Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠

Welcome back! Revd Nick Allan introduces a taste of what's coming up in Season 3 of the Wise Lives podcast, produced by The Well Sheffield. Look out for Episode 1 from 22 January 2025. Subscribe for updates! Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠⁠⁠ The Well Sheffield (producers of this podcast): ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/⁠⁠

Isabella is a young adult with a passion. She tells Nick all about saying yes to the call of God aged 15 to 'go' which ended with her becoming a 'reverse missionary' from Brazil to the UK, reaching Generation Z for Christ. Today she has a national role to empowering her peers in Baptist churches to become disciples and impact the nation. Isabella shared an encouraging picture of the spiritual climate and passion amongst the new generations in the UK. ---------------------------- Want more on reaching and discipling the new generations? Podcast hosts Nick & Marjorie Allan authored an award-winning book in 2020 all about understanding and reaching generations Y & Z. It's called The XYZ of Discipleship, available in paperback or ebook. *SPECIAL OFFER* Save £4 off RRP (cheaper than Amazon!) use code: WISELIVES at checkout Order here: ⁠⁠https://www.wellsheffield.com/xyz⁠⁠ Mentioned in this episode: Baptists Together GB : https://www.baptist.org.uk/ Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56⁠

Lifting the lid on a sense of 'vocation' and calling. How do you know? Is it for everyone, or just special people? Charlotte and Ben are young Baptist Ministers and they reflect on what they've learned about the call and the cost of Christian ministry, and how to integrate God's call into our everyday lives. ---------------------------- Wise Lives social: Homepage: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wellsheffield.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wiselivespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wiselives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwfLRwFQOJKmOIfI0jIq6AGW7kMmm2M56