Current page: Reporter / Martin Saunders
About Martin Saunders
Martin Saunders is Deputy CEO of Youthscape and Contributing Editor for Christian Today.
Martin Saunders
-
'Reaching the unreached' – and other phrases guaranteed to alienate your community
A newly-refurbished church near where I live has just had new signage done, in an effort to engage and draw in passers-by.
-
Hollywood director hands out 'Lord's Prayer' cards before horror premiere
It's said to be one of the strangest – and most theological – films of the year, and its director has underlined both of these elements with an unusual audience gift at early screenings.
-
Seven gendered Bibles for manly men and girls who like flowers
There, in the gleaming window of my local Christian book shop, the book – or rather the version of that book – that had been missing from my life for all these years.
-
Church signs and wonders: a spotter's guide to a great American tradition
Church signs are a familiar landmark in towns right across the country, and while for the most part they're just intended to display the service times and pastor's name, a maverick contingent of witty church staff often subvert them to impressive effect.
-
If necessary use words...What did Francis of Assisi really say?
The Christian gospel involves hearing as well as seeing; word as well as deed.
-
Lying for Jesus: why it matters that our preaching illustrations are actually true
The rewriting, mixing up and complete invention of stories to fit our purposes might feel like a necessary evil in the fight to inspire and encourage our listeners, but as communicators we have to call this what it really is: lying.
-
How to talk to children about colour
Obama's tweet struck such a chord because it helps to illuminate a question that is being asked across America and around the globe right now: how is racism formed?
-
The Dark Tower review: a Christian actor incarnates the devil
The Dark Tower certainly isn't as terrible as some are suggesting, and as an action-packed sci-fi / fantasy / western / quest movie, I found it entertaining throughout; a bit like a more grown-up version of cults 80s kids movie The Never-ending Story.
-
Why every church should build a kids' holiday club into its mission plan
Parents, standing at the back of the building at the end of the day with a look of quiet incredulity, are perhaps having their preconceptions about Christians radically challenged.
-
The best Christian movie you've never seen: Meet The Pretender
Thank the Good Lord for Amazon Prime. Without it, we'd have no access to the swathes of terrible, obscure and until-recently-deleted-from-sale movies and TV shows that have found a new home in its back catalogue.
-
Why would God 'allow' a tree to kill 13 of his worshippers?
To some, horrible accidents like the one which took place on the island of Madeira this week offer a kind of emotive proof that a loving God surely cannot exist. But does that argument really stand up?
-
Worried about nuclear war? Here's what you should do
I grew up in the 1980s, when the Cold War between the USA and Russia was still in full swing.
-
How do you beat Christian Festival High Syndrome?
Every year, usually by the time the new school term had begun, those feelings of surety and passion had all but dissipated. This was Christian Festival High Syndrome – and I was a recurring sufferer.
-
Dunkirk review: a magnificent light in our darkest hour
The extraordinary redemption story of Dunkirk is all due to humble, ordinary people who decided to play their part. These men – and boys – left behind because they were deemed the wrong age to fight, were absolutely average. All that set them apart was their willingness to see light defeat darkness.
-
Lean in to your shadow side: ten new Christian phrases you need to know
Every subculture has its own special vocabulary. No-one however, quite does this to the degree of awesomeness demonstrated by the evangelical wing of the Christian church, which not only has its own set of extraordinary jargon, but regularly adds to it.
Most Read
-
What happened when a whole church ditched the digital?
-
Why does the Church of England have two archbishops?
-
Refusing Justin Welby's Christmas donation may prove costly for Children's Society
-
Americans praying after New Orleans terror attack
-
Why Satan is reading the Bible – a story from Ukraine's frontline
-
Justin Welby marks last day as Archbishop of Canterbury after resignation over John Smyth scandal
