Welcome Conference :
Bridges of Hope in a Divided World
Programme
Friday 16 October
13:30-14:30 Arrival & Registration
14:30-16:00 Bridges of Welcome
Welcome (video): The Right Rev. Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani
Welcome • Worship
Welcome Churches Vision & Stories
Keynote address: George Lapshynov
Panel: Mary Joshua • Emily Shepherd • Rev. Dr. David Wise
16:00-16:45 Tea Break • Check-In
16:45-18:15 Bridges of Peace
Worship • Prayer
Spotlight on Better Story: Tommy Sharpe
Keynote address: the Rev. Canon Guy Hewitt
“Finding the Peace” project
Table discussion • Q&A
18:15-19:30 Dinner
19:30-21:00 Stories of Hope & Global Worship
Stories and testimonies
Worship • Prayer
Desperate Journeys: Empathy Action
21:00 Free Time
Saturday 17 October
07:00-08:30 Breakfast
08:30-09:00 Registration / sign-up • Check-out
09:00-10:00 Welcome & introductions
Worship • Prayer
Impact Interview
10:00-10:30 Coffee Break
10:30-11:45 Bridging Cultures in the Church
“Polyphonic God” Discussion (video): Usha Reifsnider • Rev. Israel Olofinjana • Rev. Dr. David Wise
Panel: Rev. Dr. David Wise • Sue Butler • Mike Ashelby • Osoba Otaigbe
Table discussion • Q&A
12:00-13:00 Workshops
Introduction to Intercultural Worship: Resonance Band
Responding to Christian Nationalism: Tommy Sharpe (Better Story) & Yan Lo (Welcome Churches)
Praying for the Persecuted Church: Andy Worthington (Open Doors)
Building Bridges through Empathy: Ben Solanky (Empathy Action)
Crossing Cultures and Story Telling: Fatemeh Taheri (Welcome Churches)
13:00-13:45 Lunch
13:45-15:00 Bridges Across Borders
Worship • Prayer
Named Community Sponsorship (video): Hannah Gregory • Susannah Baker MBE • Gordon East
Panel: Ben Still • Andy Worthington • Gordon Showell-Rogers
Table discussion • Q&A
15:00-15:20 Tea Break
15:20-16:30 Kingdom Bridges
Worship • Prayer
Keynote Address: Bishop Mike Royal
Conversations with our partners: Bible Society • Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship • Breeze Translate • Stewardship
“Welcome to the Word” launch
16:30-16:45 Conference Close
Guest speakers
The Revd Canon Guy Hewitt
Canon Hewitt is the Church of England's inaugural Director of Racial Justice. He is an Anglican priest and social development specialist whose work spans racial justice, community cohesion, and wider questions of belonging and inclusion. A former ambassador in the UK, he is a Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, Westminster Abbey Institute, and Newbigin Institute for Faith, Peace, and Justice. With African, Caribbean, and Asian influences, and having lived and worked across the Commonwealth and beyond, he brings a plural heritage to his ministry. He has served as a priest in the Dioceses of Southwark, London, Southeast Florida, and Barbados.
George Lapshynov (Theos)
George Lapshynov is a Researcher at Theos, the UK’s religion and society think tank. His work explores refugee integration, national identity, community belonging, and the place of religion in contemporary society. He is the author of From Strangers to Neighbours: The Church and the Integration of Refugees and has contributed to a range of Theos research projects examining religion, culture and social change in Britain. George holds degrees in History and Politics and is currently pursuing a DPhil in Migration Studies at the University of Oxford. He regularly writes and speaks on issues relating to faith, migration, community, and public life.
Theos is the UK’s leading public theology think tank. It explores the role of faith in society and demonstrates how religious communities contribute to the common good. Through independent research and public engagement, Theos examines issues such as community, identity, social cohesion, and public policy. In doing so, it helps churches, policymakers, and the wider public to think more deeply about the challenges and opportunities facing the UK today.
Sam Miller (Open Doors)
Sam, Director at Open Doors UK & Ireland, strengthens connections between the UK church and persecuted Christians worldwide.
Formerly founder of Urban Devotion in Birmingham, he champions community transformation and human flourishing, inspired by persecuted believers’ courage to deepen devotion to Jesus and support others’ faith.
Tommy Sharpe (Better Story)
Tommy Sharpe is a co-director of Better Story, a grassroots group seeking to challenge Christian nationalism by encouraging Christians to love our neighbours, love our enemies, and welcome the stranger.
Better Story is a movement of Christians who believe in Jesus' radical call to compassion, hospitality, and self-sacrificial generosity. With ideologies of hate and division on the rise - and many appealing to Christianity to advance their position - we are working to provide a uniquely Christian response rooted in love for neighbour and enemy.
Rev. Dr. David Wise
David is an ordained and accredited minister of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and has served as pastor or interim minister in five London churches, the longest being 32 years at Greenford Baptist Church. While at Greenford he saw the church transition from an almost entirely White British congregation to one with people from approximately forty-five nationalities regularly attending. During worship different languages were used with songs, dance and prayer in styles that were used ‘back home’. Every aspect of congregational life reflected the cultures from the different ethnicities that made up the congregation.
David contributed two chapters to, and was one of the editors of, Polyphonic God: Exploring Intercultural Theology, Churches and Justice (London, 2025). David’s main role currently is as a mentor/coach for Christian leaders, he is accredited at Senior Practitioner level by the EMCC. Additionally he speaks at conferences and churches especially on the subject of inter-ethnic church.
Andy Worthington (Open Doors)
Andy has been involved in church leadership for over 20 years. He is Head of Church Relations at Open Doors, he has travelled to many countries around the world and loves telling inspiring stories of what God is doing around the world through the persecuted church to grow faith and courage. Andy lives in Birmingham with his wife Michelle and their 3 daughters.
Core Conference Partners
Also in partnership with
