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Steve Hollinghurst

My job title is Researcher in Evangelism to Post-Christian Culture, based at the Sheffield Centre.   Needless to say that's a bit of a conversation stopper when asked 'so what do you do?' down the pub so I tend to put it more simply by saying my job is to find out how Christians can communicate their faith effectively with people who

don't have a church background. I find that most of the people I speak to who aren't Christians see the point! Indeed they often offer their own suggestions as to how Christianity can improve its flagging image.

If Britain was once a Christian country it is so no longer, yet spirituality is very much on the agenda for many. My own spiritual journey began in my teens with an exploration of all kinds of faiths and alternative spiritualities before choosing Christianity as my path. Since then I have always been interested in the spiritual quest of others and how Christianity might connect with their quest as it has done with mine. If, as I believe, the God who is the source and sustainer of all that is, became human in Jesus not only to relate to us but also to transform creation so it can fulfil its calling, then Christianity ought to be relevant to all people. But how can that connection be made when for many it seems to be a tired old religion, a relic of a passing age? Needless to say I enjoy a good challenge!

I am still on a journey, however much I discover the more I realise there is yet to discover. To paraphrase St Paul, all we can see at present is a dim reflection of reality, not until our journey's end will we see God face to face. 

Steve at a Mind Body Spirit fair explaining the tree of life.

Steve has experience of mission work in contemporary culture, both as a youth evangelist for several years in an inner urban area of Nottingham and also as a University Chaplain prior to taking up his current post with Church Army. He has done postgraduate research into contemporary spirituality, involving field research amongst Pagans and New Agers and has an academic background in social science as well as theology. He is part of the team that runs the Elemental venue at the Glastonbury festival, and involved in several Christian stalls at New Age fairs. For a number of years he has been part of the 'alternative worship' movement.