Name: The Origin
Duration: 1202 s

'The Origin' is a documentary series which showcases the stories of some of the country’s most influential Christian personalities and aims to capture each participant's faith journey.

Simon Holley is the lead Pastor at King’s Arms Church in Bedford, and also a father of three. He grew up in a Christian family, but he soon walked away from Christian values and became an atheist. His conversion to Christianity took place when he was 19. After a few key encounters with God in open visions, he realised that his mission was to lead people into finding their faith. That’s what inspired the theme of this episode, which is “Walking Into Freedom myself, and also setting other people free”. Simon has a strategy for dealing with hardships - all one needs to ask themself is “Am I born on a cruise ship, or on a battleship?”. According to him, Christians are born on battleships and need to fight for what they believe.

The Origin: Simon Holley

Steve Uppal is the senior leader in All Nations Church, a very diverse Pentecostal church with branches in the UK, the US, India, as well as France. He has led the church since 2001 and he’s well-known for his authentic preachings. Steve grew up in a Sikh family, and he came to faith when he was five. He is married to Esther and they have four children. Together, they like praying, going to the gym, and travelling. Steve dreams of making as many disciples as possible, and of getting his church ready for God’s revival, God’s appearance in order to transform our society; That's what inspired the theme of this episode, which is "Revival Ready".

The Origin: Steve Uppal

In the third episode of ‘The Origin’ we meet David Devenish. He and his wife grew up in a Christian separatist sect which they both left when they were 21. After leaving the sect, Dave founded his own church, along with a group of believers. By his 30s, David was already an established senior manager in the field of international banking. He made the decision to quit his prestigious job when he realised that his true calling was to lead people to Jesus. From the 90s until today, Dave has planted numerous churches in the UK and the Muslim world, going from international banking to international ministry. He and his wife have decided to live in Russia for at least three months every year. There, they have witnessed the incredible ways in which God works in order to change the world.

The Origin: David Devenish

Rachel Gardner is a Christian writer and a youth worker. She recently moved to Preston with her family, in order to plant a church there. She chose to become a Christian youth worker when, one day, God spoke to her and told her “Rachel, who’s going to tell them about me?”. Ever since, her main area of work has been talking to young people about relationships from a Christian perspective. She is married to Jason, a ‘rocker priest’, and together they have adopted two adorable children.

Rachel Gardner

Kika Ashanike is a Christian speaker, author and minister. She grew up in a rough estate in Hackney, as a member of a Nigerian single-parent family, and gave her life to Jesus at the age of 17. She later went to Law school, but she left university when she realised that God’s plan for her was full-time ministry. Kika’s family was predominantly Muslim, but they converted once they witnessed the power of her faith. Kika is the founder of Pure Hearts Foundation, a ministry which aims at showing women that they are loved, seen and heard by God. She organises Christian retreats for women in the UK, as well as around the world.

Watch Kika Ashanike tell her incredible life's story about how she came to Christ and how she continues to serve Him  through her work as a speaker, author and minister.

Kika Ashanike

Paul Cowley had a traumatic childhood, growing up with two alcoholic and  emotionally abusive parents. As a teenager, he got involved in petty theft, which led him to prison. He later became a Sergeant in the British Army. The idea of God had never even crossed his mind, until a colleague of his in the Army got saved and told him about Jesus. That’s when Paul gave himself to Christ. Paul is now a reverend in HTB church, and his parish is located in an estate in North Kensington. He has founded Caring for Ex-offenders, a charity connecting ex-offenders with local churches. Paul is Bishops' Advisor to Prisons in London, and he has been awarded an MBE for his work. He is married to Amanda and he has two children.

Watch Paul Cowley tell his story about how he went from a troubled youth with abusive parents and involved in crime - to a man of faith who helps other ex-offenders find a local church.

Paul Cowley

Mimi Ajala is a Christian preacher. Her ministry organises really big events and conferences, aiming to empower women and to make them realise God’s calling upon their lives. Mimi grew up in London, in a single-parent Nigerian family. Her brother got shot in cold blood when she was 15, from someone who wanted to rob him off his car. That made Mimi furious at God, and she never expected that she’d ever return to faith. But God works in mysterious ways. Mimi now runs a very big ministry, she’s married to a wonderful husband who’s supported her tremendously, and they have two little children.

Mimi Ajala visits the home where she grew up in and where her brother got shot. She talks about her anger with God at the time but how she found her way back and now runs a large ministry.

Mimi Ajala

Chris Lee is a vicar and an Instagram influencer. He studied Business management at university, but, after graduating, he started feeling a lack of purpose in his life. That’s why he decided to join a friend on a Christian mission in Tanzania. There he found his true calling, he gave his life to Christ and he got ordained. He returned to the UK to receive further theological training, and, while at Cambridge, he met his wife, Jenny. After having experienced several miscarriages, today they have two children. Chris is an internet phenomenon, as he has more followers than the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury: around 180k! He believes that his Internet fame is part of his calling to serve Jesus and evangelise people, and that is what keeps him grounded.

Chris Lee is the Internet's favourite vicar. Watch his fascinating story of finding faith, getting saved and becoming an online sensation.

Chris Lee

Season 1

The Origin

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The Origin

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