Phil Knox: how male friendships can help win souls for Jesus

Phil Knox is best known for his work with the Evangelical Alliance - an organisation which represents and connects evangelical churches and people across the UK and where he serves as evangelism and missiology senior specialist.

Knox grew up in a Christian household and attended church regularly. Home was a place where Scripture was regularly referenced. On car journeys he describes his parents teaching him to memorise Bible verses before he was allowed to discuss football.

His father was a lawyer and specialised in social housing. For a time, Knox also believed he would follow in his footsteps but a stint working at Youth for Christ got him hooked on mission and on seeing "young people become Christians."

Working with his friend and colleague Gavin Calvert, CEO of the Alliance, he has written: Good News People: Hopeful evangelicals yesterday, today and tomorrow. which he describes as celebration of the UK evangelical Church.

During his research he says he discovered a Church which was 'rich', 'diverse' and full of 'life' and that any decline in nominalism - the idea that people attend church because of mindless duty - has been replaced by a people that are alive for Jesus fronted by some extraordinary Church leaders.

On this edition of The Profile he talks to Premier Christianity Editor Sam Hailes about the vital element friendship plays when sharing faith, particularly between men, a subject he has already written about in his book The Best Friends and how we need to be both braver and kinder.

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