Gladiators star joins archbishop’s evangelism drive

Warren Furman, known as ‘Ace’ on the 1990s programme Gladiator, is sharing with primary and secondary school pupils his journey to faith as part of the Believe in Birkenhead initiative.

Speaking with Premier, Bishop of Birkenhead Rt Rev Keith Sinclair said his prayer for the four-day campaign was that “people who might have thought God wouldn’t give them a second thought realise God’s love for them and God’s work in their lives, and they start to begin a journey to come back and engage with that reality.”

Mr Furman’s being joined during the question and answer session on Thursday by the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu and several local Anglican bishops.

The Archbishop will go on to tour the repair facilities of Cammell Laird Shipyard before vists to two more schools, a health centre and a new youth centre.

He said: “I’m delighted to be able to share in this mission to Birkenhead. I want everyone to know that Jesus Christ loves and believes in all of us.

“He wants us to have an encounter with him that will transform our lives, bringing hope and love which we can then share with others. I encourage all to come and find out for yourself who Jesus is.”

Local churches from different denominations are also getting involved before the four-day campaign ends with a celebration service at St Saviour Church of England Church.

Bishop Keith added: “This has been a wonderful experience for the churches to have very different churches in different kinds of areas working well together.

“They’ve come up with a fantastic programme. That in itself is going to bear a lot of fruit.”

Click here to listen to Premier’s Ian Britton speaking with Bishop Keith:

A former star of the hit television show Gladiators-turned evangelist is joining a major evangelism event being led by the Archbishop of York in Merseyside.