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Sex & relationships
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I am single - what do I do with my sexual desires?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here Bobbi Kumari answers someone who wants to know how to manage her sex drive as a single person.
I once seriously considered becoming a lap dancer but God later revealed to me the sacredness of my sexuality
Strip Club Chaplain Bobbi Kumari considers why, for many women, ‘the pull of the sex industry is more alluring and seductive than ever before.’
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Fourteen years after marrying as a virgin, I have never had an orgasm
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, nurse and psychosexual therapist Emma Waring answers someone who needs help with sexual intimacy with her husband.
Are unhappy marriages a myth?
Woman Alive’s deputy editor, Jemimah Wright, looks at the findings from a new survey from The Marriage Foundation.
What it actually feels like to be single
Anna Fothergill gives a raw and honest account of what is feels like to be a single Christian woman, and gives some hope for those in the same position.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Why do I feel doomed to unrequited love?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, Marcia Dixon answers someone who is tired of only experiencing unrequited love.
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Miranda Hart’s marriage news has a message of hope for single Christian women who want the same
With the launch of her memoir ‘I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You’, Miranda Hart reveals she got married in secret this summer. Jemimah Wright celebrates this announcement with some encouragement for others…
'What Little House on the Prairie taught me about a godly attitude to sex and marriage'
’Raising a teen in these times seems almost impossible, but Laura Ingalls gives me a model of what true joy and contentment can look like,’ says Kate Orton.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Is born again virginity possible?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we answer someone who wants to know what being a born again virgin means.
God prepared me to meet my husband
Grace Ewin-Hill shares the story of meeting her husband, and the steps she took to stand in faith in the waiting.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I have put on weight, don’t feel attractive and lost confidence, how do I get out of this rut?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, Dr Kathrine McAleese answers a reader who has lost confidence in themselves.
There was polygamy in the Bible and now polyamory is on the rise among Millenials. What should Christians do?
Anna Fothergill considers the rising trend of the so-called ethical non-monogamy, and says, ’the shift away from Judeo-Christian values and subsequent breakdown in sexual ethics has now landed the average singleton in the position of forming an opinion on this topic.’
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I have fallen out of love with my husband, when is it ok to get a divorce?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we answer someone who wants to know when it is ok to get a divorce.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I want to marry a Christian man, but there are not many!
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, Marcia Dixon answers a reader who wants to marry a Christian man, but wonders where to meet them.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: How many dates does it take to know if there’s real potential?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we answer someone who wants to know if she should keep dating a guy she was set up with
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I was dumped, and now I can’t move on
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here Dr Kathrine McAleese speaks to a woman who can’t get over a break-up.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I am scared of childbirth, but want children - what can I do?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we answer a lady who has tokophobia.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My husband had an affair and now says he is allergic to me and can’t touch me
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, Dr Kathrine McAleese helps a woman whose is being treated very badly by her husband.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I’m engaged to a pastor and we’re pregnant. Should we bring the wedding forward?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, Marcia Dixon helps a pregnant reader who wants to know if she should get married before the baby is born.
We should pray for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s marriage instead of seeing it as entertainment
Hope Bonarcher looks at the history of Ben and Jennifer’s relationship, and comments on the rumours that their relationship is in trouble.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I’ve just moved in with my Christian partner – are we living in sin?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we help a reader who wants to know if she is living in sin.
Are date nights the secret to a healthy Christian marriage?
A new report from the Marriage Foundation reveals that intentional time spent together as husband and wife can make all the difference.
Are age-gap relationships a solution to the lack of men in the Church?
Sienna Miller is fourteen years older than her partner and age-gaps this way around are becoming less unusual. Shovorne Adams, who herself has a younger husband, asks if women marrying younger men can finally shake off the ‘cougar’ slur.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My best friend is marrying my ex-boyfriend, how is that fair?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we help a reader who is in the painful situation of a friend and ex-partner getting engaged.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Can I kiss boys at parties?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we help a reader wants to know if this kind of casual intimacy makes her a bad Christian?
A Gen-Z guide to modern dating (Christians need help too)
If you’re recently single and hitting the apps, you are going to need to decipher more than just WWJD…
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I had to leave my abusive marriage but now I feel really angry at God - why did he let that happen to me?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we help a reader who is angry at God after leaving an abusive marriage.
It’s Valentine’s Day! If you’re single – don’t panic.
Do you cringe at the thought of being single for yet another Valentine’s Day? Wendy Griffiths shares encouragement from her journey, and gives steps on how to celebrate the day, single or otherwise.
'I will always celebrate Galentine’s Day'
Abi Louise Roff shares how four friends in her life have been an invaluable support, and why we women should keep looking out for each other.
The boyfriend trap - how romantic relationships are being used to trap women into exploitation
Around ‘15% of victims of trafficking are thought to be trafficked by an intimate partner’ says Ben Ryan from Medaille Trust, a charity that works to support survivors of modern slavery. He explains how the longing for love can make women dangerously vulnerable.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I’m in debt. Is it okay for me to sell pictures of myself online?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we help a reader who needs to make money, and wants to know if she can do it through selling pictures of herself online.
What are your expectations on Valentine’s Day?
Hope Bonarcher takes an honest look at our expectations for this much romanticised day
Romantic relationships aren’t the only ones we should prioritise
Veronica Zundel challenges us to accept and support healthy connections beyond the ‘ideal’ the Church perpetually highlights
Notes on…feminism
Dr Belle Tindall unpacks purity ethics within the Church and wider culture
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My husband has gone off sex, what do I do?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we answer a question about lack of sex in marriage.
‘Everybody needs a role model and everybody needs to be a role model’
Helping people reach their full potential is Bethany Hobbs’ passion, and she has discovered that what is important in life is to have someone in your corner, championing and guiding you, and you can do that mentoring for someone else too.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I want to propose to my boyfriend!
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we help a reader who is considering proposing to her boyfriend.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Someone in my church has come to me and said they want to get an abortion, how do I help her?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we answer a question on abortion.
Redeeming mixed-sex relationships
Bobbi Kumari believes that this generation has an opportunity to redeem mixed-sex relationships so that they become pure and honouring
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I’m dating a non-Christian who is kind and generous and thoughtful, he just doesn’t love Jesus
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle the tricky topic of dating someone who isn’t a Christian.
There’s a new dating concept for people bored of apps, and it has the potential to connect Christians
Lauren Windle, author of Notes On Love: Being Single and Dating in a Marriage Obsessed Church, shares her thoughts on the latest dating concept to hit the market.
The world has single, childless role models like Kylie Minogue - but where are they in the Church?
Writer Alex Noel is impressed that Kylie Minogue, 55, isn’t defined by her age or relationship status, but asks: where are the similar role models in the Church?
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I took the morning after pill and now I feel so ashamed
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we address a question about taking the morning after pill.
Marriage is sacred but if your partner is abusive - they're the one who broke the marriage covenant, not the person who leaves
October is Domestic Abuse Awareness month, writer Louise shares her thoughts on divorce in the context of an abusive marriage.
Trusting God’s sovereignty in singleness
Bobbi Kumari encourages us to think differently about our status – and sexuality
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I hang out with a guy at church, how do I know if he fancies me or thinks I’m just a friend
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle how to work out if someone likes you.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: What’s the Christian response to sex toys?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle the taboo topic of sex toys.
Is love at first sight a healthy way to start a relationship and what does the Bible say about it?
Lauren Windle asks if love at first sight really exists and if so, is it biblical?
Let’s not be afraid of our sexuality
Bobbi Kumari encourages us to be confident in the way we have been made as women, and to embrace our gender roles
My husband had an affair with my best friend, here is how God helped me find happiness again
Author of You Can Be Happy Again Delia Gould explains the most important step in her recovery after her husband had an affair with her best friend.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS I was sexually active before I became a believer - remembering it makes me feel shame, how do I overcome this?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; feelings of shame about your sexual history.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Everyone says I’ll meet my husband at some point… but what if I don’t?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; wondering if you’ll ever meet your husband.
The transforming power of abiding in God’s love
Bobbi Kumari encourages us all to spend time with our Father, learning his ways. It is as we do this that we can begin to truly believe in – and experience – his deep love for us and walk into the freedom of being fully transparent before him
Women get a lot of advice from dating influencers - and it isn't *all* rubbish
Lizzie Hutchison explores the advice of some of the most popular dating influencers and shares her thoughts.
People brand Christian match making service as ‘offensive’ and ‘cultish’ for asking women if they are virgins on application form
It costs $1,000 to sign up to Catholic author and podcaster Timothy Gordon’s dating service but Lauren Windle notes that women in their 30s and those who had had sex with more than three partners need not apply.
Artificial Intelligence girlfriends could be ruining our ability to connect… this is not God’s plan
Lauren Windle explores the disturbing new “AI girlfriend” trend and asks what it could do for real human interactions.
No one talks about being single in the Church after your 50s, but the Church has a lot to work on
Hatty Calbus shares her perspective on being a single Christian woman and encourages church leaders to make more effort with unmarried women in their congregation.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I want to date but don’t have a clue how to flirt, I don’t want to be sexual - can you help?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; if you can flirt as a Christian.
Why I teach people about sexuality
Bobbi Kumari explains that it isn’t for purity or holiness that God called us, but to experience true intimacy
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I’m a married woman - can I have sex while on my period or is that unbiblical?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; if it's unbiblical to have sex while on your period.
He’s just not that into you: the advice I wish someone had given me when I was younger
Jemimah Wright shares the advice that would have saved her a lot of heartache, if she had been told sooner.
I’ve never had sex but have been asked to go for a smear test… what does that mean for my virginity?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; if you could lose your viriginity by having a smear test.
5 Ways to Say ‘I’m Sorry’ by the man who brought us the 5 Love Languages
Premier’s Inspirational Breakfast host Esther Higham spoke to Dr Gary Chapman, author of the New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages® series, about his latest book The 5 Apology Languages.
Strongholds of the mind
Bobbi Kumari explains how the demonic can gain access to our lives through our negative thinking.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Where does this association between sexuality and shame come from?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; why sex has become so associated with shame.
How I was treated by my church during a break-up was more heart-breaking than losing the relationship
When Minister Maureen Morgan had her heart broken in church, she had to juggle the end of the relationship and the church’s response to it.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS - I’m super busy but want to have more sex with my husband - is it ‘unchristian’ to have a ‘quickie’?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; if it’s ’unchristian’ to have a ‘quickie’ with your husband.
The truth about sex
Caitlin and Cole Zick of Moral Revolution spoke with Jemimah Wright about the importance of sharing the truth on sex with young people, and how to have better conversations about God’s design for sexuality
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I don’t like the idea of sex at all - does that make me asexual?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; how to know if you’re asexual.
Envy can drive a wedge between relationships, here are five signs to look out for
Writer and broadcaster Deanna Fletcher tells of her experience of a toxic friendship and shares five things to look out for in an envious friend.
I’m forever grateful to the woman who saved my marriage - I think we all need a mentor
Writer Nicole Watt was considering throwing in the towel on her marriage until she met her mentor Phyllis.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS I’m worried my husband doesn’t think I’m very good in bed, what should I do?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do if you’re worried your husband thinks you’re bad in bed.
Are Christians allowed to date?
Journalist and author of Notes On Love: Being Single in a Marriage Obsessed Church, Lauren Windle addresses the Christian approach to dating.
‘Any sex outside of God is unsafe’
Bobbi Kumari reveals the physical repercussions of intimacy without boundaries, focusing on sexually transmitted diseases
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Is God watching me when I have sex?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do if the idea of God watching you have sex puts you off entirely.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I’m getting married but have no idea about contraception - are some better for Christians?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; choosing contraception methods as a Christian.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: How do I help my daughter prepare for marriage when she’s never liked physical contact?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; how to help your daughter prepare for marriage when she doesn’t like physical intimacy.
‘There is no Christian position on transgender’
Veronica Zundel tackles this polarising debate head on
Sex bonds us together like glue
Bobbi Kumari explains the incredible bonding process that happens during sex, and shows how ungodly soul ties and relationship break ups can affect us deeply
Children are being taught about oral sex and choking in sex education classes, I truly believe the Church could do a better job
Last week the Prime Minister launched an investigation after reports that school children were being given graphic and violent sex education lessons. Here, Lauren Windle argues that the Church should step up to teach on intimacy.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I think my 15-year-old daughter is having sex with her boyfriend, what should I say to her?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to say to your teenager if you think they’re having sex.
The Gospel Coalition’s article saying that a man’s orgasm is his ‘sacrificial offering’ is deeply concerning
Author of The Great Sex Rescue, Sheila Wray Gregoire, explains why she was horrified at Joshua Ryan Butler’s Gospel Coalition article that equated the Holy Spirit with semen.
I’ve been married to an unbeliever for 30 years
Sheila Dougal shares what God has taught her about being what some may call, “unequally yoked”
We have accepted sexual disorder as normality for too long
Bobbi Kumari shares candidly her own personal experience of struggling with sexual disorder and why she passionately believes that any sex outside of a godly context will have devastating consequences
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My husband and I have physical difficulty having sex, I feel like a failure, how do I satisfy him sexually?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do when you physically struggle to have sex with your husband.
I fought to free my persecuted husband from an Iranian prison but the distance showed me that I was the victim of his abuse
Naghmeh battled tirelessly to get her husband, who had been arrested for his Christian faith, released from an Iranian prison. But in the three and a half years he was away, God spoke to her about the abuse she had suffered at his hands.
Why are women so obsessed with ‘bad boys’ like Joe from Netflix’s You? It’s time we changed the narrative
Premier presenter and comedian Cassandra Maria explains why our fascination with “bad boys” is just more proof that we need Jesus.
Ten Christian couples told me what they wish they'd known before they got married
This Valentine's Day writer Shakira Peronet spoke to ten Christian couples and shares their hard-earned wisdom.
This Valentine’s Day it’s time to stop writing love letters to yourself and read the one from Jesus
On a day dedicated to “love” it’s comforting to know that even if you don’t love yourself, God still loves you.
People in the LGBTQI+ community believe nothing can separate them from the love of God… apart from their sexuality and that’s wrong
With same-sex marriage and LGBTQI+ relationships at the forefront of conversation in the Church of England, Sarah Molyneux-Hetherington shares why she thinks we need to carefully consider the high cost of allowing people to feel excluded.
This Marriage Week: the seven things to remember when working on your relationship
During Marriage Week, Claire Musters encourages us with tips on how to stay the course in our marriages – even as we navigate huge changes.
Celibacy is trending as it isn't just Christians who decide voluntarily to abstain from sex
It turns not "doing it" is the latest in thing... who knew single Christians were so ahead of the times?
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS - I want to try some ‘experimental’ bedroom things with my husband - as a Christian is that allowed?
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; whether married Christian couples can be ‘experimental’ in the sack.
Everything you need to know if you’ve decided to ‘get back out there’ on the dating scene in 2023
Writer and author of Notes On Love, Lauren Windle, shares her advice for those who’ve made a romantic resolution.
'I was single when God told me to speak out about Kingdom marriage'
For ten years, Anja Gibson has prophesied about marriage, decreeing the centrality of Christ and the couple as the pillar for the restoration of the earth. Eventually, in 2020, following a cascade of God-ordained circumstances, Anja entered into her own kingdom marriage
God celebrates sex!
God wants us to enjoy mind-blowing, exciting sex, says Bobbi Kumari. And each time a married couple has sex, they are reflecting God’s covenant with his people
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I don’t fancy my husband and I don’t know what to do
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do when you don’t fancy your husband.
Lessons on sexuality: ‘Goodbye, Garden of Eden’
In the first of our series of extracts from Bobbi Kumari’s book Sacred Sexuality, she unpacks the moment perfect sexuality was tarnished
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My 23-year-old son spends all his time with his girlfriend, I’m worried he’s not making good choices
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; a mother’s concern for her son’s relationship.
I’m a relationship expert - here’s what to do when your partner’s parents are too involved in your marriage
The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, says: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” But what should you do when your partner hasn’t managed to leave and cleave?
Experts share the five signs that your partner is about to propose - so is it time for a manicure?
Between December 22 and January 1 is the most popular window for a proposal. As Christians, we know that - for those who are called to it - marriage is an exciting milestone, here are some things to look out for if you think an engagement could be imminent.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I woke up with my husband on top of me after I said no to sex… some say it’s wrong and some say it’s fine as we’re married - I feel lost
In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; sexual assault in marriage.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My partner wants to party with his work friends and go out all the time without me, should I be worried?
In our fortnightly column 'Great Sexpectations' the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do if your SO (Significant Other) is going out without you and partying a lot.
The way Christian parents speak to young girls about their vaginas is causing shame but we should celebrate our bodies
As a sex therapist, Emma Waring is all too aware of shame in the consulting room. Here, she challenges us to stop giving women and girls the impression that their genitals are 'nasty' and to help them celebrate the bodies God gave them.
Christian campaigners are highlighting the realities of Violence Against Women during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Red chairs are being put in churches, businesses, train stations and schools to raise awareness that, globally, a woman or girl dies at the hands of an intimate partner or family member every 11 minutes
‘I was high on drugs but could not stop talking about God’
Author, speaker, designer and teacher, Bobbi Kumari talks to our editor, Tola-Doll Fisher, about her Hindu upbringing and what she describes as ten years of pure hedonism, on her journey to knowing and accepting Jesus
'You are intimately aware of the sting of this loss': A prayer for when you love someone who doesn’t love you back
Heartbreak is agonising and brings up so much hurt and disappointment. Here, Elizabeth Moore and Audrey Elledge, authors of Liturgies for Hope, share their prayer for when you love someone who doesn’t love you back.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I'm an unmarried Christian and I live with my partner, I feel uneasy about it but I don't know what to do
In our fortnightly column 'Great Sexpectations' the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do if you're living with your partner before getting married and you feel uncomfortable about it.
Let’s talk about the 'spirit of lust' and how it is affecting individual relationships and the Church at large
Marriage is under attack and it's important we cover our married friends in prayer. Here, Woman Alive's editor-in-chief Tola-Doll Fisher explores the influence the 'spirit of lust' can have on the breakdown of the family, and what we can do about it.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: We waited until marriage for sex and now I’m so disappointed with my husband - what should I do?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what you should do if you’re disappointed with your sex life after waiting till marriage.
‘If I ever touch you again, your God is going to kill me’
Georgia Coy carried the brokenness of her childhood into her marriage, and continued a cycle of sexual destruction until she eventually found faith after
an affair
Stormzy is waiting for God to bring him his wife… but I’ve got a few suggestions for the award-winning Christian rapper
Writer Lauren Windle loves to partner with God to do his good work. So, with that being said, Stormzy if you’re reading this (presumably you’re a Woman Alive subscriber) drop Lauren a line and she’ll happily play match-maker and set you up with a Godly woman.
I left my fiancé after four years together - he told me God wanted us to be together, but I finally realised he wasn’t right for me
Valerie Jeannis walked away from her engagement just four weeks before the wedding because she finally realised she could leave and her fiancé didn’t have to give his permission. Here she shares her story.
These women did remarkable things in faith that God was bringing their husbands… from choosing a wedding dress to buying him aftershave before they’d even met
Woman Alive’s deputy editor, Jemimah Wright shares her encouraging testimony of faith in God’s promises while she waited for her husband. Along with some remarkable stories of other women who stepped out in faith before they even knew who their partner was.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: My husband’s best friend is a single, heterosexual woman - should I be concerned?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; whether or not you should feel worried if your husband has a single female best friend.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Can Christian women be close friends with men without being led into temptation?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; whether or not a Christian woman can be friends with a man without feeling tempted.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Is masturbation wrong for Christian women?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; the tricky topic of masturbation and whether or not it’s wrong for Christian women.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: I don’t want to have sex with my husband… am I a bad wife?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; what to do if you just don’t want to have sex with your husband.
It’s dangerous to hide dating from your church community, it means people can cheat without accountability and it’s time to change
Many couples in church date in secret to avoid gossip and pressure from others in the congregation. Here, presenter Cassandra Maria, explains how forcing people to hide their dating creates a dangerous environment for players to thrive.
I believe that ‘the family’ is under spiritual attack - we all need to be praying for marriages urgently
Woman Alive’s editor-in-chief Tola-Doll Fisher explains that she believes the demise of family is a threat to our society. Here she encourages all of us to pray to keep marriages and families together.
What are sexual soul ties, why did God create them and how can they be broken?
Sexual soul ties are often misunderstood by Christians, or sometimes misunderstood altogether. Here, writer Bobbi Kumari explains what happens in the spiritual realm when we are physically intimate with someone, and what we can do to break the tie.
When I started dating my husband neither of us had a faith, but by the time we married I believed in Jesus and he didn’t - what happened after that was a miracle
Author Clare Luther found Jesus four years after she started dating her now-husband, but he remained a non-Christian. The difference in their faith and their priorities meant their relationship became strained, until one day when everything changed.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: Do I have to tell my Christian partner about my sexual history?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; whether or not you have to tell your partner about your sexual history.
GREAT SEXPECTATIONS: What’s the problem with sex before marriage?
In our fortnightly column “Great Sexpectations” the Woman Alive panel answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us a confidential email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, we tackle; What’s the problem with sex before marriage?
Nothing breaks like a heart but no one heals like our God… dealing with heartbreak as a Christian
Heartbreak can be excruciating, but as Christians we have God, who soothes and comforts. Here author of Notes On Love, Lauren Windle, shares some things that may help you if you’re trying to mend a broken heart.
I’m a marriage counsellor but the best marriage advice I’ve been given was hard to swallow
Alongside her husband, Claire Musters offers pre-marital classes to engaged couples and marriage ‘check-ups’ to those in their local church, and together they have also written a book on marriage. However, Claire says the best piece of marriage advice she was given was something it took her years to accept.
We expect married couples to go from zero to hero in the bedroom after their wedding, but I found out it’s not that simple
Writer Shakira Peronet confessed that before she got married, she was clueless about sex. Here she explains the three things that helped her navigate her newly-wed sex life.
Christian dating in my 50s was nothing like I remember from my 20s… the idea that my love life is determined by ‘a swipe’ is horrific
Finding a partner is a challenge at any age but Maxine Hallett found dating in her 50s to be a totally different ball game to when she was in her 20s. Here she explains how she ‘got back out there’ and how she found the difficult world of online dating.
If you’re a Christian and you’re watching Love Island… there are some things you need to know
Tabloid journalist and author of Notes On Love, Lauren Windle explains that, while she can’t tell you whether or not it’s right to watch Love Island, she can tell you some things you’ll need to remember if you do
‘My husband came out as transgender’
In the spring of 2015, Pam Jones’s husband of 24 years wrote her a letter explaining that they wanted to be known as Chrissie. Their rugged alpha male persona had been a mask, an act of performative masculinity to protect their true self, which was, and always had been, intrinsically feminine
Can you still be friends with your ex and are you a bad Christian if you don’t manage it?
As much as we’d prefer it didn’t, dating can get messy so staying friends with an ex can be a challenge. Author of Notes On Love Lauren Windle, explores when you should and shouldn’t pursue friendship with an ex and the best ways to go about it.
I’m a Christian marriage counsellor and these five things are vital to remember for a healthy marriage
Christian marriage counsellor Teresa Weeks of Marriage Care offers couples five simple reminders that will positively impact their relationship. Plus she explains the ‘unspoken messages’ you’re sending with caring behaviour.
Women struggle with pornography too… so why do we only speak to men and boys about it?
While porn use has traditionally been seen as a men’s issue, Naked Truth Project says it is vital to raise awareness of the struggles women face too and remove the shame and stigma that prevents many women from seeking the help and support they need.
Being poor and married is more stable than being rich and cohabiting, study reveals
Research from The Marriage Foundation suggests that co-habiting parents were twice as likely to break up than their married counterparts. Writer Lauren Windle, takes a look at the stats.
Single women are leaving the church because they feel undervalued - and if you’re one of them, do this instead
Many single women feel devalued and excluded from church life as a result of being unmarried. Rather than allowing yourself to feel this way or worse, leaving the church altogether, Dr Katie Gaddini offers three things you can do instead.
If you’re single at the moment but would prefer not to be, this is what you need to know
Plenty of people who are single at the moment are hoping to find a relationship and ultimately marriage. Paula Halliday, author of Singled Out, shares the key things every single person should remember.
It wasn’t until my husband and I separated that we realised we’d been complacent, now we’re stronger than ever
During Marriage Week UK, May 10-16, writer Claire Musters shares how the most painful period in her marriage actually strengthened it.
I’m a Christian actor who was part of the controversial ‘Family Sex Show’ - the play has been slandered and I believe in it more than ever
Keziah Joseph was part of the team who devised and acted in ‘The Family Sex Show’, a play that hit the headlines after stirring up outrage for its sexual content for children and families. Here she explains why she supports the show and is upset by its censorship.
‘God told me you're the one’ and four other red flags that I’ve experienced on dodgy dates
Looking back over her Christian dating disasters, Rachel Pearce identifies five disturbing phrases that are a sure fire sign you need to run for the hills.
Can married women stop ditching their single female friends please?
After marriage a friendship reshuffle is inevitable as you settle into a groove of married life. But writer Lauren Windle argues that married women often navigate this very badly, leaving their single friends feeling left out in the cold.
‘I have never experienced a relationship like this’
Vicki Keir shares her story of failed marriages – including discovering abuse in her home – and the faithful God who has given her hope and joy again
‘Singing has helped me with fear and anxiety’
Singer Elle Limebear talked to Jemimah Wright about being the daughter of Delirious? front man Martin Smith and her own call to the music industry
I’m a relationship therapist and here are four tips on dating while grieving the loss of your partner
Losing your partner is the most difficult experience and continuing with every day life can be daunting. Allowing someone new into your life can feel overwhelming too and possibly impossible to consider, here relationship therapist Charisse Cooke explains what to consider.
Ignore Netflix, issuing a marriage ultimatum in your relationship is never a good idea and here’s why
A new Netflix reality show pushes couples to the brink with the ultimatum: ‘marry me or leave me alone’. Writer Lauren Windle explains why, despite being tempting, this is probably a terrible idea.
Relationships are three times more likely to succeed if you marry compared to informal cohabitation, survey reveals
The latest research from the Marriage Foundation that shows that even those who aren’t Christian are more likely to work on a relationship if they have cemented it in marriage.
These are the dating apps and sites where you can find Christians
If you fancy online dating but want to make sure you maximise your chances of meeting a Christian, this is the list for you. Lauren Windle explains exactly which sites and apps the faith community is using.
I’m a divorced Christian but I’m conflicted about changes to the law; I believe divorce should be hard
The “no-fault” divorce law comes into effect this week and Tola-Doll Fisher, Woman Alive editor and divorcee, is conflicted about what this might mean for couples and their staying power.
I’m a single Christian man and these are the things women do on dating apps that I find difficult
Christian Tim Bechervaise has been doing online dating on and off for years. Here he explains the things he’s experienced women do on the apps which make it far more difficult to date.
You are not broken because you find it difficult to reach orgasm
Many women get frustrated with themselves for not enjoying sex as much as their husbands and for finding it difficult to reach climax. Here The Great Sex Rescue author Sheila Wray Gregoire, explains it’s all about listening to your body and warming up slowly.
A Romeo and Juliet love story
Ram and Sunita Gidoomal are from different castes (class systems), which meant those around them felt their relationship simply couldn’t work. They proved everyone wrong
You are not broken because you don’t feel like having sex with your husband
Feeling guilty that your sex drive isn’t as high as your husband’s? Writer Sheila Wray Gregoire explains that there are often two reasons for a low libido, one is down to you and the other is down to him.
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be in church - it’s a social and commercial event, not a spiritual one
On the day that is designated to celebrate love, Lauren Windle explains why she is all for Valentine’s Day but thinks it should be kept out of our places of worship.
From meeting to marriage in one month: a testimony of God’s faithfulness
Singer song-writer Kira was full of challenging questions of faith and was eager to meet a husband. She met a man and they were married 30 days later. Here she tells Michele Morrison her story.
Valentine’s Day isn’t a big deal but it took getting married for me to realise
After years of singleness, Jemimah Wright shares about the anticipation of her first valentine’s day as a married woman.
Why there aren’t enough men in your church and what we can all do about it
Author and chartered psychologist Annabel Clarke explains how fewer Christian men can affect individuals, families and the Church.
Let’s fly the flag for ‘old love’…
Veronica Zundel refuses to run after the thrill of the ‘new’, but values hard-won, deepening relationships
‘I was reminded about being single every day at church’
Lauren Windle caught up with Christianity’s poster girl for single women, Carrie Lloyd, to ask how she feels about love, life and relationships ten years on from the start of her ministry
Rescuing our sex lives
Relationships writer Sheila Wray Gregoire busts the myths that so many Christians have about intimacy
Whose job is it to fill my love tank?
In the second part of her mini-series, Candy Ellie explains what can affect our ability to recognise and retain love in a healthy way
Married at 54: ‘I was willing to wait’
TV anchor Wendy Griffith dedicated a book to her future husband when she was still very much single. She explains how she discovered that ultimately, God is the best matchmaker
It’s time to make dating a safer environment for those with disabilities
Dating with a disability comes with its own challenges. Jerusha Mather explains that when it comes to romance, the power to include is in each of our hands.
Infertility is a type of grief that gets worse with time and sadly the Church can be both healing and wounding
Research shows that an infertility diagnosis can cause the same level of physiological stress as that of terminal cancer. Here Rhythm of Hope’s Sarah Lang, offers insight into the pain of trying for a child and encouragement for those losing hope.
Is no sex before marriage out-dated or more important than ever?
Research suggests that the number of unmarried Christians under the age of 35 who are having sex, has risen from 20% in 2008 to nearly 60% in 2021. Author Carrie Lloyd spoke to Woman Alive about abstinence and why we shouldn’t give up on it.
'Golden couple' Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin are splitting - but what about the unhelpful pedestal we put them on?
Many people were rocked by the news that celibacy advocates and Christian celebrity couple Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin are separating. But Tola Doll Fisher asks why it’s so much more appealing for us to follow a highly visible, beautiful, golden couple than the Bible.
Love on a bicycle
Two newly married couples, Dawn and Tim Laundon and Matt and Coco Morley, told Clare Blake what they learned on their life-changing cycling trips
‘Singled Out in a Couple’s World’
Christa Smith spoke to Jemimah Wright about her new book, which aims to break the stigma of singleness
Christmas as a single person is hard… but you’re not on your own
Dreading facing your family festivities without a partner again this year? Don’t worry, we know how you feel.
I’m pleased the extreme abortion amendment failed… again, but Christians need to change how they speak to their MPs
As the ‘Johnson ammendment’ fails to go through for the third time, Christian Medical Fellowship’s Jennie Pollock explains why this is good news, but also why we need to change how we petition our MPs.
Domestic violence is up 6% on last year and it’s time Christians realised that this is happening in our churches
Domestic abuse-related crimes in England and Wales increased by 6% on last year according to the Office of National Statistics figures released last week. Bekah Legg from domestic abuse survivor’s charity Restored UK, explained that the church needs to be more aware of what’s going on behind closed doors.
‘My ex-husband bit off my nose, cut off my ear and carved up my face like a cabbage in an attempt to slit my throat’
Make this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) count, urges Abbie Mumbi
‘As far as I was concerned, affairs were for characters in soaps and films, not Christian marriages!’
Babs Bray felt great compassion for Alice Evans when the news of husband Ioan Gruffudd’s alleged infidelity broke. Despite Babs’s heartbreak after her ex-husband’s affair came to light, she was determined to forgive her ex and do the right thing
5 important reminders about marriage from Hailey and Justin Bieber
Whatever you think of them talking about their marriage on a podcast, Justin and Hailey have shared some important lessons, says Claire Musters
Young people really do want us to talk to them about sex
Rachel Gardner urges us to get over our embarrassment and fear of saying the wrong thing, because we have a vital role in helping to shape young people’s attitudes towards relationships and sex
‘Adoption was our first choice’
On World Adoption Day, Chrissi Pegg shares the story of how she and her husband came to adopt their two daughters
What would you give up for love?
As Japan’s Princess Mako has turned her back on her royal status in order to marry, Ola Awonubi looks at how the desire to be married has impacted Christian women’s lives
Fertility leave may help couples who are struggling to conceive
During National Fertility Awareness Week (1-5 November) we look at how employers are beginning to recognise the need to support those experiencing fertility issues – it is time the Church did the same
‘No one can promise you a husband. No one can even promise you a text back’
Lauren Windle looks at the growing market for love coaches and considers the impact for Christian women
Dating while Black: ‘Anyone who says they don’t have a physical type is either incredibly open-minded or is lying’
An OkCupid survey found that white, Asian and Latino men were 19% less likely to interact with a woman who was black. Tibz Adeniyi told Lauren Windle about her experiences of dating as a black British woman.
‘The pain of miscarriage was probably worse than full-term labour pains’
To mark Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October) Tammy Tunnah shares about her traumatic miscarriage and how mentally agonising her next pregnancy was, and we look at the place of art therapy in processing baby loss
‘Violence against women is a chronic situation that must be rejected’
Hannah Baylor says it is time for ‘women to claim their worth’ and ‘men to challenge and change their own, and other men’s, behaviour’
Sexual soul ties are real - and dangerous
The time of year when singles rush to couple up ahead of winter – known as ‘cuffing’ – is upon us. However, Candy-Ellie Graham warns us that it isn’t worth cuddling up to just anyone
The dos and don’ts of dating, according to four famous Bond girls
With the latest Bond film, No Time to Die, out on 30th September, Rachel Pearce looks to her favourite Bond girls for some hot dating tips… For Your Eyes Only!
Could a Christian go on Married at First Sight?
Lauren Windle questions whether Christian contestants could appear on this controversial reality TV show without compromising their faith
If you are considering a career in porn…don’t
Former topless model Susie Flashman-Jarvis was mortified to discover that one in five Brits would consider a career in pornography. Having seen the devastating effects porn can have, her advice is to stay well away
Support for singles of all ages
Whenever there is provision for singles in churches it is often targeted at young people. Rev Eleanor Jeans is author of a course called Securely Single, which aims to help those of any age live life to the full, whether singleness was something they chose or not. She shared about her own experiences of being single with Premier’s Maria Rodrigues.
We need to talk about sex in church!
When many Christian couples get married they are ill-equipped to navigate sexual intimacy. Premier’s Maria Rodrigues spoke with psychosexual nurse therapist Emma Waring, who longs to see churches talking more openly about the struggles couples face in the bedroom
‘I thought my wife would be better off without me’
Premier’s Maria Rodrigues spoke to Patrick and Diane Regan about the physical and mental health challenges he faced, and how they affected Diane too.
Why ‘Naked Marriage’?
It is UK National Marriage Week (10–16 May). Here, its coordinator, Michaela Hyde, explains the idea behind this year’s theme.
Healing after an affair
During UK National Marriage Week, we’re inviting couples to consider having some tough conversations, whether that be about sex, making a will or handling money well. Steve and Claire Musters spoke to Premier’s Maria Rodrigues about the way forgiveness saved their marriage, as documented in their new book Grace-Filled Marriage.
My final love offering
At the start of Dying Matters Awareness Week, Ann Clifford shares the importance of preparing for death well – and how she made her own preparations this year.
What does the Bible say about sex and relationships?
There is much wrong in what our culture teaches us about attitudes towards sex and relationships, but also many wrong perceptions about what the Bible says about these vital topics. Elaine Storkey unpacks why this is and reveals what it truly says
I'm in love with a non-Christian...
It’s all very well to talk about not being yoked to unbelievers, but what do you do when a non-Christian steals your heart?
Life after a Christian divorce
Steph Gutmann grew up as a pastor's kid and prayed for her marriage to be blessed by God, but when it turned abusive she was challenged about how to make things work. She shared her story with Premier's Maria Rodrigues.
Finding love online
Two couples tell Clare Blake how their love stories began online
A second chance at marriage
?Gilly, 73, was married to Gordon, 64, for 16 years until they divorced. They were apart for another 16 years but here Gilly explains why they remarried in 2019
Married at first sight, can it ever work?
Can a marriage be arranged by relationship experts? Ruth Sax takes a look at a TV show that takes puts two people together who don’t actually meet til their wedding day. Yes, really.
Is divorce okay for Christians?
Dr Zina Arinze is a lawyer, so why did she go into the field of helping those who have been through divorce find healing and restoration? Premier radio presenter Maria Rodrigues spoke with her to find out more about her story
Let's talk about sex
Adrian and Celia Reynolds have written a book about the struggles couples often face with physical intimacy in marriage, exploring why the Bible says about it and the priority sex should take in a marriage. Premier radio presenter Maria Rodrigues spoke with them about it
The Church is failing single people
Lauren Windle, a 30-something Londoner, has spent the last year interviewing people on their dating experiences in Church and has written Notes on Love based on her findings. It is a much-needed upgrade from a long line of handbooks telling people “How to wait patiently for your Boaz” or “You’re single because you’re not ready”. Lauren tells Tola-Doll Fisher she wrote it not as a guide, but as an invitation to explore a relationship status that she says has been sorely blown out of proportion
‘Single people are vital to the future of the Church’
Beth Collingridge from Single Friendly Church says that we need to value and include single people much more
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