Former research scientist Fazale 'Fuz' Rana shares how advanced scientific study led him from agnosticism to Christian faith. As an undergraduate, science pushed him toward doubt, but deeper research in biochemistry revealed to him the extraordinary complexity, elegance, and precision of even the simplest living cells. Through decades of laboratory experiments, he says, scientists have consistently failed to demonstrate how life’s essential complex molecules could arise spontaneously through unguided chemical processes. Instead, these experiments require careful planning, intervention, and controlled environments provided by intelligent researchers. Rana describes this contradiction as the 'problem of unwarranted researcher intervention’, highlighting the irony that attempts to prove chemical evolution instead point toward intelligent design. This scientific dilemma raised deeper questions about purpose and origin, ultimately leading him to Scripture. He describes a profound encounter with Jesus through the Sermon on the Mount, recognising his sin and need for salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. Now serving as president and CEO of Reasons to Believe, he seeks to engage sceptics by presenting a robust scientific case for God’s existence and the reliability of the Bible.

It is ten years since the Church Times announced its first Green Church Awards. Since then, there have been great advances in scientific understanding and public awareness of environmental issues. Internationally, the new Paris Agreement was ratified in November, with 117 countries signing up. Domestically, recycling is far commoner than it was, and it is now possible to subscribe to clean-energy suppliers. However, globally the outlook is not good, with sixteen increasingly hot years damaging the natural environment and a number of influential voices still denying that there is a problem. The Church needs to play a greater part in this. Its national and global reach put it in a position to influence large numbers of people, even governments and power-brokers. But if its voice is to be heard, its own house must be in order. Fortunately, recent messages coming from the Pope and other faith leaders show how care for God’s planet and our common home is a priority around the world. Organisations such as A Rocha are leading the way in highlighting the issues, and around the country there are thousands of groups and individuals working sacrificially to change the climate - and the climate of opinion.