2017: Reflections from the editor

With the tower still smouldering, the streets surrounding were full of survivors, mourners, media and those offering practical support.

I’d gone to support friends at a nearby church who’d been offering food, clothing and prayer to those caught up in the blaze but was struck by the deep discomfort I felt just looking at the building which I’d been talking about on radio on all day.

That night, I slept very little as the harsh reality of the deaths, the images of the smoking tower and the stories of survivors filled my mind.

Grenfell wasn’t the only story that made 2017 a tough one for journalists. We were too often needed to report on terror attacks, mass shootings like the one we saw at the Texas church pictured below or the regular updates of religious persecution around the world.

The world has seemed an increasingly dark place over the past 12 months, yet we know as Christians we have an opportunity to bring some light.

Knowing how to do that at times like Grenfell can be particularly difficult and while it can also be difficult to switch off having been talking about these events in detail throughout the day, the opportunity to provide news from a Christian and often prayerful perspective is a privilege that none of the news team here at Premier take lightly.

Being able to speak to church leaders on the ground, working in tough situations and encouraging believers to pray is something different we are able…