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This may shock, and perhaps disappoint, some preachers and evangelists.

But I’ve never had anyone come to our church or Explore course, and say “Please, please tell me the significance of the cross, the tearing of the temple curtain, the reason Jesus uses the word ‘forsaken’ at his death?! I’m desperate to know about the ancient sacrificial system and why they pierced his side! And by the way, if you’ve got any evidence for the resurrection, I’m here for that too!”

It’s a real shame.

I have, however, had Polly* come along and tell me she’s always lacked inner peace. Marve turns up and says he can’t find freedom from past mistakes. I’ve met Karl who told me his upbringing prevents him from feeling any sort of significance in the world. My friend Rob is looking for deep affection from whoever will give it to him. (* all names have been changed)

We are surrounded every day by people who have real and deep needs. As humans we are all hard-wired with a need for love, peace, significance, security, hope, joy… As the Neuroscientist Professor Tali Sharot said on a recent podcast, the way we can live a more fulfilled life is by meeting our needs for happiness, meaning and optimism.

And yet as Christians, we know that the death and resurrection of Jesus - the Easter weekend - can meet every single one of those needs. To their absolute maximum.

Easter is a big part of my own story of how I went from national radio producer to local church pastor. Rewind a decade and I’m the lead producer of the breakfast show at BBC Radio 2, first with Chris Evans then with Zoe Ball. In a doubt-fuelled crisis of faith while in that job, it was the evidence for Easter than really helped me out. But not only the true facts about Easter, but the goodness of what it meant for my life. ‘If the gospel is both good and true, then perhaps more people should know about it!’, I remember thinking at the time. ‘Perhaps I could play a small part in that.

That’s why when 10ofThose asked me if I was interested in writing a short evangelistic book about Easter this year, it took me about 1.5 seconds to think about it and reply ‘YES.’

I’m now the Director of Mission & Outreach at Grace Community Church in Bedford, leading much of our organic and organised evangelism. I recently finished part-time theological training at Oak Hill, and it’s within this context that I’ve put together these short few pages as a giveaway for churches and individuals this Spring.

My approach was formed by much of my study at Oak Hill (I’m particularly grateful for Kristi Mair’s ‘Evangelism & Apologetics’ module, which sent fireworks off in my mind week after week), and my conversations with the kind of people mentioned above. So often in our preaching and evangelism, we start with the details of the Easter story - the cross, grave and resurrection of Jesus - ask people to believe these truths based on evidence, then perhaps add a little personal testimony about how we’ve found these truths to also be good. We go explanation heavy, experience light.

Graham on his last day of study at Oak Hill.

I’m not saying that’s bad.

I just wonder if it meets the real felt needs of the people we meet.

I wonder if it starts with the real questions they already have about life.

What if, instead of explaining Easter then drawing faint lines to how Jesus might able to meet our needs, we drew direct lines the other way? What if we met people where they’re at, starting with their questions and their needs, gently exposing all the fragile futile ways we look to have them met, and then draw them to Jesus, his life, death and resurrection, as the only permanent way to find lasting satisfaction?

Studying at Oak Hill helped me understand the gospel, understand people, and understand how to apply the gospel to people. As well at Kristi’s seminars, Tim Ward’s ‘Word Ministry’ module helped hone the communication of scripture to hearts. Modules on outreach, exegesis, philosophy, worldview, even Calvinism (!) have shaped my own love for God’s word, for Jesus himself, and my passion for seeing people have their deepest needs met by him.

What if Jesus could give your unbelieving friends and family everything they’re really looking for?

What if the Easter weekend could give them everything they ever wanted?

My simple prayer is that this little book may be helpful to you in pointing people to Jesus.

Graham Albans

After a decade at the BBC, producing Chris Evans and Zoe Ball's breakfast shows, Graham Albans is now the Director of Mission & Outreach as part of the leadership team at Grace Community Church in Bedford, where he lives with his wife Jo and their three kids. Having studied at Oak Hill College, he's also involved with the work of Speak Life and Keswick Ministries.