Luke Walwyn, visual storyteller and the creative mind behind our Hook Lecture imagery, reflects on what he heard at this year’s talk.
Last night I sat in Leeds Minster listening to Jon Kuhrt deliver the Hook Lecture on the theme “Prophet or Provider?”
He spoke about homelessness —
not just as a social issue, but as a moral one.
The paradox of giving through food banks or soup kitchens versus speaking prophetic words that help people find a new direction for their lives.
As his words sank in, I reflected.
There was a lot to take in.
Because his message wasn’t about handing out food —
it was about helping people move from dependency to self-sufficiency, from crisis to stability.
Framed through the lens of Christianity.
But we’re all faced with the challenge of tackling this head-on, irrespective of faith or none.
I often head into the city centre and see people at desperate stages in their lives.
My first instinct is to give — a small act of kindness to ease their struggle.
But as Jon spoke, I found myself wondering whether kindness alone can really change a story.
Perhaps what’s needed isn’t more soup, but systems.
Joined-up ecosystems where charities, universities, and policymakers work together — gathering evidence, shaping strategy, and building pathways that lead to real change.
Affordable housing.
Routes to employment.
Journeys back to dignity and self-respect.
It reminds me of every great film we’ve ever loved — the HERO’s quest.
An ordinary person hears the call, steps into struggle, and finds transformation on the other side.
We connect with it because it mirrors our own search for purpose and renewal.
The person on the street deserves that same call —a reason to believe there’s a new world waiting beyond survival.
Handing out soup is an act of kindness.
But building a system that restores self-respect —
that’s an act of justice.
