Keep The Faith issue 105 by Keep The Faith magazine

Britain’s leading Black and multi-ethnic community-focused publication promoting

ISSUE 105

and supporting unity, faith and family values

10 TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS The dreams of our mothers

Knife Crime:

JOINT ACTION AND CHANGE

Called to the Marketplace?

Interview:

Dr Neville Lawrence OBE

CELEBRATING WINDRUSH @70

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Dear Readers Welcome to a packed issue of Keep The Faith. Nearly 2 billion people watched the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! What an amazing day full of love and diversity! A mixed-race American marrying into the British Royal family, Black Gospel choirs, a fiery Black American preacher quoting Martin Luther King and a young mixed-race cellist. History was made at Windsor Castle! Did you know that EVERY issue of Keep The Faith is written by its readers? Nearly 40 men and women - from all walks of life - have taken the time to contribute to this particular issue: church leaders, academics, writers, mums, dads, aunties, business leaders… in the UK and beyond. That’s amazing teamwork! And thank you! In this issue, we celebrate Windrush@70: the arrival of 500 passengers from the Caribbean on 22nd June 1948, and the wonderful contributions men and women from the Caribbean have made to the UK - from building churches, businesses, the NHS, gospel music and beyond - and how children of this generation are being negatively affected up to this day. When you look at all the positive contributions and achievements the Windrush generation has made to British life, it is worrying to learn that there have been 62 deaths resulting from knife crime in the UK - many of them Black and ethnic youth. Where has it all gone wrong? We have some features and advice on supporting our youth, and I would encourage you all to offer your support to a project near you, as this problem is of major concern for everyone. We all need to work together to deal with this crisis. They are our children! If you are not familiar with a local project, The Synergy Network is a groundbreaking initiative of the Ascension Trust, comprising of organisations, charities, practitioners, academics and clergy. The aims of the Network are to share best practice among credible agencies involved in tackling serious youth violence, network practitioners, offering training, forming partnerships, promotion through their networks and partner agencies, and contribute significantly to an overall decrease in the level of youth violence. The Ascension Trust is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! Check them out to find out how you can become involved. We mustn’t forget all our regular contributions, and there is even more to read on our website (keepthefaith.co.uk)! Finally, Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, stepdads, spiritual dads, grandfathers, uncles and brothers. We value you! Enjoy!

Shirley McGreal

KEEP THE FAITH MAGAZINE R

Keep The Faith Ltd keepthefaithteam Suite 48 @keepthefaithmag 88-90 Hatton Garden keepthefaithmagazine London EC1N 8PN keepthefaith.co.uk T: 0845 193 4433 keepthefaithdirectory.co.uk

NTS CONTE10 5 ISSUE

NEWS 04 In the news

GOSPEL MUSIC

08 Keeping it ‘Juicy’ with Vinejuice by Lavinia Goddard 12 Celebrating Windrush, 70 years on: Church and Music part 2 by Juliet Fletcher 16 Jonathan McReynolds ‘Make Room’ by Milton B Allen 18 Todd Dulaney’s ‘Your Great Name’ by Milton B Allen

INTERVIEW 20 Dr Neville Lawrence OBE by Shirin Aguiar 24 Interview: Rev Ronald A Nathan

WINDRUSH

26 The Windrush: A Pentecost for our time by Professor Anthony G Reddie 28 Caribbean Pentecostal Churches in Britain by Dr R David Muir 30 The real truth about the ‘farriners’ by Kwame MA McPherson 32 Rev Carmel Jones, founder Pentecostal Credit Union (PCU) by Marcia Dixon 34 Bishop Martin Simmonds ‘Driven by Purpose’ by Dorcas Marshall 36 Commemorating 70 years Windrush and 70 years NHS by Isabel Appio 38 Caribbean Memorial for National Arboretum by Joy Roxborough 40 VJay Theatre Productions celebrating Windrush 41 Portrait of a Generation - A photo-story by Jim Grover

COMMENT

43 MLK: From hero to villain by Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts 44 The dreams of our mothers by Dionne Gravesande 46 Food 4 Thought by Marcia Dixon 47 The Christian Brain Drain by Rev Stephen Brooks 48 Called to the Marketplace? by Bishop Wayne Malcolm

MENTORING

26 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Shirley McGreal FCMI Chief Executive Officer: Dr Daniel Tulloch Sub-Editor: Jackie Raymond Design: Becky Wybrow Advertising: Diverse Media Group Limited advertising@diversemediagroup.co.uk T: 0203 868 0664 Marketing: Josie McFarlane Admin & Finance: Nicola Hammond

The Publisher would like to thank Rev David Shosanya, Dr R David Muir, Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts, Professor Anthony G Reddie, Rev Stephen Brooks, Dr Ian Joseph, Bishop Wayne Malcolm, Dionne Gravesande, Marcia Dixon, Milton B Allen, Juliet Fletcher, Lavinia Goddard, Tayo Fatunla, Kwame MA McPherson, Paul Lawrence, Dorcas Marshall, Isabel Appio, Joy Roxborough, Jim Grover, Esther Kuku, Funmi Olutoye, Watchman, Funmi Omideyi, Grace Gladys Famoriyo, Anita Bruce-Mills, Louise Morse, Modupe Peters, Vanessa Grossett, Victoria Fagg, Patrice Bailey, Diana Whitehead, Sola Oladipo, Alison Porter, Marko Joensuu, Jen Jenny B Marquis-Brown, Shirin Aguiar, Geoffrey Sleiman, Diverse Media Group, our supporters and advertisers. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Publisher.

50 Knife Crime: Can joint action result in change? by Rev David Shosanya 51 No bars on hope by Dr Ian Joseph 54 Stop the hurting to start the healing by Esther Kuku 55 Watchman - RAP mentor 56 SPAC Nation: a church transforming the lives of young people by Funmi Olutoye

LIFESTYLE 58 Pray4Youth UK launches two new initiatives by Funmi Omideyi 59 10 Top Parenting tips by Paul Lawrence 60 Father, behold thy daughter by Grace Gladys Famoriyo 61 The value of worship by Anita Bruce-Mills 62 Being kind is good, but neighbours can’t give social care by Louise Morse 64 Help! I have diabetes - Part one by Modupe Peters 65 Writing speculative Christian Fiction by Vanessa Grossett

MISSION 66 God’s call for the Church to unite and pray by Victoria Fagg www.keepthefaith.co.uk

04 NEWS

Residential Wise Women Prayer Retreat Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 15 - 22 January 2019

Destined to Soar Women’s Ministry to hold another breakfast in June Over the past two years, over 250 women have attended the Destined to Soar Women’s Ministry Breakfasts, jointly hosted by Keep The Faith magazine and MD Public Relations. The event brings together women from across the denominational spectrum for a time of networking, female bonding and teaching on the practical aspects of running a ministry. Past guest speakers include Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, Angie Le Mar, Karen Allen, Pastor Celia Apeagyei-Collins and Jeanette Young, and topics covered include How to set up a ministry; The importance of setting up admin structures; Developing emotional and spiritual intelligence, and How to be an inspirational speaker. The seventh breakfast takes place on Saturday 9th June at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Whitechapel, London, from 10am-2pm. Speakers are Carol Akiwumi, Fundraising Consultant and Chair of the Black Fundraising Group at the Institute of Fundraising, who will be talking about devising a fundraising strategy to fund ministry activities, and Pastor Peter Nembhard, the first man to address a DTS Breakfast. Senior Pastor of ARC church in Forest Gate, east London, he’ll be sharing insights on how female ministry leaders can play a part in combatting youth violence, gangs and knife-and-gun crime. All attendees will receive a goody bag. Early bird registration is £27.50 plus booking fee, and will be £32.50 plus booking fee thereafter. Visit http://bit.ly/DTSJUN9 to purchase.

New business network launched at Institute of Directors The Global Forum of Women Entrepreneurs (GFWE), a new international business network for Christian women and interested parties, was launched at the Institute of Directors in London recently. Women from Switzerland, Ireland, America, South Africa and the UK were present, and people in attendance included His Royal Majesty Drolor Bosso Adamtey I and GFWE International President Dr Pearl Kupe. Speakers included: Joan Guriras, wife of the former president of Namibia; award-winning UK businesswoman, Antonia Burrell of Antonia Burrell Holistic Skincare, and Elaine Bowes, Marketing Manager of the Pentecostal Credit Union. Dr Pearl, the International President of the GFWE, hopes that women will join the GFWE so that they can enjoy its benefits, which include training, mentoring, and being part of an international business network. Plans are in motion for the GFWE to hold its first international conference in London next year. For more information, visit www.gfwe.co.uk. Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, president of Wisdom for Women International and co-pastor of Triumphant Church International, supported by Pastor Clem Esomowei and Dr Cindy Trimm, is organising a life-transforming pilgrimage to Jerusalem in January 2019, which will include tours of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Christian Quarter and Nazareth. Each day, you will visit the land where Jesus Christ of Nazareth walked, including the village of Cana, Capernaum, Peter’s house and the Mount of Beatitudes. You will enjoy a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee, and an opportunity to ‘float’ in the Dead Sea before visiting the Qumran caves, and you will experience many of the wonderful stories we have read from the Holy Scriptures. The Pilgrimage cost includes return flights, 4-star hotel accommodation, half board breakfast and dinner and all daily tours. Places are limited, and the early bird offer expires on 3 July! To find out more, contact www.wisdomforwomeninternational.org.

Hundreds turn out for Prayer Walks Over 700 people turned out for the first prayer walk through Tottenham and Wood Green in London, organised by Pastor Nims Obunge MBE from the Peace Alliance. The march is a call for prayer and action against the escalating incidents of violent crime in an around London. David Lammy MP joined the walkers and encouraged Christians to become more political. A second prayer walk, organised by the Croydon churches, took place in Croydon and finished at Queens Gardens. Pastor Damien Luke saw a further 800 people march. Rev David Shosanya said: “It’s good to see the church out on the streets making her voice heard.” Following the march, people were invited to partner with the police to search the grounds of the park for weapons or items that could be used to cause harm, as part of their community partnerships programme. Two knives were recovered. Further prayer marches are planned for Lewisham and Brixton.

NEWS 05

Photographer Alexi Lubomirski via @KensingtonRoyal

GOSPEL CHOIR AND BLACK BISHOP MAKE ROYAL WEDDING HISTORY The Kingdom Choir are getting used to their high profile following their stand-out performance at the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The choir, styled by fashion designer Jeanette Young, looked resplendent in their pastel coloured attire. Jeanette also designed a dress especially for choir director Karen Gibson. During the historic service, which had a combined audience of almost 2 billion, the choir sang two songs, Ben E Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stand By Me, which preceded the passionate sermon by Bishop Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopal church in America, and Amen, performed whilst the bride and groom left the church. Since their memorable performance, the Kingdom Choir have been on a media merry-go-round and been interviewed and featured by some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading media, including the BBC, CNN, Reuters, Sky News, Ebony, Essence magazine the list could go on. Stand By Me, one of the songs performed by the choir at the wedding, entered the top 10 of the iTune charts in the days following the wedding, and there is talk that the choir will release an album when things calm down a little. In the interim, the choir is basking in the spotlight of performing at one of the most watched weddings in the world, and can take pride they took part in a wedding where history was made, the Black presence featured very strongly, and the whole world got to enjoy the power of UK gospel. Visit www.thekingdomchoir.co.uk for more details.

06 NEWS

Honoured - Lifetime Achievement Award to KTF Cartoon Artist in Philadelphia

Croydon & London Gospel Festival 2018 What do gospel artists and MOBO Award winners, such as Noel Robinson, Faith Child, Lurine Cato, Victizzle and Guvna B, have in common, apart from spreading God’s Word and message through gospel music? Answer: They have all featured at the annual Croydon & London Gospel Festival. CLGF is a Christian outreach festival set up by His Grace Evangelical Outreach ministry to support communities and win souls for God’s Kingdom.

The Outreach ministry is involved in also reaching out to individuals, schools, authorities and churches. Croydon & London Gospel Festival is an annual fun-filled and jam-packed event that aims to bridge the generational gap and create awareness of the need for Christ’s love in society. It’s a free family fun day in the park. The festival, in its eleventh year, is the brainchild of the godly duo, Pastor Bola Thomas and her husband, Pastor Kay Thomas. The Gospel Outreach seeks to create an awareness of the need for faith in our communities and to share the unfailing love of God. It encourages people to come together with Christ Jesus at the centre of this annual event. There are activities for all ages and ethnicities, such as children’s big bouncy castle, face painting, human table football, slides, arts and crafts, cartoon workshop sessions and various Christian stalls, showcasing items produced for sale at reasonable prices, and continuous stage performances, with music ranging from calypso, reggae, hip-hop, rap, choir and drama. The festival also encourages up-and-coming artists, like MBOOTS, to showcase their God-given talent. And, to whet one’s physical appetite while taking in the spiritual atmosphere, there are also food stalls, which vary every year. At intervals, there is the preaching of the Word as well. Croydon & London Gospel Festival made its debut in both Croydon and Lewisham in 2008. In 2012, the festival extended its reach to Southwark and Lambeth boroughs in a Gospel Festival tour. Year after year, it has continued to reach out to other boroughs, and has seen new believers come to the Lord for the first time, and many rededicating their lives to God. Croydon & London Gospel Festival started in partnership with the Pentecost Festival, and the annual event has since enjoyed the involvement of over 20 churches and ministries. It takes place this year on Saturday 25th August 2018 at the Whitehorse Road Recreation Park, Croydon, and on Sunday 26th August 2018 at Streatham Common Park in Lambeth. To top it all, the event is FREE to everyone. For more details, contact His Grace Evangelical Outreach on 07946 546507.

he ECBACC Pioneer and Lifetime Achievement Award was inaugurated in 1984 to honour men and women and many unsung, who have made innovative, dynamic and lasting contributions to the Comic Art industry, and who have paved the way for others. Nominations are solicited from and submitted by a select ad hoc consortium of comic book historians, writers, artists and aficionados, who make their own independent submissions. The 2018 Awards will be awarded to five veteran cartoonists, who are modern-day creative pioneers, and who have maintained a consistent presence in the industry for over three decades. Keep The Faith cartoon contributor and comic artist, TAYO Fatunla, has won an award for his contributions to Black history through his cartoon feature, OUR ROOTS. TAYO began his cartooning career in Nigeria, drawing for local and mainstream newspapers and magazines, including the popular cartoon commentary column, OMOBA, for the Punch newspapers, and TIROGO for the Nigerian Herald. He attended the prestigious Kubert School, an art school based in Dover, New Jersey. It was in the US that he created OUR ROOTS whilst in art school. A devout Christian, TAYO was water baptised by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of KICC. TAYO’s Gospel humour cartoons are featured in Keep The Faith magazine regularly. He began the concept in 2007, in Light of the World – a Christian newspaper based in New York.

Pastor Bola Thomas and Pastor Kay Thomas

TAYO and four other well-known and established African American cartoonists and award recipients, namely Ray Billingsley, Barbara Brandon-Croft, Jerry Craft and Ralph L Stevenson, are pioneers of Comic Art in their own right, and will be presented with their awards in Philadelphia.

#noquestionof flimits

Speakers include:

Amy Orr-Ewing, Lara Buchanan, Michael Ramsden, Professor John Lennox. And special guest, Louie Giglio!

WHY DOES GOD CARE HOW I LIVE? HOW CAN I KNOW THE BIBLE IS TRUE? WHY DOES A LOVING GOD LET PEOPLE SUFFER?

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Whitelands College Chaplaincy and the University of Roehampton

host

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Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin

Chaplain to the Queen and Speaker of the House of Commons with

Rasheeda Page-Muir - Lecture Facilitator

Thursday 18 October - 7pm at: Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue, London, SW15 4JD This lecture is free, however due to limited capacity, please reserve your seat in advance at

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enquiries@samsharpeproject.org

08 GOSPEL MUSIC

Keeping it J‘ uicy’ with Vinejuice is a media company based in Manchester, the home of the JUICIEST Contemporary Urban Christian entertainment news, music, and events. Connect with Vinejuice at www.vinejuice.co.uk and Facebook/Twitter/Instagram @Vinejuice. Listen to Vinejuice Radio on Tunein, YouTube, and Spotify for the best Contemporary Urban Christian music online.

New Music: Ché Sampson - ‘Rest’ South London’s singer-songwriter, Ché Sampson, is back with new single, ‘Rest’. Following her debut EP, New Every Morning, released back in 2013, Ché makes her return to the music scene with ‘Rest’, a track with an acoustic feel and a fusion of percussive African and Indian sounds, but still incorporates a soulful urban style. Ché explains how the single came about: “This song was inspired by my need to not excessively worry about life’s pressures to where sleepless nights and anxious thoughts became my regular mindset. Matthew 6:26 says, ‘If God takes care of the birds, how much so would He take care of us?’ Be it unpaid bills, job interviews, relationship pressures or health concerns, God will take care of you.” Learn more about Ché Sampson at her website, CheSampson.com.

Tye Tribbett’s Uncle set to release new album on UK’s Zoe Records Acclaimed American choir director and music clinician, Professor Wilbur Belton, is set to release his fourth album later this year on UK gospel label, Zoe Records.

Tori Kelly releases new gospel-inspired single, ‘Help Us To Love’ The album, recorded at the first ever FRI:D3M Festival, held during Black History Month in October, will be Professor Belton’s second album to be recorded in London by Zoe Records. Professor Belton, who is uncle of gospel superstar Tye Tribbett, is the first US gospel outfit to be signed to the label. In celebration of Zoe Record’s 20th anniversary next year, Professor Belton will train a mass choir comprised of 200 voices, and record an album with them in 2019. During the next two years, Professor Belton is set to make frequent trips to the United Kingdom to promote his album and train the mass choir. Isaac Odeniran, of Zoe Records, says: “Zoe Records is delighted to work with Professor Wilbur Belton, and we look forward to seeing the impact this new album will have on lovers of gospel music.” He continued: “Professor Wilbur Belton is not only a phenomenal artist, music minister and entertainer, but a teacher. Zoe Records is proud of the impact he has made on the schools and institutions we have been able to bring him into in the UK with which to share his vast knowledge and experience of gospel music.”

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

Singer-songwriting superstar, Tori Kelly, released a ‘gospel-inspired’ track at Easter, entitled ‘Help Us To Love’, featuring The Hamiltones and written and produced by gospel legend, Kirk Franklin. The GRAMMY®-nominated artists debuted the song, performing live with The Hamiltones at the Stellar Awards. About the chance to work with Kirk Franklin, Tori said: “I grew up on gospel music, so the fact that a legend like Kirk Franklin would take me under his wing was just a dream come true. He genuinely cares for people, and the warm environment he created really helped me to be able to pour my heart into this song.” “Working with Tori has been one of the greatest highlights of my career,” added Kirk. “But it’s more than music, it’s the moment we’re facing in culture, where the need for a voice of hope speaks to the healing in her voice and the compassion in this song. I’m honoured to be a part of this historic moment in time.” ‘Help Us To Love’ is available to download online. Have a listen at Vinejuice.co.uk/music.

GOSPEL MUSIC 09

Andy Mineo’s single ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ goes gold

Reach Records hip-hop recording artist, Andy Mineo, scores big with his colossal hit, ‘You Can’t Stop Me’. The song recently moved the equivalent of more than 500,000 copies, which includes over 51 million streams to date, and is officially certified GOLD by the Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA). According to Spotify data, of the 500,000 units required to make gold, their curated playlist, Beast Mode, is responsible for 100,000 of those units alone. The power of playlisting in the digital era continues to change the game for indie artists. “I told my mom I went gold, and she didn’t know what that meant, and I was immediately humbled. It’s Incredible we did this without any radio play. A small, dedicated team from Reach Records and Miner League gave this record all they had, and the organic sharing of my fans started this wave. It shows that without my fans I wouldn’t be able to do this

music thing for a living. Shout out to the playlist programmers, who gave the record a chance. I’m thankful for everyone who believed, felt encouraged, and shared the record. I dedicate this to 11-year-old Braydon, who made ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ his theme song for beating cancer, and everyone else who has used the song to push through tough times,” said Andy. Mineo wrote the song with Alex Medina and Gabriel Azucena (GAWVI), and Medina and GAWVI produced the track for Mineo’s Never Land EP. Since its release, the song has garnered much attention, even winning ESPN’s coveted Whammy Award for best walk-up song in baseball. In 2017, the NBA’s Indiana Pacers announced they would be using the ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ single as their official 2017/2018 theme song. The music video, released on January 16, 2015, has garnered more than 9 million views across social channels. The RIAA Gold certification news is fresh off

the back of a momentous 2017, where Mineo released his collaboration with Wordsplayed, ‘Magic & Bird’, and set out on his capacity-crowd 31-city Friends and Family Tour. He’s already in the midst of a heavy tour schedule for the New Year, and joined forces with label mates on the new single, ‘Light Work’, released as a collective voice recognising Reach Records’ most unashamed 116-Day manifesto yet. Ultimately, beyond the empathetic lyricism, colourful storytelling and emotion, Andy Mineo fans can always expect a relatable truth. His music stands apart as the only hip-hop that weaves weighty topics, truth, humour, and inspiration from all genres of music into one cohesive work. It is in Andy’s ability for self-reflection where his fans discover the honesty in his songs, such as on ‘You Can’t Stop Me’. Check out the new ‘You Can’t Stop Me’ remix featuring Messiah at Vinejuice.co.uk/ music

Justin Bieber is making a “Christian-appropriate” album True Belieber, Justin Bieber, is rumoured to be chasing “Christianappropriate” songs for his long-awaited comeback album. The ‘Sorry’ singer, who has been open about his spiritual awakening after starting to regularly attend Hillsong Church, New York, a couple of years ago, is now said to want his 5th studio album to reflect his new-found faith. Published in an article in The Sun, a source close to the singer said, “Justin is on the lookout for songs which really reflect where he is in his life, in terms of spirituality. He has always been religious, but the last two years have seen him grow closer to the Hillsong Church and it has changed his entire life. He has a totally different outlook now.”

The source continues, “After he finished his last tour, he really wasn’t interested in recording any music for a while. But his time with the church has revitalised him and, although he is working with a lot of the same people who helped to make his last album, Purpose, he is reshaping his sound so it is more in line with the church’s values and beliefs. There are key themes of love and redemption in the tracks he has created so far. It will certainly surprise some fans.” After waiting for two years already, fans will no doubt be falling over themselves for new music, but they’ll still have a while to wait yet – Bieber isn’t expected to make his comeback until the end of this year/early 2019.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

10 GOSPEL MUSIC

Manchester’s Lily-Jo is ‘Unstoppable’ Pop artist and former LZ7 singer, Lily-Jo, drops new 5-track EP, ‘Unstoppable’, returning in 2018 with her message of inspiration and determination to live a healthy, God-filled life. This message can be heard throughout her songwriting and multiple collaborations with many celebrated writers, notably Jake Isaac, The Outlanders and Tom Read. An accomplished performer and licensed counsellor, Lily-Jo is a positive voice motivating young people and adults through public speaking and social media. Her online platform ‘The Lily Jo Project’ has won awards for its services to mental health. “I’m passionate about individuals living their best, unstoppable life,” says Lily-Jo. “This EP has been written to stir up and unlock those desires and dreams that are within each of us. No matter what background or culture you are from, no matter what other seemingly disadvantaged position people remind you of, you can live your unstoppable life.” The lead single off the EP is also entitled ‘Unstoppable’ and was co-written with Philippa Hanna. Have a listen at Vinejuice.co.uk/music.

New Music: Jon Corbin - ‘You Care’ Canadian hip-hop and spoken word artist, Jon Corbin aka The Runaway, releases ‘You Care’, featuring Jeremy Rodney-Hall – an affirmation for the broken-hearted. ‘You Care’ is an inspirational hip-hop song for those who are tired of fighting through life’s challenges. With a sound inspired by the soulfulness of Leon Bridges, the lyricism of Sho Baraka, and the worshipful gospel of Israel Houghton, Corbin’s goal behind this song was to encourage people to push through their struggles and remember that God cares for us. “‘You Care’ is a personal song that affirms God’s love for us, even in the face of hard times. I hope this song inspires people to connect with God despite the problems they are facing.” said Corbin. “In previous songs I had written about wanting to seek God above my circumstances, and I felt I was failing because I was so caught up in my present issues,” he continues. “In studying the Psalms, I saw so many times where the Psalmist lifted their concerns to God and then moved to worship. Of note was Psalm 13:5-6, ‘But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.’ I wanted to make a song that I could sing to myself in the hard times. Hopefully it’s a song other people can sing as well.” ‘You Care’ is available to download online. Have a listen at Vinejuice. co.uk/music.

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12 GOSPEL MUSIC

Celebrating Windrush, 70 years on: Church and music - part two JULIET FLETCHER

is a former BBC Producer and funding Executive of the GMIA

ince the last issue of Keep The Faith magazine so much has happened in our Community! Much has occurred to challenge the idea of celebration, particularly as we consider the unprecedented levels of deaths by gun and knife violence, primarily among young Black youths. Not only that, while I’m writing this article, debate is raging in Parliament about the handling of hundreds of Windrush Era migrants, who came the UK as young children/youths, and now, 50 years later as adults - many with grandchildren and great-grandchildren - they have not been recognised as British citizens. They are battling for their right to live and work in the UK; some have been deported or under the threat of deportation; lost jobs; left bereft of NHS treatment, and denied Benefit support. The Windrush immigration debacle has been described as ”shameful”, “a disgrace” and even “downright racism”. The latest news is that the Government has now provided a special taskforce, which is intended to ensure all members of the Windrush

John Fisher and IDMC Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

generation,who arrived in the UK before 1973, will be eligible for free citizenship. Regardless, the community is still hurting over the impact. It is E-X-T-R-A-O-R-D-I-N-A-R-I-L-Y U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E that this should have happened. Yet, there is something about it all that, by God’s grace, could cause something greater to arise for us all. Being of Caribbean extract myself, I believe the injustices of the situation fuel the critical need, more than ever before, to place an indelible stamp upon the conscious minds and hearts - not only of our own community, but more so of the host community. This can only be demonstrated by the value we place upon ourselves; our history; our heroes and sheroes; upon our buildings, where significant events have taken place, and to herald our annual anniversaries, like Windrush Day, with greater reverence, honour and pride. Four significant events happening this year - and may be repeated in the future - are as follows: HISTORY OF BLACK GOSPEL MUSIC TOUR with Dr Cedric Dent GMIA is working in association with Cordel Events, as they promote award-winning (US vocal group) TAKE 6 legend, Dr Cedric Dent. He is conducting a series of workshops on the History

Dr Cedric Dent

Of Black Gospel Music. A mix of performance and interactive presentations, you will experience a unique musical journey through the storytelling and demonstrations of a knowledgeable, faith-filled practitioner. There are six dates and venues to choose from: Date: Saturday 9th June Time: 18.00 Venue: Marcus Garvey Library Tottenham, London N15 4JA

GOSPEL MUSIC 13

Date: Sunday 10th June Time: 18.30 Venue: St Philip’s Birmingham Cathedral, Birmingham B3 2QB Date: Tuesday 12th June Time: 19.30 Venue: Norwich Cathedral, Norwich NR1 4DH Date: Wednesday 13th June Time: 18.30 Venue: St Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown BS6 5TB Date: Thursday 14th June Time: 18.00 Venue: St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton WV1 1TY Date: Saturday 16th June Time: 19.00 Venue: Leicester Cathedral, Leicester LE1 5PZ All ticket prices are £10 plus Eventbrite’s booking fee of £1.07 (total £11.07). Visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search The History Of Black Gospel Music, Cordel Events.

BRITISH LIBRARY - WINDRUSH GOSPEL MAKE MUSIC DAY SPECIAL Make Music Day UK is part of a global celebration of music, and the great institution, The British Library, is launching a Windrush Exhibition entitled Songs In A Strange Land. And, on behalf of the GMIA, I’ve been asked to organise and

host a Windrush Gospel Lunchtime Performance on its spacious forecourt. Premier Gospel Awards Choir of The Year, John Fisher & IDMC Soul & Gospel Choir, will be featured along with the Nostalgia Steelband, led by Dr Lionel McCalman. It’s a FREE and open event, under a marquee. Hopefully a lovely summer’s day.

hymns, readings and a specially commissioned Psalm for Windrush by Shirley Thompson, MBE. The Most Rev Joel Edwards will preach the keynote sermon. Tickets to the event are FREE, but must be obtained by registering at Eventbrite. Type in Spirit Of Windrush, A Service Of Thanksgiving at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Date: Thursday 21st June (Make Music Day) Time: 1pm - 2pm Venue: The British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB Special Note: If you are staging an event on June 21st, you can be part of Make Music Day UK. Just register your event for global attention at www.makemusicday.co.uk, or if you need further info contact GMIA.

Date: Friday 22nd June (Windrush Day) Time: 12noon - 1.00pm Venue: Westminster Abbey, London SW1P 3PA

SPIRIT OF WINDRUSH - A NATIONAL SERVICE A planning group, made up of church and community leaders, has cooperated to stage a national service at the historical Westminster Abbey. The service will acknowledge Caribbean-heritage people’s contributions to the armed forces, health service, transport, education, sports, religion and more. A Windrush @70 Anniversary Choir will be led by renowned Choir Director, Karen Gibson, and there will be music,

WINDRUSH: 70 YEARS OF CHURCH AND MUSIC - CELEBRATING BRITISH GOSPEL This event is something more organic - led with an appeal. Galvanised and motivated by us, for us, a major END-OF-YEAR event that is beyond what any single person or organisation can do by themselves. Something that needs ALL OF US to achieve, that we can ALL JOIN IN to GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY that’s due to Him. An event which celebrates and highlights our WINDRUSH GENERATION: 70 Years On - the Church and Music. So far, I’ve had tremendous response to the idea. And, with your help, together we can do something very special. Here is the vision: 3 Cities • 3 Church Locations • 1 Event - connected by audio visuals and live streaming to an online audience. At each venue, we are with our elders, faith and civic leaders and personalities, every type of artist and music ministers… the greatest union and reunion we can pull together. Taking a line from Volney Morgan and NewYe song: “After all I’ve been through, I’m gonna lift my hands in praise...” Date: Saturday 24th November 2018 Time: 6.00pm

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

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The venues confirmed are: Ruach City Church, Brixton, London SW2 1RS New Testament Church Of God, Handsworth, Birmingham B19 1NP Church Of God Of Prophecy, Moss Side, Manchester M14 4SS

Bishop John Francis

Thank you to Bishop John Francis, Bishop Deverton Douglas and District Superintendent Pastor Daisy Bailey for representing their church leadership cooperation to make this event possible: “When our churches started so many years ago, it was homes and halls that had held parties on the Saturday night. Now we are blessed with sizeable dedicated places of worship that can accommodate a celebration of this kind.”

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WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Firstly, this is a genuine opportunity for us to say a BIG THANK you to our living God, so prayers of praise and thanksgiving are a real important part of the success of this event. Secondly, we need to honour those past and present individuals, who sacrificed to build what we have today. With your help, we can recognise those individuals by awarding them or, in the case of those who’ve died, their families with a special Certificate Of Recognition, alongside a brief summary of their noted contribution. An online portal will be set up, where everyone can tap into and read each one, wherever in the country they are based. Look out for more details on this. Thirdly, we need practical and physical help: volunteer administrators, social media operators, copy writers, journalists, photographers, technical crew, stewards and ushers, cleaners, stage and production assistants, ticket team coordinators, transport (cars and vans) to help if necessary those less able or to move equipment. Fourthly, but not least of all, we need financial support to meet the expenses or essential costs this event will generate. As this is not a profit-making event, we are looking for fundraisers. Perhaps you are a business and would like to sponsor, or someone who would like to donate towards this event. Remember: This is an active ongoing event. It will only succeed with us working together. Listen out in your local church, social media and

printed press for updates. This event will be organised by many people, but to help facilitate a central point of coordination, please write to: info@gmia.org.uk or call 020 3086 8348. A VISIBLE, ACCESSIBLE AND CONNECTED INDUSTRY GMIA has launched an app as a platform dedicated to highlight key practitioners, businesses and the collaborative work of those operating in gospel music, as well as all the creative streams that are part of what makes our industry work today. The aim is to make our sector more visible, accessible and connected, and empowers those who are working in the gospel sector to be more easily identified and found by enquirers and researchers alike. The GMIA app is LIVE, and downloadable on all forms of smartphones and desktops. The app will be continuously updated with information about UK, European, US and other world territories, where gospel music practitioners are located. At this present time, the main operating language is English. Listing under each section in the app costs £10 for 12 months. Contact info@gmia.org.uk or call 020 3086 8348 for more details. It’s FREE to download now on your smartphone! Use this link http://m.appbuild. io/wedb4. From 22nd June, the GMIA app will be available on Google Play and Apple Store.

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For more information visit www.thelibertyinstitute.co.uk email: admin@thelibertyinstitute.co.uk or call is 07428 433 379

16 GOSPEL MUSIC

Jonathan McReynolds ‘Make Room’

N, B ALLE K N O T L I N I BY M IC L L MUS A B O L G

Jonathan McReynolds’ new album, ‘Make Room’, is a remarkable body of work that beautifully translates the experiences of everyday life lyrically and musically. With each song, Jonathan McReynolds creatively takes the listener on a spiritual journey, and offers a soundtrack of encouragement, insight and resolve for everyday challenges and everyday joys. ‘Make Room’ drives home the message of God’s transforming and shaping power in every area of living life - 24/7.

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GOSPEL MUSIC 17

onathan puts it this way: “I’m doing all these things, different things, most of it in the Name of Jesus, for God, yet I wasn’t actually giving Him enough room to have a relationship with me. I wasn’t giving myself room to pray. I was working hard, I was serving God, but I wasn’t talking to Him, I wasn’t praising Him, I wasn’t even going to church half of the time because I was doing so much for Him and not actually doing anything with Him.” Says Christine Thomasos of The Christian Post: “With Make Room, the singer-songwriter, who is usually accompanied by his guitar, has created an album that focuses on creating more space in life for God. After gaining success and inspiring countless people with his music, McReynolds admits that he began to lose focus when it came to his own relationship with God.”

“He is the future of gospel music, the freshest songwriter I’ve heard in years.” Kirk Franklin

In his debut single, ‘Not Lucky, I’m Loved’, Jonathan makes a bold statement about the source of our blessings, and why they occur. As Jonathan’s career took off, he began to find comforting luck in his meteoric rise: “I had ‘lucky’ underwear that I would wear, and the shows would be great; concerts would be fun and amazing, and I started really believing that some of these superstitions were actually doing something. I even went so far as counting the amount of times I would go on stage. If there was an even amount of times, then it would be a great show. It was just crazy.” Jonathan says it took a while for him to realise that 100% of the credit had nothing to do with luck or coincidence - that it was all up to God. “It was really up to Him. His sovereign, unconditional love, His plan for my life, that is what I am living out. It not just a dream, or it’s not just a set of coincidences or luck. It is His love being poured out and manifested and

realised in my life, and I’m really blessed. I had to say, ‘Jonathan, you’re not lucky, you’re loved.’”

“Jonathan McReynolds is one of the best artists I’ve heard in my life.” Cece Winans

The song ‘Cycles’ is resonating deeply with listeners. It is a profoundly personal song that speaks to breaking those cycles in life that keep us from having the relationship with God we really need and want. “People who grew up in my generation were taught to be very ambitious, always having a lot of things to deal with. Always being busy and having a lot of things going on. We count that as a badge of honour,” said Jonathan. “But, at the end of the day, if it threatens your relationship with God, we’ll get to Heaven on the last day we’re alive and realise, ‘Wow, that was not a badge of honour, that was an impediment to my relationship with God’.” It is personal for Jonathan as well. ‘“Cycles’ is kinda like another song in a long line of songs that I feel reveal way too much about me. When I started with ‘No Gray,’ I was a little afraid of it, because it didn’t feel like gospel. If you know those songs, you kind of know me. You kind of know where I am. You kind of know what I pray for. You kind of know what I am going through. ‘Cycles’ is another song in a list of confessional songs that I have going on. I felt like it was too real and honest. “It made me so upset making the same mistake over and over again,” he continues. “I had to make a declaration, ‘Lord, help me to end the cycles.’ Here’s the moral of the story: wrap it all up in a Jesus-bow type of song.” In another first, Jonathan has taken the ‘Life Room’ a step further, by bringing the ‘Life Room’ directly into homes with the one-hour ‘Make Room’ television special, produced by Entertainment One and aired on the American network, TvOne. It was unique in that, while a live concert recording with a full audience, interspersed with commentary

from Jonathan, it had the ‘look’ and ‘feel’ of a ‘Life Room’. The special was broadcast immediately before The Stellar awards. Jonathan puts it best: “I’m not up for any Stellars this year, but I am up before the Stellars. TvOne has MADE ROOM, and is showing an hour special of all that happened that amazing night in Chicago. You’ve heard the record. Now see the record.”

“Like Stevie [Wonder] once told me, we need you on the planet.” India Arie

‘Make Room’ is a mirror image into Jonathan’s life: what he stands for, what he believes. He sums it all up this way: “This is the season of my life that I realised that everything I have up before God, every career thing, every hope for relationship, every friendship I have, is all contingent on how much room I actually just make for the relationship. Instead of expecting Him to make room for me all the time, maybe it is time I start making time for Him. I can’t enjoy the love, peace, joy and the satisfaction that comes from being a child of God, when I don’t walk in the identity of being a child of God, or being someone in relationship with Him except on Sundays. “It was just very important for me to make sure that I was not wrapping God around all the stuff that I have to do and, instead, wrap all the things I have to do around God. Make sure that He is right in the middle of the room. Make sure that He has plenty of space. We’ll add all the other stuff later. We will add all the other people and the other goals. We will wrap all those things around God, because He deserves to be and wants to be dead front and centre. “Please don’t ‘fit’ Him in. Fit everything else in, after you have made room, crazy room, enough room, more than enough room, every day room for Him. At the end day, He will make room when we do.”

Jonathan McReynolds is available in London through Psalms Distribution

www.psalmsdistribution.com www.keepthefaith.co.uk

18 GOSPEL MUSIC

Todd Dulaney’s ‘Your Great Name’ is a declaration of pursuit and passion that speaks to the reverence, love and power that comes from the Name of Jesus.

, ALLEN B N O T K BY MIL MUSIC LIN L GLOBA

TODD DULANEY ‘Your Great Name’ Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

The common thread of ‘Your Great Name’ is to invigorate listeners to worship, make bold confessions of their faith, and incorporate musical elements that reflect an array of cultures. ‘Your Great Name’, the lead single and title track, is already being incorporated into worship services across around the world. Todd has once again penned a strong and declarative anthem that is resonating in the hearts of believers everywhere. “This song drives home the message that Jesus is the answer,” says Todd. ‘Your Great Name’ is obviously spotlighting the greatest Name, the Name that holds all power. The Name, the only Name by which we may be saved. And so, the mindset when we were writing the song is that I want to create an atmosphere where the believer is ready for combat. Because we are facing in the world right now the most critical time we have ever faced before, and everybody is on edge. It is tense. Racial tension, everything is tense, but I wanted to respond with not only the Great Name, but also with an anthem to let the devil know we are not here to play around.” On the heels of a groundbreaking launch of his music career with the breakthrough album, ‘A Worshipper’s Heart’, ‘Your Great Name’ has proved to be a game-changing album for Todd. His emphasis on vertical worship, along with his drive to strengthen believers’ personal relationship with God, have proven to be exactly what the genre needed. “I wanted to create an experience that showcased a bigger sound, encouraged corporate worship that would cross cultures,” says Todd. “I believe we achieved that with this body of work.” In a recent interview with Grammy Award winner, Erica Campbell, on her syndicated USA Radio show, Get up! Mornings with Erica Campbell, Todd said it best: “Vertical worship is just not as much as talking about what God does for me, but I’m just talking about who He is. You get a different response from God when you start showering Him with “You’re great”, “You’re wonderful”,, “You’re awesome”. Not so much “God, you did it for me. I thank God for my house, I thank God for my….” which is good because you are grateful for all the things He has done for you.” Todd continues: “I found out that it is one thing to sing about what God has done for you, sometimes it will rip a church apart, the reason being that everyone can relate and so a lot of time people don’t really want vertical worship, because they love to think about themselves. Vertical worship is selfless, because you are talking about only Him.” ‘Stand Forever’ is another standout from the album. Todd derived inspiration for the song from a beloved passage of Scripture: ‘Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My words will never

GOSPEL MUSIC 19

pass away.’ With a message that God’s Word stands forever, it encourages listeners to be bold, to be resolute in their belief, and to be committed to carrying this message to others. Triumphantly, the song declares, ‘We won’t stop calling Your name. We won’t quit seeking Your face. We want You!’ “‘Stand Forever’ is another response to what is going on around us,” says Todd. “There’s so much, that right now while I’m writing I cannot help but write as a response to the crazy world we live in. So, ‘Stand Forever’ is a response to every bit of bitterness, anger and division we see in the world. ‘Stand Forever’ is a response. I’m saying ‘Look, all this stuff that we are bickering about, arguing about -- that Stuff is going to fade.’ “Everything, every accolade, that you have here on earth, everything that is not Jesus is fading. But there is one thing that is going to stand forever. So, whether you like it or not, whether you want to sit up and argue about this, talk about this, talk about that, there is one thing that will remain… it’s that Word and that Jesus is the Son of the living God.” Shana Wilson-Williams, an incredibly talented and rising worship vocalist, is featured on ‘King of Glory’. Todd aims to create moments that bring listeners closer into their experience with God. ‘King of Glory’ is a song written to do just that. Its energy drives home the message of being free in God’s presence to worship - a

core element of Todd Dulaney’s ministry. “The backdrop and the back story of ‘King of Glory’ is we had a song I wanted Shana Wilson Williams to feature on, and the song just didn’t feel good to either of us. We were waiting to kind of see if I was going to record this song, but I just wasn’t sold on it. Two days before the recording, I called Shana and I said: ‘Hey I am going to call you back in a little bit. I am going to go sit down to see if God will give me something else, because this song is just not sitting.’” Todd continues; “About five minutes later, as I’m sitting on the piano, I started singing ‘King of Glory, fill this place, just want to be with you, just want to be with you.’ I called Shana back and told her I was about to send her a voice note. I texted her and she’s like: ‘Todd, what did you just do in the last five minutes? This is it!’ And everywhere we have been going, singing this song, it has been what has taken over our nights, everywhere we go to worship.” Todd Dulaney is poised to take this great body of work to a thirsty public. His desire is to foster freedom in worship by creating atmospheres that inhabit God’s presence. Dulaney is resolute in his commitment and call to provide quality music that embraces multiculturalism and unity. Todd is emphatic in saying: “My hope is that I will be successful at pointing people to Jesus, no matter what. That is what I want my legacy to be.”

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20 INTERVIEW

DR NEVILLE GEORGE L AW R E N C E , O B E By Shirin Aguiar

r Neville George Lawrence, OBE, is best known as the proud father of murdered teenager, Stephen Lawrence. His and Baroness Lawrence’s tireless campaigning for their son’s killers to be brought to justice eventually resulted in two of Stephen’s killers being convicted of his murder -18 years after the crime, through a change in the double jeopardy laws, which the couple helped bring about. Crucially, the 1997 Macpherson judicial inquiry into the police investigation into Stephen’s death led to an overhaul of Britain’s race relations legislation, which created the strongest anti-discrimination powers in Western Europe – all thanks to more than five years of campaigning by Neville and Doreen Lawrence after their son’s death. The rest is history.

Although still working behind the scenes, Dr Lawrence has been mostly content to stay out of the limelight, but he came under the media spotlight again last month, when the BBC commemorated the 25th anniversary of the murder with the broadcast of the documentary, Stephen: The Murder that Changed a Nation. Dr Lawrence, along with Baroness Lawrence, family, friends, neighbours, the police and other key players, such as the CPS, lawyers and campaigners, featured in the gripping three-hour-long programme, which was broadcast in three episodes. Keep The Faith was keen to obtain Dr Lawrence’s perspective on the documentary, and also to find out about his personal faith journey leading up to his astonishing announcement last year that he had forgiven his son’s killers. The turning point came after he decided to forgive. When he did so, he said “a load came off my shoulder.” Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

Photo credit: Jen Jenny B Marquis-Brown

INTERVIEW 21

Speaking exclusively to Keep The Faith, Dr Lawrence said: “When somebody does something to you, you have bad feelings about them. You wish that something bad would happen to them. It was like a heavy load that I was carrying.” However, two years ago, he met a family who had lost their son, and whose killer subsequently wanted to ask the family to forgive him. Dr Lawrence said: “What they said about forgiving was that, if you let down the load that you are carrying, it’s easier to live your life. So I did the research on forgiveness. I thought you had to have the person’s permission to forgive them, but then, when I did the research, I found out you didn’t have to ask their permission. Whether they want you to forgive them or not doesn’t matter.” Having been brought up in a strong Christian family, Dr Lawrence wanted to join the church when he returned to Jamaica, and started attending regularly. He said: “I decided that I was going to get baptised on January 13th (2017). The significance of the 13th was that Stephen was born on September 13th, and I was born on March 13th, so starting a new life I thought I would get baptised on the 13th, and I tell you, a load came off my shoulder.” He was baptised into the Seventh-Day Adventist faith of his youth. Asked what forgiveness meant to him, he said he no longer even remembers the names of his son’s killers, and does not think about them: “You don’t dwell on the fact that these guys are still walking around because, as you know, some of them are still walking around; and you don’t have bad thoughts about somebody killing them, or a car running them over or anything like that. “So that is released from you, and you just leave everything in the Almighty’s hand. Whatever happens to them from now on has got nothing to do with me.” Today Dr Lawrence, 76, remarkably looks ten years younger than he did when he stood outside the Old Bailey in 2012, after two of his son’s killers, Gary Dobson, now 42, and David Norris, 41, were sentenced to life imprisonment. 18-year-old Stephen, who aspired to be an architect, was fatally stabbed at a bus stop in southeast London in a horrific, unprovoked attack by a gang of White youths. The three parts of the BBC documentary examined in depth the police investigations,

Photo credit: Geoffrey Sleiman

interventions from Nelson Mandela and the Daily Mail, revelations of institutional racism in the police, suspicions of corruption, and the effects that the killing has had on the justice system since then. Dr Lawrence said: “It was draining, because it went back to 1993 and before. It brought back some bad memories about some of the things that happened on the way to getting some justice. “And I’m saying to people at the same time that I didn’t even think I’d be alive today because of the trauma of losing my firstborn. Sometimes I wish it were me that was killed, because I was 51 at the time; my son was only 18. He had his whole life in front of him. “Also, the fact that he decided that he wanted to be an architect - something that I wanted to be - and I was hoping that he would achieve that. All those things, when it comes back to you, you kind of regret the fact that somebody murdered your child for no other reason than the colour of his skin.” At a memorial service in central London, on 23rd April 2018 marking the 25th anniversary of his death, PM Theresa May announced that 22nd April would become a national memorial day for Stephen Lawrence. She said: “For the past 25 years, Doreen and Neville have fought heroically to ensure that their son’s life and death will never be forgotten. Their dignity, their courage and their sheer determination are an inspiration to us all.” The memorial service was “good and bad” for Dr Lawrence: “Whatsoever we do, you can appreciate what we’re trying to do but, at the same time, we’d rather have our son here with us, if it were possible. All kinds of things about this: what he would be like, or if he would have kids… you think about all those kind of things. But, at the same time, we are glad in a way

that his name is being used for good things, and it’s helping other people as well.” He said he has no problem with Duwayne Brooks, Stephen’s friend who was with him the night they were set upon, and has met him more than once, including when Mr Brooks was running for Mayor in Lewisham: “We met up, and he told me what he was trying to do, and I wrote to support him. I came here (to the UK) in March. I only knew last week that he was going to re-run for Mayor, but I haven’t been able to speak to him since then, but if there is anything I can do to help him, I’ll do it.” In the documentary, Dr Lawrence said that the first time he heard from Mr Brooks was when the young man gave evidence at the committal hearing for the private prosecution the family had brought against the suspects in August 1995. Speaking on the programme, Dr Lawrence said: “All the while, I was hearing rumours thinking that he had run away and left Stephen. He didn’t.”

Baroness Lawrence at the Wise Woman Awards

Along with thousands of other West Indians, Dr Lawrence, who is Jamaican of Jewish, Maroon and African origin, came to the UK in the 1950s aged 18, and worked initially as a tailor before becoming a builder and decorator. He met his future wife, Doreen (now Baroness Lawrence), www.keepthefaith.co.uk

22 INTERVIEW

and the couple married in 1972. They lived in Woolwich, southeast London, and had three children. Sadly, the intolerable pain of Stephen’s murder tore the couple apart and, in 2004, Baroness Lawrence revealed they had divorced in 1999 after 27 years of marriage. She said in the documentary she felt he was angry with her, as he had wanted the marriage to look fine from the outside. Dr Lawrence responded on the documentary: “We never talked about what each other was going through, and were never able to sit down and discuss with each other how anybody felt about what was happening. It was never done, has still never been done. All these years, we have never been able to sit and talk to each other about how much pain each of us was going through.”

“It got to the stage where I couldn’t even stand to walk up and down in the place, and I was told by my doctor to take a spell away. I’ve been through three hard years of pain and suffering. I don’t think I can take anymore.” He said being back in Jamaica had helped a lot: “I don’t concentrate on the tragedy a lot, as much as when I’m here. At one stage, I couldn’t walk down the road where it happened. There were so many reminders about the racist murder of Stephen. I can picture Stephen lying on that ground there. It’s painful. I wasn’t there to help him.”

‘We were never able to sit down and discuss with each other how anybody felt about what was happening’ Now residing back in the UK, Dr Lawrence will focus on his work as head of the Metropolitan Police Violent Crime Prevention Board, launching in June 2018. He said: “We have a group of

For her part, Baroness Lawrence told the programme that after Stephen’s death she “had to keep it together for everybody”, and expected support from her then husband. She stated: “It was as if the tragedy only happened to him, and the rest of us weren’t going through anything.” Responding to this in the documentary, Dr Lawrence says: “It was like I was in a different country or different space. I was totally consumed with grief.

people from all walks of life involved in that. We are doing research into knife crime now, and will use feedback from some of the research to set up a policy to stem the tide of knife crime that’s happening at the moment.” Along with other victims, he also handed in a letter to the Home Secretary (then Amber Rudd) last month, criticising the current inquiry into undercover policing, which he and his family and others had been subjected to. He said: “We won’t get to the bottom of what happened to all these other families they (the police) spied on over the years, if we allow this to keep going on. We are hoping the Home Secretary will take notice of what we’re saying, and try and resolve it for us.” Meanwhile, he continues to speak to organisations, universities, schools and faith establishments about life after Stephen’s death; the lack of transparency within an organisation, and the legal processes. He also gives presentations, and sits on panels on double jeopardy – one of the changes he and Baroness Lawrence influenced. He presents on the positive relationships that he has established, and encourages positive community engagement with the police service, as well as addressing the importance of challenging unacceptable behaviour in organisations through successful campaigning; the power and importance of community interrelationships, and positive engagement with statutory and non-statutory organisations. Dr Lawrence has been awarded honorary doctorates in law by four universities where he delivers annual lectures, including Portsmouth University, City University, University of East Anglia and the University of Bradford. He received the Human Rights Award in 1998 and, along with Baroness Lawrence, the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003.

Photo credit: Jen Jenny B Marquis-Brown Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

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24 INTERVIEW

REV RONALD A NATHAN Rev Ronald A Nathan - writer, pastor, public theologian, international conference speaker and former Director of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) - has recently returned to the United Kingdom after living abroad for 13 years. Keep The Faith caught up with him recently. sincere belief that God has called me to this position in my church for such a time as this. KTF: You were known as a leading voice calling for change in the Black Church between the 1980s and 2000s. What is your current assessment of the Black Church in the UK? RN: That question requires much more consideration and time, but let me share three observations I have made. First, there is a greater spread of Black Christians across the Christian denominations. I recently came across a statistic that says 25% of all Christians in the United Kingdom are from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities. Second, there has been a significant Africanisation of the Black community in the United Kingdom. In other words, the percentage of persons from the African continent or their descendants has increased, while there has been a significant decline in the percentage of people from the Caribbean or their descendants. Third, there is significant growth in persons of dual parentage in the Black community. All three of these would therefore impact on how the Black Church sees itself, and how they engage in being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ to the Black community and to the wider British community. Keep The Faith (KTF): Rev Nathan, you migrated to the Caribbean over a decade ago, what were you doing there? Rev Nathan (RN): First, let me say that I am eternally grateful to God for allowing me to serve in the Christian ministry for 39 years. The last ten years helped me to focus my attention on the youths of the Caribbean. In 2003, I took up the responsibility as the guidance counsellor for a boys’ college. There I was able to begin to grapple with many of the challenges faced by Black youths in the Caribbean. About five years later, I expanded that ministry into working with young people across the country, who had fallen through the social net and needed a second chance. At the same time, I held an administrative post with my church, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, as a Presiding Elder in the nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Further to that, I involved myself in the work of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean. KTF: Why have you decided to return to the UK? RN: When one is called to Christian ministry, there has to be a readiness to serve God anywhere. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has a connectional structure, which allows for the transfer of ministers from one jurisdiction to another. On 25th September 2016, I was installed as the fifth minister of this, the mother church, of our denomination in the United Kingdom. It is my Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

I recently came across a statistic that says 25% of all Christians in the United Kingdom are from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities. KTF: If I can push you a little further, how would you as a pastor relate to these changes? RN: I have found the Old Testament record of the children of Issachar helpful as a model for societal engagement. There is a need to understand what is happening in society, and to have a clear strategy, as recorded about the children of Issachar. They understood the times and knew what Israel should do, and they had unity among themselves. Whatever the demographic changes, it behoves the Church to understand that. KTF: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is not well known in the United Kingdom. Can you share briefly about its beginnings? RN: Enslaved Africans and free Blacks, who were members of the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church, New York, faced with discrimination and racism, started the African Methodist Episcopal

Zion Church in 1796. Their association with the Underground Railroad got them the nickname ‘the Freedom Church’. In 1970, under the leadership of Rev Vincent Fagan and Rev Horace Gordon, the Ransom Pentecostal Church of God joined the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. We presently have nine congregations in the London Midlands conference. KTF: What are your priorities now that you have returned in the UK? RN: I have three ministry priority areas: first, to give prophetic leadership to the congregation I pastor. The AME Zion Church was the church of Harriett Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, John Coltrane, Coretta Scott King, Roberta Flack, and many others who have established a legacy of Christian activism, such as fighting for civil rights, gender rights, human rights and peace. I am therefore committed to serving God and sustaining that legacy. I am called to preach the whole counsel of God, which has spiritual, social, economic, psychological and political factors. Second, working in collaboration with other churches to develop ecumenical links, and to make practical, social interventions in the Greater London area. An example of this is my active participation on the board of the Synergy Partnership (an ecumenical forum against gun and knife crime in London). Third, building Pan-African institutions that increase the capacity of Africa and the African Diaspora. I have spent a large portion of my life on the African continent, and have been involved in boosting its resources and defences to all types and forms of institutional sin. An example of this is my work as one of the coordinators for the Trans-Atlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race. KTF: You have indicated that there are political factors within your ministry priorities. What advice or direction are you giving to the AME Zion Church in respect of the Brexit deliberations? RN: All indications are that, whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, people at the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder will find themselves more at risk. The constituency that our church membership is drawn from are heavily represented in that group. There are five areas we need to concentrate on: 1. Give greater emphasis to the education of our youth 2. Create institutions of social and economic uplift 3. Support civil rights and empowerment programmes for persons at risk 4. Engage in a proactive programme of outreach 5. Work collaboratively with other churches at all levels

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26 WINDRUSH

PROF ANTHONY G. REDDIE

is a Black Theologian, educator, writer and editor.

hile there has been a Black presence in Britain since the time of the Romans, the bulk of the multicultural Black presence in Britain can be traced to a phenomenon called the Windrush. This term emanates from a pivotal event on 22nd June 1948, when 492 people from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks on the SS Empire Windrush. These post-war pioneers ushered in a wave of Black migration to Britain from the Caribbean, which (for the most part) forms the basis for African Caribbean communities in Britain today. Black British Christian life is often best understood in terms of the mass migration of Black people from the Caribbean islands of the British Empire to the United Kingdom of Britain, between 1948 and 1965, when approximately half a million Caribbean people (largely of African descent) made this momentous journey. The birth of Black Christianity in Britain One of the gifts bequeathed to us by the Windrush has been the development of Black Christianity in Britain. The Windrush helped to create communities of Black Christians in a variety of churches in the UK, be they in White-majority, historic churches, like Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, United

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Reformed, Adventist or Black-majority Pentecostal and Holiness churches, such New Testament Church of God, Church of God of Prophecy, Assemblies of God, Wesleyan Holiness, etc. One of the key characteristics of the Black Christian faith is the importance of personal experience, perhaps more so than intellectual knowledge of or formal training in or indeed any in-depth, historical understanding of the faith. The role of personal experience in assisting the Christian believer to gain a sense of their assurance of salvation has been part of the bedrock that has enabled many Black Christians in Britain, for example, to fight for social justice. This commitment to social change has been undertaken on the firm belief that the security of ‘everlasting life’ meant such activists felt they had nothing to lose in fighting for justice in the ‘here and now’. Black Christians, in the wake of the Windrush, have offered either implicit or explicit models of Black self-affirmation and identity in the continuing struggle against racism and White supremacy in the British context. Theological and Spiritual legacies of the Windrush The vote to leave the European Union had its

merits on either side of the debate. My concern is not with how people voted; rather, it is with how the vote has unleashed the worst in the British psyche. The Leave vote was informed by an undercurrent of jingoism and nationalism, wanting to repeat the splendour of Britain’s so-called ‘glorious’ imperial past. The Brexit vote was a toxic phenomenon that saw explicitly racist propaganda showing long lines of ‘immigrants’ looking to flood ‘poor Britain’, if the nation remained in the European Union. The Brexit vote was a nationalistic, White-centred event that cynically used migrants as the scapegoat for the problems of the nation. The undercurrents of Brexit was a rejection of multiculturalism and the legacy of the Windrush that has brought the infusion of new faith communities and collective living, born of Caribbean values and our African heritage into this nation. I would interpret the legacy and the importance of the Windrush in light of the story of Pentecost. In Acts chapter 2, we see the explosive power of the Holy Spirit that energises the first disciples, and how manifestation of the powerful work of the Holy Spirit gave rise to the gift of speaking in tongues or glossolalia. What has always inspired me has been the radical challenge

WINDRUSH 27

THE WINDRUSH

A PENTECOST FOR OUR TIME resulting from the transformative life in the Spirit, namely, the common life of cooperation, mutuality and sacrificial living – consequences of such Spirit-filled living. I continue to believe that the narrative of the first Pentecost has much to teach us, as we struggle with the continued challenge of embracing and affirming difference in our post-Brexit life in 21st century Britain. For a Black Liberation theologian, much of whose work has been critiquing and challenging White norms and assumptions of superiority, I love the way in which Pentecost demolishes any notion of cultural superiority or Government-inspired attacks on multiculturalism, in favour of the mantra of sameness and integration. Pentecost has a special resonance for our increasingly plural and complex nation, because any materialist reading1 of this text affirms notions of cultural difference. If physical and linguistic differences are themselves part of the problem for many people who voted for Brexit, then what are we to make of a text in which these differences are visibly celebrated? Part of the legacy of Windrush is the very form of physical and linguistic differences that one sees in the Pentecost event, which is the distinct contradiction of Brexit. In the Pentecost narrative, we hear of people

speaking in their mother tongue. There is no presumption of pre-eminence in terms of a particular language, culture or expression. The ability to have visions and dream dreams are the preserve of all humankind, irrespective of class, ethnicity or culture. The God of all, in Christ, has called all humanity into an unconditional relationship with the Divine, in the power of the Holy Spirit.2 My inspiration for social justice emerges from the God, who challenges us to seek the good of our neighbour, and encourages us to find human fulfilment in radical hospitality, in community with others and communion with God, revealed in Jesus. I love the way in which this text counters all our polite notions of Christian faith as an expression of self-centred, middle-class, consumer-style individualism. The transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit leads to a renewed commitment to live for and to serve others in the Name of Christ. This sense of living for others, creating community, and expressing a generosity of faith is all exemplified in the examples of the faithful living of the Windrush generation. The Windrush, I believe, offered this nation a new way of living – a new model of faith, one that was not overlaid

with racism, colonialism and White entitlement. This new expression of faith can be seen as a culturally religious expression of Pentecost. The roots of my passion for social justice as a Black Liberation theologian finds much of its inspiration from the twin themes of the collective and social dimension of faith, as seen in the early believers in Acts 2, but also in the example of the Windrush generation. The latter, through sharing resources, like the ‘pardner’, and in creating a whole new model of Christian faith, born out of the crucible of Caribbean culture, the Windrush legacy for Britain has been the creation of a Pentecost for post-war Britain. Professor Anthony G. Reddie is a Learning Development Officer in the North West and Mann team of the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network of the Methodist Church. He is also an Extraordinary Professor in Theological Ethics with the University of South Africa and is the editor of Black Theology: An International Journal. 1. This form of reading is one where attention is focused on the social, cultural, political and economic factors that shape biblical texts and not just our customary spiritual interpretations of them. 2. James H. Cone Risks of Faith (Boston: Beacon press, 1999). pp130-145.

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28 WINDRUSH

‘He has brought us a mighty long way’

Caribbean Pentecostal Churches in Britain DR R DAVID MUIR

is Senior Lecturer in Public Theology at Roehampton University and Co-Chair of the National Church Leaders Forum (NCLF).

he tragic news stories in April, of children of the Windrush generation losing their jobs and livelihoods, and being carted off to detention centres as they await deportation back to the Caribbean, shouldn’t overshadow the achievements of the Caribbean community in Britain as we commemorate the 70th Anniversary of this pioneering generation. Rather, it should cause us to reflect upon the resilience, struggles and sacrifices of those, mainly young pioneers, who came to Britain with ‘open hearts and hope in their eyes’ to build a better life for themselves and their families1. The arrival of the Empire Windrush is ‘a watershed in the Black history of Britain’ and ‘the symbolic beginning of the modern phase in the relationship between Britain and the West Indies’, according to Olusoga2. In the 70 years since the Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury with the first wave of Caribbean immigrants, the Black Church has become the most cohesive and coherent section of Black communities in the UK. And the Caribbean Christian community has played a significant role in this story. The growth of African and Caribbean

churches is a sign of hope and renewal worthy of emulation. Black Christianity, according to Ian Bradley, may well prove to be ‘a key agent in the re-evangelisation of Christian Britain’3. For those who were cold-shouldered when they arrived, and labelled as ‘sects’ by sociologists, this is a massive shift in perception and status. Caribbean Christians are represented in all the mainstream churches in the UK, and Caribbean Pentecostal church organisations, like the New Testament Church of God (NTCG), New Testament Assembly (NTA), Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) and Ruach are now recognised as important ecumenical partners and players on the national religious landscape. However, we must not forget the remonstrations from the 11 Labour MPs who, on the very day the ship arrived (22 June 1948), wrote to Prime Minister Atlee complaining about the ‘discord and unhappiness’ this wave of Caribbean immigrants would cause. Even though two-thirds of the passengers were ex-servicemen, who had fought for Britain during the Second World War, these MPs stated that the country ‘may become an open reception centre for immigrants not selected in respect of health, education, training, character, customs’. The Labour MPs displayed the prejudice and fear that would set the tone for the discrimination and struggles the Caribbean community would subsequently face. Arguing that British society is ‘blessed by the absence of a colour racial problem’, they

Professor Robert Beckford

Bishop Eric Brown Bishop Derek Webley

Dr Cheron Byfield

Dr Oliver A Lyseight

Bishop Dunn

Vivienne Francis, With Hope in Their Eyes, London, Nia: 1998. David Olusoga, Black and British: A Forgotten History, London, Macmillan: 2016, p.493. Ian Bradley, Believing Britain: The Spiritual Identity of ‘Britishness’, London, I.B. Tauris: 2007 p.198. 4 HO 213/244, J. Murray et al. to Prime Minister, 22 June 1948. 1 2

Marcia Dixon Pastor Esme Beswick, MBE

Angela Sarkis CBE

felt that an ‘influx of coloured people domiciled here is likely to impair the harmony, strength and cohesion of our public and social life, and to cause discord and unhappiness among all concerned’.4 Despite this early negative atmosphere, today there are a number of leading Caribbean Pentecostal churches in the UK, as well as leaders in public life. However, the growth and development of Caribbean Pentecostal churches were not without struggles - personal and institutional. The perspectives of pioneers, like Pastor Io Smith, and Caribbean theologians, such as Professor Robert Beckford and Bishop Dr Joe Aldred, give us a critical insight into the experience of this community’s encounter with British society. Aldred suggests that Caribbean Christians have had to endure ‘a low level of acceptance and understanding and, conversely, a high level of rejection and misunderstanding from the host Christian and secular society’.5 Although not all Caribbean Christians would have encountered this, Io Smith recalls: “The first place I visited was a church, but nobody said, ‘Welcome’. We felt a sense of rejection straight away… Another member told me: ‘I think the church down the road want Black people.’… I was looking for love, warmth and encouragement. I believed the first place I would find that was in the Church, but it wasn’t there.”6 Beckford signals a note of socio-historical honesty and experiential authenticity in saying: “English churches were at best paternal and at worst racist in their response to the Black settlers.”7 But to see the development of Caribbean churches simply through the prism of racism would be to offer a mono-causual explanation. Indeed, leaders like Philip Mohabir (founder of the West Indian Evangelical Alliance) and Bishop Dunn (leader of the First United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic) and others came to the UK as missionaries. As a leading Caribbean church in the UK, the NTCG has a remarkable history. It was started by its pioneering Bishop and first General Overseer, Dr Oliver A Lyseight, in 1953. In a similar way, he recalls the early struggles for acceptance in the ‘Motherland’, when Caribbean Christians were ‘despised and made to feel

unwelcome by some of the main-line churches’. However, he testifies to ‘a better way to overcome these trials, and that was through the power of God’.8 One of the major successes of the post-Windrush era is, undoubtedly, the growth and development of African and Caribbean churches. In London alone, 48% of churchgoers in 2012 were Black Christians. In the year of its Diamond Jubilee in 2013, NTCG had 230 credentialled ministers; 108 pastors and administrators; 120 congregations and missions; 11,000 registered members; around 40,000 adherents, and an annual turnover of £11 million. Caribbean Christian leaders, like Joel Edwards, Nezlin Sterling, Eric Brown (first Pentecostal President of CTE), Angela Sarkis, Esme Beswick and Joe Aldred, have had prominent positions in national organisations, like the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), Churches Together in England (CTE), Evangelical Alliance (EA) and the Church Urban Fund (CUF). Caribbean Christian leaders (too many to mention), including Rev Les Isaac (Street Pastors), Dr Cheron Byfield and Rev Stephen Brooks (Excell3 and Black Boys Can), Rev Phyllis Thompson (NTCG Leadership Centre), Rev Carmel Jones (founder of the Pentecostal Credit Union), Herman and Janet Allen (Hopewell School), Marcia Dixon (journalist commenting on the Black Church in Britain for over three decades) and Bishop Derek Webley (West Midlands Police Authority), have all made significant contributions to the Church and wider society. And what about the future of Caribbean churches in Britain? Although we often hear a great deal about the ‘decline’ of church attendance in the UK, the Caribbean-led churches will continue to offer spiritual succour and practical support to its members and to society. Some, of course, will migrate to the African independent congregations that are flourishing in Britain. All churches face the challenges of ‘postmodernism’ and will have to find better ways to communicate the Gospel, especially to young people. But, as we look back over the last seventy years, there will be echoes of praise and testimonies of God’s faithfulness in the knowledge that ‘He has brought us a mighty long way’.

8 5 6 7

Joe D. Aldred, Respect: Understanding Caribbean British Christianity, Peterborough, Epworth: 2005, p.vii. Io Smith, An Ebony Cross, London, Marshall Morgan & Scott Publication Ltd: 1989, p.40. Robert Beckford, Jesus is Dread: Black Theology and Black Culture in Britain, London, DLT: 1998, p.11. Oliver Lyseight, Forward March: An Autobiography, West Midlands, Birches Printers Ltd: 1995, pp.34-36.

Bishop Dr Joe Aldred Rev Les Isaac OBE

Rev Joel Edwards

30 WINDRUSH

The real truth about the ‘farriners’ KWAME MA McPHERSON

is an author, content organiser and book writing mentor

s a young person growing up in Jamaica, whenever a relative returned to the island from England, we could always distinguish between those who came from the so-called ‘Mother Country’ from those who came from America. The former were always dressed to the nines with their stylish hats, carrying thick jackets or coats, and just looked ‘different’, yet their UK attire seemed dowdy in comparison to the hip and happening style of the US. Just by taking a stroll through the plazas or a busy Half Way Tree, one could still tell the difference, as they motored about their business, walking faster than any of us at home. On top of that, we in Jamaica felt their way of thinking was fundamentally different in so many ways to ours; they would say that the weather was ‘too hot’ – of course it would be, they were in Jamaica! There were other nuances that distinguished them. Even though they called themselves Jamaican, we never saw them as such since, as far as we were concerned, they were ‘farriners’. For the Windrush Generation however, who had gone earlier, stayed longer, raised families and made the mother country their home, they had endured what many of us in Jamaica never knew. It was only being in the UK that I began to learn about those first Caribbean people who had ventured to assist the mother country when the powers that be made the call. The one-time colonial masters were on their knees after a devastating war, and were begging for help and, as with all good children, the colonies responded to her mother’s need. Now I have learnt that the reception the Windrush Generation experienced was not what they had ever envisaged. Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

It wasn’t only the grey clouds or smog-filled streets that deceived quite a few (as many were also returning after serving); they also faced the most racist and discriminatory of environments one could only imagine. NO IRISH, NO BLACKS, NO DOGS was the mantra for those who sought to find a foothold in the endearing mother country they had been so ingrained to believe in. And, if that were not enough, just a walk down any high street could result in being accosted, beaten up by skinheads - or even by the police. Of course, many of those misguided people were indoctrinated and educated into believing that Black people were no better than animals, due to centuries of misinformation, greed and having a so-called superiority complex.

‘...I have tasted a little of what they went through, and those experiences nearly sent me off the rails.’ It must be said that the physical, emotional and mental brutality and anguish the Windrush Generation faced was a testament to their own resilience, resourcefulness and belief as a Caribbean people, prepared to confront, fight and succeed against all the odds. In my own brief experience, I have tasted a little of what they went through, and those experiences nearly sent me off the rails. Remember too, these barriers were not only encountered on the streets or when one sought to rent a home. These racist hurdles were and still are institutionalised: from housing to education to health to employment, ingrained into the psyche of the residents and establishments, many of which were and are historical and wealthy recipients - and previous supporters - of the African Holocaust.

But, unbeknownst to them, an underlying problem existed. Children who had travelled on their parents’ passports, and those people who had come at the behest of the then British government, never to return to the mother country, would face a major issue. Prior to 1974 and as subjects of the Crown, they were entitled to permanent residency, but a legislation change in 2014 made them illegal. So now, the Windrush Generation were finding themselves stateless, and the publicity around this occurrence has gained momentum and is now in the public domain. Even though being stateless may presently be the case, the situation is not entirely hopeless and, aside from acquiring expensive legal advice, it is now imperative that grandparents, parents and children understand what their resident status is by trawling through any information they may have, including medical and school records, National Insurance Service paperwork, salary slips, passport and any other relevant paperwork. In addition, they should obtain advice from the nearest Citizens Advice Bureau, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and even the Home Office, who have established a helpline to address this problem: 0300 123 2241. The struggle is real, and even though the Windrush Generation have been treated unfairly, discriminated against and neglected, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ kwamemcpherson, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ kwame.mcp, Twitter: @KwameMA, EZine: http://ezinearticles.com/expert/ Kwame_MA_McPherson/2298651 www.kwamemcpherson.com

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32 WINDRUSH

Rev l e m Car s e n o J MARCIA DIXON

is a leading PR specialist and journalist www.marciadixonpr.co.uk

Rev Carmel Jones founded the Pentecostal Credit Union (PCU) in 1979. It is now the second largest credit union in the country. Now aged 80, Rev Jones, a COGIC minister, is a member of the Windrush Generation who arrived in Britain from the Caribbean between the late 1940s and 1960s. Over the years, the PCU has provided loans for pastors to buy churches as well as make essential high-priced purchases, and for individuals to start businesses. Now under new leadership, the PCU is on a mission to support entrepreneurship and wealthbuilding in the Black community. Rev Jones is still heavily connected to the PCU, and talks about its origins, his life and his hopes for the PCU’s future.

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): What inspired you to start the Pentecostal Credit Union (PCU)? REV CARMEL JONES (RCJ): The inspiration came from my concern about the lack of preparedness of mainstream banks to lend money to Black and ethnic communities, and to Black people in particular; but worst still, to purchase places of worship for the people of God. For example, people had to hire places that were used for all sorts of social activities, which resulted in us more than often than not having to clean up after the previous user and, boy oh boy, that means beer cans and bottles and, even worse, people being sick all over the place. Then said I, “Lord, Your people deserve better than this. Help me to help ourselves.” KTF: What kind of response did you get, when you first suggested the idea to set it up? RCJ: After I received divine sanction to set up the credit union and approach the 20 people who were needed to start, there was 100% unanimity that I should go ahead. All of us met the CEO of the Credit Union League of Great Britain in my ‘front room’ on Sunday 14th October 1979. Thereafter I began to encourage people to join me in this venture. There were a few that preferred the ‘pardner’ system, and waged strong

resistance against me establishing a credit union. That pre-existing ideology, pre-dating slavery, is still with us today with some of our elderly folks, but on a much lesser scale. KTF: You launched the PCU in 1980s. What were the main challenges and successes you experienced during the PCU’s early years? RCJ: A senior prominent minister, on learning about what I was doing, remonstrated with me over the phone for nearly one hour, demanding that I should not pursue calling the organisation the ‘Pentecostal Credit Union’, because “when it fails, as it surely will, it will bring the entire Pentecostal Church organisation into disrepute”, and she was having none of it. My reply was this, “Are you saying that I am going to fail?” “Yes,” she said, “because Black people always fail, especially where money is involved.” I said, “You will be proven wrong.” KTF: One of the things the PCU was renowned for, was helping pastors buy their churches. Why did they opt to use the PCU instead of a bank? RCJ: Pastors wanting to buy a place of their own, or thinking of purchasing a place, would always come to the credit union first. It is

WINDRUSH 33

she landed he would take me to the home where she was staying with her parents to see her. When we reached the house he rang the doorbell and I saw her in the hallway, upon which I exclaimed, “Look at my wife, man, look at my wife!” He said softly that was the girl he’d brought me to see.

commonly appreciated that where some banks would say ‘No’, the Credit Union would say ‘Yes’. The credit union has faith in the Pentecostal Movement, because of its driving force that it is a disgrace to borrow and not pay back. PCU works with pastors by drawing up business plans, making projections and advising how and when plans may be implemented. KTF: The PCU is now one of the UK’s largest credit unions. How does that make you feel? RCJ: It makes the PCU and our members feel excited. It is very gratifying to hear our members publicly and privately singing the credit union’s praises. Of course, satisfaction is a driving force. We run surveys from time to time, asking members to tell us how they rate the service they receive on a scale of one to 10. We ask members to list any additional services they would like us to provide, in addition to what’s already on offer. Finally, the survey is confidential; members are asked not to sign the survey, and they are also encouraged to offer critique. KTF: You are part of the Windrush Generation. Can you share some insights about your childhood: where you born, what your parents did and what your childhood was like? RCJ: I was born in Black River, St Elizabeth, Jamaica, and grew up in a district known as By-berry. I attended Pondside All Age School in an adjoining district, which also served many other districts as well as the Anglican Church every Sunday. I was an acolyte in this church. I was one of three monitors chosen by the head teacher and deputy at 5th grade to assist in the class, because I was fast in all subject lessons. My mother spent most of her time caring for my sister and brothers. She also bought and sold various items on Saturdays at four different markets. She took me along with her sometimes. My father was a small farmer, a cultivator rearing cows, goats and pigs. During my lunch time (I lived near my school), my job was to give water to the pigs and goats and, when school ended, I would take the larger animals to a local running stream/pond for their daily drink at 3.30pm. Most famously, I used to follow my dad to his cultivation to plant black-eyed peas and corn when the season was in. It was while talking with my dad in this function that he said these famous words to me that changed my

life forever: “Would you like to join your eldest brother in England?” Six weeks later, in August 1955, I was on my way to England. KTF: What role did faith play during your childhood and teenage years? RCJ: Without realising it, faith had been guiding me from as long as I can remember in my childhood years. Coming to England, the home that I stayed in, the Pentecostal people were so loving to me as a very young boy, and they treated me so well and invited me to church. My mum was a Christian, so I guess that is where it all started. KTF: What year did you arrive in the UK, and what were the early years of life like, here in the UK? RCJ: I arrived at Southampton Port and travelled by train to Waterloo in September 1955. It was medieval then, compared to 2018; people who came here after 1969 did not see the dereliction I saw. Britain has been transformed three times over. Looking back, my life was like a panorama. KTF: You have publicly declared that your wife has played an instrumental part in the PCU’s success. How did you meet, and what made you decide she was the woman for you? RCJ: I have publicly declared that it was love at first sight when I saw her. She is the driving force in my life. How did I meet her? A friend of mine told me he knew a girl from his district in Jamaica, who was coming to England, and when

KTF: During the 70 years that Black people have been in the UK, what, in your view, have been the main contributions they’ve made to British society? RCJ: I can confidently say that Black people have made enormous strides in education, law, degrees of diversity, commerce, small businesses, hold high post in government institutions, such as the NHS, local authorities, judiciaries, trade union senior leadership, and countless entrepreneurs and countless tradesmen and women. Then there’s the Media, politics and yes, we have contributed so much to British society, especially in the field of Christian religion. I sometimes wish that British society would focus on our achievements, rather than on guns, knife crimes, fatherless children, and so on. KTF: In what ways would you like to see the PCU develop over the next 10 years? RCJ: The PCU should continue to educate and train people in the wise use of money, such as what the Communication Director is doing, engage with the vibrancy of the field of entrepreneurs, and continue to invest in digital technology. KTF: What legacy would you like to leave behind? RCJ: I would like a bronze face and chest stature emblazoned in the wall, as entry is made into the offices of the Credit Union. KTF: What message of hope would you like to leave with KTF readers? RCJ: Pride in our achievements, and a commitment to build on our achievements, and when our detractors try to put us low, we will go higher still.

For more information about Rev Carmel Jones, you can read his autobiography on www.slideshare.net. Visit www.pcuuk.com for more information about the PCU.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

34 WINDRUSH

Bishop Martin Simmonds

ishop Martin Simmonds was born in Nevis, now lives in Ipswich, and was a compatriot of the late Bishop Sydney Dunn. His book, ‘Driven by Purpose’, tells of his early life in Nevis and St Kitts, where he committed his life to Christ as a young man; his time in Anguilla as a missionary, and his arrival in the UK in 1960, when he settled in Ipswich, establishing one of the first, if not the first, ‘Black’ church. Keep The Faith caught up with Dorcas Marshall, Bishop Simmonds’ daughter, who shared her father’s amazing memories that are reflected in his book. Bishop Martin Simmonds is part of the generation that came from the Caribbean in 1960, and established churches against the backdrop of emotional, economic, social and psychological challenges of the Windrush era. Dorcas Marshall tells of her father’s early experience of Britain in the East Anglian dock town of Ipswich. Unlike the cities which had received large numbers of immigrants into the UK, the demographics of this area consisted of Caribbeans who had left their wives and children back home, with the intention of returning once they’d accrued enough money. He found gainful employment in the large engineering firm, Cranes, whose workforce he describes as “resembling an advert for the United Nations”. His weekly income of £6 covered rent, tithes, remittances back home for his family, paying off his loan for his travel to the UK, and the balance for a ‘pardner’ scheme. When this didn’t cover his commitments, he would cut hair to supplement his income. Much of this can be read in his book, ‘Driven by Purpose’, an inspirational, excellent read, which he penned in his twilight years. Writing his autobiography was a lifetime ambition that she had the pleasure of supporting. He writes of his early life in Nevis and St Kitts, where he committed his life to Christ at the age of 15, and entered the ministry soon afterwards. He speaks avidly of the alien environment of the UK: the cold weather;

LL S MARSHA A C R O D Y B

sharing a home with immigrant tenants of various nationalities; the lack of Caribbean food; the use of public baths; getting used to swedes and parsnips, but also of the longing to be joined by his wife, Ethlyn, and his two daughters, who had remained in St Kitts until a year after his arrival. Their marriage is now over 60 years strong, with seven children and multiple grand- and great-grandchildren. Although his intention was to stay in the UK for only three years, he remains a senior Bishop in the Bethel Apostolic Church UK, and a real pioneer of the apostolic movement in Britain. He started the first Black-led church in Ipswich, and humbly quotes being proud that the “large, White congregation felt comfortable with a Black man in charge”. Dorcas says her father was introduced in 1961 to Bishop Sidney Alexander Dunn (founder of the Bethel Apostolic churches in the UK) by the late Bishop Carr and the late Bishop Saunders, who suggested the two work together. The late Bishop Dunn became his spiritual father, sharing a sincere, cordial, faithful relationship until fairly recently, when four of the five Bethel Church Bishops sadly passed away, leaving her father as the last remaining lead compatriot of that establishment. She recalls a stable, secure, disciplined childhood centred on God, family, people, church and education. As a principled parent, he involved her and her siblings in all aspects of church and home life, which was never dull. “Dad was an entrepreneur and innovator, with a strong ability to write.” Every quarter, he would research, write, design, print and stitch the Sunday School publications for the Bethel UK churches, and as children they would sort, compile and fold each page as part of a human ‘conveyor belt’. Dad steered other household activities, including planting and harvesting a large vegetable garden and allotment, batch-freezing, bread baking, syrup and ginger beer making, sewing, and still engaged with the children by playing Scrabble (and other board games) and reading. At that time, he had made the decision not to own a luxury television until the late 70s, when her eldest sister appeared on Songs of Praise. Her father is a preacher, an academic who jointly pioneered the Centre for Black and White Christian Partnership in Birmingham. He has an MPhil in Theology, and a Diploma in Pastoral Studies. Bishop Dunn endorsed his vision to establish the Bethel Institute for Biblical Study (BIBS), and Bishop Simmonds became its first Dean in 1994, an institution that continues to equip men and women for the ministry. As well as establishing and pastoring several churches across the world, he is a qualified marriage guidance counsellor and a broadcaster, who established radio stations in his native country, Nevis. Although he no longer preaches, due to declining health, until recently, he steered as Bishop within the Bethel churches in the UK and beyond. In 2014, he handed the pastoring of the local church in Ipswich to her brother, Pastor Nathan Simmonds. Dorcas concludes that, thankfully, the legacy of vision, tenacity and stamina - typical of the Windrush generation - has been extended to the children of the 50s and 60s, like herself, propelling them to fulfil lives that achieve and exceed many of their dreams. Driven by Purpose: Followed by Goodness and Mercy (Diamond Jubilee Edition) by Rev Martin Howard Simmonds MPhil (author) can be purchased via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ bishopmartinhsimmonds or on Amazon.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

36 WINDRUSH

Commemorating 70 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Windrush As we commemorate 70 years of the arrival of the Windrush, we also mark 70 years of the formation of the NHS. The two landmark events have an inextricable history. Isabel Appio pays tribute to Professor Nola Ishmael OBE, who came to Britain from Barbados in 1963 as a young NHS trainee nurse in the wave of the Windrush legacy, rose up the ranks to become the first Black Director of Nursing in London, and was voted the 5th most influential nurse in 60 years of UK nursing history.

n 1945, central to the post-war reforms was the formation of the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS was the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first, comprehensive healthcare service, which proved free healthcare for every British citizen. The NHS officially began its work on 5 July 1948. In the same year, on 22 June 1948, the Empire Windrush docked in the UK and is remembered today for bringing one of the first large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom. The arrival of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks, Essex, also marked the beginning of post-war mass migration, which filled labour shortages across all sectors in the UK. The ship had made an 8,000-mile journey from the Caribbean to London, with 492 passengers on board from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands. The majority of the passengers - ex-servicemen, who having fought for Britain during the war - were now needed to help Britain rebuild its industries. When they walked down the gangplank onto British soil, they could not have imagined their journey would begin an important landmark in the history of London and the rest of country. From 1948, the British government began extensive recruitment drives throughout the Caribbean for much-needed nurses and ancillary workers essential to the effective running of the new health service. The response to recruitment in the UK from British-born women had been poor. By 1955, the British government, supported by professional nursing bodies, had set up recruitment procedures throughout the Caribbean, which ensured a steady stream of high quality nursing candidates to the NHS for the years that followed. There was almost no financial help from the British government. Most NHS recruits had to find money to pay for their own fares and expenses. From 1955 a limited loan system was introduced, but recruits had to pay this back in weekly instalments. In later years, Enoch Powell, the Tory Health Minister from 1960-1963, was to personally invite more women from the Caribbean to Britain to train as nurses.

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WINDRUSH 37

h and 70 years’ NHS Since its very beginning, the NHS has depended heavily on a reliable supply of health professionals from the Caribbean and later from other countries, which to this day continues to be the backbone of Britain’s healthcare service. Professor Nola Ishmael’s story of dedication, pure determination, professional and personal aptitude and groundbreaking achievement continues in the legacy of the Windrush years. Here Nola recounts her early years as a trainee nurse, newly arrived in the UK. “My best friend wrote to me in Barbados, and told me what a great life she was having in England. At the time I was a primary school teacher. I arrived on a grey August day in 1963 - the same day Ronnie Biggs and his friends had robbed a train. A crowd of us from Barbados came over on a plane to London Airport – that’s what we called it then. It’s Heathrow now. We were so excited: we’d never flown before; we’d never left home, and now everything was strange and different. At first I had been placed on the Isle of Wight, but I’d said: “Why would I go from one small island to another small island?” I wanted to broaden my horizons. So I was offered Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire, and after a train journey from Liverpool Street, I was finally at my new home. The Home Sister met us, and I tell you, I have never had a better cup of tea since – so restorative! We lived by rules in the nurses’ home: we knew what time breakfast was; what time to get measured for our uniforms; what time to be at the PTS (Preliminary Training School). And we had to study, study, study. Reading the long names in the anatomy books, memorising how to spell them, and learning by heart every step for practical assessments. Who would dare forget one! We formed study groups and did it the hard way. There was no ‘search option’ for us; we had to go to the library. Our objective was to pass our exams - getting that blue belt and a frill on our cap were the epitome of success. There was warmth, too. We knew we had to follow order and be decent individuals, but there was chumminess, support and care amongst us too. We would go to parties and concerts, and watch television together. You had to get to the TV room early to get a seat for Ready, Steady, Go! There was none of this round-the-clock Netflixing. There was also the simple pleasure of chatting in each other’s rooms. My friend would say: “There’s no such thing as gossip, only ‘intelligence gathering’!” Homesickness was inevitable, and we were sensitive to those who suffered. Some managed better than others. A few cried, but most of us laughed our way through it. There is a saying ‘Make a friend before you need a friend’ and it was so true for us. We waited eagerly for letters from home – from our friends and family. And we did our duty in writing to our parents too. Letters home were filled with our studies, what exams we’d passed, and what we’d been doing. I never told my father about the boyfriends though! 8,000 miles away, and I could still feel the heat on the back of my neck! I still remember how strange the meals seemed. There was a routine to what we ate. We had to learn to like porridge for breakfast, and we quickly discovered that main meals were meat and two vegetables, except for Fridays when we had fish, chips and one vegetable. Tea was cake and scones. Did we know whether to put the cream on first or the jam? Who cared, we were due back on the ward! But where were the avocados, flying fish and snapper? Where were the rice and peas, curry and rum Christmas cake? Forget it, we were in England now. So, when you got a parcel from home, you delved in quickly to see what kind of cake you’d got. You knew you were going to share it, but you were excited to check. I loved every minute of my journey to become an NHS nurse, and the career that followed. I knew what I wanted to do – I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I found my way. It took determination to get here, but I think that novice from Barbados, who’d never flown before, would be proud of the person I am now (still from Barbados, but an expert in England too!).” See more at www.rcn.org.uk

PROFESSOR NOLA ISHMAEL OBE Lifetime of achievement

Nola Ishmael left Barbados in 1963 to start her nursing career in the National Health Service (NHS) at a hospital in Bishop’s Stortford. She later moved to the Whittington Hospital in London to gain her State Registration Qualification. Within 18 months of qualifying as a nurse, she was promoted to Unit Sister in the Neurosurgical Unit of the Maudsley Hospital in London. Later, she went on to qualify as a health visitor. In 1981, she became a Community Manager and, in 1987, became Assistant Director of Nursing in Greenwich. Eighteen months later, she was appointed Director of Nursing, thereby becoming the first Black Director of Nursing in the NHS in London. Nola was invited in 1994 to the Department of Health (DH) for six months, which evolved into a ten-year tenure. There she worked closely with ministers and chief nursing officers in different roles, including Professional Private Secretary to the Chief Nursing Officer. She later added Nursing Policy responsibilities in Public Health areas and Black and Minority Ethnic issues to her portfolio. During her 10 years at the Department of Health, she provided nursing input to policy development in a number of areas, including public health and the inequalities agenda, BME health, and the Mary Seacole Leadership Award, which is funded by the DH to support nurses in their leadership development. Nola has been on the board of a number of charitable organisations, including Vice Chair of Greenwich Community College; patron to the Sickle Cell Society; Cancer Black Care, and the Sickle and the Thalassaemia Association of Counsellors. She was a Vice President of the Barbados Overseas Nurses Association, and is Adviser and Founder Member of the Confederation of Black and Ethnic Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors. In 2000, Nola was awarded an OBE for services to nursing. She also has an honorary doctorate by the University of Central England (now the University of Birmingham). In 2006, her portrait was featured in the ‘A Picture of Health’ Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, which celebrated the 15 most illustrious Health Leaders who have contributed to healthcare in the 20th century. In 2009, Nursing Times voted her the fifth most influential nurse in the last 60 years. Nola lectures extensively at local, national and international level. She also mentors, coaches and nurtures individuals and groups as part of their career development. Nola continues to inspire and motivate others with her experience and knowledge. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

38 WINDRUSH

JOY ROXBOROUGH

is a creative industries professional, writer and entrepreneur. Email joyroxborough@yahoo.com

Caribbean Memorial for National Arboretum

Caribbean memorial is to be erected at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, in recognition of the contributions that the Caribbean Island Nations have made to Britain and the global community. The memorial will also commemorate the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush, which landed at Tilbury Docks in Essex, in June 1948, carrying the first significant number of the Caribbean Islands community to Britain in the post-war period. An investment of half a million pounds is needed to realise the goal. The Caribbean Legacy Project, a taskforce set up specifically to spearhead the campaign, is working assiduously to engage the Caribbean Islands community and friends of the Caribbean to be an integral part of the adventure to have the Caribbean acknowledgment memorial completed and installed by 2021. Dave Smith, Lead Coordinator of the project, said: “The historical archives are replete with the contributions that the Caribbean Islands have made to Britain and the global community in areas such as music, art, engineering and science, and it is time for us as a community to take the initiative to do something tangible to celebrate those contributions. The National Arboretum is home to a Commonwealth memorial that pays tribute to the soldiers who fought in World War II, but there is nothing there that specifically mentions or recognises people from the Caribbean. So, erecting this memorial will be a monumental achievement in terms of recognising and celebrating Caribbean people on a wider scale, and it is a journey that we want the whole community to be engaged with.” The Caribbean Legacy Project is working closely with Birmingham-based silver and goldsmith, Norma Jean Banton, on the ideas she submitted

for what the memorial could be. “I felt that God inspired me with the idea of legacy trees,” Norma said. “The vision is to have an angel of peace that represents the spirit of unity as the central piece of the memorial. Twelve legacy trees, each bearing 1,000 legacy leaves, will surround the angel. Each leaf will be constructed from copper, in the shape of an olive leaf, because the olive leaf is a symbol of love, unity and peace, and these are the attributes that we stand for as a community. Even more significantly, we are giving people the opportunity to have their names engraved on a leaf, and this will be a way for each person to be indelibly written into the fabric of our history in this country. They can have their own names engraved, or the name of a family member, or they can even choose to sponsor a deceased legend, like Bob Marley. Over time, the leaves will oxidise to a green colour, so that they will even more closely resemble olive leaves, but the names will always stand out clearly. “We aim to sell the leaves at £25 each to raise the funds needed to have the memorial installed at the Arboretum. Twelve thousand leaves will be needed for the memorial itself, but people can also purchase a leaf and have it made into a piece of functional jewellery. We are inviting organisations and churches to sponsor an entire tree for £20,000 (discounted by £5,000), and individual leaves can then be sold on. Sponsoring organisations will have a special plaque installed on their tree at the Arboretum.” Norma, who established Silverfish Jewellery in 2002 and makes Christian-themed jewellery from her Birmingham-based location in the Jewellery Quarter, said the vision of the project goes beyond the installation of the memorial. “The idea is that it will bring the community together and that, even after the memorial segment of the project is completed, people will be inspired to commission legacy trees and have them installed in community buildings and spaces. This will be a way of creating long-term jobs and apprenticeships for the young people who will be involved in making the trees.” Legacy leaves may be purchased from the Silverfish website at www.silverfishjewellery.com or through the charity arm of Silverfish at www.treasuredfoundation.org. Beej Smith, one of the project coordinators, said: “This is a team effort, and we are inviting other artists, as well as the wider community, to be a part of this celebratory journey. There will be several opportunities to be involved, and we are starting with the Art Science Expo in May and June 2018 at the Medicine Bakery and Gallery in Birmingham City Centre. From 1st to 30th June, the legacy leaves will be a part of the display at the Medicine Bakery, and the Expo will also include a Windrush Play scheduled for 16th June at the ACE Dance and Music Theatre, ACE Space, Ground Floor, 54-57 Floodgate Street, Birmingham. We want the project to be something that unites present and future generations in an all-embracing tribute to people of Caribbean origin.” For further information on any aspect of the project, telephone Dave, Beej or Norma on 07984 582238, 07415 502303 and 07882 980730, respectively.

SAM AND OLIVIA COME TO RACE WEEK ONE

WEEK TWO

28 July-3 August 2018

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SPEAKERS Darren Rouanzoin Robby Dawkins Alan Hirsch

Jo Saxton Robby Dawkins Alan Hirsch

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www.keepthefaith.co.uk

40 WINDRUSH

V Jay Theatre Productions

celebrating 70 years of Windrush

hink of some of the longest running theatre productions, and what immediately springs to mind may be some of London’s current West End giants, like ‘Les Misérables’ (33 years), ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ (32 years), ‘The Lion King’ (18 years), ‘Mamma Mia’ (19 years) and ‘Thriller Live’ (9 years). While I lift my hats to them for their undisputed excellence, I think the real kudos goes to ‘Streets Paved with Gold’, a one-man production that has been touring the UK and international venues for 25 years. Written and performed by Victor Richards, ‘Streets Paved with Gold’ recently kicked off its 2018 UK and international tour schedule with a performance at the Mango Lounge in Birmingham. The production is a poetic and nostalgic journey that charts some of the experiences of what life was like for the typical Caribbean arrival in Britain, going back 70 years when the SS Empire Windrush made its historic landing at Tilbury Docks in Essex. The experiences are presented through the eyes of Augustus Cleveland Johnson, an older man, who is preparing to leave England to return to his birth land, Barbados. Without the backing of huge budgets - such as the West End shows have access to - Victor has successfully managed, in the hour-long production, to draw audiences into his world as he traces his memories back to the early years,

reminiscing about his beloved wife (now deceased), and experiences from his working and social life. The props are simple but highly effective: the old-fashioned grip; an analogue telephone; family photos of his wedding day, and favourites that many Caribbean homes displayed, such as Martin Luther King and a much younger Queen Elizabeth II. One senses the pathos as Augustus potters about, coughing intermittently while he sorts through his belongings and attempts to pack things in preparation for his return home. There is a sense of loss as he comes across one of his wife’s favourite dresses, and tells the audience the story of how they met. It’s almost as if he is closing a notable chapter of his life; the sadness is very real, watching him contemplate that he will be moving on to embrace a future without her. It highlights the finiteness and fragility of our existence. It is not just another story; it becomes the audience’s story, no doubt mirroring the experiences of so many we probably know in our own communities in this country. The production makes one feel…think…reminisce… and, perhaps, shed a tear… The production is not without its laughs, however. This too reflects the Caribbean experience amidst the hardships of life in Britain: no matter what, Caribbean people are noted for their resilience and ability to create pockets of joy in

the harshest of situations. This is the stuff of memories, and Victor’s production has done a superb job at giving audiences, young and old, the opportunity to take a trip back in time to gaze upon those memories. ‘Streets Paved with Gold’ is one of a trio of shows that Victor has written and performs. It will be showing again in Birmingham on Saturday, June 16 at the ACE Dance Space. His other two productions are ‘Return to the Caribbean’ and ‘Children of the First Generation’. The latter is scheduled for a performance on Thursday, July 12 at the Mango Lounge, Birmingham. ‘Children of the First Generation’ focuses on Augustus’ son, Granville, who, born in England, decides to return to England with his wife and children after spending 15 years in his father’s birth land, Barbados. The Birmingham performances are being held in collaboration with the Caribbean Legacy Project to mark the 70th anniversary of Windrush. Dave Smith, Lead Coordinator of the Caribbean Legacy Project, said: “We are coordinating efforts with V Jay Productions to provide a unique edutainment platform that engages a national and an international audience.” Victor was a British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) Nominee for his spoken word music album, ‘Illusion - Streets Paved with Gold’.

For further information visit www vjtheatre.net. Ticket bookings, telephone 07786 853 232, 07944 320 204 or 0121 554 4575; book through Eventbrite, or email treasured@silverfishjewellery.co.uk or victor@vjaytheatre.net. Other performances are scheduled for cities across the UK. Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

WINDRUSH 41

MLK: FROM HERO TO VILLAIN

REV WALE HUDSON-ROBERTS is the Racial Justice Co-ordinator for the Baptist Union of Great Britain

ersonally, I don’t think the differences between Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X are as big as some make out. About three years before his death, Martin Luther King Jr underwent a conversion. Agreed, it didn’t parallel Malcolm’s Mecca conversion, but it was significant enough to lead to a dramatic change in King’s thinking and behaviour. For the most part, King had been trusting of White people. He believed that, regardless of how racist you are and how malevolent its manifestations, Black suffering would bring about a change of heart and mind among White people. In his heart of hearts, he believed that all White people were good and, in time, their racist shackles could be removed. He believed in the intrinsic goodness of Whiteness. However, some time after his ‘I have a dream’ speech, this belief changed. It was a conversion that led him to question the capacity of Whites to respond adequately to appeals of conscience. Sometimes, he argued, their racism would be explicit, and other times implicit but often present. King’s conversion didn’t result in a diminishing of love for White people. Rather, he understood their limits and inability to be fully inclusive. But it led to him becoming increasingly vocal in calling out racism, as well as other forms of oppression. King’s revised beliefs fly in the face of his sanguine image. Because this year marks the 50th year of his death, I have been giving much thought to King’s image. Casted as a global, benevolent hero, he is locked in the niceness of the reconciliatory ‘I have a dream’ speech, which encourages the holding of hands - a utopia oblivious to White repentance. It isn’t surprising that his image has been embedded into the history books. For King is portrayed as a conciliatory man. Slightly on the side of the elite. For as long as King waxed eloquently about how southern segregation could be overcome with non-violence , he remained the darling of northern White liberals. When he preached that Blacks sacrifice their bodies to redeem Whites, many liberals lauded his nobility. When he encouraged Blacks to love Whites, even hateful racists, King was crowned as a hero. And, when he risked his life for the beloved community, he was regarded as a Black saint. No wonder history often remembers his name with affection. I am a little surprised that a book entitled ‘Our Martin Luther King’ hasn’t been written yet. Still, there is time. For the Civil Rights Movement to have integrity, King had to convert. And, perhaps in part due to the amount of Black suffering and deaths he witnessed, he was forced to convert. Now here is the question. If King’s conversion had not led him to a place where he was able to call America out as a racist country; deepen his commitment for the American poor; condemn America’s invasion of the Vietnam War; galvanise disenfranchised African Americans, and organising them into a revolution (a non-violent force that challenged the triple evils of racism, war and poverty), would King have been assassinated?

Malcolm X suffered a premature death because of his revolutionary posture. Christ died an early death, because He became a threat to Rome – to Caesar. Martin Luther King’s condemnation of the triple evils, and his undermining of the state and its racist laws, made him a force to be reckoned with. I am sure King’s conversion experience put him firmly and squarely on America’s hit list. But that is what a race conversion can do. Fifty years after King’s death, I see a connection between King’s final years and the sermon preached by Bishop Michael Curry at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding. The Bishop’s sermon began and ended with a quote from Martin Luther King. Nothing unusual about that. But the rest of the sermon - its style, rhythm and, of course, its Black liberation focus - is not something witnessed before in the hallowed, lofty walls of the pinnacle of the Anglican establishment at a royal wedding. This ardent campaigner of racial justice, himself a descendent of slaves, questioned colonialism and racism in the House of the Lord. The same House of the Lord that endorsed – even encouraged - slavery. The same House was being urged to remember: “Even in the midst of their captivity, there is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.” Just like the ‘I have a dream’ speech, the Bishop’s sermon will be remembered as a sermonic great. Not only for its sublime eloquence, but for the moment when the enduring seat of colonialism “was brought before the Lord, and questioned in its own house.” Bishop Curry did what King had done in the latter years of his life: he outed White silver-spoon complicity! As much as I get some of the reasons why King’s appeasement approach to securing justice and equality seemed appropriate during the heights of the Civil Rights Movement, his conversion became necessary for America to move towards shalom. It is not always easy to speak truth to power and continue speaking it. But, for the sake of world peace and justice, ‘calling out’ is essential. Granted, there are often consequences to speaking out. The negative flurry surrounding Curry’s sermon makes interesting reading. But history reminds us that one of the prerequisites for the coming of the Kingdom, here and now, is the outing of racism and other forms of evil. It may have taken King a while to get to this place, but he got there in the end. Few of us have.

42 WINDRUSH

Windrush: Portrait of a Generation - A photo

In celebration of the Caribbean community

im Grover is an award-winning photographer based in Clapham, south London. Jim’s images have appeared in various publications and online, including The Times, the BBC, The Guardian… to name but a few, and his images have been recognised in various competitions, including the Sony World Photography Awards and the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards. In 2015, he won the ‘Faith Through a Lens’ - a competition that is funded by Congregational Insurance and supported by the Inter Faith Network and Churches Together in England. Windrush: Portrait of a Generation is the latest photo-story by award-winning social documentary photographer, Jim Grover. The set of around 60 photographs portray the current lives and traditions of this first generation of Caribbean immigrants, who settled in south London and are part of its vibrant community. The exhibition will include eight photo-stories that, together, encompass their daily lives: community clubs, dominoes, dancing, faith, the ‘Jamaican home’, the mother country, funerals and ‘nine nights’ (a tradition which marks the passing of a loved one). The exhibition also includes the story and photographs of Alford Gardner, now aged 92 and one of the tiny number of

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surviving original ‘Windrushers’. The photographs will be exhibited at the gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s South Bank from 23rd May until 10th June 2018. Many of the Windrush generation Grover photographed, now in their late 70s to 90s, still live in Brixton and Clapham in south London, as some of the very first ‘Windrushers’ were accommodated in the underground war shelter at Clapham South, and sought their first jobs at the Brixton labour exchange. Over the last nine months, Grover was invited into their homes, clubs, churches and memorials. Jim said: “It’s been such a privilege to spend time hearing such inspiring stories within our local community. I feel it’s so important to document and celebrate the lives and traditions of this remarkable generation.” The exhibition will be curated by Katy Barron, senior director at the Michael Hoppen Gallery. There will also be some remarkable personal stories from the Windrush generation, as well as two extended photo-stories

WINDRUSH 43

o-story by Jim Grover

y in south London

running as slide shows, bringing to life a typical Jamaican funeral and the playing of dominoes. This will be Grover’s second solo exhibition at gallery@oxo. His first, held in 2016, was ‘Of Things Not Seen’, which told the story of a year in the life of a South London priest. It attracted over 7000 visitors, received extensive publicity, and has been on tour to several locations across the country - most recently at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival. A private view and opening ceremony, attended by one of the last surviving passengers from the original Empire Windrush voyage, Alford Gardner, will take place on 24th May, at 6.30pm. Windrush: Portrait of a Generation launches at London’s South Bank at the gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London SE1 9PH from 23rd May to 10th June. Twitter: @Jimgroverphoto Instagram: jimgroverphoto www.jimgroverphotography.com www.ofthingsnotseen.com www.48hoursonclaphamhighstreet.com Diana Whitehead

Fostering Fortnight Fostering Fortnight was from 14th - 27th May, and your help is needed. Lambeth Council is looking for foster carers to support children from Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia. Foster carers are special people who offer homes to children who can no longer live with their birth families. They currently need foster carers who share common factors with children-seeking-asylum. Many of these children have arrived in the UK alone and have had a traumatic experience, so need loving, safe and secure homes to help them settle and do things normal children enjoy, like going to school, playing sports and making friends. To help them feel more settled and secure, Lambeth are looking for people who come from the same country or share similar cultural and religious backgrounds to these children and young people, to come forward and become foster parents. In return, Lambeth will provide you with specialist training, support from a skilled team, support from experienced foster carers and excellent fostering allowances (payment). Start a conversation today. Call their friendly team on 020 7926 8710 or find out more online at Lambeth.gov.uk/fostering. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

44 COMMENT

The dreams of our mothers DIONNE GRAVESANDE

Global Ecumenical Relations at Christian Aid

any of us celebrated the first statue of a woman in London’s Parliament Square, unveiled on 24th April 2018, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in Britain. The statue of women’s rights advocate, Millicent Fawcett, will stand alongside those of 11 men, including Britain’s wartime leader, Winston Churchill; Indian independence icon, Mahatma Gandhi, and anti-apartheid figurehead, Nelson Mandela. But let us not forget the UK’s first memorial statue for a named Black woman was unveiled in June 2016, and stands in the garden of St Thomas’ Hospital on London’s South Bank. The statue honours Crimean War heroine, Mary Seacole, the Jamaican-born nurse, who cared for wounded British soldiers at a field hospital she independently set up in Crimea in the 19th century. Millicent Fawcett

Both of these women in their own way reversed gender inequality - not just by changing the rules, but changing who gets to make the rules. The legacy of these women speaks not only to their deep vision and courage but also to the hope of a different future. Their lives and ultimate sacrifice affirm the statement: ‘If there is no struggle, there is no progress’ - a phrase coined by abolitionist leader, Frederick Douglass. He was an intellect of his time, who advised presidents and lectured to thousands on a range of causes, including the empowerment of women. He truly committed to a vision of leaving no one behind – a phrase that is still very much around today. Leaving No One Behind features prominently in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is at the very heart of my Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

Amanda Khozi Mukwashi

organisation’s vision, as well as many churches’ core mission statement. Churches see themselves in a servanthood role and, as such, the Church is called to make present God’s holy, loving and life-affirming plan for the world revealed in Jesus Christ. By its very nature, our churches are missionary: called and sent to witness to the gift of communion that God intends for all humanity and for all creation in the Kingdom of God - its work of holistic mission, done in Christ’s way. The call to be a missional community maintains that missionary action cannot be limited to corrective rhetoric; it must also be preventive and creative. It must encompass service to the needy; advocacy by speaking to power, and service and advocacy about creation. As advocacy for justice and peace, it should listen to the voices of the marginalised; engage in transformative and prophetic action, and address the root causes of injustice embedded in oppressive systems and structures. As carers and advocates for creation, our Christian missions should seek to build alliances with all people in the pursuit of Peace and Justice. The task of seeking justice, exposing poverty and confronting war and conflict is still a quest worth pursuing as part of our common humanity and shared future together. It isn’t true that things cannot change. They can. If we have a collective

Mary Seacole

conviction of action and hope, then together we can transform the political environment to bring about the change needed to ensure peace and justice are secured for all people in our nations and our world. When dismantling embedded systems and structures that do not serve the interests of vulnerable and marginalised people, we need all the help we can get. I have been around long enough to witness power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will! In this mission, we need both men and women who are justice warriors in the order of Millicent and Mary, and so I am delighted in the recent appointment of Christian Aid’s new Chief Executive, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, a African women of deep faith and commitment to the message and works of Jesus Christ. She is the first Black woman to hold such an office with the international development organisation. Amanda speaks with a deep conviction of purpose in fulfilling her role in proclaiming ‘good news’ for the poor and ‘freedom’ for the oppressed, calling us to action in transforming unjust systems and structures. Amanda, a distinguished postgraduate, has more than 20 years’ experience, extensive knowledge and expertise in working to alleviate poverty, injustice and inequality. She is welcomed into an ecumenical community of more than 40 denominational churches across Britain and Ireland, seeking to address social injustices at a macro scale. Our world has never been more prosperous and, at the same time, more inequitable than it is today. Inequality has reached a level we can no longer afford to ignore. People, who have been submerged into poverty; driven into overwhelming debt; marginalised and displaced, are crying out with a greater sense of urgency and clarity than before. Today, my call is for us to join hands together to do justice in the face of unparalleled and catastrophic inequalities, and to give visibility to the ‘good news’ message that anchors us in Christian faith.

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46 COMMENT

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Maintaining a strong sense of self

n June, there is going to be a major national focus on the Windrush Generation – on those men and women from the Caribbean who answered the call from the British government to come and work in their labour-starved industries between the late 1940s and 1960s. My parents were part of the Windrush Generation and, since becoming a Christian as a teenager, I have been a member of the Pentecostal church movement – a movement started by the Windrush Generation, often in response to the racism they experienced in the wider Church. One of the most important things we can learn from that generation is their resilience and the values they passed on. And if no one else has learnt from them, I definitely have. We don’t realise how brave and adventurous that generation were, to leave behind the familiar and travel to a country totally different with regards to the culture, their race, societal norms and weather!!! They encountered racism first hand; had to do menial low-paid jobs whilst raising their

families, and deal with their own personal issues, whether it was separation from their children, domestic violence, abuse of their children, the list goes on. However, in spite of this, they maintained a strong sense of self and some important values they passed onto people like myself, the second generation. These values included the following: • Faith in God and love for the Church • Loving one’s family • Giving a helping hand to people in need • Respect for self and others • Understanding the value of hard work • Valuing the importance of education • Being of good character • Abhorring lying, stealing and cheating • Not bringing shame on oneself and family due to bad behaviour These values put the Windrush in good stead and, coupled with their faith and strength of character, they were empowered and enabled to survive the harshness of living in the UK. With many of them now growing old, or going home to be with the Lord, it’s left to us, their descendants, to continue the legacy of values they leave behind, as we build our lives. Make no bones about it, living by these values helps bring about success. The Church in particular, currently the foremost institution within the Black community, owes a great debt to the Windrush Generation, because were it not for their blood, sweat, tears and money, we wouldn’t have a Black Church movement at all.

Congregations must be more politically engaged Over the past few months, I’ve heard lots of calls for the Church – ie. church leaders – to be more political. In years gone by, I would have agreed with such statements, but not anymore. Most Black church leaders see themselves first and foremost as men and women called by God to preach the Gospel and make disciples, as directed by Christ in Matthew 28:30. A few have ventured into the political square, but it remains a few. Instead of trying to get church leaders to be something they are not, the Black community would be better served politically if church leaders encouraged their congregations to be involved in politics, whether by praying for political leaders and the government; joining a political party; standing for public office, or getting involved in campaigns against injustice or those who promote equality. It would make sense for churches to invite Black people involved in politics to speak to their congregations on poignant issues during a Sunday morning service. Britain is not America, so if individuals expect Black British church leaders to behave politically like their American counterparts, they will be deeply disappointed. Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

ESTHERS AND DEBORAHS, RISE UP! Our churches are filled with women – Spirit-filled, caring, intelligent, high-achieving and aspirational women, who desire to impact society. They come from all walks of life, and occupy a variety roles: wife, mother, single woman, career woman, volunteer, prayer warrior the list goes on and on. Like the biblical characters of Queen Esther and Judge Deborah, modern Christian women can and should play their part in responding to social crises and bringing their influence to bear to bring about change. Queen Esther saved her nation by imploring the king, her husband, to change laws that were instigated to bring about the demise of the Jewish people. Deborah, working alongside Barak, took the lead, and led Israel’s army to victory against enemy forces. Both these examples highlight what can happen, when women rise up to societal challenges and implement strategies in order to bring about change. Let’s be more strategic about how that female energy and passion are utilised. Our prayers should not just be about ourselves and our families, but for the wider community, praying into the various issues we face regarding relationships, children, injustice and racism. Our energy can also be channelled into those spheres of society that need to experience the transformative power of Christian influence – wherever that may be. I would challenge Christian women to follow Queen Esther’s example and, when they see injustice or mistreatment of a community, to be willing to lift their heads above the parapet and make a difference, and that they would be brave enough like Deborah the Judge and wage war against those issues that cause injustice or seek to destroy those who want to live out God’s purposes.

COMMENT 47

THE CHRISTIAN BRAIN DRAIN REV STEPHEN BROOKS New Jerusalem Church, Birmingham

y the time young people in our churches enter university, our congregations and their parents have spent years seeking to pass on their faith. We take them to worship, youth rallies, Bible classes, summer camps and Christian events to help them grow spiritually. Christian parents, like so many others, have high aspirations for their children, and look forward to them graduating from university with all the benefits it brings. Would as many be so aspirational if they knew that approximately 60-70% of Christian teens entering university end up leaving or disengaging with their faith during their first year on campus? To address this, university ministries are tackling the attrition rate head-on at university grounds across the UK. A number of faith-based ministries, like Agapé, which is determined to anchor university teens in their faith, and the Redeemed Church, which actively uses university campuses to host weekly services to stop this drift, are making sure that no more undergraduates turn away from their Christian beliefs. The decisions made from ages 18 to 28 are crucial, and involve setting up one’s foundation for life: decisions about education, debt and finances, career, marriage, family, and many other serious decisions. The foundation of a Christian world view is very important, and should be the basis for their decision-making. When a student abandons their faith, they lose the foundation of their world view and, as a result, they must recreate a new foundation for life. This can leave

the student in a lost and confused state, in turn, leading them to make poor decisions in some of the most important years of their life. Many churches fail to teach doctrines that relate to the Christian life, such as spiritual growth, the problem of sin, and understanding doctrines that allow for vibrant faith. Young Christians are not focusing on these doctrines nor understanding the need for answering these hard questions. As a result, they fail to understand why they believe in Christianity, or even the principles Christianity teaches. Students with an understanding of their faith and apologetics - that is the ability to present historical, reasoned and evidential bases for Christianity, defending it against objections - are more likely to stay true to their faith. One of the reasons for students leaving their faith has been credited to young people leaving home for university unprepared for campus life and vulnerable to its secular influences. The students who are ill-equipped and unable to defend their faith can become easily swayed by their non-Christian professors and peers. Some of the solutions to mitigate this attrition include the following: • Churches need to intentionally connect students to Christian communities before they begin university, instead of leaving them ill-prepared during the most important transition of their lives. 2 Peter 1:10 says: “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practise these qualities you will never fall.” • Students need to get involved in a local Christian community; join a nearby church; participate in Bible study, and get involved with campus Christian fellowship and student organisations. One university ministry, The

Navigators, has found that “the first 72 hours is crucial in a new student’s life, so it’s important for the Christian organisations to intentionally connect with students before the start of classes.” • Young people need to read the Bible and pray in their personal lives to maintain an active faith - one in which they also surround themselves with trustworthy Christians, and confirm their calling and election. • Students need to test all things by the Word of God. It is not a good thing to experiment with life; God gave us a Book. It is a matter of applying God’s Word to everything, because He knows all things. He knows what will make your life count for the here and now. So trust Him. University-aged young people break away from home, and begin to seek their own plans and dreams. For most students, entering university for the first time means a new kind of freedom: freedom from parents; freedom to eat what they want; freedom to travel, and freedom to explore new ways of thinking. Ultimately, they will also have the freedom to choose whether or not they will continue to attend worship and other church functions, and whether they will continue to believe in Jesus and His teachings. Many students lack critical thinking skills. We must continually create space for students to wrestle with the big questions of life. University should not be the first time that students engage in abstract or deep thinking, but for many students it is. Like anything worthwhile, the developmental process takes time and is difficult. A youth group devoted to these activities may not draw the biggest attendance, but if we are serious about preparing students for life after high school, helping students to “learn to think” will be a mark of our ministries.

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48 COMMENT

Called to the Marketplace? BISHOP DR WAYNE MALCOLM

is a Kingdom consultant and strategist and founder of Christian City Life Church

ow, more than ever before, the Church must decide if its main job is to alleviate the symptoms of systemic evil, or if it is to lay the axe at the root of the tree in an attempt to eliminate its causes. The root of the tree is often a political and economic system that serves the interests of a few at the expense of the many. This was the case with transatlantic slavery, which only ended when the political will to abolish it prevailed over the economic and immoral justifications for its existence. That political will was created by abolitionists and journalists together with economists, who exposed the economic folly of continuing the practice. Likewise, civil rights for African Americans was won through a combination of prayer and social action by those who knew that changing the legal and economic framework was the only hope of freedom for an oppressed minority. In fact, any significant social change typically required the presence of good people working within the political, economic and educational arenas, taking action to make that change. Of course they were covered with prayer, but no amount of praying would have been a substitute for their actions. The Bible says ‘the love of money is the root of all evil’. I don’t believe this is a reference to personal evil as much as it is a diagnosis of social evil. It implies that a set of economic incentives typically underlies systemic and structural forms of evil in society. This was certainly the case for slavery and segregation. It is likewise the story

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behind organised crime, political and corporate corruption, civil and regional wars, global poverty, inequality and injustice of all sorts. Ultimately someone is profiting from the status quo, and seeks to maintain it at all costs. God’s plan for dismantling systemic evil always starts with the strategic positioning of a believer inside the system. This was true of many of our faith heroes, including Joseph, Moses, Esther, Nehemiah and Daniel, who each worked for non-believers in high offices of government. From their strategic positions they were able to intervene in a crisis (as did Joseph) or intercept a conspiracy (as did Esther).

‘God is raising up a new breed of believers with uncommon aspirations to key positions of influence’ The principle holds true today that believers can do much more for society from within the system than from the outside. Perhaps this explains the current wave of the Holy Spirit calling everyday believers to serve God through their careers, professions and vocations in the marketplace as agents of change. The ‘call to the marketplace’ represents a world view in which the arena of commerce and trade is at the root of global grief and suffering. It emphasises the fact that the Marketplace is the last stronghold for the Church, and that a new breed of believers has been called to reclaim and redeem this space as part of a divine intervention to change the course of nations. Systemic change is always an inside job, and never the result of pressure from the outside.

It requires the presence of skillful and enlightened individuals working from the inside to affect change. The good news is that the workplace gives millions of believers access to strategic positions in the marketplace, ie. through our collective careers, we are fully present within the mechanisms that matter, and are now waking up to the purpose of our positions. The Bible gives us working models and examples of how to transform a society. In every case, a believer is miraculously promoted and strategically positioned within the system as a professional providing a seemingly unrelated service. That believer then becomes God’s special agent, advancing His interests from the inside. Each of the afore-mentioned faith heroes worked for non-believers in high offices of government and, at the appointed time, they made unreasonable requests, which were not denied. They successfully changed laws, cultures, kingdoms and national outcomes from their strategic positions in the marketplace. Our conviction is that God is raising up a new breed of believers with uncommon aspirations (big career goals) to key positions of influence and as key players within the arenas of social authority. They constitute a Joseph generation, an Esther company, a Nehemiah movement or a Daniel tribe. Perhaps you are one of those who have been called to the marketplace?

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50 MENTORING

KNIFE CRIME

Can joint action result in change? At the time of writing this article, there have been over 63 deaths in London. Numbers rise significantly if incidents outside of London in remote and unexpected locations like Bath are considered. The simple fact is that the number of knife crimes has reached such epidemic proportions in our society that without faith it is almost impossible to imagine the situation being reversed.

REV DAVID SHOSANYA

is a Regional Minister & Director with the London Baptist Association

t has been suggested that London could learn from the work undertaken by authorities in Glasgow, where the reversal of the upward trend in knife crime has been nothing short of incredible. Surely, there are lessons to learn, but there are also distinctives - not least the racial politics that inform knife crime in London - that need to be considered. I have personally attended three strategic meetings about knife crime in London - one of which I hosted at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton. The appetite to find a resolution to the challenge of youth violence is high, and the disposition towards collaboratively identifying that solution is greater than I have known during my years of serving in London. That appetite is equally intense outside of the Church, with strategic players in Black civil society intentionally connecting with church leaders to explore how joint action can result in change. I’m optimistic but not naive. The power dynamics and politics that exist within and between both the Church and Black civil society readily mirror those to be found within the very gangs we are seeking to reach, and potentially have the capacity to undermine any effort to work collaboratively or to indeed extend our positive influences into the spaces that gangs occupy within our communities. Finding solutions will not be easy; expectations will need to be managed, but intentional, practical and coordinated action needs to follow as a matter of urgency, and before the situation gets worse than it already is. There are no easy answers. However, we must remain optimistic and look for clues for a solution within ourselves, our communities, the

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wider society and, particularly, the source book of our faith, the Bible. So where might we start? A good place might be the life of Moses: his call to be a liberator, and the Exodus account of the accidental murder of a fellow Hebrew. Allow me to make a few observations in relation to youth violence. Firstly, we must take seriously the impact of structural dynamics of state power, and acknowledge they are equally as important as family environments, personal ethics or choices. The structural violence of austerity, heartless social and hard-hitting economic policy that exposes the poor, weak and marginalised to vulnerabilities of various sorts, plays a role in how those affected by such policies not only view their own lives, but how they perceive others in power as perceiving them. In some cases, the pressures lead to bad decision-making, including criminality.

‘There are no easy answers. However, we must remain optimistic’ Secondly, given the above, it is reasonable to conclude that perpetrators of violence will not recognise the positional or structural authority of any outsiders - especially instruments of the state - they consider to be alien or indifferent to their environment and insensitive to their lived experience. This was Moses’ concern at the point of his call (Exodus 3). His preoccupation with ‘being accepted’ by the Hebrews he had lived apart from - and subsequently deserted, in an attempt to preserve his own life after murdering one of them - left him concerned about his

legitimacy and proximity, how credible he was, and what his social location and political position had been in relation to their oppression. The problem of ‘outsider-imposed solutions’ still remains, and almost always leads to assertions and impositions that ‘insiders’ do not recognise and consider to be illegitimate, and therefore respond to unfavourably. Therefore, identifying and empowering individuals, who have either had a history of ‘being a Hebrew under Egyptian oppression’ or standing in solidarity with the opposed, is fundamental to success. Lastly, Hebrews will never leave Egypt without a vision of something better. In other words, not only must a vision be cast for a better state of personal and societal existence, but those presently involved in the politics of power, on both sides, that separates and polarises communities within society must be invited to reimagine a future that is different, and commit to work towards it. This may sound idealistic - and to some extent it is. Jesus reminded some disciples that, despite whatever poverty-alleviation initiatives are created, “the poor will always be with you.” However, He did not say that the number of the poor and the severity of their poverty would not be reduced or alleviated! His statement was both an attempt to deal with reality, but also to offer a hope for a better future possibility. It presents a model for our thinking about youth violence, and how we go about seeking to make a change. We face reality, but we also have hope that things can and will be different. We must paint a vision of the Promised Land that appeals to all in society. Rev David Shosanya is founder of The State of Black Britain Symposium; founder and director of the Minister’s Appreciation Ball, and member of the Advisory Council Trans-Atlantic Roundtable on Race and Religion.

MENTORING 51

No bars on hope “Everyone make mistakes... I was desperate… but paid the price. I now have a real chance to get my life together. This has made it possible to start again.” The young man, 24-year-old father of a young child, was speaking about time spent behind bars and a new type of prison education programme. It was his first time in prison. The conversation continued from comments that were made at the end of a learning session - his warm and friendly tone a contrast to the austere imposing walls surrounding the exercise yard we walked through on the walk back to the prison wing. Anthony (not his true name) spoke at length of huge regrets about decisions at a younger age, but how the course was helping him focus on what was important for a better future. An obviously intelligent young man, who attended church as often as he could, described how he found himself struggling to make ends meet, but then getting involved in “things on road” that led to him getting in over his head. Now he wasn’t only looking forward to seeing his family but starting a life. With few formal qualifications, starting a new business was an important part of his plans.

Anthony’s story is found against a backdrop of wider prison and probation reform. Reported widespread use of drugs, deaths in prison, and increasing pressure on already stretched resources, helping individuals to better re-enter and re-settle after release from custody takes on greater importance. A new through-the-gate approach aims at achieving this. Anthony was included in a flagship initiative permitting prison governors for the first time to opt out of national contracts, and directly control their budgets. The Ministry of Justice pilot scheme allowed them to form partnerships, so as to create a diversity of provision in finding innovative ways for enhancing outcomes for prisoner rehabilitation and wellbeing. As a result, community-based social enterprise can now provide a wider range of educational support. A social enterprise called

Principles In Finance that, for the past 10 years, has worked with ex-offenders, using television’s ‘Dragons’ Den’ format in a programme that helps transform former criminal talents into legitimate business start-ups and enterprises. The community now for the first time has unprecedented opportunity for helping prisoners rehabilitate and turn their lives around. Research carried out by the University of East London showed the approach as giving effective support that isn’t available under the previous regime. It was particularly helpful to young Black males from deprived backgrounds with a poor view and previous negative experience of formal education. Helping to improve a combination of practical skills, knowledge and problemsolving, it provided learners with self-confidence and a new positive attitude that many of them saw as important to keeping away from crime after release.

‘The community now for the first time has unprecedented opportunity for helping prisoners rehabilitate and turn their lives around.’ Speaking extensively with prisoners, and directly observing their teaching, allowed lead researcher Ian Joseph to observe that: ‘the study clearly showed that recognising life events before imprisonment and those after release allowed a “communitybased approach” to use education in prison to link into a change process, in which new business and enterprise skills will directly support prisoner resettlement and efforts to desist from crime.’ There are plans for findings from the initial pilot to form part of a larger study covering four prisons, and is due to start later this year.

Dr Ian Joseph is a lecturer at the University of East London (UEL). He maintains an active interest in examining policy impact through service effectiveness, by linking his ongoing community-based research and teaching part-time both sociology and social policy plus applied criminology.

INSTITUTE OF WELLBEING Improving Wellbeing and Inclusion in Early Years is an exciting eLearning City & Guilds accredited programme for those who work with children under the age of five and is developed by the Institute of Wellbeing - who are experts in the field of family wellbeing. It provides essential building blocks to better understand inclusive practice when supporting child wellbeing and social mobility outcomes; particularly, but not exclusively, for supporting children and their families who are disadvantaged in some way - which is key to ensuring that children make successful and unlimited progress throughout their lives, whatever their family background.

Background: ‘Those working in the early years are in a really good position to develop the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and their families,’ says Dr. Mike Kelly, Chief Executive of the Institute of Wellbeing. ‘They get to know children at a crucial point in their development, and they are usually well trusted by parents. This resource gives practitioners the information and tools they need to access and help those families who do not tend to take up mainstream services.’ He continues: ‘Wellbeing is climbing both political and educational agendas as the evidence to support the benefits of promoting wellbeing in children and their families grows. Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework Key Judgements recognises the link between child wellbeing and attainment outcomes from schools and early years settings.’ There is a clear link between levels of wellbeing, inequality and social mobility. Early Intervention is about creating an ‘equal and level playing field for a positive society’ and addresses inter-generational cycles of deprivation, exclusion and roots causes of social problems before symptoms arise, he adds. The emerging evidence is clear; investing in wellbeing to improve life outcomes works! Early Intervention directly increases individual’s or communities wellbeing and that increase in personal wellbeing can help deliver cross cutting positive outcomes across other priority needs.

Who’s it for? This eLearning programme is for Early Years Practitioners and Providers seeking continuous professional development; including, Primary and Nursery Teachers / Assistants, Child-minders, Play-workers and Childcare Managers. It is also recommended for those operating in voluntary, state-run, independent or faith settings, such as: Sunday School and Saturday School Teachers.

What’s involved? This eight-module programme and refresher course covers: • Developing an understanding on what wellbeing and inclusion is, its impact and why early years professionals need to understand it; • Looking at practitioners’ own wellbeing and how it affects their practice; • Tips on the role of Practitioners’ in supporting parents’ and children’s wellbeing; • Exercises to helping parents to create a high quality home learning environment; • Improving the inclusion and wellbeing of children and families with special educational needs and disability (SEND); • Reaching out into the diverse community with ideas to support signposting and to encourage take up of free early entitlements amongst eligible parents, and in particular amongst ethnic minority parents and unemployed parents; • Points count towards your continuing professional development.

We work nationally with practitioners to give young people aged 0-19 the early help they need, with a focus on family wellbeing, and in particular on equipping families with the life skills they need to achieve positive emotional and mental wellbeing and resilience.

For more information and to register – visit: www.TIOW.org Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

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54 MENTORING

STOP THE HURTING TO START THE HEALING ESTHER KUKU

is a Registered Public Health Nutritionist. Love God, love life, love people Twitter: @mew36

hen I first became a Christian I learnt a familiar adage: ‘Hurt people hurt people’. The Internet doesn’t make teenagers angry and impulsive. Social media can accelerate and manipulate. It can’t create a problem unless it’s there already. It amplifies existing issues. The rise in youth-related crime on our streets is because young people are hurting. The way to tackle the surge in youth violence in metropolitan areas isn’t to look for where to apportion blame; it’s to come up with evidence-based strategies and solutions. It’s about confronting the uncomfortable facts - for example, there are far too many young Black children among the statistics - and then talking to the people who can do something to bring about change. Politicians need to work together. They also need to listen to young people and, in this case, Black men who are leaders or responsible adults. Churches can come up with individual conferences and events, but a coordinated and unified approach - where churches work together - is what will bring an end to our children’s blood being spilled on the streets. In a recent prison reform annual general meeting, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said that Black men and boys are statistically more likely to be the victims and perpetrators of knife crime, making up 21 of the 24 teenagers murdered so far this year. As a mother to two boys, I find that deeply concerning. One in three robbery victims is aged 10 to 19, while 26 per cent of rape victims are in the same age group, along with 16 per cent of sexual offenders.

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

If young people were not hurting, the statistics wouldn’t be so painful. So, how does the healing process begin? There is a role for the Church - as well as other faith communities - in building strong family units and supporting parents. The government needs to ensure investment in decent family housing and recreational activities, so young people have activities they can channel their energy into. As a child I played the violin and the flute, and attended orchestra every Saturday morning. This is where I made friends with similar interests. Our time and thoughts were taken up with a sense of purpose. Children who have a sense of purpose become adults who have a sense of purpose. They have a reason to live and are excited about life. I was raised in a single-parent home, initially in one of the worst council estates in North London. Today, that estate has been demolished. Why did I - or my mother - not become a statistic? There was a sense of purpose that had been birthed within us. When I wasn’t at orchestra,

I was either at Girls Brigade, the Brownies, or singing in the church choir, where weekly rehearsals took up my time from the age of nine. Those activities were vital for my transition to adulthood. The youth workers and church leaders I met in my pre-teen and teenage years taught me to dream, and instilled a sense of destiny in me. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that knife and gun crime has been rising steadily since austerity started to bite. You cannot ignore the impact that millions of pounds of cuts to youth services have had over the last few years. Many of the activities I was involved in as a teenager no longer exist - or are struggling to. Social care, early intervention and housing services have been particularly affected. As in health, so in crime: prevention is better than cure, so we need to reinstate these services. Cutting them has been a false economy that we are now paying a heavy price for. Families are struggling to make ends meet. The result, for some, is a downward spiral into poverty, so young people - young Black boys, in particular - now see drugs-running as a way out. We must unite and work together. I have heard people say that if the victims were middle-class and White, it wouldn’t take so long to see immediate action. The bottom line is they are not middle-class and White, or middle-class and Black, and we don’t need to wait for the government. We must take responsibility ourselves. Churches and wider faith communities know enough. We have huge capacity and resources at our disposal to transform this situation. We have prayed, expressed anger and frustration; now we must activate the revelation that faith without works is dead.

MENTORING 55

Watchman - RAP Mentor RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO REACH ALL PEOPLE A lot has happened in the last couple of years. I am a husband, happily married to Latoya. God did, what I call, a ‘suddenly’. Latoya and I met on 7 November 2016. Actually we never physically met, as she was living in Jamaica at the time and I was living in the UK. However, after six months of FaceTime and talking on the phone for extensive hours every single day, I believed it was now time to take a trip to Jamaica to eventually meet this person who had become my best friend. I’m not going to lie, knowing she had planned to meet me at the airport and that we were going to meet for the first time, I was a little bit nervous, yet excited. It was love at first sight for us both! We got engaged shortly thereafter on 7 May 2017. Unfortunately, I had to fly back to England that same month to attend my mum’s 70th birthday. I’d not been back in England a week, but was already missing my fiancée like crazy. Immediately after my mum’s birthday, I booked a flight back to Jamaica and we got married on 7 July 2017. She is truly a gift from God and treasure from Heaven. The rest, as they say, is history… BE PART OF THE SOLUTION NOT THE POLLUTION As the founder of Reaching All People (RAP) Ltd, previously a Prince’s Trust-established limited company formed in 1996, I am delighted to announce that we are now officially a newly incorporated Community Interest Company (CIC), now known as Reaching All People Trust (RAPT) CIC. RAPT is a Living Wage Employer, as we believe the ethical investment in our staff will be reflected in the communities in which we work. After two decades of working closely with high-risk, complex young people, who have been involved in serious violence, we are proud to have reached this significant milestone in the company’s history. What this new chapter means for us becoming a CIC will be that we now have a formal business entity. This will enable us to seek grant funding, sponsorship and other forms of revenue to help make the valuable community work sustainable. In order to take the project forward to achieve some of our long-term goals and ensure some stability, we needed to formalise what we’ve been doing. There are a number of provisions of new funding streams available to support grass-roots community groups, such as RAPT, and with whom we are now in discussions with. Watch this space! Like a charity, we have a stated mission, known as the ‘community interest statement’, and a clearly defined set of activities. Through high quality, leading edge, client-centred mentoring, using holistic methods and a range of engagement tools, such as Cognitive Behavioural Music Therapy (CBMT), we are able to tap into the minds

of those behind the crime, to establish how those once tiny fingers can become a killer’s hands. As a CIC, there are also restrictions on how we can spend our money. There is an ‘asset lock’ feature that states we must reinvest any revenue we generate in supporting our local community and furthering its mission. Therefore, if you are a local business or other social enterprise, and you are interested in talking to us about sponsorship or other ways to support us, perhaps in the form of a one-off donation, we’d love to hear from you. The increased transparency and scrutiny means we need to be prepared to be challenged on what we do and how we do it. We have to be confident in the decisions we have taken and how we implement them. We have to be sure that we have adequately considered the costs and benefits of what we plan to do, and that we have a solid evidence base to demonstrate why what we’re doing will achieve the expected results. LET’S NOT WAIT UNTIL A CRISIS ARISES BEFORE WE ARISE With fewer bobbies on the beat, police patrolling the streets, due to manpower cuts, Londoners need and deserve safer communities. This is why, in response to the voice of the people and the need for more role models, we propose ‘Road Models’ within our communities. There are many of us, including me of course, who are fed up of seeing the headlines of yet another young person stabbed to death or shot. Unfortunately, crime affects the whole of London, with no part of the capital immune. This is why I am giving a call-out to all who say they want change - and want it NOW - to join me in the fight against crime. I am pleased to announce the launch and recruitment of an elite team of ‘First Responder Mentors’ (FRM), experienced in working with the most hard-to-reach young people, and who are aware of the acute risks of this cohort. They will patrol the streets of London, protecting vulnerable individuals from violence and exploitation by gangs; ensuring they are kept safe; combating knife crime; ridding our communities of violence by being a much-needed visible presence in our neighbourhoods, and bringing a ray of hope in difficult times. We aim to safeguard young people from harm and from making wrong choices. By empowering disadvantaged young people at the fringes of society to get a grip on their lives, and to see themselves not as they are, but as they could be - leaders of tomorrow - we aim to set the enhancement of community quality of life as a goal.

experiences can bring to the mentoring relationship - and which is vital at the transitional stage of life into ‘mature adulthood’ - is priceless. The mentors will receive full induction and training in ‘Mentoring In a Criminal Justice (Youth)’ context, whilst doing their mentoring role. There are general mentoring responsibility roles that include providing one-to-one support, primarily to 15 to 25-year-old males from BAME groups. 50% of these groups will be made up of young people in the community that are at risk, or have come to the attention of the justice system. The other 50% will be made up of those from within the custodial estate. This would include one pre-release mentoring session visit in prison; one meet-at-the-gate session on the day of release, and further mentoring support in the community. Primarily, the mentoring role is to give the young person support in the area of motivation and practical advice. We are now accepting applications, and currently creating a pool of First Responder Mentors. Please contact us via e-mail, sending an expression of interest. It will then be processed and forwarded onto our Assessment Team, who will get in touch.

LET’S USE OUR PAST TO MAKE A PATH First Responder Mentors will be volunteers made up of outstanding individuals within the community, who understand the lived experience of the client group. The unique credibility and insight that someone with a similar set of

For more information, email: rapmentor@me.com Facebook: Watchman & Watchman Ministries

Dr David Anthony Williams, otherwise known as ‘Watchman’, is a Gang Consultancy and Mediation Specialist and MOBO Awards gospel reggae artist.

www.keepthefaith.co.uk

56 MENTORING Pastor Tobi Adegboyega

FUNMI OLUTOYE is a journalist and founder of VIDFEAT

SPAC Nation: A church transforming the lives of young people

SPAC Nation is a vibrant, colourful and high-energy church made up of over 1200 young people aged 16 to 35, who congregate every Sunday for a praise-filled service at the Riverbank Plaza Hotel in central London. SPAC Nation is an unorthodox Bible-believing church,with a core belief system: a relationship with God being the centre of how Christians can prosper as an individual, a church and a society. It is led by senior pastor, Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, who started the church 10 years ago. He is leading what he calls a ‘Daniel-generation’ church of young people, who are sold out for Christ and are willing to follow God’s will for their lives and not their own - a generation of young, uncompromising, non-conformists Christians. Their Sunday services are filled with all the colour, sounds and energy you would imagine with a young church. Music plays a big part in their ministry. There is extended praise and worship with their choir, Livingstone Choir, who are often heard singing a harmonious and moving special number. SPAC Nation is also home to ‘Gospel drill’ group, Hope Dealers and rapper Jordy, who perform in many of the services. Community Units The church is not only active on Sundays but also Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

during the week. On Mondays and Tuesdays, there are 15 hubs all over London called Community Units (Cus), where young people come together to worship, pray, utilise their talents, learn new skills, and discuss what they’ve read in the Bible.

other gifts of the Spirit. The church believes that communicating with God through prayer is one of the key components to grow spiritually as a Christian.

The five pillars of SPAC Nation are: the Word, prayer, holiness, evangelism and giving.

Holiness In a world where sin is easy to commit, particularly for young people, SPAC Nation is a beacon of light in the area of holiness. The young people are taught not only to stay away from sin but to hate it. There is a firm belief amongst members of the congregation that sin drains away the power we have as Christians to operate in the way God wants us to. They recognise that their bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit and members of Christ’s body, and as such vessels, they’ll do well not to be involved in sin.

The Word The Word of God in the Bible is the number one foundation of everything that happens in SPAC Nation. As led by the Holy Spirit, the church often holds conferences and services where the focus is solely on the Word. Many of the teachings of Pastor Tobi are uploaded onto the audio website Soundcloud, where most of the congregation can listen again to scores of messages from years past until the present day.

Evangelism Evangelism is a key part of what makes up the SPAC Nation culture, and the reason it has grown from just 300 people in 2016 to over 1200 in 2018. The church does this through traditional methods like street evangelism, which happens in various locations in London every Saturday afternoon with a dedicated outreach team, and also through social media with numerous posts, pictures and videos of the latest happenings in the church.

Prayer SPAC Nation believes in the power of prayer. The church believes in praying in tongues. Many of the young people have this gift among several

Giving SPAC Nation prides itself especially in its giving. So much so, that often CUs try to outdo one another on how much they can give each month.

Monday CUs: Islington, Croydon, C25 (South Norwood), Lewisham, New Southwark (Camberwell), Woolwich, Peckham, Bermondsey, Enfield Tuesday CUs: Eastside (Shoreditch), Tulse Hill, Hackney, Surrey Quays, Brixton, Essex Rise (Dagenham) Friday CUs: City of London (Moorgate)

MENTORING 57

On Easter Sunday, hundreds of young people gathered together to give hundreds of thousands pounds - much of which will go to other smaller churches, widows and many others who are less fortunate and who depend on the church’s help. The way SPAC Nation gives is also very different to traditional churches; they only give their tithes and offerings once a month on a particular ‘Giving Sunday’, instead of at every service. Mentorship & Leadership In house, there are property developers, city traders, doctors, lawyers, engineers, entrepreneurs and more. However, in the last 12 months, SPAC Nation has garnered much media attention for the work they do in impoverished local communities. The church believes that mentorship and leadership are key components to the advancement of an individual. There are countless young men and women in our church, who have left behind lives that are beyond imagination and description – such as gang life, violence, abuse, drugs, alcohol – and are now men and women of strong Christian faith, prospering careers and successful businesses. All because of the winning combination of their faith and mentorship. Media platforms, like BBC Two’s Victoria Derbyshire programme, have taken a keen interest. They did a news feature on the church called ‘From Gangs to God’, which showed the rehabilitation work that SPAC Nation does with former gang members.

“I love going to the Park and the beach” “I love watching Peppa Pig” “I like playing with my friends”

Kurtis Pykes, 21, is a young man who was brought up amongst the wrong crowd, but is now a city trader who teaches other young people to trade and be financially independent. Kurtis said: “SPAC Nation has transformed my life. I know our presence in London and in this country can bring a positive change, because that’s exactly what it has done in my life. I’m no longer involved in questionable activities; I’d much rather focus on my faith.” The church often gives out grants to not only members of the congregation but many others outside the church, who wish to start a business or further their education. Kevin Yfeko, 27, was a gang leader from east London, who had been in and out of jail seven times. Upon his final release, he was introduced to SPAC Nation, and given a grant by the church to start a chauffeur business. Now, not only is his business growing, but so also is his spiritual life since being ordained as a pastor and becoming leader of the Eastside community unit. As the church grows, every week it sees at least 100 young people come to the altar to give their lives to Christ. The church has almost 200 ordained pastors, ministers and evangelists equipped and ready to lead these precious souls to Jesus and receive salvation. Often at these altar calls, people are invited to drop anything they have from their old life that they no longer want to carry into their new life. Objects such as knives, drugs and designer handbags obtained

illegally are just some of the items left on the altar. SPAC Nation is a new generation church, leading the wave of a revival of the Christian faith in the UK. With its roots firmly in the Word of God and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading, this church is set to go from strength to strength but, most of all, be a spiritual home of relevance for the youth in an increasingly secular society.

“I love drawing, arts and crafts” “I enjoy going to school” “I like being outside and playing”

N and P - Jul 2011 and Jan 2014 - Black British Looking for an adoptive family together P is a kind and gentle little girl who plays well with her peers. P is a happy and confident little girl who is described by her foster carer’s as having an infectious little giggle. N is a delightful little girl who is well behaved, kind and gentle. N plays well with her peers at school and also within placement. N is a polite little girl who always says thank you. N and P need adequate role models and support where they can grow, develop and flourish.

If you are interested in knowing more about us, please contact Lauren Chittock Email: laurenchittock@southend.gov.uk Tel: 01702 215372 or 07827982158 www.keepthefaith.co.uk

58 MENTORING

Pray4Youth UK launches two new initiatives BY F U N M I OMIDEYI

J Pastor Junior Spence, founder of Pray4Youth UK, announces launch of street teams and prayer networks across London

unior Spence is the Pastor of Faith City Church in Hackney, and serves as Borough Dean representing and coordinating the Black churches for Hackney’s Faith Forum. He is a passionate youth outreach worker with over 20 years of experience working with young people from gangs and violent backgrounds, as well as prison inmates, ex-offenders and young people in care. He runs various projects in Hackney and in various boroughs, providing education and support through mentoring, key work, outreach, music and media courses. He passionately and dedicatedly leads Faith City Church in several community initiatives, including iCare Homeless Outreach, which provides hot meals and clothing to the homeless and services geared towards empowering and supporting young men. Pray4Youth UK is an inter-denominational Christian prayer initiative, leading a coordinated Church response to the increase in knife and violent crime amongst young people in London, and was founded in 2016 by Pastor Junior Spence. Pray4Youth UK comprises of three initiatives: Pray4Youth Events, and two new initiatives, Pray4Youth Network and Pray4Youth Street Team. He said: “The launch of these initiatives will go further to ensure that strategic, constant prayer for our young people is ingrained within each London borough through the Church, and that the Church has a visible and constant presence on the streets that young people can access for prayer, support and a listening ear.” He continued: “I know and believe wholeheartedly that prayer works, and is the key to real and lasting transformation in our young people, families and communities as a whole.” Pray4Youth Network launched in 2018 to establish a fixed Pray4Youth presence in boroughs across London. A network of committed intercessors, made up of churches and individuals within each borough, will lead quarterly strategic prayer meetings within their boroughs to pray for the transformation of young people. Pray4Youth Events organises prayer events in some of London’s most violent boroughs, including: Waltham Forest, Hackney, Lambeth, Brent and Haringey. Organised by Faith City Church, the events have received widespread support from church leaders of various

denominations, local politicians, community leaders, project workers, members of the Metropolitan Police and diverse groups from the local community. Additionally, they have created a space for churches, individuals, former youth offenders and victims’ families to meet, share their experiences and unite in prayer. Pray4Youth Street Team also launched in 2018 to provide a visible church presence in some of London’s most violent and troubled hotspots. Specially trained individuals, driven with a sense of purpose and passion for change, will go into neighbourhoods, estates and high streets to engage with young people, providing prayer and outreach. In March 2018, Pray4Youth UK brought its highly regarded inter-church prayer event to Haringey, North London. Churches from Tottenham, Wood Green and neighbouring Edmonton came together with community leaders and members of the public at the Liberty Church in Turnpike Lane. The church was full to capacity with approximately 500 people in attendance. The objective of the event was simple: collective prayer and intercession for the saving and transformation of young people engaged in gangs and violent criminal activities. Prayers were strategic, informed and passionate, interwoven with spirit-filled worship and insightful, thought-provoking talks given by youth workers, project leaders and a mother whose son was recently stabbed. Former gang members gave candid, eye-opening accounts of their violent criminal pasts, the contributing factors that led them into gang lifestyles, and their journey to transformation. They spoke of the toxic combination of fear and anger that fuels violence in young people, and urged those present to approach and engage with young people rather than ‘crossing to the other side’ to avoid them. Powerful exhortations by church leaders reminded the Church of her importance in rebuilding lives and, through prayer, love and proactivity, bringing transformation to a community gripped by fear and hopelessness. Many who attended the prayer event in Haringey immediately took to social media to share the “life-changing impact” it had on them, with one sceptic reporting that he was now “convinced that the Church is the solution” to the violent epidemic on our streets. Faith City Church services are held every Sunday at 11.30am at The Bridge Academy, Laburnum Street, Hackney, E2 8BA.

To find out more about Pastor Junior Spence and the Pray4Youth initiatives, visit www.faithcity.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/faithcity.church.5 Twitter: @FaithCityLondon

Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

MENTORING 59

10 TOP PARENTING PAUL TIPS BY LAWRENCE

et’s face it, there is no magic bullet to stopping the violence on the streets. There is no single programme or organisation capable of reversing the current state of affairs in the short term, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying and trying to fleece you of your money or your time. And in some cases both. It is my considered opinion that the long-term solution relies on the actions of the next generation of parents. I’m talking about the people who either have children under five, or are yet to have children. Ever since writing my first book, 101 Lessons I Taught My Son, I’ve been inundated with requests from parents for parenting tips. So, in light of recent events, here are my top 10 tips to ensure your child doesn’t make it onto London’s most wanted list. But, before I go into my list, here’s what qualifies me to make such a list - and why you should listen. Firstly, and most importantly, I have a 23-year-old son. Born and raised in Lewisham. For the majority of his youth, he lived with his mother only. He has never been in trouble with the police - not even once. He doesn’t carry a knife and never has. He doesn’t smoke and never has. He loves music that I don’t understand, and hangs out all hours of the night with his mates - just like millions of others do. He’s been making his way home from school by himself since Year 7. In other words, he’s just a normal boy.

10 TIPS FOR PARENTS 1. Think long and hard about who you are creating that child with This might be the difference between raising your child alone, and having decent support. Remember, even having hubby under the same roof does not mean you’ll have help raising your kids. Mothers, what example of womanhood are you giving to your daughters, and fathers, what tone of manhood are you setting for your sons? Remember, present or absent parents are the first role model for their children. 2. Your child is your responsibility - not the government’s, not their school’s and not their grandparents’ You had them, so they are your responsibility. You are responsible for everything about them: who their friends are; what they eat; what they learn; how they dress, and how they behave. Controlling these things is the job you signed up for the moment you both decided to set certain wheels in motion. So stop making excuses, make some rules - and stick to them. 3. Be consistent from day one Children are incredible creatures; they can adapt to almost any environment. As their parent, you get to decide what that environment will look like and, trust me, this has nothing to do with income. Rich or poor, if you set the right tone from day one, and hold fast throughout their childhood, very little will go wrong. 4. Be fair and explain your actions Get into the habit of explaining things to your children. “Do it because I say so” is not good parenting, and you’ll find they’ll only do it when you are around. If you explain, they’ll learn how to self-parent when you’re not around, and even parent other children. 5. Get help Over and over you’ve heard the phrase: ‘There is no parenting manual’. That’s entirely true. But what is also true is that other people have experiences which can help you. Associate yourself with people who have the type of parenting style you think creates great people. Join a community mentoring scheme and share best practice. If you are not careful, your children will outnumber you, so start your own ‘ gang’ and redress that balance.

6. Bedtime In line with Tip 3, start the bedtime thing early and be consistent. No child under 14 needs to be out of their bed after 8pm. None. All school-aged children should be fast asleep by 10pm UNLESS they are studying for an exam, and even then, only because they cannot find a good place to study after school. So bedtime by 9pm during exam time. That said, no child of school age should be out of the house after 7pm, unless they are coming from a sanctioned after-school activity. As a parent, if this means shutting your house down to set the right example, then do so. 7. Eat together This is a hard one, but the ROI is fantastic if you can pull it off. Daily mealtimes together may be unrealistic, but make it a thing on weekends. Dinnertime is a great time to catch up and give everyone - no matter their age - a chance to speak about their day. Oh, push the boat out and get a dining table. Sell a couple of the games consoles if you need to. 8. Recognise threat Don’t walk around with your head in the clouds. If your gut doesn’t trust Billy’s new friend, terminate that relationship. If Billy’s behaviour suddenly changes, it’s time for an unscheduled room search. Question everything and trust nothing. 9. Set the example From day one your child is watching you. What you do and what you do not do. Children always react to what they see. For some, the reaction could be to do the opposite, and for others, it could be to model the behaviour. Be very careful with this one, because it also extends to the adults you bring into their surroundings. 10. Check yourself Now and then take a break and check yourself. Ask what are you doing to improve your community. Ask yourself that age-old question: “Am I a part of the solution or the problem?” Building the type of community you want your child to grow up in is an essential part of parenting. After all, ‘it takes a village…’

Those are my top 10 tips. To get a copy of my book, 101 Lessons I Taught My Son, visit www.101lessons.co.uk and order your copy.

60 LIFESTYLE

FATHER, BEHOLD THY DAUGHTER How fathers can raise godly, self-confident girls

GRACE GLADYS FAMORIYO www.gladysf.com

or years, we have heard about the impact of absent fathers (or father figures) on boys. But I believe girls need their Daddies just as much. Why is this important? The presence of a father helps a girl build healthy self-esteem and identity and become self-assured. A girl, loved, honoured and celebrated by her father, is afforded a greater chance of living a godly, effective life. She is also able to relate to others, including God and other men, healthily. When things go wrong When a father is physically, financially or emotionally absent, studies have indicated that it can severely impact a girl’s physical, psychological, spiritual development and her transition into adulthood. Girls with absent fathers may fall prey to teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, prostitution and substance abuse, etc. Their achievement levels at school may be stunted. Later on, they may struggle with relationships (including relationships with men) and the desire to fill the gap makes girls, young ladies and women vulnerable to being preyed upon by others. Of course, many other factors can affect a girl’s formative years, such as rape (Tamar), rejection (Leah) and abuse, but I want to keep the focus on the pivotal role fathers play in safeguarding the future of their daughters. Myths girls wished fathers would ditch Below are just a few examples of myths I have come across, which do far more damage than fathers will ever know. • “Girls are a burden. It’s so much easier with boys.” • “Raising of girls is solely the mother’s responsibility.” • “I don’t need to hug my daughter, tell her I love/ value her or show interest in her. After all, I feed her, clothe her and put a roof over her head.” • “Hanging out with my daughter and spending time with her is not a manly thing to do.” • “Girls are not as precious/important as boys.” You might think, ‘Surely no one thinks like that’, but after 21 years of coaching and mentoring

women, I hear stories and see the negative impact it has on their adult life. Furthermore, as a magistrate sitting in both the adult and family courts, you hear echoes of a past with ‘Daddy’ not playing his role. This article is not meant to vilify anyone, however. My primary goal is to raise awareness and nudge all of us raising girls (including women) to up our game, by modifying our attitudes and behaviours. What girls want from their Dads Firstly, I want to salute all the godly fathers out there. Thank you for your efforts in raising godly, self-assured girls. Secondly, if you feel you need to make changes or there is room for improvement (as a result of reading this article), here is my list of what girls want from their Dads. Feel free to modify as necessary. • Make her feel special: This doesn’t have to cost much (if anything). Discover her love language (we all have at least one) and treat her accordingly. If she is too young to articulate this, watch and learn. It will soon become obvious. • Spend quality time with her: Carve out time to give her your undivided, uninterrupted attention. Let her know she is important, by focusing on her, without trying to multitask (e.g. checking your phone, etc.). This sends a strong, clear message. Do an activity together, like cycling or swimming; take a trip to the park or museum; watch her favourite movie, etc. Perhaps introduce a Father & Daughter Day to cement this. • Pray and study God’s Word with her: Read the Bible (or Bible stories) together. Memorise Scripture together. Worship and pray together. • Stand up for her: Please don’t do what King David did to Tamar, when her stepbrother, Amnon, raped her (2 Samuel 13). We never hear of King David taking action; we only hear of Absalom’s revenge. • Listen and talk to her: Find out what is going on in her world, no matter how young she is. (Young girls experience life challenges too!) What are her concerns? Exams? Bullying? Her appearance? Friends? Boys? Listen and offer godly, fatherly advice. By doing this, you teach her to open up to you

and, ultimately, to God as well. Oh, and pray with her (and for her) on the matter, and follow up by asking questions. • Take an active interest in whatever interests her: Regardless of how silly or time-wasting it may appear to you, note that it is important to her. It could be a sport, practising a musical instrument, rehearsing a part or routine, a hobby or playing with her dolls. • Celebrate her highs and be there for the lows: Don’t assume she knows you are proud of her. Tell her! As for the lows, uplift her through the Scriptures. Hugs are also nice. Have you noticed that women have similar needs too? Trust me, figuring out girls (and women) isn’t rocket science! In closing I encourage all fathers to reassess your relationship with your girls. Is there room for improvement? If so, take action - even baby steps. Trust me when I say it makes all the difference. As for fathers-to-be, now is the time to plan ahead. Let’s all play our part in raising self-assured, godly women of tomorrow, rather than allowing them to grow up wounded and hurt with emotional baggage in tow, because Daddy failed to step up.

Written by Grace Gladys Famoriyo – Speaker and Author of books, including: Overcoming Emotional Baggage; Quit Hiding, Start Living!; Bounce Back! and Healing A Discouraged Heart. www.gladysf.com

LIFESTYLE 61

THE VALUE OF WORSHIP by Anita Bruce-Mills

s a child, I enjoyed singing in church about as much as I enjoyed learning long division in school. I loathed it. Shyness was partially the reason for this. The other reason was because I would have cherished a Sunday morning lie-in. Our church wasn’t within walking distance from our home; it was a forty-minute drive and there were five of us who needed to each use the bathroom, get dressed up and eat a substantial breakfast before leaving the house. Reaching a pew before the opening prayer was like a weekly Olympic sporting event. Anglican church services only last an hour, so it is vital to be punctual. Attending church on Sunday mornings as a family was of paramount importance to my parents. They particularly enjoyed the praise and worship segment of the service. My dad would catch me sitting quietly from the corner of his eye, and hiss at me to get up and join in. Obedience was always in my nature, and so I would reluctantly ascend from our pew and mumble through ‘Be Thou my vision’, ‘To God be the glory’ and other classics that were projected on the screen. I never properly understood the importance of worship. As I got older, friends invited me to their churches, and I would see great passion in members of the congregation when they sang to the Lord. Some literally cried out to God - on their knees, with tears streaming down their faces - and I couldn’t fathom why. Others would be jumping for joy. It was like they had completely forgotten themselves. I had yet to find the Lord for myself, and so up until then my worship was strained. Worship is accrediting worth to something or someone. It is a heartfelt expression of adoration, wonder and fascination. It is also an expression of gratitude towards God. When He has pulled you through trials, you simply cannot sit still. Those who worship hard usually have monumental testimonies. Since growing in my faith, I not only worship God in song. I also

worship Him by devoting time every day to express my gratitude through prayer. We humans are designed to worship. It is not taxing for us at all if you think about it. Everybody worships someone or something. Wealth, celebrities, friends and spouses can all take precedence in our lives. I was raised in a Christian household; however, for most of my adolescent years, I failed to put God at the centre of my life. Fashion and beauty were what occupied my mind, and I relied on the prayers of my parents to keep God within my orbit. Why do we worship Him? We worship not just because of who God is, but because of what He has done: sacrificing His Son, so that we may have eternal life and not perish. By uttering songs to Him we also come into God’s presence, which in turn shapes us into His likeness. There are many verses in the Bible that touch on worship. King David outlines reasons for why we must worship in Psalm 146:6-10. Psalm 150:6 states that everything that is capable of breath must praise the Lord. A verse I like to meditate over is Habakkuk 3:17-18, which reads: ‘Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.’ There are periods in life where we do not flourish, and it can be quite challenging to rejoice in the midst of these moments. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of feeling like God has forsaken us. The Gospel in song has been a great healing tool for me in the past, and continues to lift my spirit. For me, it literally magnifies the Lord and takes my eyes off the busyness and hardships of life. Psalm 42:11 says: ‘Why, my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.’ Worship plays an essential role in rekindling our spiritual fire and keeping it ablaze. It affirms the Word of God over our lives - and words hold great power. www.keepthefaith.co.uk

62 LIFESTYLE

Being kind is good, but neighbours can’t give social care DIONNE GRAVESANDE

Global Ecumenical Relations at Christian Aid

LOUISE MORSE

Media and communications manager for the Pilgrims’ Friend Society

“Ethnic minorities are better at ‘social care’, and we should learn from them,” said Jackie Doyle-Price, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mental Health and Inequalities). She was echoed by Dr Phillip Lee, a GP who is also the justice minister. He told Age UK that British society has become “atomised”, “selfish”, and “quite sick”. (Read more at http://www. telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/05/britainhas-become-sick-society-has-outsourcedduties-old-tory/) They both believe that families and neighbours should do more to help their elderly – and that ethnic communities are an example of how it should be done. A report by Age UK says that depression is a huge problem amongst the over 55s, because of a number of issues, including loneliness. The report said that ‘talking therapies’ helped a good deal. Of course they would; we all need someone to talk to. And this is where being a kind neighbour can make the world of difference. It’s true that we see fewer elderly from ethnic communities in care homes. But the reason could be due to families in ethnic communities tending to be larger, so care doesn’t depend on a solitary single carer, who is often isolated and desperate for help. A report by Carers UK found that almost a third of long-term carers have not had a day off in five years. Recently I attended the Wesleyan Ladies UK retreat, with around 60 or so ladies, including Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag

a handful who were in their 80s and 90s. The blessing for me was to see not just the respect, but also the depth of affection for the older ladies. It felt so right, so normal, so ‘as it should be’. There seems to be a depth of warmth in ethnic communities that we seem to have lost in the UK, even here in Wales. So what’s gone wrong with the rest of us – and how can we put it right? The care minister thinks that solving the social care crisis would require “a culture shift for every individual”. And the justice minister, Dr Lee, says we all need to step up. Sounds morally right, doesn’t it? But if you listen closely, rather than hearing a real concern for the elderly, you’ll detect the sound of the proverbial brush sweeping the real issues under the carpet, hiding the real nature of ‘social care’.

‘All over the country I encounter churches that are reaching the elderly and lonely, by bringing them into church events, and befriending them in their own homes.’ Being a good neighbour is not the same as providing social care. It’s more than keeping in touch and helping with shopping and building kind relationships. Social care is more than befriending. Social care involves helping with the daily acts of living a frail, older person can no longer do – like getting someone out of bed in the

morning, helping them to shower and get dressed, and taking them to the toilet. It often calls for heavy lifting and hoists, something neighbours are not trained to do. And neither are family members. The needs of older people in communities aren’t being overlooked by Christians. All over the country I encounter churches that are reaching the elderly and lonely, by bringing them into church events, and befriending them in their own homes. Also being swept under the carpet is the fact that residential care homes are often best for a frail, older person, especially for those with dementia. But care homes are closing all over the country, because of lack of funding. Which?, the consumer group, published research showing that over a quarter of people looking for a place will be unable to find one. It costs a lot to train staff and pay them a good wage. Jackie Doyle-Price says older people should be prepared to sell their homes to pay for their care. She doesn’t think it’s “fair for the next generation of taxpayers to pay for this generation’s long-term needs.” But isn’t that just what this older generation did all their working lives? When he took over the presidency of Public Health Institute a few years ago, Professor John Ashton said today’s older generation had been betrayed. So yes, we do all need to be better neighbours. But we expect ‘experts’ to see the difference between being a good neighbour and being social carers.

Pilgrims’ Friend Society is a 210-year-old Christian charity supporting older people. Louise is a cognitive behavioural therapist, and author of several books on issues of old age, including dementia.

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64 LIFESTYLE

Help! I have diabetes MODUPE PETERS

Bsc (Hons) PG Cert RD, is a diabetes specialist/freelance dietitian with over 15 years’ experience.

iabetes is a metabolic disorder, which reduces the ability of the body to control the amount of glucose in the blood. According to Public Health England (PHE), 3.8m people are estimated to have diabetes in the UK, and about 1 million have the condition but have not been diagnosed. People of Black AfricanCaribbean descent have a greater risk of developing diabetes compared to the Caucasian population. People with diabetes can live long and fulfilling lives if the condition is well managed. Uncontrolled diabetes, however, can lead to devastating and costly complications, such as: retinopathy (blindness), kidney disease, amputations, stroke and heart attack.

There are two common types of diabetes: Type 1 affects around 10% of the diabetes population in the UK, and develops when the pancreas cannot make any insulin - the hormone that moves glucose from our body to the body cells where it’s used for energy. Insulin usually occurs in younger people (under 40) but can develop at any age. Type 2 affects approximately 90% of the diabetes population. Obesity is the most significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, accounting for 80-85% of the overall risk of developing the condition(1). People with the following conditions are usually more at risk: • people over 40 years of age (or 25 years or over, if from a Black Ethnic Minority background)

• people who have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes • women with a waistline bigger than 80cm (31.5in) and men with a waistline bigger than 94cm (37in) • women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or have had gestational diabetes • people known to have pre-diabetes Diabetes is the fastest growing health threat of our times, and an urgent public health issue. It is estimated that the NHS spends about £10 billion on diabetes every year - about 10% of its budget(2).

As Christians, we should not become a burden to the NHS. The Bible says we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), we should therefore add value to the nation and not be a drain to the system. Diet is fundamental in the management of diabetes: a healthy balanced diet, coupled with physical activity for type 2, and carbohydrate counting, with physical activity for type 1. A healthy balanced diet is low in fat, high in fibre, and has adequate amounts of carbohydrate foods (slow carbohydrate release options, with low glycaemic index, eg. wholegrains). Careful controlling of carbohydrate portions in the diet will help maintain optimal blood glucose levels. We will focus more on diet in Part 2 of this article. As a registered dietician (RD) working in the specialist area of diabetes for about 15 years,

Part one

it greatly saddens my heart when I come across people from Black African-Caribbean descent with this diagnosis, who are not compliant with their medication due to religious beliefs. In Proverbs 14:15-16, the Bible advises about searching for reliable information, and alludes to the naïve or inexperienced being easily misled. Whilst faith is important, it is very risky to simply heed someone telling you not to take your medication! Although no one actually admits to us plainly in clinic, that they have been told by their pastor/spiritual leader not to take their medication, we do hear comments such as: “I have been told I don’t have diabetes” and “I believe I can fight this” are usual clues. There are also instances where we ask clients if they have been taking their medication as prescribed, and they give a positive response. However, after being tested, there has been no improvement whatsoever in HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin – a blood test which measures long-term diabetes control). Our follow-on discussions usually progress to the client needing insulin injections for better diabetes control, and the response is usually “Please give me 2-3 months and do the blood test again.” Lo and behold, on their return to our clinic at the stipulated time, we notice a dramatic improvement in glycaemic control, due to their compliance to the medication. I always wonder why this should be happening in this day and age. Yes, God heals! However, when you are sick you should also see your doctor – God uses them too - just like you should see your pastor for spiritual healing and growth. We must be wise, and careful about whom we listen to, on issues relating to our health. Let’s add value to the nation and play our part by: eating a healthy balanced diet; taking prescribed medication if applicable, and exercising more, so we can live our lives purposefully. References: 1.

Diabetes UK – State of the Nation (England) 2016

. Public Health England report (2016)

Modupe currently works in the NHS, and is also one of the directors of Food for Purpose (FFP).

LIFESTYLE 65

VANESSA GROSSETT

www.theauthorscare.co.uk

Writing Speculative Christian Fiction

riting this type of fiction had caused a lot of controversy among the Christian writing world. Before I explain why, let me tell you what ‘speculative Christian fiction’ actually is. Think of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, and Obsessed by Ted Dekker. These authors write speculative fiction, which is basically fantasy, thriller and science fiction books. Why did books like these cause controversy among the Christian writing world? Because these books involve some type of magic, witchcraft and murder, and could contain some horror, which some writers say is totally against godly principles. There are other writers, however, who disagree, stating they can still write this type of genre without comprising the Bible. How? you may wonder. By using the Old Testament. If you read the Old Testament, you will read of murders, use of witchcraft and magic. Not to mention angels and other beings. Many speculative Christian fiction writing styles are

taken from the Old Testament mixed with the New - mainly the book of Revelation. It is not all doom and gloom with this type of writing; many publishers are now beginning to accept these manuscripts, and readers are enjoying this type of book. If you are writers who love fantasy, science fiction and thrillers, you can write it in a faith-based way. Believe it or not, many readers can learn a lot from these books. For example, with Frank Peretti, This Present Darkness teaches you a lot about spiritual warfare amongst angels and demons. Be warned, it is not a genre that is easy to write. Before you tackle this genre of writing, you need to do a lot of research as these books are very graphic. It will benefit your writing to thoroughly study books in the Bible that have a lot of allegories, like Daniel and Revelation, and visit places (if you can) that contain a lot of historical elements, like cathedrals. Here is a tip for writing speculative fiction by New York Times bestselling author, Tosca Lee, who is a renowned Christian speculative fiction

writer: “Here is the thing about this genre. It’s so easy to get lost in world-building and research (and don’t let anyone tell you there isn’t any research in speculative fiction), but at some point, it has to stop. Give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Go absolutely crazy crafting your world’s culture, technology, history and language, but stop at the end of allotted time. Setting the stage is very important, but it’s what happens on that stage that counts.” (Source: www.novelrocket.com.) There you have it. It is possible to write speculative fiction and to make it faith-based. Like with all writing, do your research; get beta readers - preferably not friends or family - to read over your work, and pray. Don’t be put off by others’ opinions of you writing this genre; it is becoming more accepted within the publishing industry and amongst readers.

Happy writing. With love, Vanessa.

Tel: 01202 764776 www.the-greenhouse.org

Beautiful coastal location between Poole and Bournemouth. Perfect for holidays, retreats and time with God.

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66 MISSION

REV BETTY KING

‘For the Sake of the World’, pray, Church, pray! God’s call for the Church to unite and pray VICTORIA FAGG

is Prayer Communications Leader, MAF UK

H DR HARVEY KWIYANI

NOEL ROBINSON

JAMES ALADIRAN

ave you ever had an idea highjacked by God? One that takes you out of your comfort zone and away from all you’ve known? Has He ever reshaped your thinking and caused you to pause, to pray, to reimagine; growing braver as you begin to expect that maybe, just maybe, there really is nothing impossible with God? I’m sure you have. This is what happened to me. The world we live in is crying out for a move of God like never before. Throughout the developing world, people are experiencing famine, displacement, war, hunger, sickness and fear. Here in the UK, our towns and cities are experiencing record levels of unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness and fractured families – leading to discouragement, isolation and intolerance. We are living in a time of perpetual hopelessness. We know that, to see change, we need to pray. As Prayer Communications Leader for Mission Aviation Fellowship UK, I understand this need, and it’s my role to facilitate prayer for MAF, our partners and those we serve across the 26 developing countries in which we operate. An MAF prayer conference seemed a reasonable way of doing this. But God had other ideas - and His ways are always higher (Isaiah 55:9). ‘For the Sake of the World’ is God’s idea. He started to speak about the power found in humility, unity and diversity; about the body of Christ crossing cultural barriers and joining together; standing and believing His promises of restoration, healing, redemption and provision. As a global mission movement, MAF facilitates and enables partners to reach people in dangerous, remote and isolated areas. So, the question became: why not partner and connect with friends in the UK too? Rather than an MAF conference, the concept of a mission-focused prayer conference started to evolve, as God began to open one connecting door after another. His direction and strategy gradually unfolded, as it became apparent that the call to pray was for the global Church. God showed me His chosen speakers and worship leaders, and then made it possible for me to connect with them. As we shared the vision, each participant confirmed that they too had been hearing the same thing.

Momentum began to build and with it an expectation that this really was the beginning of something new. Worship leader, Noel Robinson, agrees: “We are loving the vision of MAF, especially as it gathers Kingdom folk from across the nation! It is a significant moment we are living in, and the clarion call is being sounded across the earth. MAF is one of those prophetic calls announcing that God is up to something!” ‘For the Sake of the World’ recognises the broader picture of a hurting world in need of God’s healing. It acknowledges the call and the promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people… will humble themselves and pray... I will heal their land.” We want to respond to that call. Saturday 3 November 2018 will be an opportunity to share the need, equip in intercession, declare God’s purposes, mobilise ongoing prayer, and unite the body of Christ. Partnering with Betty King Ministries, Prayer Storm, Elim Missions, Missio Africanus and Kingdom Worship Movement, we will worship together and learn how to be in the best position to intercede: aligned, covered, effective and expectant. We will hear about the wider missional needs across the globe: specifically looking at planting churches in the global south, reaching the remote and isolated, as well as the challenges of the mission field to those who feel called to the UK. There will be breakout workshops offering the opportunity to delve deeper into specific types of prayer. The evening will be a time of celebration and declaration – calling out the next generation of missionaries, intercessors and financial supporters. Ticket prices are low, making the day accessible to all. Dr Harvey Kwiyani, theology professor and founder of Missio Africanus, says: “God’s mission on earth is always carried through prayer. The coming of God’s Kingdom is made possible by the prayers of God’s people. “As a matter of fact, a great deal of what happens in this world and in our lives depends on prayer, or lack thereof. In enabling prayer by organising this conference, MAF helps us respond to God’s call for such a time as now. Our nation needs prayer, so we’d better respond!” ‘For the Sake of the World’ will be more than a conference. It is more than any one organisation or grouping. It’s about God’s people uniting to see the world radically transformed. 1 Timothy 2:1 urges us, ‘first of all’, to pray for all people. This conference is an invitation to do just that. We begin with prayer… Will you join us from the very beginning? The world will be changed as a result of this day!

A MISSION FOCUSED PRAYER CONFERENCE Bethel Convention Centre, Birmingham

SPEAKERS

Rev Betty King

James Aladiran

Betty King Ministries

Prayer Storm

Paul Hudson Dr Harvey Kwiyani Elim Missions

Missio Africanus

Mike Fagg MAF

WORSHIP LEADERS

Noel Robinson

Helen Yousaf

Rebecca Aladiran

TICKETS £15 / £5 CONCESSION

Doors open 9.45am, event ends 9pm. Breakout workshops with leaders in their field.

Find out more and book tickets now at:

WWW.FORTHESAKEOFTHEWORLD.COM Sponsored by:

In Partnership with: Organised by:

Photographer Alexi Lubomirski via @KensingtonRoyal

Keep The Faith issue 105

Articles inside

The dreams of our mothers

Interview: Dr Neville Lawrence OBE by Shirin Aguair

10 Tips for parents