24 FEATURE
Men we admire There are lots of great men in our community doing great things, positively impacting lives, and inspiring others in the process. Keep The Faith has compiled a list of men that we admire and respect for the work that they do, and who can serve as great role models to others as to what is achievable when an individual puts God first.
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
REV LES ISAAC, OBE In 2003, alongside Rev David Shosanya and PC Ian Crichlow, Rev Les Isaac founded Street Pastors as a response to the gun and knife crime that was plaguing Britain’s urban cities. Rev Isaac now heads Street Pastors, one of the most successful charities to be started by Black Christians here in the UK. Over the years, its remit has broadened, and Street Pastors teams are based in over 250 towns and cities across the UK. And, whilst Street Pastors teams are now more likely to give out flip-flops as opposed to combat gun and knife crime, they are a highly-regarded community service. Aside from running Street Pastors, Rev Isaac also pastors a church in Stockwell; is an in-demand speaker and teacher, and also finds time to mentor young people. The OBE he received last year for his services to the community was well deserved. Visit www.streetpastors.co.uk for more details.
Earlier this year, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu became the first Black South African to win the Templeton Prize – a cash award of £1.1million, which is given to someone who provides new insight into the realm of the spirit. Tutu, formerly the Archbishop of Johannesburg played a major role in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, and helped to focus global attention on the issue. After Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, and became South Africa’s first President to be elected by all its citizens, Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to uncover some of the atrocities that were committed under the apartheid regime. Although Archbishop Tutu retired from public life in 2010, he still travels the world sharing a message of peace, justice, love and courage. Visit www.tutu.org for more details.
BISHOP WILTON POWELL Since 2000, Bishop Wilton Powell has been serving as National Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy, one of Britain’s oldest Black Pentecostal denominations. He is a church leader who is not satisfied with solely providing spiritual leadership; he’s also greatly interested in leading a church that serves the community. Initiatives that have come to fruition with the aid of the COGOP include educational charity, Excell3, which seeks to raise academic achievement amongst Black boys and disadvantaged people groups; the Nehemiah Housing, which provides low-cost housing for the elderly and vulnerable groups, and RAFA, an overseas development agency. Although Bishop Powell experienced a heart attack earlier this year, he is expected to be at the forefront of the COGOP’s 60th anniversary celebrations taking place in July at the Bethel Convention Centre, West Midlands. Visit www.cogop.org.uk for more details.
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