ADDRESSING FATHERLESSNESS BY SUPPORTING FATHERS SERVANT LEADERSHIP: THE POWER OF LEADING THROUGH SERVING THE CHALLENGE OF BEING MALE, MASCULINE AND CHRISTIAN
REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD
KEEP THE FAITH MEN OF INFLUENCE 2025
children and young people made first- time commitments or recommitted their lives to Jesus during Spring Harvest this Easter. God is doing something powerful with children and young people at Spring Harvest.
BRING YOURS
next April.
Don’t let them miss out.
skegness: 30 march - 3 april 2026
minehead: 6-10 april 2026
Booking opens 8am, 11 June 2025
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Marcia Dixon MBE editor@keepthefaith.co.uk
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Becky Wybrow
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Editor’s Note
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the latest edition of Keep The Faith. If you’re new to the magazine, I pray you enjoy what you read, and, if you are a regular reader, thank you for your continued support.
Our summer edition always has a focus on men. Keep The Faith recognises the contribution men make in the church, society and the wider world. They create much of the world’s infrastructure that helps make life comfortable for everyone, and, in the world of family and relationships, when men follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, they provide godly, compassionate leadership that demonstrates courage, kindness, love and protection for their families and the community.
I hope you enjoy our interviews. We have featured academic legend Professor Dr Robert Beckford, who is celebrating 30 years in academia. We’ve spoken to Patrick Owen Medley, the creator of comedic ‘preacher’ character Bishop Shacklefoot, and learnt about Ghanaian gospel artist MOG.
There are also articles about Christian masculinity; the role of fathers; why men should consider therapy; plus our annual Men of Influence list.
We have other articles too, touching on subjects like adoption; the importance of hope; gospel music news; and more.
If you like what you read, do consider supporting Keep The Faith either by taking out an annual subscription or by making a donation, so we can continue making Christian content that inspires. Thank you for your help.
Happy reading
Marcia Dixon MBE Editor
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10 12 24 14 18
05 Latest news
08 StepFWD Gospel News By O'Neil Dennis
10 MOG Music: Sharing the sounds of Africa in uplifting inspirational music By Akosua DF
12 Muyiwa: The hardest working man in UK Gospel By Marcia Dixon MBE
14 The man behind Bishop Shacklefoot: The Preacher who makes people laugh By Juliet Fletcher
18 Men making a difference By Marcia Dixon MBE
24 Professor Dr Robert Beckford: Celebrating 30 years in Academia By Shirin Aguiar
27 No justice: No peace! Reflections on the death of George Floyd five years on By Rev Guy Hewitt
28 Why Windrush Day matters more than ever By Roy Francis
30 Why going to therapy is a godly thing By Dr T Ayodele Ajayi
31 Servant leadership: The power of leading by serving By Pastor Denis Wade
32 Faith in the fire: Black hope in a culture of fear By Dionne Gravesande
34 Pear-shaped or prayer-shaped? By Gary Clayton
35 Food 4 Thought By Marcia Dixon MBE
36 Addressing fatherlessness by supporting fathers By Sheldon Thomas
37 Lessons from Adolescence By Chioma Fanawopo
38 From ashes to strength: The Montserratian Diaspora 30 years on By Jasmyn Allen
40 Matters of the heart By Pastor Yvonne Brooks
41 The challenge of being male, masculine and Christian By Pastor Clement Okusi
42 The adoption journey By Shirley Anstis
43 The Windrush Generation: Using hairstyles as a form of identity and heritage By Verona White
44 Writing for the general market as a Christian writer By Vanessa Grossett
45 Life lessons from an allotment By Joy Roxborough
46 Kirly-Sue's kitchen vegan food column By Kirly-Sue
UK NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF JAMAICAN SISTER CHURCH
The New Testament Church of God in Jamaica (NTCG JA) – the second largest denomination in the island – recently commemorated its 100th anniversary.
Started in 1925, NTCG Jamaica now has 361 local congregations; 119,079 members; 476,316 adherents; and runs a number of educational establishments, including Bethel Bible College, and 34 Early Childhood Education institutions. It also has members throughout the Caribbean, the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
A delegation of the NTCG UK National Executive Council, led by Bishop Claion Grandison, took part in the Jamaican celebrations.
“The story of the New Testament Church of God in England and Wales cannot be told without Jamaica,” said Bishop Grandison. “The men and women who journeyed from this island brought with them more than luggage; they carried a vibrant Pentecostal
faith, a love for God, and a vision that would birth a movement in the UK.”
NTCG UK was founded in 1953 by Jamaican pioneers like Dr Oliver A Lyseight and others. It is now a national denomination, with over 15,000 members and 40,000 adherents.
The Administrative Bishop of NTCG Jamaica, Bishop Dr Roy Notice, said: “The visit from the NTCG England and Wales is a powerful statement of kinship and of our shared commitment to Kingdom-building and to partnering towards the transformation of people, families and their communities.”
During their time in Jamaica, the New Testament Church of God England & Wales leadership participated in services and in collaborative gatherings, which included supporting community projects which aligned with the vision of the church, and continuing the legacy of relevant and relational ministry together.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHARITY TO MARK 80TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SERVICE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Supporters, church leaders, and partners from around the world will join with global development charity Christian Aid to mark its 80th anniversary. In a special service – to take place at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, June 12 – 2,000 guests will reflect on the charity’s achievements over the past eight decades, and their recommitment to the charity’s mission to end global poverty.
Christian Aid Chief Executive Patrick Watt says the event will be a “profound moment of unity and fellowship” and anticipates that the various elements of the service, including a reimagining of the hymn ‘When I Needed a Neighbour’, will reflect the evolution of the organisation.
Christian Aid was founded in 1945, when churches came together after World War Two to consider how they could help the thousands of refugees in Europe needing shelter and basic supplies. Since
then, the agency has launched the country’s longest-running charity week (Christian Aid Week); helped found global organisations, like the Disasters Emergency Committee, to bring other charities together in times of crisis; and campaigned for change on everything from the climate crisis and debt justice to ending violence against women and girls.
Service participants will include Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, who will give the sermon; Rev Kate Bottley, who will give a reading; and Kingdom Choir.
Patrick Watt, CEO, says of the event: “It’s not every day that we’re able to bring together so many friends and supporters of Christian Aid for a moment of unity. As we reflect on 80 years of tackling the injustice of extreme poverty, we give thanks for the supporters, partners and staff who have made it possible, and who continue to demonstrate the unstoppable power of hope.”
OVER 100 CHURCH LEADERS ATTEND PARLIAMENTARY LAUNCH OF SHINE YOUR LIGHT 2025
OVER 100 Christian leaders from more than 60 denominations and Christian networks gathered at Portcullis House, Westminster, recently for a Parliamentary Reception to celebrate Shine Your Light (SYL) – a nationwide evangelistic movement taking the Gospel onto the streets across the UK.
Hosted by Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the International Freedom of Religion and Belief, and organised by the National Day of Prayer and Worship (NDOPW), leaders heard plans for Shine Your Light 2025. It will start with a 72-hour prayer focus over Pentecost weekend, 6–8 June, and Christmas evangelistic events between 12–14 December.
Dr Jonathan Oloyede, Convenor and Founder of NDOPW/SYL shared how Shine Your Light was an opportunity for the Church to ensure that Christian festivals were “reclaimed”, and of the need for prayer, unity and mission.
After the gathering, he said: “Seeing over 100 leaders in Parliament this week speaks of how much the Lord's hand is on this call for mission, unity and prayer to come together. Shine Your Light has grown since 2023, but there is more we need to do as the Church to reclaim our confidence in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Praying at the heart of Westminster is a symbolic sign of the ripples needing to go out. As we prepare for Pentecost in a few weeks’ time, let us start praying for our communities that they would be open to the move of the same Holy Spirit which fell at Pentecost.”
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.ndopw.com
CO-PASTOR AND WIFE OF GRAMMY-NOMINATED ARTIST RELAUNCHES PODCAST
Dr Jackie Greene, who co-pastors Forward City Church alongside her husband, Grammy-nominated gospel artist Travis Greene, is adding a new string to her bow. This wife, mother, dentist and author has relaunched her
acclaimed podcast, ‘Permission Talk with Dr Jackie Greene.’
In the new episode, Dr Jackie sits down with Juliette Ross for a heartfelt discussion about motherhood, exploring issues such as grief, pregnancy loss, infertility, postpartum depression, setting boundaries, and reclaiming joy.
Dr Jackie’s aim is to use her platform to empower other women to free themselves from the weight of others' opinions and to walk boldly in the life God created for them. She blends theological depth, real-life wisdom, and sisterhood in a way that resonates across generations.
‘Permission Talk with Dr Jackie Greene’ is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, YouTube and Apple.
For future episode announcements, follow @DrJackieGreene on social media.
KEEP THE FAITH GEARING UP FOR LAUNCH OF DEBUT DOCUMENTARY
Keep The Faith’s first-ever documentary – Living, Loving, Serving – Women Leaders in the Church – is now completed and is ready for launch.
It has been four years in the making, and filming took place in 2024. Director/producer Laurelle Jones and her team have made this documentary idea a reality. We received financial support from the public and from the church community who responded to the GoFundMe campaign, and from sponsors – the Pentecostal Community Bank and Abigale Otchere.
The few people who have seen the documentary have shared how much they enjoyed learning about the soul and work of the five women featured: Bishop Rosemarie Mallett, Tanya Hughes OBE, Rhona Mpologoma Tackie, Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, and Pastor Yvonne Brooks.
The documentary will have its debut screening in London and be followed by a panel discussion.
The launch will provide a great sponsorship opportunity for any organisation interested in connecting with the Black Christian community, and in particularly women leaders, business owners and professionals from within the Church.
Be assured that once the launch is completed, Keep The Faith will start thinking about the subject of our next documentary!
Email finance@keepthefaith.co.uk to request a sponsorship proposal. To sign up to the Keep The Faith mailing list, please visit https://bit.ly/KTFMailingList
NEW INITIATIVE GETS ENTREPRENEURS WALKING, TALKING AND DOING BUSINESS
Christian businesswoman Beverley White has launched Netwalking – a way for entrepreneurs to meet new people.
Netwalking, launched in April 2025, brings businessowners together for an experience that combines the physical activity of walking with networking to meet others for friendship, connection, and to generate new business opportunities.
Beverley, founder of P45 Consultancy, which provides a range of marketing services, started Netwalking to provide an informal way for business owners to meet. She explained: “I wanted to create a space where people could connect authentically – outside of formal networking rooms. Walking and talking removes pressure, builds real conversations, and supports well-being. It felt natural to combine community, movement and purpose.”
Eleven people, including wellness coaches, gas engineers, freelancers and CEOs, turned up for the first walk, which took place in Greenwich, south-east London.
Beverley says the feedback for her first Netwalking event has been good. “The feedback was incredibly positive. Many said they felt refreshed, inspired, and left with new contacts and ideas. A few even said it was the best networking experience they’d ever had and wanted to sign up for the next one.”
Some of the netwalkers also managed to do business – arranging meet-ups and discussing the possibilities of collaborations.
Beverley plans to make Netwalking a regular thing, taking place every four weeks in different locations across London.
GOSPEL NEWS
THE FUTURE OF UK CHRISTIAN & GOSPEL MUSIC: A HUGE STEP FORWARD
The UK Christian and gospel music scene is not just experiencing a surge; it’s undergoing a profound transformation. Over the past decade, the landscape has evolved dramatically, shifting from a relatively niche genre to a powerful, globally influential sound. A new wave of artists is not only capturing the ears of the faithful but also pushing the boundaries of the genre, blending traditional gospel roots with contemporary influences that resonate across diverse audiences.
The rise of platforms like Spotify has provided artists with the opportunity to reach listeners far beyond church walls and Christian festivals. Monthly Spotify listener statistics offer a compelling snapshot of this dynamic landscape, revealing the artists who are at the forefront of this musical revolution.
Top 10 Christian & Gospel Artists in the UK (based on monthly Spotify listeners, April 2025):
1. Limoblaze – 1,065,427 listeners
2. JERUB – 894,780 listeners
3. Eugy Official – 661,863 listeners
4. Sondae – 608,378 listeners
5. Annatoria – 508,740 listeners
6. CalledOut Music – 462,558 listeners
7. sxxnt. – 455,338 listeners
8. Jonathan Ogden – 393,533 listeners
9. Tim Hughes – 372,022 listeners
10. Y Shadey – 335,850 listeners
A Decade of Growth and Transformation
A decade ago, the UK Christian music landscape was a far cry from what it is today: smaller, less visible, and with limited avenues
for emerging artists to gain traction. While some pioneering platforms, like Gospel Cypher, M-Brio Music, Vinejuice, 2BReal Magazine, 7Gospel Tracks, and UK Gospel, have since faded away, they played a crucial part in keeping the music alive and maintaining a sense of community among artists and listeners alike.
A key turning point for the genre came in 2014, with the founding of AStepFWD and the UK Christian Charts. This new platform not only celebrated established voices but also carved out a space for new artists, offering visibility and recognition at a time when opportunities were scarce.
In the wake of the pandemic, the need for broader representation and genre diversity became more pressing. The unprecedented surge in music releases during this period
catalysed a shift from a single charting system to twelve diverse categories, spanning a wide range of musical styles. This expansion was a necessary response to the evolving music landscape and set the stage for more inclusive recognition of UK Christian artistry. The progress did not stop there. The digital revolution was further fuelled by media entities, like Premier Gospel, Premier Praise, UGN Jamz, UCB, Keep The Faith, and others. New media initiatives, such as The Good Christian Music Blog (now Amen Worldwide), Gospel Hydration, BLSSD Music, Visions TV Online and Affinity Xtra, also played a pivotal role, driving the genre’s growth by providing artists with essential exposure to digital audiences. Recent data from AStepFWD offers a clear picture of the genre’s trajectory. Since its launch, the UK Christian Charts has seen a
Top 10 Christian & Gospel Artists in the UK (Based on Monthly Spotify Listeners - April 2025)
fourfold increase in music submissions. In April 2025 alone, the platform received 161 submissions, including 21 from first-time artists. This highlighted a significant wave of emerging talent eager to make their mark. This influx of new voices is not merely a numerical increase; it represents a diversification of sound and style that is reshaping the UK Christian music scene.
What the Stats Mean for the UK Christian & Gospel Community
The Spotify listener data offers valuable insights into the current state and future trajectory of the UK gospel community:
• Diverse Representation: The list showcases a range of genres and styles within gospel music, from afrogospel (Limoblaze) to contemporary sounds (Sondae, Eugy Official) and worship (Tim Hughes, Jonathan Ogden). This diversity reflects the evolving nature of the genre and its ability to connect with a wider audience.
• Rising Stars: The presence of relatively newer artists, like JERUB, Annatoria, and Y Shadey alongside established names indicates a healthy influx of talent and innovation.
• Global Reach: The impressive total listener numbers, totalling close to 5.8 million monthly listeners for the top ten listed above, demonstrate the global appeal of UK gospel music.
• Affirmation of UK Gospel's Influence: The data validates the significant contribution of the UK gospel scene to the global music industry. UK artists are not only creating impactful music but also shaping the direction of the genre.
The Future is Bright
The UK gospel music scene is vibrant and dynamic, with artists constantly pushing creative boundaries. The fusion of gospel with other genres, the embrace of digital technology, and the support of dedicated media platforms have all contributed to its remarkable growth. As new talent emerges and the genre continues to evolve, the UK is poised to remain a significant force in the global gospel music landscape.
Add all the artists listed in this article and more to your playlists and support UK talent!
DC3: THE GOSPEL RAPPER INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION
In the UK, a compelling new voice is emerging, one that resonates across generations. DC3, a teenage gospel rapper from Northampton, isn’t just making music; he’s connecting older and younger listeners through a sound that is both deeply rooted in faith and undeniably fresh – so fresh in fact, that by our calculations, he has seen the fastest growth in metrics of any gospel artist in recent times.
DC3’s journey began in the solitude of lockdown – a period that forced many, including the then 14-year-old, to turn inward and discover hidden talents. While others navigated virtual classrooms and online games, DC3 honed his lyrical skills, crafting freestyles, and sharing them online. What started as a way to channel pent-up energy soon evolved into a passion that would propel him into the spotlight.
His music – a unique fusion of gospel, hip-hop, and jazz – resonates with a diverse audience. Older listeners, who may have grown up with traditional gospel, find themselves drawn to the sincerity and spiritual depth in his lyrics. There’s a familiarity in the message, a timeless quality that transcends generational divides.
But it’s the younger generation that DC3 is truly igniting. His ability to weave his faith into the contemporary sounds of rap and hip-hop speaks directly to their hearts and experiences. He articulates their struggles, their aspirations, and their longing for connection in a way that is both authentic and relatable.
DC3’s faith is not a subtle undertone in his music but the driving force. Growing up in a church environment, with his father as a pastor, his connection to faith was ever-present. However, as he entered his teenage years, he began to forge his own personal relationship with God. This personal conviction permeates his lyrics, giving them
a substance and depth that resonate with listeners, regardless of their own beliefs.
Beyond his musical talent, DC3 possesses a savvy understanding of how to connect with his audience in the digital age. He isn’t afraid to experiment with creative marketing strategies, often incorporating memes and viral trends to capture attention. But his approach isn't just about grabbing eyeballs; it’s also about delivering a message.
His multiple top tracks in the UK Christian Charts – ‘Upstairs’, ‘Wanna Be’, ‘Judge’ – and hit song, ‘I Know’, surpassing a million streams, exemplify this. It’s a testament to his ability to craft music that is both catchy and meaningful, resonating with a generation that seeks substance in their sound.
DC3 is more than just a rapper; he is a role model for young people. He demonstrates that it’s possible to be both successful and authentic, to blend faith with artistry, and to reach a wide audience without compromising one’s values. He is proving that Christian rap can be just as impactful and relevant as any other genre, encouraging others to embrace their creativity and use their talents to uplift and inspire.
But perhaps DC3 is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s not hard to imagine a future where his influence sparks an explosion of young creative talent, all bursting onto the scene with their own unique expressions of faith and artistry, ready to inspire a world that’s waiting to listen.
Follow on Instagram @dc3media
DENNIS
MOG MUSIC
SHARING THE SOUNDS OF AFRICA IN UPLIFTING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
With anthems like ‘Be Lifted’, ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Elohim’, MOG Music is an artist who needs no introduction. A multiinstrumentalist singer-songwriter, he is a son of Africa, proudly representing his Ghanaian roots. His smash hit ‘Be Lifted’ catapulted him to global stardom, however, the song’s journey to becoming a hit almost ended before it had even begun. Akosua DF caught up with MOG Music to learn more about his faith, his music, and how he has overcome life tragedies.
Akosua DF (ADF): How did you first discover your passion for gospel music and realise it was the path you wanted to pursue professionally?
MOG Music (MOGM): Like most African kids growing up, the church was practically my second home. Since my mum was always busy with meetings, I would often find myself hanging around during rehearsals. It was in secondary school, though, that my passion for music truly blossomed. That’s where I picked up the drums, bass guitar, trumpet and keyboard, and realised that I wasn’t only gifted but called.
ADF: You are most famous for your global anthem ‘Be Lifted’, but what many don’t know is that you almost didn’t record that song. Tell us the story.
MOGM: [chuckles] It’s surreal to think I almost didn’t record that song, you know. After pouring my heart, soul and sweat into three albums that just didn't take off, I started questioning everything. I felt like I was throwing money down the drain, and I started to doubt whether I’d truly heard God. I’d worked with top producers, yet there was nothing tangible to show for all the effort and investment. Honestly, I was exhausted and so discouraged. But something inside me pushed me to give it one last try. I prayed and fasted and remember telling God that this was it – my final stab at this thing called music. We had finished the entire project when God dropped ‘Be Lifted’ into my spirit. It’s truly amazing what God can do when you’re completely at the end of your tether yet still choose to say yes.
ADF: How do you see your music fitting within the broader landscape of gospel music across the globe?
MOGM: My musical style fuses contemporary sounds with my African roots. While the modern elements have likely broadened my reach and created international opportunities, at my core, I am an African artist. Whether it’s woven into a chord progression, an ad-lib or a single note, you’ll always hear an undeniable African essence in my music. I am incredibly proud to champion the vibrant spirit of Africa, and I believe I bring a unique and unapologetically African fusion to the global music scene.
ADF: You have a worship medley with Pastor Donnie McClurkin. How did that collaboration come about?
MOGM: So, I saw myself in a vision. Pastor Donnie and I were at my church, singing ‘Be Lifted’ and the presence of God was so strong it saturated the atmosphere. I woke up wondering how the vision would come to life, so started asking around for anyone who was remotely connected to him. As God would have it, a friend knew someone who knew Pastor Donnie’s manager. They passed on my number, I ended up visiting his church in America and, by the grace of God, the vision became a reality – we recorded together. We have an amazing relationship; he’s literally taken me as a son in ministry. But yes, that’s how it came about ... God used people to connect us.
ADF: Have there been any particularly moving or impactful stories you've heard from listeners about how your music has touched their lives?
MOGM: There have been so many incredible stories but there’s one in particular that really touched me. It’s the story of a couple who were literally on the verge of divorce, papers ready to be signed. By chance, the husband stumbled upon one of my songs, and it deeply moved him, bringing him to tears. Even though he had moved out, he felt compelled to send the song to his wife. She listened, and it touched her too. He called her, saying he
wanted to come home so they could talk. They had a heartfelt conversation, decided to call off the divorce, and are still happily married today. That’s one of the most heartwarming stories I’ve ever heard about the impact of my music. I get emotional just thinking about that testimony.
ADF: How do you stay grounded in your faith amidst the demands and pressures of the music industry?
MOGM: Gosh, there’s a lot of pressure and demand, but I always say that demand is for those who are relevant. But how do you remain relevant? By staying in the secret place. There are times when I don’t take bookings, I just tarry in His presence. My mantra is that when you make the secret place your abode, kings will travel from afar to look for you.
ADF: You are an anointed psalmist, but, like everyone, you aren’t immune to the tragedies of life. What’s the darkest season you’ve ever walked and what did you learn during that excruciatingly painful journey?
MOGM: One of the darkest periods in my life was early in our marriage when my wife became pregnant. We were overjoyed at the thought of having a baby. I was away on a ministry trip when my wife called, her voice filled with worry, saying she hadn’t felt the baby move. This was around the seventh month of her pregnancy. I rushed home immediately, and the next day we went to the hospital. The news that followed was devastating. We were told our baby had passed away in her womb. She’d had a stillbirth. We were broken, but through
the pain we held onto God. He showed us His faithfulness even during that valley experience.
ADF: That must have been tough... What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt throughout your journey as a gospel recording artist?
MOGM: Build strategic relationships! People matter. Honestly. As artists we hate to admit we aren’t always going to have the number 1 album or hit song. No one is going to stay at the top spot forever. God is always raising new people. So, investing in people, impacting lives for Christ, and pouring oneself out for the cause of others will always yield fruit in later years.
ADF: What message of hope or encouragement would you like to share with our Keep The Faith readers?
MOGM: Philippians 1:6 says ‘... being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus...’ That Scripture is my anchor. I want you to know that despite what you may be going through, God is at work in you. Continue to seek Him and nurture that which He is building through you. Trust that He is faithful and true. No promise concerning you will fall to the ground. He will watch over His Word and see it come to fruition. Don’t give up!
AKOSUA DF
UK-based broadcast journalist and media personality with a love for all things gospel. Follow @akosuadf on social media
MUYIWA THE HARDEST WORKING
MAN IN UK GOSPEL
Muyiwa Olarewaju is one of the most wellknown African praise and worship artists to arise out of Britain’s Black Christian community. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Muyiwa spent his formative years in Nigeria before coming back to the UK with his siblings, aged nine.
His singing talent was nurtured at All Nations Church in Kennington, south London, where he served as a worship leader. His experience of leading worship – coupled with his professional expertise, gained working at Sony Music – put him in good stead when he started recording worship music. Muyiwa’s music ministry hit the road running from the start, capturing people’s hearts with songs like ‘Our God is Good’, ‘God of Miracles’ (a duet with Joe Mettle) and ‘Hey Ya’. To date, Muyiwa has released a total of seven albums; performed throughout the UK; and was one of the first UK gospel artists to sell out the Hammersmith Apollo.
Alongside his career as a praise and worship artist, Muyiwa presented a long-standing gospel music show on Premier Radio and was elevated to the role of Station Director when Premier Gospel was launched 15 years ago. In that same year, he became host presenter of Turning Point International, a faith-based magazine programme, broadcast across the world to an audience of 70 million. For most of that journey he has been supported by his wife, Lola, and their two sons. Muyiwa has received numerous awards for his work, including an OBE in 2020 for services to music. Keep The Faith caught up with Muyiwa following the 15th anniversary celebrations of Premier Gospel to learn more about his work, faith and aspirations for the future.
KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): Premier Gospel recently celebrated its 15th anniversary! Looking back, what do you consider to be some of the station’s biggest achievements over the years?
MUYIWA OLAREWAJU (MO): Our greatest achievement is championing UK Gospel and helping unknown artists, like CalledOut Music and Limoblaze, become global names. Supporting them from the start and seeing them now filling arenas is a true joy.
KTF: As Station Director, what has been your vision for Premier Gospel, and how has it evolved since its launch?
MO: Premier Gospel has grown through dynamic partnerships with organisations, like Apple Music, the London Symphony Orchestra, and now SXSW (South by South West). These partnerships have served to amplify UK Gospel’s impact across the nation. They’ve also helped raise the visibility of the music. We invest close to £1 million annually, making us the leading platform for UK Gospel.
KTF: What are your hopes for the next 15 years of Premier Gospel? Are there any exciting plans in the pipeline?
MO: I see Premier Gospel sitting alongside major music brands, known for championing gospel – just as the BBC does for music. Our new partnership with SXSW is just the beginning. There are much more exciting developments ahead that will play a part in taking UK Gospel to a new level.
KTF: You’ve been the face of Turning Point for many years, bringing inspirational stories to a global audience. What do you enjoy most about presenting the show?
MO: I love telling stories that encourage millions globally and seeing so many make commitments to Jesus each year. Creating wholesome TV that inspires is deeply rewarding.
KTF: What have been your most memorable moments on Turning Point?
MO: Welcoming artists, like Chandler Moore and Dante Bowe, before they were famous stands out. Giving upcoming talent their first spotlight and watching them soar is always a highlight.
KTF: You’re known as one of the hardest-working men in gospel. Looking back, what have been the biggest high points of your career so far?
MO: There have been many, but these stand out for me: touring the UK with hit albums and meeting the people; selling out the Apollo in Hammersmith – and being one of the first UK gospel artists to do so; performing on global stages; and topping jazz charts ahead of legends like Miles Davis... These moments are unforgettable. I’m grateful to God for every step and achievement.
KTF: With such a demanding schedule, how do you unwind and find time for yourself and your family? MO: Travelling with family and catching up on sleep is my treat, though my wife insists we explore, not nap! Still, relaxing, eating, and enjoying new places... these are my perfect wind-downs.
KTF: Your faith is at the heart of everything you do. How does it influence your work, both as a broadcaster and a worship singer?
MO: My faith is my foundation for everything. I live to please God – not just in my work but in every part of life. Without faith, nothing else matters. It has brought me thus far and is the reason why I do what I do.
KTF: What advice would you give to young gospel artists or broadcasters looking to follow in your footsteps?
MO: Be authentic. Don’t chase trends or fame. Serve God with honesty. If your heart isn’t in it, find another path. Remember, you’ll reap what you sow; so do it for the right reasons.
KTF: Finally, what’s next for Muyiwa Olarewaju? Any new projects or dreams you’re working towards?
MO: I’m building haapu.tv – a family-friendly streaming platform, like David facing Goliath! New music, an ongoing church tour, and fresh projects are on the way. Follow me online and keep streaming our music!
Visit www.premiergospel.org.uk or https://www.haapu.tv/#!/
The man behind Bishop Shacklefoot –The Preacher who makes people laugh
Have you heard about Bishop Shacklefoot? Or has he been to your church? Those who know, know that he is a most amazing character. He is the real, the one and only PATRICK MEDLEY who has been living a double life for the past 20 years! He has brought a bountiful bellyful of laughter and reminiscence culture that continues to find resonance with a growing number of audiences – especially among churches.
I took time out to get the up-close-and-personal truth of Patrick Medley, aka Bishop Shacklefoot, to find out what makes him tick and also tickle our funny bones.
I discovered that Patrick is a passionate man; his motives and inspirations reveal that Bishop Shacklefoot has become a way of channelling deep affections for his parents, family and the heritage of his community.
MEDLEY FAMILY FUN
PATRICK MEDLEY (PM): My parents are Jamaican, from the parish of Manchester. They were members of COGOP (Church of God of Prophecy) there and continued when they came to the UK in the 1960s. Mum, Dad and all five of us siblings – eldest girl, followed by four boys – are close-knit. We’ve always been very boisterous and fun-loving amongst ourselves – particularly at family gatherings, like Christmas.
JULIET FLETCHER (JF): So how did ‘the Bishop’ come into your life?
PM: The big breakthrough happened through my father-in-law. At the time, I was dating Rosemary, my wife-to-be. Her father was co-ordinator for the senior elders’ group, and he persuaded me to perform at their fundraising event. I was seriously reluctant, because I thought they’d be guessing who I was making fun of, and they’d all be upset. Regardless, he just kept badgering me and just wouldn’t give up, so I gave in! My fears proved unfounded; it was an overwhelming success. There was an immediate connection. So, I just kept doing these events locally. But you need to know how the Bishop got his name...
JF: Of course! You are going to tell, aren’t you?
PM: Yes. It was in a sad situation that turned hilarious. Now married, sometime later, my father-in-law sadly passed away. And I was there when a friend he used to work with came by the home to pay his respects. Introducing himself to my mother-in-law, he said: “I’m Mr Shackleford.” Quite involuntarily, she replied: “Shacklefoot? What kinda name is that?!!!” Well, you can imagine, we all burst out laughing. But I thought to myself, you know what? That sounds quite good! It's just like a rare name. So, once I started going out more it just cottoned on, as people would introduce me saying: “Now we’re gonna have a word from BISHOP SHACKLEFOOT!” And yes, people would be asking if that’s a real person. It just spiced up the speculation and it has been taken to heart ever since.
JF: What do your family think?
PM: Truthfully, my dad was the root of the start because he purchased a video camera in the 80s. I used to film myself mimicking church people and, as a family, we had mad fun and laughter. It was one of these videos that my father-in-law saw. Those family times created incredible family memories – especially since both my parents are now deceased – and it has new meaning. I was totally unprepared for that.
JF: What do you mean?
PM: It may be strange to say, but my siblings and I never imagined ourselves without them. I feel like I’m an orphan. Mum passed in 2010. It was hard, but we still had Dad. However, last
year, when he left us, it just impacted us in ways we didn’t envisage. Interestingly, our parents died on the same day, in the same hospital, and in a similar manner – just separated by years. Isn’t that extraordinary?!!
JF: Wow! That is. That really is.
the shacklefoot connection
PM: And now I realise what the connection has been with Bishop Shacklefoot to all our elders, and us as children from the Windrush Generation: it's the stories, the legitimacy, and the intimacy of many moments and memories. The nuances and inflections, coded words, and slangs. The innocence, silliness and nonsense – like saying the angel’s name in Luke 2:9 is “Lo” because the verse says: “Lo, the angel of the Lord.” Or that the dog who licked Lazarus’ sores was named ‘Moreover’, because “Moreover, the dog came...” (Luke 16:21).
JF: (LOL) So true! We can laugh with the Bible, at ourselves and with ourselves on our terms. Where we didn’t have time to laugh, now we can – and we get it! We get the jokes.
PM: I now realise the extent which my audiences have taken ‘experiencing and remembering’. At this point I have to give credit and thanks to Bishop Eric Brown. While he was the New Testament Church of God (NTCG) Administrative Bishop, it was his invitation for me to ‘minister’ at NTCG’s 50th Celebratory Convention Dinner. At the time, I told his son Wayne I couldn’t do it. Would you believe Bishop himself rang and said: “You just get yourself over here. I’m not taking no for an
answer!”? Subsequently, I’ve ‘ministered’ many times, and it was transformative to my performance schedule.
His insistence catapulted me and Bishop Shacklefoot to a new level of cultural consciousness within our churches. And now people tell me their stories AND they give me ties and suits for ‘the Bishop’. Please let me tell you this story: A family called me to say they had a bag for me. Their father had died and when their mum and children were clearing out, they found a suit he had bought in the USA. He had decided to wear it for a wedding taking place in the UK. They told me: On the morning of the wedding, he put on the suit and came down the stairs. When the wife and family saw him, they said: “Dad, you’re not going out in that with us!” He silently walked straight back up, took it off and it was never worn again. But, when he died, they felt that suit could only be for Bishop Shacklefoot, so, you see the impact!
family & serving at the centre
JF: I do indeed! Tell me, what are the future ambitions, firstly of Bishop Shacklefoot and then for Patrick Medley?
PM: I cannot overemphasise the serious importance of preserving and reiterating our stories. ‘The Bishop’ is now hosting all kinds of events. Even young people have invited him to host their special celebrations, civic cultural programmes, and so much more. Over the past five years, from October through to December, I have been invariably booked for every weekend from Friday to Sunday.
JF: And the future for Patrick Medley?
PM: One thing I have always taken very seriously is ministry. My motto is serving. Everything I have done relates to serving others. I am very proud of my ministerial grounding in COGOP. I’m a qualified graphic designer, I’ve been a fresh food manager, and, for the past 17 years, I’ve worked as a UPS driver. I was a church youth director and, since my 20s, an ordained minister. I serve as a football coach, a school governor, and as a parent liaison officer. Now as a pastor, married for 28 years, my
wife and I have the privilege of working with Rev Les and Louise Isaac in their marriage guidance courses. And we have answered a calling – ministering in Alive City Church with Pastors Volney and Angel Morgan. I’m deeply committed to encouraging families, particularly focusing on men and mentoring
young men. I encourage anyone with a young family to have a firm discipline set-up for the children – and live by that. It may not be easy but it's so important. Know how they go about their lives, their choices, who they are friends with. Enjoy your children because as a puff of smoke they are gone ’bout their business, and you can’t get it back.
We have had five children – Daniella, Jada, Nathan, Malachi and Hannah. Our eldest daughter was stillborn. God has brought Rosemary and me through that. I’m not perfect but being a father and keeping family are paramount to me.
JF: Bishop Shacklefoot aka Patrick Medley is a one-of-a-kind treasure. Amen
Connect with him on Facebook @Patrick Owen Medley or email businesspomcreate@outlook.com
OLIVIA WILLIAMS
JULIET FLETCHER
Founder of Scriptfit, a qualified health and fitness coach, personal trainer and public speaker. www.scriptfit.com
Creative Director of Green Tree Productions and Windrush Church and Music. She is also the founder of the SongShare, www.songshare.co.uk
Tommy’s
launches unique programme to support wellbeing after miscarriage
Miscarriage can be devastating. For women who are mentally and physically affected, it’s hard to pick yourself up afterwards to try again.
That’s why pregnancy and baby charity Tommy’s has created the Wellbeing After Miscarriage Programme in partnership with experts and women who have experienced a miscarriage.
This is the first ever free online programme designed specifically by experts to help you move forwards physically and emotionally.
It includes:
• mental health support sessions
• physiotherapist-led sessions
• exercise sessions for anyone who has lost a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The programme aims to help build strength, cope with grief and difficult feelings and find hope for the future.
Deirdre de Barra, Head of Information at Tommy’s, said: “Most people are offered little or no NHS support until after their third miscarriage. That’s where this new programme can help.”
“In the mental health sessions, a specialist counsellor will help you understand and work through trauma, grief and anxiety. The physiotherapy and exercise sessions are designed to help you reconnect with your body after loss.”
Search Tommy’s Wellbeing after Miscarriage or use the QR code
Kuk’s BBQ: The traditional BBQ with an Afro-Caribbean Twist
At Kuk’s BBQ you’re not just a customer, you’re family. Discover our rich, smoky flavours – right from the comfort of your home or church.
Why Kuk’s BBQ?
• Authentic Recipes: Passed down through generations, our family recipes offer the best of traditional BBQ with an irresistible African and Caribbean flair
• Fresh Ingredients: Only the highest quality meats and ingredients make it to your plate
• Personal Service: We bring the BBQ to you, offering tailored catering that makes every event special
Ready to transform your church summer fest, corporate event or intimate family gathering into a flavour-packed celebration?
Shakira Akabusi, personal trainer and expert in health and wellness during pregnancy and after birth, leads the exercise sessions.
She said: “I’m so happy I was able to be part of this Tommy’s project, sharing expert advice on reconnecting with your body, building confidence, strength, energy and mobility.
“I hope we’ve taken the overwhelming world of workouts and made them easy to follow and fun to do, even at a time when any exercise can feel initially very daunting.”
MEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Britain’s Black Christian community boasts an abundant supply of men who are providing exemplary leadership in their churches, encouraging others with their professional successes, and are serving their local communities and wider society. Keep The Faith shines a light on a few such men who are making an impact. Have a read and be inspired.
REV ALEX AFRIYIE
President-Elect, Baptist Union of Great Britain
Rev Alex Afriyie is a Baptist minister, who has recently been elected to serve as President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. He will preside in the role from 2026–2027. Rev Afriyie has been the pastor of London Network Church for over 33 years. With a passion for evangelism, discipleship and church growth, he has been working and praying for revival in the UK amongst Baptist churches and other networks. He has built a multigenerational and intercultural church that represents the populations of London. Alongside his passion for the local church, Rev Afriyie has been involved in the leadership of the London Turning which has seen thousands of people say prayers of commitment to Jesus and start discipleship journeys in the last six years. He is also involved in raising up and coaching the next generation of Kingdom leaders. His theme for his presidential year is “Walking Worthy” in which he is calling Baptist churches to remain true to their foundations of being Bible-based and Spirit-led.
Visit www.lnc.org.uk
BISHOP MELVIN BROOKS
Senior Pastor, New Jerusalem Community Church
Bishop Melvin Brooks is Senior Pastor of New Jerusalem Community Church, a well-known and popular church in Aston, Birmingham. He is a passionate leader, with decades of experience in ministry. Known for his heart for people and his vision for transforming lives, Bishop Brooks is dedicated to empowering individuals to fulfil their God-given potential. He serves as Deputy Presider and Chief Operating Officer of Jabula New Life Ministries International (Europe and Asia), providing leadership and spiritual covering to churches across the globe. With a strong foundation
in faith, teaching and pastoral care, Bishop Brooks continues to inspire and guide people from all walks of life to live a life of purpose and abundance. Together with his wife, Pastor Yvonne Brooks, they provide marriage guidance and counselling.
Visit https://www.newj.church/
NATHAN DENNIS
Co-founder, First Class Foundation; Co-lead, Legacy Consultants
Nathan Dennis is having an impact not only in his hometown of Birmingham but much further afield. Alongside his wife, Sabrina, he runs First Class Consultants, a charity that empowers Black youth, and Legacy Consultants, which works with NHS Trusts and statutory partners on equity and inclusion strategies. Aside from his businesses and community work, Nathan is very active in his church, New Jerusalem Community Church, where he has served in various roles, including vision coordinator, youth leader, youth pastor, deputy youth leader and trustee. He has delivered workshops and talks at churches and ministries across the UK, sharing how his life, once entangled in street culture, is now led by faith in Jesus Christ. Nathan has plans to publish Transformed: Faith of a Skippa – a book that will focus on faith, leadership, and personal transformation – later this year. For Nathan Dennis, influence is not about status; it’s about service, purpose, and lifting others as he climbs.
Visit www.legacyconsultants.co.uk
SHANE
BOWES
CEO, Pentecostal Community Bank
Last year, Shane Bowes made history by leading the rebrand of the Pentecostal Credit Union into the Pentecostal Community Bank (PCB) – Britain’s first Black-owned community bank – heralding a new era for Black finance
REV ALEX AFRIYIE
BISHOP MELVIN BROOKS
NATHAN DENNIS
in Britain. Shane has been at the helm of the PCB since 2016. For decades, it has been responsible for enabling church leaders to buy buildings to house their members, and has also provided loans for business owners keen on growing and scaling their businesses. Shane is viewed as a pragmatic, visionary leader, committed to leading the team in delivering the PCB vision of economically empowering its members.
Visit www.pcbank.co.uk
DR SOLA FOLA-ALADE
Visionary Pastor, Liberty Church Global
Though originally trained as a medical doctor, Dr Sola Fola-Alade answered the call to spread the Gospel and is now respected internationally as a pastor, prophetic voice, author, publisher, conference speaker, coach and mentor to various business, social, political and spiritual leaders. PSFA, as he’s fondly known, is Visionary Pastor of Liberty Church Global, and co-leads with his wife, Abimbola. They have planted four churches in the UK, one in Texas, USA and the other in Lagos, Nigeria. Dr Sola Fola-Alade has touched thousands of lives around the world. He equips people to impact their generation and exercise their leadership influence in society. He has written over 15 widely-acclaimed books, including The Secrets to Winning Your Invisible Battles, The Making of an Effective Minister Volume 1, The 4 Pillars of Great Relationships – co-authored with Pastor Bimbo Odukoya – and his best-selling prophetic prayer books Prayer Fire (Volumes 1 & 2) and Prophetic Prayers for Every Season (Volumes 1 & 2). He
also hosts the podcast Beneath the Surface, where he interviews relevant voices in ministry and beyond.
Visit www.thelibertychurchlondon.com
SUPERINTENDENT GEOFFREY FOLKES
Bishop-Elect, Calvary Church of God in Christ (COGIC)
Superintendent Geoffrey Folkes is Lead Pastor of Calvary Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Northumberland Park, Tottenham – a role he has held for 14 years. The church runs a local food bank and provides a safe space for women and girls fleeing domestic abuse. In addition, Superintendent Folkes works with Pathway, a Christian charity that partners with local churches to provide Christian education in assemblies and after-school clubs in primary schools. He is also active in his local community and a board member of the Safer Neighbourhood Board Haringey, Haringey Giving, and Haringey’s Multi-Faith Forum. He was recently appointed as Bishop-Elect to serve alongside Bishop Blake, leader of COGIC UK. Superintendent Folkes has been a member of COGIC since his youth and has faithfully served his leaders. Alongside his many roles, he is currently a director of the Pentecostal Community Bank.
Visit www.cogic.org.uk
BISHOP JOHN FRANCIS
Senior Pastor, Ruach City Church
Bishop John Francis is one of the UK’s most well-known church leaders. He is Founder and Senior Pastor of Ruach City Church, and has three congregations based in Kilburn, Walthamstow and Birmingham, and a new location in Streatham, south London. The church also recently held a major event in Dubai – its first ever in the Middle East. Ruach City Church is renowned for its lively worship and for winning new converts to the Kingdom. Due to the high regard in which Bishop Francis is held, he is regularly invited to attend events dealing with issues of importance to the Black community, such as policing and youth crime. He is also an international speaker and has garnered a large following across the globe as a result of his dynamic preaching ministry and TV broadcast, Order My Steps
Visit www.ruachcitychurch.org
BISHOP CLAION GRANDISON
Administrative Bishop, New Testament Church of God
Bishop Claion Grandison presides over the New Testament Church of God (NTCG) – the largest Pentecostal denomination started by the Windrush Generation. The NTCG comprises 11,000 members, 130 churches
SHANE BOWES
DR SOLA FOLA-ALADE
SUPERINTENDENT GEOFFREY FOLKES
BISHOP JOHN FRANCIS
and 350 ministers. Bishop Grandison also oversees the denomination’s 82 cross-cultural churches. Since his appointment to the role in 2022, Bishop Grandison has been on a mission to see NTCG become relevant and relational in how it connects; and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in reimagining how its members see church and do church. He is one of the few Black denominational leaders who regularly uses social media to connect with church members. A lover of poetry, he published his book of poems, Our Story Retold: The Black Experience Unveiled Through Poetry, last year. He is currently spearheading arrangements for the NTCG’s annual National Convention that will take place at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham from 1–3 August 2025. Visit www.ntcg.org.uk
PASTOR ABIMBOLA KOMOLAFE
Senior Pastor, Jubilee Church, Manchester
Pastor Abimbola Komolafe is the senior leader of Jubilee Church, one of Manchester’s most well-known churches. It is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), one of the fastest growing Pentecostal denominations in the UK. Pastor Komolafe is the visionary behind the largest nondenominational Christian worship gathering in Greater Manchester – Festival of Praise (FOP). This free annual musical extravaganza attracts over 10,000 believers and non-believers alike, bringing together people of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures to worship God. Pastor Komolafe has a heart
for the less privileged, and demonstrates this through various church-led initiatives, which include providing financial support to widows and single mothers and running a food bank. He is also involved with the annual turkey hamper project, which expresses the love of Christ to the vulnerable during the Christmas period. Pastor Komolafe is committed to his God-given mandate to preach Christ and has touched countless lives with healings and miracles via the power of the Gospel. He has authored two books, Join the Dreamers World and 50 Nuggets of Praise Visit www.jubileechurchmanchester.org
PROFESSOR PAUL MORRISON
UK & Ireland Education, Non-Profit and Charities Lead, Zoom
Professor Paul Morrison is an award-winning, globally recognised leader in technology. His work at Zoom entails driving strategic innovation and digital transformation across the public and third sectors. Renowned for his work at the intersection of education, technology and community development, Professor Paul is an ambassador for The Open University and Global Ambassador for Elevate Africa – a non-profit organisation founded by the 21st Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, and Her Royal Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom – which promotes and empowers the next generation through education, storytelling, and leadership development. Professor Morrison is a judge for numerous awards, including the National Diversity Awards, and is Professor at the University of the West of Scotland, where he plays a key role in shaping future leaders and educators. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Professor Morrison serves on the pastoral team at This Generation Ministries in Wembley, north-west London, and is Founder of Idare2inspire, a programme that empowers young professionals through personal and professional development. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmorrison-education/
NICK MYERS
Chief Strategy Officer, Oliver UK
Nick Myers is currently Chief Strategy Officer of Oliver UK, considered one of the UK’s leading marketing companies with 1,200 staff and a turnover of £110m. Nick has been listed in the BIMA’s (British Interactive Media Association) list of Britain’s Top 100 Digital Marketers and in Campaign magazine’s ‘40 Over 40’. Although he’s a professional powerhouse, his work and life are undergirded by his faith. Nick is Founder of Faith In Advertising, which connects the industry’s few believers; Founder and Chair of the Data Marketing Association’s Black Marketers Council; and serves as a trustee
PASTOR ABIMBOLA KOMOLAFE
PROFESSOR PAUL MORRISON
NICK MYERS
for the Marketing Skills Trust, opening doors for the next generation. He also uses his skills and talents to market Christian endeavours. He led the rebrand of Premier Gospel and shaped the brand strategy for the UK’s first Black-owned bank, the Pentecostal Community Bank. He is Assistant Pastor at The Well Bethel in Crystal Palace, south London, serving a community shaped by the Apostolic Pentecostal Windrush Pioneers’ Legacy, which he chronicled through his book Bethel Begins, where he preserved their story of resilience, ensuring it inspires a new generation.
Visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/ nicklbmyers/
DR TUNDE OKEWALE OBE
Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers
Award-winning barrister Dr Tunde Okewale is part of the legal team at Doughty Street Chambers, a world-class firm providing legal services in criminal, civil and public law. His clients include global athletes, CEOs and multi-national corporations. Dr Okewale is a “working-class boy done good”. Raised on a Hackney council estate, he was the first person in his family to attend university. He qualified at the Bar in 2007. His achievements include founding a charity, Urban Lawyers, in 2010, which has transformed access to law for underrepresented communities, and serving as Legal Adviser to the Citizens Inquiry into the Tottenham Riots. In 2019, Dr Okewale was elected as the youngest-ever Governing
Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in its 650-year history. He was awarded his MBE in 2016 for services to disadvantaged youth, and made an OBE in 2024 for his outstanding contribution to social mobility and criminal justice. Dr Okewale is also a thought leader on LinkedIn, influencing people beyond the field of law on issues of success, diversity and career progress. Visit www.tundeokewale.com Follow on Instagram www.instagram.com/ tundeokewale/
REV DR ISRAEL OLUWOLE OLOFINJANA
Director, One People Commission; Founder, Centre for Missionaries from the Majority World
Rev Dr Israel Oluwole is Director of the One People Commission (OPC) – an intercultural network of the Evangelical Alliance – and an African public missiologist. An ordained Baptist minister, he is also Founding Director of the Centre for Missionaries from the Majority World, a network that provides cross-cultural training to reverse missionaries in Britain. Dr Israel is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham and is on the Advisory Group on Race and Theology of the Society for the Study of Theology (SST). He is on the Christian Aid Working Group of Black-Majority Church leaders, exploring the intersection of climate justice and racial justice, and a member of the Tearfund Theology Committee. He lectures at Christ Theological College on themes related to World Christianity and is a visiting lecturer at All Nations Christian College and the London School of Theology. He has published several books, including his latest, co-edited title, Polyphonic God: Exploring Intercultural Theology, Churches and Justice, which is due to be published by SCM in July 2025.
Visit https://israelolofinjana.wordpress.com
PASTOR ADE OMOOBA MBE
Co-founder, Christian Concern and Christian Legal Centre
Ade Omooba has been a mover and shaker within Britain’s Black Christian community for over 35 years. He is Co-founder of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, organisations that provide support and legal representation for Christians who need to defend themselves against unjust laws, preventing them from living out their faith. He is also Chair and Director of the NCLF (National Church Leaders Forum), an organisation committed to facilitating a Black Christian voice in the UK. To date they have produced two manifestos to action. Ade Omooba is also Co-founder of Christian Victory Group – ICARE Projects, which has played a part in setting up over 100 social
REV DR ISRAEL OLUWOLE OLOFINJANA
PASTOR ADE OMOOBA MBE
NATHANIEL PEAT
DR TUNDE OKEWALE OBE
action projects. He is a member of the Apostolic Team of Connection Trust, a global network of churches. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2019.
Visit www.christianconcern.com and www.nclf.org.uk
NATHANIEL PEAT
Entrepreneur, international speaker, business coach, pilot
Nathaniel Peat is one of the most well-known Black entrepreneurs and charity leaders in the UK. He is Co-founder of GeNNex Solar, which provides innovative renewable energy products in Africa, and Founder of The Safety Box – a CIC that provides training and development programmes aimed at reducing violence and helping young people develop key skills in leadership, communication and conflict resolution. The enterprise achieved the highest rate of violence reduction in prison, achieving 95% reduction in 2013 and, since 2017, has had an average of over 68% of offenders and ex-offenders engaged in employment or education.
Nathaniel is an Honorary Fellow of Brunel University; was also a former trustee and co-founder of EY Foundation (part of Ernst & Young Global) and now acts as a patron to the charity. In 2020, he became board member of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council UK South, serving as consultative advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Jamaica on investment, trade and sustainable development. In 2024, Mr Peat spoke at COP29 on harnessing the power of financial institutions to fight climate change within diaspora markets, and was the winner of the UK Power of a Man Awards, held in 2024.
Visit www.nathanielpeat.com
BISHOP TEDROY POWELL
National Leader, Church of God of Prophecy, UK, Holland and Belgium
Bishop Tedroy Powell is Head of the Church of God of Prophecy, one of Britain’s oldest denominations founded by the Windrush Generation. He has been at the helm since 2017, and currently presides over 70 churches, 5,500 members, 430 ministers and 35 church buildings, providing guidance on governance, pastoral training and the general direction of the national church. Aside from his leadership of COGOP work, Bishop Powell also serves as President for Pentecostal & Charismatic Forum within Churches Together in England (CTE), providing ecumenical leadership through CTE, and collaborating with significant para-church organisations and occasional government advisory panels.
Visit www.cogop.org.uk
BISHOP MIKE ROYAL
General Secretary of Churches Together in England (CTE)
Bishop Mike Royal has become a key figure in the Christian community through his role as General Secretary of Churches Together in England, an ecumenical organisation that helps churches work together better. CTE members include churches from Anglican, Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Orthodox and Lutheran traditions, as well as Free Churches, Quakers and bring together one of the broadest range of churches in the whole of Europe. Prior to his appointment, he was co-Chief Executive of The Cinnamon Network, a charity helping churches across Britain and Ireland with community engagement and social action projects. He is a founding trustee and former National Director of award-winning charity Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), which works with children and young people at risk of exclusion from school. He is also a part-time Forensic Mental Health Chaplain with Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. Mike has an academic background in urban planning and in Black theology. He has been in ordained ministry since 1993 and was consecrated a Pentecostal Bishop in 2016.
Visit www.cte.org.uk
PASTOR MIKE WHITE
Senior Pastor, The Tab, London
Pastor Mike White leads The Tab, one of London’s most well-known and fastestgrowing Pentecostal churches in London. It’s a thriving, transgenerational and multicultural church, attracting in-person and online followers. The Tab has a philanthropic commitment to engage in blessing the community practically, through various church social programmes and initiatives. A graduate of both the London Bible College and Spurgeon’s Theological Seminary, Pastor Mike has a special passion for ‘the local church and leadership’. This has led to him serve as a church consultant to several local churches and national church organisations within the UK, providing guidance and training on Contemporary Leadership and Transitional Leadership. An in-demand speaker, Pastor Mike is regularly invited to speak at conferences and churches throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, the USA and the Caribbean. He has also featured regularly on Christian media networks, such as TBN and Premier Gospel Radio. Mike currently serves on the Board of Borough Deans, offering consultation and advice to the mayor and other council leaders on social and religious issues.
Visit www.thetab.org.uk
BISHOP TEDROY POWELL
BISHOP MIKE ROYAL
PASTOR MIKE WHITE
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PROFESSOR DR ROBERT BECKFORD: CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN ACADEMIA
The prolific achievements of Professor Dr Robert Beckford, Britain’s most well-known Black academic, theologian, scholar-activist, documentary maker, author and racial justice campaigner, make it difficult to know where to start celebrating his impact.
Professor Beckford is the first Black man to teach theology in a British university. This month, he will celebrate not just his 60th birthday but also 30 years as an academic. A special service will be held in his honour on June 21 in his hometown of Birmingham, and later this year, there will be the inauguration of an annual lecture in his name, the Beckford Lecture, which will encompass the themes of his lifelong work.
He spoke with Shirin Aguiar about his life, faith, work, and his hopes for the future.
SHIRIN AGUIAR (SA): What were some of the early influences in your life that shaped your career?
PROFESSOR ROBERT BECKFORD (PRB): Firstly, both my parents had an impact on my faith and my political formation – my mother, because she was a church leader who founded three churches, and my dad who was very active as a trade unionist.
The second thing was reading the autobiography of Malcolm X when I was 14. That book grounded in me a love of learning, seeing that religion and politics work together in Black history.
The third thing was taking my first degree in New York in the eighties. New York made me aware that I didn’t want to be a traditional academic; I wanted people to engage with my work outside of the classroom as well as inside. It’s one of the reasons I was keen to be involved in media, making films, radio programmes, radio dramas, and music in terms of a gospel album. I wanted to be a different kind of academic – an activist, active in the
Black community, doing work in prisons, in schools, the community, in government, then writing about it afterwards, as part of my academic commitment.
SA: How old were you when you decided to become a Christian, and how did that decision change your life?
PRB: The critical moment in my life was aged 16, when I decided to become a Christian and get baptised. It meant I became less interested in playing professional football because, at 14, I had signed for a professional football club.
SA: Can you share details of your learning journey in academia?
PRB: I went to a Christian liberal arts college in New York called Houghton College. People from the churches in the UK financially supported me to help me go there, and that made a profound difference about my thinking in theology. I really loved that the theology I encountered there was very grounded and engaged.
I came back to Britain, went to the London School of Theology (formerly London Bible College), and did a master’s in biblical interpretation, followed by a PhD at Birmingham University.
SA: What was it like trying to develop an academic career as a Black person?
PRB: Academic careers are risky for Black people, because there aren’t many jobs. We are over-policed when we are in the academy, and it’s last in, first out. It was risky deciding to take an academic career in a field that is white only.
When I got my first teaching job in 1992 at the Queen’s Foundation, I became the first tutor in Black theology in Britain, and since then it’s been a first in everything in Black theology: the first university lecturer in 2000 at Birmingham University, and the first professor
in Black Theology in 2013.
I have also worked at Oxford Brookes University, Canterbury Christchurch University, and the University of Winchester, and had visiting professorships at Kings College London and Goldsmiths, University of London.
SA: Apart from your academic work, most people know you from your extensive media work. Can you share some insights about that?
PRB: I have been making documentaries since 1998. The first film I made, my first on slavery, was Britain’s Slave Past with Trevor Phillips in 1998. After that I thought, as an academic, it was the right thing to make highbrow programmes. BBC4 was just starting up, and we made two programmes which both won awards. Then Channel 4 came knocking, and a brilliant producer, Aaqil Ahmed, asked me to come and work with him making religious programmes, which I did from 2003 to 2009. I moved with him to the BBC and made programmes for BBC1 and 2, including The Battle for Christianity, about the decline in churchgoing in Britain and how it can be halted, in 2016.
More recently, in 2021, I helped in the consultancy on a programme, Is the Church Racist? presented by Clive Myrie. That was the last TV documentary but since then I have worked independently. My last production was an independent film called After the Flood. I have made a programme for BBC World Service once a year since 2015. My last programme in 2024 was called Should I Change my Name? which explored the meaning of slave names. I’m making one in a couple of weeks, Five Years on from George Floyd. I’m interested in how we can document the lived experiences of Christian people but also use documentary as a form of social critique. We have been successful in that over the years, with programmes on reparations which have challenged British institutions to pay compensation for transatlantic chattel slavery. The Great African
Scandal resulted in Cadbury changing policy. Eight months later, they went Fairtrade, and that policy lasted about ten years until Cadbury was bought out by Kraft.
SA: You have achieved so much yet are doing even more. What are you doing now?
PRB: I have a professorial role with a Dutch university in Amsterdam, but my main work is educational and industry consultancy. At Queen’s I am supervising 15 Black PhDs and helping with research projects. My focus now is on developing Black theologians for the future. Beyond the academy, I make training films for corporations and am involved in several national and international campaigns around political issues. My work is broader and bigger than theological education.
I am working on a multi-platform project on real reparations because most of the Christian and secular projects that claim to be reparations are not. I am interested in how we promote real reparations and take seriously the history, mechanisms for compensation and community engagement from the bottom up. It is a radio programme and music project.
I’ve completed a jointly-edited collection called Behold the Men: An Introduction to Critical Masculinities. It explores alternative masculinities for Christian men in Britain and has come at the right time with the rise of toxic masculinity.
I’m also working on a project with Christian hip-hop theorists and academics on the album by Bashy who won a MOBO Award this year for his hip-hop album Being Poor is Expensive. We have a conference later this year on theological and religious reflections on the album.
SA: What changes have you noted in academia over the years re the treatment of Black people?
PRB: It’s hard inside the European imagination, and the Christian imagination, to treat Black people as fully human. I’ve been saying that for 33 years and it’s still difficult. I don’t think a great deal has radically changed. When I first started, there was one Black lecturer in the whole of the UK teaching theology, at Birmingham University. Thirty-three years on
there is still only one Black theologian teaching at a British university and that’s Anthony Reddie at Oxford. So, although I have helped to supervise 15 Black PhDs, the British university theology sector is still white supremacist. That’s failure because we thought university theology would be open to diversity, inclusion, and racial justice. We are still fighting, which suggests we need a different strategy.
'...I am still hopeful because I believe in God. I believe God is a God of justice and, even despite the failure, there is still opportunity in the future...'
SA: Given the size of the Black Pentecostal church, are people not applying?
PRB:. Firstly, the staff is all white! They are racialised as white and have no lived experience of Black people. And they don’t necessarily teach courses that appeal to Black people. Every weekend I can guarantee there are more Black people opening the Bible than geography books. So, there’s been a failure to engage over the last 30 years.
What’s been fantastic is that Black people are now seizing the initiative and developing their own theological courses, their own theological institutions and research centres. Without radical change, we are going to develop an apartheid system in Christian theology because of the failure of mainstream institutions/universities to embrace diversity.
But I am still hopeful because I believe in God. I believe God is a God of justice and, even despite the failure, there is still opportunity in the future, but it may well be that going forward the liberation of theology will be in the hands of Black and Brown people, and they will have to decide how they then do integration of their theological thought and practice from a Black base.
SA: How do you feel about your 30-year career in academia?
PRB: I feel I have fulfilled my calling not only as a Christian to be an educator but also as a descendant of enslaved people who dreamed that their descendants would have the opportunity not only to be free but also to continue to fight for justice. In the words of Maya Angelou, I have been in my academic career the hope and the dream of enslaved people, and that’s been as important to me as being a child of God.
The Queen’s Foundation, in association with partners and well-wishers, will host a Thanksgiving Service for Professor Robert Beckford on Saturday 21st June, at 6pm –8.30pm, at the New Life Wesleyan Church, in Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 0LA, to mark his 60th birthday and pioneering work in Black Theology.
SHIRIN AGUIAR Freelance writer
Professor Beckford and his wife, Jennifer
NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!
REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD FIVE YEARS ON
Rev Guy Hewitt explores the impact of the killing of George Floyd on the fight against racism on the fifth anniversary of his death
‘The evil do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely’ – Proverbs 28:5
The fifth anniversary of the killing of George Floyd has been underwhelming. The recent lurch to the right in global politics, with its veiled racist undertones, questions what progress has actually been made.
I experienced the impact of George Floyd from both sides of the Pond. Following the struggle for justice for the victims of the Windrush scandal and an accumulated half century of living , I concluded my public sector career and went ‘all in’ with my church ministry. This sojourn took me to the Episcopal Church in Florida.
The three years that I served there – before providence would lead me back to London to work on racial justice in the Church of England – I pastored amid the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, which specifically in the US was anti-Black bigotry.
The nine minutes and 29 seconds that it took Derek Chauvin to callously end George Floyd’s life by kneeling on his neck, not only changed how we viewed the inhumane treatment of Black people in America, but sparked a global movement against racial injustice and the evil and pernicious sin of racism.
The Black Lives Matter protests that spread across the globe, including the UK, exposed what we who live it already knew: that Black, brown and other minoritised men and
women are treated differently away from their homeland.
Following the 2019 research on the Church Commissioners’ historic involvement in African chattel slavery, the General Synod’s apology in 2020 to the Windrush Generation for the racism they experienced, and the Church’s admittance to institutional racism, the Church of England has embarked on a journey of truth-telling, introspection and reconciliation.
With the killing of George Floyd, the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce was established, which produced ‘From Lament To Action’ – a theological framework and suite of actions designed to bring about ‘real change’ in the area of race equality and racial justice in the Church.
It is reported that in his youth, George Floyd remarked: “I’m gonna make a difference. I’m gonna change the world.” In becoming a symbol against race hatred and racial injustice, his death has made a difference. May he rest in peace.
Notwithstanding these efforts, and the truths revealed in the killing of George Floyd and others like him in the UK and elsewhere, issues of race and racism remain contested by a vocal and influential minority. The racist riots across England last summer remind us of the enormity of the task waiting to be addressed. The fact that some in the US are campaigning for a pardon for Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd, along with recent efforts to push back on equity, diversity and inclusion, are indicative of the fact that the road to anti-racism and racial justice still stretches a long way ahead.
Tragically there are some, while claiming to be of God but seemingly ignorant to their White Privilege, who espouse bigotry and division. In his book Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr wrote: ‘I have been
gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.’
Four days before he was assassinated, Dr King preached in his final sermon: “It’s an unhappy truth that racism is a way of life for the vast majority of white Americans, spoken and unspoken, acknowledged and denied, subtle and sometimes not so subtle. The disease of racism permeates and poisons a whole body politic. And I can see nothing more urgent than for America to work passionately and unrelentingly to get rid of the disease of racism.” Over 55 years have passed since Dr King was assassinated, and we’re still searching for the cure.
Nelson Mandela, in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, noted: ‘There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, again and again, before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.’
Just as our world leaders harnessed knowledge, skills and technology to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, may we with similar intentionality and determination – and through God’s grace and His call to see the divine in every other – work to eradicate the global pandemic of racism and all forms of discrimination. Let’s keep hope alive.
REV GUY HEWITT
WHY WINDRUSH DAY MATTERS MORE THAN EVER
Roy Francis examines the historical roots of Windrush Day and shares why Britain’s Caribbean community should acknowledge and celebrate its achievements
June 22nd is now officially recognised as Windrush Day – an acknowledgement of the contribution Caribbeans have made to the development of modern Britain. It’s the result of many years of campaigning by people like the late Sam King MBE – who arrived in Britain aboard the Empire Windrush – along with Arthur Torrington CBE, Patrick Vernon OBE, community leaders, activists, and the descendants of the Windrush Generation. Two other events significantly influenced this development. The first was the ‘hostile environment’ policy in 2018 by the then Prime Minister Theresa May. What the policy did was to expose that Caribbean nationals – many of whom had lived in Britain since childhood – were being unfairly targeted, wrongfully detained, and deported to the Caribbean. This revelation sparked widespread public outrage and was intensified when Caribbean Heads of State, attending a Commonwealth Conference in London, publicly condemned the policy and drew international attention to it.
Faced with this mounting pressure and widespread condemnation, the government
was shamed into action. It agreed to launch an inquiry and committed itself to establishing a Windrush Day, with a pledge of £500,000 to support it – a modest amount by government spending standards.
Now that there is a Windrush Day, what should we make of it? How meaningful is it and its celebration? Is it a useful tool to build awareness, identity and cohesion, or is it – as some suggest – a token gesture, mere “crumbs”, when much more is needed? Perhaps this and other reasons explain why Caribbeans don’t fully embrace the day as they should.
One of the reasons for this reluctance is that, in the early years of being in Britain, the main focus of Caribbeans was on survival: finding work, building families, educating their children, establishing churches, and creating strong, supportive communities. Because of this, there was little time or space for public celebration, and, whenever moments of joy did arise, they were often marked quietly and privately within families and community circles, rather than in the broader public arena.
Two events, however, were the exception.
The first was in June 1950, when, for the first time, the West Indies cricket team famously defeated England on home soil. It sparked spontaneous celebrations in West Indian communities, and even inspired Lord Kitchener, the Caribbean artist who wrote ‘London is the Place for Me’, to pen another classic: ‘Cricket, Lovely Cricket’.
The second event was the Notting Hill Carnival, started by Claudia Jones in 1958. It was both a celebration of Black pride, as expressed in Caribbean culture, and a protest at the murder of Kelso Cochrane in the same year – an act of defiance against the rising level of racial attacks in Britain.
Today, the Notting Hill Carnival is a national event, second in size only to the Rio Janeiro Carnival, the world’s largest. In some quarters, the Notting Hill Carnival is looked on as transformative; however, it’s not as supported in the Caribbean community as it should be. Why is this, and why are Caribbeans so reluctant to fully support this event and others? Maybe it’s a legacy of the past. Possibly it could be the way Caribbean people see themselves; self-perception influences behaviour.
Years of exclusion, neglect, and being undervalued and marginalised may have something to do with this reluctance. Also, the view that Caribbeans and Black people have of themselves – largely negative – may have been internalised and have affected their mindsets. This therefore makes it difficult for them to cultivate and celebrate their achievements.
Historically, Caribbeans have been immersed in British culture and have absorbed English traits of restraint and understatement. They regard open pride or self-promotion with suspicion, and, because of this, their public celebrations and expressions of achievements are likely to be muted, as they may not wish to appear boastful, believing this to be inappropriate.
Sport and music have been the exceptions, and, although Blacks didn’t court success in these areas, it nevertheless happened. Maybe it’s because Black ‘natural talent’ wasn’t challenged, as others of their endeavours were, paradoxically allowing that very talent to thrive. As a result, today Black footballers in the English League, through their skill and determination, have achieved significant success. They now make up 40% of all players, bringing wealth, prestige and influence to themselves and to their families.
Today, Windrush Day offers us a moment of reflection, inviting us to acknowledge the vital role Caribbeans have played in shaping modern Britain. It also opens the door to conversations about identity and encourages self-reflection, as well as reminding us to share our stories, especially as Caribbeans are likely to downplay their success and achievements.
There may also be deeper reasons for this reticence, for when a community fails to value itself or its accomplishments, there are profound and far-reaching consequences.
For example, a lack of self-worth can breed self-doubt, which often leads to internalised feelings of inferiority that hinder progress and limit success. It’s also likely that when a community fails to champion its past successes, it risks losing touch with its roots, history, culture, values and traditions, thereby weakening its sense of belonging across generations. This makes it hard for young people in particular to take pride in themselves, their history and their traditions.
In my book, Windrush: 7 Events That Changed Britain, I don’t claim to explain the deeper reasons behind Caribbeans’ cultural reticence, but I do highlight seven pivotal events how I believe the Windrush Generation and their descendants have significantly shaped Britain’s national identity. The examples I explore may seem modest or even ordinary, but their impact has spread like tentacles throughout British society, touching and transforming every part of it.
For instance, in the chapter entitled ‘From Pit to Chamber’, I point out there was once a time in Britain when open racial discrimination was legal and went unchallenged. There were simply no laws to prevent it. It took the tireless campaigning of people like Harold Moody, Claudia Jones, Learie Constantine, David Pitt, Paul Stephenson OBE, and countless others – many of them of Caribbean heritage – to seek to change this. The result of this activity was the 1965 Race Relations Act, which for the first time made racial discrimination in Britain illegal, thereby marking a turning point in the history of Britain.
The fight didn’t stop there. Caribbeans also fought for political representation and equality, which, in 1985, led to the election of Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng, Bernie Grant, and Keith Vaz to the British Parliament. It advanced racial equality in Britain, paving the way for others to follow, so that today equality is not just a philosophical abstraction, but a lived reality.
Another area in which the Caribbean community has had a profound and lasting impact on British society – and one they should be immensely proud of – is in religion. What
began as small “prayer meetings” in homes during the 1960s and 70s evolved into the establishment of churches that have since grown into a vast and influential network, particularly in urban areas. Today, there are over 4,000 Black Pentecostal churches across Britain, with a combined membership exceeding 300,000. They represent one of the oldest, most structured, and financially successful sections of the Caribbean community, whose economic and cultural influence is significant, as many of its members now form part of Britain’s growing Black middle class.
Black Pentecostal churches have also played a pivotal role in reshaping Britain’s religious culture. It has introduced a distinctive style of worship, left a lasting imprint, introduced gospel music to hymnody, and, in the 1970s and 80s, Caribbean choirs became a familiar presence on British television, offering a dynamic and spirited expression of Christianity that had rarely been seen in Britain before. This influence has extended to the evangelical wing of the Church of England, which now owes much to the legacy of Caribbean Christianity.
Now more than ever, Black people in general – and Caribbeans in particular – should embrace Windrush Day. It is not only a symbol of historical recognition, but also a powerful reminder of resilience, contribution and identity, offering a vital opportunity to celebrate Black pride, history, and culture – especially for young people who urgently need that affirmation. It’s also a call to action, and a reminder that the journey is far from over. It challenges us to ensure full representation and visibility in all spheres of British life. Windrush Day is not just about honouring the past, therefore; it’s more about shaping the future.
ROY FRANCIS
WHY GOING TO THERAPY IS A GODLY THING
Dr T Ayodele Ajayi shares why men should consider having therapy if they are experiencing emotional or psychological trauma and the biblical basis for it
Brothers, let’s be honest. We know how to lead in prayer, provide for our families, and stand firm in faith. Alas, when it comes to our own wounds – the ones nobody sees – we often suffer in silence. In our churches and in our culture, strength is too often defined by how well we can suppress pain. But what if real strength is found in vulnerability? What if going to therapy isn’t a sign of weakness, but of wisdom – a deeply godly act?
After a quarter of a century as a psychiatrist – and over two decades serving as a pastor and sitting on pastoral boards – I believe it’s time we explore why seeking emotional and mental support may be one of the most courageous and spiritual decisions a Christian man can make.
What is therapy really?
Here’s the thing: you can pray and see a therapist. Jesus and a therapist can form a holy combo for the modern man.
Therapy offers a safe, supportive relationship that helps heal the wounds caused by other relationships. It provides space to reflect, make meaning, plan, build courage, and discover new perspectives and solutions to emotional pain. Let’s be real – it’s not easy. Therapy is an act of bravery. One in three people who book a therapy appointment never show up. Of those who do, many stop attending after just a few sessions. But that’s exactly why engaging in therapy is an act of godly courage – because healing is not passive. It takes humility and strength.
WHY SHOULD A CHRISTIAN MAN CONSIDER THERAPY?
1. We are tripartite beings
We are spirit, soul (our thoughts, emotions, will and reasoning), and body. God cares about
every part of us. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays for the wholeness of all three parts. While we often prioritise our spirits and increasingly care for our bodies, soul care is still neglected in many churches. Therapy can play a vital role in this kind of transformational soul care. Even biblical men leaned on therapeutic relationships: Moses had Jethro, David had Jonathan, and Jesus sought the emotional support of His disciples in Gethsemane.
2. Faith and therapy are not at odds
Many therapeutic principles are grounded in Scripture. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), for example, mirrors Romans 12:2 and Philippians 4:8 in challenging toxic thinking. The Bible validates our emotional lives:
• ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted’ (Psalm 34:18)
• Journaling? See the Psalms
• Meditation? Joshua 1:8
• Gratitude? All through Paul’s letters
Therapy, when rooted in faith, is simply another way God ministers healing.
Men are three times as likely to die by suicide in the UK, and young men of Black African or Black Caribbean origin are disproportionately more at risk.
3. Black men and the silent mental health crisis
In the UK, Black men are disproportionately diagnosed with serious mental health conditions. Yet, we are the least likely to seek early help or present with common mental health struggles. The stigma is real. But we cannot heal what we won’t acknowledge. The silence is costing lives, families and legacies. Men are three times as likely to die by suicide in the UK, and young men of Black African or Black Caribbean origin are disproportionately more at risk.
4. Therapy changes lives and destinies
I’ve witnessed the shift in men’s marriages, ministries, fatherhood, and self-worth when they undergo therapy.
Take Alfred. He came to therapy, struggling with emotional disconnection from his wife, lacking the confidence to be the father he longed to be. Through therapy, he uncovered the root of his self-rejection – childhood experiences of parental rejection. For the first time, things began to make sense and that improved matters in the bedroom, living room and boardroom.
There are countless ‘Alfreds’ in our churches – men waiting for permission to feel, speak and heal.
5. What’s next?
As someone uniquely positioned as both psychiatrist and pastor, I say this with reverence: it’s time for church leaders to stop dissuading our members from therapy or downplaying the role of professional mental health support. Some of our brothers are carrying generational trauma that requires more than prayer or pastoral counselling alone.
The good news? There are now gifted Christian therapists – culturally attuned, spiritually grounded – who can help.
Dear Christian Man...
You may never fully walk in your purpose until you’ve healed from the wounds within. So I challenge you to break the mould, do your research on therapy, speak with trusted Christian mental health professionals, and talk to other men who have been through it. You can also ask your GP for options and commit to the journey. Your freedom, fulfilment and future may lie on the other side of that first session.
Unsure where to begin learning about therapy? Visit my YouTube channel Tripart Care and check out my video on “How to Help Men Talk About Emotions”. You can also email tripartcare@gmail.com
Brother, healing is holy – and you are worth it.
DR T AYODELE AJAYI
SERVANT LEADERSHIP: THE POWER OF LEADING BY SERVING
Jesus Christ admonished His followers to be servant leaders. Pastor Denis Wade unpacks what servant leadership looks like when practised, and how it impacts people’s lives
Earlier this year, I shared a Sunday sermon with my congregation at Micah Community Church on the theme of servant leadership – an approach that continues to shape my convictions about true leadership. I posed a simple but profound question: What is true leadership?
My reply: “As stated by Jesus, we must adopt humility. We must take the posture of a servant. That’s why we say, whoever would be the master, whoever would be in charge, whoever would be the leader, let him be your servant. The higher you go in leadership, in any aspect of life, the more heart you must have. You’re not here to lord it over people; you’re here to serve them. It’s top-down, turned upside down.”
The power of leading by serving
In a world where leadership is often tied to authority, status and control, servant leadership offers a radical alternative. Scripture gives us a clear model: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26, Mark 10:43). This principle flips worldly leadership on its head. The higher you rise, the more you’re called to serve – not dominate.
The essence of servant leadership
Servant leadership begins with a shift in mindset. Rather than seeing leadership as a position of privilege, servant leaders view it as a responsibility. It’s about casting a vision that inspires and empowers others to achieve shared goals. It’s not limited by titles or structures, but rooted in influence, character and care.
When leaders take on the heart of a servant, transformation follows, trust grows, morale improves, and teams thrive. People respond to
leaders who lead with integrity, compassion, and genuine concern for the well-being of others.
The heart of a servant leader
What sets servant leaders apart is not their authority, but their character. They are emotionally intelligent: they listen well, speak with intention, and seek to understand others’ perspectives.
Integrity is another hallmark. Servant leaders live what they preach. They create cultures where authenticity is more important than appearance. Their choices are driven by values, not vanity. With vision and wisdom, they guide others forward, always keeping the bigger picture in mind.
Putting servant leadership into practice
So how does servant leadership play out in daily life? It starts with example. Servant leaders model the behaviours they expect from others. They prioritise active listening and make space for people to feel heard. They empower others by sharing responsibility, not hoarding it. Their feedback is honest but constructive; it builds rather than breaks. By recognising potential in others, they create opportunities for growth, development and long-term success.
Transparency marks their leadership. Even when tough decisions must be made, they lead with honesty, invite collaboration, and explain their reasoning when it’s right to do so.
The challenges of servant leadership
As powerful as servant leadership is, it’s not always easy. In a culture that often celebrates dominance, humility can be misunderstood as weakness. Leaders may feel the pressure to perform for recognition rather than results.
There’s also a tension between taking decisive action and giving others room to grow. A servant leader must discern when to step in – and when to step back.
A call to men of faith
As men of faith, we look to Jesus Christ – the ultimate servant leader. When He washed His disciples’ feet, He gave us a lasting image of leadership that serves rather than seeks status. His example continues to challenge our views of authority and greatness.
Servant leadership isn’t limited to church or the workplace. It applies at home, in business, in ministry, and in the wider community. The principles remain the same: humility before honour, service before status, others before self. Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about impact. Great leaders don’t just gather followers; they raise up other leaders. By embracing servant leadership, men of faith can shape their environments – not by controlling others, but by helping them grow.
A final reflection
Servant leadership asks each of us to take a deeper look at how we lead. It’s not always the loudest voice or the highest position that makes the greatest impact. Sometimes, it’s the one who quietly serves, uplifts and empowers others who changes the game. So, as you reflect on your own journey, ask yourself: Am I leading to be served, or am I leading to serve?
FAITH IN THE FIRE: BLACK HOPE IN A CULTURE OF FEAR
Dionne Gravesande calls on Black Christians to be carriers of hope, sharers of faith, and mouthpieces for justice in a world overshadowed by hopelessness and anxiety
As we move through the warmth of summer and approach Windrush Day on June 22, we are reminded of the enduring power of memory, legacy and faith. The story of the Windrush Generation is filled with both struggle and strength. It offers a poignant metaphor for our current cultural moment: a time where fear feels pervasive, but where hope, like the tide, keeps rising.
We are living in an age when fear dominates headlines and seeps into our everyday interactions. Whether it’s the cost-ofliving crisis, rising racial tension, global wars, or a widening political divide, fear has become the cultural currency. And yet, the Black Church has always known how to speak life into dry bones. We have always been a Pentecostal people, bearing witness to the Holy Spirit’s power to gather what is scattered and to birth something new in the midst of chaos.
Theologian Professor Robert Beckford challenges us to interrogate the systems that produce fear in our communities. He reminds us that fear is not only emotional, it is institutional, spiritual, and political. We fear violence, marginalisation, erasure. But Professor Beckford insists that liberation begins with naming those fears and recognising the structures that sustain them.
The NCLF Black Church Political Mobilisation Manifesto also shares this prophetic insight, calling Black churches to engage deeply with political life and advocacy – not out of ambition, but out of a holy dissatisfaction with the status
quo. In this, naming fear becomes the first act of faith.
Over time, I have written extensively on “radical compassion” as the heartbeat of justice. In my reflections, particularly through my work with Christian Aid and global ecumenical movements, I believe that true hope arises when we stand alongside the marginalised, not to pity but to empower. In this we echo the spirit of the Windrush pioneers, who endured systemic racism but built churches, raised families, and shaped Britain with dignity and faith.
Hope is not wishful thinking; it is the sacred refusal to accept the world as it is when we know what it could be. This sacred defiance is especially fitting during the Pentecost season, when we remember how the Spirit fell not on the elite, but on ordinary people, united by diversity and compelled by mission.
Bishop Joe Aldred has long advocated for the Black Church as a space of reconciliation and belonging. In a Britain increasingly polarised by politics and fear, the Church remains a healing home. He reminds us that the Church’s mission is not merely personal salvation, but communal restoration.
This summer, many of us will gather to celebrate Pentecost power through church conventions, youth camps, family days, and Windrush commemorations. These are not just social occasions; they are acts of spiritual resistance as we allow ourselves to dream new dreams. In community, we remember
our identity, we restore our dignity, and we reimagine our future.
As fear isolates, community connects. And in that connection, we experience the God who says: “You are not alone.” The hope we proclaim is not escapism. It is action rooted in the Gospel. The NCLF Manifesto urges us to be politically aware, civically active, and spiritually awake. From mentoring youth and campaigning for education reform to housing justice and economic equity, hope must translate into movement.
We are inheritors of a faith that thrives under pressure. Our ancestors praised God on plantation fields. The Windrush Generation built churches in the face of “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish” signs. Our young people are still speaking out in the streets, schools, and social media feeds. This is not a story of survival alone; it is a story of spirit-filled resistance.
As Christian believers we are the midwives of hope. That’s our task: to birth joy in sorrow, to speak truth in fear, and to build a better world with faith as our foundation. So let’s keep the faith not just as a mantra, but as a mission. Because perfect love still casts out fear. And our God is love.
DIONNE GRAVESANDE Principal Adviser, Ecumenical Relations and Theology at Christian Aid and NCLF Co-chair
FUTURE YOUTH (FY) is an opportunity for those aged 18-30 to spend a year growing in young people and children’s ministry through ministry placements, training and mentoring.
FY is more than just a great experience year though, participants test God’s calling on their lives by pursuing ministry in a safe and supportive environment and receiving training through a nationally run course. All placements will provide ministry opportunities across a range of ages and contexts.
Youth and children’s work can sometimes be made to feel like the smallest cog in the machine – and yet it lays the groundwork for the future of the church as well as bringing life and vibrancy to church congregations today. FY is an opportunity to invest in young adult leaders to make that happen.
The year is free to do with accommodation and expenses covered.
“I love being a support for young people, being patient with them even when they go wrong, being somewhere safe for them”
“The best thing about this year is my youth growing. I‘m just really, really, proud of them. And that makes me really, happy to see their growth” Camila
PEAR-SHAPED OR PRAYER-SHAPED?
Gary Clayton looks at the reasons why God doesn’t answer our prayers and the reasons why He does
Iremember a prayer event I once attended, which began with a talk about how hard it is to pray. It was then followed by an exhortation for us to pray. That exhortation was followed by a prayer that we’d be able to do so.
The leader then asked what we wanted to pray about and, having been supplied with a shopping list of our prayers, he committed everything we were about to pray for to God. Finally, after he’d done so, we prayed.
Unfortunately, the room had only been booked for a couple of hours, so, by the time we started to pray, it was more or less time to stop.
Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar...
There have, of course, been numerous books dedicated to the subject of prayer, as well as countless conferences, courses,
seminars and sermons. But, since I only have about 750 words to talk about prayer, I’m aware that I’ve already taken up 165 words just introducing the subject! First, let’s take a look at why the Lord might not answer our prayers.
Some of the reasons could be:
• Disobedience: ‘If anyone turns a deaf ear to My instruction, even their prayers are detestable’ (Proverbs 28:9).
• Unbelief: ‘But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord’ (James 1:6-7).
• Faithlessness: ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him’ (Hebrews 11:6).
• Sinfulness: ‘Even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of My sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow’ (Isaiah 1:15-17).
• Not asking: ‘You do not have because you do not ask God’ (James 4:2).
• Asking wrongly: ‘When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures’ (James 4:3).
• Bad relationships: ‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them’ (Mark 11:25).
Now I could end there, leaving us both miserable and unmotivated. So, before reaching the end of the article, let’s look at why God, in His infinite kindness, goodness and mercy, does indeed answer our prayers.
Scripture tells us:
1 Peter 3:12 – ‘The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.’
John 9:31 – ‘We know that God... listens to the godly person who does His will.’
James 5:16 – ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’
John 15:7 – ‘If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’
Mark 11:24 – ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’
Matthew 21:22 – ‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’
John 16:24 – ‘Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.’
1 John 5:14-15 – ‘If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.’
In other words, we can pray and be heard because God’s ears are ‘attentive’ to everyone who ‘does His will’. So, if this is the case, we can be confident that God will give us what we ask if we ‘remain’ in Him; are ‘righteous’ (i.e. right with God); ‘know that He hears us’; and ‘believe’ that we’ve ‘received it’.
That said, God will only grant our request if we ‘ask in Jesus’ Name’. This means asking on behalf of Jesus’ purposes and plans, and for His glory rather than our own. It also means asking from right motives and ‘according to His will’.
Although I know I’ve barely scratched the surface, my hope and prayer is that some of this will be of help to you when you pray.
As a friend once put it: “If our response to life’s challenges is properly prayer-shaped, then things in life are less likely to go pear-shaped.”
FOOD THOUGHT
BY MARCIA DIXON MBE
4
PRAYER FOR MEN
During my life’s journey, it has been a blessing to have met Black men who exemplify healthy Christian masculinity. These men are truthful, caring, compassionate, resilient, courageous, community-minded, responsible, and love their families. These honourable qualities are crowned by a love and reverence for God. When such men are part of a community, they demonstrate why men matter.
When exemplary men are absent, society suffers. The impact of male absence is evident to see – in the behaviour of young men from fatherless families, in the women who bear the strain of lone parenting and have trouble finding godly husbands, and also in the churches, where male leadership is lacking.
Whilst I have always felt it is beholden upon church leaders to promote godly masculinity and to redress the lack of activity by men in the church and wider society, there’s a part for women to play too.
Firstly, we shouldn’t go down the road of demonising men. It’s wrong to lump all men in the same basket. Men are made in the image of God and had dominion of the earth until sin spoiled everything. Whilst it’s not wrong to call out men’s bad behaviour, as bearers of God’s image they also deserve respect which is being slowly eroded. Christian women should refuse to follow the trend.
Secondly, we should recognise a healthy community is one with men in it. As much as I admire strong, successful women, I wouldn’t want to live in a world without men! Men
build much of the physical infrastructure in communities that women enjoy. In addition, when godly masculinity is evident, they provide a reassuring, protective presence for the vulnerable and weaker members of a community and their presence can also add fun, excitement, as well as opportunities for romance and marriage if they are single!!!
Lastly, men are called to bring vision, motivation, team-building and goal-setting into their role as leaders. And whether women work alongside them as equals in a leadership capacity or as helpers, we need to work together, united in fulfilling God’s purpose in the world and in our individual lives.
With these things in mind, as Christian women let’s pray for men – whether they are husbands, brothers, cousins, uncles, grandfathers, nephews, or the men we meet on life’s journey. Let’s ask for God’s will to be fulfilled in their lives and for them to be excellent examples of godly leadership in their family, community and wider world. They are needed.
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
There are a lot of people who have fallen on hard times and publicly beg. Sometimes I give, sometimes I don't. Whilst out shopping recently, I met a man doing just that. I initially refused his request for money but, when I got to my bus stop and saw him again, I decided to talk with him.
From doing so, I discovered his parents were from Jamaica, that he had grown up in West London, and had two grown children – one training to be a doctor – and that his mother had wanted him to be a preacher.
He told me he couldn't read, but then proceeded to read the destination on the buses so, in my best Jamaican accent, I said: “Yuh can read, man!” We had a nice conversation and at the end I gave him some cash.
My experience reminded me that there's always a story behind those individuals who beg on the street, and that it’s so important not to judge a person by what they wear and to dig deeper.
You never know what you'll find.
THANK GOD FOR THE BOOK OF PSALMS
Aren’t you glad there is a book in the Bible called Psalms? I am. You might be asking why?
Well, I love Psalms because its 150 chapters touch on the full gamut of human emotions and experiences, such as loss, disappointment, betrayal, heartfelt worship, awe, regret, anxiety and deep pain. In fact, you name the emotion or experience, it’s covered somewhere in Psalms.
This is hardly surprising. According to Jewish tradition, there are ten contributors to this book, aside from King David. Other writers include Moses and Abraham. It’s apparent they lived eventful lives of faith from which we can learn much.
What reading through the Psalms makes us realise is that the life of a Christian can be joyful, complex and perplexing, and we need to look to the Lord constantly to help us during life’s difficult moments.
Furthermore, Psalms reminds us of the glory, majesty, sovereignty and protective nature of God and that, despite our failings, weaknesses and sins, He loves us, is forgiving, and is always open to hearing and answering our heartfelt prayers.
So, the next time you need a spiritual pick-me-up, some guidance, want to draw closer to God, or desire to express heartfelt gratitude to Him, have a flick through the Psalms. You won’t be disappointed, and you may well find a psalm to meet your need.
ADDRESSING FATHERLESSNESS BY SUPPORTING FATHERS
Sheldon Thomas looks at the impact of fatherlessness on young boys and provides pointers on how the Church can help fathers connect meaningfully with their children
Fatherless homes are a fact of life. Twenty-two per cent of white families and 61% of Black families are led by a lone-parent home, with only 1% of that number headed by a father. The Ministry of Justice has stated that between 73–76% per cent of male prison inmates either had no relationship with a biological father; did not know who their father was; or had no positive relationship with a positive male role model in their lives.
For the past 20 years, I have served as a mentor to young men, which has given me a deep insight into the emotional struggles many young men face, particularly with regards to feelings of abandonment and rejection by their fathers.
How does not having a father in his life affect a young boy today? One thing that has become painfully clear is that the absence of a father often leaves a deep wound, a feeling of abandonment that silently shapes a boy’s identity.
Research has long confirmed what I have seen first-hand: fatherlessness can increase the risk of incarceration, cause behavioural problems, low self-esteem, substance abuse, and mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts. Without a strong male figure in their lives, boys will feel insecure and lost. In their search for purpose and belonging, many turn to peer groups with the same problems, often finding false friendships through gangs. One former Guatemalan gang member stated: “The gangs filled a void in society, and the void was the absence of family life. The gangs became the family.”
What young boys truly crave is not gang activity or serious youth violence; it’s guidance,
acceptance, love from a father. Or, at the very least, a man to show up and stay.
Let’s look at rejection. When young boys feel rejected by their father, they often struggle in relationships; they have self-doubt; they will sabotage relationships; and the main one, for me, is self-hate.
Let’s look at how abandonment and rejection affect their emotional and behavioural well-being. Some of the general symptoms that can come from a feeling of abandonment and rejection are anger, hatred, fear, confusion, resentment, disappointment, depression, rebellion, insecurity and self-deception, and more commonly today, serious youth violence.
So, what are the real benefits of having a father in a young man’s life? I have chosen to look at this based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. A father’s presence can have a powerful and lasting impact on a child’s development.
Through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we can see how a supportive father helps meet each stage of a child’s growth –from basic survival to personal fulfilment.
At the foundation are physiological needs – food and shelter. Fathers often help provide these essentials, ensuring their children grow up in a safe and stable environment. The next level is safety and security, which is about physical protection and emotional stability. An involved father creates a sense of consistency, helping children feel secure and grounded in their day-to-day lives. Love and belonging come next. Children naturally seek connection and acceptance. A father’s love, time and attention can fulfil this need, building trust and forming a strong emotional bond that supports healthy relationships in the future. The fourth level, esteem, is about confidence and selfrespect. Fathers influence this by encouraging
their children, recognising their strengths and helping them build resilience. This support can shape a child’s belief in themselves and their ability to succeed. At the top of the hierarchy is self-actualisation – the desire to grow, create and reach one’s potential.
A father who nurtures his child’s dreams and supports their goals plays a key role in helping them become their best self. In every stage of a child’s life, the role of a father matters. Whether through protection, love, discipline or guidance, a present and caring father helps lay the foundation for a child to have a fulfilling and well-balanced life.
While churches offer programmes for fathers and families, many efforts fall short because they often focus on events, not relationships. Men may attend workshops but still feel isolated, judged or unsure of how to apply what they have learnt. Many churches struggle to connect with men, the younger generations or single parent’s homes, and fatherhood is sometimes addressed only from the pulpit – not through real-life mentorship. In some cases, the Church emphasises spiritual duties, but overlooks emotional struggles, mental health, or cultural challenges that fathers face. Without consistency, authenticity, and deeper engagement, church efforts risk becoming surface-level.
To truly help, the Church must listen more, build trust, and walk with fathers through the everyday struggles of life.
SHELDON THOMAS Founder of
LESSONS FROM ADOLESCENCE
Netflix series Adolescence has sparked major discussion about young people. Chioma Fanawopo shares how parents can support their children during their formative years
As a Christian parent and a family coach with over 20 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of walking closely with families and teenagers through every season of life. As a mum raising two young men, I understand both the beauty and the challenges of raising boys in today’s fast-moving, digital world.
The Netflix series Adolescence recently caught my attention. It’s raw, real, and at times uncomfortable, but it also reflects what many young people are going through behind closed doors. While not a Christian drama, it serves as a reminder that, as parents, we must be present, aware, and ready to guide our children through the noise of popular culture.
Connection begins in the womb
The Bible tells us that God knew our children before they were formed (Jeremiah 1:5). Connection begins early. From the womb, children sense a mother’s heartbeat, voice and emotions. That early connection lays a foundation of trust and safety that we continue to build on throughout their lives.
Let’s speak life over our children from the very beginning. Pray with them. Bless them. Let them know they are loved, seen and valued before they ever speak a word.
Know their world
The world our children are growing up in is drastically different from the one we knew. Social media, YouTube, online games, such as Discord and Roblox, and instant messaging are their everyday environment. It can be overwhelming – but it’s also an opportunity for connection.
Adolescence highlights what can happen when teens feel misunderstood or disconnected at home. They search for validation and guidance in places that often do more harm than good.
Instead of fearing their world, let’s enter it with curiosity. Ask questions. Watch what they’re watching. Play the games they play. We don’t need to be perfect parents – we just need to be emotionally present ones.
Help them know who they are Young people today are not just asking what to do with their lives; they’re asking who they are. They want to belong. They want to feel seen, heard and valued. That deep longing for identity influences every choice they make, and if we don’t help them answer those questions, the world will.
For many of our children – especially those of African or Caribbean heritage growing up in the UK – they carry more than one cultural identity. That can be both a gift and a challenge. Do we take time to help them navigate that? Do we teach them their history – not just what’s taught in school, but the legacy of strength, faith and resilience that flows through their roots?
Do we seek to understand their world as much as we want them to understand ours?
As Christian parents, we’re called to affirm their God-given identity, while also equipping them to live confidently in all parts of who they are – culturally, emotionally and spiritually. Remind them they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), and that every part of their story matters.
Talk about relationships and consent
One of the key lessons from Adolescence is the need for honest conversations about relationships, boundaries and consent. Too many Christian homes avoid these topics, hoping church or school will cover them. But silence leads to confusion. And young people fill in the gaps with limited knowledge from their peers.
Let’s show our children what healthy love looks like. Teach boys that strength lies in self-control, in protecting who they love, not hurting them. Teach girls that their voice, beauty and value are God-given – not dependent on anyone else.
Build bridges, not walls
Connection isn’t just about big moments; it’s built in everyday life. The safer and more seen our children feel, the more likely they are to open up when it really matters. Let’s be available, approachable and prayerful. Let’s create lasting memories together.
Let faith anchor your parenting
Parenting in the digital age isn’t easy, but God hasn’t left us alone. He gives wisdom to those who ask. Pray without ceasing. Surround yourself with support. Be humble enough to learn, and bold enough to lead with love!
We’re not just raising well-behaved children; we’re raising faith-filled, whole young people who know who they are in Christ and walk in His truth.
So let’s keep the faith, keep showing up, and keep building homes where love, connection and truth go hand in hand. Let’s continue to leave a legacy of faith – just like Abraham did!
Rooting for you parents and carers...
CHIOMA FANAWOPO Youth minister and family expert
From Ashes to Strength: The Montserratian Diaspora 30 years on
M. Jasmyn Allen looks how Montserratians have fared since migrating to the UK after the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano, which left parts of the island inhabitable
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’ — Psalm 46:1–2
THE DAY THE SKY TURNED TO FIRE
On Tuesday, 18 July 1995, the Soufrière Hills volcano on the small Caribbean island of Montserrat erupted for the first time in 350 years. A British Overseas Territory, tucked between Antigua and Guadeloupe, Montserrat was once known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean’, celebrated for its natural beauty and tranquil way of life. In just hours, life changed forever. Plymouth, the capital and economic heart, was swallowed by pyroclastic flows. Entire villages disappeared under ash. The once-lush southern half of the island became a grey, desolate exclusion zone. The volcano didn’t just destroy the landscape; it scattered Montserratians across the world.
More than two-thirds of the island’s population were forced to flee. Some sought refuge on nearby islands like Antigua, others travelled farther to the United States and the United Kingdom.
SCATTERED, NOT SHATTERED
Thousands arrived in cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Preston, Leeds and Leicester, with the largest communities forming
in London (Tottenham, Walthamstow, Hackney), Birmingham and Manchester.
The cold was sharp, the systems unfamiliar, and the trauma of displacement fresh. And yet, from those ashes, something extraordinary began to grow: a resilient faith-filled diaspora community, woven together by shared memory, hardship and hope.
They carried more than their belongings. They carried each other.
FAITH IN A FOREIGN LAND
Displacement didn’t mean disconnection. At the heart of their survival stood the Church. Churches like Victoria Road Evangelical Church and Shiloh Pentecostal Church in Birmingham, and Evering Pentecostal Church in London opened their doors and hearts. Church halls became job centres, prayer meetings became grief circles, and Sunday fellowship became a space for healing, laughter, and cultural preservation.
In unfamiliar surroundings, Montserratians became anchors for each other, offering guidance with housing, support in job searches, and keeping their heritage alive through music, language and faith.
REMEMBERING THROUGH LEGACY
Thirty years on, the Montserratian diaspora in the UK continues to thrive, not because we moved on, but because we remembered.
We remember through the contributions of those who are still leading today.
Rev Dr Ruthlyn Bradshaw: A theological scholar, author and senior pastor of the New Life Assembly Fellowship of Churches. Her work in ministry continues to uplift and guide Montserratians throughout the UK and abroad.
Mrs Janice Panton MBE: She has served as the island’s UK representative for over 26 years, championing Montserrat’s interests following the eruption, supporting resettlement, and access to services for displaced Montserratians.
We also honour the legacy of those who have passed on:
Lazelle Howes (d. 2021): Former Minister of Government and Member of Parliament. She led the Montserrat Project in Islington, which played a pivotal role in advocating for displaced Montserratians to gain permanent settlement rights in the UK.
Sir Howard A. Fergus (d. 2023): Historian, educator, poet, and former acting Governor of Montserrat. His work, including Montserrat: History of a Caribbean Colony, preserves the island’s political and cultural memory.
Rev Jonathan M. Gerald (d. 2025): As the founder and senior pastor of Victoria Road Evangelical Church, he shepherded the Montserratian community through trauma and transition with compassion and enduring faith.
REMEMBERING THROUGH CULTURE
Events like Montserrat Heritage Day (first Saturday in July) and the UK Montserrat Festival (19 July) are not simply nostalgic, they are living classrooms of our resilience and faith. They teach the next generation not just about what was lost through the volcano,
but what was preserved through community, prayer and cultural pride.
THIS MONTSERRATIAN
STORY SPEAKS TO US ALL
We’re reminded that when life erupts, when plans are shaken and landscapes shift, it is our roots in Christ and community that hold us steady.
Whether you’ve experienced displacement or not, this story reminds us of a deeper truth: we are wired for connection. In a world that often celebrates self-sufficiency, the Montserratian experience declares that true
strength is found in faith, community, and shared legacy.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” – Isaiah 54:10
UPCOMING EVENTS
30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, hosted by the Montserrat Government UK Office to commemorate the eruption’s 30th anniversary, takes place on Sunday 22 June at Methodist Central Hall Westminster, London @ 3pm. Free admission. Search Eventbrite to get tickets.
Montserrat Festival UK - 30th Anniversary
A vibrant celebration of Montserratian culture with music, dance, food, art, and family fun takes place on Saturday 19 July 2025 at Chestnuts Park, London. Search Eventbrite to get tickets.
When bad news overwhelms, be inspired by...
Mercy Ships’ floating hospitals are full of good news stories – stories like Harimalala’s.
Thanks to safe surgery on board, Harimalala is now free from the large goitre on her neck that threatened to choke her. Thanks to kind people like you, she’s reclaiming her life.
M JASMYN ALLEN
Marketing Specialist and motivational speaker. Connect on Instagram @jasmyn a
Ministry leader and pastor, Yvonne Brooks, provides wise, compassionate and insightful advice to readers experiencing problematic life issues
Matters Heart
of the
I need help discipling fatherless male converts
I pastor a growing church and, during the past six months, a lot of young men have got saved and baptised. Whilst I am excited and grateful to God for our church growth, I’m also concerned. Many of these young men are from lone-parent homes and none have relationships with their fathers. I’m just wondering what’s the best way to mentor and disciple them. I have experience of my church seeing men with a similar background get saved in our church, yet within two years they all backslid. I’m not sure of the reasons why. They were loved and cared for by the whole congregation. And we had assigned them mentors. I’m not sure if they were overwhelmed with the love and support they received. However, I’m determined these young men will become fully mature in Christ and not go back to the lives they got saved from. Any insights you can give on the best way to disciple these men is welcomed.
Michael
Pastor Yvonne writes: Most churches are crying out for men to come into their fellowship. The whole reason we need to be saved is because we are flawed and sinful, which is separate to our upbringing and background. Along with accepting Christ as our Saviour, there has to be an inward renewal process, honesty and openness on behalf of the individual to come into submission to the Lordship of Christ. It is a spiritual process. In addition to mentoring and discipleship,
please consider that some of the men will have wounds. Some may be physical, but the deepest wounds are of the soul. Their upbringing may have been shaped by difficult circumstances, such as an absent father, an overly controlling mother, parental divorce, poor decisions, or things that have been entirely beyond their control.
These wounds are not healed, as the instinct of a man is to ignore wounds or cover them up and move on, but the unaddressed wounds become unfinished business that will impact on every area of their body, soul, spirit and lives. God has placed these men into your hands, and now you are tasked with assembling a team of people (maybe help from other churches) with the necessary skills and resources to complete their transformation process. Help them to build their devotional lives, which will include prayer, Bible reading, meditation and reflection, including teaching them the power of journaling, along with Christian counselling. You will be in my prayers, as the souls of men and women are so important to God.
My wife is pressuring me to become a pastor
I am married, have three children, and work hard to give my family a good life. My wife doesn’t have to work. Recently she has been pushing me to join the leadership team and study to be a pastor. I don’t feel God is leading me in that direction – I serve Him via my secular work – and when I told my wife, she got upset. Now she constantly nags me about it to the point that it has become very disrespectful! I know what God has called me to, and it’s not to pastoral ministry in church. I’m not sure why my wife is behaving like this, but I want her to stop. What do you advise?
Jonathan
Pastor Yvonne writes: God should be the only One to call you to be a pastor. Your wife may have ambitions and romantic notions about pastoring. She may even feel that she would like to be the wife of a pastor, for the
perceived prestige and position. I suggest that you both speak to couples who are pastors to get a reality check.
You must also speak to your wife in depth, as I think there are some unexpressed needs here that are not being spoken about and so are unmet. Maybe she would like to return to work! Communicate to your wife very clearly where you stand on this matter of pastoring, for if we place ourselves in that position without the call and the anointing of God, we would be committing spiritual suicide.
If you would like help with a problem, email editor@keepthefaith.co.uk Your name will not be published.
Pastor Yvonne Brooks is a co-pastor at New Jerusalem Community Church, Birmingham, and founder of Woman of Purpose, a ministry that encourages women to fulfil their purpose. She is also a speaker and author. Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ yvonnebrooks1/
THE CHALLENGE OF BEING MALE, MASCULINE AND CHRISTIAN
Pastor Clement Okusi calls on Christian men who want to be masculine to follow the example of Christ and be courageous, responsible and demonstrate servant leadership
Men and masculinity are under attack. It seems fashionable today to attribute many of society’s problems to men. Often the attack is presented as a way of helping men by rescuing them from their (toxic) masculinity, resulting in many men becoming confused and conflicted in how they should behave and what it means to be a man.
I wish to suggest several causes that have contributed to this crisis in masculinity.
Feminism
Though no doubt well-meaning in their original aims, some feminist groups, such as the #MeToo movement (an example of fourthwave feminism), have stated that the problem in society is the behaviour of men, labelling traditional masculinity as “toxic”. These groups often deny the biological differences between men and women, confusing equality of opportunity with equality of outcome. The sad irony is that fighting against the patriarchy leaves women unprotected and men unfulfilled.
Feminisation of the home
There are around three million single-parent homes in the UK, with 90% of them led by women. This means a significant portion of males are being raised without a father in the home. This has contributed to many young men becoming over-mothered and under-fathered. Boys need their fathers!
Where the father is present, too often the bringing up of the children is left to the mum. Men need men to disciple their sons, lovingly discipline them, and challenge them.
Feminisation of our schools
Seventy-six per cent of schoolteachers are female. When my son was in primary school, other than the football coaches, there was only one male teacher in the entire school. Studies clearly show that male teachers positively influence a boy’s academic and social development. A woman cannot teach a boy how to be a man (2 Timothy 2:2).
Feminisation of our churches
Despite the majority of church leaders being male, many men find church environments to be feminine and lacking in masculine opportunities for participation and leadership. In addition, female congregants outnumber men 2 to 1 in many churches. This has, in turn, feminised the messages being preached and the songs being sung (they are more sentimental). Furthermore, fewer men are entering the pastorate, whereas there has been a marked increase in female pastors.
Feminisation of marriages
I have performed more than 50 Christian wedding ceremonies over the last 20 years and am increasingly being asked to remove the words “submit” and “obey” from the woman’s vows (Ephesians 5:24). Traditionally, the man was viewed as the head of the house – the priest, prophet, protector and provider of the home.
Fear of men
There is this unhealthy idea that men are dangerous, evil and cannot always be trusted, and that they are murderers, rapists, paedophiles, robbers and abusers. Whilst the data would support that most of these crimes are committed by men, these are often the symptoms rather than the root causes. As Christians, we must remember we are involved in spiritual warfare and that we have an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8).
The devil hates men (Exodus 1:15-16) and is always seeking to destroy them.
The way forward – Ingredients of Christian masculinity
As Christians, the answer to masculinity is to look to Jesus Christ – the ultimate picture of manhood. Jesus was the perfect Man, who defined masculinity not through being a bully or bravado, but through lovingly serving others, sacrificing Himself for others and demonstrating power under control.
One of the ingredients of Christian masculinity is servant leadership. Jesus demonstrated this when He washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1–17). In doing so, Jesus redefined leadership as an act of service. Christian men are called to lead by serving others – especially in the family, church and society.
Another ingredient of Christian masculinity is responsibility. Men grow through taking on responsibility. Without it, men never reach their full potential. In Genesis 2:15, God gave Adam the responsibility of managing the garden (work) before bringing him Eve (wife) in Genesis 2:22. I have never performed a wedding where the man was not in work.
Courage is another necessary quality. Throughout Scripture, men of God are told: ‘Be strong and courageous’ (Joshua 1:9), and to be strong, act like men (1 Corinthians 16:13). Christian men are to be strong in their convictions and beliefs, even when the culture is against everything they believe in.
Ultimately, Christian masculinity is about becoming more like Christ, the perfect Man who was strong yet tender, bold yet meek, holy yet merciful.
PASTOR CLEMENT OKUSI Leader of Eternity Church, an Assemblies of God Zone leader, and a property investor. He is married with four children and one grandchild.
Shirley Anstis charts the challenges that come when going on a journey to adopt a child, and the ups and downs that occur raising an adopted child
Many of us embark on an adoption journey after infertility, miscarriage or other medical issues. I have experienced all of these. Like many people I came to adoption from sadness, grief, anger and disappointment. The decision to adopt is a big one. My husband and I felt it was something we wanted to do and could do. Looking back, I could see we had no idea how difficult and meaningful it would be.
We adopted our son more than ten years ago and we’re still on a learning curve. As he grows and evolves, the challenges and joys change.
THE JOURNEY
Modern adoption is quite different from how it was decades ago. People don’t necessarily give up their child for adoption because of marital status, parent’s health or economic circumstances. Most often the birth mother (and/or her partner) comes to the attention of social services because of her (or their) risky behaviour, often around substance misuse and/or violence.
If grandparents or other family members can look after the child, then a special guardianship is granted. In the meantime, prospective foster/adoptive parents attend training workshops and learn about attachment styles and pre-birth trauma.
THE
ADOPTION
PROCESS
Being approved for adoption is an emotionally exhaustive process.
As a prospective adopter you will be asked about your life choices to date. If you are in a relationship, you also need to be open about how that works – your love, your values, your finances, your activities, your friendships. You also explore your own childhood, how you were raised, and what you’ve taken from your early caregivers. As difficult as this stage is, it is still easier than parenting.
THE EXPERIENCE
Like many adoptive parents we didn’t know what assessments we needed to do for our son, but eventually we could see that we needed to find out more and get a diagnosis. Issues at primary school were the trigger for us and so many others that we know.
Adopted children experience trauma by the fact that they are separated from their birth family. Their experience in the womb may have been compromised by substance misuse and physical abuse. This is stored in the child’s body and means they will need therapy to work it
THE ADOPTION JOURNEY
all out. Additionally, many children have special needs and can struggle to regulate their emotions, making it difficult to maintain friendships.
As parents we often need to attend and convince our child to show up for, assessments, meetings and therapeutic input. This is after we’ve been able to access funds and complete relevant paperwork.
I am blessed that I work from home and can take time off for assessments, meltdowns and meetings. Many parents are not able to do this and have to give up their job to become a carer for their child. Adopted children can be quite angry about their difficult start in life and take this out on their parents.
Adoptive parents are advised to use an approach called therapeutic parenting. It is a style of parenting that seeks to reassure the child that they are wanted, loved, seen and heard. It means that families and friends do not always understand our response to our children.
There are positive moments too when your adopted child says or does something that shows they are growing in the right direction. I clap on the inside whenever I hear ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ because I believe that good manners will help my son as an adult.
ADVICE AND REFLECTIONS
If you are thinking about adopting, get to know how you cope in times of stress and what your support network looks like.
It is important that our children have spaces where there are other adopted children and facilitators who can work with trauma. Parenting
Special Children is one such charity, where the kids can have some fun and the parents get a well-needed break for a couple hours. We need many more of these spaces.
I have worked with Parenting Special Children on their Forever Families handbook, The Highs and Lows of Modern-Day Adoption, which contains the adoption journeys of 34 families.
TOP TAKE-AWAYS
The vast majority of parents in the book feel adopted children need therapy to process their life journey and make sense of it. Sadly, the government has just reduced the funds available to pay for therapy, which means many traumatised children won’t be able to get the urgent help they need to become fully functioning adults.
Adoptive parents identified a need for financial support, as parenting, meetings, therapy and assessments are a full-time job so it’s difficult to hold on to paid work.
As parents, we need more safe spaces for our children, and faith groups could offer an additional space.
Do get in touch if you would like some counselling or coaching around these issues.
SHIRLEY ANSTIS
THE WINDRUSH GENERATION: USING HAIRSTYLES AS A FORM OF IDENTITY AND HERITAGE
The Windrush Generation were renowned for being well-groomed. This included their hair. Verona White writes how their hairstyles reflected their heritage, pride and identity
The Windrush period, stretching from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, was a reflective transformative time for Caribbeans arriving in the UK. Among the many cultural expressions they brought with them, hair was a powerful symbol of identity and pride. For the Windrush Generation, the way they styled their hair not only reflected their rich heritage, but also showcased their dignity in the face of societal challenges.
My mother took great pride in her hair, as well as my hair and my sister Sharon’s. My sister had a softer, curly texture just like my dad’s, but my mum just knew how to make our hair look good. She enjoyed creating neat square sections, ensuring every braid was perfectly aligned. The time spent preparing her hair was not just a routine; it was a ritual that connected her to her roots and her sense of self. The hairstyles of the time – whether afros, cornrows or elegant wigs – represented more than just aesthetics; they symbolised the strength and resilience of a community striving to maintain its identity in a new land.
The afro was one of the most iconic hairstyles that emerged during the Windrush era. With its bold, natural shape, the afro celebrated textured hair, acting as a powerful form of self-expression. For many, sporting an afro was an act of defiance against the prevailing European beauty standards and a celebration of Black pride. This hairstyle embodied the spirit of a generation that sought to reclaim its identity and heritage.
Cornrows, another popular choice, were not only practical but deeply rooted in African tradition. This intricate styling method allowed wearers to showcase creativity, while paying homage to their cultural roots. The precise braiding patterns often told stories, making cornrows a living art form. These styles fostered
a sense of community, as individuals connected over shared experiences and cultural traditions, reinforcing the dignity of their heritage.
While many embraced their natural textures, others sought to achieve straightened hair, often influenced by the professional world and mainstream beauty ideals. The hot comb emerged as an essential tool during this time, allowing individuals to straighten their hair quickly. For many Caribbean women, using a hot comb was a significant part of their beauty rituals, helping them navigate societies expectations while maintaining a connection to their roots.
In addition to hot combs, curling irons and hair rollers were widely used for creating a variety of styles. The transformation from tightly curled rollers to bouncy, voluminous hair was not merely about looking good; it was about feeling good. It allowed women to express their personalities and showcase their beauty.
Accessories also played a vital role in hairstyling during the Windrush era. Ribbons, beads and flowers adorned many styles, adding flair and individuality. I remember my
mum decorating me and my sister’s hair with ribbons – especially when we were going to church – it was a beautiful thing. These accessories were not just decorative; they were symbols of pride and culture, reinforcing the idea that hair could tell a story about one’s heritage and identity.
The hairstyles of the Windrush Generation were more than just fashion statements; they represented a rich cultural heritage and a profound sense of dignity. Each style celebrated the strengths and challenges of the community. Hair care practices were not just about grooming; they became acts of affirmation, self-love and resistance against societal norms.
Today, as we reflect on the hairstyles from the Windrush era, we recognise the importance of embracing our natural textures and celebrating our rich histories. The legacy of those who came before us serves as a reminder of the strength and durability ingrained in our identities. The confidence and pride that came from those hairstyles continue to inspire us; they empower us to honour our cultural roots and express our individuality in an ever-evolving world.
In conclusion, the hairstyles that emerged during the Windrush era encapsulate a narrative of culture, identity and resilience. The beauty and dignity demonstrated by the Windrush Generation inspire us to embrace our heritage and celebrate the richness of our backgrounds, reminding us that our hair is an important part of who we are.
VERONA WHITE
WRITING FOR THE GENERAL MARKET AS A CHRISTIAN WRITER
Book agent Vanessa Grossett provides some tips for Christian writers who want to write for an audience outside the faith community
Irecently received an email from a new author who had received a traditional publishing contract. The writer is a Christian, and the book she has been commissioned to write is for the general market. This is her first time writing for the general market and wanted my advice on how she can still write a good story, without compromising her faith.
There are many Christian authors who have written and who still write for the general market. CS Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a great example of a Christian author who wrote a book for the general market. I also have authors who write for the wider audience.
If you are a Christian writer and you want to write for the general readership or you’ve received a contract to write for general readers, whether it be fiction or nonfiction here are some tips to consider.
Don’t
pre-judge your audience
You might think a non-Christian will not read your books because it doesn’t contain any swearing or sexual scenes, but you will be surprised by the amount of people who are looking for these types of books – especially in the romance fiction genre.
The demand for what is known as ‘closed, sweet romance’ has increased. For nonfiction, it will be mostly self-help and motivational books that the general readers will like.
You don’t need to compromise, you can keep the writing clean. The only thing I would suggest if you’re going to mention faith is don’t be too preachy.
If you’re writing fiction, you can have a character in the book who is a Christian. This will help the reader to understand why there is a faith element in the book.
Talk to your editor
If you have a book under contract with a traditional publishing house and are concerned
about featuring certain scenes in the story, let your editor know.
Most editors shouldn’t have an issue with this; they have already accepted your manuscript, which means they like and believe in the book.
However, do not forget as a writer, you need to bring the story and the characters to life so the readers can relate to the story. If you are writing romance, it is unrealistic to have a couple in a relationship who don’t show any signs of affection.
There are some Christian-based books I have read where the couple don’t show any signs of affection. They are portrayed more as friends than a couple. A couple will hold hands, and they will share a kiss. You can add these scenes without going overboard.
Let your current audience know
This is more crucial for fiction writers, especially if you have a readership who reads your books solely because it is Christian-based. They may be surprised that you want to write for the general audience, though you will have some who are supportive, others may not be.
It is not for them to influence your writing, you are letting them know because they have been loyal followers of your work. I would suggest that you assure them you will still be writing for the Christian market. Nevertheless, you want to expand your readership, as writing for the general market will bring in a new audience.
Just write the book
As an author, you just want to write. Don’t overthink the process of what the audience will think, as this will bring you to a stumbling writer’s block.
When you write for the general readers, not only are you expanding your audience, but you are also enhancing your skills and creativity. In return, both non-Christians and Christians will see you as an author they love to read about and enjoy your work. Happy writing
Lifefromlessons an allotment
Writer and budding gardener
Joy Roxborough highlights some lessons about life and work she learned from working on her allotment
Shortly after the start of spring, I went to my allotment – just to look. I had hardly been there all winter and needed to get my mind in gear for whatever the new planting season would bring. I am still new to keeping an allotment and, if I have learnt anything, it’s that an allotment is a lot of hard work, a lot of slugs, and a lot of weeds!
Still, I wasn’t quite prepared for the sight that met my eyes. The walk-in tunnel that I had invested in was falling apart. Several of the poles holding it erect had fallen down and, although the net was still very much in place, the languishing poles meant it wouldn’t be long before the net would follow suit. In all fairness, we had had several gale-force winds in recent weeks.
Through the net, inside the tunnel, I surveyed the overgrowth of knee-high weeds. Gone were the neat sections of growing beds and paths between what I had meticulously formed in the last season. The weeds had shown no discrimination in where they displayed their unwelcome bushiness. I stood at a distance and sighed.
Then I heard a voice behind me. “Hi, Joy.” It was Kate, one of the allotment committee members. “How is it going?” she asked. “It’s a disaster,” I told her. “Look at it.”
She followed me over to the tunnel, peered
through the net, then asked if she could go inside. I pulled up the net and we went in.
She pulled some leaves off a very tall weed and began chewing on them. Apparently, it was a lettuce that had gone to seed. She soon found a sprouting broccoli – I had given up on those long before winter had set in proper. And yet, here they were, having survived and grown somewhat – even if not as dramatically as on the pictures on the seed packet.
Then I spotted the kale – now about a foot and a half tall – that was barely six inches the last time I saw it.
Poking among the weeds, we discovered even more garden treasures: rocket, mint... I thought the mint had died the death but no, it dies back in winter and then comes back like a weed in spring! There were some small cabbage plants and rainbow chard and a very big lettuce that had not 'bolted'.
My enthusiasm started to blossom again. Now, perhaps the non-gardeners among you may be thinking ‘What’s the big deal?’ But when you’ve dug and weeded and planted and set beer traps and emptied the smelly things and watered and nursed aching limbs, it is a very big deal. Let me get an Amen! from all the gardeners.
I hadn’t planned to work in the allotment that day, but I ended up doing a spot of watering since the earth was parched. I harvested about two bags of various greens and, as I set off home, determined to come back another day to set things to right, I began to liken my life to my allotment, and it reminded me of a few lessons.
One: Life is often never as catastrophic as we at first perceive. How often I focus on the most dire part of a situation and fail to see the
opportunities that still exist amidst the weeds of it. My two bags of greens were a pleasant reminder that negative focus is not a good idea.
Two: Never neglect to do your best at any given task just because you don’t see immediate results. The fruit may not be apparent until much later, in another season. Depending on what it is, you may never know of those fruit, but they will no doubt benefit someone else. This reminds me of the days I used to slog away teaching Sunday school. I enjoyed it for the most part and I never thought much about fruit while I was doing it but, boy, was I heartened when many years later I learned that a young boy I used to teach had grown up and started his own church! I do remember him being a very diligent child who came and told me one Sunday that he had given his heart to the Lord after I had invited the class to do so.
Three: Cultivate relationships with people who are able and willing to sow positive seeds in your life – whether through mentorship, encouragement, or expertise in a field you may be interested in entering. Sometimes, someone coming alongside you is sufficient to help you not to give up.
The takeaway: No season in your life is ever wasted. Eventually, you will discover the purpose of things you have laboured at in the past.
KIRLY-SUE’S KITCHEN VEGAN FOOD COLUMN
Enjoy my easy-to-make, mouthwatering recipes and cooking tips to make your time in the kitchen a breeze.
In this issue, I’m bringing you a taste of Jamaica with a delicious, meat-free twist on a beloved classic – Jamaican Stew Peas! If you’ve ever enjoyed the rich, comforting flavours of this traditional dish, you’ll love how easy it is to make a vegan version that’s just as satisfying.
Jamaican Stew Peas is a hearty, coconut-infused stew typically made with red kidney beans, dumplings (or "spinners"), and a blend of aromatic herbs and spices. Traditionally, it includes salted meat, but in this plant-based adaptation, I’ve swapped that out for wholesome, protein-packed alternatives that maintain the dish’s authentic taste and texture.
Vegan Caribbean cooking is all about celebrating bold flavours and fresh ingredients. Many classic Jamaican dishes are already plant-based or can be easily adapted, proving that you don’t need meat to enjoy the vibrant essence of island cuisine. By using simple swaps, like mushrooms, jackfruit, or even tofu, we can recreate the deep umami (delicious, savoury-tasting) flavours that make traditional dishes so special.
Beyond being delicious, this meat-free Jamaican Stew Peas is packed with nutrients. Red kidney beans are a fantastic source of protein and fibre, while coconut milk adds creaminess and healthy fats. With the right combination of seasonings – think thyme, pimento, scallions, and Scotch bonnet pepper – you’ll have a comforting, nutritious meal that’s perfect for any day of the week.
So, whether you’re fully plant-based or just looking to try something new, this vegan Jamaican Stew Peas recipe is a must-try!
One love and happy cooking!
Jamaican Stew Peas (meat-free version)
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cups red peas (kidney beans)
• 2 whole Scotch bonnet peppers (if you like it hot, cut the pepper up)
• ¼ cup water
• 2 cups coconut milk
• bay leaves
• 10 pimento grains (allspice)
• cloves of garlic (1 crushed and 3 whole)
• 3 chopped scallions
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon natural sea salt (sold in stores)
• 2 potatoes (Irish), cubed
• 1 sweet potato, cubed
• 3 carrots, sliced
• veggie spinners/dumplings (see recipe below)
METHOD:
1. Soak the peas in water for a least 10-12 hours in the pot.
2. Place coconut milk, bay leaves, scallion, pimento grain, whole garlic and whole pepper in the pot.
3. Slowly boil and simmer for 1½ hours, or until the peas are tender.
4. Season by adding the onions, crushed garlic and thyme.
5. Add carrots, spinners and potatoes.
6. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
7. Remove the scallions, bay leaves and hot pepper before serving.
8. Serve hot with white rice.
Veggie Spinners
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup wheat flour
• enough water to bind
METHOD:
1. Place flour in a medium bowl.
2. Work mixture with hands while adding enough water to bind, making a stiff dough.
3. Roll into 1-inch-long pieces and drop into boiling stew peas or soup.
4. Boil until they float or add them during the last 20 mins of the cooking process.
Enjoy!
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At this year’s International Gathering of Champion (IGOC), we’ll unveil a brand-new experience.
IGOC is more than a convention: it’s a movement, and an opportunity to gather, grow, and go forth with renewed vision and strength, to further the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ!
August 20th - 24th, 2025.
Why register now?
· Save before price increases take effect
· Qualify for E-books
Also, experience new exciting elements for all the family such as:
· The Masterclasses – Deep dives for greater insights by a panel of experts
· Winning Conversations – Real Talk with A-Class speakers and thought leaders
· Expo Centre – Bringing an innovative and inspiring exhibition experience to IGOC
· Kids’ Zone – A dynamic play experience for the next generation
· Game Zone – Fun and engaging zone for state-of-the-art virtual games and physical activities
· Wellness zone – To include health checks likewise wellness talks for men and women
· Chill out Zone – top-of-the-range ambience to chill and network – in between sessions
A CHILD IN AFRICA WILL DIE FROM MALARIA
EVERY MINUTE *
Every £18.95 donated will get a life-saving malaria treatment kit to a child in South Sudan.
Mothers carry their children for hours on foot to reach Noah’s Place Mission Hospital — one of the only hospitals they trust to have life-saving medicine when needed most.
In the wet season, malaria runs rampant, and there could be hundreds of mothers and children waiting in line for a doctor.
When every minute counts, it is crucial that Noah’s Place has a reliable supply of medicine. Their patients rely on them to have the medicine they need, but Noah’s Place relies on MAF to fly the medicine to their isolated area.
‘Road transport is not an option; driving would take three days. When we run out, MAF flights mean we can restock medicines within a week, whereas previously, it could take us months.’ Explains Dr Jonathan.
The wet season is coming. Please donate £18.95 today to ensure Noah’s Place has the medicine they need to save children from malaria.
Have you got a minute? Please donate £18.95 to fly a malaria kit to Noah’s Place Mission Hospital and save a child. Visit www.maf-uk.org/idat-malaria4 Scan the QR code with your phone to send your gift immediately.
