London City Mission – doorway into God’s kingdom
Adam, a London City Mission (LCM) worker, writes, ‘Two of our workers run craft and Alpha groups for marginalised women, while others run energetic youth and kids’ clubs in our Forest Gate and Dagenham centres. We partner with groups like Ambassadors Football to engage with fathers, we run community lunches and drop-ins to engage with the unemployed and those struggling with mental health and addiction issues. We run Christian-Muslim discussion groups to engage with Muslims, and offer training to churches wanting to reach out to their Muslim neighbours.’ Click the ‘more’ link to hear about and pray for Ali Gaspar, rap artist and LCM worker, on a tough estate, and learn how Jesus changed his worldview. Learn top tips on how to share the gospel across cultural barriers. Look at an infographic map of LCM ministries in needy boroughs.
Police and Parliament attitudes towards black people
Police launched an internal inquiry after footage emerged of a young black man being pinned to the ground by a group of British Transport Police officers and having a spit hood placed over his head at London Bridge Station. The officers claim Aihie became ‘aggressive’ after they intervened in an argument between him and his girlfriend. The footage shows Aihie yelling ‘it hurts, it hurts,’ as he is pinned to the ground and forced to have a hood completely cover his head. Meanwhile a Christian campaigner called on Theresa May to ensure ethnic minorities are properly represented in senior government roles. Simon Wooley, from Operation Black Vote, said his message for the Prime Minister was, ‘there are a record number of black MP’s right now in Parliament, and not all of them are being given prominent roles. We need to see a plan to tackle persistent racial inequality and greater representation.’ See also: https://www.rt.com/uk/353932-police-black-arrest-video/
Goddard inquiry truth project
The Goddard inquiry was set up in 2015 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal to gather evidence on historical institutional child abuse in Britain. The inquiry is asking victims who were abused and reported the abuse to authorities but were either ignored or the report not acted on properly, to come forward. 600+ people have taken part and the inquiry panel is encouraging more victims and survivors to come forward as the first ones begin giving testimonies to a public inquiry into child sexual abuse. This is an unprecedented national ‘truth-telling’ project designed to catalogue decades of suffering. Pray for the 2,000+ people who have contacted the Goddard inquiry so far to finally receive appropriate care and healing. Pray for others not yet brave enough to speak out, may they bravely step out and be freed from flashbacks, fear and emotional pain.
Human trafficking
PSNI (Police Service Northern Ireland) have charged a 28-year-old man with rape and false imprisonment as part of an investigation into human trafficking in County Londonderry. He was also accused of human trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation, causing and inciting prostitution, and assault and actual bodily harm on an Eastern European woman being treated for her injuries and being assessed as a victim of human trafficking. Detective Inspector Mark Bell, from PSNI Human Trafficking Unit, said, ‘These enquiries, including a search of a property in the city, are continuing as we work with partner agencies to ensure the woman receives all appropriate support and assistance.’ Meanwhile, Theresa May, who is a Christian, has pledged £33m to tackle modern-day slavery. The money will target the routes of the people-trafficking trade from countries like Nigeria. Also BBC reported Wednesday, ‘UK Border Control had only three boats available to keep UK borders secure.’ See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36960905
