On Windrush Day, today, we celebrate the contribution of so many from the Caribbean that responded to the UK government’s request for help to rebuild post-war Britain.They came, suffered ongoing racial abuse, but struggled through, becoming part of the nation’s backbone, fulfilling so many of our keyworker roles, which many of their children and grandchildren… Continue reading Something YOU can do on Windrush Day – by Adrian Lock
How I learnt about structural advantage
Marquess Christian Centre (1998), Essex Rd, Islington, London In my summer holidays between the ages of 19 to 23, I volunteered on a holiday club for kids run with local churches in Islington in London. Growing up in more suburban areas, going into the ‘inner city’ was like venturing into another world. I helped run… Continue reading How I learnt about structural advantage
Confessions of a racist – by Adrian Lock
No-one I know wants to be called a racist. Do you? All my White friends would be horrified by the accusation. We would all sign up to a ‘progressive’ set of values that would say diversity is ‘a good thing’ and racial discrimination is a ‘bad thing’. We are all horrified by the killing of… Continue reading Confessions of a racist – by Adrian Lock
The Silence of the Leaders – by Adrian Lock
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com “Unless you’re part of the solution, Adrian, you’re part of the problem” said my Black female colleague. It was a statement that felt unfair and shook my sense of identity to the core. The year was 1999 and the government body I was working for was still digesting the… Continue reading The Silence of the Leaders – by Adrian Lock
Grace helps people engage with the truth
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com I am part of a Facebook group for cricket fans. (For US readers, this is the sport Robin Williams described as ‘baseball on valium’.) What strikes me is that comments and opinions on quite minor subjects (yesterday it was a radio commentator's retirement) often produce incredibly heated arguments. And… Continue reading Grace helps people engage with the truth
George Floyd is our brother, our father, our cousin, our friend – by Neil Charlton
Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com Last Sunday my church celebrated Pentecost. Over 50 different nationalities are represented within our fellowship in Streatham, south London.It was great to see an online montage of many of our members dressed in their national attire. It’s a beautiful reminder of the multicultural birth of the church. The Pentecost festival… Continue reading George Floyd is our brother, our father, our cousin, our friend – by Neil Charlton
‘A House Built on Love’ by Ed Walker [Review]
Ed Walker worked in Darfur, Sudan with the Christian relief and development charity, Tearfund, before returning home to the UK with his wife, Rachel. They moved to Peterborough where Walker started working for a homelessness charity. The death of one of the residents provoked him to question the inadequacies of the system he is working… Continue reading ‘A House Built on Love’ by Ed Walker [Review]
Nostalgia just ain’t what it used to be…
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com ‘Never ask, "Why were things so much better in the old days?" It's not an intelligent question.’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10) There is often no shortage of people in churches who look back fondly on the past. In times gone by there always seems to be more vision, more energy and more… Continue reading Nostalgia just ain’t what it used to be…
Good Friday? Coronavirus, conspiracies and the cross
Photo by David Dibert on Pexels.com In recent weeks I have been sent a number of videos which share conspiracy theories about the ‘real cause’ of Coronavirus. Often they blend an pretty incoherent mix of pseudo-science (e.g. about the 5G mobile network), along with some character assassination (e.g. Bill Gates or Barack Obama) and a… Continue reading Good Friday? Coronavirus, conspiracies and the cross
This Easter, more than ever, light can shine in the darkness – by Gordon Kuhrt
Photo by Rahul Pexels.com Some years ago my wife Olive and I led a holiday group to Corfu at Eastertime. The local people there certainly knew how to celebrate. The week before Easter was packed with events, especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. But the highlight for me came late on the Saturday evening… Continue reading This Easter, more than ever, light can shine in the darkness – by Gordon Kuhrt
