The annual Keswick Convention held during July and early August saw an estimated 12,000-15,000 people visit for bible study and worshipping God together.
Weeks of almost unbroken sunshine went together with record attendances. Around 3,700 people were at the Bible readings with Oxford University mathematician Professor John Lennox, plus around 800 children and young people in groups. A 95-year-old local lady, Sally, was there again: she has been coming to the Convention since she was five!
Week three featured a special programme for people who use British Sign Language; another week of ‘Abide’ for people aged 19-25; a special performance of the God Particle play, written by James Cary, a scriptwriter for BBC series Miranda and My Family; and the ‘Home for Good’ campaign supporting fostering and adoption.
The General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Steve Clifford, came to speak to encourage churches to get behind fostering and adoption in their areas. There is a national shortage of foster homes and families willing to adopt, and the campaign aims to reduce this number (see June EN). ‘Every day this year, 50 kids are going to be taken into the care system. Every one of those kids involves a real life story, often tragic.’
Krish Kandiah, also from the Evangelical Alliance, came to speak at the Convention in week one. He has been fostering children for the last seven years. ‘It has been the most rewarding and challenging thing our family has done’, he said. ‘We have three birth children, an adopted daughter and a constant stream of lovely foster children.’
Currently in the UK there are 4,600 children waiting for adoption; there is a need for another 9,000 families. The Home for Good campaign has contact with around 15,000 churches, so if it only encouraged one family per church to get involved with fostering or adoption and be supported by their church to do it, the entire UK need could be met.
Forgiveness
A powerful testimony was given by Pastor Medad Birungi, whose childhood in Uganda was blighted by a polygamous, abusive father who ultimately left the family in poverty. Medad started a life of violence, drinking and crime, but found his depression just got worse. ‘Forgiveness is a choice. Jesus Christ is the only one who can enable you to forgive, it’s very hard. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness is possible.’ Initially through a choir that spoke of the gospel, Birungi was drawn to Christ, and ultimately reconciled with all of his family and those who had hurt him. They are mostly now born again.
Evangelism and social action
The Executive Chairman of CARE, Lyndon Bowring, spoke of the priority of evangelism, while encouraging Christians to get involved in ministries to the poor. ‘We must not see evangelism as secondary. The primary role of the church is to see people converted. That doesn’t mean we neglect the poor and fatherless. Evangelism [and] social action — don’t pit them against each other. Unless hearts are transformed [first], we’re not going to transform communities.’
Other features included a week welcoming Prospects and people with learning disabilities. This year’s Convention also saw many people come forward to commit their life to serving God through mission.
