‘Never in a million years would you have seen me knocking on someone’s door. That’s someone else’s ministry, I would have told you.’
These were the words of Maria, a member of Forestdale Church in Croydon, South London.
It was such a joy when newly planted Forestdale Church approached London City Mission (LCM) to help them in their vision to share the gospel in their local community, writes Carl Knightly. LCM missionaries Simon and Patrick helped Pastor Joseph Bedlako and members of the church to understand the local area and to plan how they could make connections with the local community and start conversations about Jesus.
It was when Joseph was sharing with the rest of the church about this outreach that Maria felt challenged to get involved. ‘I felt God really prompting me to step out of my comfort zone,’ she says. ‘I said: “Okay Jesus, I’m here.” I went out with Simon one afternoon – I learnt so much. Then I started to go out regularly with the team from church – going into the neighbourhood, meeting people on their doorsteps.’
Maria has described how the involvement with LCM and the ministry has also given her confidence throughout the rest of the week.
‘I had often noticed a lady accompanying her granddaughter to school. She struggled up the steep hill with a walking stick. We struck up a conversation. We exchanged numbers and have been meeting up every fortnight. It’s gone from talking about the weather, to praying together, talking about Jesus.’
Forestdale is a mix of private and social housing. But regardless of people’s backgrounds, Maria notices the spiritual need across the area. ‘Having lived here for 50 years, I’ve come to see that brokenness is so common, it’s just hidden more by some people than it is others.’
LCM has been ministering in London for nearly 200 years and comes alongside churches to build them up and empower them in their gospel outreach. It estimates that one in three Londoners don’t have a Christian friend to tell them about Jesus. LCM’s annual Thanksgiving Service will be held on Thursday 22 September at Westminster Chapel.
