Dear Editor,
It is encouraging that churches like Banstead Community Church in Surrey are partnering with New Life Church in Middlesbrough (‘Churches bridging the north-south gap’, en January). The more such partnerships the better for the advance of the gospel.
However, it needs to be remembered that there are also small churches in tough places in the south east of England. Not everywhere is like ‘the stockbroker belt’ around London where many larger and wealthier evangelical churches are located.
One example is Ridley Community Church in Forest Gate in the London Borough of Newham. Ably led by Pastor Martin Oriakhi, Ridley has about 20–25 people attending on Sundays, and is located in a neighbourhood that is one of the poorest in the country and is about 60% Muslim in religion. The church building is situated next to a Sikh temple and a few doors away from a large mosque.
There are many other churches like it in London and other cities and towns in the south east. Like the man in Paul’s vision, all of them would invite well-resourced churches anywhere in the country to ‘Come over…and help us’ (Acts 16:9).
Yours sincerely,
Kenneth Brownell Dalston, East London
