Rev Yemi Adedeji is an Associate Director with HOPE helping to build networks and bringing denominations together for united mission,

 

It all started during my time with the Church Mission Society where I was actively involved in Soul in the City and Festival Manchester. When HOPE 08 emerged, Liverpool lighthouse, of which I am a trustee were very involved in the initiative and delivery. Last year, the trustees of HOPE invited me to join the leadership team with Bishop Wayne Malcolm.

Definitely. It was phenomenal – It was, and is still, a highlight of my engagement with HOPE. Around fifty white people showed up at the RCCG all-night prayer event at the Excel centre, and as they walked into the main auditorium you could tell that people were looking and thinking ‘who are these people? whose party is this?’. Pastor Agu launched HOPE Together officially and a blessing was pronounced by the wife of the General Overseer, with thousands praying together and thanking God for such a moment. Pastor Agu was later divinely inspired to present the white and black leaders in an alternate line as a symbol of what God wants. A visible partnership of unity that will bring transformation in the land.

The holistic Gospel is a combination of both word and deed mission. This is what Jesus taught and exemplified. In Africa, where many Black churches migrated from, there is a tendency to emphasise proclamation only. This often dates back to our background where we demonstrate ideas and faith mainly through verbal communication. Nevertheless action in the community and provision for each other is naturally integrated as part of our communal lifestyle. The UK dynamics are much more along the lines of “let me see what you do before I can believe what you say". The worldview in the West places more emphasis on social action and there is nothing wrong about it. We need to help each other to make see an equal balance in both word and deed.

 

I work within the context of creating relationships across churches in the UK. Bishop Wayne Malcolm and I also sit as members of Hope leadership team. We both emphasised that our sitting in the leadership meetings will not make much difference to the Black led churches unless we develop an intentional strategy for partnership with wider Black churches. Being intentional means, we need to go back to our community and create a space for thinkers, leaders and strategists to help shape HOPE within the context of our culture and the vision of HOPE. We have now started the discussion process by creating a space for a HOPE Ambassador Council for the Black led churches.

I’ve always seen myself as a missionary here in UK . When I came to UK, I did not lose my identity as a black man but I married into a new community so as to be relevant. God made me who I am and I am confident that I have   something of value to bring this new community. The journey is littered with misunderstanding, prejudice and social dislocation. I do understand that it is part of the process. My vision is to work alongside my Caucasian brothers and sisters knowing that, though we are different, there is similarity in purpose and vision for the same outcome. A God inspired revival.

 What about these big differences how can we overcome them? 

God created us differently. He created the Black and he created the White. He wanted the difference and that is why he did not create everyone the same! Despite our distinctive differences there is unity of purpose. If I am forced to behave and look like someone from a different ethnic background, I would lose my God-given identity and distinctiveness. We need to acknowledge each person and value what they bring. My strength compliments others in their area of weaknesses and vice versa. For example, the Black churches are intense in their prayer life, since prayer is what informed and shaped who they are. Most white evangelical churches are, however, exemplary in Biblical exposition. You just need to imagine a combination and an affirmation of both working in synergy! – now you have a dynamic and fertile ground for revival.