London Churches Unite to make an impact in the community

London: 15,000 young Christians from all over the UK and overseas will take part in community projects, sports initiatives, concerts and other community events across Greater London.

The event, organized by Soul Survivor in partnership with local churches, will bring thousands of young people from their conferences to 12 days of co-ordinated activity from 26 July 2004 to 6 August 2004.
The local “partner churches” are involved in all the activities to ensure that they meet the needs of London’s many and varied communities, of all faiths and backgrounds, and help to create lasting cross-community ties

Planning for this major initiative, which has the support of many major public figures*, is already well under way, and South West London is no exception.

The mission will run as two 5 day missions, Week A 26-30 July 2004 and Week B 2-6 August 2004, sandwiching a SOULINTHECITY weekend, 31 July-1 August 2004.

Delegates will be accommodated in a number of 'tent cities' within the Local Centres. In the mornings delegates will have times of worship, teaching and ministry. In the afternoons and evenings they will go to designated projects within their Local Centre. Evening celebrations will be evangelistic and open to contacts made during the afternoon projects.

Over 35 local “partner churches” will also be represented, from areas including Wimbledon, Mitcham, Raynes Park, Colliers Wood, Sutton, Wallington, Hackbridge, North Cheam, Kingston, New Malden, and Surbiton/ Tolworth. Over 200 guests are expected, to celebrate their faith and pray for the success of Soul in the City.

Soul in the City in SW London is being co-ordinated in partnership with registered charity Share Jesus, which already has several years’ experience running summer youth and community projects in the area. Mark Williamson (Mission co-ordinator – Share Jesus) and Andy Frost (youth team leader - Share Jesus) will be speaking at the event on “Community Engagement and Prayer”.

Rev Dr Rob Frost, who has been based at Raynes Park Methodist Church for 12 years claimed “This has to be the most significant event as far as the local church is concerned during my time here.” He added “ The fact that most of the churches in the London boroughs of Kingston, Merton and Sutton have joined together to make a practical difference by working with the young people of the three boroughs is absolutely amazing. I wholeheartedly commend it.”

“We are extremely excited about seeing the churches of South West London pool their resources to make an impact in the community that might not have been achievable were they to operate in their own individual strength,” says Mark Williamson, Share Jesus Mission co-ordinator. “We hope to see the effect of Soul In the City evident in our area way beyond 6 August .”

“We are delighted to be working alongside Share Jesus and look forward to building on the incredible work they have already started in the South West Region,” adds Mike Pilavachi, executive director of Soul Survivor*.

There will also be music from worship band “Kindle”, and from local hip hop/R&B collective “AFG Nexus”, one of London’s hottest new urban music collectives, comprising 13 singers, rappers, and dancers. The bandleaders mostly hail from the High Path Estate in Wimbledon; they are passionate about their faith and translating it into positive change on their home ground. AFG Nexus will be gigging locally as part of the Soul in the City programme in July and August.

Please visit www.soulinthecity.co.uk for Details