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Kenny worships with his family almost every week at Rye Lane Chapel in Peckham.

'I seem to be telling everybody about the Lord these days,' says Kenny. 'The only way I can put it is, I’m listening to a new song. And it’s a really good song… My life has changed, and I want everyone to sing the same song'.

But it hasn’t always been like this. Kenny’s there because London City Mission (LCM) missionary Michael Prendergast and church member Winston knocked on a stranger's door to share the gospel.

Last year, Winston and Michael visited the home of a young woman and opened up a conversation about faith. Her name was Ruby. After a challenging hour patiently discussing her belief in reincarnation and gently defending the reliability of the Bible, Winston and Michael invited Ruby to church.

Ruby came that Sunday with her best friend, Georgina. A few weeks later, the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts, and they both made a commitment to follow Jesus.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Michael was able to encourage Georgina and her friend to share the very same gospel that saved them when they attended his training course. Newly confident and moved by the Holy Spirit, Georgina began sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with her family and friends.

Her father, Kenny, moved by Georgina’s faith, started coming to church. He committed his life to the Lord and was baptised this year. Her brother, Brandon, witnessing the change in his sister and father, decided to follow Jesus. He, too, was baptised.

Brandon’s partner, Annalisa, was also among 15 people who professed their faith and were baptised recently.

'God is doing a work through our church,' says pastor Phil Woolley. 'In recent months, more than 30 people became Christians and have been baptised at Rye Lane Chapel.'

A need for the gospel afresh

‍There are about 15,000 people who call Peckham home. 51 per cent of them say they are Christians. 25 per cent say they have no religion, while 14 per cent come from a Muslim background. (2021 Census)

'Many people in Peckham have not heard the gospel. But there are also others who have had a faith background and have walked away. All need the saving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ,' says Michael.

'As evangelists, it’s our job to mobilise churches to join God’s mission, it is amazing to see how God uses us as a catalyst for his greater plan. He is sovereign and it is His work we are doing.

'It’s been an enormous help having London City Mission in the life of the church', says Phil.

'We just love the way that LCM has regrouped and how they come in as a team. They’re coming to support, they’re coming to train, to disciple, to raise people up and send them out.'

Theory into practice

‍For Winston, sharing Jesus with strangers in his community wasn’t always easy. It frightened him.

'I was a Christian for about 12 years before I met Michael. But I had a fear of approaching someone to talk about Jesus or knocking on someone’s door,' he admits.

When Rye Lane Chapel became a ministry church partner, London City Missionaries like Michael began training church members on sharing the gospel.

'It started the ball rolling,' says Winston.

'But what really helped was when we put theory into practice. Michael worked to train me in front of Rye Lane Chapel – here on the high street. He told me what to do and how to begin a conversation'.

Michael (pictured below, left) has been greatly encouraged by church members, like Winston (second left), who are willing to go out of their comfort zone for the gospel. People who were quiet, softly spoken, and extremely nervous about sharing Jesus or opening the Bible with people they are just getting to know.

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A fresh boldness

'It is such a blessing that after discipling, equipping and encouraging them, they have developed a confidence to talk to people in a relational way about Jesus,' says Michael.

'It’s been so encouraging to see them go from listening in on my conversations to the person who takes the lead in developing friendly gospel conversations.'

Like many other church leaders, Phil longs to see God’s spirit at work in London, especially in Peckham.

'We want to see this church full and then some. Not because of numbers but because of lives touched. We want to see people come to know the Lord Jesus.

'I want to see them come to the cross, be born again and be discipled. That’s really our heart.'

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This story was first published in the Baptist Times and is used with their permission

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