In Seven Sisters, north London, members of West Green Baptist Church are forging connections with people living nearby and discovering new opportunities to share the gospel.
Tom opens his door and greets the group waiting outside with a familiar smile.
“Tom is no stranger, in fact he’s become a friend,” says missionary Johanna Briscoe, who has been out in the local area with a group from West Green Baptist Church. They’re out meeting people like Tom, and building on relationships that have been started on previous trips.
Tom shares about some of the challenges he’s facing, including looking for a new job. Johanna then offers to pray – Tom gratefully accepts and for the next five minutes the group pray for him on his doorstep.
This is especially encouraging for Johanna and the team because Tom has had limited experience of church or Christianity.
"When it came to knocking on someone's door, I was terrified."
“I’ve only had some experience through the Catholic Church and prayer certainly isn’t a regular activity for me,” says Tom.
“With Tom and others we meet, we’re in it for the long haul. It’s not about a one-time knock at the door,” says Johanna.
This approach, says Johanna, has provided multiple opportunities to share the gospel with Tom.
“We’d love to see Tom walk through the church doors one day, but for now we’re bringing the church to him.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
The approach has also proved fruitful more broadly. In one month, the team recorded 15 connections where they’ve been able to share the gospel.
A NEW-FOUND CONFIDENCE
One of the team from West Green Baptist accompanying Johanna is Doris.
“When it came to knocking on someone’s door, I was terrified. But I’ve now knocked on over 1,400 doors in the neighbourhood,” shares Doris. “We’re meeting new people every time we go out, and we’re making friends.”
Doris has witnessed firsthand the practical needs in the area, as she meets people in their homes. Where possible, she and other team members, have been able to respond.
“We’re going into their houses. We’re doing their gardening. We’re picking up shopping for them. So many of them are vulnerable and struggling, and it’s important that we show we care.”
It’s clear that these connections are going deeper, as Doris describes a friendship she has built with an elderly couple who live locally.
“I always share the gospel when I see them. The other day they said ‘Since we met you, we’ve felt different. We might not be able to come to church, but when you speak with us on the phone it gives us an assurance about God.”
"They were in the deep end, but we were right beside them"
CHURCHES UNITED IN MISSION
Doris and other church members point to training – led by Johanna and and the LCM team in Haringey – as a pivotal step to their newfound confidence.
“We trained four local churches together,” explains Johanna. “When we had finished the classroom session, we took everyone out to the local community to call on people, knock on doors and to put the theory into practice. They were in the deep end, but we were right beside them, and everyone left the training really excited!”
“At first, we didn’t have the confidence to talk to people,” explains another team member, Blanche. “Johanna has helped us to think where and when to introduce Christ into the conversation.”
The training acted a springboard for all four churches to build their own outreach ministry, with the assistance of Johanna and the LCM Haringey team.
For Stephen Agilinko, the pastor of West Green Baptist Church, all this has fulfilled a desire for local mission that he and the congregation had for a long time wanted and prayed for.
“We have tried before to encourage the church in evangelism. But this never really took off until London City Mission came alongside us.”
“The partnership got our members to see that they have a duty to share the gospel,” he explains. “But also, that God gives them the ability to do this!”
A SPACE TO TALK
In the subsequent doorstep conversations Johanna and the team had, residents would share their challenges.
One of these residents was Elaine.
“The vast changes to the area have left some, especially older people, feeling isolated. There isn’t the community they once knew,” explains Elaine.
Elaine also shared an idea for meeting this need and creating gospel opportunities – a simple coffee morning! A few weeks later, it was up and running – a spacious room at the back of the church set out with tables, chairs and coffee (and homemade cakes) on tap.
“It’s given us a space to share the gospel,” shares Doris.
One of the team from West Green is stationed outside the church every Friday, inviting people passing by to come in, whilst inside, other church members are getting to know guests.
A NEW FAMILY
Local resident Tony was one such passerby.
“He came in and he hasn’t left,” shares Johanna. “He was very open and shared what he’d been through in his life. Then he started coming to church, and has become a member.”Tony has moved into a local care home, but has continued his close connection to church, and is in regular contact from Doris.
“He’s found a new family here,” explains Johanna.
