A BBC article on black worshippers in the U.K. says that people of African or Caribbean origin make up 2% of the U.K. population, but account for 7% of church goers. In London, they account for a whopping two-thirds of church goers (the BBC neglects to tell us what percentage of the London population they make up, though an Encarta article gives 1996 data that blacks make up about 6% of the London population—that’s probably outdated, but at least it’s something).
Did you catch that? London’s black population comprises 6% of the total population and 67% of the church going population. While most churches in England are declining, black churches are growing, mainly thanks to immigrants with a vibrant faith.
“Christianity in Africa is big in terms of lots of people going to church,” says pastor Jonathan Oloyede, founder of Glory House that’s grown from 45 members in 1992 to 3,000 today. “Another factor is we have a strong, very vibrant ministry that is an outreach to the family and young families, so church is not just something you attend, it’s part of your life.”
Lessons to learn from churches that are obviously working.
