In his new book Look What the Lord Has Done, Mark Sturge offers the first comprehensive study of the history, beliefs, practices and future of the UK’s growing black-majority churches.
‘During my eight years as general director of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance,’ Sturge says, ‘I became acutely aware that although black-majority churches were the fastest-growing and among the largest churches in Britain, many people did not understand who they were. There was not a lot written about them, and what was written was mostly from an outsider’s perspective, which often did not match the reality.’
"In a world with divided communities, insecurity, injustice and prejudice, the voice of the church cannot, for its own credibility’s sake, be silent"
Mark Sturge
Sturge’s goal was to take an honest look at the situation, confronting the difficult questions and uncomfortable realities. ‘Readers can expect to engage with issues like whether it is ever right for a church to concentrate on one people group,’ he says. ‘I’ve also examined issues around race, reconciliation and partnership, as well as the unmet challenges and divisions between African and Caribbean churches. I suppose I was also working on the premise that if we don’t celebrate our achievements and contribution, nobody will appreciate it.’
Sturge (pictured with his book’s cover) explores 10 historical phases of development in Britain’s black churches, from the arrival of Caribbean migrants to help rebuild after World War II up to the last 15 years, when black Christians like Joel Edwards hold key positions in British church life.
‘What is the main issue today — facing society, facing the black church, facing the white church?’ he asks. ‘In a world with divided communities, insecurity, injustice and prejudice, the voice of the church cannot, for its own credibility’s sake, be silent.’
He believes that the church must learn to deal appropriately, and urgently, with racism and reconciliation. ‘By lagging behind, we have forfeited the right to be an example for the rest of society,’ he says. ‘The church must use public space, the media and the political arena with more confidence, with a consistent message and a clear goal in mind. The church, and evangelicals in particular, must be at the heart of the nation’s thinking, conversations and attempts to find solutions to the challenges of our society.’
