Evangelical Alliance releases ‘Lament’ spoken word film addressing UK COVID-19 grief
Today, the Evangelical Alliance is releasing ‘Lament’, a spoken word film addressing the grief caused by COVID-19, written and performed by author and evangelist Phil Knox. The film was produced with the aim of supporting the UK church in addressing the grief and challenges caused by the pandemic, and in sharing the message of hope found in Jesus Christ. The film will premiere on YouTube and Facebook at 3pm today.
‘Lament’ is a cry of protest and loss, expressing the anxiety and grief brought about by the past year, as well as expressing the hope found in the Christian faith. In the film, Knox references a biblical refrain used to express grief, “How long, O Lord?”, to acknowledge the frustration, pain and unrest experienced by many in the church and wider society.
On the inspiration behind his poem, Knox, the Evangelical Alliance’s head of mission to young adults, says: “This last year has been so tough. On a personal level, two close family members have died and I have struggled through grief and social isolation. As a world we have lost so many loved ones and battled against anxiety, discouragement and uncertainty.
“‘Lament’ is a moment to stop and grieve all that is past, walk slowly and reflect on the past year before looking ahead with hope. It closes with some raw and real verses from the Bible’s book of Lamentations which mean a lot to me, as I have searched for a firm foundation on which to stand in the storm. I hope ‘Lament’ is a tangible blessing to others who have struggled through this season.”
The film has been made freely available so that churches can use it during online services. In the spoken word performance, Knox makes reference to the UK’s surge of interest in online church last year. Nearly nine in 10 church leaders hosting online meetings said they had attracted viewers who would not normally attend church services, according to the Evangelical Alliance’s survey of evangelical church leaders last autumn.
To find out more and watch the film, which has been made freely available for all to use, go to: https://www.eauk.org/lament
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Phil Knox is available for interview upon request. For more information, interview or photo requests please contact Helen Locke (h.locke@eauk.org, 02075 203850, 07920117595).
About the Evangelical Alliance
We are the Evangelical Alliance. We join together hundreds of organisations, thousands of churches and tens of thousands of individuals for the sake of the gospel. Representing our members since 1846, the Evangelical Alliance is the oldest and largest evangelical unity movement in the UK.
We love Jesus and we want everyone in the UK to be given an opportunity to know Him.
We love His church, and we will do all we can to unite evangelicals, building confidence in the gospel and speaking as a trusted voice into society to see it changed for Him.
Working across the UK, with offices in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast, our members come together from across denominations, locations, age groups and ethnicities, all sharing a passion to know Jesus and make Him known.
