Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities, a Durham University professor says.
Writing in “The Conversation UK”, Mathew Guest, Professor in the Sociology of Religion, says the most vibrant congregations are often found among ethnic minority and migrant communities, noting research that shows the health of Black Pentecostal churches, as well as churches attracting Christians of Asian heritage.
“From the perspective of a moribund Church of England, these black-majority churches represent a Christian vitality that many Anglican congregations struggle to sustain,” he said.
And Justin Gill, the FIEC’s Intercultural Ministry Advisor, told en: “In the past six years the face of the church ethnically and culturally has shifted very positively. First-generation immigrants coming in and making an impact on church life is massive … No doubt the immigrants are revitalising the church, they’re helping the church grow.”
Gill also noted the missional drive of some of the immigrant Christian communities he’s encountered.
“There needs to be a paradigm shift in the way we’re doing mission” he said, explaining that many Christian immigrants have a desire not only to reach their own ethnic group with the gospel, but also white British people.
“We’ve got reverse mission going on…” he said. “Immigrants have a role to play and that’s not being recognised.”
Nathaniel Jennings, OMF UK & Ireland’s Intercultural Ministries Director, also noted significant growth in diaspora and multicultural churches.
Jennings told en that many Christians coming to the UK from different cultures form diaspora churches so that they can worship in their heart language and cultural styles. Like Gill, Jennings noted that these churches are often very missional, not only reaching out to other migrants from the same country, but other ethnic groups as well.
In the meantime, many ethnically white churches are beginning to recognise the need to represent the increasingly multicultural population around them, Jennings explained. “I think there is this growing intercultural movement,” he said. “I see there’s a real interest and an appetite to grow in this area. It’s just been really encouraging.”
However, this movement coincides with what Jennings described as “depressing” developments such as recent anti-immigration riots in Belfast. “In society there’s growing fragmentation, polarisation,” he said.
“It’s a real discipleship moment,” Jennings continued, calling on the church to be distinct and courageous in its allegiance to Christ’s kingdom.
Against this backdrop, OMF’s Intercultural Ministry seeks to promote churches where Christians from different cultures are not just present, but are welcomed and given a voice. OMF offers a free, four-session, online training course that was developed to help churches think through the Biblical basis of culture and worldview.
“It has to start with that theological conviction that [Jesus] died for us personally, but also to break down the divide between people and make a new humanity…” Jennings said. “It’s meant to be part of our witness. It’s what the world desperately needs.”
