The recent 2021 Census of England and Wales declared a large reduction in the number of people who identify as Christians in the UK, a figure that is said to have now illustrated Christianity is a minority faith.
Though those who describe themselves as Christian are still the largest percentage of our population, a decrease from 59% in 2011 to 46% of the population in 2021 is a wake up call for the Church.
Respondents who said they had no religion rose from 25% to 37%, while adherents to Islam rose from 5% to 6.5%.
Adherents to all other major faiths remained roughly stable. You can research more data (here)
Though churches across the globe seem to be seeing a fall in numbers, the Pentecostal Church seems to be bucking the trend. There are many reports, that suggest it is the fastest growing religion in the world. Read more (here).
For Resurrection Day, Juliet Chowdhry one of our Trustees and her family attended Potters House Christian Fellowship in Wembley, a Pentecostal Church. This was the first church she attended in the UK; back then it was a chapter based in Ilford, Essex. Pastor Jimmy who in the early 2000’s led the Ilford Church, is now leading a church in Wembley – they have recently moved to a new building. You can watch the Easter service here:
The Wembley Church is seeing regular growth and on Sunday, the attendance was in excess of 100 people. They have only been in their new building for two Sundays and many new faces were there. It is believed that a significant amount of those in attendance responded to street evangelism that led to a packed Gospel Conference only a week earlier.
After the Easter Sunday service, Juliet and her family returned to the Church in the evening to watch a Gospel concert and drama. This was also used as an opportunity to invite non-Christian friends to Church to learn more about the Christian faith. You can watch the drama here:
https://youtu.be/9Wj3nzkWvYQ
Members of all global Potters House Churches take part in weekly street Evangelism and this is having an impact, as they are seeing large numbers of people being saved. The Church group hold midweek services, Sunday evening services, regular Bible study groups and a whole host of other fellowship events.
Their church website says:
“The Gospel taken outside the four walls is the absolute foundation of our church, in obedience to Mark 16:15 And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’… We emphasize personal evangelism, and a large variety of outreaches to share the Gospel”
Each week at the end of every church service, an alter call takes place where people are called to the front of the stage for them to give their lives to Christ. There they are joined by a prayer partner who will lead them in a sinners prayer (click here).
Churches have regular impact teams, which are when volunteers travel to churches across their respective nations; support them with street evangelism for a Saturday, holding modern Gospel concerts. These concerts include rap, rock, reggae and other diverse music; participants try to connect visitors with God through music, drama and a series of testimonies.
The church will almost every Sunday have refreshments served at the end of the service, and often a members house will be open for the congregation to enjoy a meal and good fellowship. These are aspects of the church that create a strong familial identity between its members.
It’s not therefore surprising that the church is attended by converts from other faiths and many former atheists, that have discovered a Gospel of love and hope.
Like most churches, Potters House Christian Fellowship will have elements of practice some Christians will not agree with, but certainly in regards to outreach and discipling there is a lot that other churches could learn from.
Juliet Chowdhry, said:
“Every Christian is called to share the Gospel.
“The advancement of the early church and in every period of Christian growth it was through the sharing of the Gospel by ordinary members not just leaders.
“Pentecostal churches place a great emphasis on outreach, many of those that attend have seen God transform their lives.
“Through a connection with Christ, they may have escaped a great trauma, ended an addiction or rekindled hope in their lives.
“Because of the life-changing message they received, these new Christians have a deeper desire to share God’s word.
“There is a clear message to be derived from every church that is growing – get back to grassroots evangelism.
“We are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves [Matthew 22:37-39], and we are to go and make disciples of others who will do the same [Matthew 28:19-20].”
You can learn more about Potters House Wembley (here).
