Chuka congratulates Bishop John Francis on 25 years of ministry
Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham addresses Ruach Ministries with Harriet Harman MP and Jennette Arnold AM.
Chuka Umunna, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, addressed the congregation of Ruach Ministries, Britain’s second biggest Black majority church, on Sunday 15 June 2008, with cabinet minister Harriet Harman MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, to mark Bishop John Francis’ 25 years in ministry and 10 years in the office of bishop. They were joined by Jennette Arnold AM, Chair of the London Assembly.Â
Ruach Ministries, situated on Brixton Hill in the Streatham parliamentary constituency, attracts a congregation of more than 5,000 through its doors every Sunday. Ruach carries out extensive outreach work, through street pastors and community surgeries amongst other things, to tackle social problems in the area, such as prostitution, guns, gangs and knives.
The church was founded by Bishop John Francis, one of Britain’s most influential black church leaders, who has an extensive international ministry including in the US, where he is one of the best known British church leaders. This month Bishop Francis is celebrating 25 years in ministry, 10 years in the Bishopric.
Commenting on the visit, Umunna said:
“We are extremely proud to have Ruach Ministries, Britain’s second biggest Black church, in our area.
“Faith communities are often given a bad name in the national press but in Streatham we know that they are doing so much positive work.
“I congratulate Bishop Francis on his 25 years of ministry and thank him and Ruach Ministries for all the positive social work they do in this area.”
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