British Prime Minister David Cameron paid his first ever visit to the Festival of Life (FoL), at ExCel London Docklands on Friday 17th April 2015; the UK’s largest inter-denominational Christian gathering is organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) which has congregations in 180 nations.
After a private meeting with RCCG’s General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, David Cameron received a rapturous welcome when he was introduced to the 45,000 strong crowd by Pastor Agu Irukwu, leader of RCCG UK which has 732 churches presently.
During his eight minute address, the Prime Minister spoke about aspiration, The Big Society and religious freedom.
“I believe in aspiration. I believe the only limit to someone’s potential is their own ambition and talent and I look out into this crowd and I can see someone who will hold my role and become Prime Minister of this great country.”
Pastor Agu Irukwu welcomes British PM Cavid Cameron on stage at Festival Of Life 2015
The Prime Minister praised RCCG’s dedication to community service. He said, “For years I’ve tried to explain to people what The Big Society is, some people were determined not to understand it but I should have brought them here to the Festival of Life because this is the Big Society in action.”
He added, “Just think how great our country Britain would be if we built on that, if we had an even bigger Big Society where even more people shared your family values, values of prudence, of hard work, of looking out for those who fall on hard times. With these values we can achieve the Britain we all want to live in, where the oppressed are cared for, where the lonely are befriended, where it’s not where you come from but it’s the content of your character that really matters.”
The Prime Minister also spoke about Britain’s Christian roots. “Let us be proud that this is a Christian country where we stand for the freedom to practise your faith and where we stand up for Christians and all those who are persecuted anywhere in our world.
The Rt Hon Stephen Timms, Shadow Minister for Employment, also addressed FoL and was interviewed by Pastor Agu. During the interview Stephen Timms encouraged Christians to get involved in politics. He said, “Step forward and join the party you feel you can
Shadow Employment Stephen Timms MP at Festival Of Life 2015
support and really get stuck in.”
“People often say you shouldn’t mix faith and politics, and if you do, you are asking for trouble but I think they are drawing the wrong message. The truth is faith in Christ is a great starting point for politics.”
Pastor Agu Irukwu said: “We are very pleased to have the Prime Minister with us tonight. We appreciate that this is a very busy time for him, as it is for all politicians, in the run up to our general elections on 7th May. His attendance is a clear indication of the growing influence of not just the RCCG and the black majority churches, but of the Church in general. This partnership between the Government and the Church is critical to the spiritual and social transformation of our nation.”
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
* The Festival of Life is held bi-annually in London every April and October and attracts up to 45,000 people. Yesterday’s event was held at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL from 8pm till the early hours of Saturday 18th April.
* The Festival of Life is organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), reputed to be Britain’s fastest-growing church denomination with 732 churches at this time.
* The leader of RCCG in the United Kingdom is Pastor Agu Irukwu, who is also the Senior Pastor of Jesus House, London.
* Well-known public officials who have visited the Festival of Life in its 19 year historyinclude the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, the Bishop of London the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
* RCCG is a member of the Evangelical Alliance (EA) and Churches Together in England (CTE).
* The RCCG has been under the leadership of its General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye since 1981 and is currently serving communities in 180 countries.
* RCCG works with various partners to deliver on its global commitment to the spiritual and social transformation of nations. The RCCG is passionate about prayer, evangelism, church-planting, discipleship and social action.