The United Kingdom is in the throes of electioneering and campaigning for a general election scheduled for July 4, 2024. The Rev. Dr. Derrill Blue hopped across the pond from Rochester, New York, and dropped a mighty prophetic word in London, England.
The occasion was the 28th annual session of the London District Conference of the London Midland Conference of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and its theme was ‘Growing in the Power of the Holy Spirit.’ Presiding Elder Rev. Dr. Aldon Alfred Carson introduced Rev. Dr. Derrill Blue as the visionary leader and Presiding Elder of the Rochester-Syracuse District of the North-Eastern Episcopal District of The A.M.E. Zion Church who came with a word for ‘such a time as this.’
The hundred-plus people in the congregation were blown over by the amazing story of how God used the Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church to bring hope and transformation to the underserved community in Rochester, New York. Dr. Blue, the special speaker for the School of the Prophets, had the congregation riveted to their seats as he spoke on the subject of ‘growing your church’ based on Acts 2: 1-4. He elucidated how spirituality, evangelism, and missions can result in social justice and community empowerment.
The Ransom Pentecostal A.M.E.Z. Church, was the host church for the district conference, located in the gentrified community of Battersea, Wandsworth Southwest London. Its pastor Rev. Dr Marcus Tillery shared in the breakout session the local church’s 50-plus-year history and its deep ties with the local community.
In an atmosphere filled with the electrifying presence of the Holy Spirit the congregation was challenged by Dr. Blue to become a missional church. He went on to say that having prayed the missional church then needed to turn toward their neighborhoods and communities, listen to what is happening among the people, and learn to ask different questions about what God was up to in the neighborhood.
This type of consultation he shared allowed for identifying what God wished to do through the church in the local community. Rev. Blue shared that the church that he pastored in Rochester surveyed their community and found out the community's needs. Through identification with the community, they now represent the needs of the local community at the state and federal levels. Through two initiatives, ‘Project Ride’ and the ‘JRSP’ (Job Readiness Success Program), the Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church has been able to receive a grant of US $1.4 million to continue to provide needed services to the local community.
The conference encouraged them to locate themselves within the history of their local communities and identify the needs of their communities. A question that came from the floor was how do we, with a denominational legacy that celebrates Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Alexander Walters, persons whose strong faith led them to political activism, move forward when many of us hold on to a colonial theological legacy that discourages Christian engagement in political action?
The district conference was instructed to let prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God lead and guide. Rev. Blue reminded the churches that Jesus Christ must be lifted up within the community including spaces and places where the vulnerable inhabit and where power is wielded. The eight churches on the London District were told that they had responsibility to represent and protect members of the community whether they attended our churches or not.
There was a buzz of excitement as the attendees were fired up with new motivations and ideas towards growing their churches. At the concluding prayers, Spirit-filled Christians were challenged to stand up for righteousness and justice wherever their feet may tread even at a time of electioneering in the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Through Rev. Blue’s presentation, it is hoped that there will be an increase in political literacy, voter registration, and general election participation by the members of the London District of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Rev. Dr Derrill Blue is the Presiding Elder of the Rochester-Syracuse District of The A.M.E. Zion Church and pastor of Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Rochester, New York, USA.
Ronald A. Nathan is the Star of Zion World Politics Editor.
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