I have concluded that three assumptions – superiority, inadequacy, incompetency – make this problematic and will need to be challenged and addressed if there is to be a change. My tears were not tears of sadness but of relief, of humbly recognising that, despite the travesties that are taking place in the world and the anger that rightfully accompanies those travesties, God is still at work. We are excited; we want to reach, positively influence and impact as many families as we can, and to see them flourish as a result of creating a healthy Home Learning Environment. I recollect being invited, along with other leaders, to the home of a leading figure in the British Christian church scene. One can find out about them if one desires to do so. I said earlier that I was not always motivated to chat, play or read. COVID-19 jeopardises retirement plans of millions, Prophecy expert says America is beginning to “speak like a dragon”, Christian artist Kaluya releases new single ‘Shoulder’, Official trailer for HIS HOUSE – The story of a young refugee couple, MAF flies over 2,500 Bibles to Papua’s Yali tribe, God is still at work by Rev David Shosanya, KTF REWIND: The Case for Black History Month by Rev David Shosanya, KTF REWIND: Where have all the elders gone? These connections, I have been advised by a Dr. friend of mine, serve as a template for the future and will significantly influence, if not determine, a child’s sense of wellbeing during childhood an into adulthood. Rev David Shosanya, director & regional minister of the London Baptist Association said that he disagreed with the interpretations of Mr Bailey but … by Rev David Shosanya, KTF REWIND: Christian unity is far more important than denominationalism by Rev David Shosanya, Knife crime: Can joint action result in change? This text is often presented as if it were a living reality in the life of contemporary Christian communities, rather than an indication of a potential way of living and being under the lordship of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Making the effort is what makes the reward worthwhile – similar to joining the gym. This is a spurious and condescending 'compliment' when one considers that it is not used by the same people when they speak of their friendships with women - it would sound stupid! As a result we are committed to keep asking ourselves, what do we see when we look at the families we engage with? Post jobs, find pros, and collaborate commission-free in our professional marketplace. Rev David Shosanya is an Itinerant Speaker and Church Consultant, Your email address will not be published. As a result, in the majority of cases, they are not seeing individuals from white communities come to faith. I’m sure that chatting, playing and reading contributed significantly to the bond we share, their sense of wellbeing and how their brain developed in childhood. Required fields are marked *. The Easter story is simple and straightforward: God in Christ became a human being and died for our sins. Is it possible that the situation is further complicated by a chronic lack of self-awareness and sensitivity to those communities that suffer the indignities of prejudice on a daily basis? Yesterday evening I cried. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There was an awkward silence – one that black people are used to! Second image is the new issue of Keep the Faith. The Rooftop Ministries In short, it represents the possibility for the Church and for Christians to be a radically different type of community, which is hallmarked by the equal value it places on the lives of each of its members, irrespective of their race. Chatting, playing and reading with your with 0-5 years olds, as I did with mine, helps the brain to develop vital connections needed to assist development during the critical formative years of life. It has helped to shape both of my children in ways that I had not anticipated or consciously reflected on until coming into contact with The Hungry Little Minds national campaign which focuses a light on the importance of chat, play and read activities. Dr Carver Anderson: A practical theologian and social scientist. Had it been a Black knee kneeling on a White neck, I am 100% sure many White Christian leaders would have something to say! When David Shosanya was a child, he overheard a false prophet tell his mother: “David will never be a Christian.” Born into a poor Nigerian family in East London, he decided then and there that if his end was not with God, he might as well make the most of it. In fact, it is worthy of a strong sense of righteous indignation or rage. Do you get my point? By listening and reconnecting, writes David Shosanya . As I said at the beginning of this article, I am not an expert on parenting or neurology (the science of the brain). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. David Shosanya: He is passionate about individuals confronting and dissolving the self-imposed limitations that prevents them from realising their potential and enjoying life to the full.The Rev John Augustin: Minister from Derby, together with Rev Pam Thompson. Yesterday evening I cried. If you are looking for ways to engage your child through play time activities, get our free online resources to help parents and careers create a great home learning environment. Rev David Shosanya (pictured above) asks why are Christians unable to have an honest, intelligent and constructive debate about this contentious issue Why do conversations about race leave most Christians feeling ill-equipped, unwilling and, in some cases, unable to constructively wrestle with this subject matter? My gladness and hope were almost cut short, as I took my eyes off what God had done and became distracted by the DEAFENING SILENCE of White leaders, some of whom have Black bodies worshipping in their very congregations and financially supporting their ministries. Neither, Rev David Shosanya argues that BME Christians must seek opportunities to spread their influence within and outside of the Church, Rev David Shosanya looks at how historical descriptions of Black people have led some to hate themselves, and how language, Rev David Shosanya explores the concept of Blackness, and why it’s important that Black people aren’t always projected as living, Relationships between Black men and women seem fraught with anger, mistrust and abuse. Keep The Faith ® The UK's Black and multi-ethnic Christian magazine. I Stuck To The Plan Even If It Was Not Perfectly Executed. In 2009 I undertook some research as part of my sabbatical study and sought to identify and understand what steps African and Caribbean heritage churches were taking to reach white indigenous communities with the Gospel. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover David’s connections and jobs at similar companies. Inevitably, a few students are less certain and consequently not fully at ease with the subject matter. I am kindly asking White leaders and friends to do the same. I can sympathise (not justify) with individuals outside of the Church who are not inclined to look to the Scriptures for guidance on how to manage the dynamics of racial politics. Tel: 0208 251 9850. David Shosanya is London Baptist Association’s Regional Minister responsible for Mission This article appears in the Summer 2015 edition of Baptists Together Magazine Pictures: Choir - HOPE Together Boiler - Frank Ramspott GreenLaneBaptist Church- The Express & Star, Wolverhampton Silence is complicity and collusion with White supremacy and the attitudes that bring about the demise and death of Black bodies. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. If they do they tend not to remain in their churches. After a short while a white leader assumed a culturally superior disposition and proceeded to prescribe what steps needed to be taken if African and Caribbean heritage churches and their leaders were to be able to exercise leadership over and be relevant, missionally and otherwise, to white Christian communities. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. They grasp the very real implications of the need to genuinely and sacrificially incarnate in a manner that is contextually relevant to white communities. Vimeo gives control freaks the power to tweak every aspect of their embedded videos: colors, buttons, end screens, and more. I then suggest that the problem with the boiler is that it is disconnected from the radiation system that has the capacity to carry the energy from the boiler throughout the house and consequently raise the overall temperature. I would beg to differ, however. It was a cordial discussion with each person respectfully offering their unique perspectives on the range of dynamics at play. Blessings. These cookies do not store any personal information. Get your team aligned with all the tools you need on one secure, reliable video platform. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. An angry and violent gang member who realized that there is a better way to live life. On the other hand, it seeks to remind the individual or group of individuals, who discriminate on the grounds of race, that their actions contradict the very humanity they claim for themselves yet deny in others. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. by Rev David Shosanya, The Easter story is simple and straightforward by Rev David Shosanya, Impact your world in 2015 by getting more involved by Rev David Shosanya, The Role of Language in empowerment by Rev David Shosanya, Moving beyond the Black stereotype by Rev David Shosanya, When are we all going to get along? This appears to be a good question that highlights a glaring omission at the heart of this article. More information is available here. This, in a very real sense, is the critical tipping point between African and Caribbean heritage churches self-identifying as a ‘reverse mission movement’. So far, 2020 has been a tumultuous year. Allowing race to be the criteria as to how much value is placed on human beings is clearly not acceptable. God is still at work by Rev David Shosanya Yesterday evening I cried. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. David Shosanya Regional Minister London Baptist Union. by Rev David Shosanya, Relationships are good for you – but can be messy by Rev David Shosanya, Remember the elderly this Christmas by Rev David Shosanya, Helping men to man up in the 21st century by Rev David Shosanya, Where do we go from here? The subject of race remains a major issue in Christian circles. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A prejudice that is due to their skin colour being different from that of the majority of the population? They are being intentional in creating environments where people from all cultures feel welcomed and affirmed. Is the brain a muscle or an organ? This requires an open exchange of ideas and perspectives, a sharing of experiences. This is not a phenomena that is unique and particular to students.