London City Mission, with a 180 year history and over 200 staff members including full-time workers, is one of the most influential missionary organizations in the UK. This organization hosts the Ministry Reference Panel (MRP) meeting three times a year, where 8-9 pastors who provide counsel, along with key leaders, gather at one table to discuss important ministry matters. I have been participating in these meetings for several years, building relationships with the leaders.

The primary reason for this involvement is my desire to learn from the British church and, more specifically, to bring together the numerous diaspora churches in London to cooperate with each other. Most importantly, it is to prepare the next generation, already acculturated and speaking English, to be the main agents in spreading the gospel throughout the UK, starting from urban centers. If a successful model of diaspora mission can be established in London, which has a significant global influence, it could potentially be replicated in cities worldwide.

I have shared this dream whenever the opportunity arose, including at the MRP and during an interview at the last Diaspora Conference. This led to discussions about creating an organization for diaspora mission with leaders from seminaries and major mission organizations. The Vice President of LCM, who holds a crucial position in this effort, personally invited me to his office this Thursday morning to discuss my vision for diaspora mission in detail.

To my surprise, as I began to explain, he stood up, took a pen, and started to note everything on a whiteboard. After nearly two hours of discussion, he took a photo of the whiteboard filled with notes and stated that this would be the direction for our organization, promising to share the information with other key leaders. He also expressed his willingness to actively support the creation of an organization that assists diaspora churches.

Following the meeting, I received a call from a pastor associated with the organization the next evening. The Vice President, having gained a clear conviction about the mission from our meeting, sought my permission to share this with other important leaders immediately. I agreed and provided a written summary to facilitate this.

This coming Friday, I have arranged a Zoom meeting with the chairman of the board of the well-known Union Theological College in the UK. This individual plays a significant role in leading the college. Recognizing the need for quality theological education to train more pastors, I was particularly moved to learn that a book that had deeply impressed me was authored by the dean of this college. Knowing that such a respected institution is interested in diaspora mission reinforces my belief in God’s special guidance.

I believe that, despite challenges and spiritual opposition, steadfast obedience and the collaborative prayers and efforts of the community will ultimately lead to victory and the fulfillment of God’s will. Please pray earnestly with us that our church will not only serve our community but also become a church that serves the nations.