Cameron attends RCCG’s Festival of Life in London

THE largest gathering of Christians in the United Kingdom, the Festival of Life, organised by The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in London has attracted another world figure, Prime Minister David Cameron.

Now in its 19th year, the Festival is held bi-annually in London every April and October and attracts up to 40,000 people. Penultimate Friday’s event was held at Excel London, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL from 8.00 pm till the early hours of Saturday April 18, 2015.

The RCCG, an international faith organisation serving communities in 184 countries and committed to raising disciples who live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, has been under the leadership of its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye since 1981.

Reputed to be Britain’s largest and fastest-growing denomination with 732 churches at present, RCCG’s leader in UK is Pastor Agu Irukwu, who is also the Senior Pastor of Jesus House, London.

Well-known faith leaders and public officials who have visited the Festival of Life over the years include the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Nicky Gumbel, leader at Holy Trinity Brompton; John Glass, General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal Church; National Overseer for the Church of God of Prophecy in England, Wales and France, Bishop Wilton Powell; Head of the Church of God Prophecy and Bishop Of Bristol, Mike Hill; and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. RCCG is a member of the Evangelical Alliance (EA) and Churches Together in England (CTE).

Cameron received a rapturous welcome when he was introduced to the 45,000- strong crowd by Pastor Irukwu. The Prime Minister spoke about aspiration, the Big Society and religious freedom. He told the congregation of his belief in aspiration and that he believed there was a future Prime Minister in the FoL congregation.

His words: “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.” Cameron 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.”

Cameron also spoke about Britain’s Christian roots, saying: “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.”

Prior to speaking to the gathering, the Prime Minister had a private meeting with Adeboye. 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 May 7. 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.”