Home away from Home

Last month I had the opportunity to go back to my homeland of London, England. I was so excited to be back home because I had not been back in over three years. I have missed my family and the big city so much! But even more than that, I was excited to be back and show Stephanie where I grew up, and how London has so much more to offer than the stereotypes seen on TV here in the US. Which get on my nerves...just sayin'. To answer a few of the questions I get asked: Yes, there are black people in London. No,  I'm not African American, and yes we have "hoods". How do I know?...well... because I'm black, both of my parents are Jamaican, and I didn't grow up in the suburbs. OK..I'm done venting.

We spent two weeks walking the streets, talking to the people, and seeing the sights of this beautiful city. Honestly, having Stephanie with me allowed me to see my city in a completely different light. London is a melting pot of culture and diversity, which I always knew, but I was able to see how God has been working in the city over hundreds of years, and now there are churches being planted. In the midst of London's rich diversity and culture, God is doing a new thing. We met with a church planter who is starting a new church in Brixton, which is the same area that I grew up. Brixton, once known for its large Jamaican population and high crime is now a thriving community. As someone who knew these streets when people thought nothing good came out of this community, it is awesome see that the church is also engaged in building the community.


On Sundays we worshiped at my home church which is made up of English, Filipino, and Jamaican families. This was refreshing and very different to my church experience in the U.S where the churches I have been in have been almost all white or all black. This is not to say that there are not diverse churches in America, but from my limited time in Kansas City the church is still working through the issues of race. Not that my home church is perfect, but It was a reminder that people of different cultures can come together on a Sunday morning because of a mutual love for Jesus.

Stephanie and I celebrated our second anniversary while we were in London, and to celebrate our family put together a reception for us. It was awesome! I had family and friends I hadn't seen in a long time come out and show us love. It was a great time of celebration and vision casting as I shared how Stephanie and I met, and how we feel called to start new churches in under resourced communities. Family and friends blessed us with words of encouragement and affirmation.

Coming back to Kansas City I had to wrestle with mixed emotions. Emotions of feeling homesick, but also a renewed sense of self because I had spent time with "my people". It is easy for me to get so focused on the work we are doing here in Kansas City, but going home was a reminder that God is working to change hearts across the world. The Kingdom of God reaches far beyond our participation in the movement. Thank God for those moments of realizing the reality of it all. That thought makes it easier to be used by God here in Kansas City, which is my home away from home.