1 Apr 2025, 11:12Darell J. Philip, London Area 6C Communications CoordinatorLondon, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
ACT: A Community Transformed - East London Youth Week of Prayer
When churches come together in unity, they can be a force of good in the community and society at large. This proved to be the case as three churches (Clapton, Hackney and Stoke Newington), all within the London Area 6C, came together and worked collaboratively during the Global Youth Week of Prayer. Each of the churches began the first Sabbath with Global Youth Day in their individual churches before coming together during the week on Zoom, and the final Sabbath in person, in the presentation of the Youth Week of Prayer readings which focused on reaching members of the community of different faiths, beliefs and cultures. The speakers on the Global Youth Day Sabbath service were Darryll and Nicole Mathieu-Marius (Hackney), Elder Lemar Smith (Stoke Newington) and South England Conference Youth Director, Pastor Warren Gillin (Clapton).
The speakers during the collaborative East London Youth Week of Prayer held during 22nd–29th March 2025 were: Elder Darell Philip and Darryll Mathieu-Marius (Hackney), Elder Lemar Smith and Aaron Fenton-Hewitt (Stoke Newington) and Charrell Phillip (Clapton). The interactive Zoom sessions, which included discussions, video clips and, most importantly, prayer, brought a closeness among the youth within the three churches; something which was recognised and commented on by Stoke Newington’s Pastor, Aundries Malcolm.
For the finale, the three churches came together at the Stoke Newington SDA Church with a special guest attendance from our very own British Union Conference President, Pastor Eglan Brooks. The message was delivered by Stoke Newington’s First Elder, Asher McKenzie, himself a youth, before the day came to an end with a ‘Battle of the East’ Bible Quiz contested among the youths of the three churches followed by a social. Among those visiting the service were youth members of the Spanish and Portuguese SDA communities and of other churches including Walthamstow SDA Church (also from East London Area 6C), amongst others.
Pastor Aundries Malcolm commended the youth leaders (Dayne Mathieu – Clapton), (Rebecca Marshall – Hackney) and (Elder Lemar Smith – Stoke Newington) for all the planning and preparation behind the scenes which led to a successful collaborative effort among the youth of the three East London churches which has set a good standard within the London Area of 6C which is hoped would inspire the remaining London Areas to do the same as we work together with the Holy Spirit in reaching diverse communities for the building of the Kingdom of God.
When churches come together in unity, they can be a force of good in the community and society at large. This proved to be the case as three churches (Clapton, Hackney and Stoke Newington), all within the London Area 6C, came together and worked collaboratively during the Global Youth Week of Prayer. Each of the churches began the first Sabbath with Global Youth Day in their individual churches before coming together during the week on Zoom, and the final Sabbath in person, in the presentation of the Youth Week of Prayer readings which focused on reaching members of the community of different faiths, beliefs and cultures. The speakers on the Global Youth Day Sabbath service were Darryll and Nicole Mathieu-Marius (Hackney), Elder Lemar Smith (Stoke Newington) and South England Conference Youth Director, Pastor Warren Gillin (Clapton).
The speakers during the collaborative East London Youth Week of Prayer held during 22nd–29th March 2025 were: Elder Darell Philip and Darryll Mathieu-Marius (Hackney), Elder Lemar Smith and Aaron Fenton-Hewitt (Stoke Newington) and Charrell Phillip (Clapton). The interactive Zoom sessions, which included discussions, video clips and, most importantly, prayer, brought a closeness among the youth within the three churches; something which was recognised and commented on by Stoke Newington’s Pastor, Aundries Malcolm.
For the finale, the three churches came together at the Stoke Newington SDA Church with a special guest attendance from our very own British Union Conference President, Pastor Eglan Brooks. The message was delivered by Stoke Newington’s First Elder, Asher McKenzie, himself a youth, before the day came to an end with a ‘Battle of the East’ Bible Quiz contested among the youths of the three churches followed by a social. Among those visiting the service were youth members of the Spanish and Portuguese SDA communities and of other churches including Walthamstow SDA Church (also from East London Area 6C), amongst others.
Pastor Aundries Malcolm commended the youth leaders (Dayne Mathieu – Clapton), (Rebecca Marshall – Hackney) and (Elder Lemar Smith – Stoke Newington) for all the planning and preparation behind the scenes which led to a successful collaborative effort among the youth of the three East London churches which has set a good standard within the London Area of 6C which is hoped would inspire the remaining London Areas to do the same as we work together with the Holy Spirit in reaching diverse communities for the building of the Kingdom of God.
