Phillip Mohabair
Marcia Dixon, Contributor
BLACK CHURCHES have a duty to reach out to their white counterparts, says the man who has given his life to spreading God's word.
All his life, Phillip Mohabir has been building bridges between people through his pioneering evangelical work. As someone who has been one of the pivotal figures of the black British church, this reverend is well qualified to judge its ability to move forward and reach out to others.
After all, it is something that he has been doing for the past 40 years. After arriving in the UK as a missionary from his native Guyana in 1956, he helped establish the black church during its formative years.
He then took his mission overseas, setting up Bible training centres, schools and self-help projects, as well as planting numerous churches including 175 in Guyana and 60 in neighbouring Suriname.
TIRELESS
Back in Britain, the tireless Rev Mohabir founded the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance in 1984 to foster unity among black church denominations and build bridges between black and white Christians.
"I started ACEA after I discovered there were only two black churches that were part of the Evangelical Alliance," he recalled.
"The purpose behind ACEA was to bring unity between our own groups and, out of the strength of our people, reach out to the white Christian community."
This idea is key to his thinking, he told Soul Stirrings. "I thank God for the progress we have made as black Christian churches over the past few years.
"But I long to see that progress translated into a strong prophetic voice and action that will have an impact on our Britain, as well as reach other nations."
Behind the scenes he encouraged religious book companies to publish the stories of black Christians, and inspired organisers of events like Spring Harvest to invite black preachers and singers to participate. Now it is normal for these events to have a black presence.
Rev. Mohabir, 69, is also a founding member of New Life Assembly and is the brains behind the Connections network, an inter-denominational ministry he founded 15 years ago.
It aims to reach wider British society and beyond through evangelism, church planting and social programmes.
Connections recently held its annual leadership conference that attracted black and white leaders. Many of them came from Middle England, a section of the community that has little or no contact with black Christians. Connections' international arm operates in 50 countries and brings together isolated ministers to meet the spiritual and welfare needs of poor communities.
VALUES
Rev Mohabir believes it's important that 21st century Christians remain vigilant.
"Our mind-set, value system and philosophy of life are being increasingly infected and controlled by secularism," he said. "We need to address this fact."
Furthermore, he feels it is time for black Christians to be more active in reaching out to others.
"If white ministers don't come to us, why don't we go to them? The only time we go to them is to use their buildings. We must go and meet people where they are and become missionaries to this nation. God did not bring us here by accident just to make a living for ourselves. I believe God sent us here to be missionaries." He feels black Christians should visit white churches to help break down barriers, as well as organise joint prayer meetings and celebrations.
He is very much seen as a father figure by many senior ministers. Rev Mohabir suggested this is by default.
"One of the crises of church life is the lack of spiritual fathers and I feel honoured that people regard me as one. The recognition has come just by me being me.
"I didn't set out to father people. I take an interest in people's ministries, their churches, their marriages, their families and in them as an individual. I can encourage people when they are down."
Despite not being in the greatest of health, Rev Mohabir continues his tireless pursuit to see Christians of all nations unite.
Taken from the Voice newspaper in Britain.
