“Your Kingdom come”
Wiston Estate, with Lord Michael Hastings CBE, Carl Wills, Senior Leader of the Pioneer network of churches, and Olivia Pinkney, Sussex Police Deputy Chief Constable, 3 May
Windlesham schoolteacher Justin Blake, who is also part of the wider team behind the Big Church Day Out, regularly brings together Christian leaders in key spheres of public life seeking to make a difference in society.
This time Justin (and the glorious downland setting of Wiston) had succeeded in luring Lord Michael Hastings CBE, Carl Wills and a welcome return visit from Olivia Pinkney, Sussex Police Deputy Chief Constable.
Justin said, “Michael Hastings is a very influential leader in Britain and was awarded a CBE in recognition of his services to reduce crime.”
When not fighting crime, Lord Hastings is KPMG’s Global Head of Citizenship and a member of the World Economic Forum Global Council. He holds a degree in Theology, is Vice President of UNICEF & Patron of Free the Children, the world’s largest youth social action movement. He was first Head of BBC Corporate Social Responsibility.
Lord Hastings spoke passionately on being a “force for good” and a positive influence in society. He introduced Terrol Lewis, founder of the first UK Streetgym based in Brixton. Terrol shared his moving and powerful testimony of becoming a Christian a few years ago while engaged in serious gang crime as a young Muslim in London.
Terrol’s vision now is to bring together gang members through fitness and to see crime reduced. He is reaching and having a positive influence on south London gangs.
Carl Wills, who also spoke on influencing communities, has served churches and organisations around the world since 1993, advising many networks as Senior Leader of the Pioneer churches.
Olivia Pinkney, Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police, has spoken persuasively on the dangers of human trafficking at Justin’s previous events. This time she gave some important points for the Church to support Sussex Police in prayer.
Afterwards, Justin said, “It was a wonderful mix of members of the House of Lords, very senior Police and ex-prisoners speaking together as a force for good – a sign of the kingdom!”