Reflecting on 2021 by Alex Afriyie

We began 2021 as LNC (London Network Church) with the word Shalom. Shalom meaning peace, well-being and wholeness. It has been a whirlwind of a year with various reports of Covid, the ups and downs of restrictions, lock-downs, political turmoil, conspiracies and mistrust of those in power. 

This has affected people’s mental health, finances, family gatherings and general well-being. One of the positive things we have seen is a great increase in the amount of people seeking God and coming to Christ. We need to have our anchor somewhere and natural things are seeming to be less and less stable. 

Many have wanted to gather together and when we have been allowed to, real deep fellowship has been appreciated. We’ve worshipped together, eat together, had BBQs and biblical feasts. We’ve seen marriages this year and rejoiced in the birth of new babies. 

Despite the pressures we continued with livestream and in person services and it has caused many people to deepen their relationship with God and each other. We thank God we were able to minister to people online through our well-being shalom clinic. It was great to be able to be there to listen and pray with people as they shared their concerns. 

It’s also been great to see the increase in people coming to faith, getting baptised and joining life groups this year. We have especially seen an increase in the 20 to 35 age group this year in our church. 

As we enter 2022, let’s continue to put our faith in Jesus, the rock who never fails us. As an old chorus says, ‘Though the winds may blow and the rains may fall, He will never let go of your hand!’ 

‘…That they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified (for the display of His splendour NIV). (Isaiah 61: 3 AMPC)

SHALOM IN 2021 By Alex Afriyie

As we sought the Lord for a Word for 2021 at London Network Church, we felt that God was speaking to us about Shalom. Shalom is the Hebrew Old Testament word that we translate ‘Peace’. But a fuller way of understanding this word would be our modern understanding of ‘Well Being’ and ‘Wholeness’. God’s peace affects not only our inner being but can extend to the whole of society. It means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity. We as believers are to carry that peace (John 14: 27) despite what is happening in the whirlwind of world events. We are to demonstrate the harmony of peace because ‘Christ is our peace’, and He has made us all one in our diversity (Ephesians 2: 14).

When quoting Isaiah 61, Jesus made clear in Luke 4: 18 – 19, that the Spirit of the Lord had anointed Him to preach the gospel to both the physically and spiritually poor (Matthew 5: 3 & Luke 6: 20) and heal the broken hearted, those with the deepest emotional and psychological needs. Jesus is there to heal, to deliver people spirit, soul and body. To meet spiritual, emotional, physical and even social needs.

In the 1700s Wesley referred to Is 61 in his revival which came immediately after great difficulty and unrest. Out of unrest came a great revival that affected the whole of society.

After the unrest of 2020 (e.g. Covid, justice Issues, Brexit) I believe that God wants us as sons and daughters of God, as ‘anointed ones’, to bring healing to people’s whole beings, meeting their spiritual, psychological, physical and relational needs through the Good News. We can preach and demonstrate the year of the Lord’s favour. This will happen through what we say, how we serve, through providing a listening ear, offering prayer and supplying access to healing communities.

One of the things we are looking to provide this year is a regular healing clinic for the community where people can share their needs and receive healing, prophetic word, a listening ear and practical help. It is time for the nations in London, the UK and the world, to say, ‘…Let us go up to ….the house of …God… and He will teach us His ways’ (Isaiah 2: 2 – 4).

The world is hurting (Romans 8: 19 – 22); I believe that as we arise with courageous love and faith as the church and as individual believers, we will have something unique and healing to bring to the world in 2021. SHALOM!