History

Southwark For Jesus and Transform Southwark grew out of the Southwark Evangelical Leaders fraternal (SEL) which came together after Billy Grahams last ‘Mission to London’ in 1989. Following the mission, several leaders came together to lead the ‘March For Jesus’ praise marches in Southwark. These ran every year throughout the 90’s, uniting large numbers of believers in mobile prayer for the borough. The fellowship of leaders expanded and formed a steering group to connect smaller fraternals across the borough. This group found expression of their common vision in Southwark For Jesus’ vision of ‘Unity in Prayer and Action’.

Numerous initiatives have been facilitated through this friendship network, including Soul in the City, Transform Southwark, Transformation Now, the Global Day of Prayer plus many one off events and regional prayer gatherings. Alongside the prayer, many social action projects have sprung up in the borough.

Over the years there have been many expression of our unity;
SFJ has organised many borough wide ‘prayer summits’ and large scale community celebrations such as March For Jesus, Pentecost 2000, and latterly the Global Day of Prayer
SFJ facilitates four regional church groupings and fraternals
SFJ informs, promotes and communicates awareness of both borough and London-wide church initiatives such as Soul in the City, the Global Day of Prayer and the Year of Prayer for London.
SFJ gives support to key community or council initiatives
SFJ Is a vehicle for churches to challenge unjust or amoral directives in the borough

‘Why do we need it?

• To express and celebrate our Unity and diversity across a multiracial, multicultural London borough (See Eph 4 vv. 1-7)

• As a tool for the Church in Southwark to ‘keep watch and pray’, organising regular Prayer for our communities, and bringing help where it is needed (See Nehemiah 4 vv. 9-20)

• To enable effective partnerships in the goal of transforming Southwark and taking relevant action together. (See Rom 12 vv 2)

Articles

Click to download a recent interview with SFJ chair Phil Stokes (PDF file)