In between, the past couple of days have been dominated by the news of my brother, Regan King, leading the church he pastors through the challenges of the present moment with a missional intent to care for the vulnerable, isolated, and needy of London’s borough of Islington. Many of the headlines and news stories are less than accurate, so I won’t link to them here, but if you are a Christian in and around London paying attention to BBC news, the papers, or the radio, it will have been hard to miss. I visited him yesterday, and spent much of the day with him - not only to see my nephew but also more pastorally to observe the very important work the Angel Church is doing distributing food and providing a place of shelter and refuge for some extremely vulnerable people. What I saw is without question one of the most beautiful things I have observed among Grace Baptist Churches and I know only part of the bigger picture of the church’s work and witness - including their Lord’s Day gatherings like that disrupted by the police two days ago. If anyone is in doubt as to where I stand on this matter, what follows is a letter I wrote him last night. I have redacted the names and organisations I mentioned in the final paragraph. They have expressed support in their own ways, and that is enough, without me publicising it.
16/11/2020
Dear Regan
It was a pleasure to see you and Rachel today, and to meet young Randall. I am thankful that Uliana and I can call your family, our family. Nonetheless, in light of the media storm of recent days, I feel the need to write you more formally. I do so not so much as your brother - which can’t be helped, I’m afraid - but as pastor of your sending church (I know, that was a long time ago!) and more currently AGBCSE Central District Secretary and thereby your district representative on the AGBCSE committee.
I stand with you. Today when I walked into the room and saw a table full of people mobilised to prepare meals for your vulnerable neighbours, I was encouraged enough. But when I returned to see the room filled with quite visibly very needy people eagerly waiting for you to give a brief gospel presentation, I was floored. We have so often prayed to see such a sight, and there it was before my eyes! As people began to notice me, they immediately clocked that I was your brother and to hear them talk of you was how I would expect them to speak of a folk hero, as though you were some sort of Robin Hood. They love you and admire you, and chiefly because they know you love them and admire the image of God in them, despite their brokenness. And yet as they looked to you, you pointed them to Jesus very clearly speaking against sin and pointing them to the Saviour. Thank you. But of course, I expected no less. This is what you do, week in and week out. It is impossible to divorce your love and worship of God from your love and care for your neighbours and vice-versa.
In this age of a dying churchianity with its chapel-going consumerism, your Christ-like example and holistic witness is a breath of fresh air. But it is also a challenge to the status quo and marks you out, even in our own reformed/evangelical/Baptist constituency, as perhaps a bit weird. In the eyes of Christ, based on my reading of Scripture, I think your critics are the weird ones. They would do well to open their eyes and ears, and shut their mouths lest they sin and cause others to stumble. I’ve seen some vile things said about you and the Angel Church online - mostly by people who do not know or love Jesus and are desperately looking for the latest lame excuse to suppress the truth. Pay them no mind. You have made evangelism easier for many of us, particularly with men - many of whom are sick of weak and indecisive leadership. Late last night, a generally foul-mouthed atheistic Irish Catholic OAP builder called me asking if I'd seen my brother in the news. He couldn't express enough how grateful he was and he wanted me to send you congratulations, good luck, and all his best for taking a stand and he wishes all the churches would get behind you and open. This is a man who probably can't remember when he was last at a church service of any kind! He said that this of all times is when people need hope and help, but those who say that they believe a God who offers these things have all hidden away. Indeed, your faithfulness - and that of several other churches (including here in Wood Green) - will, I firmly believe, be blessed with much gospel fruit.
Sadly, I am all too aware that there may be criticism from within our own ranks. This is unfortunate and more than a little disappointing. But be encouraged. I know that many are standing with you. Esteemed and venerable Grace Baptists like... AGBCSE district representatives like... Theologians like... Pastors with significant influence outside our own immediate circles like... Entity leaders and CEOs like...These are not ‘small fry’. You have not, like Rehoboam, surrounded yourself with young hotheads, or like others, old fools. These are seasoned veterans, godly people who are living and serving in the power of the risen King. Don’t be disheartened. And whatever you do, and whatever people say, don’t give up.
I love you and thank God for you
Ryan Burton King,
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church Wood Green
Leader, Grace Baptists in Europe team of Grace Baptist Partnership
Central District Secretary, Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East)
***
I would also add, if anyone is still in doubt and wondering what this hypothetical agreement looks like practically in my own church context, here is how I addressed the subject at our church gathering on 01 November 2020. Regan has led, independently of any external influence and with the support of his church and church officers. I have done likewise, again with the agreement of the church and its officers. We came, without prior consultation, to similar conclusions. You or your church may have concluded differently, and so far as we are concerned, that is fine. Grace to you, and please pray for us in this time.
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