Living Word Christian Fellowship
Encyclopedia
Living Word Christian Fellowship is a church in Lee Green, South East London
, England
. It was founded by Rev Dr Curdell McLeod in 2000 as an independent church and then launched in 2001. It is one of many of Britain’s thriving new black-majority churches, an increasing phenomenon in the 21st century.
, both came to Britain
in the 1950s
. They have four children and five grandchildren.
In the 1970s they pioneered a Homework Study Centre, facilitating after-school supplementary teaching for local underachieving and underprivileged children to help them reach their goals.
Curdell has worked in the Civil Service
and in Education for many years, seeking change on issues of race and gender
. In 1992 Curdell left her job as Deputy Principal
of a Further Education College in order to enter full-time Christian ministry
. She has been involved in Pastoral Ministry since 1988, Radio Ministry through London’s Premier Christian Radio
, a TV series called The Living Word on Sky TV
Channel 173 – HCN, and teaching in both Hampstead Bible College and South London Christian College
. She has a valid international ministry and an apostolic mandate to reach the world. In recent years, she has a regular magazine feature called Living Faith in Keep the Faith magazine, Britain's leading publication for black faith.
Herby has devoted his working life as a highly-skilled motor mechanic, and served London Transport
for 20 years. He has been very actively involved in every aspect of the ministry alongside his wife since 1988.
s today. They also have a close relationship with Prophets Ron and Jane Jolliff of Northside Community Church, Columbus, Ohio.
They are also linked to the ministry of Dr Femi Olowo who heads up South London Christian College
and Jubilee International Ministers Association (JIMA).
LWCF is a member of The Evangelical Alliance
of Great Britain, The African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance and Churches in Communities International under the leadership of Rev Hugh Osgood.
Movement.
In addition to prophetic seminars, the church runs a School of Ministry that is open to all Believers.
The church has a ministry to the local community, as well as an international ministry reaching out globally to the unsaved across the world.
emphasis adhered to by LWCF is widespread within Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. It has been criticised and has created controversy in theological circles of academia. One of the earliest critics of the teaching was Oral Roberts University
professor Charles Farah
, who published From the Pinnacle of the Temple in 1979. In the book, Farah expressed his disillusionment with the teachings, which he argued were more about presumption than faith.
In 1982, one of Farah's students, Daniel Ray McConnell, submitted a thesis to the faculty at Oral Roberts University
arguing against E W Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin and the doctrines of the Word of Faith.
Other critics have included Hank Hanegraaff
, Norman Geisler
, Dave Hunt and Roger Oakland.
There is support for the Word of Faith teaching in similar circles, and the doctrine appears sound, so long as the teaching is balanced and does not take Scriptures out of their proper context. For instance, Dr Frederick K. C. Price
of Crenshaw Christian Center
, one of the notable Word of Faith proponents wrote a popular titled called Faith, Foolishness and Presumption in an endeavour to redress the balance on the genre teaching.
South East (London sub region)
The South East is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. The sub region was established in 2008. The south east has a population of 1,300,000 and is the location of 500,000 jobs...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded by Rev Dr Curdell McLeod in 2000 as an independent church and then launched in 2001. It is one of many of Britain’s thriving new black-majority churches, an increasing phenomenon in the 21st century.
Pastors
The pastors of the church are a seasoned couple, Rev Dr Curdell McLeod and Pastor Herby McLeod. Originally from JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, both came to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
. They have four children and five grandchildren.
In the 1970s they pioneered a Homework Study Centre, facilitating after-school supplementary teaching for local underachieving and underprivileged children to help them reach their goals.
Curdell has worked in the Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
and in Education for many years, seeking change on issues of race and gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
. In 1992 Curdell left her job as Deputy Principal
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of a Further Education College in order to enter full-time Christian ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
. She has been involved in Pastoral Ministry since 1988, Radio Ministry through London’s Premier Christian Radio
Premier Christian Radio
Premier Christian Radio is a British Christian radio station wholly owned by the charity Premier Christian Media Trust.Premier Christian Radio broadcasts Christian programming including news, debate, teachings and Christian music to London and the surrounding areas.It operates on three frequencies...
, a TV series called The Living Word on Sky TV
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
Channel 173 – HCN, and teaching in both Hampstead Bible College and South London Christian College
South London Christian College
South London Christian College is a UK government accredited international college with a vision for training leaders from the Global South. The college was founded in 1991 in Clapham, London, England but then relocated to its present site at Mayeswood Road in the Chinbrook area of Grove Park,...
. She has a valid international ministry and an apostolic mandate to reach the world. In recent years, she has a regular magazine feature called Living Faith in Keep the Faith magazine, Britain's leading publication for black faith.
Herby has devoted his working life as a highly-skilled motor mechanic, and served London Transport
London Regional Transport
London Regional Transport was the organisation responsible for the public transport network in Greater London, UK from 1984-2000. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.The organisation was...
for 20 years. He has been very actively involved in every aspect of the ministry alongside his wife since 1988.
Connections
The church has a number of affiliations with other churches and organisations. The church has links with the ministry of Dr Bill Hammon and Christian International, a ministry that emphasises the continuing ministry of Apostles and ProphetProphet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s today. They also have a close relationship with Prophets Ron and Jane Jolliff of Northside Community Church, Columbus, Ohio.
They are also linked to the ministry of Dr Femi Olowo who heads up South London Christian College
South London Christian College
South London Christian College is a UK government accredited international college with a vision for training leaders from the Global South. The college was founded in 1991 in Clapham, London, England but then relocated to its present site at Mayeswood Road in the Chinbrook area of Grove Park,...
and Jubilee International Ministers Association (JIMA).
LWCF is a member of The Evangelical Alliance
Evangelical Alliance
The Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....
of Great Britain, The African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance and Churches in Communities International under the leadership of Rev Hugh Osgood.
Mission
LWCF believes that they have a mission to minister the Word of God and pray for the sick. They minister the Word with a particular emphasis on walking in faith, a doctrine of the Word of FaithWord of Faith
Word of Faith is a family of Christian churches as well as a label applied by some observers to a teaching movement kindred to many Pentecostal and charismatic churches and individuals worldwide. The basic doctrine preached is that of salvation through Jesus Christ and what that salvation entails...
Movement.
In addition to prophetic seminars, the church runs a School of Ministry that is open to all Believers.
The church has a ministry to the local community, as well as an international ministry reaching out globally to the unsaved across the world.
Critics and controversy
The Word of FaithWord of Faith
Word of Faith is a family of Christian churches as well as a label applied by some observers to a teaching movement kindred to many Pentecostal and charismatic churches and individuals worldwide. The basic doctrine preached is that of salvation through Jesus Christ and what that salvation entails...
emphasis adhered to by LWCF is widespread within Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. It has been criticised and has created controversy in theological circles of academia. One of the earliest critics of the teaching was Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
professor Charles Farah
Charles Farah
Charles Farah, Jr. was a Professor of Theology and Historical Studies at Oral Roberts University. He taught in the school of theology at Oral Roberts University from 1967 to 1991 and from 1994 to 1995...
, who published From the Pinnacle of the Temple in 1979. In the book, Farah expressed his disillusionment with the teachings, which he argued were more about presumption than faith.
In 1982, one of Farah's students, Daniel Ray McConnell, submitted a thesis to the faculty at Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
arguing against E W Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin and the doctrines of the Word of Faith.
Other critics have included Hank Hanegraaff
Hank Hanegraaff
Hendrik "Hank" Hanegraaff also known as the Bible Answer Man is an American author, radio talk-show host and advocate of evangelical Christianity. He was born in the Netherlands and raised in the United States since childhood. He is married with 12 children...
, Norman Geisler
Norman Geisler
Norman L. Geisler is a Christian apologist and the co-founder of Southern Evangelical Seminary outside Charlotte, North Carolina, where he formerly taught. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Jesuit Loyola University...
, Dave Hunt and Roger Oakland.
There is support for the Word of Faith teaching in similar circles, and the doctrine appears sound, so long as the teaching is balanced and does not take Scriptures out of their proper context. For instance, Dr Frederick K. C. Price
Frederick K. C. Price
Frederick K.C. Price is the founder and pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center , California. He gained international renown through his Ever Increasing Faith ministries broadcast that is aired weekly on both television and radio.Price received an honorary diploma from the Rhema Bible Training Center ...
of Crenshaw Christian Center
Crenshaw Christian Center
The Crenshaw Christian Center is a ministry in South Los Angeles, California, founded by pastor Frederick K. C. Price. It is located on the site of the old Pepperdine University campus, which was sold to Crenshaw Christian Center. Price, oversaw construction of the "FaithDome" on the site, the...
, one of the notable Word of Faith proponents wrote a popular titled called Faith, Foolishness and Presumption in an endeavour to redress the balance on the genre teaching.
External links
- LWCF website
- Black UK Christian Directory
- Keep the Faith magazine
- Christian International
- Northside Community Church
- South London Christian College
- The Evangelical Alliance of Great Britain
- The African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance
- Churches in Communities International
- Black UK Christian Directory
- Crenshaw Christian Center