A Nigerian church in London has won praise from the British Parliament for being “part of the success” of the community, just as she condemned acts scapegoating immigrants in the United Kingdom, Empowered Newswire reports.
Member of the British House of Commons, Margaret Hodge, gave the commendation at the Good Neighbourhood Scheme Awards where leaders and public servants were honoured in London by the Living Faith Connections, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Commending the RCCG local parish in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, the British MP said the church has been “part of our success, “ in a London community where according to her one in every five persons is an African or a Caribbean.
Speaking after receiving the GNS award, Hodge, representing the borough commended the church for supporting the work of the local councillors and said the African and Caribbean communities were “an important and growing part of a really wonderful place to live.”
She said, “We must resist scapegoating immigrants and promote multi- racial, multi-ethnic and multi-faith community.” She argued that scapegoating exposes the wickedness of “the extreme right.”
At the awards designed by Pastor Christian Adeoye, a long standing senior pastor in the UK, Nine dignitaries were honoured for their immense effort and contribution towards improving the lives of community members in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, UK.
The award recipients included local councillors, a headmistress and the Member of Parliament.
The founder of the awards scheme and the senior pastor of LFC, Christian Adeoye, said the initiative was launched to celebrate the outstanding achievements of people in the community who had sacrificed time and effort to build a better, thriving borough.
Pastor Adeoye said, “What shapes any neighbourhood or community is the people that are there – their hard work, commitment and tenacity.”
He acknowledged that the community “is not there yet”. However, he said it was proper to honour people who had set examples by pouring so much into the community, driven by their desire for change and progress.