22 Aug 2017
Matthew Ashimolowo, who heads up Kingsway International Christian Centre, has been responding to the terrorist attacks that have hit Europe over the past year.
He claims the UK has lost its Christian identity and that is one reason for the problems being faced.
"Whatever Europe is going through is because the Church in a lot of ways has lost power.
"Christianity has been in the United Kingdom since 500AD, brought by St Augustine, and now we're suddenly the ones in retreat.
"It's time for manifestation; it's time for the Church to be the Church."
Ashimolowo says one of the main reasons for his disappointment with white church leaders was his perceived silence from them on the issue of same sex marriage when the law was changed in the UK.
He claims church leaders who were opposed to the changes are now being persecuted as a result.
"With all due respect, but particularly to our Caucasian brethren, they hide in their buildings, throw their hands in the air singing 'I am a friend of God...I am a child of God' when it's time to speak up for Christianity and to stand for truth and oppose error and demonic entities that have been poured on the young and old," he said.
"We wouldn't see them when we go to Westminster to protest; when ten people had to sign [an open letter] to speak about the Church's stand on same sex marriage, to which some of us are today being persecuted, they were nowhere to be found.
"And yet they will act as if you are some ghettoised church."
Ashimolowo was speaking to Premier ahead The Manifestation event he's hosting at KICC's Prayer City.
He's calling for a return to the UK's Christian roots.
"Christianity is not something a nation inherits.
"The Church is retreating, the Church is clapping with one hand - it is shameful."
You can hear the full interview with Pastor Matthew on Gospel Tonight with Muyiwa at 11pm on Tuesday on Premier Christian Radio.
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