3. Struggles of a middle-class pastor on a council estate - Andy Prime

The Gospel & Class, September 2018, London UK

[@connorgoodwin3765]

Great sermon, be interesting to see someone’s thoughts on the opposite side of the coin... struggles of a council estate leader in a middle-class church

[@HeReignsJohn3-16]

In what world would that ever happen?!

[@happyandblessed5640]

So true! I wish every middle class church could listen to this. Truly annointed!

[@sandrawhitehouse9957]

Thank you. We need to hear more preaching like this.

[@tinacross1196]

This is really good stuff. I so agree with Andy- this is our church and our pastor and everything that Andy is talking about our pastor has experienced and praise God - he has the faith and the vision and we are there to do life and community with him. It is a hard place but with the help of the Lord and our pastor Rob and our team, we are believing that we can help change the atmosphere of our estate and see people changed from the inside. Nothing good comes easy... all prayers gratefully recived

[@HeReignsJohn3-16]

Thank you for patronising the poor and disenfranchised again!

[@matthewscott9376]

Brilliant

[@sad2057]

He is talking plain and simple, Critical Race Theory. Is church the place to preach this? If he feels he is too "privileged" to take the job, he shouldn't have taken the job.

[@monicawilson896]

This is great but where is the reading of and backing of Scripture. Without Scripture, this is just a good talk. I trust that the video just starts after the applicable reading of Scripture.

[@HeReignsJohn3-16]

Wow - so you’ve just described the “indigenous” of councils estates as “drug addict mum” “suicidal dad” “unruly children” “a hard place” “unproductive and ‘messy” - you say you’ve recognised these sinful prejudices and judgements you didn’t even realise you had yet you have not used these terms to describe anyone in the middle class?! All these issues reside in the middle class, the only difference is the middle classes have cultural and financial capital to cushion these issues. Addiction? Can afford private rehab. Difficult children? Can afford paediatric and psychiatric assessment. Suicidal? Well that’s a lot easier to deal with when you can take 6 months paid leave ingrained in your favourable employment contract. You’ve missed the mark entirely here. You’ve also failed to mention any positive traits that result from poverty and disenfranchisement. Those being that the poor are least likely to judge, that the poor share limited resources with each other, even if that’s a knock at the door for a bit of milk or sugar! Rather than being unorganised or not task orientated, the poor seem to manage to navigate having to get 2 buses to a job, make it back in time to get the kids from school and then make a meal from an empty cupboard. The poor start their own community initiatives, volunteer as football coaches, try to revive a community centre or entire at least one building can be accessed for warmth and tea when most churches are closed Monday to Saturday. This is so disappointing as I can tell you genuinely believe you are being “out of the middle class bubble” but all you’ve done is confirm why working class and poor people never feel like fully recognised autonomous human beings in any church in the UK. The middle class always look at us to be reached, rescued and saved - you’re always looking down even when you think you are being so progressive