On March 27, 2019 a number of Christians gathered outside New Scotland Yard in a witness organized by The Protestant Truth Society.
The witness highlighted the case of a recent abuse of police authority in the unlawful arrest of an elderly Nigerian man, Oluwole Ilesanmi, for preaching on the street near Southgate Underground Station. While challenging the authorities concerning free speech, organizers desired to preach the gospel to the police who were present and to passersby. Peter Simpson, Mike Overd (himself acquainted with attacks from the police), Andrew Price, and Regan King all opened up God’s word, proclaiming repentance of sin and salvation in Christ alone
Christian literature was distributed throughout the time, including a special leaflet prepared for the occasion by PTS Council member Duncan Boyd entitled Defend the Freedom to Preach. In this leaflet Mr Boyd backed those who preach on the street:
There is a long tradition of public preaching in this country which must be upheld and which the police should respect. Their powers of arrest are currently being abused. Merely saying that homosexuality is a sin, or that Islam is not a true religion, are not grounds for arrest. Christians are commanded to ‘preach the gospel in season and out of season’. This Christian witness has been a great blessing to our troubled nation. True peace, for people and nations, can only be found in the God who made us. And we can only come to know Him through repentance and faith in His Son Jesus Christ, ‘the Prince of Peace’. These great truths must be heard.
See the video made for this event (links to YouTube)
See the video made for this event (links to YouTube)
PTS Council Chairman Dominic Stockford describes the day:
On Wednesday, March 27, a small group of Christians gathered in front of the imposing building ‘New Scotland Yard’. Our intention was to highlight the way in which Christian street preachers are treated in a way inconsistent with the way the police treat preachers of other religions – notably Islam. We wished to convey our dismay at this, in what is nominally a Christian country, and protest against it.
For most of the day our numbers were exceeded by the numbers of police on hand – not only were there at least 7 officers watching us, plus two armed officers, there was also at least one van full of officers on the other side of the road for almost the entire time we were there. It was intimidating, and many would have found it difficult just being there, let alone handing out leaflets and preaching.
After the chairman began with prayer, and the reading of John 1:1-18. Following this the witness began. Four men preached, Rev. Peter Simpson, Rev. Regan King, Mr Andrew Price and Mr Mike Overd. Others handed out leaflets and tracts. Many conversations were entered into with passers-by, only a small number of whom were openly hostile. The chairman spent the afternoon holding placards so they could be read by those driving past. Some of those wound down their windows and listened in to the preaching whilst they waited in the inevitable London jams. Though many in number the police were polite – we pray they listened to, and heard what was said.
One moment of note. A coach driver hurried across to us and asked, ‘Are you protesting about the preacher who was arrested and dragged off the other day?’ ‘Yes’, we replied. “Thank you”, he said, “I’d stay, but my passengers are just coming back.” We thanked him for his support, and were grateful that he made the effort to come across, even for a moment.
We thank God for the afternoon, and pray for the courage to grasp future opportunities to stand up for the place of the gospel in public life.
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