As we mark more than 190 years of London City Mission, I find myself reflecting on this extraordinary city and the unchanging call God has given us.
London has always been magnetic. It pulls people in from every corner of the world – artists, entrepreneurs, students, and those seeking refuge. That was true in 1835 when David Nasmith founded LCM and it’s even more true today.
Nearly ten million people now call London home, including almost one and a half million Muslims, half a million Hindus and many displaced people who have fled war and persecution from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran.
But alongside the vibrancy lies deep weariness. In Nasmith’s day, poverty was brutal and visible. Today, it’s more hidden, but just as pervasive.
Exhausted by life
I meet people every week who feel rejected, isolated, and exhausted by life. Many lack community, opportunity or even the sense that they matter. And tragically, as in Dickensian London, these are still the people least likely to hear the gospel, least likely to have a Christian friend and least likely to feel that church is a place for them.
Yet Scripture is clear: God calls us to bind up the broken-hearted and proclaim good news to the poor (Isaiah 61). That is why we continue going out – to meet people in their need and offer true hope in Jesus.
Our methods have changed over the years. Missionaries once ran Bible studies in pubs, visited sailors at the docks, supported railway workers and ran ragged schools. Today, we go into schools affected by knife crime, come alongside marginalised communities and share the gospel thoughtfully and sensitively in the cultural contexts people live in.
London is beautiful and broken – yet full of opportunity. As we step into the next chapter, my conviction remains the same: this city still needs Jesus, and we must keep going to those who are least likely to hear.
Learn to live more generously
Join thousands receiving insights and reflections that encourage a life of generosity. Sign up to Generous today and receive a free digital copy of Money and the Gospel.
Graham Miller
Graham joined London City Mission as Chief Executive in October 2013. Prior to that, he had worked as a missionary for Crosslinks in China and led a number of businesses and charities in the UK, Europe and East Asia.
Graham leads LCM with a deep conviction that gospel mission must be grounded in God’s grace. He is passionate about equipping churches to engage confidently and compassionately with their local communities, particularly in complex urban contexts, and about building organisations that are prayerful, resilient and faithful to their calling.
London City Mission shares the hope of Jesus with people across London, especially those on the margins. It works alongside local churches to bring both practical support and spiritual care to help people find belonging and connection in church communities.
