Streets Paved with Gold The Story of London City Mission by Irene Howatt & John Nicholls, Christian Focus, price £7.99, p/b, pages: 272                                                   

Recent developments in L.C.M.’s ministry are always reported in their magazine called SPAN. The latter always strikes me as being unfortunately close to ‘SPAM’ – those unwanted emails that bombard our computer mailboxes! Of course, Span is far from boring or unwanted: it is an excellent way to keep in touch with what’s going on in the city mission. For anyone who knows or supports this praiseworthy work Streets Paved with Gold is a must. Many today can testify to the excellent ministry carried out by L.C.M. missionaries that we know and love - their work extending from door-to-door evangelism to outreach in workplaces (including railway stations, airports, etc) plus among migrant population of tramps and gypsies. In fact: “The task of a city missionary is to go where he is not wanted, till he is wanted.”

The authors, John Nicholls (Head of LCM Recruitment and Training) and lrene Howett (well-known Scottish writer) do not take a strictly chronological approach, but deal with different areas of the work as it unfolds. The account opens your eyes to the social conditions prevailing in London in the nineteenth century. It has captivating stories of social deprivation and unrest. For instance of a man so poor, when his socks wore out, he used them top end first! Or, a tall narrow house in 1852 in which 100 persons slept (p.83). It had five families in one room. Lord Shaftesbury on visiting this place asked, “How do you manage?” They replied: “We did very well till the family in the middle took on a lodger”!

London experienced tremendous growth from less than a million in 1801 to over six million in 1901. Epidemics of disease were common; cholera was rife. In 1835 the L.C.M. began. The actual founder was a man called David Nasmith. He helped bring order to the cause by insisting: I) relief should only be given ‘in kind’ (rather than cash handouts); 2) missioners must stick to the basic tenets of the faith; and 3) missioners should be full time non-ordained workers. 

This book records the story of dedicated men and women walking the poorest streets of London, to point them to the Saviour. These unsung gospel heroes were not afraid to get their hands dirty as they gave practical help to people. From the days in which cholera ravaged the city - through two World Wars, the Great Depression and numerous influxes of poor folk – refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, the London City Mission has carried out a truly extraordinary ministry. The use of original sources (written since 1835 by the missionaries themselves) ensures this is a fascinating book, providing countless vivid, street-level glimpses of the work. The less formal approach of their ministry meant that working class people felt more at home, and could understand the missionaries’ language, so mission halls attracted the unchurched.

What stands out in this account of LCM’s work is that these missionaries were men whose hearts were full of compassion for the lost and the needy. In 1989 women missionaries were admitted. As the publishers state: “The Mission is still looking forward to the challenge of the 21st Century. LCM may be an old Mission, but it is not resting on its laurels; rather it is grappling, as it always has, with today's London, and planning for the needs of the London of tomorrow.” Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City highlights the key to its success. He says: “The history of the London City Mission is remarkable…How is it possible for such a large agency to have stayed so steadfastly committed to its vision for so long? The simplicity of its mission may be its 'secret’. ‘The same person going to the same people regularly to become their friend, for Jesus' sake.’”

Eddie Powell, The Grapevine.

Evangelical Magazine:

The new exciting edition of this is now available on the theme of: The Christian and the Bible; it has a cover photo by Pastor G. Hind. There are articles by: Dr. John Blanchard, Joel Beeke and Pastor. There are still back copies - if you want to obtain the complete set of this magazine in its new format. Price: £1.50.