Olympics 2012

When the news broke that London had been awarded the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, on 6 July 2005, all eyes were on Stratford and on Newham.

When the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta in 1996, Quest '96 produced a leaflet called, "When the world looks to Atlanta will it see Christ in our community?" Inside, the theme was developed, 'Will they see Stone Mountain, Underground Atlanta, our beautiful tall buildings and the Braves? Will they focus on crime, racial tensions and political differences? Or will they see the followers of Jesus Christ working together to strengthen our community and to show compassion and love to a needy generation?'When the world looks to London will it see Christ in our community? When the nations come to Newham will they find transformation and a Godly borough?

The Olympics don't happen in a vacuum - in 2012 they happen in our borough. We want the context for these Olympics to be one of spiritual transformation as well as physical regeneration.

The Olympics in 2012 must be an event where the initiative is taken by the Church in Newham. If the church and community take responsibility then God will use this to break a stronghold in this Borough of constantly being a passive recipient of benefit and support. The Olympics give us a focus but we are called together to work and to pray for transformation anyway! A strong church; standing together; ready to welcome the nations! The Church in Newham must take its rightful place not with pride or arrogance but under God. We will take the initiative in prayer and strategy consulting and working in partnership with Newham and the other London Boroughs and particularly with the other four host boroughs: Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Greenwich.

Transform Newham is taking the lead with the Evangelical Alliance and Churches Together in England in bringing together key church leaders and Christian organisations to explore our response.

Whatever that is we hope you will feel a part of that response – we want to be ready to welcome the nations when they come to Newham in 2012 but we also want to be part of the transformation that is changing this borough into one where, to quote our Mayor Sir Robin Wales, people will want to live and, we would add, stay.