Christians encouraged to be daring in public life

Christians gathered in London last week for the ‘Awake, Arise! London 2026 UK Tour’ where they were encouraged to stay faithful in public life and to proceed “standing and speaking for Jesus” in workplaces, schools, politics and native communities.

Organised by Christian Concern, speakers throughout the day addressed issues including education, freedom of speech, and protection of life.

Andrew Marsh, Head of Operations at Christian Concern, said that Christians must not retreat from public debate or view faith as something confined to church life alone. Instead, he urged believers to recognise that Christianity speaks into every area of human life and culture.

“Whether you might be a plumber, an architect, a road sweeper, a teacher, a homemaker or a journalist, your 9 to five is a noble a part of being human,” he said. 

“There is not any area of human endeavour, individually or for a nation or a community, that God doesn’t care about.” 

Marsh acknowledged that some Christians are hesitant to have interaction publicly on moral or political issues out of concern that it could distract from evangelism or make believers appear judgemental.

He argued, nonetheless, that believers are called not only to evangelise salvation through Jesus Christ but in addition to reveal what they imagine is nice, just and true in wider society.

“We are made in God’s image,” Marsh said. “We are made to be God’s representatives on earth.”

The event also featured an address from Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, who spoke concerning the pressure on Christians in public life.

“Christian Unions were being thrown off campuses as way back as 1993,” she said. “Nurses were being told to remove their crosses as way back as 1997.”

Calling on Christians to be “watchmen” in society, Williams urged believers to stay “unashamed, courageous and fearless” in speaking publicly about their faith and values. 

She also touched on continued anecdotal evidence that younger generations could also be returning to church.

“Young individuals are coming back to church,” Williams said. “They are crying out for meaning and for purpose.”

Williams argued that modern society had develop into increasingly unstable after moving away from its Christian foundations, particularly in areas surrounding identity, family and morality.

The conference also heard from Dr Bernard Randall, a former Church of England school chaplain supported by the Christian Legal Centre after he was dismissed following a sermon he preached at the college on identity politics in 2019.

Randall told visitors he had “lost seven years of ministry” following the dispute but said the experience had strengthened his resolve.

“When we stand, things are noticed,” he said. “When we stand, people see it.”

Despite the difficulties he faced, Randall had support from fellow believers.  

“It’s been incredibly hard at times, but I actually have been blessed by the number of people that have come to me and said, ‘thanks, you could have inspired me, you could have encouraged me.’”

The Awake, Arise! tour continues across the UK throughout 2026.