Launch night

A wonderful gathering of SOMA Leaders, trustees and guests from around the world, is happening in London. The first SOMA guests have been in the UK since mid-April, but Sunday 3 May 2026 was when we first gathered as one enjoying the hospitality of one of our partner churches, Christ Church W4.

Many of the team had enjoyed a morning speaking at various SOMA partner churches around the country - in Shropshire, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and London and then we came together in Chiswick, London.

By the end of the evening we had an Archbishop, Bishop and two Cathedral Deans in the church. It was a wonderful time for reconnecting and fellowship, finishing with a service where our SOMA guest from the persecuted church told of how God had worked through his ministry as a missionary, and his role now as a missionary bishop in the state he serves in. Known as the ‘graveyard of missionaries’ in the past 2 decades there has suddenly been a turning to Christ with 40,000 joining his church movement, despite persecution of pastors and attacks on church buildings. He stated:

‘When we are persecuted 20% may fall away back to their old religions, but the 80% come back as stronger, more passionate disciples, and so God’s Kingdom keeps advancing.’

The early arrivals at the gathering - from 5 continents of the world.