In times of uncertainty, bankers in London find stability through their faith.
St. Peter’s Barge, a floating church on the River Thames, ministers to bankers and insurance brokers in the Canary Wharf financial district.
In an interview with Premier, Senior Minister Rev. Marcus Nodder said the church prays for the Christians working in the area. “In the midst of the uncertainty, it would be apparent to other people around them that they have a rock on which they’re building their lives, which is Christ.”
“We didn’t see any increase in numbers during the credit crunch. What we did see was that the crisis gave Christians working in the City the opportunity to speak about the hope their faith gives them.” Rev. Nodder
Despite the current crisis in the global financial markets, the cleric is optimistic that the church can use the situation to further share the Good News. He believes that it can make people search for something that is constant and never changing, and that is Jesus.
According to The Guardian, shares in London’s FTSE 100 Index fell for a sixth day on February 6, 2018 and lost all its gains from this year’s trading. Other European markets, such as in France, Germany and Spain, continue to slide, closing down by more than 2 percent.
Rev. Nodder said with the skepticism in the financial sector, bankers are pressured to work long hours. Christians who spend their lunch hour attending St. Peter’s Barge’s services are now compelled to stay at their desks.
However, during the 2008 financial crisis, the chaplain noticed that Christians became more open about their faith, reports The Independent.
“We didn’t see any increase in numbers during the credit crunch,” he revealed. “What we did see was that the crisis gave Christians working in the City the opportunity to speak about the hope their faith gives them.”
St. Peter’s Barge holds lunchtime services on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Sources:
Premier
The Guardian
The Independent
