An interview with Louise Miles, from Eden London.
Where do you work and what do you do?
I am the prayer coordinator for Eden London. Eden is a network of church-linked youth and community projects located in some of Britain’s most deprived neighbourhoods. It started off in Manchester and over the last three years has spread across London too. Eden believes in incarnational living and the idea that living in the community that you serve is vitally important in order to see God’s heart for that place. As a prayer coordinator my role is to ensure that all of the Eden teams within London are being prayed for on a continuous basis and that they are covered in prayer. This can come through the individual churches that are connected with the specific Eden teams or people who are called to be intercessors and therefore intercede on behalf of Eden.
What does that mean in layman’s terms?
I coordinate prayer for a number of youth and community workers working on 6 estates across London, by ensuring that they, their families and the work they do is covered in prayer.
How do you currently see God at work across London?
I firmly believe that God is always at work, even, and sometimes especially, in ways that we don’t expect. Since moving to London, about 10 months ago, I have had the opportunity to take part in some amazing things whether that’s through praying with hundreds of other Christians in Parliament Square, or being part of a church that has grown from less than 10 people to nearly 100 members in just 2 years, and I have been struck by the variety and diversity of the individual people and initiatives that God is using to impact neighbourhoods in all parts of London. God has been at the heart of all these great things and it is clear that God is stirring more and more people to step out in their faith and take an adventure with God.
What’s your prayer for the work you’re doing?
I am praying for more people to want to grow in the area of intercession. Intercession is so important because it brings people to come before God and stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30) and also to have revelation of the prophetic so that they can both encourage and challenge the people who are on the ground i.e. youth workers. It is through prophecy that the good plans that God has in store can be brought to pass.
What would it look like to see God’s Kingdom reign in the poorest communities of London?
When I think of this two verses come to mind from Isaiah 61:
Isaiah 61:7
Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
Isaiah 61:3
bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendour.
Mark Williamson also blogs regularly at One Rock International, a training organisation resourcing missionary leaders across the globe. He’s passionate about good films, good food, getting into deep conversations, and going for long walks with his wife Joanna.