In August 1986, Kurt Erickson felt a calling from God to spread the gospel to those around him in desperate need on the streets of New York. From that moment onwards he’s been doing that day-in, day-out, first in New York and, for the last couple of decades, in London.
A focal point for Erickson in his city work here is the open air service he conducts early every Saturday morning outside the doors of Westminster Cathedral. Here is where the homeless people of the area congregate, in a square outside McDonalds.
Erickson wakes at 4.30am every Saturday to prepare a Gospel message for them, preceded by fuelling them up with hot drinks and homemade cakes and sandwiches. News of this weekly event has spread throughout the city: Erickson calls it ‘Church Without Walls’.
The ’church‘ event includes singing, a short message and a time to distribute clothing, listen to needs and try and help where possible. The church may be ‘without walls’ but it’s certainly not without a vision for these people on the streets.
"The goal is not to keep people homeless but to meet them where they’re at,” said Erickson. "We work alongside social services in an aim to get them off the streets and to help them to find jobs.”
The concept of the name of ‘Church Without Walls’ began. Erickson and his team rented a hall one Christmas to bring in the homeless for a turkey dinner and a church service. A few days before the service, Erickson was informed that the hall wasn’t available anymore for use, leaving all those promised people devastated. Erickson, however, was not about to let them down and the day before he made the decision to have the service outside. So that evening, people of all backgrounds sat together to enjoy their turkey dinner in the pouring rain without a hall but with the joy of the lord. One man said to Erickson: "We don’t need a building, we have a church without walls.” And since then that’s been the name of the ministry ever since. What makes Erickson's ministry different to the other preachers you see around London is his attempt to really befriend and understand the people he meets. With sermons only lasting around 10 minutes in total, the majority of the morning is spent chatting and spending time with those who attend and, just like a church, there is worship and hymns sung too.
“Some doubt, some are intrigued, some come next week, and some become believers” said Erickson.
Erickson's miracle making ministry has saved the lives of many. “I remember this one man,” said Erickson. "An alcoholic, been on the streets for 17 years.”Hopeless and alone, Erickson managed to help this man back on his feet. “Day by day I was walking with him; fast forward a few years and he’s now got a job, off the streets, a believer in Christ and a great friend.”
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