Delroy’s life changed when he met the outreach team from Pollards Hill Baptist Church, supported by London City Mission’s Croydon team. Now, Delroy calls the church his home and family.
Delroy’s life changed when he met the outreach team from Pollards Hill Baptist Church, supported by London City Mission’s Croydon team. Now, Delroy calls the church his home and family.
Delroy never planned to get baptised on Easter Sunday. But something stirred in him – a quiet prompting – and he found himself at Pollards Hill Baptist Church, watching others share their testimonies and step into the baptismal pool.
When Pastor Deji said, “The water’s still warm – anyone else want to come up?” the room fell silent. And then, Delroy stood.
“I felt something grab me by the collar,” he recalls. “I just stood up and said, ‘Yes, I want to be baptised.’”
That moment marked a turning point in Delroy’s life – a public declaration of faith, healing, and hope after years of spiritual struggle in isolation.
Pollards Hill, nestled in a quiet area of South London, is a community of contrasts.
It’s a place where families greet each other on the school run, where neighbours know one another, and where the church sits right at the centre – flanked by Anglican, Catholic, and other independent churches.
But it’s also a place of deep need. The estate surrounding the church is one of the most deprived areas between the boroughs of Croydon and Merton. Many residents face challenges – single-parent households, mental health struggles, poverty, and loneliness.
Delroy knows that struggle intimately. For years, he battled agoraphobia, unable to leave his home located at the estate.
“I was scared to go outside,” he says. “I’d heard, and still sometimes hear, terrible voices. Every time I step outside, I feel like I’m going to be attacked, tortured or murdered.”
One day, while trying to buy food for his cat, he stepped outside and saw a group of people talking to his neighbour. Among them were LCM Missionary, Simon Knightly, Pastor Manuella, and a young girl named Caitlin.
“Something told me to stop and listen,” Delroy says. “They looked over and said, ‘Hello, sir.’ And I told them a little of what I was going through.”
They prayed for him. And for the first time in years, Delroy walked to the shops and back without a panic attack.
“I felt peace,” he says. “That was Saturday. On Sunday, I went to church. I haven’t looked back since.”
The church’s vision statement, Sharing the Love of Jesus, is more than a tagline – it’s a mission.
“We’re not just a social club,” says Pastor Deji. “We’re kingdom focused. We want to be a light in the darkness, a place where people encounter Christ.”
That vision found new momentum through a partnership with LCM.
Initially, the focus was on training members to lead School assemblies and lessons where the love of Jesus is clearly shared. However, in the second year, the church felt ready to step out and share the good news of Jesus door to door.
Simon, LCM Team Leader for Croydon, describes the transformation: “From a handful of faithful Christians, the door-knocking team grew to 14 or 15 people. Some had no experience, no confidence, but they said, ‘Here I am. I want to be obedient.’ That’s what delights me.”
“They didn’t just pray for me,” he says. “They listened. They saw me. And they helped me see how I fit into God’s story.”
The outreach team began training volunteers and visiting the estate regularly, building friendships and sharing the gospel. It was through one of these visits that Delroy met the team.
“They didn’t just pray for me,” he says. “They listened. They saw me. And they helped me see how I fit into God’s story.”
Delroy’s journey hasn’t been easy. He still faces spiritual attacks and challenges. But he walks by faith, not by sight.
“I surrender every day,” he says. “I repent of my sins, known and unknown. I read Psalm 91 before I leave the house. And I pray for protection – for myself and for others.”
Since his baptism, Delroy has found a new church family.
“I lost my old friends. I even lost my blood family. But I found another family at Pollards Hill. I feel warmth. I feel hugged. I feel confident.”
He’s even begun sharing his faith with others – handing out tracts, speaking about Jesus, and encouraging those around him.
“They call me a preacher now,” he laughs. “I just say, ‘All glory be to God!’”
For the church, Delroy’s story is one of many. It’s a testimony to what happens when a church steps outside its walls and into the lives of those around it.
It’s a picture of hope, healing, and Holy Spirit-inspired change. And it’s a reminder that the love of Jesus – shared boldly and compassionately – can change lives.
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LCM shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it.
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