Christian Aid’s Climate Justice Church Engagement Programme Manager, Tatianna Ennin, writes…
Singer/songwriter Jake Isaac has teamed up with international development agency Christian Aid to come up with the single Everything is Yours, as part of an initiative – launching on Racial Justice Sunday, 11 February 2024 – to raise the profile of black Christians in the climate justice movement.
The organisation’s Black Majority Church Climate Action Group worked with Jake on the project in an innovative bid to create a rallying call within worship music for black Christians keen for their churches to take action on the climate crisis.
The action group is made up of black theologians, faith leaders and activists from the UK and global south.
It was formed after Christian Aid commissioned the Black Lives Matter Everywhere report, which highlighted how climate change, although something which affects everyone, is a deeply racialised phenomenon.
People in Africa, the Caribbean, India and other parts of the global south are facing the brunt of the impacts. And yet, in the UK, 50 per cent of black Christians think the environmental movement isn’t racially diverse enough, and are keen for their churches to stand up for justice.
Since the report, senior church leaders and climate activists from black majority churches have been working on a range of resources providing insights into the distinctive contributions of diverse voices on climate justice.
Rev Ronald Nathan, from the action group, explained how Colossians 3:16 tells us ‘Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.’
He added: “We believe that being Christian and loving one another means caring for all of God’s creation and advocating for a better quality of life for everyone. In this same vein, Gospel music in the black church tradition has consistently presented societal liberation as Good News for all. Following this heritage, we hope that Everything Is Yours will encourage Christians to reflect on this unbreakable relationship: love of God, love of people and creation care.”
Jake said teaming up with the Christian Aid Climate Action Group was an honour: “Writing about justice should never go out of fashion! It was a total privilege to be asked to write this song.”
Want to sing the song in your church?
On Racial Justice Sunday, 11 February, Christian Aid is hoping as many congregations as possible will join in singing Everything is Yours to help start the conversation about black Christians taking their place in the campaign for climate justice.
If you do decide to sing the song in your church, Christian Aid would love to see! Record a short video on your phone and tag @christianaiduk on Instagram.
From 11 February you can stream Everything is Yours on all music platforms here.
For more information about Christian Aid’s work on climate and racial justice, visit the Christian Aid website and search Racial Justice.
Christian Aid is a National Agency of Churches Together in England.