#5 Restore our Heritage... of Speaking Out for Justice

The next ancient well we pray God would restore, is that of speaking out for justice.

William Wilberforce came up to Cambridge in 1776 as a student at St John's college. During his time at Cambridge he had little interest in Christian things. He was wealthy and spent his time socialising, drinking, and playing cards. But it was at Cambridge that he became a friend of William Pitt, who was to become Prime Minister. And it was through Pitt that Wilberforce became interested in politics. In fact, he became an MP whilst still a student!

It was after graduating that Wilberforce became a Christian. In 1784, he and some members of his family went on a tour of Europe. An Evangelical friend joined him , and through reading the Bible together, Wilberforce was converted.

Wilberforce's conversion caused him to question whether he should remain in politics. He sought out the counsel of John Newton, who told him that it was Wilberforce's calling to remain in politics and fight the slave trade.

This he did in the face of great opposition for the remaining 50 years of his life, dying just days after hearing that the government had made concessions that guaranteed that the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery would at last be passed.

Wilberforce is an incredible example of someone whose Christian convictions caused him to speak tirelessly for justice. Pray with us for that heritage to be restored to us in Cambridge:

Father God,
Thank-you that you are a God of justice, who stands with the poor and the oppressed. Thank-you for Wilberforce and the way that he spent his life fighting the evil of slavery. Lord, give us that same burden for injustice to be stopped and instead for justice to flow like a river. Would you restore that heritage in Cambridge today. Do it again! Revive your works in these days, we pray.
In Jesus' Name,
AMEN.

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To hear more about William Wilberforce and other figures from Cambridge history who stood against injustice, please join us this afternoon at 2pm for the next of this week's 'Restore our Heritage' Guided Walks.