Nigerian Archbishop, Ben Kwashi, told his audience at the first Bible by the Beach event that they should not be afraid of suffering if it comes. Having survived the burning down of his house and his church, death threats and one occasion where men came to his house to kill him, he said that these experiences had strengthened his faith. 'Persecution has enabled me to be sharpened in my focus to get people into heaven. Every minute is extra time. I should have been dead long ago, so anything I do, I have to do urgently. I don't know why I am alive. My wife was beaten up and left half dead - and blind for four months. She has since recovered.' 

Asked whether persecution was necessary for growth in the church, Archbishop Kwashi said 'Yes. Suffering has become part of the nature of the church. And it does not make sense for a persecuted church not to preach the gospel. When you are persecuted for your faith, it should create in you such joy and this seems to get right through to the hearts of the people and that creates growth.'    

He expressed thanks for all the missionaries who came to Africa in the early twentieth century and before, and added 'We would betray their faith if we did not stand for it. God is honouring those missionaries by giving us growth.'    

Commenting on the state of the church in the UK, Bishop Kwashi began by asking for forgiveness for what he was about to say, and then  went on ‘The western culture has grown to such an extent that it is above the gospel - and it is hard to get your people moving. Their joy ought to be seen and known but it is suppressed. Fervour and zeal for the gospel seem to be dying out.'    

Bible by the Beach took place over the Bank Holiday weekend at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne, and attracted around 1100 people of all ages to a mixture of Bible readings, seminars, sung worship, a concert and meetings for children and young people.