Nehemiah: Over 35 Years Of Being Supportive, Successful and Sustainable

Established in 1989, Nehemiah Housing Association began life with a mission to fulfil the need to provide practical housing to local communities across the West Midlands.

Right from the beginning the Christian faith has been central to the founders and board members of Nehemiah Housing Association and draws on the rich experiences of courageous men and women from churches in Birmingham who worked hard to establish the association in 1989.

This history takes its name from the biblical book – Nehemiah, which is the account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, providing a picture of how the lives of individuals, a community and a nation were rebuilt into strength, power and purpose again. Nehemiah’s message of courage and hope was central in teaching us what needs to be done to strengthen the lives of our people and illustrating the importance of accommodating people in need.

Nehemiah has its roots in the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP), which is one of the oldest Black majority churches in the UK. Established in 1953, the Church has its origins in the United States of America and operates within the Pentecostal and Evangelical traditions of Christianity. The migration of thousands of people from the Caribbean boosted the Church’s profile and attendance. COGOP offered support and sanctuary to many new migrants, who were confronted with racism and racial discrimination, especially in the housing market. COGOP is a Pentecostal and evangelical church emphasising the direct experience of the presence of God and stressing the importance of spiritual conversions. Yet COGOP was to achieve a more practical expression of its faith values with the creation of the Nehemiah Housing Association.

Llewellyn Graham Chief Executive Nehemiah Housing Association