The chair and founder of the recently launched African Development Forum (ADF), the Rev Wale Hudson-Roberts, has called on black Christians to be advocates for the African continent, and to challenge structures and attitudes which keep millions of Africans in poverty.

Rev Hudson-Roberts, who also currently serves as Racial Justice Co-Ordinator for the Baptist Union of Great Britain, commented, "Britain's black Christian community can have a major influence on African development if they speak with the moral authority they possess and challenge some of the current social and political injustices which prevent Africa and its peoples from reaching their full potential."

Founded in 2006, The ADF aims, through a range of various strategies, to mobilise Britain's 350,000 strong African and African-Caribbean Christian community to challenge and confront the political and social structures that keep Africans in poverty and the continent underdeveloped.

He said that ADF would launch a consultation in the coming months with church leaders and the black Christian community to find out their views on Africa.

The ADF is also looking to partner with churches and para-church organisations "so that together we can speak out in a united voice about some of the key issues affecting African people and play a part in bringing about positive change", he said.

Rev Jonathan Edwards stated, "I am tired of the way in which Africa is so often portrayed - as a continent that faces innumerable impossible challenges. I simply don't believe that. Africa, like every continent, faces many challenges but if we are committed to tackling them I believe that they can be overcome. I love Africa - but far more significantly, God loves Africa!"

He urged Christians to work together to "open a new chapter of life on the continent", welcoming ADF's contribution in the process.

Dionne Gravesande, who serves as Head of Churches Team for leading development charity Christian Aid and Chair of the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance Council, is a partner of the ADF.

She said that Britain's black Christian community had a "very important role" to play in putting pressure on governments to ensure that their policies concerning development in Africa have the interests of the people at their heart, and on charities that work in the region to ensure that the work that they do positively impacts the poor communities who need their services.

"I believe ADF will play a key role in informing black Christians about Africa's key problems and encourage them to help make a difference to the lives of those that live on the African continent," she said.

Rev David Shosanya, Regional Minister for Mission of the London Baptist Association, is also a partner of the ADF. He urged black churches in the UK to support growing churches on the African continent.

"The black Christian community needs to be reminded that the African continent is experiencing great revival, and that its churches are in need of support," he said. "They need finance and manpower, and if black Christians can also start thinking how they can aid the continent's development, it can only be a good thing."

In forthcoming months, the ADF will organise a series of mini-conferences featuring leading experts, who will demonstrate how black Christians can make positive contributions to Africa's development. The first mini-conference takes place on May 23 and will feature a talk by Dr Muzong Kodi, an associate fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs.