|PIC1|Anthony Walker, the black Christian youth leader of an evangelical church in Liverpool who was murdered in a racist attack in July, will be remembered at the Evangelical Alliance’s Champions of Respect Awards ceremony next week.

The Champions of Respect awards are being organised in conjunction with Christian youth work organisations Youth for Christ and Crusaders and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) and JUMP (Jesus Use My Potential).

The awards look to honour young people that have made a positive contribution to their communities.

The event, on 10 November, is being organised by the Evangelical Alliance, who have dedicated the top prize in memory of the teenager

Gene Walker, who is Anthony’s mother, will present the award together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams scheduled to say some words about her son. Gene said, “Anthony was a special boy and was very popular. I am sure he would have been nominated for these awards had he lived.”

A youth leader at Grace Family Church in Liverpool, Anthony was due to take part in the Christian youth initiative Merseyfest this summer – to engage with young people in underprivileged areas of the city.|QUOTE|

The Awards ceremony will be part of the Evangelical Alliance’s fifth annual Temple Address, which is an event seeking to give a Christian perspective on a particular issue currently facing society.

The EAUK has arranged for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams to give this year’s keynote speech on the theme of respect and young people.

Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance said, “The Champions of Respect Awards and the Temple Address kick off the respect campaign. Respect has become a topical issue in recent months. |TOP| Our challenge to Government is to continue to invest in and support projects such as those featured in the Champions of Respect awards and to seek a more holistic approach to the issue of respect.”

Backing the awards was also the new Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu who said, “Jesus Christ demonstrated great respect for others during his ministry. He always spoke the truth, yet managed to challenge the world without condemning it. These young people, who have been nominated for a Champions of Respect Award, demonstrate that same ability to challenge the world, while at the same time showing respect, compassion and humility. I thoroughly commend these Awards and hope they will become an annual event.”