Mind Shift with Erwin & Aaron McManus #107 There's Always Room
Nov 7, 2025
McLaren Lewis, a community leader in London, shares his inspiring journey from Zimbabwe to New Zealand and finally to the UK. He candidly discusses the challenges of cultural adaptation, isolation, and how embracing a new identity fostered his sense of belonging. The conversation delves into his work building grassroots communities, the importance of compassion, and his personal battle with depression. A transformative moment helping a stranger reignited his purpose, highlighting how supporting others can heal one's own struggles. Love and hope are central themes in this moving dialogue.
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From Zimbabwe To London: Identity Reclaimed
- McLaren moved from Zimbabwe to New Zealand and then to London with his family, discovering London became his longest home.
- The cultural shifts forced him to re-adopt and rediscover his identity after feeling foreign in New Zealand.
A Church Introduces Belonging
- McLaren got dragged into a church community when he first moved and that connection rapidly changed his social life.
- He credits that community introduction with forming long-lasting friendships that anchored his London life.
Culture Before Structure Multiplies Community
- McLaren emphasizes building culture first, then letting community structures follow organically.
- He argues a community multiplies faster when people commit to each other's potential over formal systems.