City of Faith Church facts for kids

The City of Faith Church (also known as Jubilee International Church) is a church in South London. It welcomes people from many different cultures. The church is located in the London Borough of Lewisham. From 1996 to 2015, it was part of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain. This is a worldwide Christian group. The City of Faith Church is also connected to other churches both locally and around the world.

A Look at the Church Building's History

For many years, the church used a building on Mayeswood Road. This building is in the Grove Park Estate and was built in 1935. In the 1920s, the Lewisham Council decided that a church should be part of the new estate. Mr. Frederick E Pinkess, who ran a Sunday school, asked for permission to build a church.

How the Church Was Built

Mr. Pinkess believed the area needed a church. With help from the Shaftesbury Society, he raised money. The church was finished in May 1935. It was called Grove Park Mission and helped people in need.

Early Community Work

In the 1930s and 1940s, the church had many programs for the community. They especially focused on children, starting a Sunday school. They would sing hymns outdoors in the streets. They even carried a heavy church organ for music. These outdoor events happened every Sunday for many years.

Changes Over Time

In 1947, the church joined the Free Church movement. This was part of the Plymouth Brethren group. From 1961, Pastor Gordon Thomson became the main pastor. The church was then called The Christian Fellowship. Operation Mobilisation also helped with their work.

New Beginnings for the Building

In 1987, an organization called Book Aid started using space in the building. Then, in 2006, the City of Faith Church began using the building. They had moved from Southwest London. Pastor Thomson was happy to see the church building used again. He and his wife passed away in 2007. The City of Faith Church moved to a new location in 2015.

Facing Challenges

In 2006, the church faced some difficulties with local residents. There were also discussions with the London Borough of Lewisham about their building plans. After the council made a decision, the church experienced some serious problems.

Overcoming Difficulties

The church leader, Dr. Femi Olowo, spoke to the press about these challenges. He said that facing difficulties is part of being a Christian. He believed that people who opposed the church were fighting against God. The church continued to face minor issues for almost two years. These problems nearly made them move. However, they decided to stay, and the issues calmed down after about 18 months.

Helping the Community

The City of Faith Church has changed its focus recently. It now works more on community projects. They want to help people in their daily lives, not just with Sunday services.

Managing Money and Debt

One project is a free service for managing money and debt. They help people in need with training and support. They work with groups like Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and Credit Action UK. The church believes that when people manage their money better, everyone in society benefits. Their goal is to help people with financial problems through education and support.

Providing Food for Those in Need

Another project is giving out food supplies locally. This is done through a Food bank to help people during tough economic times. They get help from organizations like Trussell Trust. The BBC has reported that many people are sent to food banks because they don't have enough money for food. Every Christmas, the church gives out free food hampers to local residents. This is becoming more common among churches in the UK.

Health and Family Life Classes

The church also offers classes on health, well-being, and family life skills. They want to teach people how to stay healthy. They also teach about having strong family values. They plan to hold free workshops on healthy living. These will cover topics like HIV/AIDS awareness. They use resources from 'Care for the Family' and get support from Public Health Lewisham.

Church Leadership

• 1992–present - Dr Femi Olowo (General Overseer)
• 1994-1995 - Rev Josephine Abundance (Assistant Pastor)
• 1996-1999 - Pastor Oheneba Cofie (Associate Pastor)
• 2001-2007 - Dr Akwasi Poku-Nyantekyi (Associate Pastor)
• 2004-2007 - Rev Dr Lloyd Manyangadze (UK General Secretary)

Other Churches Started by City of Faith

• Jubilee House of Prayer Exousia, Ilford, Essex (Pastor Morella Wilton) 2001
• Jubilee International Christian Centre, Accra, Ghana (Rev William Evadzi) 2001
• Jubilee Revival Chapel International, Welwyn Garden City (Rev Dr Lloyd Manyangadze) 2002
• Jubilee International Church, Ndola, Zambia (Rev Lovewell Mwansa) 2002
• Jubilee City of Faith Church, Mufulira, Zambia (Rev Oliver Mutantabowa) 2002
• Jubilee International Church, City of Joy, Peckham (Pastor Ibrahim Sillah) 2009