MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO: "HOW I SURVIVED THE ATTEMPT TO DESTROY ME"!

A few months ago, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, the founding Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in London celebrated his 40th year in the ministry. It was a happy man of God who celebrated that milestone. It was celebration of a story of how the son of soldier, who grew up in the Army barracks, in Northern Nigeria got called into the Lord’s Vineyard. Of course, when Pastor Ashimolowo looks back today, he has every cause to thank God for. He must feel elated that his tiny church of a few years ago has today become a big Ministry with branches all over the world. What many don’t know are the travails of Pastor Ashimolowo and his church, especially the big challenge he faced in 2002 by authorities in the UK.

On what led to his travails in London, he told an online magazine his story: “I believe some people were very uncomfortable with the phenomenal rise of KICC in London. We went into multiple service and it was unbelievable! Within 5 years of existence, for cash down, £4 million, KICC bought 9 and half acres and 2 massive warehouses underground and 2 offices in what is known as Waterdam Road. That was how within 5 years, we were now on Waterdam Road, on 91/2 acres with all these land and with a hall that could sit 31/2 thousand. The news broke out in British newspapers that since 1861, it was the largest church building, a place of worship, since 1861.”

When these things were happening I became very visible. And, also on Television I became extremely very visible. The Press was extremely positive. That was the time the Anglican Church had declared The Decade of Evangelization, but yet they were in decline.. But here was a man coming from Africa, who was in the increase. Then one Professor from Columbia, University did not help my case. He wrote a whole book on the beauty of Christianity in Europe and while he was castigating the Anglican Church he was praising this Nigerian man who had come and his work is growing and he had just bought a premises. That was the beginning of my trouble. (Laughs).

Speaking further on how he coped with the trouble that came his way, he said the first thing you need to ask yourself when you are faced with such a challenge is: is it a moral issue? And did you do anything wrong? And since No.1, it wasn’t a moral issue. If it was, then you can be sure that the place will close down. But if it is an external force trying to fight you, because of the quality of your stand, all you need do is to maintain that good stand, and you know that you can be victorious.

When you look at the whole issue, up till today, 99% of Nigerians don’t quite understand what was the thing between the Charity Commission and KICC. That was why when people see me, they will ask: haa! They said you have problems. They don’t understand, because the only place in the world where there is Charity Commission is the UK. In the end, God spoke to me. I was very angry, I was going to go into litigation, when the matter was over, to sue the Charity Commission for the way they had handled me. I told God that because my reputation is at stake. And God spoke to me via Philippians Chapter 2 from Vs 9 to 11. He said he made himself of no reputation and I am seeking to protect my own reputation. He said I should leave it to Him.

The second aspect was that from their style, they were not ready to close the matter in the next 10 to 15 years. If I keep on fighting, I will win a moral battle, but I will lose the church. So, God just taught me to just let all the attention of the attack be focused on me, so that His work can survive. There is a Pastor in Dallas, called Robert Tilton, some people just attacked him because he was sending mails out, and he made mistakes and sent a mail to a woman whose husband had died, soliciting money from her. Haa! ABC News!! Everybody picked on him. So, the IRS came against him. In his fight with the IRS to prove that he didn’t owe any tax. He won the battle but in the end there was no congregation left. He lost his wife in divorce. He lost his school belonging to the church. The congregation was tired, they had to look for somewhere else to worship. He lost everything but won a moral battle. So God taught me to stand the heat. The work will stand. One day, all these things will fizzle out. And it did.”

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About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.