Jubilee International Church
Encyclopedia
Jubilee International Church is based in London, England and was established in 1992 with just 7 members in Clapham
, London SW4. They then purchased and modernised a former 1935 Baptist church building and moved in 2006 to the present location at Mayeswood Road in the Chinbrook
and the former Chinbrook Meadows
areas of Grove Park. The church is part of the Assemblies of God
in Great Britain, a leading Pentecostal denomination worldwide. The church has a number of branches in the UK and in several nations worldwide.
In 1947, the work was connected with the Free Church movement which was of the Plymouth Brethren
movement. Then from 1961, Pastor Gordon Thomson who was connected to Honor Oak Christian Fellowship became the long-term pastor of the congregation now called The Christian Fellowship. A local branch of Operation Mobilisation
was also instrumental in helping with this work.
In 1987, Book Aid began to lease space in the building from The Christian Fellowship, and then in August 2005 the building was sold to Jubilee International Church who had migrated from the Clapham
area. Pastor Thomson expressed the fact that they were thankful to see the church building in the hands of a new thriving congregation. He and his wife both died within a month of each other in 2007.
regarding planning consent. Following a favourable decision by the council regarding planning usage, this issue eventually culminated in racist arson
attacks against the church and continuing minor attacks and opposition for almost two years. The proverbial dust settled after about 18 months.
of the church is Rev Dr Femi Olowo, who originally came from Nigeria
to study law in 1980. Being the son of a renowned former Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(the equivalent of the Queen's Counsel
in the UK) and Attorney General
seemed to suggest that this would be his path. He however changed his career path and became an evangelical
preacher
.
He has preached in many denominations including Anglican, Baptist, United Reformed, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Pentecostal. He has shared the Gospel and ministered healing to the sick in many nations, such as the USA, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Moldova, Israel, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, The Gambia, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and The Philippines.
He is married to Anna Olowo, originally from Malaysia, and they have two daughters. The achievements of Rev Dr Femi Olowo were first acknowledged in 1999 in Who's Who
of Black Achievers.
, an international college with a vision for training leaders from the Global south. Students and graduates of South London Christian College have come from some 45 different nations of the world over the years. The college was accredited in 2009 by an OfSTED
-appointed organisation, Accreditation Service for International Colleges
(ASIC) and is on the UK Border Agency
Sponsors Register under the new Points-Based System.
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
, London SW4. They then purchased and modernised a former 1935 Baptist church building and moved in 2006 to the present location at Mayeswood Road in the Chinbrook
Chinbrook
Chinbrook is a suburb in southeast London; it is located southeast of Charing Cross and is in the southeast corner of the London Borough of Lewisham on its boundary with the London Borough of Bromley...
and the former Chinbrook Meadows
Chinbrook Meadows
Chinbrook Meadows sometimes Chinbrook Meadow in southeast London, England is one of Lewisham's public open spaces or parks in the south of Chinbrook and Grove Park in the London Borough of Lewisham and postcode district but next to the border with the London Borough of Bromley and the postcode...
areas of Grove Park. The church is part of the Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
in Great Britain, a leading Pentecostal denomination worldwide. The church has a number of branches in the UK and in several nations worldwide.
History of the building
When the Grove Park Estate was first built in the 1920s, Lewisham Council determined that it should also include a church. Mr Frederick E Pinkess who had been running a successful ‘mobile’ Sunday school in the community decided to apply for permission to get a church built. He could clearly see that the area had potential for a thriving parish. With the help of the Shaftesbury Society, which was affiliated to the Baptist Church, Mr Pinkess raised enough money to build a church which was completed in May 1935. It was a non-denominational place of worship called Grove Park Mission and served as a mercy ministry to the poor.In 1947, the work was connected with the Free Church movement which was of the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
movement. Then from 1961, Pastor Gordon Thomson who was connected to Honor Oak Christian Fellowship became the long-term pastor of the congregation now called The Christian Fellowship. A local branch of Operation Mobilisation
Operation Mobilisation
Operation Mobilisation is an Evangelical Christian organization founded by George Verwer to mobilise young people to live and share the Gospel of Jesus...
was also instrumental in helping with this work.
In 1987, Book Aid began to lease space in the building from The Christian Fellowship, and then in August 2005 the building was sold to Jubilee International Church who had migrated from the Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
area. Pastor Thomson expressed the fact that they were thankful to see the church building in the hands of a new thriving congregation. He and his wife both died within a month of each other in 2007.
Opposition
The new church came into the media spotlight in the summer of 2006 following serious controversy with local residents in Grove Park and heated dialogues with the local council, London Borough of LewishamLondon Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
regarding planning consent. Following a favourable decision by the council regarding planning usage, this issue eventually culminated in racist arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attacks against the church and continuing minor attacks and opposition for almost two years. The proverbial dust settled after about 18 months.
Pastor
The pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the church is Rev Dr Femi Olowo, who originally came from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
to study law in 1980. Being the son of a renowned former Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession...
(the equivalent of the Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in the UK) and Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
seemed to suggest that this would be his path. He however changed his career path and became an evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
.
He has preached in many denominations including Anglican, Baptist, United Reformed, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Pentecostal. He has shared the Gospel and ministered healing to the sick in many nations, such as the USA, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Moldova, Israel, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, The Gambia, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and The Philippines.
He is married to Anna Olowo, originally from Malaysia, and they have two daughters. The achievements of Rev Dr Femi Olowo were first acknowledged in 1999 in Who's Who
Who's Who
Who's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
of Black Achievers.
South London Christian College
The church has a training arm which is called South London Christian CollegeSouth London Christian College
South London Christian College is a UK government accredited international college with a vision for training leaders from the Global South. The college was founded in 1991 in Clapham, London, England but then relocated to its present site at Mayeswood Road in the Chinbrook area of Grove Park,...
, an international college with a vision for training leaders from the Global south. Students and graduates of South London Christian College have come from some 45 different nations of the world over the years. The college was accredited in 2009 by an OfSTED
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
-appointed organisation, Accreditation Service for International Colleges
Accreditation Service for International Colleges
Accreditation Service for International Colleges is a private body in the business of validating institutions.- External links :* *...
(ASIC) and is on the UK Border Agency
UK Border Agency
The UK Border Agency is the border control body of the United Kingdom government and part of the Home Office. It was formed on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency , UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs...
Sponsors Register under the new Points-Based System.
External links
- JIC website
- Assemblies of God in Great Britain
- Anger at Council's U-turn on church. News Shopper. 20 June 2006
- Church prayer answered. News Shopper. 18 July 2006
- Church damaged in racist arson attack. This is Local London. 16 August 2006
- Church damaged in racist arson attack. Wandsworth Guardian. 16 August 2006
- John Hughes (ed.), Who's Who of Black Achievers (Black Who's Who for the Millennium), London, Ethnic Media Group Ltd - New Nation & Caribbean Times, 1999
- SLCC website
- Three Kenyans graduate in London with the Word
- The Swahili congregation. Tumaini Khallage of the Lutheran church (SLCC graduate)