Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo: From Barracks to Building KICC

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s journey to founding Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is a testimony of faith, resilience, and destiny fulfilled. From a challenging childhood in the barracks of Zaria to establishing one of the largest churches in Europe, Pastor Ashimolowo’s life is an example of overcoming adversity through divine calling.

Born into a poor family in Nigeria, Pastor Ashimolowo recalls the difficult years he spent living in Zaria. “We were what in psychology would be described as dysfunctional. The poorest part of Zaria was where we lived,” he remembers. “I don’t have mental memory of my family sitting around a table for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We couldn’t afford anything better.”

Life took a tragic turn when his father, a soldier, died during the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. Ashimolowo was just 15 years old at the time. His father’s death brought even greater hardship. “An aunt came to announce that my dad had died, and we had to leave the barracks. That began another episode of suffering,” he says. His aunt, who took him in, forced him into child labor, making him hawk bread on the streets.

Despite these challenges, a pivotal moment came when he stumbled upon a Christian tract at a friend’s house, which led him to Christ. “I read the scriptures more. Then I began to passionately witness to my friends,” Ashimolowo recalls.

After escaping his aunt’s home, Pastor Ashimolowo made his way to Bible school, determined to pursue his calling. “It was tough. For four months, I survived on gari,” he says, but his faith never wavered. “The only thing I was so sure of was that I was called.”

Upon graduating from Bible school, Ashimolowo’s remarkable ability to interpret scripture drew the attention of his superiors. “The principal noticed my capacity to expand the Word and understand the deep mysteries of God,” he explains. This talent led him to a role in the Four-Square Church, where he served for 8 years in Nigeria before being sent to London to continue his ministry.

In 1984, Ashimolowo arrived in London, where he pastored for another 8 years before feeling called to start his own ministry. “I began to feel that God was asking me to move out, that He was about to show me a bigger river,” Ashimolowo says. After 18 years in the denomination, he stepped out in faith, and in 1992, Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) was born.

Today, KICC is one of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the UK, with thousands of members and a global reach. Reflecting on his journey, Ashimolowo emphasizes the power of perseverance and faith in God’s plan. “Your gift will make room for you,” he says, quoting Proverbs 18:16. “See a man diligent in his ways; he will stand before kings.”

From a boy who hawked bread on the streets of Zaria to a leader on the global stage, Pastor Ashimolowo’s story is a powerful example of how God can turn adversity into triumph.