Kingsway International Christian Centre Steps Back for 2012 Olympics Venue

|TOP|London megachurch Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) has lost its fight to remain at its current location, which has been reserved for the 2012 Olympics.

Although KICC offered multimillion-pounds with the idea of building one of the three arenas planned for the Hackney area, the proposal has been rejected after several months of negotiating with the London Development Agency (LDA) and the newly formed Olympic Delivery Authority.

KICC pastor Matthew Ashimolowo told Christianity Today, "They said our proposal was a lofty idea that could not work because the basketball stadium would belong to the government, and its ownership could not be shared with a church."

The interdenominational and international church hosts 12,000 people weekly and currently holds 9.5-acre property, which includes a 4,000-seat auditorium.

|AD|Ashimolowo, a Nigerian immigrant, founded the church in September 1992 with 200 adults and 100 children. The church says that 46 nations are represented in its congregation.

Even before London learned it would host the Olympics, KICC faced an uphill struggle to keep its land. In 2003, Hackney officials denied the church permission to continue using the site for religious purposes. The decision was reaffirmed in 2004, but the church was given until November 2006 to vacate the site.

"KICC's struggle over the issue of relocation has resulted in a very disappointing outcome," said Joel Edwards, general director of the Evangelical Alliance. "My prayer is that out of this deep disappointment, God will show up and do something that surprises all of us and extends his kingdom."

Currently, KICC is hosting nightly meetings throughout the month of June, as they embark on their Fasting and Prayer season.

Held twice yearly in June and December at the Miracle Centre in Waterden Road, this series of meetings has been entitled “All Round Breakthrough,” where thousands will commit to ‘give up’ something for spiritual growth.