History of NLCCI

New Life Christian Centre International History

In late 1979, Ian Christensen was invited by Pastor William Hurst, to preach at his small church, Wembley Assemblies of God Church, off the beaten track, down the end of St. Michael’s Avenue in Wembley. The church had 12 adult members and a Sunday school of around 50 to 60 children. Pastor William Hurst was 70 years old and looking to retire.

Ian was fresh out of Bible School and had fasted and prayed about what God wanted him to do next. As he was preparing his message to preach on the Sunday morning, he sensed very strongly that the people of Wembley Assemblies of God Church would invite him to be their pastor - and they did! Ian’s Pastor at the time, Andrew Colthart, played a big part in the proceedings which led Ian to take over this pastoral post.

Ian, Dennise (his wife), was pregnant with their son Johnny and their 3 year old daughter Angela, along with three others joined the church in January 1980 and the congregation immediately grew by around 50%. Over the next 10 years there was slow growth, people came, people left and there were many lessons learnt. There was a lot of character development, heartaches, highs and lows and the church gradually grew from 18 members to around100 adults and children.

By 1984 the name of the Church changed to New Life Christian Centre and the congregation increased to around 200 adults and children. In January 1990, Dave & Joyce Lamb joined the leadership and the next few years were busy and exciting. New Life Bible School was opened in September 1991, with its first enrolment of 70 students. The church experienced miracles, deliverances, many changed lives and grew to a fellowship of around 230 people.

In 1995, God spoke to Pastor Ian about planting churches. The first church plant was in Neasden. New Life Neasden began with 33 adults and children. Shortly afterwards New Life Tokyngton was planted with 40 adults and children, followed by New Life Edgware. Pastor Errol Millwood and Rhona his wife, Hendy Springer and Cynthia his wife, and Joseph Simpson and Claudette his wife respectively were appointed to lead these 3 church plants. When Pastor Hendy passed away in XXXX, his son Terry with support from his wife Jennifer and mother Cynthia, succeeded him as the Pastor of New Life Tokyngton.

New Life Christian Centre became New Life Christian Centre International in xxxx and remains a lively congregation with around 350 adults and children to date. We have supported church plants locally and abroad in countries like India, Uganda, Ghana and Australia.

In March 2024, Pastor Danny Ofori-Atta was appointed Senior Pastor of New Life Christian Centre International. The Church then transitioned to an Apostolic Church, with a new vision to win souls, deliver, empower and send disciples into their sphere of influence to take territories for the Kingdom of God in fulfilling the Mission Statement of Matthew 28:19.

There have been many notable helpers to the growth of the church like Dave Perry, Doug Williams, Peter Aleksin, John Freeman and Robert Elliot to name a few, who took on responsibility and pressure to assist in our growth. To all of you we would like to send our heartfelt gratitude and may the Lord richly bless you and your generations after you.

We would also like to thank all associate and assistant Pastors: Dave and Joyce Lamb, Dave & Trish George, Pastor Roger & Ava Hoffman, Pastor Jim and Giovanna Master, Pastor Chris and Lyra Vas, Pastor Philip and Anna Asamoah, Pastor Simon and Genetha Jean-Marie, Pastor Dennise Christensen, all the elders, deacons and workers in our church over the years.

The biggest thank you of all goes to Jesus who has taught, protected, developed, sustained and been ever faithful to us over the past years. Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be involved in the great building of a church that has touched hundreds if not thousands of lives across the nations.