Why the name King's Gate?

As we landed at Heathrow that significant day of the 8th of May 2008, all we knew was that Father had done a swift work in relocating us from Durban, South Africa, to be part of a church with an incredible heritage and an exciting future. Our intent in coming here was never to stamp our 'mark' on the people, with our preferences and styles, but rather to continue to make room for the Father to keep pressing His signate ring of authority, ownership and destiny upon an already remarkable church. Many come in from 'the outside' to take on the leadership of a church and make wholesale changes of name, personel etc to the detriment of the DNA of the house; we knew in God that we were to honour what God was doing, and had done through Nigel and Melita, and that He would unfold His plan in his time, perfectly. Afterall, this is His Church and we are called to the privilege of shepherding a community under the Great Shepherd!

The journey of the name of the church and its potential change began shortly after we officially took on the mantle of leadership on the 1st of June 2008. This was the first of two precipitating factors that caused me to go before God and the pastor team. It began with a 'random' conversation I had with some of the fellow leaders, during a trip, where it was mentioned that the tag 'International' was a potential stumbling block to us reaching the local British people. It was revealed that friends of the leaders were looking for a new church and knew of us but hesitated to join because the word was that we were a church for 'internationals' due to our name. Now, we knew why the tag was in place as prophetic declaration that it was our heart to reach all nations with the Gospel as per Jesus command in Acts 1 etc. However, it became increasingly evident that, though the name was a statement of intent, it was becoming a hinderance to us in reaching the people we were here to reach! And so the journey began.

The second nudge along the road of a name change came with some comments from significant friends who are apostolic gifts to this house. Fathers who have our best at heart and our inheritance in mind. Three such men all commented seperately that it was time to change the name of the church in this new season. Now, when apostolic men make such comments you listen and ask a few questions. But, it is important to say that one does not change a name, especially the name of an established church, simply because of a few comments and misunderstandings alone. God's voice is ultimate and most essential!

With these two contributing factors now synergising in my mind, we had a few discussions as a team with varying responses and no outright agreement. The reality was that there were far more important issues at stake, and a name change was not one of them. However, we knew the moment would come into the future.

While this name journey was unfolding, God had us on a far more critical adventure of finding and securing 'a home of our own' as a church. 5 years previous, Nigel had launched the venue initiative with a building slipping through the fingers at the last minute. So, the church was left to remain in the existing premises at Shene School. Shortly after our arrival a few doors and opportunities began to open, specifically with a large 28 000 sqft facility off the A316 in Richmond. No matter how hard we pressed practically and spiritually, the door never budged open. However, through this process, God had unlocked a greater capacity to dream big - up till now, the options considered were much smaller facilities that could never really 'support' the call upon this house. I also recalled Chris Wienand stating that God often uses Triggers to get us moving in a particular direction that are not ultimately God's intended Target. We knew He was preparing us for more although we were disappointed and keen to provide space for the church to grow - our meeting hall was far too small and obstructive.

It was also shortly after this process that God began to speak throughout the world about how there was an increasing migration of population to cities again, and how God was wanting His church to engage urban locales enabling them to reach many nations in one location. It was roughly around this time that Rigby Wallace was with us and shared his journey of how the church he was part of began to gear towards reaching the city and what a great impact it was having both on them and the city itself. We began to realise that we were camouflaged in leafy East Sheen with little interface with the masses reflected in greater London and our hearts began to be stirred for a position that was more 'incarnational' within society.

The hand of God is amazing beacause during this time I received an email from one of the leaders identifying a fantastic building that was up for sale in Kingston upon Thames. The email stated : 'Is LCi moving to Kingston?' The timing was amazing regarding all that God had been stirring in us. Although Kingston had not been on our radar we realised it was perfectly situated for the area we were reaching when compared to Richmond/Sheen, as well as being a major 'urban' hub for the SW London area. It is always abuzz with all sorts of people of differing age, culture and status. A 'city' within greater London. Well, cutting a long adventure short, we became the privileged 'virtual freehold' lease owners of 14000 sqft of phenominal space right in the heart of Kingston. And it was during this process of gearing to move the church and of discovering the history of Kingston (7 Saxon kings have been crowned there) that God began to speak afresh about the existing name of the church. It was clear the time had come - there was a prophetic poignancy over and above the previous precipitating factors.

Biblically, there is much evidence for the renaming of people and places, and my search of Scripture began to cement the importance of a name change. The giving and re-giving of names in Scripture has a number of facets to it but here are 2 key aspects that were and are pertinent to us :
A name is often given as a description of how God has revealed Himself in a geographical place, or what He has done in a particular location. Eg. Genesis 28:10-22 esp vs19
A name is re-given/changed for the purpose of declaring God's prophetic purpose over them for the next season. Eg. Abram - Abraham, Genesis 17:1-8 and Simon - Peter, Matthew 16:16-18
A name is never given randomly and is prophetically weighted for God's puposes over and person and a people. Also, father's bestow names under God ... eg. Jacob changing Ben Oni's name to Benjamin in Genesis 35. As per the points above, God was revealing that He wanted to restore His royal rule in and from Kingston as well as us being a gateway for such rule!

Finally, all precipitating factors and the prophetic poignancy led to a moment when God clarified His name for us, among many good options, in light of the above and in this next season, namely KingsGate. This is a name that reflects the Cross and the Throne in that Christ is our acces alone to the throne of grace through the Cross, and Christ in us is the gateway of the glories of the kingdom through us to a broken world. (John 10:9 and Hebrews 3:1 ... Jesus is the High Priest who takes us in and the Apostle who sends out with power to transform and reform.) It is a name that reflects what we believe to be true in the Gospel - in the Cross, Christ restores us to the Father and satisfies us completely as Sons and raises us up with Him to be seated as Sons in heavenly places to serve in this world from the place of His Throne ( Ephesians 1: 3 - 2:10).

We are excited for this new day as a house of faith. Not only do we have a wholehearted yes from Nigel and Melita regarding the name change (which is super important), as well as from apostolic fathers, but we have a unanimous yes as leaders and saints under God! It is a new day of ushering in greater measures of the kingdom through one of the gates of the King, as we along with many others restore the Lion to the land of the Lion, the United Kingdom. It is the day of Kingsgate!

I trust this helps and clarifies any questions regarding our new name as well as inspire you in this new day. More information will follow regarding our three-fold mission : Revive, Reform, Relate.

Huge love,

Ryan with the team