Who Is Pastor Tope Koleoso?
Pastor Tope Koleoso is a minister from Nigeria who now leads Jubilee Church in London. He is Nigerian by birth and has lived in the UK for many years. Pastor Tope works as the Senior Pastor, where he helps people learn about the Bible and follow Jesus. He also supports and teaches other church leaders around the world.
Early Life and Move to London
Tope grew up in Nigeria, in a loving but quiet home. As a boy, he loved reading his Bible so much that he memorized many verses. When he was a teenager, he started a small Bible study with friends—which later grew to over 100 students.
After high school, Tope went to Lagos State University, where he studied chemistry. One day, he walked into a church service in a movie theatre and felt something new in his heart. He realized he truly believed in Jesus—this changed everything for him.
In 1989, Tope worked as a teacher in a small village called Adoka, far from Lagos. He lived in a mud hut and taught science to children. Even without electricity or many luxuries, he shared Bible stories and planted seeds of faith with patience and love.
In 1990, after finishing teaching, Tope and his wife Kemi visited London for a holiday. They both loved it so much that they decided to stay. Tope found a job, and they began going to a small church in South London. There, he discovered new teachings about God from cassette tapes by leaders like Terry Virgo and John Piper. These teachings surprised him at first—but slowly, they changed his beliefs and strengthened his faith.
Discovering His Calling
When Tope was about 20 years old, something amazing happened in a tiny village in Nigeria. A broken generator meant he could not show a movie about Jesus. But instead of stopping, he stood in the dark with just a small flashlight and began to share God’s story. He pointed the light at his Bible and started reading aloud. The villagers listened quietly and many were moved by his words. That night, he realized something important: God was using him—even without fancy tools—to share the gospel.
But the real turning point came back in Lagos at college. Tope had grown up reading the Bible as a hobby, but his faith changed deeply when he went with his half-sister to a church service in a movie theater. He said it felt supernatural, like God showed up just for him:
“I thought I already knew God…But there in that church I felt like the Hound of Heaven was after me…So I gave my life to God”.
After that powerful moment, Tope started a small Bible group in his college dorm. It began with just three people but quickly grew to over 100 students—showing that God used his heart for teaching and caring for others.
Then, during his government job in a rural village teaching in a mud hut, he saw lives changing as he shared stories about Jesus—sometimes even leading healing prayers for a blind man. This showed him that God was calling him to speak and lead, no matter how rough the situation.
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Starting Jubilee Church
In 1995, Tope and his wife Kemi joined a small team of people who began Jubilee Church in North London. They dreamed of a church that would feel like a big, loving family for everyone—no matter where they came from.
For many years, the church was small. They met in homes and shared meals together. Tope helped lead quietly and served without asking for attention. He said he didn’t want to be a leader at first—he just wanted to help . But when the original pastor chose to start a new church, everyone agreed that Tope should lead. In 2005, he became the senior pastor and began guiding the church vision and teaching the Bible.
That same year, Jubilee Church began meeting in movie theaters, starting with a small group of about 100 people. God grew the church quickly! Now, Jubilee meets in several places around London and even in Zambia. More than 50 different countries are represented in the church members—making it a very colorful and welcoming community.
Growth & Vision of Jubilee Church
After Pastor Tope became the main leader in 2005, Jubilee Church began to grow quickly. The church started meeting in movie theaters, like Cineworld in Enfield, Wood Green, and Harlow, making it easy for people to join. Today, Jubilee meets in places like Enfield, Ilford, Wood Green, Harlow, and even in Lusaka, Zambia.
The church is filled with people from over 50 countries. This makes it a bright, happy place where everyone feels welcome, no matter where they come from.
The big plan (or vision) for the church is to share the message of Jesus, help people grow, and prepare them to become leaders. They want to be known for strong Bible teaching, heartfelt prayer, and living by the Holy Spirit together.
Here are some things Jubilee Church focuses on:
Bible teaching – Helping people learn and love the Bible.
- Prayer – Praying together and trusting God in every area of life.
- Holy Spirit – Believing God’s Spirit gives power, love, and guidance.
- Unity – Welcoming everyone and building one big family of believers.
Because of this clear vision, Jubilee Church has become a home for many and a training place for future leaders. It’s a church that keeps growing by caring for people and teaching God’s truth.
Pastoral Style & Influence
Pastor Tope is known for being humble and caring, just like a good shepherd. He gently teaches from the heart and truly wants everyone in the church to grow in their faith.
Here’s what makes him special:
- Servant Leader: Pastor Tope doesn’t want all the attention. He once said it’s more important to lift up others and allow them to grow—that is what a real shepherd does.
- Teaches from the Bible: He loves the Bible so much that he often shares stories from it. He believes every part of the Bible speaks to us today, and he teaches it clearly so everyone understands.
- Prayerful and Trusting God: Even when old movie equipment didn’t work, he still trusted God to make his lessons matter. He believes prayer is key and that God can use us—even with humble beginnings—to do amazing things.
One friend, Adrian Warnock, shared that Tope spent the first ten years helping the church grow behind the scenes. When he finally became senior pastor in 2005, others stayed loyal and supported him because they saw his love for serving people and caring for the church family.
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Family Life
Pastor Tope is happily married to Pastor Kemi Koleoso, and together they have two teenage sons . Kemi is a nurse by training and uses her gifts of care and compassion in ministry. She leads the Courage Conference each year—a special event that helps build confidence in women—and supports a project called Courageous Sisters, which helps women in difficult situations around the world.
At Jubilee Church, Kemi also leads women’s ministries and speaks at events to encourage women to grow and live bold lives . Meanwhile, Tope cares deeply about his family and models how to balance ministry and home life by cherishing time with Kemi and their sons.
Books & Teaching Media
Pastor Tope Koleoso has shared his heart and faith in a powerful way through both books and talks for many people to learn from.
“Hope Reborn” (2014)
In 2014, Tope and his friend Adrian Warnock wrote a book called Hope Reborn. It helps readers understand what being a Christian means and how to grow in faith. The book explains important ideas in simple words, making it easy for both new believers and those wanting to learn more.
Sermons and Talks
Pastor Tope has also recorded many sermons and talk series that can be found online. Some of his popular series on Jubilee Church’s website and YouTube include:
- Boldness in the Spirit
- The Cross of Christ
- Mission Sunday
Leadership Conferences
He speaks at big church events and conferences, like the Vineyard National Leaders Conference in the UK. There, he talks about what it means to answer God’s call—even in hard places—and how to lead others well.
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Conclusion
Pastor Tope Koleoso is a kind and faithful leader who has helped many people around the world follow Jesus. From his early days in Nigeria to leading Jubilee Church in London, his story shows that God can use anyone—no matter how small their beginnings—to do great things.