In the bustling oil-rich city of Port Harcourt, an event unfolded in late November 2025 that transcended the typical boundaries of faith-based outreach, combining evangelical fervor with humanitarian intervention on an almost unimaginable scale.
At its heart was Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, founder of the London-based Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), and his initiative, Christ Compassion to the Rural World (CCRW). By his own account, he invested over one billion naira into a week-long crusade that left an indelible mark on the people and landscape of Rivers State.
Held at the sprawling Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, the 2025 Annual Mega Crusade tagged This Is Love Crusade was more than a revival meeting. It was a holistic intervention aimed at body, soul, and community, targeting rural and underserved populations with a level of logistical precision and generosity rarely seen in faith-driven missions.
The Vision: CCRW’s Mission of Practical Faith
CCRW was established by Ashimolowo as a non-denominational outreach committed to “taking the gospel of Christ to rural and underserved communities in a manner that is practical, compassionate, and life-changing.” From November 24–29, 2025, this vision came alive in Port Harcourt.
Each evening at 5 p.m., thousands flocked to the stadium for worship, preaching, and prayers. But daylight hours told an even more compelling story—one of medical miracles, nutritional support, and social care.
By the Numbers: A Humanitarian Surge
The scale of operations was staggering, reflecting meticulous planning and deep financial commitment:
Medical Mission
Medicines Distributed: Over ₦500 million worth of pharmaceuticals.
Surgeries Conducted: 1,130 free surgeries, from cataract operations to hernia repairs.
Medical Personnel: 100 doctors, 100 pharmacists, and 50 nurses volunteered.
Patients Treated: More than 80,000 individuals received medical attention.
Children Dewormed: 25,000 children benefited from deworming programs.
Relief Distribution
Food Items: 150,000 bags each of rice, beans, and garri; 100,000 packs of noodles; 20,000 bottles of cooking oil; and 20,000 packs each of sugar and salt.
Clothing: 170,000 pieces of clothing distributed.
Logistics: 154 buses were deployed to transport attendees from remote villages to the venue.
Medical supplies alone filled between 20 to 30 trucks, ensuring that even those whose healing did not come “by faith alone” in the moment received tangible care.
Beyond Port Harcourt: A Pattern of Compassion
The Port Harcourt event is part of a growing legacy. In 2024, CCRW’s crusade in Ibadan’s Liberty Stadium performed 711 free surgeries, surpassing its 400-surgery target, and distributed food and clothing to tens of thousands. Similar outreach had been conducted in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Each edition expands in ambition, funding, and footprint, turning stadiums into temporary hubs of healing and hope.
Ashimolowo’s Personal Commitment
In remarks during the crusade, Ashimolowo revealed the profound personal conviction behind the mission. Despite logistical hurdles and moments of uncertainty, he said he felt divinely guided to bring the outreach to Port Harcourt “for such a time as this.”
The billionaire pastor, often a figure of both admiration and controversy in media circles, framed the massive spending not as charity, but as obedience to a spiritual mandate. “We are called to show Christ’s love in practical terms,” he emphasized, underscoring a theology that marries faith with works.
Impact and Testimonies
Beyond statistics, the crusade generated powerful human stories. Individuals regained sight through cataract surgeries, others received mobility aids, and many reported spiritual conversions and emotional healing. Local hospitals and clinics were reinforced with supplies, and thousands who might never afford healthcare received it free of charge.
Community leaders and beneficiaries praised the initiative for its dignity-sensitive approach—addressing hunger, health, and hope without condescension.
A Model for Faith-Based Outreach?
CCRW’s model raises important conversations about the role of religious organizations in social welfare, particularly in regions where government services are stretched thin. By integrating evangelism with large-scale humanitarian aid, Ashimolowo’ initiative presents a template of holistic ministry that meets both immediate and eternal needs.
Critics sometimes question the sustainability of such brief, high-intensity interventions, but supporters point to the lasting infrastructure—relationships with local medical teams, leftover medical supplies donated to clinics, and the spiritual follow-up through local churches.
Conclusion: More Than an Event—A Movement
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s Christ Compassion to the Rural World crusade in Port Harcourt was a spectacle of faith in action. With an investment exceeding one billion naira, thousands of volunteers, and a mission spanning medical care, nutrition, and spiritual ministry, it reaffirmed the potential of organized religion to be a force for tangible good.
In a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, this outreach offered a compelling witness—not only of divine compassion but of human generosity orchestrated on a breathtaking scale. For the 50,000+ lives touched in Port Harcourt, the This Is Love Crusade was indeed a week that changed everything.
As Ashimolowo and CCRW look ahead to future locations, one thing is clear: this is more than a crusade—it’s a growing movement determined to reshape what it means to preach, to serve, and to love.
*Note: Figures cited are based on official release from CCRW and statements by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo.*
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