ASKED what he would say was an important part of the London mJa character, one member laughed, "Food!" He followed it with a more serious point: "The food we eat does reflect who we are.

It's very multi-national. It's not deliberate; it's people being who they are, doing what they do. Stick a Korean in a kitchen with some fish and flour and peas and they'll make something Korean!"

There are more than 40 nationalities represented in London's mJa congregation. The result is a colourful, lively, imaginative church. Each new national ingredient has added to the flavour with its branches in Croydon, Acton and Westminster.

Last year, the congregation embarked upon a significant new adventure of faith: the mJa bought a big former convent near Oxford Circus in Central London, planning to use the building as both a Christian community house and a Jesus Centre. A year on, the "Battlecentre" house family are used to their unusual dwelling and the plans for the Jesus Centre are nearly at launching point. One leader commented: "The countdown clock has seriously started". The Jesus Centre, which will include a drop-in, tea room, and skills suite, is due to open next spring.

Residential Christian community has long been central to the Jesus Fellowship's vision. The first Jesus Centre pilot scheme began in Northampton in 2001. But the combination of Jesus Centre and Christian community in a single venue is a new kind of venture.

Rob Bentley, London Jesus Centre Project Manager, is enthusiastic: “The shared life will be obvious,” he says. “Christian community will be on display like never before.”