Messages from Our Pastors and Leaders

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Grace and Peace to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As we come together to celebrate UECF's 15 years of ministry in central New Jersey and beyond, my heart is full of gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the bounty of His heavenly grace and mercy upon us. What began as a small gathering of about five or six families in 1997 has grown tremendously over the past 15 years. It is difficult to estimate and fathom the reach of this ministry since we not only minister in person to individuals and families through weekly Worship services, Bible Studies, cottage prayer meetings, but also via the internet and TV media. I receive many calls and e-mails from people around the globe as to how much they have been blessed by the messages, songs, testimonies that are available at our website, www.uecf.net. Many of our songs sung by the choir, children's programs and sermons are also featured on YouTube. Some of the special services such as Christmas, New Year, Easter have also been broadcast over TV in India. Recently, the Smithsonian Institution, expressed an interest in featuring a few images from our outreach ministries in their upcoming exhibition 'Beyond Bollywood.' Imagine the reach of that! God has really enabled us to do a wonderful work for His Kingdom here in the State of NJ and USA as well as in India and other parts of the world. I want to also highlight the powerful and successful ministry to our UECF children via the Christian Education programs of the Sunday School, VBS (Vacation Bible School) and JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz). VBS was offered for the first time this year and it ignited a vital spark of faith initiative for our children. JBQ fostered a great interest in Bible learning and our children have excelled both at the local and the state level. Thanks to the tireless efforts of ALL who have labored hard in these ministries. Over the past recent years we have had a steady flow of guest preachers, evangelists, missionaries who have enriched us spiritually and challenges us to examine our discipleship to 'take up the cross and follow our Lord'. To be a disciple of Jesus means to be witness of His grace, mercy and love in all of our relationships in the world. We have communicated this in various ways such as tract distribution, India's Independence Day Parade, services at the Home for the Aged, and mass media. We have striven to deepen our spiritual roots during the Lenten seasons by in-depth studies/reflection from the video series created by Ray Vanderlaan. I want to take a moment to express my deep-felt thanks and appreciation to the current leadership team and the board of trustees led by Joshua, the pastorate committee, the music and worship team, the Sunday school ministry team, the outreach team and ALL who worship with us regularly and support the ministry in various ways. As we move forward, let us make a renewed effort and make a fresh commitment to serve God in and through our personal lives as well as through UECF. May God bless you and our Fellowship in the years ahead. Shalom!

Rev. Dr. David Ravinder Hon. Sr. Pastor, UECF

Dear UECF Families and Friends, Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It's a joy to greet you and welcome you as we celebrate the 15th Anniversary of United Evangelical Christian Fellowship (UECF)! Indeed it is a significant milestone in the history of UECF. God's faithfulness has been evident in the work of UECF all these years. I am sure this Fellowship has been a real blessing to each other and also has touched many lives in different parts of the world. I thank and praise God for His wonderful mercies in bringing us this far and I invite you to join in prasing God as the psalmist said in the 117th Psalm - “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD”. My thanks are also due to our honorary pastors, guest preachers, lay leaders and each one of you for your cooperation and support in what UECF is standing for - being United in promoting Evangelistic work while professing our of faith in Christ Jesus and continuing the Fellowship with God and with one another. As part of UECF's 15th Anniversary celebrations, and further to emphasize UECF's commitment to evangelism, an evangelistic outreach program is being arranged at Mirage Banquet hall. Dr. Ramesh Richard, a well known inspirational speaker and a spiritual philosopher will be addressing the gathering. To mark this important milestone, a Souvenir is compiled with best wishes from eminent servants of God and distinguished elected leaders. Many articles are also included along with photos depicting our cherished memories. Hope all of you will enjoy! As we celebrate 15 years of fruitful service, let us look forward to future by re-dedicating ourselves to the Lord with much more commitment. May you all be blessed with His choicest blessings! In His Service, Joshua (Phani) Pilli President, UECF

October 2, 2012 United Evangelical Christian Fellowship 150 Lake Avenue, Metuchen, NJ-08840. Congratulations, UECF, on 15 years of ministry in the influential region of the greater New York-New Jersey area, and among the influential immigrants from our birth land who serve our adoptive land and beyond. Planting and nurturing a congregation, followed by equipping and unleashing them for ministry in unfamiliar environments is nearly impossible to explain except by the guiding hand of the Great Shepherd. Our thanks go to those who birthed the vision and then translated into a mission; to those who yet run with the vision and mission today. My prayer for you is found in the Apostle Paul's encouragement to the Thessalonians (2 Thess. 1:11 -12) of whom you remind me: To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

RAMESH REACHARD PhD, ThD Professor, Global Engagement and Pastoral Ministries, Dallas Theological Seminary President, Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health [RREACH]

Metuchen Reformed Church 150 Lake Avenue ~ Metuchen, NJ 08840 ~ 732-548-2463 A Welcoming and Affirming Congregation Rev. Peter Sanfilippo, Pastor November 7, 2012 Mr. PhaniRajaKumar (Joshua) Pilli, President United Evangelical Christian Fellowship 150 Lake Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840 Dear Joshua, On behalf of the consistory, and the entire congregation of the Reformed Church of Metuchen, I wish to congratulate you, the board members, Rev. Dr. David Ravinder, and the congregation of United Evangelical Christian Fellowship on the momentous milestone of celebrating fifteen years of serving the Lord Jesus, tilling the vineyard, spreading the good news of the gospel, and demonstrating the love of Christ. CONRATULATIONS TO UECF ON YOUR FIFTEEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY! It is with a sense of joy, and deep admiration, that I have had the privilege to observe UECF not only gathering to worship the Lord, but also to enrich one another's lives through time spent in fellowship. It has not gone unnoticed, that UECF's love for the Bible – the word of God, is central in life and worship, and that great effort has been put forth to keep the lamp burning – the light shinning on God's word. Likewise, UECF's love for Jesus Christ, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, is something that is being passed down with great care to the children and youth of UECF: Praise God! While I have only touched upon those things which I can see – those things which I have casually observed, I have no doubt that it is only the tip of the iceberg, and that great work; evangelizing and pastoral care – loving and nurturing those in the greater community, is fast at work in the name of the Lord Jesus. No doubt, all of the above is the work of the Holy Spirit, empowering, and endowing the church – the body of Christ, with an abundance of gifts to accomplish the task that God has set forth for UECF to do. However, such gifts are fruitful only at the hands of hard work – hard labor in the vineyard: For this too, you are to be congratulated. May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding be upon you and United Evangelical Christian Fellowship. In Christ, Rev. Peter Sanfilippo