UECF History

In January 1997, a group of people felt that the churches they attended did not meet their needs adequately. Their major concerns and needs were:

1. A lay fellowship that is above the denominational sect but acceptable to all denominations.
2. A congregation serving all communities without language barriers.
3. A Sunday weekly worship service that would fulfill the spiritual needs of lay Christians in the Central Jersey region.
4. Assistance in the study of scripture among adults and young kids.
5. Maintenance of the Christian traditions of the Indian sub-continent.
6. Bringing people from the region closer so their combined resources could support outreach ministries in the South Asian region.
7. Service to the local community.

Initially, the key people in this group were Mr. Alfred Bhaskar, Mr. Vijay Pulipati, and Mr. Rajani Kantha Rao. Later, they were joined by Mr. Ebenezer Mallepalle and Mr. Michael Rose. After putting their burden in prayer for about three months, they believed it was God's will to start a new congregation with the goals listed above. They pledged to fund the start of the new Christian Congregation and sought the support of Rev. Dr. David Ravinder to serve as an honorary Sr. Pastor and provide spiritual leadership. With his assent, a formal decision was made to start a new fellowship. Dr. David Ravinder helped secure a place for the Sunday evening worship service at the sanctuary of the United Methodist Church, located at 301 Chestnut Street, Roselle Park, New Jersey 07204.

Mr. Alfred Bhaskar, Mr. Vijay Pulipati, Mr. RajaniKantha Rao, and Mr. Ebenezer Mallepalle became the incorporators, initiating the incorporation of the UECF body, which held its first service on the first Sunday of April 1997. The first General Body meeting was held on June 4, 1997, with 34 local Christians in attendance according to the signatory list. A draft Constitution prepared by Mr. Alfred Bhaskar, along with by-laws, was presented and approved by the General Body, along with the name United Christian Evangelical Fellowship (UECF). A Board of Trustees of eight members was elected:

• President: Mr. Alfred Bhaskar
• Secretary: Mr. Rajani Kantha Rao
• Treasurer: Mr. Ebenezer Mallepalle
• Members: Mr. Ajit Lakra, Mr. Michael Rose, Mrs. Udaya Pulipati, and Mr. Joel Dadepogu

Rev. Dr. David Ravinder was nominated by the general body to be the Sr. Pastor cum Spiritual Advisor, and ex-officio member of the board.

The main goal of this fellowship is to provide spiritual and cultural fellowship for Indian Christians settled in the U.S.A., met through the following activities:

1. Conduct weekly worship service on Sundays with preaching of the word of God, glorifying and praising His name, and exhorting all believers to follow the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. Host fellowship hours after each service to bring cohesion among members.
3. Conduct Sunday School for children and Bible study for adults.
4. Organize and run special fellowship activities for youth and women.
5. Conduct services on special occasions such as religious festivals, marriages, birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries, and funerals.
6. Promote cultural activities for the community, such as education in Indian languages and Indian music.
7. Assist in the spread of the gospel in India and other countries in coordination with other groups.
8. Organize and promote community service in Central New Jersey, and in regions of India in need of support due to calamities such as floods, famine, fire, and epidemics.
9. Participate in activities of similar congregations.

A formal application was submitted on April 1, 1997 to the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, for recognition of UECF as an employer, sanctioned via IRS Notice No. CP 575 L dated August 15, 1997. The official name and address was approved as:

United Evangelical Christian Fellowship Church, c/o Alfred D. Bhaskar, 23 Ross Ct, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 (the President's address was used, as there was no office for the Fellowship).

After receiving the EIN, an application was filed on September 6, 1997 for State recognition and certification of Incorporation as a Nonprofit Organization, along with applications for Sales Tax Exemption. The Constitution, by-laws, and statement of funds and balances were enclosed as required. Necessary modifications were made to secure exempt organization status as a Church Fellowship under federal IRS Code Section 501(c)(3), with dispensation from annual federal tax under Section 509(a)(1).

Some major provisions of the tax code:

• Contribution deductions from tax are allowed to donors as provided in Section 170 of the code.
• Fund raising events may or may not qualify as deductible contributions, depending on circumstances.
• UECF is not required to file tax returns on Form 990 unless annual gross income exceeds $25,000.

The Board of Trustees, and especially the President and Treasurer, are expected to be conversant with tax law provisions. The president received significant support in filing papers and handling correspondence with the State and IRS from Mr. Christopher Arun Kumar, a Chartered Public Accountant and friend of UECF who provided free service and expert advice — helping UECF achieve these results without paying hefty attorney fees. The president, in the first Annual General Body Meeting, moved a resolution recognizing and thanking Mr. Arun Kumar for his service.

UECF opened its account at Sovereign Bank. Per the resolution adopted when the account was opened, checks were to be signed by the Treasurer and one member of the executive committee; however, to date this rule has not been implemented, and only the treasurer signs checks.