Story
URGENT APPEAL
Help Emmanuel Christian Fellowship - Ilford
to secure a Permanent Church premises
After more than two decades of faithful ministry, we now have the opportunity to secure our very first permanent Church Building - and we need your help.
Our Story
I would like to briefly share the story of our ministry and the situation we now find ourselves in.
Emmanuel Christian Fellowship - Ilford is a Tamil-speaking congregation that was planted over two decades ago with a God-given vision, by my beloved wife Pastor Anne Joseph (who has since been called to Glory), and myself, with prayer, sacrifice, and obedience. This church was established under the spiritual guidance of the founder of Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Rev. Jonathan Eden and the Senior Pastor Rev. G I Ebenezer.
We began this ministry through a deep sense of God’s calling to serve the Tamil-speaking community across East London and the Essex regions, many of whom have sought refuge from Sri Lanka and other parts of South Asia due to civil unrest and wars, coming to the UK in search of a safe and better and life for generations to come..
What began as a small gathering has grown into a committed church family serving both locally and internationally. For over 20 years, we have been worshipping in rented churches and temporary spaces — setting up and packing away week after week and moving from church to church without being able to call a place our home — yet remaining faithful to the call God placed on this ministry. Through the years, we have been :
• Preaching the Gospel faithfully and uncompromisingly
• Providing Pastoral care and family support for wider community
• Nurturing Children and discipling Young people
• Serving our local community with prayer and practical help
• Supporting International Missions and Humanitarian causes in Sri Lanka, India, Greece, Indonesia, the Middle East, Myanmar, and beyond.
It is deeply heart-breaking to see places once dedicated to worship and prayer gradually disappearing from our communities. The Christendom is yearning to see that the church buildings are preserved for the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than converted into commercial or secular spaces and as worship place for other faiths.
After 25 years of perseverance, faithful leadership, and generosity toward others, we believe this is our moment to establish a lasting home to serve in Essex - and continue blessing the nations.
In faith we had placed a bid to purchase a Church property at auction and, by God’s grace, the bid was accepted. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us, our Heavenly Father “makes everything beautiful in its time,” and the timing of this felt like a gentle confirmation of His providential guidance
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” - Psalm 127:1
The Property ( Church Premises ) & Finance Situation
Walton Baptist Church
86 Hall Lane, Walton on the Naze, Essex, CO14 8HN
https://online.auctionhouse.co.uk/lot/details/173834
Money Available in Bank : £21,000
Following the completion, the building will require refurbishment estimated at approximately £50,000 to make it fully suitable for worship and ministry. However, our immediate priority is securing the funds required to complete the purchase so that this church building can remain dedicated to God’s work. This is more than a building — it is a foundation for the future of our church!
Our prayer is that this building will not become another church lost in history, but instead remain dedicated to the worship of our Saviour and to the service of people.
When we visited the Church building recently, several local residents (including members of the congregation that were previously gathering in that church and the Walton Ward counsellor Mrs Ann Oxley) expressed genuine joy that the property would continue to function as a church. They were encouraged that it would remain a place of Worship, Prayer and infuse hope to the community, rather than being converted for another purpose.
We also understand that Walton-on-the-Naze and currently has no Tamil-speaking churches, and so acquiring this building would allow us to bring community support to local Tamil-speaking families who would otherwise struggle to find a spiritual home due to language and cultural barriers.
I also have a deep conviction of indebtedness to British Nation, since we were spiritually blessed through the Servants of God – men and women who sacrificially dedicated their lives by bringing the Gospel to our countries down the centuries. I believe that God has opened this door for us to show our gratitude to the United Kingdom through action.
Our vision for this church is that it will become not only a place of Worship, but a centre of care, discipleship and outreach in the region of Essex and beyond with the Love of our
This Church building will enable us to partnering with Local Christian Community and:
• Establish a permanent place of Worship
• Facilitating the premisses week end & week day activities by partnering with the
• Create a safe and dedicated space for children’s ministry
• Build a strong youth discipleship program
• Raise and mentor the next generation
• Expand outreach across Essex
• Continue supporting international mission work
• Food Bank to help local community
• CAP ( Christian Against Poverty) Advisory drop-in-Centre
We believe that the UK is in great need of spiritual renewal. In particular, we see a deep need for vibrant and faithful Christian witness across Essex. While many churches are closing their doors, we are praying that God would raise up places where worship, prayer, discipleship and community care can flourish.
Our hope is that this church will become a small but meaningful part of that prayer for revival – a place where the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed, where lives are transformed, and where the next generation is raised up for Christ.
For this reason, I humbly ask whether you might prayerfully consider supporting us in any way you feel led towards completing the purchase of this church building. Your help at this critical moment would not simply preserve a building; it would help secure a spiritual home for our church where the work of God can continue for generations to come. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to securing this home for the Gospel. If you are unable to give at this time, please share this campaign and stand with us in prayer.
Because of the time-sensitive nature of the purchase, your kind and urgent consideration would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for standing with Emmanuel Christian Fellowship - Ilford.
Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information.
My mobile number is 07903 436 250.
Senior Pastor and ChairEmmanuel Christian Fellowship – Ilford (Charity No. 1169533)