Our History
GCFP, started with humble beginnings in a small row home at 4520 Penn Street in Philadelphia, home of late Mr. Simpson & Patsy Christian. They welcomed their friends and families in 1977 to start what would one day become our present church. The first meeting consisted of only six people, Mr. Silvanus Christian, Mr. Simpson Christian & Mrs. Patricia Christian, Mr. Dinker Taylor & Mrs. Martha Taylor, and Mr. Richard Christian. From there they started meeting at each others houses and grew in sizes as more families immigrated to the states. With this fellowship they were able to help each other get accumulated with the states and grow closer to God in our native language.
As the years went on they started growing even large and they decided to start renting a church for their biweekly gatherings. They first congregated at the Salvation Army church at 4544 Frankford Avenue, followed by United Methodist Church on 1515 Orthodox Street. In the years to come, the church grew even larger in size and many pastors from here and abroad preached the Word of God to our congregation. Church went from biweekly to weekly services and added various activities such as Sunday School, VBS, Outreaches, Women’s Ministry and Choir.
In 2005, God looked down at our church and saw that we needed a place we could call our own and provided us with our current church which is located at 425 Central Avenue, Cheltenham, PA. This small but adequate church has allowed our church to grow in various ministries to edify our congregation and beyond.
Mission Statement
Gujarati Christian Fellowship of Philadelphia is an integral part of the universal Christian Church. Gujarati Christian Fellowship consists of Gujarati Christian believers who live in the tri-state area. We praise and worship the All Mighty God in our native tongue. Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to lead people into becoming his disciples.
- Jesus said, “Go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60 )
- “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mathew 28: 19, 20)
Vision
Vision Commitments of the Church
Celebrate God’s Presence – through worship and prayer
Demonstrate God’s Love – through fellowship and shepherding
Communicate God’s Word – through preaching
Educate God’s People – through Bible study
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Pastors
Dr. Rev. Dinker Taylor
President
Mr. Jayanti Carpenter
Pastor