Reaching and Serving the Tamil Community: Emmanuel Christian Fellowship
Emmanuel Christian Fellowship (ECF) in Ilford is a vibrant congregation of around 120 people, primarily from South India and Sri Lanka. Many in the church are Tamil speakers, a community that has a deeply significant history, marked by both triumphs and tragedies. The term "Tamil" is widely recognised, particularly in connection with the “Tamil Tigers,” a separatist group that fought a brutal civil war in Sri Lanka from 1983 to 2009, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. Many people fled the violence. Today, London is home to the largest population of British Sri Lankan Tamils, and ECF is committed to reaching out to this community.
The church sees itself as a mission church, and its heart is focused on outreach both locally and internationally. Through door-to-door visits, street preaching, and sometimes spontaneous visits from Tamil-speaking people seeking the church, ECF has built a strong presence in the area. "We also visit Sri Lanka to serve those still affected by the war," says Charles, Counties Evangelist and the church’s youth pastor. "We go with a doctor who treats people, particularly those who lost limbs due to landmines used during the conflict." This mission work is crucial for the church, as it brings healing and hope to communities still dealing with the trauma of war.
A key aspect of ECF’s mission is youth engagement. With many second-generation Tamils no longer fluent in the Tamil language, Charles has stepped in to lead the younger generation, helping them bridge the gap between their heritage and their faith.
“We do online prayers and our usual Sunday services. We encourage young people to bring their friends, and we host an event called the Five ‘Fs’: fun, friendship, food, faith, and fellowship,” Charles explains. This approach creates a space where youth can build lasting relationships, grow in faith, and be equipped to serve.
In fact, just recently, five people were baptised at ECF, including two who had come from India, two who had grown up in the church, and one surgeon who had been a Christian for 30 years but never publicly committed through baptism. This was a testament to the life-changing work God is doing in the lives of those who find their way to this mission-focused community.
Charles is also an elder at Christ’s Forgiveness Ministries, a multicultural church that has been attracting people from all over, particularly Poland and African nations. The church is a dynamic mix of new Christians, many from Catholic or Muslim backgrounds, who are eager to grow in their faith. "We have four disciple groups, and everyone attending has been a Christian for less than three years," Charles shares. One recent baptism even took place in an inflatable hot tub after a phone call to Martin Erwin, Counties CEO, led to a unique solution: a hot tub that was about to be sold found new life as a baptistry!
In addition to his role as an elder, Charles serves as a mentor to Jeremiah Oke, the pastor of Christ’s Forgiveness Ministries. Both Charles and Jeremiah share a passion for mentoring young people and nurturing future leaders. Recently, they led a mission trip to Athens, involving 19 people, including four families and six individuals. Working alongside three Christian organizations and two local churches in Athens, they had the opportunity to serve the homeless community at the harbour city of Piraeus. "New believers had the chance to share their faith with young people, and some led devotions. One mother felt God calling her into mission work and has already arranged the next mission trip to her homeland, Poland," says Charles.
Whether serving locally or abroad, Charles’ vision for the young people in his church is clear: "My vision for the church’s young people is that they become leaders. I want us to be a church where we have more disciples, where young people bring their friends, and where we are more missional than anything else." Through discipleship, outreach, and a commitment to serving others, Emmanuel Christian Fellowship is living out its mission and inspiring a new generation of leaders to impact their communities and the world for Christ.
The world needs more people sharing the Gospel. If you think God is calling you to this kind of mission where you live, or even beyond, we suggest checking out our new Connect Evangelists Training Programme. For more information and to preview the course, click here.