About Us

Whereas in 1900, 99.9% of the people in Southall were of white origin, by the 1960’s, a large number of the population were from Asian origin. The main part of its ethnic mix was from India and Pakistan, with the majority harking from the Punjab, common to both countries. In recent years the urban make-up has been broadened and is widespread; SCOG has therefore been given many nations as its area to influence for winning to Christ. Its task, alongside other evangelically minded churches, is great: the population of Southall currently is around 90,000.

The cultural mix brings with it a religious aspect with Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam and the RadhaSwami’s all being represented strongly in the town. Other faiths also find their home here. There are many gurudwaras, temples and mosques-many of which were former church buildings, situated around Southall.Our town holds records of the largest such religious buildings in Europe and around the world. This has provided and continues to provide a unique challenge to the mission minded SouthallCOG attenders.

As we look back three decades, it is with awe that we thank the Lord for His mighty hand in our progress.

God had a burden and shared the burden with the Church of God World Missions department. This led to Pastor George Alexander being appointed to start from scratch the Southall Church of God on 20 October 1983, the first service being held at the then Southall Town Hall. He, along with his wife Sophia and later their newborn daughter Athena pastored the church faithfully until June 1985. They then departed the UK to pursue studies in the USA.

However the Church of God had no intention to close up the ministry-the burden to reach the Asian lost was still heavy. God had been preparing a family to travel from afar in ‘ Big India’ to the place called ‘Little India’. In stepped Pastor Joe Kurian, wife Simone and daughter Phoebe. When the invitation had been given, after prayer, prophetical confirmation and godly counsel, Pastor Joe accepted the appointment and restarted the church in 1985.

However if the thought of an exciting new ministry in a modern Western country seems like a dream come true, it was anything but this. Pastor Joe’s first service was something very few new Pastors would experience-zero attenders! But instead of quitting, Pastor Kurian continued, determined to see the vision fulfilled. He was rewarded by the first attender, late Bro A F John, who was a source of encouragement. Slowly but surely the work began to grow.

Now in SCOG, there are two morning services with a weekly average of around 300 in attendance. Pastor Joe and Sister Simone continue to pastor the church in their 28^th year of ministry.

It would take a volume to record all the momentous events marking the story of the church but a brief history can be reviewed:

Several Ministries have been birthed included the following:

Prayer (including all night and early morning), evangelism, worship, music, ladies fellowship, men’s fellowship, youth (including camps, sports events, fund raising), Sunday school, children’s church, power groups, nurture groups, discipleship, lay leadership, bible school, hospital visitation, media (TV and radio programmes, interactive websites), barbecue, fasting, Agape fellowship, seaside trips, cottage meetings, Malayalam service, Asian service, trips to Israel,healing crusades, Christmas carols (house to house).

Under Pastor Joe and Sister Simone’s faithful shepherding of the flock, people from all religious persuasions and walks of life have experienced salvation, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, healings and miracles. These same people have been trained, developed, mentored and discipled to leadership and ministry opportunities.

The administration of the church has been handled by a strong team of assistant pastors, Church council members, elders, finance team and building committee.

The seeming success story is all the more remarkable when considering the setbacks and cost the church has had to suffer. This has involved backsliding, rebellion and even expulsion through the leadership upholding the holy moral standard that had been set at the initial stages of the church’s life.

The church has continually been blessed with the resources that were required to physically expand the work.

The building adjacent to the church, 11 Norwood Road, was added in near impossible circumstances, to provide income to help the financial needs of the church.

A church building project was also required at the present meeting place 9 Norwood Road, to expand the facility to allow comfortable seating arrangements for the large congregation, one that would meet health and safety regulations of the property. A large fund-raising effort saw several individuals pledge and fulfil giving £500 each. (A similar pattern that has been repeated continuously over time by a spirit of generosity amongst the believers).This saw the expansion project completed in the 30^th year of SCOG.

Recent prophetical utterances have reinforced the belief among members that God dearly loves this fellowship and His plan is still in full swing to see the work that He has initiated being completed. This is from the grass roots up, children to senior citizens, all to continue blessing the body by the outworking of their faith and gifting.

As we look back from where we were to where we are today, we can joyfully affirm that God has fulfilled His promise ‘I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’ Matthew 16:18! Through the anointed ministry of Pastor Joe and Sister Simone, we continue to live in hope that the church will go from strength to strength in the years left for it to minister this side of the Rapture. Thank you Lord for all You’ve done and all you are going to do.