We endeavor to treat people of all religions with respect and share our faith without compromise.

Church Plants

UCF has established ten church groups throughout Sri Lanka.  Seven of these groups are house churches, and three have built UCF Community Centers where church services are conducted in addition to other outreach programmes.  Besides worship services, many of these churches also conduct Sunday School programmes and baptism services.  Some of the pastors are in full-time ministry with UCF, while others are in part-time ministry.

REPORT ON THE MISSION IN MORATUWA FEBRUARY 6TH (SUNDAY)

Rev. Ranjan Fernando participated in the worship service on the 6th of February and preached the message quoting from Matthew 4: 18-22 regarding Jesus calling the first disciples. The service was well attended and all took part in fellowship tea followed by a relief distribution program at which many families in need of food items received rice and dhal. Please pray for the 4 co-workers in the Moratuwa Ministry for the Lord to provide their basic needs like monthly allowances, medical, house rent etc.

16TH JANUARY - BETHEL FELLOWSHIP CENTER DAMBULLA

Rev. Fernando participated in the Sunday Service and delivered the message quoting from Psalm 1: 1-6 on God’s concern for the poor and needy. The hall was full and some believers were standing outside. There was a time of prayer for everyone who are going through circumstances having various needs and health concerns. During the service great testimonies were shared which showed the power and greatness of God who has delivered these people from difficulties. Rev. Fernando was glad for the opportunity to meet with these believers as we need to uplift these families spiritually as well as materially. Please pray for the Pastor, his wife and the two lady co-workers over here so that God will give them strength and courage to continue to spread the Word and pray that the basic needs of these workers will be met.

The New Year service was conducted by Rev. Ranjan Fernando on the 1st of January.

He delivered the message quoting from the book of Acts 9:1-9 speaking about the missionary journeys of St. Paul on how he who was against Christianity was converted and promoted Jesus Christ amidst all challenges he had to face.

A time of prayer was held to thank God for His providence in the past year and asking for His grace and blessings to face the challenges in the New Year.

After fellowship tea, dry rations as food relief was distributed to 50 families from the interior of Moratuwa especially the families from the slum area.

Please pray for the ministry in Moratuwa and all our co-workers in the office and field.

30th January (Saturday)

Rev. Ranjan Fernando left  Moratuwa at 3 00 am and reached Dambulla by 9 00 am.  Having visited the Bethel Fellowship  Center in Dambulla, he held a meeting with Brother Gurusinghe, his wife and the co-workers.  Various important matters were discussed including the needs of believer families in the area who are going through much hardship and the extension of the church hall as soon as possible.  Rev. Fernando participated in a time of prayer for the Lord’s provision of the needed funds for this purpose as many people are standing outside  of the church during the Sunday services due to the lack of space braving the sun and rain.

The church was crowded.  Some were not wearing face masks  and it is very difficult in such situation to conduct the services adhering to health guidelines.   Besides, there are some corona virus cases identified in the city of Dambulla where the Bethel Fellowship Center is located.

 

 

The same afternoon, Rev. Fernando left for Polonnaruwa to a village named ‘Nirdeshagama’.   A family known to the UCF organized a program to donate mosquito nets to 25 needy families.   These 25 families are ‘no-income’ families  and in this village, in addition to the corona virus, many people are suffering from malaria as well.  A few have also died of this disease recently.     Therefore, considering the sad plight of these no-income families going through much hardship, we decided to provide the mosquito nets which will save them from malaria due to mosquito bites.

A meeting was held with all the co-workers in order to discuss matters relating to the ministry, short comings and needs in the year 2021. 

Rev. Laksiri Peiris, parish priest of St. Andrew’s church Polgahawela of the Church of Ceylon diocese of Kurunegala was the speaker who delivered the message based on his own challenges and experiences encouraging all present on how a Christian could overcome all challenges with commitment.

We thank God for Fr. Laksiri and appreciate his very encouraging message.

The meeting was followed by fellowship lunch in which a few church leaders from other churches also participated.

Please pray for the grace of God to be upon all the co-workers  in the Moratuwa ministry and provide all their needs.

Mallika is a widow with 8 children living in Minneriya.  Minneriya is predominantly a Buddhist area and to go from Moratuwa takes about 8 hours by road.   This area is also having wild elephants who damage the houses  of those in the surrounding area. 

We have recently started a ministry over there meeting a few families as a prayer group in a house close to Mallika’s.  We also carry out distribution of humanitarian food for the children who are in need.      Rev. Ranjan visited Minneriya once again on 6th July in order to meet with the believers and pray together in fellowship.                                                           Most of these people do not have a proper income.  Mallika too is doing a small business selling fruits by the roadside.  The UCF has supported Mallika by constructing a stall so she can place it by the roadside and carry on her business effectively.   We are very grateful to Brother Richard and Susannah of USA who supported us to construct this stall.   We thank God for their generosity and  are thankful for the ministry in Minneriya.

 

On 7th Rev, Fernando proceeded to Bibile via Polonnaruwa.  Bibile is a very rural area where there are many isolated families living in the interior villages in real need.  There was a special meeting with the families organized by Rev. Lalith Fernando –  Methodist Minister of Bibile. He arranged for us to meet a group of deserving families who are in real need in Medagama village.  This is an isolated community in this village.  Rev. Lalith Fernando  shared his testimony while Rev. Ranjan Fernando  shared about the UCF Ministry.b

riefly. He also  shared the Word of God and encouraged these people.  Some humanitarian food and clothing was distributed over there and it was  very exciting to see the ministry over there and identify the needs of the community.   Rev. Fernando stayed over at Bibile and returned to Moratuwa on the  8th which was about 10 hours by road and very tiring. 

Please pray for the families in this village which is a few kilometers from the Bibile town.

We are grateful for our partnership working together with other churches towards the glory of God

 

On the invitation of the parish priest Rev. Fr. Rohana Rajapakse, Rev. Ranjan Fernando was pleased to participate in the Palm Sunday Service. He delivered the message quoting from Matthew 21:12-17 on the topic ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ The service was well attended and was followed by a time of fellowship where Rev. Fernando had the opportunity of speaking with members of the congregation. Later, as is done usually, humanitarian food boxes were handed over to be given to the needy children of the Sunday Schools. It was a great time of fellowship and blessing and encouragement to the community. Please pray for this church congregation as they are doing much for the needy in this village.

A special immersion baptism service was held on 13th January 2018 in Neboda.  Six men and women from non Christian background who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The service was conducted by Rev. David Haley – Minister of the United Methodist Church NC USA together with Pastor Shantha Mahesh with Rev. David speaking about the importance of Baptism and committing life to God.    After the service Bibles were presented  to the baptized  and all took part in a time of fellowship

A free Medical Clinic was also conducted on the same day with the UCF providing medicines and nursing assistance.  We are thankful to God for providing all our needs enabling us to offer this great service to the needy and believers of our church in Neboda and thank all our prayer partners for the encouragement and support

The annual Christmas get together for the  UCF and Fuller Center  staff and their families was held on 20th December at Moratuwa.  General  (Rtd.) Srilal Weerasuriya, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and  High Commissioner  to Pakistan for Sri Lanka who is  presently contributing to the cause of Jesus Christ,  delivered  the message speaking on God’s purpose for every man taken from the book of Matthew 6: 33  But seek ye first the

kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  After the time of devotion, all took part in carol singing and entertainment which was followed by fellowship lunch. The children were presented with gifts while the staff was each given a financial token on behalf of the season.  The members of the Board of Management too joined in this great time of fellowship and togetherness.

Special Christmas Services were held in all our Fellowship Centers on 25th December.

Brother Trevor and his family from England belonging to the Holland Road Baptist Church while on holiday in Sri Lanka had the privilege to visit the UCF Center in Neboda and  participated in the Sunday service and Bro. Trevor shared the message taken from  Luke chapter 2:  verses 8-12 speaking about faith.   The congregation of Neboda was encouraged by his message.  We also provided gifts of water bottles and lunch boxes to the children of the Sunday school and Nursery  run by the UCF which were distributed by Bro. Trevor. These children are from under priviledged families who work as labourers  in the  surrounding rubber estates.

A special service was held on 27th March 2016 at the Moratuwa Fellowship Center which was well attended. The message was shared among the gathering by Rev. R. S. Fernando based on Mark 16:9-18 on the Appearances of the Risen Lord and the Great CommissionIt was a great blessing to all believers. The service was followed by a time of fellowship tea.

The Christmas Service was held on 25th December 2015 at the UCF Fellowship Center in Moratuwa. Rev. Fernando shared the message base on the True meaning of ChristmasThe congregation was gathered from different villages and it was well attended. After the service was a time of fellowship tea.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubles, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27 

A special Easter service was held at the UCF Community Center in Moratuwa. The message was delivered from John 11:25 about the Resurrection of Jesus by Rev. Fernando. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.”

Further he encouraged the congregation by sharing the above message which was a great blessing and an encouragement to everybody.
 
The service was conducted by Pastor Manoj. After the service was discussion time with the youth. .

Children of the UCF believer families from Moratuwa, Piliyandala, and Horana join the worship service in Moratuwa. UCF conducts a children’s ministry with Sunday school classes held for these children.

Please pray for the Lord to provide the needs of these children and also for the teachers who work in this ministry.

12th AND 13th FEBRUARY 2022 - THE MISSION TOUR TO DAMBULLA AND POLONNARUWA AREAS

12th (Saturday) Rev. Ranjan Fernando visited the interior village of Hungamuwa in Wewala, Dambula and conducted an open air prayer service in front of Gnanawathi’s hut. All the believer families in the surrounding areas came together and participated in this service. Special prayers were said for Gnanawathi who is facing much hardship in her life as she has no income and no one to take of her needs.
The UCF has started on the construction of a basic toilet facility for her and later on hope to build up a better room to replace her clay hut which is not safe from wild elephants and poisonous snakes. She gave a great testimony to the love and provision of the Lord who delivered her from many of the issues and fears she was facing.
On the evening of the 12th, Rev. Fernando proceeded to Polonnaruwa and took part in a relief program in the village of Nirdeshagama. Humanitarian food was provided to the needy children and 2 families were identified to receive this food regularly considering their sad plight having no income and not having even one meal a day at times. School bags and stationery were also distributed amongst some needy children to encourage them to attend school. Another issue that the people in this area are facing is the scarcity of clean drinking water which is causing kidney damage to many. Water bottles were provided to many of these families and it is our hope and desire if God provides the needed resources to provide some water filters in this area to overcome this problem. Please pray for the needs of these families especially the basic need of food and drinking water. Also for the family Nimal and Renuka volunteer workers in this area who visit families to identify their needs and arrange for UCF relief programs in this area. Please pray that God will provide their needs.
13th Sunday, Rev. Ranjan Fernando came back to Dambulla to participate in the Sunday service at the Bethel Fellowship Center. He preached the message quoting from Luke 5, which speaks of Jesus’ call to the first disciples to make them ‘fishers’ of men, also focusing on the fact that God has a purpose for every person on earth for His glory. After the service a time of prayer was held for all the believers who are going through much hardship especially for those who have contracted the corona virus and facing difficulties in their lives. Later on a relief program was held where food items were distributed to needy believer families and others. Please pray for the needs of the families in this area that God will provide all their needs. Also for the UCF co workers here who are working under difficult conditions in 5 villages in the Dambulla area. Please pray that God will provide the needed resources enabling the UCF to continue its humanitarian services to the needy people of God for the glory of His Name.

TWO DAY MISSION TOUR REPORT: VISIT TO HUNGAMUWA & KANDALAMA VILLAGES IN DAMBULLA

29TH (SATURDAY): Rev. Ranjan Fernando visited the village of Hungamuwa, a very rural interior village located in Wewala village in Dambulla, to interact with the villagers to identify their needs and know about the hardship they are experiencing in their lives. These families are living under very difficult circumstances without basic necessities like food and clean drinking water. Most of them are involved in cultivations and are very low wage earners and now have lost even that income having been affected by the pandemic. Also wild elephants in the area create hardship for the villagers by destroying their crops and houses time to time. After that Rev. Fernando together with the co-worker in Dambulla church, Brother Gurusinghe visited family Devika for whom the UCF constructed a toilet and was glad to see the completion of same. He also visited family Gnanawathi for whom we have undertaken to help build a toilet. Devika’s hut is on the verge of collapse and the UCF is looking forward to help her with reconstructing her hut so she can live decently without fear. Whilst we thank our prayer partners for the immense support towards constructing these toilets we kindly request your prayers for God to provide the needed resources enabling the UCF to continue in its relief projects demonstrating Christian compassion within the community as instructed by our Lord, Jesus Christ.

30TH (SUNDAY): Rev. Fernando participated in the Worship Service at the Bethel Fellowship Center Dambulla where he shared the message of God’s faithful love and concern for the needy. After the service a time of individual prayer was held for the believers who are experiencing various hardships and illnesses. Later on food relief by way of dry rations were distributed for needy families within and outside the church.

2nd January – Dambulla    Rev. Ranjan Fernando travelled to Dambulla once again on Sunday the 2nd of January and took part in the service at the Bethel Fellowship Center.    He delivered the message on thanksgiving and conclusion quoting from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.   He spoke on how St. Paul who was going through difficult times was supported by the church  who looked into his needs with concern. 

A time of prayer was held to thank God for His providence in the past year and asking for His grace and blessings to face the challenges in the New Year.

After fellowship tea, dry rations as food relief was distributed to 50 families from the interior villages of Dambulla

The Christmas service was held at the Bethel Fellowship Center Moratuwa.  It was well attended and it was a great encouragement to hear testimony from some of the participants about how God has intervened in their lives.

Rev. Ranjan Fernando delivered the message.  He quoted from John Chapter 3 verses 16 -18 that speak about how God sent his Son to the world for the salvation of mankind.

It was an encouraging time for everyone and after the service humanitarian food and milk powder were provided for children who are in real need of same.

Christmas gifts of school stationery was also distributed amongst the children who did not receive earlier.

Please pray for the pastors and co-workers in this ministry that God will provide all their needs in the coming year.

 

The Sunday worship service was held at which there was a participation of almost 100.   The message was delivered by Rev. Edmund a retired Methodist Minister who gave a challenging message on working with commitment, responsibility and in unity encouraging each other.

Please continue to pray for this ministry especially as we are planning to conduct a water baptism service in the near future once the pandemic settles down.

Also, please pray for the many people who are in need of food and medicines being affected in various ways because of the coronavirus while we plan to provide some relief under the UCF

12th August 2018

 

The UCF has been generously supporting this church by providing humanitarian food  to be distributed to the Sunday School children and other needy children in the area for more than two years.   The church and the congregation really appreciate this service especially given to needy children.

On the invitation of Rev. Fr. Laksiri Peiris parish priest, Rev. Ranjan Fernando took part in the Sunday services delivering the message taken from the Book of Acts Chapter 2 verses 42 to 47 on unity among Christians and on how to encourage and help each other.

Rev. Fernando also participated in the distribution of certificates to the children of the Sunday school. 

24th June 2018

A Special service was held on 24th June at Moratuwa with the message being delivered by Rev.

Ranjan Fernando who spoke on the leadership responsibility, thanksgiving and prayer taken from 1 Thessalonians Ch: 5 V 12 – 18.  Over 100 persons participated in the service.

After the service packets of milk powder were provided to the needy children of the community, specially  families who come from the slum fishing area of Moratuwa

Also the Women’s Ministry conducted by two lady volunteers of the church held their meeting counseling to ladies who are in need. 

 

A special mission tour was undertaken by Rev. Fernando along with Rev. Fr. Rohana Rajapakse of St. Andrews Church Meethanwela,  where he visited Minneriya and Bibile.  On the evening of  6th  June he held a meeting in Minneriya with a house group of believers and their families.  He has visited this place in early April this year on the invitation of this House Group and had a time of prayer and fellowship on his way to Polonnaruwa.  He was glad to spend some time and share the Word of God while providing some school bags to the children who are badly neglected  encouraging them to attend school.  The UCF also provided humanitarian food to these children in a gesture of love and compassion which was a great blessing to the families over there.    We encourage all our prayer partners to pray for the  families of this group and specially for the family Mallika who sells fruit to sustain her income.  The UCF made arrangements to provide  a hand cart for her so she can develop her business and uplift the lives of her children.  We are very thankful to Brother Richard and Susannah for their generosity in providing this facility to this family so Mallika can carry on her business in an effective manner.

Six young men and women who were ready to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior were  baptized by immersion on the 7th at our  Fellowship Center Moratuwa.   After the baptism a service was held  with Rev. R S Fernando delivering the message   taken from Matthew 28:16-20 “ The Great Commission  16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”   These believers who are regular worshippers in our Fellowship Center shared their testimonies.  The UCF welcomed them and also provided them with Bibles for their use after which all took part in a time of fellowship.   It was well attended and we thank God for these young people and request your prayers for God’s guidance and blessings upon them as they commit their lives to Christ.

A special service was held on 17th December with the message being delivered by Rev.  R S Fernando taken from Luke Chapter 7: verses 11-17 based on God’s mercy and grace by which Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son. 

After the service packets of milk powder were distributed to 35 needy families which was very beneficial to them after which all present participated in a time of fellowship.

Pastor Sumith from the fellowship Center in Badureliya baptized 13 new believers recently. These new believers have been attending the fellowship services in Badureliya since 1 year before receiving the baptism in which they have accepted Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Please pray to the Lord to honor their spiritual as well as physical needs and that they will glorify His name

Anuradhapura is majorly a non-Christian community. UCF Pastor from Dambulla has organized a baptism service in Anuradhapura. There were 10 men and women that received the baptism.  They have committed their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ some time ago and have taken the challenge to follow our Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Please pray for the new believers, their families and for their future.

A special water baptism was held on 1 March in Moratuwa. Twenty-one men and women who were from non-Christian backgrounds have committed their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ and received water baptism. These new believers are from Neboda, Piliyandala, and Horana. After the baptism, the service was conducted by the other pastors while the Word of God was delivered by Rev. R. S. Fernando. Bibles were gifted to the new believers who were baptized and fellowship tea was served after the service.

We thank God for the great testimonies of the new believers on their difficult lives and how the Lord has transformed their lives. Please uphold their spiritual needs as well their well being.

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