Welcome

Greetings to everyone in the most treasured name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I warmly welcome to our parish website. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the ministry of St.Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) Philadelphia Parish

Our Heritage

St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is one of several groups of Saint Thomas Christians whose origins are traced to St. Thomas the Apostle who, according to tradition, came to India in AD 52. STECI is considered to be an Eastern episcopal missionary church, and it is also deeply influenced by evangelicalism and reformed Doctrines. The motto of STECI is, "FOR THE WORD OF THE LORD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST." (Rev. 1:9). STECI was established on January 26, 1961, and now has numerous congregations worldwide. By following the path to fulfill the vision that God had given to our ancestors, the Philadelphia Parish was formed in 1987.

Core Principles

The cardinal principles of STECI are as follows;

Sound Doctrine: We regard the 66 books of the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative word of God for our faith and practice. We also affirm the supreme authority of Christ alone through His word. Therefore, We stand for the right doctrine of the Bible and we hold that the Bible must be the sole foundation of our lives and practices.
Holy Life: As a parish we believe, we are a set apart community to live a holy life that pleases and is acceptable to the Almighty. Holiness entails being separated by God from worldly influences, and through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary, God has given a new life. We hold that sin is a serious concern and its carelessness causes brokenness in each person’s life. Hence, to obtain redemption and eternal life, we must confess our sins and reconcile with God.
Evangelization: As our church is a missionary church, We believe that every believer is a missionary. As a church, we are dedicated to sharing the Gospel, which is a sacred mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ. As a parish, we affirm that we must spread the Gospel and share the knowledge of Jesus with everyone.

Ministries and Activities

The Philadelphia Parish is an involved group with various activities, all designed to glorify God and expand His kingdom. In all our gatherings, we prioritize sharing the word of God and its practical application, seeking to deepen our understanding and walk with God. Our ministries include:

a. Youth Meetings: Equipping young minds for a brighter future in Christ.

b. Sunday School: Nurturing children’s spiritual growth.

c. Weekly Prayer Meetings: Fostering believers’ spiritual development.

d. Ladies Meetings: Empowering women to grow in Christ and fellowship, conducting women fasting prayer and visiting homes of the old aged to provide them Christian fellowship.

e. Sunday Worship Services: Worshipping and celebrating God’s presence in English and Malayalam languages.

f. Monthly fasting prayer: Every second Saturday morning is set apart to come to god’s presence to be in prayer.

g. Young Couples meet: a time of group discussion, sharing the word of God and vibrant fellowship time.

h. Mission activities: Sharing good news to the unreached, tracts distribution, hospital visits and supports mission works.

i. Online Bible study: Every 3 days a week believers meet on zoom to learn from Holy Scriptures

I hope this encourages you to pray and support our ministry, we invite you to join us for a blessed fellowship. May God bless you.

In Chirst,

Rev. Jobel E. Chacko