Pastor Kanagaratnam

Hello Friends, Praise be to the Lord. Greetings in the immaculate name of our Saviour & Lord Jesus Christ.

My name is Kanagaratnam Joseph, born and brought-up in Srilanka. From a Catholic background, did my studies at ST. Anthony's College in Kandy and worked as Audit Apprentice and at later part in Srilanka as a Finance Officer.

Married to my dear wife Anne for over 25 years and having three children Arun, Arul and Andrew. In July 1983 our lives were suddenly took a different direction due the political turmoil in Srilanka. We were living in Colombo and lost everything in the violence except our lives. Spent nearly 6 months in different refugee camps Due to fear of loosing our lives fled our country and lived on the Refugee Highway in another war-torn country. Leaving our mother land, kith & kin, job and carrying the baggage of sadness, despair along with the responsibilities of the future of the children were all new experiences for us.

There was uncertainty about our future. We still practiced Catholism. In spite of the hardship and fearful situation we endured during those days some how we managed to go to church on every Sundays. Thank God He preserved our lives in all our dark valleys of death. We had several miraculous escapes from the brink of the death. Even without our comprehension the merciful Saviour’s protecting arms were upon us for His purpose.

We came to the UK in 1990 on the Christmas Eve day seeking political asylum hoping for a safe and better life. In  the early period of 1991 when our lives seems to be settled and safe God started working in our hearts and  soul for us to realize the purpose He brought us here .We came and settled in East London. When Pastor Ebenezer of Emmanuel Christian Fellowship where I am serving the LORD now, visited us, we did not show much interest to know about God and His purpose in our lives. But because of the first love of God, He allowed for us to endure some terrifying situations which brought us close to Him and to experience His power, love and care.  God spoke to us through His Word “In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions." (Deuteronomy 32: 10-11)

With the spiritual guidance of the servants of GOD dear Brother Jonathan Eden,   Brother Ebenezer, & Sister Rani Sigamani we were nurtured and   guided in to the Kingdom of God. We committed ourselves completely to the Lord and got Baptised 1992.  When we started obeying the Word of God we could experience how wonderfully God transformed our lives. And still He has not finished.  We started going to various Christian gatherings and meetings.

God unpacked our spiritual knowledge by speaking through his Word.

 .. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  John 8:32

We experienced the wonder working power of the Lord in our lives.  In one of the meetings my second son Arul’s partially deaf ear was touched by the power of God and his earring were completely restored. My eldest son Arun who was suffering from chronic asthma for years was touched and healed when one his friend prayed for him. My wife was delivered from horrible nightmares. I was healed from number of illnesses and many more ...  Glory to GOD.

In one of the crusades in 1992 Lord spoke to us through His servant Brother. D.G.S. Dinakaran and revealed us the calling to serve Him.  Since we were not clear about our calling we prayed and asked God’s clear leading on this matter. In the mean time we started to server the LORD on a very low key by telling the goodness of God, and own testimonies to others while I was doing a full time job as an administrative assistant in a Gas company. We both attended to a Bible Training School in Plaistow conducted by wonderful servants of God Jim & Jean Stevens from USA. Thorough this two years part time course we gained further Biblical knowledge and were equipped to serve the Lord. In 1996 God graciously gave our third son Andrew after 14 years. I can say that he is a miracle child because he was born although the medical reports revealed  the chance to bear another child was very, very slim. God overruled it and made it possible. He is a bundle of joy for our family.

Days passed by and the calling from the LORD to serve him was becoming more passionate. We constantly prayed about this matter. Our church started growing. The influx of refugees grew in East London. Many lives were touched through our fellowship.

Although we had a desire to serve the Lord full time, we were not clear how to take further step as I was secure in a secular job. Should I give up the full time job and get into a part time job and serve the Lord, lots of questions crossing our minds.  The answer to our earnest prayer was leading us to full time ministry.  God spoke clearly through several means. At His precise time when there was a need of another fulltime worker for our fellowship the leadership’s desire and leading and our calling fell in line. So I resigned from my secular job and joined the ministry as a full time Trainee Assistant Pastor in 1998.

In the same year I joined Spurgeon’s College for further Theological studies where I did Two years Certificate in Theology in Pastoral studies. It was very challenging to be a student after 2 decades and the syllabus were complex as the college was affiliated with the University of Wales. My Lord enabled me to get through the course. The encouragements of my colleagues Pastors Jonathan and Ebenezer and the prayer support of the congregation really up-held during those two years. I was equipped in the Pastoral, Counselling, Social Work role. Although I had a desire to continue in Spurgeon’s after my graduation ,  because of the demand  and the need for my service I committed to put things in practice what I learnt. I was ordained in the Emmanuel Christian Fellowship as an Assistant Pastor.

Because we fled the country as refugees our hearts go for them as we could feel the psychological baggage they carry. Our calling is to reach out them for the Lord by helping them emotionally, practically and then spiritually.

We started a project call Tamil Care Network in 2001 where we are caring some young men with the history of mental depression. The project had done a lot of good to the service users psychologically and spiritually. Some devoted members of our congregation are committed to this project which had stop them going to mental hospital & also cut down the government budget in tens of thousands of pounds annually. It is a distressing, challenging and time consuming project but we see it as a valuable project in the eyes of GOD. Please pray for continues resources for this project.

By the grace of the LORD our congregation grew in numbers and in spirit.

We started a daughter fellowship in Ilford area three years ago with the help of few dedicated members of our mother church in which I am serving as the Pastor while I am assisting Pastor Ebenezer in the mother fellowship. It is a joy to say that number of family members too came to know the LORD through us since we came to know Him.  We face challenges, trials, and tribulations in the road of our ministry as all the servants of God go through in various ways, in midst of all the wonderful experiences we enjoy in the fellowship with the LORD and his people and the ones whom He has entrusted to us.

Please pray for our family & God’s ministry.

"How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfil my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people."  Psalm 116:12-14

God Bless You All !

In His service,          

Pastor Kanagaratnam Joseph

Manor Park, London E12

Phone:0208 471 4406

e-mail: joseph_kanagaratnam@yahoo.co.uk