About Me
Pastor Sam Cherian Samuels was born on February 1, 1959 as the firstborn to Rev. Cherian Kothakeri and Mrs. Saramma Cherian in Kottayam, Kerala, India. Pastor Samuels committed his life to Christ in 1964. He took water baptism in 1972 under Pastor P. M. Philip, and received the Holy Spirit in 1983. He completed three years Bible Study course in Liberty University at Lynchburg, VA.
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He has ministered the Word of God in several parts of Kerala, India. He served as the treasurer of the 24th PCNAK held in Virginia beach, Virginia in 2004. He is the convener of the Virginia state Tamil, Telugu & Malayalee Conference.
He has been serving the Lord as the Senior pastor of Tabernacle Pentecostal Church since 2007.
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Wife: Gracy Samuels. Children: Alan Samuels & Alena Samuels.
Former Pastors
Sept 2007 - Dec 2007
PASTOR P. C. SKARIA
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Pastor P. C. Skaria was born on June 7th, 1914 in Manganam, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He was one of the pioneer workers of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God. He had ministered with renowned servants of God, namely Pastor P. M. Philip, Pastor P. K. Chacko, Pastor T. P. Varughese and Pastor V. M. Chacko in Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Pastor Skaria served the Lord and did God’s ministry in various ways. He has ministered as pastor in 13 Churches in Kerala, along with Pastor P. M. Philip for 43 years, until he migrated to the United States of America. Even at his old age, he was actively serving God as the minister at Tabernacle Pentecostal Church in Richmond, VA, until he was taken to glory in December, 2007.
On the previous day of his departure, at the Sunday service he announced that his ministry in this world had ended and he was going to his eternal home. According to the guidance of God and with the permission of the church he entrusted his church ministry to Pastor Sam Cherian Samuels and appointed him as the senior pastor of Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, who had been ministering as the Assistant Pastor till that time. The next day, when he was taking rest after the breakfast, he asked his wife Aleyamma to pray for him and while she was praying, he was taken to his eternal home.
Pastor P. C. Skaria was a courageous warrior and a great man of God. He was well-known for his humility and innocence. He knew the time of his death and fought a good fight for the Lord until he breathed his last.
Wife: Aleyamma Skaria. Children: Saramma Cherian and Aleyamma Panicker.
July 1990 - Sept 2007
REV. CHERIAN KOTHAKERI
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Rev. Cherian Kothakeri was born on May 28 ,1929 as the firstborn to Mr. M. C. Kurian and Mrs. Annamma Kurian at Kottayam, Kerala, India. He committed his life to Christ in May 1949 during a Sunday morning service. He took water baptism in 1950.
He was a well-known Bible scholar and senior Bible school teacher who taught Bible in depth and with clarity. He had taught at five Bible schools in India, until he migrated to the United States of America in 1983.
He was one of the pioneer workers for Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites (PCNAK) and served as the convener for the 24th PCNAK conference held in Virginia.
Rev. Kothakeri was a reputed writer as well. He had written 14 books in Malayalam language which include novels and Bible commentaries. He has received 6 different awards from many Christian organizations for his exceptional contributions to the Christian literature in Malayalam.
He was a well-known convention preacher in India as well as in the United states. He had ministered in several churches in India. In the United States, he had ministered as pastor in Oklahoma, New Jersey, and founded a church in Maryland. He founded Tabernacle Pentecostal church in Richmond, Virginia in 1990 and served as the senior pastor until he was taken to glory in September, 2007. Now he rests in glory.
Wife: Saramma Cherian. Children: Sam Cherian Samuels & Benny Cherian.