Fellowship Pentecostal Church

Whispers of faith echo through the decades here at Fellowship Pentecostal Church. Originally, the church stood on North 7th Street in North Philadelphia. A haven for Slavic immigrants arriving in the 1930s. These families, hailing from Ukraine, Poland, Russia, and Belarus, found solace in their shared faith at Fellowship Pentecostal Church. A place where they could worship freely, without the fear of persecution they faced under Soviet rule. The church blossomed over the years. Then experienced a surge of growth in the late 1980s and early 1990s after the fall of the USSR. Many new families, also persecuted for their faith, arrived in Philadelphia and joined Fellowship Pentecostal Church. The original building, with its 300-person capacity, could no longer contain the burgeoning congregation. Members filled the hallways and corridors, just to be present for services. The church leadership began to pray and fast, seeking guidance for a larger space. Despite their limited resources, having left everything behind in their home countries, they dreamed of a place where everyone could comfortably worship. Even purchasing a new building seemed an impossible feat at the time. Many members couldn’t even afford homes, let alone contribute to a building project. During this period, the Russian and Belarusian members formed their own congregation. This eased the strain on the space somewhat, but Fellowship Pentecostal Church still needed a larger home. In the late 1990s, younger members joined, bringing renewed energy. The church realized renting a larger space was a possibility. As they sought a suitable rental, an unexpected blessing unfolded. They were able to sell their building on 7th street. The funds from the sale, miraculously, enabled them to purchase a 30-acre plot of land. And also secure a temporary rental space while they planned their new church building. This fortunate turn of events allowed the Fellowship Pentecostal Church community to continue to grow and thrive in Philadelphia.