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New Life Fellowship, HSR Layout

Leadership

Our pastors at New Life Fellowship, HSR Layout

The people God used to begin New Life Fellowship, and the leadership that carries the vision today.

Pastor Sam Philip and Simi Sam, pastors of New Life Fellowship Church, HSR Layout

Pastors, HSR Layout

Pastor Sam Philip & Simi Sam

Pastor Sam Philip and Simi Sam are the pastors of the HSR Layout congregation of New Life Fellowship. He did his theological studies at the School of Theology in Singapore, under City Harvest Church. He is passionate about people, and about building a family of families — the phrase this church uses of itself, and the picture that shapes how the congregation gathers, carries one another and grows. Pastor Sam Philip and Simi Sam have two children, Daniel and Rebecca.

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Pastor Gopinathan and Ponni — Pastor Gopinathan is Chairman of New Life Fellowship

Chairman, New Life Fellowship

Pastor Gopinathan & Ponni

Pastor Gopinathan serves as Chairman of New Life Fellowship, alongside his wife, Ponni. He has spent forty years in ministry, and before taking up the chairmanship he served the church in Udupi, on the Karnataka coast. He succeeded the fellowship’s founder, the late Pastor V.M. Samuel, as Chairman, and carries oversight of the fellowship’s churches across South India and the Middle East.

Pastor V.M. Samuel and Somey, founders of New Life Fellowship

Founders — in loving memory

The late Pastor V.M. Samuel & Somey

Pastor V.M. Samuel and his wife, Somey, founded the New Life Fellowship. In 1983 the Lord impressed on them to move out of Mumbai and pioneer a church in Mangalore, and from there God gave them a vision for a church-planting movement across Karnataka — one of the most unreached states in South India.

Pastor V.M. Samuel was the fellowship’s founder and its former chairman, overseeing the churches across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Middle East until Pastor Gopinathan succeeded him. Pastor V.M. Samuel and Somey were affectionately called Uncle Sam and Aunty Somey, and they have been spiritual parents to hundreds of individuals and couples who were also recipients of their love and hospitality.

They have two daughters, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren.

  1. 1983

    Mangalore

    The Lord impressed on Pastor V.M. Samuel and his wife, Somey, to move out of Mumbai and pioneer a church in Mangalore, Karnataka.

  2. 1987

    Bangalore

    They handed the Mangalore churches to Pastor Donald Menezes and Winnie, and shifted base to Bangalore to lead the church-planting movement.

  3. Today

    South India & the Middle East

    New Life Fellowship churches carry the same mandate across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Middle East — Grow. Go. Give.

Want to talk to a pastor?

Whether you have a question about faith, need prayer, or simply want to know more about the church, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touchCall +91 94478 20555