Who we are

We started in 1999 as a small prayer group and have since grown into a church. For the past 25 years, we’ve been dedicated to serving God here in Wellington.

Meet our leadership

Our Pastor

Dr. Mathew Mathai is the founding Pastor of Shalom Malayalam Church. He has been in ministry for 25+ years and lives in Wellington with his wife Raichel and two of his sons.

Mathew’s desire to serve God was fostered by his parents who served the Lord faithfully, and he started his involvement in the Christian ministry at a very young age as a Sunday school teacher and Youth leader in India.

In response to God’s calling he left his career as an Assistant professor of Political Science at the Bhopal School of Social Sciences, and arrived in New Zealand in 1998.

While the gates of Hell did everything possible to discourage Mathew and Raichel from pursuing the will of God in their lives, they endured the challenges and oppositions with devotion and prayer. God confirmed His calling in their lives by performing signs and wonders through their ministry and Shalom Malayalam Church was established as a small prayer group in 1999. Since then, the church has gone from strength to strength through developing many leaders, supporting the local community and bringing people closer to Jesus. Mathew and Raichel also started ‘Jayajeevitham’, the first Malayalam radio programme in New Zealand in 2001.”

What We Believe

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES:

Their inspiration and infallibility.

THE GODHEAD:

Comprising God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:

His humanity, deity, virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death for the sins of all mankind, bodily resurrection, ascension to heaven, provision of justification with God by faith in Him and Jesus’ personal return to the earth for His saints.

SALVATION:

By faith in and confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.

RESTORATION BY GOD:

Is a miraculous work of God in the life of each believer involving the believer’s active participation, made possible through the atonement of Christ, is progressive and continuous in all areas of life.

THE ORDINANCES:

Water baptism (for all believers by immersion), and the Lord’s Supper (celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ).

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:

Are the outward evidences of the work of the Holy Spirit transforming the character of each believer.

DIVINE HEALING:

Secured for every believer through the atonement of Christ and delivered from all the bondage of the power of Satan.

THE BLESSED HOPE:

The resurrection of the righteous and their translation together with those who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church.

Testimonials

Reviewed by Mr. Thomas Mathew, Song composer and Singer from Kerala India. He currently leads CFCF Karunagapally.

“I glorify God for the Shalom Church, Wellington, NZ led by Pastor Mathew Mathai. He is very active, dedicated and committed to our Lord and having great concern and care for his congregation. By the grace of God, I could visit his Church founded on Pentecostal doctrines. His wife
and children are actively involved in his pastoral ministries. May the Lord shower His blessing on his congregation continually.”

Thomas Mathew

We glorify God for the Shalom Church. We have been privileged to be a part of this church. Pastor Mathew Mathai and family has been leading this church on the strong doctrines and teachings of the Bible. We were blessed with the Bible studies, fasting prayer ,wonderful fellowship and worship. This church has been a family to us where we have stayed together in the bond of Christ’s love guided by the Holy sprit and the experience of God’s presence. Shalom church has grown and flourished like a “root out of a dry land”. I believe this church is set for a great harvest and I pray that it’s mission will be continued in the coming years. Let me take this opportunity to thank God for Shalom Church.
With Prayers

Shijo M

Australia

We had a privilege to be part of an awesome camp organised by Shalom at El Rancho, Waikane. We felt like a family. Everyone was awesome and made us feel home. Appreciate the exponential leadership of Pastor Mathew Mathai and team. We pray that Shalom continue to grow in the wisdom of the Word and the freedom of the Spirit to impact a wider community locally and globally. Blessings.

Pastor Jackson Kurian

Auckland

Shalom Church is NZ’s oldest and longest running Malayalam Pentecostal Church. They have excellent biblically grounded and practical teaching and prioritizes community building. I have enjoyed my time there and applaud their commitment to the Gospel.

Stephen Mathew

I had the opportunity to go to the Shalom church services while I was on holiday in Wellington. Being able to get to know each church member was a blessing, particularly Pastor Mathai and his family. Even a newcomer would feel at home in the church because of how warmly the congregation welcomes them and how much everyone shares in God’s love. My faith was greatly bolstered and revived by the pastor’s solid biblically rooted gospel lessons. Personally, I believe the church is a blessing in Wellington city, and anyone seeking for a Pentecostal gathering there or nearby should go and experience the presence of God there.

Susan Eapen

Hastings