Welcome to QTC!
QUEENSLAND TAMIL CHURCH
is a Christ-centered,
multi-generational,
Tamil-speaking faith community.
- We provide a warm, welcoming connection and fellowship for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures as we get to know, grow, show and share the grace and truth of Jesus.
- Non-Tamil speakers are welcome!
- Our Service Time:
- Each Sundays at 11am.
- For more information about our service, check out the FAQs via the button below.
- We are an imperfect church made perfect in Christ.
New to QTC? Have Questions?
Please check out our FAQ below.
Church History:
Years before a dedicated church for the Tamil community existed in the state of Queensland, its emergence was prophesied by two powerful men of God, as attested by many Tamil Christian members living in the region at that time, who heard it first-hand.
Encouraged by the Godly Elders, Mr. Solomon & late Mrs. Manohari Pooranampillai, the decision to found a Tamil church was taken by our Pastor, Rev. Albert Swarnaraj, after a season of prayerful tarrying and seeking the Lord’s will together alongside the Pooranampillai couple; together, they remain the recognised founders of the church.
At the announcement of the church’s first service to the public at a long-standing monthly fellowship for the Tamil Christian community, a number of members offered their supportive hands to formalise the church’s legal standing in accordance with the Queensland law. In the days leading up to the first service, these members – many of whom are now engaged in the Lord’s ministry in different parts of the country – gathered in a room to prayerfully develop a constitution that satisfied the law while remaining faithfully centered on Biblical truth.
It is irrefutable that from her very inception, the Lord established His ways for Queensland Tamil Church according to His divine will. He faithfully opened every necessary door and brought together those whom He had appointed for that specific season.
As the inaugural Tamil church in Brisbane and in Queensland, she welcomed believers from all denominations, and members of the wider Tamil community, while remaining open to any seeker wishing to learn about Christ. Her mission was simple: to adhere to the Word and to lead its members in the fullness of its truth. Thus, QTC became the first home for many Tamil immigrants and refugees to gather together and worship the Lord in Tamil language regardless of their origin.
The church’s first service took place on Palm Sunday, 17th April 2011, at the Sherwood Uniting Church. Seeing the house of God overflowing was a testament to His faithfulness, and there is no doubt that the Lord was greatly glorified in that moment! The coming years saw a multitude of Tamil migrants who filled the church with no space to stand or sit.
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4: 14b)
More than a decade has rolled by; the church has seen many grow and be moulded into powerful vessels of His ministry, she has seen many taste and see the goodness of the Lord, and has welcomed many and wished them well on their next chapter; despite it all, she has seen the Lord remain faithful and continue to be her pillar of cloud and fire.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 4: 28)
Rev. Albert Swarnaraj
Our Pastor co-founded Queensland Tamil Church (QTC) in 2011 after much prayer, careful consideration, spiritual guidance, and wise counsel – particularly from Godly Elders, Mr and the late Mrs Pooranampillai. Since then, he has faithfully shepherded the congregation, following the example of Jesus Christ. As the Pastor, he also serves as the President of the QTC and by virtue, the Chairperson of the Elders’ Council. Alongside him in ministry is his wife, Mrs Dharshini Swarnaraj, who has supported and served faithfully in various aspects of church life. Beyond the church and the ministry of gospel, our Pastor and his family have been actively involved in social work ministry among Tamil and other communities across South East Queensland and South Asia. In 2024, our Pastor celebrated 30 years of ministry since his ordination.
Our Beliefs
Our VISION is to reach out to the Tamil community in the state of Queensland by proclaiming the love and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to bring souls to the Kingdom of God.
Faith Statement
(A copy of the following can also be found in our constitution)
THE ETERNAL GODHEAD:
We BELIEVE in the unity of the true and living God who is the eternal, self-existent One, who has revealed Himself as one being in three persons – Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, and who is the creator and preserver of things visible and invisible.
(Dueteronomy 6: 4 & 1 Corinthians 8: 4) (Matthew 3: 16-17 & 28: 19, John 1: 1, 1 Corinthians 3: 16) (Colossians 1: 15-20)
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:
We BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune Godhead, who was and is the eternal Son of God; that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary.
(Matthew 28: 19) (John 1: 1-4, John 14: 6-7) (Luke 1: 26-35)
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune Godhead, who proceeds from the Father and the Son and He’s ever present and active in the work of convicting and regenerating the sinner, and sanctifying and guiding the believer into all truth.
(Matthew 28: 19) (John 14: 26) (Titus 3: 5-6, John 15: 13, 1 Corinthians 2: 13)
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES:
We BELIEVE in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, namely the Old and New Testaments in the original writing.
(2 Timothy 3: 16, 2 Peter 1: 21, Matthew 5: 18)
CREATION:
We BELIEVE that the heavens and earth and all original life-forms, including man, were made by the specific immediate creative acts of God as described in the account of origins presented in Genesis and that all biological changes which have occurred since creation are limited to variation within each species.
(Genesis 1: 1-31) (James 1: 17)
THE FALL OF MAN:
We BELIEVE that man was created by God by specific immediate act and in his image and likeness, morally upright and perfect, but fell by voluntary transgression. Also, We BELIEVE in the personality of the devil, who, by his influence, brought about the downfall of man, and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Genesis 1: 27) (Genesis 2: 17, 3: 6 & 3: 17, Romans 5: 12) (Genesis 3: 1, James 4: 7, 1 Peter 5: 8)
THE ATONEMENT:
We BELIEVE that God’s answer to man’s sinful state is in the death of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, whose sufferings and blood shed have made full atonement for the sins of the whole world, both original and actual, and that there is no other ground for salvation.
(Isaiah 53: 4-6, Romans 5: 6-8, John 14: 16)
SALVATION OF MAN:
We BELIEVE salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 2: 38, Romans 3: 23, John 3: 16, Ephesians 2: 8-9)
THE CHURCH:
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfilment of her great commission.
(1 Corinthians 12: 27) (Ephesians 2: 21-22) (Matthew 28: 19-20)
WATER BAPTISM:
We BELIEVE that baptism, by single immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is enjoined upon all who have repented and have believed in Christ as Saviour and Lord, and that it is symbolic of our identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.
(Matthew 28: 19, Acts 2: 38, Romans 6: 4, Colossians 2: 12)
CHILD DEDICATION:
We BELIEVE in the dedication of the new born to the Lord.
(1 Samuel 1: 27-28, Luke 2: 25)
THE LORD’S SUPPER:
We BELIEVE the Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine is the symbol expressing our sharing and remembering the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 26: 26-28, Luke 22: 19-20, 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25)
SANCTIFICATION:
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
(Romans 6: 11-14, 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8, 2 Corinthians 7: 1, Leviticus 20: 7-8)
THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT:
We BELIEVE that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the bestowing of the believer with power to be an effective witness for Christ.
(Acts 1: 8, Mark 16: 17-18)
GIFTS:
We BELIEVE in the present-day operation of the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12: 7-11, Romans 12: 6-8, Ephesians 4: 7-12)
DIVINE HEALING:
In accordance with the teachings of the Scriptures, we trust our heavenly father to protect and heal our bodies from sickness and disease.
(Isaiah 53: 5, Psalms 103: 2-3, James 5: 14-15)
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
We BELIEVE in the pre-millennial, imminent and personal return of our Lord Jesus Christ to father His people unto himself.
THE MILLENNIUM: We BELIEVE in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to set up His millennial reign on this earth.
(Matthew 24: 27 & 36-44, Revelations 20: 1-6, 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17)
THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED:
We BELIEVE in the everlasting punishment of the wicked (in the sense of eternal torment) that wilfully reject and despite the love of God manifested in the great sacrifice of His only Son upon the cross for their salvation.
(Matthew 25: 41, Mark 9: 43-48, 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9)
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH:
We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
(2 Peter 3: 13, Revelation 21: 1, Isaiah 2: 4, 11: 6-9 & 65: 17-19)
Sub-ministries
Children’s
Our Sunday school is a VIBRANT, FUN and CHRIST-CENTRED FOUNDATIONAL environment for children between 3–15 years old.
Sessions run concurrently with Sunday service after worship.
We believe no child is too young to personally encounter Jesus!
Youth & Young Adults’:
Youth is designed to help high school and university students (aged 14 – 25) grow their faith, character, and relationships. It’s about creating an atmosphere where they can belong and quench their curiosity by asking questions about life in a safe environment.
Young Adults (>25 yrs – early 30s) are called to exemplify Christ and make a difference in their worlds – whether it’s at home, studying, working, or in our community. The group focuses on becoming who God has created them to be and encourage each other in their Christian lives.
This is an exciting opportunity to hang out, make new friends, and hear about God and how He works in and through you. Every fourth Sundays!
Men & Women’s
All married and mature members of the church meet and have real-life conversations, discuss about the Bible, intercede in prayer and inspire each other to live out the Christian faith in their families to build a faithful Christian home and generation!
