A Place of Hope in the Middle of New Jersey
In the heart of Dunellen, a small borough tucked into central New Jersey between New Brunswick and Plainfield, the First Presbyterian Church of Dunellen has opened its doors on Dunellen Avenue for more than 150 years. The congregation calls itself "a place of HOPE in the middle of New Jersey," and the phrase is more than a tagline. The church is a multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual community where the 9 am Traditional service, the 11 am Fusion Contemporary service, the 1:30 pm Spanish service, and a Friday night Hispanic service all share one roof, one session of elders, and one Lord. The motto of the congregation is to help people know Jesus and become more like Him, and the life of the church is built around that calling in English, in Spanish, and in the spaces between.
From Fifteen Founders to a Multilingual Congregation
The story of the church begins on September 5, 1870, when a committee met in a building known as the Dunellen Academy on New Market Road. After prayer, the group decided to organize the First Presbyterian Church of Dunellen. Fourteen people presented letters from other churches, and one was received by baptism and confession of faith, making fifteen members of the infant church. Three elders were elected and installed, and notice was given of "Divine service next Sabbath, and for the present, in the R.R. Station." At that time Dunellen was still a village within Piscataway. The oldest portions of the present church building on Dunellen Avenue were completed in 1872, and the congregation has been serving in the heart of Dunellen ever since.
One hundred and fifty years later, the church marked that anniversary with a season called PRAY150, asking the whole church to pray Isaiah 61:11, that God would make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. The work of prayer and witness that began with fifteen people gathered in a railroad station continues today as a multi-generational, multi-cultural Presbyterian body.
Three Sunday Services, One Church
On any given Sunday, the sanctuary at 218 Dunellen Avenue hosts three very different worship services, each led in the language and style that best fits the people in the pews.
The 9 am Traditional Worship Service is the time-honored expression of the congregation. It includes traditional Reformed elements such as a Call to Worship, responsive readings, a Profession of Faith, the Doxology, the Pastoral Prayer, the Lord's Prayer, and a Benediction. Music is accompanied by organ and piano, the great hymns of the church are sung, and occasionally a well known praise song from the last forty years joins the mix. An adult choir and a bell choir periodically lead the offertory. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month and is served by the elders and deacons. Pastor Tim preaches in English each week, a sermon outline is available in the bulletin and projected on the screen, and trained intercessors offer personal prayer at the front of the sanctuary after the service. The service runs about 90 minutes.
At 11 am, the Fusion Contemporary Worship Service fills the sanctuary with the sounds of the Fusion Worship Band, which can include keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, and singers. Current worship songs fill the room, the lyrics are projected on the screen, and Pastor Tim preaches from the same Bible passage that the morning congregation has just heard, this time in a relaxed atmosphere designed to invite people into the presence of God. Communion is also celebrated on the first Sunday of the month, with worshipers coming forward to receive the bread and juice. The service runs about 90 minutes as well.
The 1:30 pm Sunday Spanish Worship Service is led by the Spanish Worship Band, which can include keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, and saxophone, and by the Danza Dance Team, which celebrates God through sacred dance. Flags and tambourines are available for those in the congregation who want to take part. The service begins with singing, scripture reading, and prayer, the scripture is read aloud, and Pastor Silvio preaches in Spanish from that Bible passage. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of the month by coming forward, and children are welcome to come with their parents to receive grapes. After the service, the fellowship hall hosts a shared Sunday dinner with authentic homemade Mexican, Central American, and South American food. The service runs about two hours, and a Sunday school program is offered for children ages four through fourteen after the singing.
Friday Night Hispanic Worship
Every Friday night at 8 pm, the Spanish-speaking ministry gathers in the sanctuary for the Friday Night Hispanic Worship Service. Like the Sunday Spanish service, it is contemporary and Spirit-led, led by the Spanish Worship Band and the Danza Dance Team, with flags and tambourines available to those in the pews. The scripture is read aloud each week, and Pastor Silvio, an elder, or a teacher preaches in Spanish from the Bible passage. Once a month the service is observed as a vigil that runs longer than the usual Friday gathering, and the Friday night congregation sometimes worships together with other Spanish-speaking congregations from the area. Worshipers who cannot be in the sanctuary can join the service on Facebook Live.
The Pastors
The pastoral team is led by Rev. Tim Osborne, who serves as Pastor and Head of Staff. Pastor Tim first came to the church in 2018. A passionate preacher and teacher, he opens up God's word in an understandable and inspiring way, encouraging and equipping the staff, elders, deacons, and ministry volunteers to be the leaders God is calling them to be. He holds a bachelor's degree from Gordon College and a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Originally from central Connecticut, he is married and has two children, and his prayer for the church is that FPC Dunellen would be a place of hope in the middle of New Jersey helping people know Jesus and become more like Him.
The Associate Pastor is Rev. Dr. Silvio Del Campo, who has been on staff since 1998. A compassionate shepherd with a heart for the lost, he leads all of the Spanish ministries, preaches at the Spanish worship services, and spearheads the outreach ministries of the church. He holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers, a Master of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Originally from Colombia, he is married and has four children, and his prayer for the church is that the Lord would allow the congregation to spark a great revival.
Children, Nursery, and Sunday School
Children are welcomed at every service. Each of the three Sunday services offers childcare, and two of the services offer ministries for older children. All Children's Ministry volunteers love Jesus, are trained and background checked, and follow mandatory safety procedures.
At the 9 am Traditional service, children three years old and under can be checked in to the nursery at the start of the service. Parents are asked to check in their child at the start of the service and check them out directly after church.
At the 11 am Fusion Contemporary service, children three and under are welcome in the nursery, and FusionKids is offered for children from age three through third grade. FusionKids is a children's worship time that includes age appropriate teaching, crafts, prayer, and some play time. Children remain with their families during the singing, then come forward to pray with Pastor Tim, and are dismissed to FusionKids led by Children's Ministry staff.
At the 1:30 pm Spanish service, all children remain with their parents during the singing. At the announcements time, children ages four through fourteen are dismissed to Sunday school, while children three and under are checked in to the nursery by their parents. The Sunday school program includes age appropriate teaching, crafts, prayer, and play time for younger children, with interactive lessons for older students.
On Wednesday nights during the school year, a bilingual Children's Bible Study meets from 7 pm to 8:30 pm for children from kindergarten through fifth grade, using LifeWay's Bible Study for Life curriculum. The study is ongoing and open, and new students can join at any time.
Youth Ministries
The middle school and high school students of the church, grades six through twelve, gather for Youth Group on Wednesday nights from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. The evening includes group games, fellowship, fun, worship, and a large group Bible study, followed by small group discussion in separate middle school and high school groups. Youth Group is led mostly in English, but bilingual youth workers are always present and the lesson material is available in Spanish. All youth volunteers are background checked and trained in safety procedures.
Adult Ministries
Adult life together at FPCD is rich and varied. A Wednesday morning Women's Bible Study has historically met in English at 9:30 am in Room 101 and in Spanish at 10 am in the Rose Conference Room, gathering to study scripture, pray, share, and encourage one another. A spring Women's Retreat, an annual Women's Getaway, and a fall Women's Retreat in Spanish round out the women's ministry. The annual Fall Men's Retreat gathers the men of the church for a weekend of teaching, friendship, and activity, with teaching provided in English and Spanish. Couples are invited to a fall Marriage Getaway at a nearby hotel and a Marriage Retreat, both with teaching in English and Spanish. For those fifty and older, the Senior Adult Ministry known as SAM hosts its own gatherings.
On Sunday mornings, an English Adult Sunday School meets at 8:30 am in the Rose Conference Room, a Sunday Morning Growth Group meets at 11 am in Room 101, and the School of Biblical Formation meets at 12:30 pm in the education wing for Spanish-speaking adults and emerging leaders. The whole-church fellowship time between services, with coffee and snacks in the fellowship hall, and the Spanish fellowship dinner after the 1:30 pm service, are two of the easiest places to meet people and become part of the life of the church.
Wednesday Nights at Church
Wednesday Nights at Church is one of the busiest rhythms of the week. On the second, third, fourth, and fifth Wednesdays of each month, the church opens its doors from 7 pm to 8:30 pm for a collection of ministries. An English adult Bible study, a Hispanic men's group, a Hispanic women's group, a youth group for grades six through twelve, and a bilingual children's Bible study for kindergarten through fifth grade all meet at the same time in different parts of the building. The youth group also runs a simultaneous Zoom meeting so students can choose to attend in person or virtually. The men's and women's groups can offer a virtual option when needed. Volunteers and screening teams make the night run smoothly, and the building is set up to keep groups comfortable and safe.
Prayer Gatherings Throughout the Week
Prayer is woven into the rhythm of the church. On the first Saturday of each month, the First Saturday Bilingual Prayer Service gathers in the sanctuary from 7 am to 9 am, beginning with a time of quiet individual prayer, then moving into worship songs, testimonies, congregational prayer, a message, and small group prayer. The service is translated and all the song lyrics are projected on the screen in both English and Spanish.
During the week, the church also gathers to pray at other times: on Thursdays at 4:30 am in Spanish for women, on Saturdays at 6 am in Spanish for women (except the first Saturday of the month, which is the bilingual service), and on Sundays at 6 am in Spanish for men. Personal prayer is also offered at the front of the sanctuary by trained intercessors after the 9 am Traditional service each Sunday.
Four Sundays of Bilingual Worship
Four Sundays each year, the whole church gathers at 11 am in the sanctuary for the All-Church Bilingual Worship Service. The bulletin, announcements, preaching, singing, worship leading, and prayer are all offered in both English and Spanish, and the service intentionally combines elements of worship and liturgy from all three regular services. Traditional hymns are led by organ and piano, contemporary praise songs are led by the Fusion and Spanish worship bands, and the Danza Dance Team leads some of the contemporary songs. The preaching is delivered by either Pastor Tim or Pastor Silvio, and the entire sermon is translated. After the service, the congregation gathers for lunch in the fellowship hall.
Service, Missions, and Loving Neighbors
The call to love God and love neighbors is lived out through a network of local and global partnerships. The church supports missionaries serving locally in New Jersey and globally in places such as Guam, Mali, and Kenya. Four outreach ministries are regular partners: Zarephath Health Center, providing free health care to the poor and uninsured in Zarephath, New Jersey; Life Choices Resource Center in Metuchen, which serves mothers and families faced with difficult or unplanned pregnancies with practical, emotional, spiritual, and material support; Literacy and Evangelism International, which teaches literacy and shares God's word around the world; and Medical Benevolence Foundation, which works with churches in the developing world to build sustainable health care ministries.
The deacons of the church oversee ministries to those in need inside the congregation and beyond it, including monthly communion set-up, homebound communion, hospital visitation, flower delivery, the Dorcas Closet food pantry, the Baby's Closet for families in need of infant clothing, a card ministry, the Fish Hospitality Network Ministry, building repairs, meal ministry, prayer ministry, transportation ministry, a recording ministry, and all-church fellowship dinners. The deacons also oversee the Congregational Care Fund and the Community Care Fund, which provide financial assistance to those who qualify.
Throughout the year, the congregation serves together at the Love Your Neighbor Service Project, meeting at 9:30 am after the First Saturday Bilingual Prayer Service to make sandwiches and then traveling to a local shelter to share the love and truth of Jesus with neighbors in need. The church also hosts a free monthly food distribution in partnership with Beginning World Changers on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 11 am, with volunteers welcomed to help set up and serve. Each year, the Baby Bottle Blessings fundraiser in May and June supports the Life Choices Resource Center, and in early November the congregation packs shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse.
Presbyterian Roots in the ECO Family
As a Presbyterian church, FPCD traces its heritage back to the Protestant Reformers and uses a Presbyterian leadership structure led by elders elected to the session and pastors called by the congregation. The session is a governing board of ten ruling elders moderated by the pastors, with elders elected for three year terms but remaining elders for life. The session oversees all ministries, provides spiritual leadership, and nurtures spiritual growth, meeting monthly to seek God's direction for the church through study, worship, prayer, and discussion.
The work of the session is organized into five Session-Teams: the Worshiping Team, the Discipling Team, the Sending Team, the Equipping Team, and the Resourcing Team. The Worshiping Team oversees all regular worship and prayer services, as well as all-church and holiday services. The Discipling Team oversees fellowship, teaching ministries, and events for all ages. The Sending Team oversees mission, outreach, evangelism, advertising, and social media. The Equipping Team oversees training for leaders, including the nominating team, the personnel team, and the covenant partner team. The Resourcing Team oversees the physical and financial resources of the church, including facilities and finance.
The First Presbyterian Church of Dunellen has been a member of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, since 2012. ECO's mission is building flourishing churches that make disciples of Christ. ECO's Essential Tenets explain the beliefs the congregation shares with the wider ECO family. The church's own statement of identity is rooted in the conviction that in His life Jesus established God's Kingdom here and invited His people to surrender to God and be a part of it, that on the cross Jesus died our death and put down the rebellion of sin, and that God raised Jesus to life and He is the King. Trusting their lives to the Lord Jesus has set the congregation free to become the men and women God created them to be.
Finding the Building and Joining In
The church stands at 218 Dunellen Avenue in Dunellen, New Jersey. Diagonal parking is available on both sides of Park Place, and additional parking can be found on Dunellen Avenue and First Street. Handicap parking spaces are located in front of the church on Dunellen Avenue and on the corner of Park Place. The church entrances are accessible from Park Place or Dunellen Avenue. The church offices are normally open from 9 am to 2 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and visitors are asked to use the Park Place entrance when they come in during office hours. There is no dress code; people attend in everything from suits and dresses to jeans and t-shirts, with business casual most common at the 9 am service and the most casual attire showing up at the 11 am service.
First-time visitors can pick up a bulletin from an usher at any one of the three sanctuary doors directly under the steeple, sit wherever they feel most comfortable, and ask an usher any question that comes to mind. Bathrooms are located in the narthex and downstairs near the fellowship hall and nursery. Communion is open to anyone who has been baptized into a Christian church and confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior, and visitors are not expected to give during the offering.
Members of the congregation are called covenant partners, and becoming one begins with a covenant partnership class with one of the pastors. Worshipers who cannot be in the sanctuary can join the 9 am Traditional, 11 am Fusion, and 1:30 pm Spanish services on Facebook Live or YouTube, and a full sermon archive is available on the church's YouTube channel. Giving can be done online, by text, or in the offering plate on Sunday morning. Whatever language a visitor speaks, whatever their background, there is a place for them at the table.