founding pastor

Rev Vernon Perera,the eldest son of Vernon & Christoble Perera was born in Colombo 1952, He was the third in line, with six other siblings. His parents who first committed their lives to God in 1961, provided for Vernon a fine example of Christian living, especially in connection with changed moral qualities and behavior. In 1970 at the age of 18, God spoke to Pastor Vernon inaudibly and clearly to leave school and come into ministry. He entered Bible school in January 1971 and graduated on the 10th April 1974, with the message ‘Where there is no vision the people perish”. He started his ministry living in a rented house at 36 Lourdes Avenue Ja –Ela, Until the building at No 239 Colombo Road Ja –Ela was constructed and completed in 1977. Rev Vernon and Deci were married in October 1977 and were blessed with Daughter Dinali (now married to Aravinda Tissera) & son Virukshan (Now married to Saumya). Under the leadership of Rev Vernon Perera, Calvary Centre not only met the spiritual needs of the people but also catered to the needs of the whole man. One of the greatest attractions of this Church has been the most solemn words of Jesus Christ “Come unto me All who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Literally hundreds and thousands have been drawn by these words and the growth of this Church has been based on the reality of this experience. In 2003 God impressed upon Pastor Vernon to build a new sanctuary which could seat 5000 and a school in Ja Ela. Today it has become a reality through the generosity of all those who have supported this project and continue to support with their time, talent and finance. The oneness and the unity of the congregation towards accomplishing this vision will no doubt be remembered for generations to come. The Church shifted to its new facilities, at No 16 Station Road Kapuwatha, Ja-ela in the year of 2009. Even though it took many years of trials and testings, this day proved that “Faith in God will never be Futile” Pastor Vernon’s wife Pastor Deci went to be with the Lord on the 26th of November 2020 and approximately 7 months later, on what would have been his wife Deci’s 72nd birthday, Rev. Vernon Perera went to be with the Lord on the 13th of June 2021. As in all things authored by God, the vision of God outlasts the man of God. Through Pastor Vernon’s ministry, thousands were blessed in Ja Ela and the surrounding areas, and many churches were planted across Sri Lanka. What the Lord began He will continue to fulfill in the now and the future.