History

Brief HCFO History 

The HCF Oceania journey is a significant and heartfelt historical account that captures the enduring mission, impact, and legacy of Healthcare Christian Fellowship Oceania (HCFO) across the Pacific. Spanning more than two decades, this journey is a story of a handful of believing healthcare workers stepping out in faith and obedience to the Great Commission of our Lord to serve the people of the Pacific nations. HCFO is one of the few organisations which brings together all who work in healthcare irrespective of rank and profile making this journey unique, vibrant and multidimensional.  

At the heart of the ministry is the annual medical outreach trips made by the HCFO team to five key nations within Oceania: Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand. Each visit was part of a broader mission strategy that integrated professional healthcare service with the sharing of the Gospel. HCFO’s teams were predominantly composed of individuals from various medical and healthcare backgrounds—including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals—who devoted their expertise not only to physical healing but also to spiritual nurturing. These trips involved collaboration with local healthcare practitioners, enabling cross-cultural learning and support. As the ministry grew, counsellors to share the Gospel and those trained in ministering to the children were added to the team to free up healthcare workers for more medical focussed work. The unique dual approach of offering both medical care and Christ-centred ministry created opportunities for the holistic transformation of countless lives.

Over the course of 23 years, HCFO has faithfully answered the call to serve, carrying both the heart of a healer and the hands of Christ into communities that have deeply welcomed them. Through clinics, workshops, prayer meetings, and teaching sessions, the team has impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of people. One of the most remarkable aspects of this journey has been the number of first-time commitments to Christ witnessed across the Pacific nations. In each visit, the HCFO team bore witness to the Holy Spirit at work—healing the sick, strengthening the weary, and calling hearts back to the Father. These moments of divine encounter have not only strengthened local believers but have also ignited new spiritual beginnings in those previously unacquainted with the Gospel and even strengthened the faith of those who went to minister.

The journey began in 2002, when Drs Chelliah & Padmini Gnanaharan, the then-Regional Promoter and his wife, responded to a divine calling. That year, they ventured to Suva, Fiji in March, followed by Auckland, New Zealand in April, marking the beginning of what would become a multi-decade mission of love, service, and evangelism. In both countries, the couple alongside James Suresh and Dr. Arul Anketell, HCF Regional Promoter – South Asia, experienced powerful movements of prayer and witnessed stories where God’s hand was clearly at work, affirming their belief that this calling was more than momentary. In one of the countries, the HCFO team was invited to do a medical check-up in one of the largest prisons. The day ended with a full gospel meeting in the prison and many grown, burly men stepping forward with tears running down their cheeks and accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Though the visits were brief, the impact was lasting, and their time in these nations ignited a profound desire to expand HCFO’s mission further into the Oceania region. Their experiences sparked a vision rooted in discipleship, servant leadership, and the growth of God’s Kingdom in the Pacific.

Upon their return to Melbourne, the vision began to take tangible form. The contagious excitement that Chelliah and Padmini carried inspired others within their local network, ultimately leading to the formation of a committed action team. Despite the initial small beginnings—only three meetings had been held by August 2002—the spiritual momentum continued to build. 

Now in 2025, HCFO has evolved into a much larger and more structured organization, now anchored by members in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra & Alice Springs. In some of these cities they come together in small groups serving as centres for both planning and fellowship. 

Additionally, to accommodate broader participation for our pastors, doctors and committed members who are either interstate or in various Pacific nation, online meetings are held twice a month, specifically during the first and fourth weeks. These virtual gatherings not only foster community and prayer but also help maintain a shared sense of mission and vision among members, regardless of geographic location. The continued commitment of HCFO to regular fellowship, training, and mission planning underscores their long-standing belief in the importance of relational ministry and strategic discipleship.

At its core, the HCFO Pacific Nations journey is more than a collection of mission trips—it is a living legacy of obedience, compassion, and relentless pursuit of God’s heart for the people of the Pacific nations. The journey represents a unique fusion of professional excellence and spiritual calling, where the Gospel is preached not just with words, but through acts of service and healing. It is a story still being written, shaped by the many individuals who have taken up the mantle to serve, teach, and love across cultures. As HCFO looks to the future, their commitment remains firm: to raise up “a harvest of harvesters”, expanding the reach of the Gospel and meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of communities across Oceania.

For those who are interested in the details of the HCFO story, it has been carefully documented in two comprehensive PDF files that reflect both the spiritual and medical work conducted in the region. In addition to written documentation, a visual narrative of this mission is preserved through a series of photographs compiled in separate PDFs, these are available via the links on the bottom of this page. These resources serve as a testament to the faithful dedication of the HCFO team and the many lives touched along the way.

Detailed History

HCFO Journey Part 1 : Aug 2002 to Dec 2012 [115 pages, 1 MB]

HCFO Journey Part 2: April 2013 to March 2023  [193 pages, 1.1 MB]

HCFO Visual Narrative: Photos Part 1 : 2007 - 2012 [5 pages, 1.5 MB]

HCFO Visual Narrative: Photos Part 2 : 2013 - 2023  [10 pages, 3 MB]