by

Elsie Walker

“A lot of things in this world change; but for 70 years, Full Gospel Church has been teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, helping the community and helping the world through its mission programs,” said its Pastor Ron DePasquale. Much of that help has been through providing food and faith.  An Assemblies of God church, Full Gospel Church is located at 190 W. Northfield Road in Livingston. Recently, Pastor DePasquale looked back at the church’s history and shared about its work in the community while church member Robert DePasquale of  Livingston reflected on the anniversary, and member Terryann Charles of West Orange looked back on how the church has touched her life.

The pastor noted that Full Gospel Church started as a Bible study with six people on July 1, 1956.  Four years later, its numbers had grown so much that a church building was needed, and they moved into a church on Old Road.  However, in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, the congregation started to dwindle.  In 1976, with four left in the congregation, the Assemblies of God organization sent someone to meet with the congregation and see what it wanted to do.  That person was Joe DePasquale, a pastor and the uncle of the current pastor. After talking with the small congregation, Joe DePasquale said he’d come back the next week.  He did and led the service.  DePasquale continued to come back, and families started coming to the church.  The years 1976-1987 saw the church growing again.   The congregation grew so much that it outgrew its building.  However, an addition couldn’t be put on.  

Meanwhile, Full Gospel Church had developed a relationship with a Greek Pentecostal church, Church of the Living God, on Northfield Road.  Full Gospel did baptism by immersion but did not have the facilities for that at their building; however, the Greek Pentecostal church did.  Church of the Living God let Full Gospel use those facilities and later the churches decided to share the church complex on Northfield Road.  Full Gospel’s congregation continued to grow.  It was involved in the community and offered groups, Royal Rangers and Missionettes, for boys and girls. Meanwhile, the Greek Pentecostal church’s congregation had been shrinking and was down to only a few people.  In 1994, the Church of the Living God gave Full Gospel the building for one dollar.  Joe DePasquale continued to be the pastor and later his nephew, Ron, assisted him.   In 2006, Ron DePasquale took over the role of pastor from his uncle, who’d been diagnosed with cancer.  Joe DePasquale died three months after his nephew became lead pastor. 

Full Gospel continued to grow.  And again, the congregation found itself outgrowing its space.    In 2009, they broke ground for a 16,000 square foot building to be next to its current one.  In November 2011, the Full Gospel Youth Center was opened.  In, 2016, that began to be used as a sanctuary.

The church has touched many people. Charles is one of them.  She shared her experience:  “Fourteen years ago, I walked into a church where I didn’t know a single person and experienced a service entirely new to me—but it was exactly where I needed and wanted to be. Soon after, my family joined me, and the word ‘family’ took on a whole new meaning. Full Gospel Church is far more than a beautiful building; it is a God-centered, spiritual community composed of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and walks of life. From the very first moment, I felt genuinely welcomed. Full Gospel has given me a true sense of belonging, offering encouragement, guidance, and shared purpose with fellow believers. I have witnessed it serve as a refuge, providing both spiritual strength and practical support to members and the surrounding community. It is also a place where I can contribute, engage in outreach, and participate in meaningful acts of worship and celebration. Above all, Full Gospel Church is where I continue to deepen my relationship with God and be part of a loving, faith-filled family that reflects His love for all.  Full Gospel Church: Love God, love people, reach the world.”

Pastor DePasquale said that the church wants to “bless people as much as we can and help them.” The church has done that by providing food and faith.  Pastor DePasquale shared some examples.  For 10 years, starting in 2009, Full Gospel Church supplied Livingston school teachers with a continental breakfast during the week before school started as they did final preparations for the school year.    Also, the church was one of the charter members of CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse).  That was housed at The Church of Saint Philomena in Livingston and was supported by area houses of worship by giving food and money.  Later, CHOW was moved to town hall and became Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which the houses of worship, including Full Gospel,  still support.   Also, once a month, congregation members from Full Gospel Church go to House of Mercy Mission in Newark to bag up food to be picked up by the needy.  Food and faith are also part of the church’s Illumin8 events held for Christmas, Easter, and Back to School.  Held over a few days, these family-friendly events include hearing the gospel of Jesus, fun for kids (Wonder Junction), and fellowship over food. The illunmin8 events are open to the community.  The next one is September 12th-14th and information on it can be found on the church website (www.livingstonfullgospel.com).  In addition to those outreaches, a few times a year, members of the church go to nursing homes where they share hymn singing and encouragement.

Full Gospel Church’s Sunday worship service is 10am. (Besides being on-site, it is also live streamed.)  It is contemporary worship with a praise band.  After music and announcement, those in attendance go off in groups of children, youth, and adults to learn, with the pastor giving the message to the adults.  Later, they regroup to end worship, which is followed by fellowship and light refreshments.

The church plans to set aside a day in the fall to celebrate its anniversary.  Church member Robert DePasquale, of  Livingston, proudly noted that his son, Andrew, a Livingston High School and college graduate has made the church’s 70th anniversary. graphic.  Reflecting on the anniversary, Robert DePasquale said, “As a  member for nearly 50 years, I remain proud of our church’s heritage and that, after 70 years, Full Gospel Church continues to be a warm, welcoming haven that serves both its congregants and the community, where individuals, families, and people of all ages, race, and ethnicity can gather together to proclaim their love for Jesus and grow in the grace and knowledge of God’s Word.”

For more information about Full Gospel Church:  

Website:   www.livingstonfullgospel.com

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/LivingstonFGC

Phone: 973-992-5846

Email: info@livingstonfullgospel.com 

Full Gospel Church

190 West Northfield Road

Livingston