In
the early 1960s, the American Lutheran Church (ALC) and the Lutheran
Church in America, combined their efforts in evolving a plan to create
eighty new Lutheran Parishes in Canada and the United States. In 1962,
the Reverend C. A. Paulsen, then Pastor of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church
in Toronto, and who was also a member of the District Mission
Committee, alerted the Regional Director, the Reverend John R. Houck,
to the rapid development of this area. This Parish was granted to the
ALC for development.
Soon,
Messrs. Krushen and Daily, of Waterloo, Ontario, designed the Church
building. Construction began in April 1964. The Mission Board advanced
all of the funds. The structure was completed in September of that
year. The ALC Mission Board called the Reverend John Judt of Vancouver
to serve the new Parish. He became the first and founding Pastor. He
and his family arrived here on August 19, 1964, and he immediately
began his new ministry.
The
first services were held on September 20, 1964 with a Congregation of
fifty people. Dedication of the Church building took place on October
18, 1964. The congregation was officially organized the following year,
April 25, 1965, and charter members were received. Some of these
charter members are still with us today.
Almost
from the beginning, this Church and in particular one of its members,
the late Mrs. T. E. E. Powell-Brown, were deeply concerned with the
plight of emotionally disturbed children of pre-school age. A treatment
program was developed, centred around the practical application of the
healing power of God, with the Church providing facilities and
financial assistance. The Powell-Brown Nursery School for Emotionally
Disturbed Children soon required larger facilities, and an extension
was built connecting to the existing Church building. The nursery
school operated there until 1983, when it had to move to a larger
facility. The building is presently occupied by the Rainbow's End
Daycare Centre, which provides child care for children 18 months to 5
years of age.
Our
Congregation was accepted as a member of the Toronto Lutheran
Cooperative Ministry in May 1972. In November 1974, we were blessed
with a gift from the Canadian Forces Base Downsview of a complete set
of new wood Church furnishings for our Chapel. The appearance of the
beautiful wooden pews and chancel furnishings added warmth, sanctity
and riches to our cherished House of Worship.
We
celebrated our 15th anniversary on April 27, 1980. To commemorate this
event, a beautiful stained glass window, created and made by Faith
members John and Claudia Judt, was presented to the Congregation.
Our
first Easter Pancake Breakfast and Sunrise Service was held on April
12, 1981. It has since continued as a celebrated annual service. We
assisted in the World Hunger Appeal, launched by Lutheran World Relief,
in April 1984 for drought victims in Africa. We established Food Banks
to feed the needy in this country.
Founding
Pastor, the Reverend John Judt, faithfully served this Parish for 21
years. He retired in July 1985. On September 29, 1985, the Reverend
Harry Huff accepted the call to Faith Lutheran. In 1992, Pastor Huff
moved on, and a call was accepted by the Reverend Ernie Skujins.
Our
Faith Lutheran Church has been richly blessed by God for these past 40
years. We shall continue to serve this community by sharing this
precious gift of Grace that we have so freely received. With God's help
and guidance, we will continue to do so. Please come and join us and
share in this beautiful Ministry, building our next 40 years. And, oh
yes, please bring a friend
Designed By: Ryan Arnajallum 

(c) 2007 www.faithlutheranchurch.ca
Member of Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ and
Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations.
info@faithlutheranchurch.ca Telephone/Fax: 416-633-3807
96 Hucknall Road, North York, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1V8