Two Toronto churches unite

Toronto

Yorkdale Community Church, which was the flagship church in Toronto for nearly 40 years, and the New Covenant Christian Fellowship, one of the two new MB church plants in the Greater Toronto Area, united under the name of New Covenant Christian Fellowship on Easter Sunday, Apr. 7, 1996.

The two churches formed an ad hoc committee that met several times during the past year to work out the merger. Peter Durksen, Ontario Conference Moderator; Werner Dick, Board of Management Chair; Kurt Wagner from Board of Church Extension, and friends and supporters were on hand to affirm and bless this new congregation. Harold Fehderau, of Kitchener MB Church had a message on "Responding to the New Covenant," from Jeremiah 31.

Four new members were accepted into fellowship during the service. The celebration continued with a potluck lunch.

Yorkdale, with a membership of 21, and New Covenant, with a membership of 23 agreed that shared financial and human resources would equip the church to become a stronger witness in Metro Toronto. The united New Covenant also believes that the combined resources will increase opportunities for witness and group fellowship. New Covenant is anticipating a positive outreach this August when a Youth Mission International team will be assisting with a "family fun fair" and a vacation Bible school.

Vidya and Gwen Narimalla continue to serve as the pastoral couple, and the church continues to meet at the Society for International Ministries Chapel (SIM) in Scarborough.

Cathie Kearsley

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