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. 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. T
his 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. 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
