05/28/2026
House of Destiny and the Story of Beth Emanuel Church
"About a year ago, we began searching for a place where our church family could gather. A friend told us about an abandoned church building. When we stepped inside, we felt a stirring in our spirits — something powerful, holy, and unmistakably divine. We sensed the presence of God. We knew this was the place and the community God was calling us to serve.
The building was rough. Months later, after much cleaning and prayer, we began meeting there before everything was finished. We had the blessing of the leadership of the British Methodist Episcopal Church. In September 2025, we held our first Sunday celebration there. Worship has filled the sanctuary. What once felt abandoned now feels alive.
Then in March 2026, while renting and prayerfully negotiating to purchase it, the owners unexpectedly applied to the city council to remove the building’s heritage designation to give an opportunity for affordable housing to be built on the property. We are not against affordable housing, but this is not just another property. This church was built in the 1800s by formerly enslaved Black believers who established it as a house of worship dedicated to God. To lose it would not only erase a sacred place of prayer, but also remove an important part of Black Canadian history."
Philip found himself meeting with political and spiritual leaders, and community organizations across the city. We believe God is doing something much bigger than preserving a building.
PRAY FOR:
- a church building home for House of Destiny.
- the purposes of God to be fulfilled through this entire journey.
- permanent residency for Phillip and Karina Omondi.
