WHO WE ARE

We are an evangelical, non-denominational group of over 180 friends from the Greater Toronto Area. Our official name is Palgrave Fellowship of Christians and we are a registered Ontario charity. We gather at the Upper Canada Camp or in other places, depending on the activity. Generally we meet on Sundays and in the middle of the week. We also have weekly Sunday school, youth meetings as well as many other activities for our young people and children.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We stress the importance of adhering to the Bible as the guiding light for our doctrine and our life. We believe in the Almighty God; in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and that he was resurrected on the third day, as the Bible says. We believe that Jesus was tempted, yet never committed sin. Therefore Jesus’ life, temptations, battles and victories are very significant for us who are following Him. This is a very important element in our church’s preaching. The Bible is the single foundation for our faith, and we have no other books that we consider equal to it. However, faithful Christian men and women through the years have written much that is good and instructive, based on their understanding and experiences in life. Many of these writings have been collected in books, pamphlets and songs, with the sole purpose of helping us understand, believe and obey God’s Word. Beyond what the Bible teaches we have no rules or regulations about how we should live. However, we do receive help from the example and counsel of God-fearing men and women.

We believe that any person can receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life by faith in Jesus’ death for us on the cross, without having one single good deed to show for himself; According to the Bible, the only condition is that we repent from our sins and sincerely want to turn away from them and live a new life in faith in Jesus Christ. Through repentance and faith we are “born again” to a new life, with new interests and a desire to do God’s will. We believe in victory over all conscious sin and in a life of spiritual growth and development in everything good, just as the Bible promises.

We believe that as disciples of Jesus the Holy Spirit will teach us and guide us on life’s way. By light from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, we can see more of our nature and those sides of our own will that oppose God’s will. When we agree with what God shows us, we can, through the Spirit, be cleansed from this sin. Life becomes a journey that takes us from light to light in an ever-deepening acknowledgment and cleansing. This inner transformation is what the Bible calls sanctification.

We also believe that the church, which is the Body of Christ, is that spiritual fellowship which grows and flourishes in the light that comes from God’s Word. All of those who live a crucified life with Christ are His and are a part of this body. We do not believe that an affiliation with any particular church group is a requirement for being a member of Christ’s body.

OUR MEETINGS

Although some individuals bear more responsibility for edification than others, everyone may participate in this work. Young and old, men and women, all have freedom to participate if they have something edifying to share. The result is that our meetings are uplifting and interesting, and we get to know one another in a deeper way.

HOW WE LIVE

Faith in Jesus Christ is a personal matter for each individual. Naturally, as Christian parents, we would like our children to share the same faith and joy that we have experienced; and the vast majority of our young people do stay in the church. However, we respect a person’s right to make a different choice. We seek to influence, encourage and inspire, but we do not exercise control over one each other’s faith. Faith is a personal matter. Only a personal, deliberate decision can provide a true and genuine basis for growth and development as a Christian. Therefore, we stress that each individual must maintain a personal faith and continue in a personal development.

In the church we promote and encourage the values that the Bible proclaims. We build our lives on these values and defend them against every influence that would destroy them. These values are based on what the Bible calls the perfect law of liberty, and we give each other and we give each other complete liberty to make our own choices and build our homes accordingly. This liberty forms the basis for the happy and natural growth and development of our children. Our goal in everything that we do with our children is to awaken their interest in their heavenly calling and nurture in them a sense of responsibility and care for other people. With this goal in mind, we work to provide a fun and stimulating environment with outings and activity clubs for encouragement. To meet the diverse needs of our children, we have to understand the meaning of love and self-sacrifice and refrain from placing our comfort above our children’s needs. For us, this understanding is motivating and life-giving!

We do not practice tithing, but we give according to our ability and desire, as the Scriptures teach. Whether it concerns time or money, giving is a personal matter and is completely voluntary. Everything we do in the church is voluntary. We have a large base of volunteers to do the fundraising and work parties that build our new meeting facilities and raise money for church activities. We all find something to do! Work parties and fundraisers are very popular, and they provide a good opportunity to be together and have fun, while accomplishing the desired goal.

Faith in the gospel –the good news- helps us see beyond the toils and tribulations of daily life. Faith inspires us and provides us with all of the strength and hope we need for the future. If a family has a special need, there are always friends in the church who are ready to provide practical help and give comfort, solace, and strength. Husband and wife can stand together through thick and thin, and children and parents can stand shoulder to shoulder in their common struggle against sin.