RCC

EARLY BEGINNINGS

Around July 1990, some brethren from Toronto whose names are mentioned below were already members of "The Church of Pentecost Ghana", who migrated to Canada came together, prayed and decided to start a similar caliber of service in Canada since they missed the “Pentecost fire” back home.

They were informed by Mrs. Grace Akyampong that brethren in New York, USA had already started a similar Church Service. She informed them that her brother, Elder Emmanuel Owusu Bediako, who was the Presiding Elder of the Church in the USA, would be visiting his wife in Canada. The brethren then thought it appropriate to wait and welcome him for his arrival.

Upon his arrival on September 29, 1990, Elder Emmanuel Owusu Bediako (the late Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Bediako), his brother-in-law, Mr. Kusi Akyampong, Mrs. Grace Akyampong, and some brethren spread the news, and within hours, a total number of twelve adults and nine children met for the initial meeting, which was held at Mr. Kusi-Akyampong’s residence at 50 Trudelle Street, Apartment 608, in Scarborough.

The twelve adults included Mr. Ebenezer Kusi Akyampong and Mrs. Grace Akyampong, Elder Christian Asman and Mrs. Anastasia Asman, Mr. Paul Agyeman Danso and Mrs. Charity Boateng Danso, Mr. Kingsley Mensah, Mr. Eric Asare Boateng, Mrs. Rosemond Effah-Adjei, Mrs. Faustina Bediako, Mr. Akuamoah Boateng, and Mrs. Doris Sackey. The children who were present were, Timothy Akyampong, Rebecca Dufie Akyampong, Daniel Akyampong, Jerry Danso, Maurice Danso, Randy Danso, Sarah Adjei, Theophilus Adjei, and Akwasi Sackey.

The message that was given by Elder Bediako was from Acts 2:46-47: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God, and having favour with all the people." And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. After the message, Sister Doris Sackey gave her life to the Lord.

At the second meeting, a prophecy was given by Brother Akuamoah Boateng indicating that the Church would spread rapidly throughout Canada and that souls would be added each day the Church would meet.

THE FIRST LEADERSHIP TEAM CONSISTED OF :

Elder Christian Asman – Leader
Mr. Kusi-Akyampong – Asst. Leader
Mr. Kingsley Mensah – Secretary (Deceased)
Mr. Eric Boateng – Financial Secretary
Mrs. Grace Akyampong - Treasurer
Mr. Okyere Akyampong – Transport Coordinator.

Within a month, the adult membership grew to thirty, and as the meeting place was no longer spacious enough, the church relocated to a meeting room at North York City Center, now Mel Lastman Square. Here, the good Lord who had promised to build His Church graciously added to their number. The children’s ministry was led by Mr. Eric Asare Boateng.

GROWTH AND EXPANSION
Within a month the adult membership grew to over one hundred. The church then relocated to Newtonbrook Secondary School, 155 Hilda Avenue North York (Bathurst and Steeles in North York) because of limited space and restrictions on their times of worship. From there, the church moved again to the Christian Centre Church, 4545 Jane Street, North York (Jane/Driftwood) in 1991 where the membership grew to over three hundred adults and one hundred and fifty children.

All this time, the Church was under the administrative supervision of The Church of Pentecost New York District (USA), where the Church in Canada also attended Annual Council Meetings. In March 1991, the Head Office in Accra sent Pastor A. K. Awuah as the first missionary to take charge of the churches in U.S.A. and Canada.

A few brethren in Canada could travel to the USA for conventions because of immigration challenges. Hence, Mr. Kwame Antwi, Mr. Yeboah Ekuban, Mr. Emmanuel Ntiri (Deceased), Mr. Kusi-Akyampong, and Elder Joseph Ameyaw represented Toronto at such meetings.

During the 1991 Easter Convention, the Church agreed to hold the 1991 Christmas Convention in Canada so that brethren in Canada who hitherto could not travel to the USA would benefit from the Convention. Thus, the first-ever North American Convention to be held in Canada was at the Ramada Inn Hotel on Wilson Avenue in North York. It was attended by brethren from all over the USA. Also in attendance were International Executive Council members from Ghana including, Prophet M. K. Yeboah (then Chairman), Apostle Opoku Onyinah (then International Missions Director), Apostle Ato Addison (then General Secretary), and Apostle B. K. Arthur (Executive Member).

RE-START OF THE SCARBOROUGH ASSEMBLY
After the Convention, the visiting Executive Council members advised the church to re-start a branch in Scarborough. Thus, Elders Dan Amponsah, Mr. Ben Amponsah, and Mr. Eric Boateng were put in charge of the Scarborough assembly while Elders Christian Asman, Joseph Ameyaw, and Ebenezer Kusi Akyampong cared for the North York branch.

The Church continued to grow as we soaked ourselves in the Word of God, prayer, love, zeal, and community involvements. Our neighboring church commented that "when we pray, it seems Heaven is coming down".

At the beginning of the year 1992, the church in Scarborough rented Howard Johnson Hotel for services, but it was not conducive and financially viable, so the Church moved to Sir William Osler High School (1020 Huntingwood Dr. in Scarborough) with Elder Dan Amponsah as the Presiding Elder.

Realizing that the Church would grow faster with a Resident Pastor, the leadership made a request to the Head Office in Accra, Ghana, and Apostle Alex Osei-Bonsu was sent to Canada in November 1992 as the first missionary to head the Church.

Under the leadership of Apostle Osei Bonsu, the Church invited Elder Owusu Tabiri for evangelistic programs in 1994. The programs were accompanied by signs and wonders. After the programs, the Church membership increased tremendously. With a vision of building a strong central church, all the churches were brought together again to worship at a central location in North York at 4255 Weston Road.

As the church in Toronto was growing at a faster rate, the Church moved from 4255 Weston Road as it acquired facilities at 2256 Sheppard Avenue West and 16 Arrow Road in North York.

In 1995, cell meetings were held in various members' residences, including Mr. and Mrs. Michael Appiah Boateng's residence on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sunday evenings. Thereafter, the Church moved to 117 Midwest Ave. (Spring of Salvation Church) in Scarborough for evening meetings on Tuesdays for Bible studies, Thursdays for church service, and Sunday evenings for church service. On Sunday mornings and Friday evenings, the members in Scarborough worshiped together with the North York Assembly for Church services.

The Church in Toronto continued to grow in numbers, so it became necessary to open up different assemblies, and thus Scarborough Assembly was re-birthed.

A place of worship was rented at 1720 Midwest, Unit #18. On April 27th, 1997, Scarborough Assembly was officially inaugurated within the Toronto District under the chairmanship of Apostle Dr. Alex-Osei Bonsu, supported by District Pastor Anthony Emmanuel Owusu and Elder Isaac Ansere as the Presiding Elder.

Scarborough membership grew enormously that a new worship center was required to accommodate the rapid increase in membership. Adult membership at that time stood at 167 and 40 children. The Midwest location was full to capacity, and sometimes space for children’s Sunday school was an issue.

On 16th January 1998, during the 1997 end of year presbytery meeting, it was agreed that a new place of worship would be needed, therefore the church should look for a bigger place to rent and start fundraising drive to purchase a new building.

On 23rd August, 1998, Elder Eric Boateng and Deacon Okyere Akyampong met the presbytery and informed them that they had seen a building and the asking price was $400,000.00 of which they have already offered $350,000.00 but could not buy it. On 3rd 0ctober, 1998 Elder Ansere informed the Presbytery again that he had seen another building and made an offer of $550,000.00 and made initial deposit of $25,000.00 but this attempt too was futile. There were several other attempts but these attempts as well proved unproductive The building Committee, tasked to help look for a building to buy comprised of Deacon Okyere Akyampong, Elder Eric Boateng and Elder George Osei Tutu.

By the grace of God, on 11th December, 2001 under the able leadership of Apostle Kwesi Ackah-Baidoo (then National Head), Rev. Daniel Nii Lomotey Engmann (then District Pastor), Elder Ben Amponsah (then Presiding Elder), Elder Jesse Otabil (former FAM), as well as the Scarborough building committee, the 1355 Warden Avenue was purchased at a cost of $950,000.00 as the new place of worship with initial adult membership of 167 and children membership of 97.

In 2003 Elder Jacob Nimoh Asabere was appointed and transferred from McKeown Assembly to replace Elder Ben Amponsah as a Presiding Elder. After Elder Jacob Nimoh Asabere served meritoriously for two terms as a Presiding Elder from 2003 to 2007, Elder George Assifo was transferred from the McKeown Assembly to take over from Elder Jacob Nimoh. Elder George Assifo also served for 4 years (two terms) from 2007 to 2011. It was during his tenure in office that the Church building was renovated in 2008 and was dedicated to the glory of God by Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Bediako, assisted by then District Pastor Alex Agyei-Gyamera in November 22, 2009.

Elder Francis Ampadu was appointed to take over from Elder George Assifo in 2011. Elder Francis Ampadu also served as a Presiding Elder for 8 years (four terms) from 2011 to 2019. The rest of the presiding Elders and their years of service are listed below.

Elder Francis Ampadu was appointed to take over from Elder George Assifo in 2011. Elder Francis Ampadu also served as a Presiding Elder for 8 years (four terms) from 2011 to 2019. The rest of the presiding Elders and their years of service are listed below.

Ajax Assembly
The Church continue to grow in numbers by Leaps and bounds. In June 1999, Elder Eric Boateng was tasked to help mobilized some brethren in Ajax for prayer meetings so as to access if a local Church could be opened over there. They met on Fridays and Sunday evenings at Mr. and Mrs Brimpong’s house. This went on up to 2003, and having encountered some challenges, i.e. lack of support from the district this could not come into fruition and was asked to bring the souls won back to Scarborough Assembly. In 2006 under the able leadership of then Toronto District Pastor Alex Agyei-Gyamera, the vision of reopening an assembly in Ajax once again was revisited.

A team of brethren including Elder Johnny Quayson and family, Deacon Joseph Djarnie, Brother Emmanuel Armah and family, Mr. and Mrs Deymuh and family, Mr. and Mrs Brimpong and family, and some other brethren were charged to start a nursing Assembly. Elder Johnny Quayson was elected as a Presiding Elder of the Church. They met at Mr. and Mrs Deymuh’s residence for few months and later relocated to Mr. and Mrs. Brimpong’s house until the early part of 2007. A new place was later on secured at the Ajax Community Center where the church was inaugurated as a full Assembly and within the same year they were able to mobilize some funds to rent a new place at 682 Monarch Avenue, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 4S2 and was fully furnished under the leadership of Pastor Alex Agyei-Gyamera.

Scarborough English Service to PIWC Scarborough
In February 8th 2009, under the leadership of then Toronto District Pastor, Joseph Fynn-Sackey, the Scarborough English Service was started with Elder George Asiffo in charge and Deacon Henry Frimpong appointed as the coordinator for the service. On 2nd September, 2012, the English Service in Scarborough was inaugurated by the then District Pastor Joseph Christian Fynn-Sackey into a full-fletched Pentecost International Worship Center (PIWC), with Elder George Osei Tutu as the first Presiding Elder. The PIWC Scarborough is located in the same building with the Scarborough Cornerstone Assembly.

PROGRESS FROM ASSEMBLY TO DISTRICT
At the 2012 National Council Meeting, the National Executive, headed by the then National Head, the Late Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Bediako proposed the dissolution of the then Toronto District of which the Scarborough Assembly was part of. Two Districts were created out of the former namely, McKeown District and Scarborough District. In September 2012, it pleased the Lord and the National Head the Late Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Bediako to call Probationary Overseer Joseph Asiedu Tieku into full time ministry and stationed him in Scarborough.

Thus Pastor Joseph Asiedu Tieku became the first District Pastor of Scarborough District, which comprised of Scarborough Assembly which was later renamed Scarborough Akan Assembly, PIWC Scarborough and the Ajax Assembly. Under the able leadership of Pastor Joseph Tieku the Church grew numerically and spiritually. Pastor Joseph Tieku headed the district from 2012 to 2016 as the Scarborough District Pastor.

Decommission and merger of Ajax Assembly In August 2013, the District Executive Committee accessed the performance of Ajax Assembly and the Scarborough PIWC and realized a stagnant growth over a period of time despite all effort put in place to ensure church growth. Over a period of two years we saw a high membership turnover growth rate both in Ajax and Scarborough PIWC services. Every effort was made by leaders of both assemblies to engage members through various activities in order to attract new comers and win new souls but all efforts proved futile and consistent growth became a major hallmark. Our investigation revealed a lack of adult and youth mix in both services and instrumentalist to play for these services were a major challenge. Apart from the above challenges, the Landlord of Ajax Assembly was demanding a higher rent increase and a long term rental commitment of five years when the tenancy agreement was due for renewal in November 2013.

The financial situation of the Ajax Assembly was a challenge and sometimes after the tithes transfer to the national office, there was nothing left for the local to take care of the needs of members and other non-deductibles expenses. The District Presbytery therefore agreed during a meeting with the Ajax officers to relocate Ajax Assembly to Scarborough PIWC to worship with them as one Church for a period of one year and thereafter relocate them to a midpoint between Morningside Road, Scarborough and Whites Road, Pickering. After looking for a place for purposes of merging the two assemblies together and all effort proved futile, there was a consensus reached between the two churches to merge together in Scarborough. So in April 27th 2014 Ajax Assembly and Scarborough PIWC officially merged together to be a one vibrant PIWC Church with Elder Eric Asare Boateng as the Presiding Elder, worshipping at 1355 Warden Avenue, Scarborough.

THE CHURCH TODAY

The overall membership in the district is 469 as at December 31, 2020. This includes 381 adults and 88 children. By God’s grace the building purchased at a cost $950,000 in December 2001 is now almost paid off. The current mortgage balance is approximately $39,000.00 as at February 2020. The estimated market value at present is over $4,000,000.00. We were able to purchase two church vans and one Minister’s Minivan for our District Pastor. The Scarborough Akan Assembly has been renamed “Scarborough Cornerstone Assembly” and the primary language is Twi.

The total membership is 272. The Scarborough PIWC’s main language of Service is English and the total membership is 197. The PIWC Scarborough’s times of worship are: Sunday 9am – 10:30am, Mondays 7pm - 8pm for prayers, Wednesdays 7pm – 8pm for Bible studies and on Fridays 7pm - 8:30pm. The times of worship for the Scarborough Cornerstone Assembly are: Sundays 11am -12:30pm for Church Service, Mondays 7pm – 8pm for prayers, Wednesday’s 7pm – 8:00pm for Bible Studies, and on Fridays 7pm – 8:30pm for Prayers.