About Us
OUR MISSION
We want to be the voice of hope and light in our community by embracing all people in true spirit of love and by developing a lifestyle that includes the following Biblical principles:
WE WORSHIP:
- by focusing on God as the object and subject of our worship.
- by being inclusive embracing both contemporary and traditional forms of worship.
- in a way that will be meaningful to all generations and backgrounds, by offering God our best the best of the old and the best of the new.
WE EQUIP MEMBERS FOR SERVICE:
- by identifying and developing spiritual gifts and abilities
- by providing Biblical training
- by providing Biblical support for family nurture
- by providing hands-on experience in ministry
WE ENCOURAGE:
- by building Godly relationships that will allow us to stimulate others to grow in faith, hope love and joy.
- by developing a Christ-like character
WE EVANGELIZE:
- by striving to make Christ known within our community and around the world
- by sharing God’s love through daily witness and through our daily acts of kindness
- by supporting our church’s outreach ministries through prayer, finance and personal involvement
Our worship foundation
Our Church History
St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church has its beginning in early 1908 when some members of Olivet Baptist Church and their Minister, Rev. John McIntosh, held prayer meetings at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Scholfield on Wychwood Avenue. The meetings led to the formation of a Sunday School on July 12, 1908 and on November 11, 1908 and soon the interest to form a Baptist Church grew. This led to an organizing meeting and Mr. George S. Brodle was called as pastor. A lot at the northeast corner of St. Clair and Wychwood was secured and a temporary building erected.
On September 23, 1909 a recognition meeting was held and on vote of the delegates, Wychwood Baptist Church was formed. The first recorded Sunday School consisted of forty scholars and eight devoted teachers who met in a workshop at the rear of 12 Kenwood Avenue, later the Pastor’s home.
In the Spring of 1910, the Women’s Mission Circle was organized with Missions as the focus. In April 1919 the name of the church was changed from Wychwood Baptist to St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church. November 1924 the church moved to its current location on the northwest corner of Wychwood and St. Clair with dedication services held Sunday May 10, 1925.
Over the years we have been blessed with pastors dedicated and committed to bringing the gospel of Christ to God’s people. Realizing that the world is at our doorsteps and thereby transforming our community, we seek to understand what God is doing within our community and join Him in that ministry. In order to accomplish this task we have continued on the path that was set from the beginning: prayer and Missions. Our church has a strong Intercessory Prayer Team made up of individuals committed to praying for the physical and spiritual well-being of the church and community. We have also engaged ourselves in local missions and have partnered with other churches to provide love and care to our community.
We are indeed grateful for what God is doing amongst us. We have come a long way considering the challenges we have faced but those challenges have made us strong in the Lord.
A new chapter has begun in the life of St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church! It is a place where people worship God in loving fellowship and leave feeling encouraged and empowered in their ministry – “A Caring Family of God…Reaching Out to All People”.
