Parkdale Grace Fellowship

Parkdale Grace Fellowship is jointly affiliated with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada and the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.

Pastoral Ministry: Gary Barker, Steven Pelzer(Youth intern), Paul Jeffrey and Ron Stone (pulpit ministry).

Our Ministry Focus

At PGF we emphasize a Bible based, Christ centered approach to ministry characterized by expository verse-by-verse teaching of the Word of God with a dependence upon the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit (rather than the methods, energy or talents of man) to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives. Though our denominational and theological background is diverse our ultimate theological commitment is not to a particular system of theology, but to theology that is solidly biblical.

Vision Statement for PGF

In everything keeping Christ the main thing; joyfully fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; trusting completely in Him who said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. And by the grace of God alone such a church we desire to be, that through us He might be glorified in all the world.

Amplified Vision Statement

In everything keeping Jesus the main thing (“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever” Ro. 11:36). Joyfully fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Heb. 12:2 (who is also our new life, Col.3:4 and the satisfaction of every desire Ps. 73:25-26; Jn. 6:35) trusting completely and triumphantly 2Co. 2:14 in Him who said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (shall neither successfully resist its advance nor overcome and destroy. Mt. 16:18) And by the grace of God alone (without Him we can do nothing, Jn. 15:5) such a church we desire to be, that through us He might be glorified in all the world (“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mk. 16:15; “Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” Ro. 1:8).

Explanation of our Ministry Emphasis

The focal point and emphasis of our ministry is Jesus Christ and the grace of His finished work on the cross.

What do we mean by this statement? First of all, it is a Christ-centered emphasis because our Lord Jesus Himself is the ultimate object of our worship (Rom. 11:36; Php. 2:9-11) and the objective of our existence (“to be conformed to the image of Christ”, Rom. 8:29; “no longer I but Christ” Gal. 2:20). Therefore the main focus of our ministry is not on evangelism or missions nor is it on the ministry of the Holy Spirit or on facilitating a dynamic worship experience. As excellent and important as all of these things are we believe that they are not to be our objective, but rather they are the fruit or the consequence, which can be most fully realized only as we abide in Christ as the passionate, all-consuming desire of our hearts. Out of this kind of relationship with Him will supernaturally flow God-glorifying praise and fruitful service. (John 15:4-8)

Secondly, not only is Jesus our focus, and Christ-likeness our objective, but He is also the only means of obtaining that objective. Therefore we also emphasize the grace of the finished work of the cross. This refers to all that was accomplished by Jesus Christ through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension as described by the Apostle Paul in Romans chapters 5-8. A much overlooked aspect of this finished work of the cross is our literal participation with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the [body] I live by faith in the Son of God . . .” (Gal. 2:20) Jesus is more than our Saviour and Lord. Jesus is also our Life. Most Christians have been taught that Christ died for them (Rom. 5:8) but few realize the truth of Romans six that they died with Him. We have been saved from our sin but must be set free from our carnal selves (Rom. 7:24) in order to fully experience here and now in these bodies the abundant, victorious life that is ours in Christ.

These convictions are firmly based upon a pervasive scriptural principle that when we focus eyes of faith on the Lord He takes care of everything, as the following sample of verses illustrate:

1) Jesus said “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
2) But, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)
3) “Your heavenly Father knows [what you need]. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry [about the other things]” (Matt. 6:32-34)
4) Peter could walk on water so long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus but he sank when he lost that focus. (Matt. 14:29-30)
5) God gave Israel victory over the Amalekites (flesh) so long as Moses’ arms were raised unto God symbolizing faith and dependence upon Him. (Ex. 17:8-13)
6) Hebrews 12 says that the key to successfully running the race is to fix our eyes on Jesus.
7) Our Lord’s instruction to His disciples was to “follow Me” with the promise that He would “make [them] to become” that which He had called them to be. (Mk. 1:17)

Consistently in all of these examples, and many more, our part is to fix our eyes of faith on the Lord depending on Him for everything. We are dependant upon His grace alone.