This is Us - PORTICO in the 1970s

THIS IS US:

celebrating

50 years of god’s faithfulness

the history of portico community church

1970s

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

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Table of Contents Introduction

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1968

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1969

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1970

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1971

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1972

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1975

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1976

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1978

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Credits

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this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

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Introduction THE DREAM The 1970s, the era for Dreams and New Beginnings was marked by trials and triumphs. Enthusiasm was the hallmark of the small nucleus of faithful believers who forged ahead with the dream of creating a warm and welcoming church in Mississauga. Setbacks were encountered, but faith and determination prevailed. From parsonages to homes to school buildings and through the challenges of two building programs, God breathed life into an eager community of believers that would endure and thrive for decades to come.

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

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1968 In the years prior to 1968, the Western Ontario District (WOD) of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) had a vision for planting a church in the growing municipality of Mississauga, Ontario. By May 6, 1968, Pastor Paul McInroy, at the invitation of the WOD, relocated to Mississauga to establish a new Pentecostal church. Pastor McInroy identified 58 Pentecostal families residing in the vicinity along with properties available for purchase that could serve as a future church building site. By October, the WOD Executive Committee urged Pastor McInroy to secure a school facility for the purpose of holding Sunday services, amid future plans to purchase a two-acre property at 225 Pinetree Way, where sat an older two-story, white farmhouse that could serve as the parsonage and eventually the site for a church building.

Pastor Paul McInroy

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We sang mostly hymns back then, and there was a choir that sang every week. We had one service on Sunday morning with about 800 people.”

– Enn and Silvia Martin

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I was in my twenties when the church first started. 50 years later, to be still here, it’s just wonderful to see the beginning and how it is today.”

– Helen Aello

Dotty White, with Frank White, one of MGT’s first attendees who was still an avid member of the church nearly 15 years later

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

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1969 The WOD Executive authorized Pastor Paul McInroy to secure funding for the purchase of 225 Pinetree Way through the PAOC National Office. Pastor Paul and Josephine McInroy took residence in the parsonage on the property and opened their home for prayer and informational meetings in preparation for the church opening. In the spring of 1969, the newly formed church was given the name Mississauga Gospel Temple. The church gathered for public services on Sundays in Queen Elizabeth School in Cooksville, ON. Those first attendees held to a simple vision: “to grow and invite friends.”

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When I think of the early days of our church, I think of the people. The people we met when we first came. The people who grew with us as we learned to be parents and watched our children grow. It formed a foundation that will be there forever.”

– Dave and Ruth Croft

1970

Queen Elizabeth School

The Lord was blessing the fledgling congregation. Attendance grew in the Sunday morning and evening services.

Sunday school was experiencing rapid growth necessitating a search for trained leadership assistance. In the spring, Ms. Phyllis Smith, a recent graduate of Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, accepted the call to join the staff of Mississauga Gospel Temple.

“ this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

God is the rock, and he had provided the church as a rock for us.”

– Ruth Sorhaindo

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1971 The WOD Executive Committee reviewed and approved plans for the construction of a church building at 225 Pinetree Way, which would cost the congregation an estimated $225,000. Pastor Paul McInroy immediately began raising funds and securing commitments over and against the church’s annual income of $21,000. This new building program proved overwhelming for the church members and many reacted by choosing to leave the congregation. Distressed by the difficulties of the project as well as by personal challenges, Paul McInroy resigned his position and left the church. By year’s end, Mississauga Gospel Temple was no longer able to afford rent for Queen Elizabeth School. However, a small remnant of faithful believers continued to meet for Sunday services at a rented space in Orange Lodge Hall in Cooksville, ON. Pulpit ministry was supplied on a rotational basis by PAOC ministers, including Pastor Bill Moody, Pastor Graydon Richards, and Pastor Fred Fulford.

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Orange Lodge Hall was in a school setting. Pastor Fred and Micki, their kids and some families started meeting there every Sunday. It was one service at that time. When the group started getting bigger, we branched off.

Fred was the most thinking type of pastor. He was very thoughtful and very personable.”

– Hugo and Chris Sonnenberg

Church at Orange Lodge Hall

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

Orange Lodge Hall

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1972 With renewed vision to maintain a PAOC church in Mississauga, the WOD leadership asked Fred and Micki Fulford to prayerfully consider accepting the invitation to pastor the floundering church. On February 13, the Fulfords were officially inducted as the MGT’s new pastors and began conducting services in Orange Lodge Hall with just 28 people in attendance. Many of the initial church gatherings and midweek Bible Study were held at Helen Aello’s house. In June, 13 of these attendees met in the Fulford’s home, where two important decisions were made: to organize as an affiliated congregation of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and to purchase a two-acre parcel of land in Erin Mills for their future church site. In September, the congregation moved their Sunday gatherings to Thornlodge Public School (Sheridan Homelands Public School) where they would remain for the next three years.

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I remember coming to this church, and Pastor Fred embraced us. He kept me grounded. Both he and Micki where there as a huge guide for me. ” – Ruth Sorhaindo

Fred Fulford as Senior Pastor

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Helen is and was a fun-loving, gregarious person with a big, big heart. She opened up her home and her life.”

– Chris Sonnenberg

Fred & Micki Fulford with the Grosshans

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

Micki and Fred Fulford and their young family

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The Fulford Family with grown children

1972

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Fred & Micki Fulford today

I remember the last bible study at my house before they built the church.

There were 95 ladies at our ladies’ meeting. They were downstairs and in the rafters. It was wonderful, but we had to move over to the church!”

“

– Helen Aello

Helen Aello, Gloria Gallager at the S.S. picnic

Pastor Fred as referee at the S.S. Picnic

They were meeting in the Thornlodge Public School when we moved to the area, so we had to set things up Sunday morning and tear it down afterwards.”

– Dave and Ruth Croft

Baptism in Helen Aello’s pool

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

Meetings at Sheridan Homelands Public School

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1975 Under the Fulford’s leadership, attendance grew to nearly 100, which prompted the construction of their new, 10,000 sq. ft. facilities situated at 2460 The Collegeway.

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It was a white stucco, very modern church design. Though it looked modern, it wasn’t all that functional.”

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It was very much a family church.

There was a lot of kids. Because of the church’s design, if your child was crying in the nursery you could hear it in the service.”

They called this church the White Church because it was white.

Unfortunately, the facility did not have what we needed as a facility. We had to use an architect who wasn’t one who understood our needs. What resulted, then, was a big auditorium with just one room upstairs. We had our first youth Sunday School class up there, and it had just three teenagers in it!”

– Dave and Bev Graham

– Dave and Ruth Croft

– Dave and Bev Graham

New Year’s Watchnight Service

Children’s Choir at White Church

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

The White Church

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1976 With the completion of the new building, a youth ministry, family night, choir, a day-care program, and other church-wide activities became possible.

The youth choir at The Collegeway

Dorothy White, Helen Aello and kids in the 1976 The Collegeway Parade

Pastor Fulford and children in the 1976 The Collegeway Parade

MGT Float in 1977 Christmas Parade

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

Easter Choir at The Collegeway

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1978 The emerging church had entered a season of rapid maturation. Barely three years in their new building, attendance and growth strained the facilities as many new families began attending. To ease the pressure, Pastor Fulford initiated dual morning services, and Sunday School space was rented at the nearby Erindale Secondary School.

Sod turning in preparation for a 1980’s building project

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

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SPECIAL THANKS TO: SENIOR PASTOR

Doug Rhind EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Amitabh Singh WRITERS

Bethany Talbert Doug Rhind GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jabelle Micu Christina Cook LOGO GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Christina Cook Joan Stoddard RESEARCH TEAM

James Craig/PAOC Archives Amitabh Singh Paul Woodley Nancy Woodley Danielle Sawh Helen Aello Beverly Graham David Graham

SueAnn Fennelly Chris Atkins Ronald Jacob Silvia Martin STILL PHOTOGRAPHS

James Craig/PACO Archives Paul & Nancy Woodley Enn & Silvia Martin Gabriel & Dianne Sawh Denise Peltomaki Helen Aello Terry & Melissa Bone Colleen Clark Evelyn Degazon Joan Morin Marg Salamat Barb Parkinson Gord & Rollande Jones Jerry & Marlene Bergman Bill Dupley Hana Elzohiry SCANNING OF PHOTOS

Juliet Nakamura SueAnn Fennelly

this is us: the history of portico community church | 1970s

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OUR MISSION

Helping people find their way back to God! CAMPUSES

CONTACT US

Brampton 7585 Financial Drive (inside École Jeunes Sans Frontières) Brampton, ON L6Y 5P4

Milton 45 Bruce Street (inside Milton Christian School) Milton, ON L9T 2L5

905.826.9612 info@porticocanada.ca porticocanada.ca

Español 1814 Barbertown Road Mississauga, ON L5M 2M5

Streetsville 1814 Barbertown Road Mississauga, ON L5M 2M5

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