Our History

2004 Was Our 70th ANNIVERSARY

A small group of believers had a desire to establish a place to worship, to provide for Christian fellowship, a place where the Holy Spirit would be honored, and to assume the responsibility of propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and abroad. With these thoughts and purposes, after much prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit, we appealed to the District Superintendent and formed The Lindsay Pentecostal Assembly. We started in a store front on Kent Street with a lady pastor, Mrs. Mabel Cunningham as many Pentecostal churches did in those days.

The Church Started Here.

The Cunningham Family, Audrey, Enid, Margaret, Jean and Mrs. Mabel Cunningham.
Mrs. Cunningham started the church and Pastored there from 1934-1937

In the summer, outdoor meetings were held in front of the old Kent Street post office where Pharma Plus now stands. One night the crowd was so large the Police Chief asked us to go to the park. Pastor Cunningham asked the Police Chief, “Do you fish?” He replied, “Yes”. The pastor continued, “Do you go where the fish are?” To which the Police Chief answered, “Yes, of course.” “I do, too.” replied Pastor Cunningham. The Chief left laughing.

Sunday School Group around 1954 ehen Rev. Holmes was Pastor.

Sometimes God manifested His presence in an outstanding manner. A third-year Bible student, Edith Middleton came one Sunday to pulpit supply. She prayed all afternoon for a message for the evening service and the Lord gave her a message – “The thing God hates is pride”. She began with her own words and then the Holy Spirit spoke through her convincing her and the congregation of how God hates pride. At the end of the service, one well dressed young lady was about to leave when she turned and walked to the altar. No sooner had she knelt and raised her hands, she fell under the power of the Holy Spirit. Many others went to pray, kneeling at the altar and at the front benches. Many fell under the power of the Holy Spirit as they prayed and sought the Lord. One teenage girl began to dance in the Spirit, her face aglow with they joy of the Lord as she worshipped. With her eyes shut, she danced among the people lying on the floor and those kneeling without touching anyone. Many spoke in tongues. Edith was filled with holy laughter as she watched this miracle and then others joined in “laughing in the Spirit”.
A minister from another denomination came to see what Pentecostalism was all about. He said, “It’s real. It is the Holy Spirit.”

The congregation grew and moved into a building which had space for 75 people. It is the building south of the present post office. The scripture on the wall behind the pulpit read ‘The coming of the Lord draweth nigh’. The sense that Jesus could come anytime was very strong. The hymns we sang reinforced that message.
Again, we outgrew our space and built a new church building at 55 Glenelg Street which had seating for 295 people.

The New Building at 50 Glenelg St west.
Church was held here from 1953-1985

The cornerstone was laid in 1953 and a Bible was placed inside the stone as reminder that the entire project was built on the Word of God. The church was re-named Calvary Temple which it held until 1963 when the name was changed to Calvary Pentecostal Church.
As the assembly matured, various ministries were started; Women’s Ministry, Men’s Fellowship, Crusaders,

Pentecostal Crusaders 1970 with Unit Commander
Beverley Money and assistant Barbara Barley.

Youth Ministries, a choir, and a Sunday School bus. A baptismal tank was installed eliminating the need to travel to Cobourg or Elim Lodge for baptisms. Sunday School has always been a strong part of this church right from the very beginning. Another outreach was a weekly radio broadcast on CFOR, Orillia from 1952 to 1959. The prayer room and altar were places were people met with God, found Christ as Saviour and were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Rev and Mrs William Churchill

Thoughts of church expansion arose during the time the first assistant pastor was here (1974 – 1976). Pastor Churchill saw surveyors working on the present property. It seemed like the right place. He and board members, George Caister and Don Young claimed the property for the Lord. What followed was a miracle of God’s provision. This property was originally three parcels of land. An offer was made on the parcel of land the present church building stands on but it was turned down. What wasn’t known to us at the time was that the developer who owned the land which is now the south parking lot had made an offer also. It seemed to the owner that this property was in great demand. When the developer, who owned the south parking lot parcel, was unable to purchase the extra land he put his 1 _ acres up for sale. We bought it. After it was almost paid for, a second piece of property to the west came on the market. We placed an offer to purchase. Then another miracle happened. The offer was accepted and cash came in for the purchase. After that, we looked at purchasing the third parcel of land. A letter to the owner came back with a favourable response. The whole 2 7/12 acres, which had an estimated value of $100,000, was assembled for the total price of $54,000.00. All these real estate transactions happened over a space of several years. God is always on time. To God be the glory!

Construction began on the new Church Building.

The Massive Steeple was lifted in place with a crane
to complete the building for the Glory Of God

There have been outstanding gifts of God’s grace in this assembly. As a boy, Steven Wright was in the incurable stages of Bright’s disease and not expected to live. As Laura Irvine prayed, God totally healed him. And how can we forget the time when Eddie Crooks walked in from the street into the pastor’s office under the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ? Or when some church members prayed with the mother of a rebellious teenage boy, David Terveld, who was messed up with drugs and in a desperate state, God transformed him and healed his mind. David later attended Bible College. These are samples of what the Lord has done. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Celebrating 200 Years of Sunday School Services
with a parade from the Church to Memorial Park

Commemoratory Celebration of Robert Rakes
who started Sunday Schools in 1780

Many memorable events have occurred since we walked from the Glenelg Street church after a New Year’s Eve Watch Night Service in 1985 to the partially finished church on Victoria Avenue North. It was a time of increases in numbers, personal dedications, seeking of the Lord, witnessing, and new ministries – Precept Bible Studies, and Kawartha Lakes Dream Centre.
Anniversaries are like the time the Lord told Israel to put twelve stones in the middle of the Jordon River. It was to remind the people how He had stopped the Jordan and allowed Israel to cross over to the promised land. When we remember the Lord’s provision in the past, we can be confident of the future.

The above History was Written By Ruth Armstrong and
Shirley S. Tye 2004

Sunday, October 30. 2005 marked another milestone in the life of Calvary Pentecostal Church, Lindsay.
Rev. Craig Burton, District Superintendent of PAOC, officiated at the double celebration of the burning of the church mortgage and the induction of Pastor Terry and Judy Grimes as the new ministers. Special guests included former pastors Rev. David Strome and Rev. Jurgen Rausch.

Pastor Jurgen & Reni Rausch - Rev. David & Lois Strome - Pastor Terry & Judy Grimes

Rev. David Strome - Pastor Jurgen Rausch - Pastor Terry Grimes
George Caister - Rev Craig Burton

Praise The Lord!

Photos Courtesy of Calvary Pentecostal Archives