100 Years. Do You Know the Story?

1 Why do we commemorate 100 years?

A centennial marks the completion of one hundred years, and it is far more than a date on a calendar. Derived from the Latin centum (hundred), a centennial is a structured public occasion to evoke collective memory, strengthen community identity, and reflect on historical achievements.

In 1927, Evangel Temple began when a group of young Christian businessmen in Toronto, led by Noel Perkin - a banker with the Bank of Montreal - . As the group grew, they decided to established it as a centre for training missionaries and sending them to mission fields. Their vision was not merely to build a congregation, but to launch a movement of world mission.

As part of our centennial, we are also planning to honour the memory of those God used to found Evangel Temple 100 years ago as a Christian organization. Visit our church website to explore a special centennial section showcasing the achievements God has enabled over the past century.

2 Why do we honour those God used to establish Evangel Temple?

We are publicly recognizing and paying tribute to 100 years of history marked by faith, God's faithfulness, and the significant missions achievements of Evangel Temple as a church. Honoring our founders is not nostalgia — it is gratitude expressed in public. It declares that what we enjoy today was entrusted to us by those who obeyed God before us, and that their labour was not in vain.

3 Why do we engage every generation in the centennial celebration?

Our centennial is an opportunity for intentional inter-generational engagement — meaningful interaction between different age groups, using the 100th-anniversary milestone to foster social cohesion, mutual respect, and community bonding.

• A free public centennial concert
• Storytelling initiatives where seniors and centenarians share firsthand accounts of God's faithfulness
• Mentorship programs connecting teenagers and students with senior members of our congregation

These bridges across generations give our youth a living perspective on the longevity and resilience God provides, while preserving the core Christian culture and traditions that define us.

4 Why do we desire to inspire youth?

Scripture sets a clear expectation: each generation will treasure its Christian heritage and transmit it to the next. The psalmist wrote:

"Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4

"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD." Psalm 78:4

If Evangel Temple's youth are to gain a working knowledge of the Lord — His dealings with mankind, His offer of salvation, and the joy of living in vital communion with Him — then this inheritance must be deliberately passed on. Continuity of Christian principles, priorities, and kingdom values depends on it.

This centennial is not just a look backward. It is another God-given opportunity: one hundred years of testimony handed directly into your hands.