The Formation of Ajax SDA Community Church

Introduction
In mother Africa, the ancestors verbally passed down historical information to the succeeding generations.  In Ajax Seventh-day Adventist Community Church (Ajax SDACC), we try to blend the verbal and digital information so that the younger generations will know and understand their roots.  January 1, 2019 marked 14 years since we began to worship in Ajax as a separate church group.  Would you like to know who the earliest key individuals involved in planting this church are? The following is a quick summary about who, when and how we developed as a community church in the town of Ajax.

The Vision
Early in 2004, I got the vision to start a church in Ajax but I was reluctant, primarily because of the amount of work involved.  I told my wife, Bernie Marcellin (now deceased) who helped me begin the ground work of influencing our circle of friends such as, Lance and Candy Flash, Wendell and Judy Boyce, Cornelius and Angela McIntyre, Matthew and Lydia Francis, Genifer Husbands, Ivanette Gregory and Bernice Wilson my present wife.  Later on other members were added to the group.

Facts Used to Implement the Vision
I was an Elder for many years and was successful with supervising the  ‘Lost Sheep Ministry’ at the Apple Creek SDA church. Those who decided to join the group to start a church in the town of Ajax had talents to cover all the key ministries of the church.  For example, we began with 3 elders, 1 treasurer, 2 deacons, 4 deaconesses, family life, youth, sabbath school and personal ministry. Laymen joined us as back-up preachers, while Pastor Coleman gave technical support in the beginning and later his full support.

Opposition to Implement the Vision 
Reluctantly we received the go-ahead to leave and form an assembly closer to our homes in the town of Ajax. However, nearby churches, fearing membership lost ask the Ontario Conference to stop the attempt to plant a new church in the town of Ajax. Many pastors had refused to preach at our church fearing we were a break-away group.
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Determination
The General Conference (GC) policy states that for every 20,000 people there should be at least one Seventh-day Adventist church.  Both Pickering and Ajax could accommodate five churches each.  This gave us the momentum to proceed and we worked with pastors Hibbert and Garnett from the Ontario Conference who supported our church planting effort. We then had a meeting with then president, Pastor Nichols, who gave us permission to start the church, after he was convinced by our 20 minute video presentation.

​Additional Facts for Successful Beginning
1.  We prayerfully involved God in all our plans.
2.  We had a common bond among members such as:

• The spirit of Evangelism,
• Travelling from the town of Ajax to Apple Creek for almost 20 years,
• We calculated the collective expenses of travelling to Apple Creek Church in Markham and found it would cost less to pay for church rental and would diminish stress,
• We had the willingness to accept the guidance of Pastor Coleman, who was retired at that time and gave his services for free. We earnestly followed his directions to implement solutions to any problems we encountered.
• We formed a spiritual and social support unit which helped us deal with personal problems, such as, car-pooling.

Securing A Place of Worship
Securing a place of worship to rent was one of our most challenging task.  However, the ‘Search Committee’ finally agreed to accept an offer to worship at Refuge City Pentecostal church on January 1, 2005.  Ninety-seven (97) worshippers attended our first service. 

Conclusion
I am glad I obeyed the heavenly vision and I am honoured to have served as head-elder for the first ten (10) years. When I say Happy Anniversary Ajax SDACC, I mean that! At Ajax SDACC, we have vision and faith that God can make what seems impossible to man possible. That with the right attitude, unity and love, we can and will continue to illuminate our community. Happy 14th Anniversary Ajax! Please continue to plug into Jesus. To God be the glory!

​by Francis Marcellin