Our Mission: Our Day to Day Unchanging Purpose
We exist to glorify God by making disciples who enjoy, follow, and share Jesus.
The Vision: Our 30,000 Ft View of a Preferred Future
As we make disciples who enjoy, follow, and share Jesus, we aspire to:
Overflow Jesus’ gospel of grace in all its beauty into a new culture, a new community, and a new city, for the good of our neighbourhoods and beyond.
Overflow Jesus’ gospel of grace in all its beauty into a new culture, a new community, and a new city, for the good of our neighbourhoods and beyond.
- We dream of a New Culture replete with beautiful stories of lives and communities transformed by God’s grace, even in the cracked and broken places.
- We dream of a New Community that surprises our neighbours with relationships characterized by transparency, forgiveness, acceptance, and loving accountability.
- We dream of a New City–the eternal City of God after this earth passes away–earnestly pursuing Jesus’ vision of mercy, justice, reconciliation, and human flourishing as an eternity-ward signpost for our temporary, earthly city.
Our Beliefs: What Anchors us
About God
We believe there is one God, the creator and ruler of the universe. We believe God has existed eternally as the Trinity–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe these three persons are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About The Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s inspired, written word to all men, without error in its original form, and the final authority for Christian beliefs and living. We believe it was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Humanity
We believe that humanity is made in the image of God, to be like him in character. We believe that humanity is the supreme object of God’s creation. We believe that while humankind has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by noncompliant attitudes and actions toward God called “sin.” We believe that sin separates humanity from God. We believe that all people are utterly unable to save themselves or please God, except by his mercy and grace.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
About Eternity
We believe in the personal, bodily, visible, and imminent return of Christ from heaven to judge all humanity and to take his people to their eternal home. We believe all humans are appointed to die once. We believe humankind was created to exist forever. We believe that hell is to be eternally separated from God and eternal life is to be eternally in union with him in Christ. We believe that Jesus atoned for the sins of all who will trust in him alone for salvation. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity on a cross. We believe the new heavens and the new earth and hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46
About Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe he is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus atoned for the sins of all who will trust in him alone for salvation by living a sinless human life and by offering himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men on a cross. We believe he arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. We believe he ascended to heaven’s glory, intercedes for us as our Great High Priest at God’s right hand, and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free, unmerited gift from God to humankind. We believe that we can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. We believe that Jesus dying on the cross provided substitutionary atonement for our sins. We believe that we can be saved from sin’s penalty only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Endurance & Eternal Security
We believe those who have truly trusted Jesus for salvation endure in their faith to the end. We believe those who endure by grace through faith to the end are secure in salvation for eternity. We believe salvation and sanctification are maintained by God’s grace and power from the Spirit through union with Christ.
John 10:29; John 15:1-11; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
About The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. We believe he is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every Christian from the moment of salvation. We believe he provides God’s people strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow him in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to walk in step with the Holy Spirit daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:1
About the Church
We believe the universal Church to be the Body of Christ composed of all true believers. We believe every believer in Christ is a priest with the right to carry out the work of the church according to God’s gifting and Scripture’s guidelines. We believe the universal Church is expressed through the assembly of local churches. We believe the ultimate purpose of the local church is to glorify God in the everlasting and ever-increasing gladness of worship. We believe the local church’s penultimate purpose is to continue the servant ministry of Christ in the church and to the world through the great commision and the preaching of the gospel to all people. We believe the local church and her good deeds create a spiritual new city within the existing city. We believe the church as a new city points to a hope in the ultimate New City, the eternal city of God.
Acts 8:1; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:10; Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 5:9-12
About Baptism and Communion
We believe baptism and communion are the two sacraments ordained by Christ himself as signs of his new covenant. We believe these two signs are outward visible reminders of an inward work of grace.
We believe baptism publicly signifies our identification with and belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as our personal salvation. We believe while baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates love and obedience to Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
We believe communion, or the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, is a sacrament given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us, to signify and remind us of the new covenant and God’s great promises to us in Christ, and to look forward to the great marriage supper of the Lamb in eternity. We believe the elements of bread and wine or juice are symbols of Christ’s crucified body and shed blood. We believe communion is not a means of salvation.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
We believe there is one God, the creator and ruler of the universe. We believe God has existed eternally as the Trinity–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe these three persons are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About The Bible
We believe the Bible is God’s inspired, written word to all men, without error in its original form, and the final authority for Christian beliefs and living. We believe it was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Humanity
We believe that humanity is made in the image of God, to be like him in character. We believe that humanity is the supreme object of God’s creation. We believe that while humankind has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by noncompliant attitudes and actions toward God called “sin.” We believe that sin separates humanity from God. We believe that all people are utterly unable to save themselves or please God, except by his mercy and grace.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
About Eternity
We believe in the personal, bodily, visible, and imminent return of Christ from heaven to judge all humanity and to take his people to their eternal home. We believe all humans are appointed to die once. We believe humankind was created to exist forever. We believe that hell is to be eternally separated from God and eternal life is to be eternally in union with him in Christ. We believe that Jesus atoned for the sins of all who will trust in him alone for salvation. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity on a cross. We believe the new heavens and the new earth and hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46
About Jesus Christ
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. We believe he is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus atoned for the sins of all who will trust in him alone for salvation by living a sinless human life and by offering himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men on a cross. We believe he arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. We believe he ascended to heaven’s glory, intercedes for us as our Great High Priest at God’s right hand, and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13
About Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free, unmerited gift from God to humankind. We believe that we can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. We believe that Jesus dying on the cross provided substitutionary atonement for our sins. We believe that we can be saved from sin’s penalty only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Endurance & Eternal Security
We believe those who have truly trusted Jesus for salvation endure in their faith to the end. We believe those who endure by grace through faith to the end are secure in salvation for eternity. We believe salvation and sanctification are maintained by God’s grace and power from the Spirit through union with Christ.
John 10:29; John 15:1-11; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
About The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. We believe he is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every Christian from the moment of salvation. We believe he provides God’s people strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow him in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to walk in step with the Holy Spirit daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:1
About the Church
We believe the universal Church to be the Body of Christ composed of all true believers. We believe every believer in Christ is a priest with the right to carry out the work of the church according to God’s gifting and Scripture’s guidelines. We believe the universal Church is expressed through the assembly of local churches. We believe the ultimate purpose of the local church is to glorify God in the everlasting and ever-increasing gladness of worship. We believe the local church’s penultimate purpose is to continue the servant ministry of Christ in the church and to the world through the great commision and the preaching of the gospel to all people. We believe the local church and her good deeds create a spiritual new city within the existing city. We believe the church as a new city points to a hope in the ultimate New City, the eternal city of God.
Acts 8:1; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:10; Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 5:9-12
About Baptism and Communion
We believe baptism and communion are the two sacraments ordained by Christ himself as signs of his new covenant. We believe these two signs are outward visible reminders of an inward work of grace.
We believe baptism publicly signifies our identification with and belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as our personal salvation. We believe while baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates love and obedience to Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
We believe communion, or the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, is a sacrament given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us, to signify and remind us of the new covenant and God’s great promises to us in Christ, and to look forward to the great marriage supper of the Lamb in eternity. We believe the elements of bread and wine or juice are symbols of Christ’s crucified body and shed blood. We believe communion is not a means of salvation.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
Our Values: The Compass that Guides Our Church’s Decisions
Our values align us to a “true north” and guide us toward the fulfillment of our mission and vision.
Along the way, in building a New Culture, we seek to be:
Along the way, in building a New Community, we seek to be:
Along the way, in pointing to God’s New City, we seek to:
Along the way, in building a New Culture, we seek to be:
- Scripture guided;
- Christ uplifting;
- Spirit dependent.
Along the way, in building a New Community, we seek to be:
- Full of grace in relationships;
- Full of truth in relationships;
- Motivated to mature.
Along the way, in pointing to God’s New City, we seek to:
- Demonstrate the gospel through mercy and justice;
- Engage culture with the gospel;
- Synergize a gospel movement locally and globally.
OUR STORY
Then & Now
A Marriage
The story of Trinity Grace Church is the tale of a beautiful marriage, not between a bride and groom but between two churches. On one side was Leaside Bible Chapel and, on the other side, was a budding group of people who dreamed of planting a church which they could invite their friends to.
On One Side: Leaside Bible Chapel, 1949-2015
Leaside Bible Chapel was established as an independent Evangelical Church in 1949 by a group of families from the Christian Brethren Assemblies, commonly referred to as the Open Brethren. Construction of the church building began on May 29th, 1949. The first service was a New Year’s Watch Night Service held in the upstairs room on December 31st, 1949. The building as it stands today was constructed in two phases four years apart and from the beginning included space for two stores to serve the local Leaside community and reduce costs.
Acts 2:42 describes the New Testament church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to Fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Based on this New Testament model, the Chapel, led by a team of elders and deeply committed members, flourished through the fifties and sixties with large numbers and innovative outreach through popular children’s meetings and a ladies coffee hour, to name a few.
Support of missions both home and abroad was a major focus of the chapel. Often close to half of the church’s budget was designated for the spread of the good news in Europe, Africa, Asia, in addition to the strong support of Christian summer camps in Ontario and gospel outreach in Quebec.
After many decades of fruitful ministry, Leaside Bible Chapel reached a crossroads in 2014. The need became apparent to reevaluate its strategy to reach the community and greater Toronto with the gospel.
On the Other Side: A Vision for a New Church
Albert and Linda Chung were serving faithfully at Young Nak Korean Presbyterian Church of Toronto, a local Korean immigrant megachurch. The church was home to them. Yet an insatiable desire stirred in their hearts to share the gospel of grace beyond the Korean community. They dreamed of a multiethnic, multigenerational, and multiclass church to which they could invite their friends of diverse background, a church without cultural hurdles.
Thus began a six year journey of preparation, which included further studies in church planting, networking with church planting coaches, and an intensive six week internship in New York City with Redeemer City to City. After 12 years of ministry, Albert and Linda took a step of faith in 2014. The task of choosing a target area for a church plant felt daunting, since Toronto is a city of just over six million spread over nearly seven thousand square kilometres. One day in prayer, Albert got the idea to plug pins on a Google map of where all the couple’s friends lived. Everyone lived within a 10 km radius of the major intersection of Don Mills Rd. and Lawrence Ave.
God began to lead Albert and Linda to like-minded souls excited about the vision of the church plant. Over time, a group of about 40 people were gathering to pray. They envisioned a church that would overflow the gospel of grace for the good of its neighbourhood and beyond.
God’s Wonderful, Mysterious Orchestration: How It All Came Together
After resigning from Young Nak, Albert took on an internship at Grace Toronto, a local church in downtown Toronto with a vision for urban mission. They provided Albert the opportunity to lead two small groups in his church plant target area. In one of the small groups, God brought Albert into contact with a family who had recently entered a season away from their home church, Leaside Bible Chapel. On hearing about Albert’s vision, the couple connected Albert to the elders of Leaside Bible Chapel, who were at a crossroads themselves.
Albert and the elders met in December 2014. Thus began a seven month journey of envisioning together, praying together, and training together for a renewed presence of the gospel in midtown/uptown Toronto.
Along the way, Young Nak Korean Presbyterian Church of Toronto, City on a Hill Toronto, C2C Network, Redeemer City to City, Grace Toronto, and Grace Network provided invaluable support and insight.
On June 22, 2015, both sides came together in unanimous agreement and enthusiasm to plant Trinity Grace Church. Leaside Bible Chapel, in a gesture of unspeakable Kingdom-mindedness and generosity, gave themselves selflessly and cheerfully to being replanted as Trinity Grace Church under Albert’s leadership. Only in eternity will we see the fullness, profoundness, and beauty of their untethered transfer of stewardship in people, resources, and building to the new church plant.
By God’s overwhelming and overflowing grace, Trinity Grace Church launched and had its first public worship at 826 Eglinton Ave E., on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
To Be Continued…
Trinity Grace Church exists to glorify God as we enjoy and follow Jesus. We envision this grace overflowing into a New Culture, a New Community, and a New City. We find our life in Being Glad, Belonging, and Being a Blessing in and through the gospel.
God has helped our vision to become a reality. We love our multiethnic, multigenerational, and multiclass church. Our family is still growing and maturing in its mission, but we are gladly on the way.
The story of Trinity Grace Church is the tale of a beautiful marriage, not between a bride and groom but between two churches. On one side was Leaside Bible Chapel and, on the other side, was a budding group of people who dreamed of planting a church which they could invite their friends to.
On One Side: Leaside Bible Chapel, 1949-2015
Leaside Bible Chapel was established as an independent Evangelical Church in 1949 by a group of families from the Christian Brethren Assemblies, commonly referred to as the Open Brethren. Construction of the church building began on May 29th, 1949. The first service was a New Year’s Watch Night Service held in the upstairs room on December 31st, 1949. The building as it stands today was constructed in two phases four years apart and from the beginning included space for two stores to serve the local Leaside community and reduce costs.
Acts 2:42 describes the New Testament church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to Fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Based on this New Testament model, the Chapel, led by a team of elders and deeply committed members, flourished through the fifties and sixties with large numbers and innovative outreach through popular children’s meetings and a ladies coffee hour, to name a few.
Support of missions both home and abroad was a major focus of the chapel. Often close to half of the church’s budget was designated for the spread of the good news in Europe, Africa, Asia, in addition to the strong support of Christian summer camps in Ontario and gospel outreach in Quebec.
After many decades of fruitful ministry, Leaside Bible Chapel reached a crossroads in 2014. The need became apparent to reevaluate its strategy to reach the community and greater Toronto with the gospel.
On the Other Side: A Vision for a New Church
Albert and Linda Chung were serving faithfully at Young Nak Korean Presbyterian Church of Toronto, a local Korean immigrant megachurch. The church was home to them. Yet an insatiable desire stirred in their hearts to share the gospel of grace beyond the Korean community. They dreamed of a multiethnic, multigenerational, and multiclass church to which they could invite their friends of diverse background, a church without cultural hurdles.
Thus began a six year journey of preparation, which included further studies in church planting, networking with church planting coaches, and an intensive six week internship in New York City with Redeemer City to City. After 12 years of ministry, Albert and Linda took a step of faith in 2014. The task of choosing a target area for a church plant felt daunting, since Toronto is a city of just over six million spread over nearly seven thousand square kilometres. One day in prayer, Albert got the idea to plug pins on a Google map of where all the couple’s friends lived. Everyone lived within a 10 km radius of the major intersection of Don Mills Rd. and Lawrence Ave.
God began to lead Albert and Linda to like-minded souls excited about the vision of the church plant. Over time, a group of about 40 people were gathering to pray. They envisioned a church that would overflow the gospel of grace for the good of its neighbourhood and beyond.
God’s Wonderful, Mysterious Orchestration: How It All Came Together
After resigning from Young Nak, Albert took on an internship at Grace Toronto, a local church in downtown Toronto with a vision for urban mission. They provided Albert the opportunity to lead two small groups in his church plant target area. In one of the small groups, God brought Albert into contact with a family who had recently entered a season away from their home church, Leaside Bible Chapel. On hearing about Albert’s vision, the couple connected Albert to the elders of Leaside Bible Chapel, who were at a crossroads themselves.
Albert and the elders met in December 2014. Thus began a seven month journey of envisioning together, praying together, and training together for a renewed presence of the gospel in midtown/uptown Toronto.
Along the way, Young Nak Korean Presbyterian Church of Toronto, City on a Hill Toronto, C2C Network, Redeemer City to City, Grace Toronto, and Grace Network provided invaluable support and insight.
On June 22, 2015, both sides came together in unanimous agreement and enthusiasm to plant Trinity Grace Church. Leaside Bible Chapel, in a gesture of unspeakable Kingdom-mindedness and generosity, gave themselves selflessly and cheerfully to being replanted as Trinity Grace Church under Albert’s leadership. Only in eternity will we see the fullness, profoundness, and beauty of their untethered transfer of stewardship in people, resources, and building to the new church plant.
By God’s overwhelming and overflowing grace, Trinity Grace Church launched and had its first public worship at 826 Eglinton Ave E., on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
To Be Continued…
Trinity Grace Church exists to glorify God as we enjoy and follow Jesus. We envision this grace overflowing into a New Culture, a New Community, and a New City. We find our life in Being Glad, Belonging, and Being a Blessing in and through the gospel.
God has helped our vision to become a reality. We love our multiethnic, multigenerational, and multiclass church. Our family is still growing and maturing in its mission, but we are gladly on the way.