WHO WE ARE

History

The Canadian Evangelical Christian Churches' founding dates back to 1944, and its essence is an interesting story of the growth of an "American Restoration Movement" that began from a seed of faith and prayer in the early 1800's by Barton W. Stone. From within this movement, it is believed that all Christians could unite together without denominational barriers or division, regardless of their theological differences. This movement is not committed to ecclesiastical standards or doctrines repugnant to human reason. CECC does not advocate extremism or fanaticism of any kind. CECC offers its members the security of an established church body with liberty to proclaim the Gospel without the testraints of ecclesiastical powers. CECC also accepts those of ethnic and multicultural origins. Since the early 1960's, a spiritual release of God's Holy Spirit has impacted many hungry for God's anointing within this organization, uniting all believers to world and home missions and evangelistic outreach to care for the poor and the disenfranchised. Phase by phase, the rebirthing and the nurturing of this great emerging church denomination has helped us reflect and recapture the very vision of what God plans to further do as He develops His pattern for the Church, and introduces His plan for all ages to come.

REVIVAL IS COMING TO CANADA!

As we are seeing God's Holy Spirit move mightily in waves across Canada, we are witnessing Christians, carriers of His anointing, display God's glory to a dying world. Revival is firstly aimed at CHRISTIANS in the Body of Christ and not found in any institution or brick building. As history clearly shows, it is a flood of deep cleansing, repentance and empowering aimed at reviving God's people, so that they can bring in a mighty harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God, and healing to the nations around the world.

Rick Warren, who is the senior pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Orange County, California, spoke once on a topic of church revival, and he compared church growth with water surfing. He pointed out that with water surfing, it is an art, and one needs to know how to choose the right equipment; how to use it properly; how to recognize a "surfable" wave, and how to catch a wave and ride it as long as possible without wiping out then the tide comes in.

He also illustrated that surfing spiritual waves is the art of riding and catching the waves that God builds, and he points out that it is God who makes these waves, not man. History has shown that man has manufactured the wave of God's Spirit by using programs or marketing techniques to create growth. But catching a spiritual wave of growth takes patience, faith, and most of all, hunger for the move of the Holy Spirit. God is sending many waves of growth, and many waves of revival into the Church today. Since 1967, we have seen and experienced many waves of growth, and many waves of change, but most importantly, we are experiencing an unprecedented movement of God's Spirit in many parts of Canada and around the world. Other denominations are also experiencing this move of God. Our prayer is that many other organizations and denominations will be touched by God's Holy Spirit. That many will be led to Jesus Christ and see real change take place in the Church and in our nation. This is the Canada we all want!

Independent - Interdenominational - United in One Accord

CECC clergy, churches, and ministers are independent, interdenominational and united in one accord. CECC clergy represent various religious backgrounds within the Evangelical, Full-Gospel Denomination, including but not restricted to: Pentecostal, Baptist, Anglican, Free Methodist, United Brethren in Christ, Episcopal, Wesleyan, Salvation Army, Presbyterian, Vineyard, Alliance, Missionary Evangelical, Mennonite, Church of the Nazarene, and Non-denominational. The unity of CECC has been successful because we have held this viewpoint and position through the years of history. Our focus is found in Christ, Who is the centre of our faith. On the other hand, if judged by the Word of God as authoritative, the doctrinal position of CECC is fundamentally sound and many persons of ability are attracted to it by its evangelical and its orthodox character.

Leadership Giftings

CECC is a visionary denomination with a ministry-driven purpose, and believes that the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are freely to be understood, discovered, and used to direct the church to accomplish this divine enablement for Christian service in the 21st century. CECC also recognizes the anointings and roles of the apostolic prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral and teaching leadership giftings (1Corinthians 12:4-31; Ephesians 4:12), for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for edifying the Body of Christ.

Liberty in CECC

The clergy in the Canadian Evangelical Christian Churches enjoy certain freedoms and expressions of their faith, and of the local body of believers. We believe that there is Unity in the essentials, Liberty in the non-essentials and Diversity in all things.

As long as the Articles of Faith are kept in mind, ministers have the freedom of their own personal understanding of the Word of God. CECC offers ministers the opportunity to answer God's call to preach the Gospel without the restrictions of man-made doctrines or organizational regulations imposed by so many religious bodies today.

God's Spirit is moving mightily in waves around the world.
No one can manufacture this wave of God's Holy Spirit.
Only catch it.
We have!