Church History

Updated July 31, 2021

Heartiest congratulations to this ministry as we recognize 21 years of ministry in the Durham Region. 21 years of blessings, 21 years of achievements and 21 years with fruitfulness. There have been obstacles and setbacks but for 21 years, this ministry has been a witness for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We thank you Lord!

We honour those who have faithfully served this ministry over the past 21 years, some of whom are still with us today. Others have transitioned to glory, including our founder, Bishop Joseph G. Fisher. Alongside him, men and women laboured tirelessly, laying a foundation upon which we continue to build. We pause to celebrate our past, our rich history, our legacy – all parts of our legacy – the successes and the failures, the triumphs and the missteps. We reflect on the present and we are grateful. With great anticipation, we press on in our purpose towards the future, determined, with all our hearts, to love Jesus and to love like Jesus!

In 1990, our founder, Bishop Fisher, launched a Saturday night prayer meeting that grew tremendously in size and works. People came from far and near to attend these prayer meetings where there were testimonies of healing of terminal diseases and other sicknesses, deliverance and salvation. Five years later, in 1995, under the ministry of Revivaltime Tabernacle, Bishop was assigned to pastor a satellite church in the Durham Region. Again, under his leadership, the satellite church grew rapidly to standing-room only, resulting in an expansion of its then current capacity, to meet the demand of attendees.

In the year 2000, after a series of events, there was a separation from Revivaltime Durham, which led Bishop Fisher to found Word of Truth Christian Centre, along with approximately 200 founding members, with the mandate, “Let us rise up and build!” God remained faithful to Bishop Fisher and to the ministry by providing a building, at a discounted price. That building, formerly a restaurant, is the present location of this ministry. Members, who had a mind to work, spent days and nights, performing the physical labour of gutting and renovating the building, to transform it from a restaurant, into a sanctuary suitable for church services. Equally as important, were the many nights spent in all-night and half-night prayer meetings. It was those times in prayer, that ensured the success of the ministry. To God be the Glory!

With a mind and heart to better the community, especially the black community, in 2004, Bishop Fisher launched the Word of Truth Family Life Centre. For many years, the FLC rented a unit located across the street from the sanctuary. For almost 15 years, Bishop Fisher, along with Minister Geraldine Wade and in later years, Pastor BJ Daniels, directed a Federally-funded Skills Link Employment Program, housed in The Family Life Centre. This program employed at-risk young adults from various socioeconomic backgrounds, teaching them life skills for maximized development, relevant job skills for re-entry into the workplace, and providing actual job placement for its participants. The success of this program has been phenomenal and has been recognized on numerous occasions, both locally and federally. In addition, the Family Life Centre held programs for seniors such as, computer literacy training, health and wellness education, and brain training courses, all under the Federal Government of Canada, New Horizons For Seniors Program.

In 2005, Joseph G. Fisher was consecrated and elevated to the high office of Bishop, serving under the spiritual covering of Archbishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr., of Mount Calvary Holy Church of America, Inc. He was also a member of the Potter's House International Pastoral Alliance, under the leadership of Bishop T.D. Jakes.

In 2012, after continuous growth, the ministry expanded its location by constructing a new sanctuary. This expansion allowed the church to house the Family Life Centre on its grounds. When the new edifice arose, Word of Truth Christian Centre became The Family Worship Centre, with the mandate of, “Strengthening the Family; Building the Community; Serving with Love.” During this transition, the congregation honoured their pastor by renaming The Family Life Centre to, The Bishop Joseph G. Fisher Family Life Centre. In October 2012, for his tremendous work within the community, Bishop Fisher was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, by the Federal Government of Canada.

In 2015, as the ministries of the church continued to grow, at the request of Bishop Fisher, Pastors BJ and Ayesha Daniels returned to the Durham Region from Washington DC, and were installed as Associate Pastors, working alongside Bishop and his wife, Pastor Shawna.

Following Bishop’s passing in November 2019, the onslaught of the COVID19 pandemic in March 2020, and the ‘teething pains’ of pastoral transitions, Pastor BJ Daniels was named Lead Pastor. In April 2021, the church named changed to Purpose Church, signalling a new era, and a new direction, as Pastor BJ leads us in accepting the challenge to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to the most technically advanced and mobile generation yet. The gospel message will never change – however, a new, fresh and exciting vision to present this message is the call of the future. Indeed, we’ve come this far by faith! Indeed, we are excited about our future!