May 2025
Sonia Kennedy-Brown and Dennis Alleyne
Edited By Tanya Campbell- Dailey
On September 23, 1999, Sister Davis and the brothers Bert & Henry Officer knocked on a door in the Woodbridge area with the specific aim of starting a church group. Sister Davis said, “we were looking for you, but we didn’t know your address. We prayed, but here you are.” And he said, “this is the place”. One month later, what would become Woodbridge Seventh-day Adventist Church had its first worship service, held in the basement of Elder Alleyne’s home. This continued in the ensuing Sabbaths with the blessing of Pastor Vassel Kerr, the then Ministerial Secretary of the Ontario Conference.
Vaughan Memorial Hall. Photo: Bruce Forsyth 2022
As the group grew, there was a need to relocate to a few other addresses for a better worship experience, and also to be more effective in the outreach to the community. We say thank you to the City of Vaughan for allowing us to use the old historic building Vellore Hall, located at Weston Road and Rutherford. There, on Sabbath July 20th, 2002, the group was organized and received as a Company into the Sisterhood of the Seventh-day Adventist churches of the Ontario Conference. After our organization as a Company, we relocated to St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church at the intersection of Pine Valley and Major Mackenzie.
Thank you to Pastor and Sister Ledford Morris, who worked with us for many years as we grew under their guidance. On the 21st of May, 2005, a new birth experience took place when the Company was organized into the Woodbridge Seventh-day Adventist Church, with 43 charter members. Sister Morris had an angelic singing voice, and Pastor Morris was a real Moses – an upholder of the law and the prophets. They remained with us until January 2006. In February 2006, God brought us another leader to guide the young church – Pastor and Sister Napthely Dorzilme and family. Under his leadership, we quickly relocated to the Woodbridge United Church at 8090 Kipling Avenue. He was a great visiting Pastor, she fed us some tasty French cuisine, and their son enhanced our service as he played the piano. Pastor Dorzilme remained with us until January 2010.
Over the years, we have had a succession of pastors who empowered us with their various skills and abilities to keep the light burning in our church and surrounding communities. Pastor and Sister Anthony DaCosta – she made the after AY snack for the youth, he was a singer and guitar player. Pastor and Sister Carlton Roulston—she had a melodious voice; he was a great teacher. Pastor John Scott, the greatest hugger of them all and a lover of all things youth. Pastor and Sister Wallin O’Connor – she had a welcoming smile; and he was very jolly and a great bible story presenter. Pastor Rowan and Sister Sewell – She was warm and very approachable; he was known to visit his flock and was full of unexpected wit. Today, we express our heartfelt thanks to all of our former Pastors and their families for your love and hard work and encouragement.We are presently blessed with Pastor and Sister Romean Smith – She is calm but has powerful insights; he is gentle and kind but strong in faith.
During our twenty years, we had a passion for in-reach and outreach. To accomplish our goals, we participated in vibrant prayer meetings, bible studies and visitation of members for worship and encouragement, which included help with cash and other personal needs. We had cooking classes, Vacation Bible School, nursing home visits and clothes and toiletry distribution to several community entities. This list is a fraction of our in-reach and outreach initiatives.
As we grew spiritually, each Pastor encouraged us and worked hard toward our desire to acquire our own church building. After 20 years of renting, we did not want to begin our 20th year (which we celebrated May 21st 2025) in a rented facility. Like Joshua, who led the Israelites across the Jordan on their final leg of the journey to the Promised Land, Pastor Romean Smith led the charge, we followed, and the battle was won. On the 6th of February 2025, we were given the key to 94 Kenhar Drive, Unit 20 as the owners, not as renters. We say to God be the Glory great things He hath done.
Our mission is to proclaim the good news of Salvation. From this building, we have pledged to increase our outreach to this new community with vibrancy under the Holy Spirits guidance.