About

Located in the heart of Central Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, Evangel is a local Pentecostal Assembly. At its core, Evangel is a missional church with a heart for the community and the world. We believe we have been called to serve the people around us both in spiritual and material ways. We consider all who are affiliated with Evangel to be a family – and strive to welcome anyone who wants to be part of that family in any way. That is why we proudly proclaim to be a “Family Church with a Missionary Heart.”

Over the years Evangel has spent considerable resources to reach souls not just here at home, but all over the world. Whether it’s an orphanage in Malawi, Africa, or work in Thailand, Peru, the Philippians, and more – we have been able to send teams, financial support and Heaven-shaking prayers that we know have touched countless lives.

Despite being in an age of social distancing and restrictions, we strive to be the stable connection that bridges you with the One who knows you better than you know yourself. While the world may have changed, we believe we serve a Savior who never changes. That is why we continue to do His work, for the good of the Kingdom, until He returns.

Core Values

The core values and spiritual principles of Evangel Pentecostal Tabernacle are:
  • We Believe the Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
  • We Believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
  • We Believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule a thousand years.
  • We Believe in the Blessed Hope–the Rapture of the Church–at Christ’s coming.
  • We Believe the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ.
  • We Believe regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
  • We Believe in Water Baptism by immersion for believers, according to Matthew 28:19.
  • We Believe in the observance of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of the death of our Lord, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 11:23-32.
  • We Believe the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer.
  • We Believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given believers who ask for it.
  • We Believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
  • We Believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation.

Affiliation

Evangel Pentecostal Tabernacle is a local Assembly in the fellowship and part of the General Conference of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAONL).

The governance and operation of this Assembly are in accordance with the policies, practices, and expectation that are specified within the Local Assembly Constitution of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador and the policies that may be adopted from time to time by the General Conference.

History of Evangel

In 1926, Pastor C.L. March and helpers from Corner Brook held the first Pentecostal services in a store-front on Main Street in Grand Falls’ Station, which later became the town of Windsor.  The results of these services grew into the Windsor Pentecostal Assembly.

In 1962, a group of individuals from the Windsor Assembly had a vision for a church and congregation to be established in the neighboring town of Grand Falls.  Because there was no building to house a congregation, services were held in Beaumont Hall, under the leadership of Pastor David Bursey.

By October of 1962, there was a congregation of 12-15 people and a Sunday School enrolment of 34. The first Sunday School Superintendent was Mrs. Jean (Snelgrove) Dawe, and the Sunday School was staffed by Mrs. Clara (Churchill) Cole, Mrs. Jackie Down, and Miss Carolyn (Lane) Belbin. The pianist for the congregation was Mrs. Jackie Down.

In the Summer of 1963,Pastors Ivan and Mary Whitt accepted the leadership of the fledging congregation and an effort was made to plan the construction of a church building.

The official dedication of Evangel Pentecostal Tabernacle was held in November of 1964 in its new building on Union Street.

In the summer of 1978, Pastor Barry Grimes, became the fifth Pastor of Evangel since its beginning in 1962, replacing Pastor Graydon Giles who served from 1969-1972 and Pastor George Ash who served from 1972-1978. In February 1979 a special offering was received from the congregation to complete payment of the church mortgage, and in the Spring of that year, a mortgage-burning ceremony was held to celebrate the liquidation of the debt owing on the Union Street property.

The congregation grew to the point that the facilities became insufficient to house the congregation, the Sunday School program was having difficulty with accommodation, and parking became a serious problem. In May 1979, the Church Board began to study the possibility of expansion/relocation to remedy this situation.

In a study carried out in consultation with A.C. Hunt Ltd., the Church Board determined that the Union Street site was unsuitable for expansion for a number of reasons, and became aware of the current site on Grenfell Heights.

Over two years later on Sunday, June 14, 1981, the opening ceremonies for the present building on Grenfell Heights were held with an attendance of 800 visitors.  By that time there were reported to be 335 adults, youth and children attending services regularly.

As the congregation and programs of the church continued to grow, Pastoral duties had become quite demanding. Therefore, in October 1983 the congregation decided to make Pastor Cyril Farewell Evangel’s first Youth Pastor, serving from 1983-1986.

In the General Conference of the PAON in June 1984, Pastor Barry Grimes was elected to serve as the Superintendent of the Western District, and therefore tendered his resignation to Evangel. In January 1985 Pastor Paul Gibbon took up Senior Pastor duties of Evangel. Just 4 years and 4 months after moving into the new building on Grenfell Heights, a mortgage-burning ceremony was conducted on October 20, 1985.

In August 1986, Pastor Glen Gordon was accepted as Youth Pastor, replacing Pastor Cyril Farewell who started a position as Senior Pastor in another assembly with the PAON.

On June 22, 1988 Pastor Glen Gordon bid us farewell as Youth Pastor. He and his family eventually became Missionaries to Zambia, Africa. Pastor Shaun Lane was hired to replace him in August 1988, and served at Evangel for one year. Pastor Gibbon and Pastor Lane both ended their terms of office at Evangel in 1989. Pastor Gibbon, with his wife Joan, took a position as Senior Pastor in the Pilley’s Island Assembly. Pastor Lane, with his wife Janice, accepted a position in Labrador City. Pastor Harold Luff, with his wife Doraldena, was hired to serve as Senior Pastor, while Pastor Paul Perry, with his wife Brenda, joined us as Assistant Pastor, rather than Youth Pastor.

Pastor Harold Luff submitted his resignation in March, 1992. Pastor David King, with his wife Ruth, was elected as Senior Pastor, while Pastor Lewis Smith, with his wife Bernice, was hired as Assistant Pastor.

Pastor Lewis Smith resigned his position as Assistant Pastor of Visitation and Outreach in March 1994, Pastor Jeff Payne was hired as Youth Pastor beginning that summer.

In June 1997, Pastor Marvin Burton, with his wife Wendy, was hired as the new Youth Pastor, Pastor Jeff Payne having resigned the position on June 26.

On March 10, 1998 Pastor David King resigned his position as Senior Pastor. Our Youth Pastor at the time, Marvin Burton, was asked to allow his name to be considered by the congregation to fill this position, and he was elected to become the new Senior Pastor for Evangel. April 20, Pastor Geoffrey Slade, with his wife Shona, was offered the Youth Pastor’s position.