HISTORY OF JIL ST. CATHARINES CHURCH     It is true that God never runs out of men and women whose desire is to advance His kingdom. Indeed He uses ordinary people to accomplish the Great Commission stated in Matthew 28:19. This was manifested in one of the worker from JIL Hong Kong. Already scheduled to leave Canada going back to the Philippines yet God has another plan! God’s hand was in every situation. Sensing the need to have fellowship and the JIL vision in her heart burning, she prayed and asked God to open the door. The prayer was answered when she met another JIL worker with the same burden. The two of them prayed that the Lord will send someone to lead the group. Again, another worker from JIL Hong Kong came with the leadership skill to start the JIL Bible Study. As a result in July 2000 with only 3 people in attendance, the JIL Bible Study in St. Catharines, Ontario started with great faith and hope. When they finally attended JIL Toronto Church, things began to move in accordance with God’s plan. Key leaders from JIL Toronto came to assist the newly formed group in St. Catharines, Ontario week after week faithfully in spite of the differing weather condition. All were focused on fulfilling God’s mandate of proliferating God’s word in St. Catharines. There many challenges along the road but perseverance prevailed. After two years the bible study had outgrown the facility where they were and the need to find another place to accommodate more people became a priority. God is good and a new place was found and became a haven for the attendees to study God’s word comfortably. Again, God is the God of increase! There was a tremendous growth happening that two different churches from the area noticed and approached the JIL St. Catharines’ leadership and tried to persuade them to be part of their ministry. They declined and remained faithful to the JIL Mission and Vision. In doing so, new leaders and workers were added to the growing church. In 2003, the JIL Ontario leadership provided an overseer to assist the needs of JIL St Catharines. Afterwards, preparation and prayer were done to start the Sunday service. And God allowed the brethren to have their first Sunday service at Vintage Hall, Vintage Crescent St. Catharines on the second week of September 2004. But a problem arose that prompted the church to find another place. And a new place was found using the basement of the Folk Art Multicultural Center #85 Church St. at downtown St. Catharines and became the new home. It was in this place where God poured out more blessings. As the church grew, the need for a Church Pastor was explored and Tess Sotto accepted the challenge to become the Non-Full time Church Pastor of JIL St. Catharines, Ontario. God was faithful in manifesting signs, wonders and miracles in the lives of the brethren. Healing was experienced by many. Truly God is at work. Growth kept on coming that a move to the upper hall of the building became necessary. Again, God’s favor was present in many events and activities. At the moment, the need to find a lease building in the heart of St. Catharines to continue the ministry is of utmost importance. We believe that God has a wonderful plan for the Niagara region and we are committed to conquer this place for the Lord Jesus Christ. JIL Church is the first Filipino Church in the Niagara region and this all for God’s glory alone.