History
Richview was established in a newly established community of Toronto. Its roots go back to 1956, and its Recognition Service was held on February 9, 1959.
Vision for the Community
Richview began with a vision for blessing the community. God led two churches, independent of each other, to begin outreach efforts in the Richview/Westway community. Richview is continuing its focus on meeting community needs.
Prayer Base
"The first song that was taught to the young Richview congregation was Teach us to pray, Lord, teach us to pray...They were and continue to be a people of prayer. They were smitten with the concept that nothing should be undertaken without a strong and ongoing prayer base."
Children's Ministry
"The immediate area of Richview Baptist Church was dotted with new homes, young families and many children...There were 300 in attendance in one of the first Vacation Bible Schools and more than 100 children showed definite spiritual progress in those days."
Faith and Expectation
"Other area churches...felt they had constructed buildings which did not offer sufficient flexibility for a growing residential subdivision in transition...The purchase of a five-acre parcel of property for a church site in 1958 was reckoned to be 'bizarre' in the evangelical mindset of that day. It was too large, too ambitious. By hindsight, the step of acquiring this parcel of land has been the door opener for great advances in the ministry."
Richview Foundation
"Through this vehicle...the church meets a specific need in the community...The Richview Baptist Church is being enriched by the challenge presented physically and spiritually by the Residence." The Residence began implementing a new strategic plan in 2001.
Join Our Blessing
"A three-year 'Join Our Blessings' campaign with $300,000 as a target, was essential to meeting the debt-free dedication." Richview has continued its history of generosity by raising money in 2000 for fire retrofit goals - overshooting the goal by 50%.
Pastors
Richview has been served by the following senior pastors:
- Bernard Jeffrey (1959-1961)
- Lawrence Rowland (1962-1964)
- Vincent Trimmer (1966-1971)
- Nathan Goff (1972-1973)
- J. Gordon Freeland (1974-1997)
- Darryl Dash (1998-2012)