about us

We are a Japanese church plant of the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) in Toronto.

Close-up of cherry blossoms on a branch with a soft blue sky in the background.

Our Vision

Our vision is to see Japanese residents in Toronto transformed in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our vision is firmly rooted in the good news that Jesus is Lord, Redeemer, and Saviour of all nations. Our desire is to see God accomplish the incredible work of salvation among Japanese people in the city.

Our Values

  • We Are Gospel-Centred. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything.
  • We Worship God. We love to gather to worship God because of his incredibly amazing grace by which we’ve been saved.
  • We Pray. We submit to our sovereign and almighty God in and through prayers.
  • We Love One Another. As Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35), we pursue to be a loving and authentic family of God.
  • We Are Missional. We pray and act for the gospel breakthrough of the Holy Spirit in the Japanese nation we love.

Our Beliefs

We are a Japanese church plant in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Our doctrinal beliefs are fully given in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Read “What Does the PCA Believe?”

  • We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
  • We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by his mercy.
  • We believe that salvation is by God alone as he sovereignty chooses those he will save. We believe his choice is based solely on his grace, not on any human individual merit or on his foreknowledge of our faith.
  • We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through his perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in him alone for salvation
  • We believe that Jesus Christ bodily rose from the dead on the third day, showing his power over sin and death, guaranteeing hope beyond this life, including the bodily resurrection of those who put their faith in him.
  • We believe that God is gracious and faithful to his people, not simply as individuals, but as families in successive generations, according to his covenant promises.
  • We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow him.
  • We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to take his people to their eternal home.
  • We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Our History

October 2023

Pastor Murai honourably retired and became our pastor emeritus.

July 2023

Pastor John Lee was installed as the new pastor.

June 2023

Pastor John Lee was transferred to the Eastern Canada Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

2016

Our Twentieth Anniversary

2006

Our Tenth Anniversary

2005

Grace Toronto Japanese Church moved to our current location.

1996

Pastor Murai got ordained in the Eastern Canada Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

1983

Pastor Murai and Mrs. Murai moved to Toronto, ON, and began to serve a local Japanese church.

1981 

Pastor Murai attended Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Boston, MA.