Q&A – About Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church – 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON

Dear BLCF Friends,

Effective April 10, 2022, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church will reopen by reservation only for Sunday worship under the limitations and guidelines set by Public Health and the Board of BLCF. In order to protect those who are vulnerable at Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship from COVID-19 Virus infection, the BLCF Board mandates that the church will be open by reservation, with the following rules:

• attendees must wear a mask while on the premises
• attendees give their contact information upon arrival
• attendees observe two meters social distance while seated
• attendees use hand sanitizer as needed
• attendees follow any additional directions given by members of the board, while inside the church

Please be advised that both the BLCF Café Community Dinner and the BLCF Wednesday Prayer Service will continue to remain closed effective March 16, 2020, and until further notice. We pray with the administration of sufficient COVID-19 vaccinations, and following the determination of Health Canada and other Health Authorities, that the danger of the Pandemic will have subsided sufficiently, to allow BLCF to reopen safely more of our worship and outreach activities without any concern of infection to the vulnerable within our community.

– Pastor Steve

Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church, 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON – Established in January 1938

Q: WHEN IS A CHURCH MORE THAN JUST BRICK AND MORTAR?                 

 A: WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH DECIDE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND DISADVANTAGED WITH A WARM MEAL IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE AND FRIENDLY RIGHT IN THE HEART OF TORONTO.  

Why Did Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?

 Most of us have heard the Chinese Proverb: ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’

Sandwich runs, and to a lesser degree Food Banks, offer scant opportunity to fellowship with or establish a meaningful dialogue with the homeless and marginalized. Both can make it awkward and embarrassing to those on the receiving end of a sandwich or food from a relative stranger. This can be a great stumbling block to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the ‘volunteer’ may appear condescending or patronizing to a homeless or marginalized person. This makes it extremely difficult to share how faith in Jesus’ sacrifice allows all to be equal in the eyes of God, especially if they find out that volunteers are paying a fee to give a sandwich to them!

Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church, formerly know as the Church of the Crusaders, has preached the Gospel of Christ Jesus in the Heart of Toronto since January 1938.

BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, Established January 2008

In a Community Dinner, the homeless and marginalized are treated with dignity and respect, served a warm meal with music and fellowship. These conditions are perfect for meaningful dialogue and to establish friendships as a launching point to witness as equals at the same dinner table. At BLCF Cafe, a short testimony and shared scripture are given as the dinner’s second course, served between the main and dessert. Over time our guests develop an appetite and appreciation for spiritual sustenance as much as the food served at the dinner. Through the power of the Holy Spirit many of our guests now help to serve others at the dinner, giving of themselves, showing that they have learned to become fishermen/women and embracing the Mission Statement BLCF Cafe Community Dinner: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ – Matthew 25:40.

A number of our guests have made a decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, which demonstrates how marvelous and great the work of the Lord is when we trust him to transform a simple function as serving and sharing a community dinner into a meeting of faith and worshiping of our Lord. Many returning guests feel that the community is their church meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing when he fed the multitude when He shared His message on the mount.

Bloor Lansdowne Community Dinner Renamed December 2009 As BLCF Cafe

Bloor Lansdowne Community Dinner, renamed in December 2009 as BLCF Cafe, was established in January 2008 by and is run under the auspices of Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship Church. On Wednesday evening BLCF Cafe Community Dinner feeds and fellowships serves upwards of 150 homeless and marginalized people weekly, (over 7,500 a year).

This is not a “soup kitchen’ program. It’s more like inviting neighbors over for dinner. The tables are set, the ambiance is friendly and we serve our guests at the table restaurant-style, hearty and homemade meals and tasty desserts, with a spiritual break in-between. Dinner is served from 6 to 8 PM. Throughout the dinner, there is live music: Folk, Blue Grass, Gospel, usually featuring our friend Terry Sywanyk, guitarist/vocalist and songwriter with the duo ‘A Cup of Cold Water’.

Please Note: While BLCF Cafe is willing to complete school, college and university community service volunteer forms, in order to ensure both the safety and protection of young volunteers, BLCF will neither supervise nor fill out forms or letters for volunteers required by the courts or social services. 

Bloor Lansdowne Community Dinner – BLCF Cafe Needs Volunteers To Help Feed The Homeless

For more info Contact BLCF Cafe Director: Sophie at 416-535-9578 or email: blcfcafe@yahoo.ca 

BLCF Cafe BLOG: http://blcfcafe.blogspot.com/2011/02/bloor-lansdowne-community-dinner.html?spref=fb

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 – Matthew 25:40

Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BLCF Church
A Church with a vision in the heart of Toronto Est 1938

  In 1938, a group of believers embarked on a mission to bring the message of the gospel to the Bloor Lansdowne area in a relevant and meaningful way. The membership moved into a converted truck garage on Bloor Street near Lansdowne Avenue establishing the Church of the Crusaders. Seven decades later the church, known today as Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship, continues to meet the challenges of actively preaching and practicing the message of the gospel in relevant and meaningful ways to the local community.

  All are welcome at our non-denominational house of worship. We hold weekly services and weekly prayer meetings. You are also invited to participate in our outreach activities to give aid to those members of our community in need, through our Wednesday evening BLCF Cafe Community Dinner. Please check our Weekly Calendar (below) if you’re interested in attending weekly services or community activities.

  Whether you’re new to the neighborhood, new to worship, or looking for a new home church, we welcome you with open arms!

Contact us: 416-535-9578 or blcfchurch@yahoo.ca

Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship – BCF Church – Serving Christ By Serving Others In The Heart Of Toronto

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