Rev. F. Wesley McKenzie

F. Wesley McKenzie was born in Jamaica, West Indies, on September 22, 1929. He attended public school there, and was raised in a local denominational church. However, he longed for more of God than he found there. He left home in 1949, to seek employment in Kingston, the capital city.

Arriving in Kingston, he discovered that the cousin to whose home he had come had recently obeyed the truth, so it was not long before Wesley followed his example. He was baptized in Jesus' name and received the Holy Ghost under the ministry of Reverend Ralph Reynolds at Pentecostal Tabernacle on Wildman Street in Kingston.

In 1955 he married Margherita Hunt, who was also a member of Pentecostal Tabernacle. This union produced four children: Granville, Desmond, Elise and Heather. Brother McKenzie was always a lover of education, and his desire to pursue higher education led him to migrate to Toronto, Canada, with his family in 1967. They attended First United Pentecostal Church and all four children were born again there, during the pastorate of Reverend Carl Stephenson.

In 1971 a job transfer made it necessary for the family to move to a small town west of Toronto. Their first visit was to Weston UPC, located in the west end of Toronto. The main prayer request that day was for a new pastor, as their current pastor had accepted a position elsewhere. Up to the time of his departure, no replacement had been found, so the church board asked Brother McKenzie if he would consent to being the regular Sunday morning speaker, which he did. After some months, with still no pastoral applicants, the board suggested to the district superintendent, Reverend J. O. Moore, that he ask Brother McKenzie to consider applying for a local license and becoming the pastor of the church. He prayed about it and finally agreed.

Following what he felt to be the direction of the Holy Spirit, Brother McKenzie spearheaded two sessions of the “Enroll to Grow” Sunday school outreach program. The result was an urgent need for relocation, as the congregation grew to 120 in a building that seated ninety-six! A nearby movie theatre came up for sale, and the Lord moved miraculously in various ways to allow the church to purchase this building in 1985. As the church continued to grow, the need for another relocation became evident in 1997, and God, again by many miracles, provided the present location at 1901 Jane Street. Preparing for the move, the church felt the need for a new name that would more accurately reflect its character, experience, and history. Faith Sanctuary was chosen.

Pastor McKenzie was ordained to the ministry in July 1979. He taught courses part time for several years at Apostolic Missionary Institute and was a member of the Ontario District Board from 1992 until his death. He also served on the Editorial Board of the UPCI and on the Ministers Appeal Council. He travelled to the mission fields of Brazil and the Philippines and ministered in several other places. He was a great believer in spreading the gospel through daughter works, and this policy still continues today at Faith Sanctuary. One of Pastor McKenzie’s fondest dreams was for the church to own a senior citizens residence, and this desire was fulfilled as part of the deal for the present property.

On the morning of March 3, 2003, after a four year battle with cancer, Brother Kenzie passed from this life.