In 1974, after leaving Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, the Lord led Kenn and Joanie Gulliksen to Los Angeles to begin a ministry that had been on their hearts for several years.

Starting as a small Bible study group in the home of Chuck Girard (from the musical group "Love Song"), the fellowship quickly grew, necessitating the beginning of other home studies, and the beginning of a Sunday service in Beverly Hills. God prophetically gave the name "Vineyard" to these gathered people.

Musicians, actors, business people, students, people simply hungry to know and experience God, came together in small groups and large meetings as literally thousands received Jesus Christ. The church met in a gym or on the beach or in homes, especially, for those not "at home" in other churches. One third of the church was made up of Jewish believers, most of whom received the Lord at the Vineyard.

God worked through many mistakes and failures, as well as the successes, as people were willing to take risks to become like Jesus, and to communicate the good news. Several couples went out and began other Vineyards in California, quickly growing churches with priorities of worship, relationship, healing, training and giving.

In the spring of 1982, John Wimber and several other pastors led their churches into relationship with the Vineyard, as their vision coincided with and complemented that of the original Vineyard. It was obvious that God had called John to pastor the pastors, to train and encourage and plant internationally. The Vineyards in Canada are a part of the Canadian Association of Vineyard Churches.

In 1986 our pastor Ed Kolar spent a week with Todd Hunter, pastor of the Wheeling Vineyard in West Virginia. It was here that God put in Ed's heart the desire to plant a Vineyard in Windsor. After a year of training, attending Vineyard conferences, seminars and listening to teaching tapes, Ed and Marnie started the Vineyard in 1987. They began meeting in homes on Sunday nights and moved to larger facilities to accommodate growth.

There are now a number of Vineyards in Ontario and throughout Canada. The number continues to grow. God, however, has shown us that His desire is not only to build the Vineyard, but also to have us seek His kingdom, build His Church, bless what He is blessing and to love those He loves. Our plan is to seek Jesus and to cooperate with Him as He reveals Himself to us.