In 1992, Joe Elkerton was part of a Native church plant downtown Toronto. In the beginning years, the church found themselves spending significant time in street outreach. They slowly emerged into a street ministry merging with a Korean group in 1996 to form Ekklesia Inner City Ministries.

Continually guided by the Bible, Joe was inspired by Nehemiah, the Hebrew leader who was rebuilding the Jerusalem walls. In ancient cities, strong walls and gates meant safe communities for the people inside. Specifically from Nehemiah 4:17, the vision of Project 417 emerged; to build safe communities, fighting to protect those in need, and helping them by connecting resources with the people who need them.

What began as a Native church plant has evolved into a transformative, adaptive, and wholistic ministry seeking to help marginalized people. By working as a bridge between faith communities, not-for-profit organizations and people in crisis, Project 417 seeks to rebuild the broken and bring God’s redemptive healing.

Mission Statement

Projec417 exists to be facilitators of wholistic healing, personal development and spiritual growth, as an ethical response to people in crisis.

Core Values

• We believe that all people are created and loved by God; therefore we must act in ways that respect the dignity, uniqueness and intrinsic worth of every person.

• We believe that people have priority over money, structures, systems and institutions.

Statement of Faith

• We affirm the historic Christian faith as expressed in the "Apostle's Creed", and in particular:

• We Believe that all humanity is created in the image of God.

• We believe in the redemptive and reconciliatory work of Jesus Christ.

• We believe Christians are to be agents of reconciliation and healing, both individually and socially.

                     www.project417.com