About PJEFC
Early History of PJEFC
In October 1965, Rev. Eric McMurray, a Canadian missionary working for the Evangelical Free Church Mission (EFCM), a Christian mission organisation based in North American, came to Petaling Jaya to plant a church. In two years, Rev. McMurray had successfully started a new church and had seen it grow to a 30-strong congregation. In September 1967, Rev Benjamin Sawatsky, another Christian missionary from Canada, took over and by 1968, PJEFC was officially registered at the Registrar of Societies. By the end of 1968, the congregation had nearly doubled in size since Rev. Sawatsky’s arrival. A large majority of the church consisted of students studying at the University of Malaya. The growth of the church continued unabated and as the 1960s drew to a close, PJEFC’s Sunday Services were now attended by an 80-strong congregation. In 1971, PJEFC bade farewell to Rev. Sawatsky, its pastor, chairman and leader. The 1972 AGM represented something of a milestone to the church as PJEFC now had a leadership board consisting entirely of local believers.
(Adapted from PJEFC Dedication Service Souvenir Programme, 18 January 2003)
PJEFC 1965-2002: A Brief History
| 1965 | Arrival of Rev. Eric McMurray in PJ to start a church |
| 1966 | First Sunday Service held in a rented bungalow in Section 14 |
| 1967 | Arrival of Rev. Benjamin Sawatsky to continue the work |
| 1970 | Purchase of land in Section 14 for permanent church building and parsonage |
| 1971 | The church moves its Sunday Services to Luther House Chapel |
| 1976 | The church moves its Sunday Services to its Section 14 buildingRev. Loh Soon Choy appointed as first local pastor of PJEFC |
| 1979 | The church is ordered by the local council to vacate its Section 14 building and moves Sunday Services to SS1 |
| 1981 | The church moves to a new building in Taman Megah |
| 1982 | Revival! |
| 1986 | The church occupies 2 shoplots for Sunday Services |
| 1989 | Double services on Sunday, First PJEFC missions team sent |
| 1991 | Church occupies 3rd shoplot for Sunday Services in Taman Megah |
| 2000 | Bridge EIP launched |
| 2001 | Kepong EFC planted |
| 2002 | PJEFC moves to Heritage Center, Section 13 |
