Faith Culture, a new Toronto-based Christian retailer, has opened in the former location of Faith Family Books and Gifts. Faith Culture’s emergence is a response to a growing void of Christian retailers in the area.

After the last major Toronto Christian retail store closed earlier this year, Christians expressed their disappointment and frustration via social media.

Jim Taylor, a 27-year veteran in the Christian retailing industry, will be overseeing Faith Culture’s retail side. Taylor said he hoped the store would address local Christians' needs.

“I've been stopped a number of times by people on the street who recognize me, who have told me that they have been very concerned about the loss of a place to obtain Christian supplies and have been praying that God would move someone to fill the gap,” said Taylor. “As we explain to them the phases in our new approach, they become excited about the great opportunities that are opening up.”

The store is the first phase in Faith Culture’s overall plan. The store will begin a soft opening in late August. The Grand Opening Celebration will take place near the end of September. As a nonprofit, all of Faith Culture’s funds will be going back into building the ministry and helping the community. In addition, the store pledges to donate to other ministries and causes, including ending poverty and sex trafficking.

The second phase of Faith Culture’s plan is to develop part of the 12,000-square-foot facility into a Christian event center called Faith Culture Live. The center will host Christian events within the community or be rented by individual groups for special occasions. Faith Culture Live will also house a café.

A Faith Culture representative said that the store is not a continuation of Faith Family Books and Gifts, despite possessing a similar name. Rather, including “Faith” in the title served as both a tribute to one of the original store’s founders and a reminder to “walk by faith and not by sight.”

Faith Culture's mission "is to serve the Toronto Christian family as both a source for the vital resources needed for spiritual growth on both the individual and
church level and as a community center where Christians can gather for fun and fellowship."

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