Orim M. Meikle
Encyclopedia
Orim M. Meikle is the Senior Pastor
and Chairman of Rhema Christian Ministries, one of the fastest growing churches in Toronto, Canada, with a congregation of over 2000 people and a variety of weekly services in English
and Spanish
.
Meikle is a graduate of Tyndale University College and Seminary
in Toronto
, earning his Bachelors Degree in Religious Studies in 1996. He taught religious studies at the Toronto chapter of The Aenon Bible College from 1997 to 1999. Following this he founded Rhema Christian Ministries of Canada Inc., a registered charitable not-for-profit ministry organization currently operating in historic Parc Downsview Park, a 600-acre urban park earmarked for green space and urban design.
where he lived in a rural setting with his brother, cousins, and grandparents. Like many immigrant families in the 60’s and 70’s Meikle was raised by his grandparents until the age of 7, while his parents migrated to Canada
in pursuit of a better life. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1975 where he attended elementary, high school and college.
church and ministry organization, where he serves as Senior Pastor and Chairman.
As a Christian
spiritual leader he is an ordained minister with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, (FCA). The FCA is a global fellowship of autonomous, evangelical churches with a mutual commitment to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Under his leadership, Rhema has grown from 20 people to a membership of more than 2000 believers in just over eight years with a focus on community outreach, economic and spiritual empowerment. This is demonstrated locally through youth education and employment programs and stretches internationally through missionary efforts with the La Montanita school project in the Dominican Republic
. The ministry has been responsible for the establishment of national branches in urban centers such as Toronto
and Ottawa
, with future expansion planned for the cities of Vancouver
, Montreal
and Halifax.
Meikle's central message of empowerment and hope has taken him throughout Canada
, the United States
, the Caribbean
and Africa
. He has a special heart for the economic and educational development of Africa
, to which he travels on a yearly basis.
In the media, he is recognized as an expert on youth violence and measures to deal with it. He has spoken at town hall meetings, given live, on-air interviews on various television and radio stations, and participated in citywide Summits where the chief of police
, the mayor
and other key political leaders were also in attendance.
He is the initiator of Community Prayer Patrol 24, a series of prayer walks that target specific areas in the Greater Toronto Area
.
He has been recognized for his work in the community by major newspapers and magazines, most notably by Maclean's
, Canada’s leading news magazine, on their 2006 honour roll of “Heroes and Builders”.
His current television broadcast Rhema Today is viewed by millions, airing three times per week on the Crossroads Television System
CTS Channel 09 and daily via webcast.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and Chairman of Rhema Christian Ministries, one of the fastest growing churches in Toronto, Canada, with a congregation of over 2000 people and a variety of weekly services in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
Meikle is a graduate of Tyndale University College and Seminary
Tyndale University College and Seminary
Tyndale University College and Seminary is an accredited Christian institution of higher education in the Protestant Evangelical tradition located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tyndale students come from over 40 different Christian denominations and more than 30 different ethnic groups. Tyndale...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, earning his Bachelors Degree in Religious Studies in 1996. He taught religious studies at the Toronto chapter of The Aenon Bible College from 1997 to 1999. Following this he founded Rhema Christian Ministries of Canada Inc., a registered charitable not-for-profit ministry organization currently operating in historic Parc Downsview Park, a 600-acre urban park earmarked for green space and urban design.
Early Life & History
Born to Anditta and Theophilus Meikle, Orim Meikle spent his first 7 years of life growing up in JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
where he lived in a rural setting with his brother, cousins, and grandparents. Like many immigrant families in the 60’s and 70’s Meikle was raised by his grandparents until the age of 7, while his parents migrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in pursuit of a better life. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1975 where he attended elementary, high school and college.
Personal & Family
Meikle met his wife Judith James in 1998 at Revivaltime Tabernacle where she was a conference host and he was a speaker. They began dating shortly thereafter and were eventually married in July 1999, shortly following they had their first child a son, Jalen in 2000, their daughter Jasmine-Rose followed in 2006.Christian Ministry
In 1999 Meikle founded Rhema Christian Ministries of Canada Inc. (Rhema) a non-denominational, multi-ethnic evangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
church and ministry organization, where he serves as Senior Pastor and Chairman.
As a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
spiritual leader he is an ordained minister with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, (FCA). The FCA is a global fellowship of autonomous, evangelical churches with a mutual commitment to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Under his leadership, Rhema has grown from 20 people to a membership of more than 2000 believers in just over eight years with a focus on community outreach, economic and spiritual empowerment. This is demonstrated locally through youth education and employment programs and stretches internationally through missionary efforts with the La Montanita school project in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. The ministry has been responsible for the establishment of national branches in urban centers such as Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, with future expansion planned for the cities of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Halifax.
Meikle's central message of empowerment and hope has taken him throughout Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He has a special heart for the economic and educational development of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, to which he travels on a yearly basis.
In the media, he is recognized as an expert on youth violence and measures to deal with it. He has spoken at town hall meetings, given live, on-air interviews on various television and radio stations, and participated in citywide Summits where the chief of police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
, the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and other key political leaders were also in attendance.
He is the initiator of Community Prayer Patrol 24, a series of prayer walks that target specific areas in the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
.
He has been recognized for his work in the community by major newspapers and magazines, most notably by Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
, Canada’s leading news magazine, on their 2006 honour roll of “Heroes and Builders”.
His current television broadcast Rhema Today is viewed by millions, airing three times per week on the Crossroads Television System
Crossroads Television System
Crossroads Television System, or CTS, is a privately held Canadian television system.CTS airs predominantly Christian-based religious programming, most notably 100 Huntley Street, The Michael Coren Show and LIFE Today with James & Betty Robison, as well as other religious and faith based...
CTS Channel 09 and daily via webcast.