Church History
The Master’s Touch International Church emerged from the Higher Call Cosmopolitan Church of Raleigh, North Carolina, led by Bishop Mark J. Chironna and Pastor Ruth Chironna. In the spring of 1998, they began to hold meetings in Orlando, Florida, and found great success and response to their message and the hope offered in their unique expression of the gospel. By the summer, the numbers of attendees grew so high it became evident a permanent local church would be well received. In September of 1998, The Master’s Touch was birthed in the auditorium of Dr. Phillips High School; Sunday services were held there for almost a year, and mid-week services were held at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Ocoee, Florida.
A permanent facility was purchased, but was extremely run down and on the verge of being demolished. The young and aspiring congregation rallied together and invested well over $1.5 million in the renovation project of The Master’s Touch current location. The building became a parable of “restoring the ancient paths and rebuilding the desolate places,” and displayed the energetic and passionate vision of the members, who deeply believe that together in love we can build a dream of destiny, create a world others want to belong to, and make a world of difference. The facility was eventually sold because the congregation had outgrown the space, but the meaning of their restored church was carried on with them.
The many outreaches of the church since 1998 have caused The Master’s Touch to earn a place in the landscape of the culture of Orlando and Central Florida. In addition, Mark Chironna Ministries (MCM), the outreach ministry of The Master’s Touch, spans the globe and reaches millions of people through every level of media. The demand for the Bishop’s teachings continue to grow and expand, as he wishes to influence the nations of the world for the glory of God. The Master’s Touch in Orlando has served as the headquarters to many satellite churches, and created The Legacy Alliance, a global fellowship and network of pastors, supporting leaders worldwide through accountability and mentoring.
A historic moment occurred for The Master’s Touch on April 6, 2012. After a period of two years of Dr. Chironna layering truths from Scripture about The Great Commission and becoming more intentional about our mission in relation to the Great Commission, a new culture vision began to be developed. Over the span of the two year period from 2010 to 2012, the teaching of the Word of God regarding His Eternal Purpose began to take a much deeper root as the family of God known as The Master’s Touch began to prayerfully look at the future and what needed and wanted to emerge.
The culmination was a natural as well as a supernatural unfolding of the recasting of the vision and mission of the house. As a result, the Church underwent a “make-over” and a redefining in relationship to vision, mission, values, and culture, and of course A NEW NAME.
On Good Friday Evening, April 6, 2012, the Church gathered for their annual Good Friday communion service, which aptly became known as “the last supper” for The Master’s Touch International Church.” The Word was preached regarding the death and burial of Christ and the ensuing resurrection of Him in a “new form”. At the end of the Word and the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Dr. Chironna “walked out” of The Master’s Touch auditorium, and the entire congregation “walked out” with him as a covenant act.
Once they “walked out”, they followed Dr. Chironna as he “walked in” to the auditorium, and they beheld a transformation both in “form” and “appearance” as the name and the look of the “new” congregation was unveiled: CHURCH ON THE LIVING EDGE.