What a Friend we have in Jesus

“On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.””

— Matthew 9:12-13 NIV

There are many different names and titles that are attributed to Jesus: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega, the Son of God, the Good Shepherd, etc. But over these past three months serving as an intern with TCM, I have been reflecting on how Jesus is our Friend, and what that means in the lives of the children who attend our program and in my personal life. 

I stepped into the Year-Long Intern position at the beginning of January because I wanted to continue to serve the children in Toronto, and I wanted to find out what my role and purpose were in the lives of the kids. I knew I wanted to be a Christ-like role model for them, but I didn’t know practically how to do that. During the internship, I have had the opportunity to meet children and youth in each of our three communities, playing games, teaching the Bible and having conversations with many different students. 

March Break Camp was especially memorable for me, seeing the excited smiles on the faces of the kids each day, but one encounter with a child sticks out to me in particular from that week. During lunchtime, I saw that one of our younger boys was sitting by himself away from the rest of the group, and I walked over to him to have lunch. After asking what was wrong, he told me that he didn’t want to eat with the rest of the boys because they were mean to him, and he didn’t feel that he had many friends either at the program or at school. I decided to sit with him for the rest of the week for lunch, and I reminded him that I was his friend. I saw the surprised and excited look on his face, and as simple a gesture as eating lunch together was in my eyes, I realized the significance this could have in this student’s life. 

I am reminded of the stories of Jesus going to the houses of Matthew and Zacchaeus. Many of the Jewish people likely despised them because of their jobs as people who took money from them and cheated them. And yet we read in Matthew 9:9-13 and in Luke 19:1-10 that Jesus spends time with the people who are ostracized. I think that similarly, I am called in this ministry to be a friend to all the children, but especially those who need a friend. 

God has blessed me with this opportunity at TCM to be a Christ-like older brother figure for the boys who come to our programs, and I believe that He has placed me here in this season to be a light in our communities using the gifts that He has given me. But I have realized that in order to exemplify to the kids who Christ is, I need to know who Jesus is myself. Jesus is the Almighty Lord of my life and is my Savior for my sin, but through reflection, I have come to know Jesus as my Friend. During my internship, I have learned that I can turn to Jesus during my times of loneliness in faith that He too will come to sit with me.

Expect the Unexpected

Reflections by: Lily Song | Summer Camp Intern, Flemingdon Park

My time as a summer intern has been an incredible experience. Reflecting upon my time at Toronto City Mission (TCM), I think back to our training period. I didn’t know what to expect as I was excited and afraid of what my summer would be like. At that time, the Outreach Workers told the interns to “plan for things not to go your way,” I think back to that moment because it’s the truth! Being adaptable and flexible are skills being tested every day at Flemingdon Park. Yet, in the midst of the hot, humid, and chaotic days, God has consistently reminded me of His sovereignty. He reminds me that everything happens for a reason, and that is where I find my peace. 

““Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.””

— Proverbs 19:21

God has truly shown me how He works in mysterious yet beautiful ways this summer. Even as I read my Bible, I see how He often works in ways we humans do not expect. Jesus spent time around sinners (Luke 15:2) when others around Him thought that was strange. Jesus’ death on the cross frightened His own disciples at the time, yet it demonstrates His wisdom and power when we read about it in the Bible today. He doesn’t always do things as we might expect or wish He would. Still, when it comes to God, I realize we can expect the unexpected to have a beautiful purpose for His glory.

He doesn’t always do things as we might expect or wish He would. Still, when it comes to God, I realize we can expect the unexpected to have a beautiful purpose for His glory.

I would have never expected how impactful each field trip we took the children on would be for them. I would never have anticipated the amount of joy I felt by the end of camp when I saw the children no longer afraid of the water when swimming. I would never have expected how much riding the TTC with the children would mean for them. I would never have anticipated the relationships I built among the children and their families. I would never have expected how the children responded when I spent quality time and showed them God’s love and patience. There are so many other unexpected blessings that God has given me this summer. Praise be to God, for He is good and faithful. His wonderful work at Flemingdon Park reminds me that I can trust and worship Him even when I don’t know what to expect. 

Salvation Belongs to Our God

Reflections by: Ealy Fong | Summer Camp Intern, Kingston-Galloway

This summer, I have grown in deeper understanding that salvation belongs to the Lord alone. While we do take part in doing His work in this ministry by building meaningful relationships, having intentional conversations, and sharing the love of Christ — it is ultimately God who saves and plants the seeds in the hearts at Kingston-Galloway. This experience has grown me to understand that it is not my job to save these kids and their families; rather, we are called to be witnesses of Christ in the ways we act and speak with tongues coated in love. I can trust that God would do His work in His timing and not in mine — even if it is time which occurs when I am no longer serving at Kingston-Galloway.

I can trust that God would do His work in His timing and not in mine — even if it is time which occurs when I am no longer serving at Kingston-Galloway.

During Sonshine Day Camp, we welcomed a couple kids in the community who have not attended TCM programs in the past and/or do not know the Gospel. Micah was one of these campers, and prior to camp, he often approached situations with aggression expressed in physically fighting and swearing. For his first Monday of camp, our bible lesson focused on having forgiveness rather than acting in revenge and trusting that our God remains just. During this Bible session, Micah came with many, many questions, some of which questioned why we would not hurt those who hurt us. It was second nature for him to act in this way in the environments in which he interacts; for him, he shared that it is his first instinct to hurt those who hurt him. However, as days continue to pass, he begins to observe and absorb how camp leaders act, the Bible lessons that are taught, and the rules we have at camp — to respect God; respect ourselves and our peers; and to respect the church space. Slowly, we witness his actions and his language used at camp begin to change. Camp begins to become one of his first environments in which he tries to stop himself from swearing and being involved in physical altercations. On the bus ride to the Ontario Science Centre, I wanted to know him a little better and sat with him. This time, he shared with me some things about him — his family, his favourite genre of music, and his favourite hobbies. While there were some moments in which he slipped out a curse word or caught himself in the midst of saying it, he would immediately look up to the sky and apologize to God. In this, we start to see his behaviour change — he truly tries his hardest to uphold these rules as he continues to slowly learn what it looks like to be honoring God and respecting his peers.

The Greatest Joy of All

Reflections by: Ealy Fong | Summer Camp Intern, Kingston-Galloway

The past month serving in ministry with TCM at Kingston-Galloway (KG)  has been a time of joy, a time of growth, and a time of enduring new challenges. God remains faithful in all the hurdles  here at KG, and He continues to be steadfast in love and mercy. While days are typically filled with musical worship, arts and crafts, cooking sessions, and gym games — our Bible lessons this summer focus on looking at the message of the Gospel through the lens of David’s life. But of all these camp activities, nothing beats the sound of laughter and the signs of smiles during dodgeball. 

There’s one thing to know about the kids at KG: they live and breathe dodgeball — it’s treated as a serious Olympic sport out here. They could play days on end and yet still carry with them the widest of smiles and loudest of laughter that echoes in the gym room. 

What a joy it is to partake in building His Kingdom and reaping the harvest whilst delighting in Him.

In the past weeks of serving at KG, experiencing and witnessing the joys of dodgeball has led me to reflect on the Good News that brings great joy. Joy of Salvation which comes from knowing God has sent forth a perfect Saviour who bore the weight of our sin and wrath of God, but reigns victorious over sin and death. Now in His finished work, we are made new, free from condemnation, and graciously reconciled with God. What a joy it is to know that the free gift of God heals, transforms, and liberates us completely. What a joy it is to know that salvation belongs to the Lord alone. What a joy it is to partake in building His Kingdom and reaping the harvest whilst delighting in Him.

Parallel to what seems like an “everlasting” joy of dodgeball; my prayer is for these children and their families to delight in the Lord and experience the greater and truly everlasting joy of salvation. 

These children remain resilient and cling onto the joys found in the little moments. 

In all the days spent with the kids at KG, God continues to stretch my capacity to love them wherever I can – loving them with dignity and as image-bearers of God. While many families experience the challenges of urban poverty, these children remain resilient and cling onto the joys found in the little moments. 

Learning to Love Like Christ

Reflections by: Luke Goh | Summer Camp Intern, Flemingdon Park

To be perfectly honest, if I knew just how mentally tiring this summer’s work would be in addition to the physical tax associated with running around with young children everyday, I might have had a little bit more hesitation in responding to God’s call to serve the community in Flemingdon Park this summer. I feel that my patience has been tested in numerous ways this summer, from frustrations in working with different people and managing rowdy kids to arts and crafts plans going awry. In each circumstance, I’ve realized more strongly how much I need to rely on God’s strength to overcome each challenge.

In each circumstance, I’ve realized more strongly how much I need to rely on God’s strength to overcome each challenge.

As an example, one week I planned a craft involving paper airplanes that I believed would help the campers to get to know one another better, while also being fun. Lo and behold, half an hour late my plans along with the airplanes crashed and burned. I seethed in my frustration while I cleaned up the mess that the kids had left behind to go outside. In that moment, I felt God extend His love to me and I felt His calming presence surround me, and I was able to finish the day without yelling at the children in anger. I was reminded of my purpose for embarking on this mission; to build loving relationships with the children that in me they might see a shining example of God’s love for them. I have learned through my time in Flemingdon Park that truly I can do nothing apart from God, as it is written in John 15:5. 

This summer I have seen God working in the church that we occupy through the developing love for worship that the members of my small group have. Leading children’s worship can be a difficult endeavor for those foreign to loud exaggerated dance moves, and many of the children came into camp with a seemingly “too cool for school” mentality, refusing to participate in the daily allotted time for praise. Yet as the summer has progressed, I am extremely encouraged and also excited at the joy that the children in my small group have grown for worshiping God, constantly asking me to play “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” and “My Lighthouse” for them on my phone. As someone who finds the same joy in musical worship, I am thankful to God for opening their ears to hear God’s amazing promises captured in these songs.

Even though I’ve only been with these children for a short while, it will remain in my prayers that they might come to experience the joy in knowing Jesus as their Savior.