Warm Greetings from Toronto City Mission!
Many of us are slowly awakening from hibernation after a long winter. As the temperatures get warmer and the days get longer I am reminded that there are many things about spring that teaches us about renewal and rebirth. Renewal in God’s creations in nature, as each year at this time we begin to enjoy flowers blooming, birds happily chirping, and new life developing all around us. And rebirth in springtime as we have just celebrated our resurrected Christ! And to top it all off, we are now just a couple of weeks into daylight savings time where we literally “spring” an hour forward.
I am delighted to report that we have had an outstanding start to 2023! The momentum we gained from hosting in-person Christmas Celebration dinners in each of our ministry communities last December (for the first time since 2019), has superbly carried over through the first 3 months of this year! If anything, the momentum has accelerated. Our regular school year programs are going exceedingly well. Our Outreach Workers continue to provide exceptional programs, as they host children, youths and parents into our programs and into their lives. We had a terrific week of March Break day camp, and at the end of the week we hosted youths from all our communities for a day of good food, good fellowship, and a thoughtful Bible-based discussion.
Further, staff enjoyed an overnight retreat as we spent valued time together in prayer, worship, discussion, fellowship, and of course delicious food! It definitely was a much needed time to retreat from the city to reflect, renew, refuel, and recalibrate as we prepare for the final couple months of the 2022-23 school year. Finally, at the end of March we hosted for the first time in 3 years, our annual Spikeback Against Poverty Fundraiser. This was a delightful day of physical activity (volleyball), reacquainting with old friends and meeting new ones. We thank the teams that participated, and were blessed to have eclipsed our fundraising goal!
We look with anticipation to the months ahead of us. Our course we desire to carry with important relationship-based programs as we share God’s love. But, we also aim to persistently rejoice in our relationship with God, we desire to daily reflect Christ’s example to those around us, and we aspire to regularly rest in God’s loving care.
Thank you friends for your continued support and prayers for TCM’s ministry. We are encouraged and buoyed and sustained by your kindness and thoughtfulness, and we rejoice in your partnership!
“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field
to everyone.”
In His Service,
Elliott Shin | Executive Director