From Darkness to light

As we celebrated Easter, we are reminded of the enormous act of grace and mercy that God showed us, His creation, when He sent His Son to be the perfect sacrifice to reconcile us from our brokenness.  Not just brokenness with Him but each other and all of natural creation.

Throughout this school year, the children and youth have been finding connections throughout the Bible of how God provided a bridge, Jesus, to be in communion with people.  Regardless of how rebellious and how far away we feel we may have strayed, He continues to pursue us.  He provides a way for us to be forgiven of all unrighteousness so that we can come into His holy presence.  This way to forgiveness is through Jesus Christ.  Christ showed us what it means to be the perfect human and became the ultimate sacrifice when He gave Himself to be crucified for our sins. And it is His resurrection three days later that we celebrate on Easter Sunday.

During the hours leading up to Christ’s arrest, we find Him in the Garden of Gethsemane going to His Heavenly Father in prayer.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42.

As we walk alongside the children and youth who participate in our programs, we have been privileged to earn their trust and to be their confidants.  Oftentimes this means that we learn about heartbreaking events in their lives. Some of these life events are much more than any young person should ever have to go through at their age.  At times, I can imagine that our staff just want to take away the pain and suffering that not just the children and youth face, but also their guardians and their community.  We may not understand why they must go through this suffering but we can trust that God has a greater plan.  We can also share with them that they can go to Christ because He knows how they feel.  He also did not want to go through the pain and suffering of dying on the cross, but He wanted to do the will of God and not what His flesh wanted. 

It’s important that the families know that they can come to God with the different feelings and emotions that they are going through.  He is the one who created them with those emotions and He cares for them.  We have faith in a Heavenly Father that knows our innermost being and desires a deep and personal relationship with His children.  We can have this relationship because of the death and resurrection of Christ.  So in the midst of all this sadness we can have hope.  A hope that transforms lives, even communities, from darkness into light.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

— John 1:1-5

The Rainbow: God’s loving covenant for us

This school year, we are excited to be sharing with the children and youth about God’s promises. As we go through the Old Testament and into the Gospels, we want them to know that they can trust God to keep His promises in accordance to His will.

The story on Noah’s ark is beloved by many and it is one of the stories that we will be teaching the children and youth in KIC and Youth Extreme this month. The image that comes to mind may be a big boat floating on water, cute animals peeking over the edges, a smiling man with grey hair and beard, and a backdrop of a bright blue sky and a beautiful rainbow.

However, as you take time to read the story again, it actually starts off quite dark. It says that “... the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence.” (Gen. 6:11b) I can’t help but think about the current state of our world and how the communities God has placed TCM in are not immune to the brokenness and hurt that stem from injustice and acts of violence. In fact, that is often the only thing that they are known for but as you get to know the children, the families and the communities, there is so much love, care, and generosity. Everything that might appear on the surface, the foul language, or the misbehaviour, is not who these children and youth really are. They were created in God’s image but have yet to discover who they were truly created to be. It is our desire that they will come to know their Heavenly Father who is calling His lost child back to Himself.

I am so glad that this story does not start and end with the flood. It actually starts with God recognizing humans’ inability to save ourselves from our own destructive actions. So He created a way through his righteous servant Noah to redeem humanity and “to be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.” (Gen. 9:6). And it ends with the appearance of a rainbow which represents God’s promise to Noah that He would not destroy the earth again. God, being omniscient, also knew that the people after Noah would continue to fall short of His glory and that His promise to not destroy the earth and start over again meant that He would send His holy and perfect son to pay the price for our sins.

This is the message we want the children, youth, and their families to know. That is why we, as a Christ-Centered organization, offer programs like KIC and Youth Extreme. We recognize the need in the community to offer free after school programs, but as Christians, we have so much more to give than just free child care. Going back to the initial image that was painted at the start, I see that as a stark contrast to what that picture may have actually looked like. After being confined for more than 5 months inside the ark, I can’t imagine the animals looking so cute or well groomed. Noah probably was exhausted and looking disheveled. Although the flood waters had dried up, I can’t imagine the messiness and chaos that was left of the earth. We can see glimpses of what it may have been like when we look at the aftermath when parts of our world experience flooding, but how much greater was this when it was the whole earth that was flooded. We have the gift of salvation that we want to offer these communities but we also need to recognize that there is much work that needs to be done to bring healing from the consequences of our actions.

“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

— Genesis 9:15

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

By: Dorothy Wong | Manager of Operations

A few years ago, it was common to hear young people say “blessed” or post #blessed when they received or experienced something good.  It may be getting their favourite drink or spending time with friends.  However, it would be very unlikely that you would see a post about someone facing life challenges or financial difficulties ending their post with #blessed.

So why does Jesus begin the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:3 NIV) with “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom.”?  Perhaps the NLT translation can help us understand better what it means to be poor in spirit.  “Those who are poor and realize their need for him.”  So anyone who is lacking (which I may be bold saying is all of us) and that because of our limitation, we need God.  This may be the most important acknowledgment for anyone of the Christian faith.  We need to recognize that we are sinners, that we are not perfect, and in order for us to have a relationship with a perfect God, we need Him to make things right for us.  

Oftentimes, when things are going well and we don’t have any immediate needs, we tend to focus more on ourselves and just go through life without any real dependence on God or anyone else.  Yes, we can also say that in times of trouble, we can also focus on ourselves and the barriers before us and not look to God or others.  However, it is in those times that we generally will reach out to God for help.  So it is out of our poverty that we are able to find our greatest Treasure.

It is our hope that the families that we walk along with will recognize that they can find hope in God.  That despite their financial poverty they have a God who wants to bless them.  Not with things of this world but of things unseen.  We are blessed when we have a right relationship with God.  We are blessed because we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and have the gift of eternal life.  Even though our time here on this earth is only temporary we are blessed because He is right there with us during our joys and sorrows.

This also reminds us (me) that in God’s eyes there is no differentiation between those that have or have not.  We all need Him.  So we are not the saviors going into communities impacted by poverty to make things right.  We are simply broken people that have found hope in Jesus, a people with a passion to share this hope with a community that is also broken, and to build up Christ-followers that will transform their community with this hope.

Has there been a time in your life when you experienced God’s goodness in the midst of a challenging time?  Write this experience down and use it as a reminder of God’s promise to bless those who are poor in spirit, when you face a difficult time in the future.

The Church Beyond the Four Walls

By: Dorothy Wong | Manager of Operations

Growing up in the church, it was almost a right of passage to serve in my church. Perhaps it was the same for you. You start off as a classroom helper, helping your Sunday School teacher pass out the crayons and scissors to do the craft. As you became an adolescent, you would serve by taking on different roles in Youth Group and of course in the summer Vacation Bible Camp (VBC). As an adult, you are invited to serve as a Sunday School teacher, lead a small group, be a part of a ministry team, and the list goes on. There was always a need within the church. I loved - still do - my church so it meant a lot to me that I could help in any way that I could.

What I did not realize was that God was at work even outside of my church’s four walls and that He was inviting me to be a part of that work too.  I’ve always had a heart for children to know God and His saving grace. In 2009 God expanded my heart to youth impacted by poverty to be transformed by His love. A close friend of mine invited me to volunteer at her junior high program with Toronto City Mission where she was on staff. I was nervous at first because this age group was out of my comfort zone, and I was more comfortable in a church setting. While visiting, God allowed me to see how much bigger His Kingdom is. His love surpasses ethnicity, socio-economic status, family background, etc.

As I write to you today, I am not asking you to choose serving at your Church or outside of the Church.  Rather I am asking you to consider both.

I am reminded of the story of Peter and John in Acts 3. They were on their way to the temple.  Although their plan was to pray with fellow believers, they were also ready to “see” what God was doing outside of the temple and prepared to join Him in whatever He was inviting them to be a part of.  So when they saw the lame beggar they didn’t turn a blind eye to him and just focused on entering the temple.  Not only did Peter see the beggar, he looked straight at him and addressed him.

Prior to the story of Peter and John, we learn of the believers devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching,  to fellowship, and to sharing in meals and prayer.  I find this to be foundational as we talk about seeing, not with our physical eyes, but with spiritual eyes.  According to the American Optometric Association, “For the first two months of life, an infant's eyes are not well coordinated and may appear to wander or to be crossed. This is usually normal. However, if an eye appears to turn in or out constantly, an evaluation is warranted.”  Similarly, our spiritual eyes need to be developed and learn to focus on what God sees.  If our eyes are not focusing in the right direction, we need to examine how we are developing in this area.  Are we looking through the lens of God’s Word and preachings from our pastors?  Are we spending time with fellow believers and being accountable to what we choose to fix our eyes on?  Do our hearts see the material things of this world as gifts from God that are meant to be shared?  And do we spend time in prayer so that the Holy Spirit can reveal to us what God sees?

Do you have the spiritual eyes to see your neighbours the way God sees them?

What is happening in the neighbourhood that surrounds your church? It is often said that the church is not a building but the people so for this purpose, when I use the word Church, you can refer to wherever you spend time, so it may be your home, where you go to work or school?

The Community Around You

What are the demographics of the people that live or spend time near your Church?  Are they like you or are they different?  Take some time to understand the needs of those around.  What are their material, spiritual, or emotional needs?  You can find more of the physical needs of communities by going online.  Here are two links that you may find helpful:

City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles , City of York Census

If you happen to live in Kingston-Galloway or near south east Scarborough or perhaps you live by the Ontario Science Center where Flemingdon Park is located, we would be happy to connect with you to share more about these communities.  Did you know that there are even needs in Willowdale where in the midst of the multi million dollar homes, there sits a small Toronto Community Housing complex called Willowtree.

What is God Already Doing?

When Jesus first called the disciples, He didn’t sit them down and start the lecture on 101 of ministry.  He said “Follow me”.  Ever since the creation of the world, God has been at work.  Psalm 121:1 says that our God never slumbers nor sleeps.  So we need to remember that God is not waiting for us to come up with a brilliant plan to build up His Kingdom.  He is already doing the work and we are simply to join Him.

Do you know the churches and ministries around you?  Are they already reaching a group of people in your neighborhood?  Is there a way for you to work together to make a greater impact.  At TCM, rarely do we go into a community if we do not see opportunities for partnership.  We recognize that we cannot minister to these communities on our own.  We also recognize that as a parachurch organization we are not a Church and it is important for the families that we serve to ultimately be part of a Church family.  

There may be even secular organizations that you may want to be a part of with the intention of bringing the truth of the Gospel to the “good works”.  TCM works with organizations like Toronto Community Housing and the local schools to make connections in the community and to be Christ’s light where there may not be a lot of Christian representation.

What is God Leading You To?  Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing

Sometimes, God invites us to be the earthly pioneers of His plan.  He may be preparing a plan for you that has not been revealed to others yet and perhaps He has intentions for you to begin a new thing.  Are there gaps that you have noticed in your neighbourhood that need to be filled?  And is there a passion in your heart that God desires for you to put into action that aligns with this need?  When TCM considers entering a community, we do a community assessment.  Included in the assessment is what is lacking in the neighborhood that TCM can offer to help develop from within.  In 1999, TCM moved from serving the poor in the downtown core to different communities across Toronto.  We recognized that families impacted by poverty were dispersed in different pockets across the city and instead of them coming to us, we made the decision to go to where they were. There was a need for free after school programs so we provided KIC (Kids in Community) where children could learn about the Gospel and be part of a safe community with positive role models.  We also recognized a need for academic help and so we provide one on one tutoring known as EPIC (Education Provided in Community) where volunteer tutors not only provided homework help but guided the students to love learning.

At the end of the day, it is important for us to be aware of what God is doing in our larger community and to join Him in that work.  

Mad Libs Challenge | Dorothy | #30DaysofSonshine

Dorothy is the Manager of Partner Relations at TCM. She first joined TCM as a volunteer in one of our Youth Extreme programs. Then God graciously opened the door for her to join the administrative team as staff. Her favourite thing to do in the summer is to go and visit the Sonshine Day Camps. There was so much joy when she saw the Outreach Workers, Summer Interns, TLCs and the children, praising God through song, having fun playing games, and excitement as they went on field trips. Dorothy loved it when she heard them say "This is the best day ever!" 

What always made her smile were the stories the kids would tell. Today we will try to capture these storytelling moments by creating our own mad lib story.  1) Write a short story.  2) Highlight the words that you would like replaced. 2) Find out what kind of words they are (i.e. noun, verb, adjective, etc.) 3) List them in order and send them to a friend to fill in 4) Fill in the story with the words your friend provided. 5) Have a good laugh as you read the "new" story together.  Enjoy!

A fun way to interact with friends and use those creative juices of yours is to create your own mad libs story. If you are not familiar with what mad libs are, it is simply removing words from a story and asking your friends to give you words to replace the ones you have removed without seeing the story. What you end up with is a funny and usually ridiculous story that can give you all a good laugh.

How to start:

1. Write a story

2. Highlight certain words that you want to remove and be replaced with words that your friend(s) provide.

3. Identify what kinds of words you want to be replaced. Is it a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, etc.

4. List out the types of words that you want to fill in. Make sure you list them in the order that they appear in your story. Then send it to a friend to fill in.

5. Fill in your story with the words provided by your friend.

6. Have a good laugh as you and your friend read the new story together.

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