A Challenge Accepted, A Step Forward in Faith
Hello Friends,
As the new school year begins, we are excited to welcome our kids, along with some new families, back to our after-school programs. At Toronto City Mission, we provide free after-school programs, like Kids in Community (KIC), Youth Extreme (YX) and Education Provided in Community (EPIC) for children and youth impacted by poverty. We engage kids in positive activities, provide mentorship and homework assistance, and teach them about the hope of Jesus through Bible lessons. Through His power, we pray each will come to know Christ and lead a transformed life.
Each school year brings opportunities to learn and grow, but growth seldom comes without a challenge. Before we wrapped up last school year, we decided to try something new with our youth at Orton Park. Instead of the usual fun games and activities, we challenged them with an epic Bible exam, covering what they had learned throughout the year! The exam consisted of 179 questions, with multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answers. It may sound overambitious–and we certainly thought so too! But to our surprise, the youth accepted our challenge. Let the challenge begin!
The middle schoolers were the first to take on the exam. Never did we expect their fiery determination to finish the test. They even skipped gym time and begged to stay longer! It was hard to believe that just a year ago, these same kids struggled to get through 30 minutes of a Bible lesson without disrupting or falling asleep. To help them succeed, we gave them hints to find Bible passages needed for their answers. Our staff took the opportunity to teach them how to look up passages by chapters and verses–a lifelong skill that they can now use on their own. One youth even said to us that she felt so smart and proud of herself because she can now look up Bible verses on her own time.
At the end of the exam, our Outreach Worker added one final question, “Would you pray with me to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?” Among the 20 of them, the majority wrote "yes."
The youth finished the test over two days, spending an average of three hours on it. We are so proud of their determination and perseverance, and most of all, amazed by how far they have come. Many of them have grown up in our kids’ programs, learning about God at a young age. To see them grow in their biblical knowledge and take a step forward in their faith is a testament to God’s pursuing love for them.
Nurturing the seeds we have planted takes time. This school year, would you join us in investing in the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, helping them grow in their desire to know Christ and, ultimately, come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour?
With $35 a month, you can help one child attend our KIC program for an entire year. Alternatively, you can help send one teen to our YX program with a $50 monthly gift.
In His Service,
Elliott Shin
Executive Director