If you’d asked me a year ago what my 2025 summer would look like, I would never have dreamed I’d be here, working again at a summer camp in my church community. Not because I wouldn’t have wanted to – the total opposite – I had simply given up on the idea after our church-run summer day camp camp was shut down after COVID. When the news came to me that the church didn’t have enough money to run the camp, I was heartbroken. I looked for someone or something to blame and questioned God’s plan. I always felt like my skills were best used in a camp or classroom setting. Why would He cut off such a valuable connection to the families in our community?
Read MoreIt was four years ago when I first volunteered at my church’s summer camp, and I didn’t enjoy it. I came back the next summer, and I still didn’t like it. The year after that, I worked at a non-Christian summer camp, and I left thinking that I never wanted to work with children ever again. Yet, in the following spring, I had once again applied to work at another summer camp.
Read MoreThis summer is my first time serving as an intern at Toronto City Mission’s Sonshine Day Camp, and already, it has been a journey of growth, challenges, and joy. Being placed at the Jesse Ketchum site, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but God has been teaching me so much through the campers, the team, and even the difficult moments.
Read MoreAt the start of the year, I set a goal to keep praying and asking God to show me the path He wanted me to take. I thought I would be doing something bold, like serving as a missionary in another country for a year. I had the desire, the experience, and what I thought was the right timing. But as the months went by, I began to sense God leading me toward starting my mission work right where I was, in my own community. To be honest, I felt confused, even frustrated. It felt like my prayers had gone unanswered, or at least misunderstood. But in obedience, I followed where God was leading and stepped into a role with TCM.
Read MoreThis summer is now my third internship with TCM! I worked two summers at Orton Park, and this summer I made the transition into an office intern. It has been an interesting experience, full of learning and seeing more into how God has been working through TCM.
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I returned because I truly felt led to. I knew in my heart that my job at TCM wasn’t done yet. There’s something about this place, something God placed on my heart that kept pulling me back. I’ve come to realize that the mission and vision He’s given me is deeply personal. I’m called to be that person I wish I had when I was growing up, someone steady, someone present, someone who speaks truth and hope into young lives. I want to be there for the kids, showing them love, encouraging them, and leaving them with nuggets of wisdom they can carry into their future.
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Running a summer camp can be a very thankless job, as there are many challenges that come with leading a large group of young campers. Not only are the days long and hot, but the kids can be rowdy, and there are times when you struggle to work with your team.
Read MoreAs I progress through my fourth summer with Toronto City Mission at the Sonshine Day Camp, I can’t help but feel blessed to be able to learn and grow with the team at the Jesse Ketchum site once again. Throughout my years of service at Jesse Ketchum, God has continually taught and reminded me of His presence and grace, and this summer is no exception.
Read MoreI have many fond memories of my first summer internship two years ago, but it started off with a lot of anxiety. This included stepping outside of my comfort zone with a new job, being the youngest intern, setting high expectations for myself, and feeling unqualified. The Lord encouraged me in those moments through my personal Bible readings in the book of Exodus.
Read MoreAs programs began the following week, the feeling of determination I had developed over the summer had returned. While the word, determination, might sound promising or even praise-worthy, don’t be fooled. This determination was fuelled by doing a good job and meeting criteria in order to be able to sleep well at night. In other words, I began to rely on my own strength to attempt to power through and even cope with the challenge of increased leadership. It wasn’t until a couple of incidents that I finally understood what this more important word, Strength, had meant both in terms of ministry and my life as a whole.
Read MoreThis now-concluded summer of 2024 taught me so much about what it means to be a leader. This was also my second time as a summer intern for Toronto City Mission.
Read MoreAlthough there were various job options I had this summer, God has called me once again to serve with TCM and the community of Jesse Ketchum. Despite the different work experiences I had this past year, I still felt a calling to return for another summer.
Read MoreThis summer is my second summer with Toronto City Mission/Sonshine Day Camp and it has been so awesome to see how God is working in the lives of the kids, interns, and staff.
Read MoreMy journey to TCM was a dive into an unknown area of serving and it was quite surprising how I ended up here. I didn’t know much about TCM and what their purpose was but I knew that it was a ministry that my sister, Janice, was a part of.
Read MoreThis is my second year as a summer intern for Sonshine Daycamp at TCM’s Jesse-Ketchum site. Since last year, I've been so excited to return and experience the joy of camp with these kids again. I think God has made a special place in my heart for this community. And despite having just graduated from university, I felt called to come back for at least one more summer.
Read MoreGoing into the camp, there have been many uncertainties, notably how campers would interact with each other.
Read MoreMy journey with Toronto City Mission started this January when a friend invited me to apply for the summer internship. Hearing about Sonshine Day Camp and the after-school programs from friends this past year made me curious about God's good work in this organization.
Read MoreI’ve done many summers of camp in my life, both as a camper and a counsellor, but this summer has been a new experience for me all together. I’ve felt very humbled leading these kids in day camp and it’s shown me how much more there is for me to grow as a leader and a role model.
Read MoreI first heard about Toronto City Mission (TCM) through Elliott Shin when he gave a sermon one Sunday as a guest speaker at my church. I later learned that many of the members of my church had previously served as a summer intern at TCM’s Sonshine Day Camp.
Read MoreMy decision to join Toronto City Mission didn’t begin as a divine utterance from God nor was it an intentional move to advance my career. It came from a place of weariness.
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