As 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 MoreAs I think about the life of Jesus, my mind thinks of how great it probably was to be sinless and perfect. I think of how he probably never had to worry and could handle any challenging situation. Then I really think about the life of Jesus and realize that although He was perfect and sinless, it doesn’t mean that there were not challenging situations around him. One lesson we talked about in our curriculum this past semester is the stress that Mary and Joseph had to endure while preparing to have Jesus and even the years following.
Read MoreIn my first complete year as an Outreach Worker in the community of Jesse Ketchum, I have felt both broken heartedness, and the joy of having my heart be healed by God's grace and love. I want to share with you a story of how my heart broke for what breaks God's heart, and how my heart was also healed.
Read MoreAs I prayed, God revealed that one of my strongholds was “control.” In this sense, a stronghold is a place we create to protect ourselves from attack. However, I realized that the more I wanted to control my life, the more my anxiousness got worse—it didn’t serve as an actual, ultimate stronghold.
Read MoreFor the longest time, I’ve struggled with expressing my emotions to God. I somehow convinced myself that when I come before Him, I should have nothing to complain about—that my prayers must always be filled with joy and thankfulness. As a result, especially during times of sadness, I became good at invalidating my emotions. Instead of bringing my feelings to God, I would try to handle everything on my own.
Read MoreIn reality, we’re crumbling inside–so afraid to let anyone see cracks in our facade, but we continue to break. We become masters of disguise, hiding our vulnerability behind a mask of indifference. However, this isolation only deepens the wound, preventing us from experiencing the healing power of Jesus through connection and vulnerability.
Read MoreAs someone who tends to prioritize tasks and plans, I often ignore and suppress my emotions in the name of getting things done. However, I am reminded that God created emotions for us to feel, not to hide away. So if you’re still reading, pack your bags and your bible and join me on this adventure as I try to make sense of feelings, what the bible says about them and what are my most relevant feelings right now.
Read MoreIn today's attention and headline grabbing society, our feelings of well being and hope can at times be determined by the number of likes or clicks or from what we read and feel as we scroll through our most liked social media platforms.
Read MoreThe past 6 months have been some of the most interesting moments in my ministry career. In late 2023. I felt like the Lord was calling me to take a leap of faith. I didn’t fully understand what God was calling me to because my ministry at Jesse Ketchum had been going extremely well. We were hitting our capacity numbers and I was becoming comfortable with my role as an OW, the children, and their parents.
Read MoreGod is doing a new thing. I am both challenged and encouraged by this statement because I am a creature of habit. In the times when I ask the Lord for something or ask Him to change a situation, I find that when that change comes, I still grieve the loss of the former things.
Read MoreAs Christians, we are asked also to be faithful to God. A trusting relationship grows only by stepping out in faith and making the choice to trust. The ability to believe God develops most often through pure experience.
Read MoreThroughout 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.
Read MoreAs the children at Toronto City Mission’s Kids in Community after school program learn about the Importance of building bridges, it is with much hope and prayer that they recognize that God’s gift of gentleness as described in the fruits of the spirit will be a simple pathway towards each bridge that life may lead them to.
Read MoreIn our own lives, a kind person would be seen as nice, generous, thoughtful, and helpful. You can do nice things for people and it reflects a part of the fruit of the Spirit. You can also do nice things for others without having to be particularly religious. The tough part is doing kind things for people who may not be kind to you.
Read MoreFor the longest time, I let my circumstances dictate my level of joy. To me, joy was merely another word for happiness, an emotion tied to my ever-changing feelings.
Read MoreAs I walk into 2024, I continue to think about the journey we all are on as we follow Him. Through much reflection, I’ve come to realize that our only destination on this journey is when we get to be with Jesus in eternity. Every other “destination-like” milestone is just a pit stop along the way.
Read MoreThis past year God has given me a greater understanding of His fatherly love through serving at Kingston-Galloway. It has been a joy and blessing to watch the kids and youth grow up, but it has also been challenging and heartbreaking walking through various seasons of change alongside them.
Read MoreOver the past few years with TCM, my roles have changed quite frequently. I went from being an intern to an Outreach Worker at Kingston Galloway, to Communications, to an Outreach Worker at Jesse Ketchum.
Read MoreGuiding Young Hearts - As I delve into the third month of ministry, the path has become a profound tapestry of growth, patience, and unwavering faith. Patience, a virtue profoundly echoed in the Bible, now takes center stage in the intricate dance of serving in the Lord's vineyard.
Read MoreIn my role as the Partner Relations Coordinator, I am excited to be part of God’s transformational work in the city of Toronto. My hope for you reading this is that you would journey alongside TCM, whether in prayer, giving financially, and/or volunteering and participate in God’s transformational work in the lives of children and their families, and in return, experience God’s transformational work in your own life.
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