–––––––––––––––––– Spring 2013 ––––––––––––––––––
URBANPROMISE.COM
THE
WORK
OF THE
GARDENER
ment to this new
culture has been
difficult.
I
f you’re a parent, a Sunday school
teacher, or if you’ve ever worked
with children you’ve probably had
those moments when you wonder
if what you’re teaching is sinking in
at all. It’s during those moments that
you want to throw in the towel altogether. Why would you continue to
pour time and energy into something
that is falling on seemingly deaf ears
or hard hearts?
UPT missionaries have all had those
moments.
Well, let me tell you about Samir.
Samir is in one of our youth programs. He is a recent immigrant from
the Middle East, and like many newcomers to Canada, Samir’s adjust-
When you’re the
new kid on the
block you start out
at the bottom of the
social ladder. Any
misstep is amplified. Samir often
finds himself on the
receiving end of his
peers’ taunting.
Recently, Samir’s leaders were talking
about Jesus’ teachings on loving others and extending grace and forgiveness. After several days of discussions
one of Samir’s chief teasers, John,
had a breakthrough moment.
Convicted, John asked Samir to stay
behind after the group had dismissed.
John proceeded to apologize for the
way he had been treating Samir. He
asked Samir for forgiveness- for a
fresh start.
Samir was quick to accept John’s
apology and the two have been
growing a new friendship since that
day. Now John steps in to admonish
others who treat Samir poorly and he
helps him ‘walk away’ from situations
when he needs to.
It’s no wonder that Jesus compared
the work of sharing the Word to
gardening. You cast your seed and
it goes underground, where nobody
sees what’s happening. You water
the seed and wonder if it’s still even
under there- and why it’s taking so
long for anything to show! With all of
the variables that can stunt a seed’s
growth- birds, hard soil, drought,
insects, weeds- it’s a wonder that it
ever grows at all. But we learn from
1 Corinthians that our job is simply
to plant and water. It’s up to God to
bring the increase.
So we continue to faithfully do our
part, testifying to the truth of Scripture and lifting up our children in
prayer. And just as we wonder if
anything is happening- a little sprout
pops up!
__________________________
Brett McBride
Executive Director
2
Spring 2013
THEN & NOW
TRISTAN’S STORY
Tristan Watson grew up in the Mount Olive community in Rexdale.
We first met him as a kid in our summer camp. Now a recent graduate
of U of T, Tristan is changing his world by living out what he believes.
I
have lived in Rexdale all my life. I think the first I
heard about UrbanPromise Toronto was during the
summer before I started grade 6. My friends told me
about a camp that only cost a dollar a day, and I started to
go with them.
I was a part of the children and youth
summer camp programs throughout
middle school. I volunteered at After
School Program in grade 10. Then the
summer before grade 11, I got hired
as a Streetleader. This was my first of-
ficial job. Two years later, I was hired
as the Program Director for YMAD,
and held this role for the following
three summers.
I recently graduated from the University of Toronto, where I studied
Human Biology and Psychology. I
now work as a Research Assistant at
Baycrest Hospital.
I still have a number
of great relationships
with many individuals at UPT. However,
I think that Shawn
James has impacted
me the most. I have
a lot of respect for
Shawn. I can see that
he really loves God,
the community, the
leaders and the kids.
Shawn has been a
big brother to me
and a positive role
model.
against bullying- show love to your
neighbour. And seek out like-minded
people to help encourage and sharpen
you. (Ecclesiastes 12)
Second, don’t waste your time checking Facebook, watching television,
Tristan with Shawn James on graduation day at U of T
Two pieces of advice readily come to
mind when I think about kids growing up. And I admit that in my own
life I have difficulty following them.
First, think deeply about what type
of person God has called you to be.
By ‘type of person’, I mean your
character. Then, by God’s grace, start
living every day like the person you
aspire to be in the future. Stand up
or playing video games. I don’t know
one person who ever looked back
on life and wished they spent more
time doing those activities. Instead,
use your time helping others (volunteer), learning new things (French,
touch-typing, and computer programming), improving your skills (writing
or public speaking), playing a sport or
instrument, and growing in your faith.
UrbanPromise Toronto exists to proclaim the love of Jesus, and to express it through the spi
3
URBANPROMISE
TORONTO TURNS 15!
promises in Scripture they started to
invest in the lives of children, beginning with one small after school
program.
15 years ago in a church basement in
Scarborough, UrbanPromise Toronto
was born.
Since 1998 we have grown and
expanded into three different neighbourhoods of Toronto Community
Housing across the city.
A group of ordinary missionaries
came together with a collective burden to reach into the lives of children
and youth growing up in ‘high-risk’
neighbourhoods. Emboldened by a
clear call from God, the empowering
of the Holy Spirit, and His precious
We’re having a party to celebrate on May 25th at Parkway
Bible Church. Please join us!
Program from 5-7pm. Refreshments and reunions to follow.
READ MORE OF OUR STORY ONLINE AT: URBANPROMISE.COM/WHO-WE-ARE/OUR-STORY/
MARCH BREAK
CAMP (11-15TH)
IS QUICKLY
APPROACHING !
Our kids are in for a wild week of
camp at Don Mills Baptist Church.
CHECK OUT THE
LATEST EDITION OF
FAITH TODAY FOR
REFLECTIONS BY
KELLY STOUFFER,
OUR UPWARD
DIRECTOR.
YMAD (youth) will head up to Muskoka Woods Sports Resort for a few
days in the North.
Pray with us that these longer
hours spent together would result
in deeper relationships. Pray that
there would be much planting, and
watering, of seeds.
piritual, social, and educational development of children, youth, and families living in Toronto Community Housing.
4
Spring 2013
EARS TO
HEAR
Ruthann “Superfly” Brock is the new Children’s Supervisor at
Camp Freedom. Read more of Ruthann’s stories on her blog:
justaclaypot.tumblr.com
“I just don’t like her. That’s all!” Ignoring Boy said to me with a grim look on
his face.
The “her” that he referred to was his
leader. We sat on the stairs as he confessed his endless list of complaints
and frustrations.
“Can I ask you a question?” I inquired, interrupting him. Ignoring Boy
shrugged.
“What did you do at school today?”
With a look of suspicion, Ignoring Boy
proceeded to answer. But before he
could follow through with a sentence,
I interrupted him with nonsensical
words.
“Well, I got into a fight...”
I cut in, “I went to the store and
bought things...”
“Hmm..I got in a fight,” he tried again.
“And then I went to meet a friend...”
“I..”
“And then I came to camp...”
“SUPERFLY!” he exclaimed, exacerbated.
“Yes?” I said, with a sheepish grin on
my face. “Are you a little bit frustrated?”
He nodded.
“Did you feel like I was listening? Did
you feel like I was respecting you? Did
you feel like I cared?”
As we talked more, he began to understand that refusing to listen directly
affected his leader and himself.
With each question, he shook his
head, visibly processing what had just
happened.
After a little hesitation, Ignoring Boy
ran off to apologize to his leader.
“Do you think maybe this is how your
leader feels every time you don’t listen
to her? Every time you just talk and
ignore her?”
The light shone in his eyes as he began
to understand and his hears began to
really hear.
“She must hate that!” he said empathetically.
Before I knew it, the door behind me
burst open again with Ignoring Boy
proudly beaming.
“Superfly, I did it! I said I was sorry.”
He scampered off, a little more openeared and a little less reluctant.
As he ran off, I was reminded of my
own tendency to talk and forget to
listen to God. Ignoring Boy is me. He’s
all of us. May we all continue to ask for
ears to hear.
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MAILING ADDRESS:
UrbanPromise Toronto
364 Old Kingston Road
P.O Box 97512
Scarborough ON M1C 4Z1
URBANPROMISE.COM
416.516.3135
416.516.6121
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