News » City Highlights
Toronto
This month we’re heading on over to Toronto! Be sure to visit our opportunities page for more information about serving with us in “Queen City.”
News from the Toronto City Director
CSM is about seeing lives transformed – the people in the city of Toronto we work with, the lives of the group members who come serve, the leaders who bring them, and also the staff who serve alongside the groups in each trip. This is a blurb written by one of our former staff sharing how her time with CSM is continually transforming her life.
Although it has been over two years since I had the privilege of working at CSM Toronto, I am continually reminded of the lessons learned and connections built throughout the city that still effect my day-to-day life. I have recently moved back to Toronto after only visiting a handful of times since that summer, and although I have relocated neighbourhoods and have not yet visited ministry sites, the convictions developed through CSM to live a lifestyle of service and love are still very present.
The most prominent realization I had at CSM was the reality that the same people I met on sandwich runs and at ministry sites were the same people I walked by on my time off. There was no room for a double life as I learned that serving others was not just part of a summer job or missions trip, but rather a lifestyle that Jesus exemplified for us to live. As limited as my understanding of what it truly means to follow Jesus is, there is a great truth found within the simple choices of everyday life; to invest, care for, love and be challenged by others, or to live comfortably and ignore the voice of God.
As much as I would love to say that I have followed through with living such a life, there is no question that I do regularly choose comfort over service and selfish ambitions over the voice of God. However, my CSM experience has no question greatly impacted my life and allowed me to see the importance of life as a ministry, rather then a means of serving myself. As this lesson has stayed with me through the last few years, I am certain its impact will last my lifetime as the foundational understanding of following God and loving others is rooted in service and love.
– Michelle Drew, CSM Host Toronto 2005, Philadelphia 2006
It is an honor to work alongside God in this city. He’s here, transforming lives every day – and we get to be a part of it! Seeing the long-term impact this ministry is able to have on others is very rewarding, and I must not neglect to note the impact and change that has happened in my own. Although I have worked for CSM for many years now, there is never a shortage of individuals and situations we encounter that lead us into a deeper understanding of God and what it means to love and serve others.
– Tara McPherson, CSM Toronto Co-City Director
Local Resources
- Homeless Nation
- Blog: Spacing Toronto Post on official looking signs that “represent a local population that usually gets overlooked.&rdquo
Local News Links
- Volunteers To Deliver ‘Winter Survival Kits’ To Toronto’s Homeless January 12, 2008
- 7-year Journey to Their Own Home January 5, 2008
- Homeless Share Their Stories and Their Dreams January 2, 2008
CSM Urban Updates
CSM now has its own blog! Find out what’s happening in urban centers throughout North America, make comments and dialogue with others involved in urban missions.
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