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Toronto
This month we’re heading on over to Toronto! Be sure to visit our city's page for more information about serving with us in “Queen City”.
News from the Toronto City Director
I’m coming up to my 3 year mark working with CSM as a full time staff, which has caused me to reflect on the journey I’ve been on. There have been great times, hard times, times of learning & growing and times of experiencing God’s amazing grace!
One thing that stands out to me most in my time here at CSM, are our ministry partners. I love the relationships we have been able to build over the years and being able to help them out when there aren’t too many volunteers around. We’ve been so blessed to have such amazing volunteer coordinators!
This year CSM Toronto asked our partners if they could send us their thoughts on CSM. We had some amazing responses and I wish you could all talk to them and hear of the amazing things God has done through these ministries and CSM.
It has been such an encouragement to hear how our partnerships have blessed their ministries as well as their communities! Here are what a few of our ministry partners had to say…
Maria from Booth Industries writes this: “Since we started accepting CSM student volunteers into our mental health work rehabilitation program here at Booth Industries in 2005, we have been impressed with the dedication, commitment, intelligence and compassion of the hundreds of young people who are a credit to your ministry.
The CSM student volunteers, which come from all across North America, bring great enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and to share, and an evident passion for assisting others, giving credit to their faith backgrounds.
There is a true partnership between Booth and the CSM team. This is underscored by our excellent cooperation in such diverse projects as fellowships, devotions and even help to organize entertainment activities and choreograph social activities for our client shows. Often, the CSM volunteers have been a major contributing factor to assisting us in meeting our production deadline commitments to our various customers.
CSM orientates their volunteers and heightens their awareness of the mental illness our clients deal with daily. They help motivate and their mere commitment and presence ensure we meet deadlines. We literally couldn’t achieve our success without them.”
Michael from St. Stephen’s Breakfast Program writes: “We've never had to sit down and spell this out but it's the threefold combination of service, reflection and prayer that makes the experience special for both the young people involved and also for the adult volunteers from both sides. We at the Saturday Breakfast think that it's important to both walk and talk, and we have always found that CSM groups appreciate doing both.
Whether one lives in Barrie or Peterborough, or Kalamazoo, one is called as a Christian to reach out to the poor. So, there are multiple blessings!! The poor get welcomed and fed, we at the Saturday Breakfast get needed help which enables us to keep going, and the CSM groups get a valuable experience in a faith context.”
John board member of the Open Door Drop-In & facilitator of the children’s soccer league writes: (About Open Door) “Most of those who come to the Open Door not only need food and shelter but have isolated lives and a need for community and social belonging. The presence of CSM students with their youth, enthusiam and cheerfulness is an enormous contribution to the community and confidence building part of this work. The students also share their Christian and Church background in a natural way that is a helpful witness and encouragement to many.”
(About The Bloor Central Soccer League) “To provide all the coaches, referees, and support staff for this work is a challenging task, and the help of CSM students is much valued by us.
Sometimes students help with the field equipment arrangements needed each week and this can be a very big practical help. Students can also meet with the many parents and family members who are present with the children, and sometimes students can bring a testimony message when the teams are gathered together and this can be an effective and happy way of sharing a Christian witness with the young players.”
God is so good all the time! I am excited to continue partnering with these wonderful ministries and to watch God work in and through the lives of so many that come to serve Him here in Toronto.
If you want to come meet some of these amazing people feel free to call our Home Office (949-248-8200) and set up your next trip to CSM Toronto!
- Holly McClement, CSM Toronto City Director
Local Resources
Local News Links
- 'Housing saves lives,' mental health activist says Aug 15, 2009
- Immigrants tapped to help out newcomers Aug 12, 2009
- Stolen Children: First Nation Survivors of Residential Schools
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