Let me share with you about a nonprofit organization in
Toronto called UrbanPromise Toronto whose mission it is to Reach children with
the love of Jesus to Raise them into leaders who Restore their communities!
I joined UrbanPromise Toronto for a 2 year internship 3 years
ago and this past September I joined them as a full time staff member to reach
the kids and youth in Warden Woods Scarborough with the love of Jesus Christ
and to raise the youth there to be leaders who do love Jesus and make a
difference in their communities that are broken in family, in relationship, in
love, that are wounded due to gangs and violence.
Let me share a story with you about Dashawn, he is 9 years
old and lives not with his mother or his father but with his mother’s
ex-boyfriend because he is the only one who cares for me. His mother in fact is
missing and wanted by authorities. Dashawn also lives with his three younger half-sisters,
only one of them in fact is the blood relation to the ex-boyfriend caring for
these four children.
I first met Dashawn
and his “family” this past fall when Dashawn started coming out to camp. He had
little self-discipline and large amounts of anger. He struggled in camp to
follow the rules of respecting self, others, leader, property and God and often
time would end up being suspended due to his behavior After
watched him for a while we realized that Dashawn was actually a very orderly
kid, and disorder or not knowing what to expect really threw him off in what
came out as anger.
The leaders at camp continued to work with him creating for
him his own personal chart showing each transition in a day at camp, he could
then earn a sticker for each transition he did well and if he earned all of his
stickers he was able to come the next day to camp and so. In two weeks Dashawn
went from being suspended every day to earning back every day of the week! He
had been empowered in making small decisions that where encouraged and whether
he had a good day or not he was loved and always given another chance!
Today
Dashawn is a sweet fun loving boy, now don’t get me wrong he is still the same
little boy but something has shifted. This past week as I was in the kitchen I
could over hear the boys in the next room having a bible study and he was
explained to the other kids what preaching was, this kid who 8 months ago didn’t
really know anything about Jesus. We have also gotten to know his younger
sisters and desire and hope for them to be able to come to camp in future
years! We have also been able to pray with and for and support the ex-boyfriend
who gives of himself to care for these children.
I am so excited about the things that are happening in so
many children and youth that I have come to know during my time with
UrbanPromise Toronto! For the past month I have been interviewing youth who
desire to give back to their communities by being a part of summer camp this
year and have a chance to be leaders to the younger kids in their communities
and to tell them about God!
As a missionary to this community I am financially supported
100% through donations of committed monthly supports and one time donors! Currently
I am need of monthly donors to partner with me and the work of UrbanPromise
Toronto in a financial way. My financial
goal is $2500 a month and I am currently sitting at 77% of this. If you are interested
in joining me in this mission in partnering with me financially I would love to
speak more with you.
You can sign up as a monthly donor or make a donation at www.urbanpromise.com “donate” and “support
a missionary”.
Thank you for your consideration and support!
Contact Info:
janelle@urbanpromise.com
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