Merry Christmas from VYT

Merry Christmas from Volunteer Year Toronto. Donna and I want to wish you a warm and blessed Christmas. Whether you are with family or far from home (or both!) please take a moment to reflect on our wonderful Creator God and His Gift to each of us. Christmas is just a small manifestation of the incredible celebration that God is planning for His children when He gathers us all together in the future. His Gift of Jesus, His Son and Our Saviour, was the start of the Father's plan to redeem us from a future with no hope into a future with endless praise and joy! He's just starting on your life and has a lot more in store for your future!
Many of our volunteers are spending their first Christmas away from family. We minister to many people through Adam House and BLCF who have no family or have had to leave them for a season. During 12 years on the mission field our own children have often been separated at this time of year. No matter your present situation or family state, God loves you deeply and offers relationship with Himself. Christmas is His reminder to each one of us.
Thank you for your prayers for us and for this ministry during the past year.
Gregg and Donna

With God's Love

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is just around the corner. As the year 2010 nears its end, Donna and I remind ourselves of the foundational truths of our ministry. I am energized by the vision statement of the Liebenzell Mission of Canada:

" Helping people reach people with God's love."

There is an intended ambiguity in the statement that reflects quite accurately the dynamic process of daily ministry here in Toronto. Two verb phrases:  "Helping People" and "Reaching People".

Are we training or are we evangelizing?

We are doing both. We are sharing the the Gospel through word and deed. And we are training future missionaries and current ministry leaders with practical service projects and collaboration opportunities.

The action words go together with the modifier: "with God's love". In evangelism, we reach people with God's Love revealed in His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. But what sets Liebenzell apart as a mission, and we have seen wonderfully present in our first months here in Canada is this: In our "Helping people reach people", we do it with God's Love! Helping, and more specifically "training", "discipling", "teaching", and "enabling", can not be void of the presence of God's love and grace. After more than 20 years in Christian ministry I have learned that the application of these two key ingredients, grace and love, is too often missing among leaders towards those they lead. This lack of grace results in deep and painful wounds that I have witnessed way too often and is counter-productive for the growth of the Church. As we enter 2011, we are committed to help Liebenzell develop leaders who will reverse that trend in their own ministries. Would you join us in prayer as we do that? I hope that as you read the details of our work these past several months you can see the evidences of grace and love in action.

Blessings to you throughout the Christmas season and into the new year of 2011!

Gregg

First Weeks: Newbies guiding newbies

Liebenzell Volunteers 2010

 

Our first week in Canada in mid August was focused on quickly learning about the ministry before the arrival of 17 young people from Germany. We, the newly arrived, had to orient those who were even newer! The mission directors, Jakob and Lorie Koch, spent several days introducing us to the various ministry partners who would be receiving our volunteers. We became good friends with teammates, Jeff and Ursi Wilson, the managers of the Liebenzell Mission Centre, and their two children. 

The next 10 days were filled with guiding our energetic German youth, getting to know their names, faces, personalities and gifts. They are among those pictured at the left. Mornings were filled with praise, worship, and teachings about their stay in Canada. By the end of the week, we began driving them to their respective ministry placement locations. Some are now at camps several hours to the north of Toronto; others are in the city itself. Sent out, scattered abroad to sow the seed of Jesus' love throughout Ontario. Please pray for them as they serve with the heart of Jesus that they would reap a great harvest.

September: Constructing a ministry base

Priming

 

In early September, while a few of the volunteers were still waiting for their ministries to begin, they helped us in renovating the house where we are now living. We are renovating the half-duplex as a ministry to the inner-city church that owns it. We will be renting it from the church as our residence and ministry center.  In the photo, Micha is priming the new drywall in the entrance hall. The search for low-cost flooring options put us in touch with other ministries. It was a blessed time of collaboration as we met many local pastors and believers who were donating their expertise to help complete the renovation. Several ethnic  congregations have benefited from the LM Canada ministry and enjoy giving something back.  What a great illustration of unity in God's name, each one working as he is able to benefit the rest of the Body, the Church.

Micha, by the way, has now started his new ministry. Along with six other of our volunteers, he is involved with UrbanPromise of Toronto working with at-risk kids organizing after-school activities and loving the kids unconditionally!

October: Being the hands of Christ

Our Home

 

In early October, we made the move into the house. It was not finished, but with the kitchen, bath, living room, and one bedroom near completion, it was possible. We settled in and began the pastoral care portion of our ministry, visiting the young people in their ministry locations, encouraging and blessing them. What great hearts they have! Their ministry supervisors are, without exception, thrilled with their service. Liebenzell has made great strides over the years in developing the Volunteer Program and providing qualified young people as a means to bless Christian organizations throughout the Greater Toronto region. Our prayer burden while they are here is to encourage them towards full-time Christian service. Please pray with us towards that end.

Adam House

Since we were now living in the city, we also visited several local ministries to determine other ways the Lord could use us in the city. One of them we discovered was Adam House, a refugee transition home. (See our blog post: "What, exactly, is a refugee?") Donna has been able to show the love of Christ by helping with reception of donated food, meal preparation, and some housekeeping. She helps a few days a week serving families and individuals who have recently arrived at Adam House from countries such as Hungary, Honduras, Serbia, Nigeria, Namibia, Columbia, and Russia. I am now on the schedule to lead a Bible Study session during Thanksgiving week. We also help on Wednesday evening serving a meal at a nearby soup kitchen run through a local church.

A Gift by which to minister

Now, here in November and December, we are in another transition. Our focus now is on discovering how God will provide the financial base for this ministry. This ministry is clearly His work and we want to be faithful to His calling for us to be here. To date, we have been living on less than $1000 per month of salary. We cannot continue at such a low income. Would you consider sending a one-time gift of perhaps $30, $50, or $75 or more to Liebenzell at this time? The economic downturn has been difficult for everyone, but ministries like this one that depend on charitable contributions have been especially hurt. Your end-of-the-year gift of any amount, when combined with gifts from others, will make a difference in keeping this training and evangelistic work moving forward. Thank you in advance!
How to donate to the ministry:

There are several options for making your gift to Liebenzell. 

On-line donations can be made through the Liebenzell USA website, here: www.liebenzellusa.org; 

or through the Liebenzell Mission of Canada website, here: www.liebenzell.ca.

By mail, checks can be sent, in the US, to:

Liebenzell Mission USAP.O. Box 66Schooley's Mountain, NJ 07870

In Canada, address your envelope to:

Liebenzell Mission of CanadaR.R.#1Moffat, ON, Canada L0P 1J0

Please be sure to include a separate note indicating "For the ministry of Gregg and Donna Hanchett- Toronto".

Gifts to Liebenzell are acknowledged with a return receipt suitable for tax-deduction regulations.

Thanks for participating with us in this way!

What, exactly, is a refugee?

One of the ministries that we have been blessed to serve during our free time is Adam House, a Christian-based ministry in Toronto. They provide a safe and comfortable home for newly arrived refugee claimants who have chosen to settle, at least temporarily, in the Greater Toronto area.
There is some confusion about the term "refugee". A refugee is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country"[1]. Canada has a policy of being pro-active in helping refugees, and they do it through facilities like Adam House. Once approved, a refugee becomes one of the millions of immigrants welcomed each year to Canada.  On the theme of immigration, I find it interesting that because Canada's immigration quotas are set by the nation's department of labor, rather than by the State department, as in the USA, immigration is a much less controversial issue.

Donna has been able to serve Adam House in her free time by helping with food preparation and serving hot meals to staff and resident. Our son Tim has also been able to lend a hand with nighttime security duties.

Adam House is a great Christian ministry worthy of your prayers and financial support. Check out their webpage at www.adamhouse.org. Also, Check out an earlier blog post that I made that includes a video about two refugees that found hope when they arrived in Canada.

[1] Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee

Have you ever sat in a jail cell?

Have you ever experienced sitting in a jail cell, face-to-face with a convicted criminal, with your Bible open on your lap, sharing the love of Jesus and explaining how he or she could have a new start in a relationship with the Creator God? Have you seen, first hand, the tears of joy that come when that same convict repents, accepts God's love, and gains spiritual freedom through faith in Christ? Have you ever had that wonderful experience?
Me neither.
I've read stories about it. I have talked to others who have been there and done that. I've thought that it would be a great thing to do for God. But I have never done it.
Why not?
Because nobody invited me and showed me how to do it. Or they did, but I didn't take them up on the offer.
Same difference. I didn't do it.

Have you ever knocked on the door at the home of a complete stranger -- or of a friend-- and told them about God's love for them? Have you seen their eyes fill with hope and hear them respond with thankfulness when they understood the message? Have you had that wonderful experience?
I have.
I always heard that there was great joy in sharing one's faith and helping another accept it. And now I have done it.
Why?
Because somebody invited me and showed me how to do it. They offered me the opportunity to experience, first hand, something that I would never do on my own. And they stood by my side, teaching me, encouraging me, helping me.
Big Difference. I did it.

Two experiences. Two crucial ministries in the work of proclaiming the gospel to the entire world.
One I missed out on because I didn't find someone to open the way for me. But the other changed the direction of my life. It removed a major hurdle, an unknown, about serving God. It gave me confidence. It started me down the path of full-time ministry.

We are here in Toronto to help others get started down that path. We introduce young Christians to the nitty-gritty of missions work.  We stand by their side. We teach them how to begin. We open doors for them. We encourage them and we are there when they fall, helping them back up. We help them serve God by helping them serve others.

By directing this Volunteer Program, our own ministry horizons are broadened. In early September we brought our youth to serve at a "Community Dinner", serving a hot meal to street people. It was a new, uncomfortable experience for many of them. By doing it, they learned it wasn't so bad. They actually enjoyed serving and want to come back. And an amazing thing happened. We liked it, too, and have made helping to serve this meal part of our regular Wednesday schedule.

This story repeats itself with the other ministries our youth are involved in. Inner-city, after-school programs giving kids an alternative to gangs and drugs. Serving small, immigrant churches by offering retreat facilities for spiritual rest and refreshment. Involvement in pioneer church-planting through serving a missionary family. Adventure camping turned into a spiritual journey.

As we introduce the youth to new ministry experiences, we meet a wide range of ministry leaders. We discuss ways to help them resolve their ministry challenges. Because of the breadth of our contacts, often we are able to help them network with other leaders to resolve their challenges and grow new partnerships. Once again, we are by their side. Sharing common experiences. Helping the Body of Christ grow stronger and more effective in service.

Toronto is the new face of world missions. Toronto is the most ethnically-diverse city in North America. The world is literally at our doorstep. Christians here have a golden opportunity to proclaim the gospel into China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, India, Brazil simply by sharing their faith with their neighbors! We are equipping those believers, enabling them for ministry, opening doors for service.

Are you waiting for an invitation to try something new for Christ? How about supporting a mission outreach? Why not join us in this ministry? By supporting Liebenzell Mission with your regular financial gifts you start down the path of making a difference for the Kingdom. You allow the work of forming future servants to continue here in Toronto. It is front-line ministry with a world-wide impact.
This is your opportunity.

Pure and Undefiled Religion

As we approach the completion of the house renovation at Bloor-Lansdowne, we have been seeing God work in exciting ways. The week started at worship on Sunday at the Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship. They are a small inner-city congregation with a BIG heart. On Sunday there were about 15 people in attendance in a sanctuary that seats about 300. The walls could use a coat of paint, and the sound system was acting up. By most external measures, it would appear to be a church in need of some help. While it is true that every church needs each member to lend a hand, the true measure of this church is what goes on when the worship service is over. When the Sunday Morning worship is finished, another congregation uses the facility-- a congregation made up of deaf individuals. At other times during the week, a Portuguese congregation, and later a Spanish congregation use the same facilities to offer praises to the same Lord who understands every language.

Then on Wednesday evenings, the church fills up again. This time, it fills with the grateful chatter of nearly one hundred hungry people who enjoy the hospitality the church offers during their "Community Dinner". Dignity, Love and Respect are on the menu here. It is not a "soup kitchen". It is not a "food giveaway". It is a community dinner. Free to all who enter. It is a hot meal personally served at the table to every person that walks in the door. It is fellowship and friendly conversation with anyone who desires it. It is a gift of a week's supply of bread to those who ask. It is an hour's worth of entertainment by a talented folk singer. It is an evening of dignity displayed toward any person that enters. No questions asked except one: "Can we serve you?"

The contrast between Sunday and Wednesday is striking. On Sunday, fifteen people humbly bowing their heads and praying to the Father and listening to teaching from God's Word. On Wednesday, those same people reaching out to scores of needy people with a hot meal and the Love of Jesus. It is a ministry of love that quietly speaks volumes directly into the lives of the neediest people of Toronto. And I think Jesus smiles down on the Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship.

James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Volunteers Meet Volunteers!

We had a "crossover" of sorts during our orientation program. A Liebenzell "Impact" team was finishing their 3-month term of service while our Student Volunteer program was just getting off the ground. We met one morning for breakfast and devotions at the Liebenzell Mission Center in Moffat.

The Impact team consisted of a group of 8 young people from Germany serving in both the United States and Canada, travelling as a group and helping churches and other Christian ministries in various ways. On the morning of their arrival they were on their way back to the United States after a several weeks in Canada. They were a great encouragement to the volunteers newly arrived from Germany. They answered lots of questions about life and ministry in Toronto.

September Newsletter

Daniel, Marisa, Dominic, Marlen, Uli, Micha, and Simon-- pictured here during our recent Volunteer Orientation sessions -- are all serving with UrbanPromise Toronto. They will be helping run after-school programs in the inner-city of Toronto giving children safe, fun, and relationship-building alternatives to life on the streets. These seven, along with ten other young German students, are now under our pastoral oversight as we have begun the ministry of the International Student Volunteer Program. Each one brings an energy and passion that is having an impact on the lives of people throughout the Greater Toronto, Canada area.

Here's a breakdown of where they are serving:

• Seven are in the inner city of Toronto with UrbanPromise.
• One is providing child care for  a missionary family that serves a Bangladeshi community in Toronto.
• Two are serving local churches in Milton, a suburb of Toronto.
• Five are in the northern lakes region of Ontario at Christian camps that provide grade-school Outdoor Education programs.
• Two are serving at the Liebenzell Center in Moffat Ontario, providing a place for immigrant churches to gather and refresh far from the city noise and distraction.

Each one of these areas forms part of the vision of Liebenzell Mission of Canada to provide "Strategic Patnerships to Cross Barriers". In Canada, Liebenzell embraces opportunities and builds strategic partnerships to cross socio-economic and cultural barriers with the love of God. With each ministry served, we are bringing the larger Christian community together in love and service.

A Fast Start

 Donna and I arrived in Ontario, Canada on Sunday evening, August 15th, after a short drive from central New York. It was quite strange arriving in a new mission field after such a short trip! No airports, no long flights. Still, we had to face the important task of getting our visa documents approved at the border. Thankfully, that step went smoothly and in less than half an hour we were in!

But we had to hit the Canadian soil running because we had less than 2 weeks to get ready for the arrival of the 17 young people that will spend the year here. Our initial task was to prepare the agenda for 9 days of training, meals, and activities. Our Liebenzell team is made up of the Mission Center Caretakers, Jeff and Ursi Wilson, who are on just their second year of service here; and Jakob and Lori Koch, the Mission Directors, who have 10 years of experience running this program. We met together often during those initial days to share experiences, expectations, and resources. By the time the airplane carrying the exuberant youth landed at the Toronto airport, we were ready for them.

Eight days later, when orientation was over, we rejoiced in how far we had come in learning their names, their stories, and their passions for serving God. They moved into their ministry locations throughout the province of Ontario united in purpose and ready for hands-on service to God. Please take a moment to read some of the daily episodes of their orientation in our blog:VolunteerYearToronto. The blog really is a key conduit to news about our ministry. We post pictures and news updates several times a week.  Facebook  has opened up a new avenue of 2-way conversation. If you have a Facebook account, please look for our "VolunteerYearToronto" page and make a "Like" link.

 

Giving to the Lord's work

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." - John Stott

There is no getting around the fact that our ministry is dependent on donations. Even during these uncertain financial times, Christian mission continues. The work of Liebenzell continues today by leaning solely on the Lord in prayer for support through individuals and churches.  Would you consider a gift today? Online donationsare now possible through the Liebenzell USA website,mission.liebenzellusa.org.

Would you help us raise an additional $800 per month to reach the next level of our support? Currently we are at a basic level that barely meets our monthly expenses of food, lodging, and transportation. While our current support level allows us to carry on our ministry, it provides no margin for inflation, emergencies, or budget upsets. Thanks for your help.

Contributions by check should be made out to "Liebenzell Mission USA" and sent to :

Liebenzell Mission USA

P.O. Box 66

Schooley's Mtn, NJ 07870.

Include a note in the envelope indicating the words: "For the ministry of Gregg and Donna Hanchett".

Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship House

During our first weeks in Canada, we have been staying at the Mission Center, the Liebenzell Canada headquarters about an hour outside of Toronto. In the next several weeks we will be making the transition to a ministry house near downtown Toronto, currently undergoing renovation. It is very convenient to the transit system subway and city buses.  The house is owned by a local church and is being rented by Liebenzell so that we will have a central location from which we can minister to the volunteers. It will also allow us to bless the neighborhood by sharing the love of Christ in our daily lives. The church, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship, also shares its facility with three other congregations-- one Spanish, one Portuguese, and a deaf congregation. On Wednesday it opens it doors and serves a "Community Dinner" to the poor and underprivileged in the area, free to all who enter. We have already been able to help on two occasions during our short time here.

Would you pray specifically for this aspect of our ministry? We believe strongly that the Lord wants us in this strategic downtown location during our time in Toronto. Our immediate need is to finish the renovation. Several local believers are helping with drywall, plumbing, and painting, however there are no funds available to purchase flooring materials. We have been scouring the area for deals on any type of  flooring and have found a few great deals. Any donations designated towards these finishing touches would be wonderful! We hope to relocate to this house-- finished floors or not-- by the end of Sepember. Thanks for praying-- and giving if you can!

Meanwhile, you can contact us at the Liebenzell Canada address: 12168 First Line, R.R. #1, Moffat, ON, Canada. Postal Code: L0P 1J0. My cell phone number is 647-746-6893. Gregg's Email is hanch6@gmail.com. Donna's Email is etjah6@yahoo.com.

Full day of ministry

This was a day full of ministry. Our objective was to take the remaining volunteers to the Bloor-Lansdowne house to begin final preparations for our move-in. Of course, the Moffat boys wanted to be included,  so we brought them all in. I had invited Pastor Frank from the Hungarian church to meet us at the house because he had wanted to help with hanging drywall. When we arrived there was no material (drywall compound) and instead of saying that I didn't know where a store was,  I offered to go get some. Well,  an hour later I returned with only a small container, unsuitable for the job.  Pastor Frank said that if I had told him, he would have gone and left to find some. (Note to self: remember humility is a virtue!) He was very gracious and brought a very gentle man from his church who was very talented with drywall taping. They worked all day and were a great blessing. 


Donna was supervising the youth at painting and priming while I had to drive across the city to deliver a document to Salvation Army. It was a great visit and well-timed as I had an opportunity to meet with our 3 volunteers who are placed there, as well as meet with the leaders. We worked out some administrative details and they even gave me some lunch from the soup kitchen that is open daily in this depressed neighborhood of Toronto.
Upon my return to the Bloor-Lansdowne house, the group-- now including the girls who arrived by subway-- had made great progress with the painting and were helping the other 2 sets of volunteer craftsman who had been working hard all morning. We worked on cleaning some windows and clearing out some of the construction materials that had gathered in some of the rooms. We met Sophie, the administrator of the house and the lady who operates the soup kitchen "community dinner" next door. She is a whirlwind of activity. We helped her work out some questions on the house repairs then the guys helped her wheel the filled garbage can back to the church for pickup on Friday.

Later at 5pm, we all dropped our tools, changed out clothes, and went next door to help serve at the community dinner at the Bloor-Lansdowne Fellowship Church next door. The dinner started at six and we each helped serve overflowing plates of turkey, rice, vegetables, salad and bread. Three of the youth spoke on stage during the testimony time. Micha and Marlen spoke briefly about why they were in Toronto and then Marlen and Marisa sang an a capella version of  "Lord, I Lift Your name on High." They were very brave and were well received with applause by the audience. After cleaning up the dishes and putting away the tables and chairs, we climbed back in the van for the 1 hour drive back to Moffat and our comfortable beds.

Resting for more of the same tomorrow...

Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful opportunity to serve You, help others, and use our gifts and talents for the benefit of Your Kingdom!

Throughout Ontario

It was a busy weekend as we drove to each location and moved the volunteers into their new ministry sites. A common scene was a sad goodbye from the remaining group as each ministry team left the retreat center. Or, in the case of Toronto, the goodbyes were said on location. Either way, it was a special time as each reflected on the spiritual purpose of their presence in each site and their commitment to serving God with a part of their lives. It has been a very special 9 days of orientation and preparation for ministry. They are off to a great start!

Here's the width and breadth of the area in which our volunteers are now serving.

View 2010 VYT Ministry Locations in a larger map

Doing the ministry waltz

I normally only dance at weddings, so I'm not an expert, but I know enough to recognize when all the diverse parts --the instruments, the song, the atmosphere, the dancers--come together in just the right way to create an enjoyable event. Our first week of ministry has seemed to me a lot like a waltz. A wide variety of components each functioning on its own, but the interactions between the parts make for a beautiful thing.

We came into contact-- dancing, in a sense-- with a lot of different people this first week in Canada.

• First there was our team. Our ministry team consists of 7 of us, each with a different role to play. We learned a little bit of their contributions during meetings early in the week. 
• Then there are those we serve, ministry leaders who will have the responsibility to look after our volunteer interns day-by-day over the coming 12 months. We visited several on Thursday, then a couple more on Friday. Names are important, and we are using all the tricks we know to remember them, and match them to the faces we saw. 
• Then there are those who are blessed by the larger Liebenzell ministry. On Saturday, a group of enthusiastic young adults used the retreat grounds here to plan out and pray over their own, God-led, ideas for ministry. Our facilities are offered cost-free to Christian groups that need a place of escape and solitude. On Sunday, we shared a meal with a Hungarian congregation who graciously invited us while they enjoyed the use of some of our 45 acre fields. We enjoyed hearing their stories-- both blessings and struggles-- as they adjust to life as foreigners, and as believers, in a big city like Toronto.
• We met people, too, who have nothing to do with our ministry-- check-out associates, government office clerks, salesmen-- who may or may not have a relationship with God yet face the daily struggles of living. We remind ourselves that they need a word of encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
• And we met other Servants of God, ministering in their own way to the people of Toronto. We may have no affiliation with them in organization, yet we are all called to the same purpose: love those we serve with the love of Christ.

And so as we met these all fine folks during this first week it reminded me of a dance-- always moving, coming in contact for a short time, interacting briefly, trying to keep in step with them, releasing them for the next partner. They will come around again and we'll be ready with encouragement, practical gifts, words of hope. Are you dancing with your Saviour today?

Arrival in Canada!

We have made it to Canada! We drove across the border at Lewiston, NY, just north of Niagara Falls. There was about a 30 minute wait to the crossing, then we had to report to the Immigration Office there at the border. The paperwork took about a half hour and the Canadian officials were very gracious in issuing a residence permit that allows us to stay through July, 2011.

From the border, we headed west along the southern shore of Lake Ontario in Canada for about 50 miles, then inland another 25 miles to the small village of Moffat. Here's where we are:


View Larger Map

Moffat is the location of the Liebenzell Mission Retreat Centre, our home for the next several weeks as we prepare for the arrival of the students. You can read more about the facility from my earlier post.

We were tired after our arrival, but we were gracious received by our hosts, Jeff and Ursi, who invited us up for donuts and coffee, with our directors and other Retreat Centre guests. We appreciated the nice housewarming gifts and our bed already prepared for us.

We have a day off on Monday and then begin with a staff meeting on Tuesday morning to learn all about the agenda before us in the coming days.

Hit the Ground Running

Here's our travel plans for the next few days:
Early on Saturday morning we will pack the car and head to the Rochester, NY area for a Hanchett family reunion on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, after sending off our two older children back home, Donna, Gregg, and Anna will drive across Niagara Falls into Canada. We will have several administrative tasks at the border to gather our paperwork for entry into Canada. Since we will be working as Religious Workers, we expect to receive the OK from the Canadian authorities and be invited in. Please pray for their acceptance of our invitation from Liebenzell and allow us to serve in Canada. We are cognizant that our work in Canada is always based on the good graces of the Canadian government. We are so thankful for the freedoms that God allows us here in North America to serve others in the name of Christ.
After passing across the border, we will head about 90 minutes west and north-- just past the western tip of Lake Ontario-- and arrive in the small village of Moffat and the Liebenzell Canada Retreat Centre. (Thus we will begin our first Canadian English lesson -- it's "Centre" not "Center". There will be several of those new spellings that we need to get used to. LOL)

We will settle in the Retreat Centre-- a building with several (8 or so) guest rooms that will accommodate small church retreats. We will hit the ground running as first on our agenda will be to prepare for the arrival of students from Germany. Along with the Liebenzell Mission Directors we will preparing a week's worth of activities and lessons to orient the young people to their new life in Canada and serving others. We have the benefit of several years of successful orientation sessions to build on. It will be an intense time of getting to know these young servants, encourage them, and introduce them to their new surroundings.

There will be several other things to accomplish in those first few days, but I'll wait and explain them in a future post. Thanks for praying for us during these busy days-- whenever you get the chance.

Final Preparations for our arrival in Toronto

We are meeting this week to make final arrangements for beginning our ministry in Toronto! We have a busy several weeks ahead of us. Thank you for your prayers during this time.

First on the agenda is to prepare for the arrival of 19 students from Germany. We will be taking them through an orientation where they will get acclimated to life in Canada, perfect their English, make new friends and meet their supervisors for their ministry assignments. This orientation will take place during the last week of August up through Labor Day in September.

Second, we will be doing major renovations on a house in Toronto that will be a base for our ministry. It is in a very convenient location and will make our task of travelling to and meeting with the students to provide pastoral care.

Third, Donna will take a few days to drive to Michigan with Anna and get her started at Calvin College.

These will be exhausting days with a lot of work to accomplish. We appreciate your prayers. Your financial support is very much appreciated. Thank you for standing with us.

Suffering and Grace

This past week Donna and I grieved with a friend who lost his 22-year-old son to a motorcycle tragedy. We cannot begin to imagine the hurt that accompanies a loss like that. On our drive back from the funeral home, Donna and I were reflecting on our own lives and the perspective that losing a loved one brings.
No one seeks suffering, but Scripture teaches us that there is much to be learned when tragedy strikes.

A few weeks ago I quoted from a book Donna and I have been reading, and I return to it because of what it has taught us as we prepare for minstry in Toronto. Colin McCartney is the author, and he was newly acquainted with suffering when he wrote this:
"For the one true God to fill our souls, there must be a destruction of any false gods that are present. Before God can inhabit a soul, it must first become fit for divine habitation.Only empty vessels can be filled. Our souls were made only for God and the Holy of Holies cannot and will not tolerate any other rivals that inhabit our souls. God is a jealous God and rightfully so. He states that we cannot have any other gods before Him." Ex 20:3-6

That is a profound teaching for us in all life situations, but the practical matter of purging our souls comes only through deep suffering. This is what the Cross teaches us.

He goes on...
"In our own strength, we can only do so much to purge our flesh. The real purging comes when God allows us to suffer. In this way, suffering becomes an incredibly beautiful tragedy of grace-- a beautiful disappointment. This is why it is important not to run away from trials and tragedies, but to actually embrace them. This is why we must not ignore suffering." 

In our own experiences over the past 28 months, we have suffered-- in a different way than my friend, his wife and their daughters-- but we have suffered none the less. Early in the experience we were told to be on the lookout for God and His lessons. We were told that He will use it to strengthen our future ministry. As we are about to launch into a ministry of Pastoral Care in Toronto, we are convinced that God has been with us throughout.

"Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!"

(Italicized quotations are from "The Beautiful Disappointment - Discovering Who You Are Through the Trials of Life." by Colin McCartney, p.150)

In need of a push

Volunteer Year Toronto has reached a critical decision point. August is fast approaching and our support team is not yet complete. Our leadership must decide whether to allow us to begin the ministry. They can't say "go" without commitments that will cover ministry expenses. If you want to participate in this Christian mission outreach, now is the time to let us know.Your "Yes, we will" begins our work.

The mission needs to be assured that our friends are committed to meet the financial needs of the project. A "no answer" cannot be considered as a positive response. So if you have an intention of sending in a donation to Liebenzell Mission to support the work of Volunteer Year Toronto, please let them know today. Simply send a note to Jane Galley of Liebenzell at janegalley@liebenzellusa.org and tell her "Yes, we will" support Gregg and Donna's work in Canada. Even if you don't know an exact amount please let them know of your intentions.

Donations can be mailed directly to the Liebenzell Mission headquarters at P.O. Box 66, Schooley's Mtn, NJ 07870. Please do it before August 1, so we can get to the field as soon as possible.

Remember that our blog site is here to read the details of the work. Just click on the links above to have your questions answered.

Progress is Encouraging!

In our first newsletter in June, we told you what our needs are. Here's our progress towards meeting those needs. First, we have made some important decisions that will reduce some of our expenses, especially regarding health care costs. Second, part of our expenses will be covered by the fees paid by the volunteers who take part in the program. Third, many have already joined the VYT team with financial commitments! Taking these changes into account, our remaining need, as of today, stands at just $1650/month!

God has done great things in a very short time. If you haven't already, would you prayerfully consider a donation in support of Volunteer Year Toronto? Your monthly commitment is very meaningful to help complete the work God is doing in and around Toronto.

Send a note today to Jane Galley at janegalley@liebenzellusa.org or by mail to P.O. Box 66, Schooley's Mtn, NJ 07870. Remember, the U.S. Internal Revenue Serves recognizes Liebenzell Mission of the USA, Inc. as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3)religious organization. Donations are tax-deductible and donors will receive a receipt.

You are important to us, no matter your involvement with the VYT ministry. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this ministry. August 1 is our start date, so if you are intending to act, please do so today.

We are constantly amazed at God's goodness,

Gregg Hanchett
Volunteer Year Toronto

The Reason we serve.

Volunteer Year Toronto exists to bring glory to God by facilitating transformational relationships between Christian youth and mature, life-changing ministries.

We give international students an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving others during a safe, supervised internship. We provide pastoral care to the students so they can better serve others. We strengthen established ministries by providing spiritually prepared and energetic volunteers for their programs. We unite the body of Christ by serving ministries across social, national, and economic borders. And we do it in the Toronto region of Ontario, Canada.

"bring glory to God..."

In Matthew 25:34-40 Jesus gives a surprisingly blunt parable that illustrates one way in which Volunteer Year Toronto seeks to bring glory to God:

'Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You,or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'   And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
God has a tremendous compassion for the hurting in our world. As Christians, our service to others has a broader, higher component of giving service directly to Our Lord. God is pleased -and glorified- when we help others through their tribulations. In our modern, fast-paced world it is too easy to have our attention diverted from the physical and emotional needs around us. Many young people especially have a hard time focusing on the needs around them. Volunteer Year Toronto ministry is committed to re-connecting teens to a needy world through establishing real-life relationships. Helping relationships. Caring relationships. Relationships that bring down walls or prejudice. Relationships that reveal Jesus' love. Relationships that change lives two people at a time.

Your partnership is SO important. Would you stand with us now so that we can serve this Fall? Find out how you can help by clicking on the link above.

Why Toronto?

The International Student Internship Program takes advantage of the unique situation of Toronto. The city is home to virtually all of the world's culture groups and is the city where more than 100 languages and dialects are spoken. Consider what that means from the perspective of ministry. It is possible to learn from and live among people of every culture in the world. What a great opportunity for those of us who are interested in seeing the life-changing message of the Christian faith communicated around the world. You will recall the episode in the Bible book of Acts, within days after Our Lord ascended into heaven, he left this message with his disciples: (Acts 1:8) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” In our day, and in the city of Toronto, the world will be literally at our door!

Each year more than 100,000 immigrants come to live in the Toronto Metropolitan Area. According to the city of Toronto website, among the top 15 languages spoken in Toronto, besides English, are Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu, and Arabic. The abundance of languages available in Toronto has resulted in several mission organizations using Toronto as a base for training missionaries in the target language of their assigned field.

Volunteer Year Toronto will take advantage of this strategic location this year alone to introduce more than 15 young people to Christian service and help them network with others who are making a positive difference in the world. Will you stand with us and be a part of our "Network of Faith"?

Homeless

This week, during our Europe trip, we visited the city of Colmar, in the Alsace region of France. It is the birthplace of Fredric Bartholdi, designer of the Statue of Liberty. During our visit we learned that the city recently installed a scale model of the famous statue, so we went to visit it.  It is not nearly as impressive as the real thing sitting in New York Harbor. But despite the copies and the various locations, the most impressive thing about the statue is what it stands for. The lines written by Emma Lazarus that are engraved on the pedestal of the statue are known by most Americans:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

As we start a new mission, in a new location, a new city, a new home, we have thought a lot about those "huddled masses yearning to breathe free", the homeless, and "tempest-tost". Not just because we will be working with ministries that serve the homeless. And not just because we are learning what life is like for refugees newly arrived in this continent. It is because we have lived in many homes in the past 14 years. There is a "yearning to be free" and have a home into which we can settle. But we understand that there is a higher calling, to go where God wants us to go. The biblical concept of missions, and even evangelism, has its fundamentals, its roots in the idea of "this world is not my home", of being "in the world, but not of it". The great commission of our Lord is a call to believers to "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19). You can feel the "homelessness" in the idea. Now I don't believe that God calls everyone to go to a foreign land, but you will have a hard time claiming, with Biblical authority, that God has called you to stay in your specific place. Abraham was the only one that God called to live in a specific place, and that was after he told him to "go". God said "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you". (Gen 12:1) And even Abraham did not know where that place was.

Perhaps you have put down roots in one city, or one location, but one thing that missionaries share in common with all believers is the truth that "we are rooted in Christ". Not in a geographical location, not in a city or people group. But that we are rooted in Christ. So you could say that missions is about "homelessness" or at least holding very lightly the houses here on earth that God has given us.

So it is with satisfaction and humility that we start this new place of service. Part of our work will deal with a ministry to the homeless. Oasis food kitchen provides meals to the needy of Toronto.

There is a  Refugee Shelter we will be supporting-- talk about being homeless. Your country being torn up by war or lawlessness and being forced to flee, leaving your work, your family, your home. It is too easy to get caught up in the politics and forget about the individual lives that need basic shelter, food, and above all, hope. (Watch a powerful video that features two young people, refugees, one of whom was served by Matthew House, one of the ministries we will be helping.)

There will be other ministries around Toronto. Not all involve the homeless or inner-city ministries. But all involve teens who have volunteered to leave their home for a time, for a year, and serve others. Our job will be to help them see the big picture of ministry. To help them to see God's plan in their lives. To protect them so that they can focus on what it is that God is telling them. It is our desire to instill in them this same idea: this world is not my home, I'm just passing through.

Donna and I are incredibly grateful for your partnership with us. You have ministered to us in wonderful ways during the past year. Still we have a tall mountain to climb. In order for us to arrive in Toronto by August 1, we need to raise the finances necessary for our year living in the city. Your gifts to Liebenzell on our behalf is the method which writes our ticket to go. Please pray with us we visit with others and share this opportunity.

Save $2.67 on your favorite coffee drink--- and impact the world

Here's a clever way to find room in your budget to support a missionary:

Here's the recipe to make your favorite iced coffee drink at home.
You avoid buying it at your local shop and save yourself at least $2.67.
Did you know $2.67 saved 4 times a week is $45.92 per month?
So here's my idea: Enjoy your iced coffee all month AND support a missionary for $40/month.

You get to support a great cause, AND for the $5.92 you just saved, go out to your local BuckStars coffee shop and celebrate with a cold coffee drink.

Ingredients (From: http://www.mahalo.com)
You'll need the following ingredients to make one 16 oz. Frappudrink.
Double or halve the recipe as needed:
1-2 cups ice
½ cup double-strength coffee (dark roast is recommended)
½ cup lowfat milk or half-and-half
1-2 tablespoons sugar, depending on your sweet tooth
1-2 tablespoons chocolate or other flavored syrup, or caramel
Optional: whipped cream for garnishing; extra chocolate syrup to drizzle over garnish

1. Brew a pot of fresh, double-strength dark roast coffee. (You can make your coffee double-strength by using twice the recommended amount of coffee per pot, or 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per cup.)
2. Chill your coffee before mixing up the frappudrink. (Or, mix a third of your ice into the coffee before adding it to your blender.)
3. Break out the blender and Blend all ingredients except ice on high speed for 20+ seconds, until the sugar has dissolved.
4. Add ice and blend another 20+ seconds, until the mixture is smooth, or "just slushy" in its consistency.
5. If desired, top with whipped cream and drizzled syrup.

Trips, Teamwork, and Accomplishment

From Anna BFA Grad

This week we returned from a brief trip to Europe to attend our daughter's graduation from Black Forest Academy, in Kandern, Germany. Great job, Anna! One of the amazing things about BFA is the quality of staff, teachers, and administrators they have. Each one is a missionary who has chosen to leave their home to serve the children of other missionaries. Those parents can then, in turn, complete their part of carrying out the Great Commission of the Lord, bringing hope and new life around the world. It is a wonderful illustration of teamwork in order to accomplish the Biblical mandate of "Go, and make disciples of all nations".

The work in Toronto requires similar teamwork, each one doing a small part so great things can be accomplished. What part can you play?

Thanks, BFA!

The Beautiful Disappointment

Excerpt from a book by Colin McCartney, executive director of UrbanPromise Toronto. The title of the book is "The Beautiful Disappointment: Discovering who you are through the trials of life", my current read:

"Over the years, I have come to understand that positive community change is not the result of any sophisticated children's or youth after-school or summer camp programs we operate. It is also not because we run a fancy mothers' program. In fact, our programs are not that fancy at all. We operate a bare bones program light on the programmatic side, but heavy on the relational and love side. What we lack in ornate bells and whistles and fancy, expensive programming is well made up with loving care from our staff. We earn respect through our commitment, dedication, and genuine love for our people... Our task is not to run programs, but to craft an ethos of love and grace. Our goal is to create holy places where the love of God can be experienced."

This helps explain why UrbanPromise has been so successful in Toronto, and many other urban centers across North America. A focus on grace, not rules; love, not fear. Profound.

Liebenzell volunteers have to meet a high standard to serve with UrbanPromise. Thus far, they have done so successfully for several years running. Thanks for praying and partnering with us as we seek to prepare ourselves for an intense ministry in Toronto.

Urban Promise Toronto

Liebenzell partners with UrbanPromise Toronto to provide interns for their urban ministry.

UrbanPromise Toronto began in 1998 with the vision to see change in government-housing neighbourhoods. Beginning with one small after-school program for children, UrbanPromise has grown into an organization that reaches hundreds of children, youth, and families in four communities across the city.

The original vision for UrbanPromise was created in 1985 in the city of Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Anthony Campolo (Professor of Sociology, Eastern College) was invited to set up a program for children, using a church as the location, to address the needs of the city’s many underprivileged and marginalized citizens. He recruited college-aged students to work with the youth of Camden. After establishing a solid presence in Camden, UrbanPromise was developed with the aim of serving "at - risk" communities in other cities across North America. The program is based on the belief that children and young adults have the potential to achieve success, and with support, they can reach their full God-given potential.

Their dedicated staff and volunteers offer tutoring assistance, Bible studies, healthy snacks and recreation for children in four different Toronto neighbourhoods on a daily basis. Special events like talent shows, community “hangout nights” and field trips to places like the Science Centre, museums, plays and sporting events provide additional opportunities for staff to mentor children.

Read more about Urban Promise here. You can help us serve Urban Promise-- click to learn how.

Liebenzell Mission Centre, Canada

The headquarters of Liebenzell Mission of Canada is located in Moffat, Ontario, Canada, less than an hour from downtown Toronto.

The Liebenzell Mission Training Centre has become a place where workers in Christian ministry and church families can gather together to build relationships with God and with each other. For those who can't afford or don't have access to traditional training and retreat facilities, this centre is a blessing.

The 45 acres facility is offered as a free gift to help our co-workers in Christ grow and develop their Christian ministry endeavours. Liebenzell Mission Centre has become known as a place of peace and rest, a refuge or oasis where groups and individuals can experience God and hear His voice in the beauty of nature.

Jeff and Ursi Wilson, Training Centre Hosts and Property Managers, are the LM Training Centre's ministry coordinators. God has laid on their hearts His call to provide for other people a sanctuary of His peace, embracing the natural elements of God's creation as a way to bring balance and perspective into the lives of others.

Jeff and Ursi are actively seeking those who will support the developing Liebenzell Mission Training Centre ministry both financially and prayerfully. If God has laid it on your heart to support this ministry, please contact them by email at retreat@liebenzell.ca.

For more information about the Liebenzell Mission Centre, click here or visit www.liebenzell.ca.

Oasis Dufferin Community Centre

Oasis Dufferin Community Centre is a ministry for which Liebenzell makes available volunteers on an as-needed basis.

Oasis Dufferin Community Centre serves diverse groups including Spanish-speaking community providing services for settlement, counselling, orientation, life skills for immigrants and newcomers, information and referral including referrals to women's shelters, interpretation, translation, escort, job training courses, spiritual counselling, advocacy for social assistance, Spanish-speaking seniors programs focusing on social, physical and spiritual needs.

It is an outreach of the Dufferin Street Baptist church, an urban church congregation that reaches into their community. Besides the Community Centre and Food Bank, they open their facility to a Spanish-speaking congregation.

You can become involved by helping VYT serve the Oasis food bank: How You Can Help

Muskoka Bible Centre ministry

Muskoka Bible Centre is one of the ministries for which Liebenzell provides year-long volunteers.

Muskoka Bible Centre is Canada’s largest Christ-centred conference and retreat centre, located in beautiful Muskoka Canada, only 2 hours north of Toronto, Canada. With over 200 acres of beautiful Muskoka property, MBC is a popular destination for family, church groups, company getaways, and many more.

Founded in 1930, MBC has been serving the church for 80 years. We’re thankful for how God has used MBC to bless thousands of people over the years and we’re excited as we look forward to what He has in store for the future.

MBC exists to glorify God and expand His Kingdom.

Their intern development program opportunity provides a holistic 8 month experience for young adults ages 18 through to 25 years. Check out the details here: http://steppingstones.muskokabiblecentre.com/Internship/