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.