Imagine being the pastor at an airport.
That’s Mike Garabedian’s job at Toronto Pearson.
After working for 25 years with the Airport Authorities, he transitioned into chaplaincy, providing spiritual care for the 50,000 employees that form part of the airport community.
God has been at work and the ministry has flourished in the last couple of years.
God has raised up a team of about 20 volunteer chaplains to work alongside Mike. And now, the ministry of chaplaincy is not confined to the airport chapel spaces only but extends to the many places of work throughout the terminals and outlying buildings within the airport.
Sometimes there’s emergencies to attend to, like when the Delta airplane turned upside down on the runway this past spring.
Or if there’s a death on an aircraft or some other sort of crisis.
There are many events and significant days on the calendar like Remembrance Day and the National Day of Mourning that require the presence of a chaplain.
Mike also provides spiritual care for the vagrant population at the airport, who especially seek shelter in the winter months.
As a minister of the truth and grace of God, Mike seeks to live the gospel with integrity and joy as the airport chaplain.
Knowing this truth himself, Mike wants others to also experience God as their refuge and strength.
With his words and actions, he seasons his conversations with gospel truth and the deep love of God, tenderly and gently caring for all those that God brings his way.
Pray for all the seeds that are sown on a daily basis at Pearson International!
Photo Credit: Roberta Sant’Anna