A TS2025 Toronto reflection from Del Martin, Church in Toronto …
“This year’s topic “Church as Family” was very helpful. Families come in all sizes and appear differently. Churches are the same. Leaders from various churches shared how they are carrying out their mission in different ways. One brother testified that his new church that merged with an older declining church has a strong mission focus in their immediate community. They partner with existing community organizations to care for the people in their community. Another church testified to the discerning process they went through to find the best way to disciple their church members. Also, In the GTA there have been new church plants almost every year within the Chinese Christian communities. We also were challenged to consider how we can work and or partner with other VMC affiliated churches to spread the kingdom of God in our area. Meeting and having fellowship with other nearby churches was very helpful and encouraging.
Some strong impressions/desires that remain with me:
- Our church would like to gather the four congregations that meet in our facility (CIT) to have an evening of prayer together. We are looking to do this in the fall.
2. We want to be open to consider new fields of outreach where the Lord is already working and join in that endeavour. In other words, can we join in what God is doing beyond our present sphere of influence? This would give opportunity for some of our younger congregants to develop their leadership abilities to serve in ways that God might be leading them. It might be time for some of our members to “leave the nest”.
3. Spending more time to pray to discern how the Lord is leading us before merely planning and acting.”