Breakout Rooms
To kick off our time together, our guests journeyed to one of seven breakout rooms to spend 30 minutes connecting with our staff teams and learning more about our ministries across the GTA. This was a new event format for our Friends Reception, and we were so encouraged by how our guests and staff embraced this unique experience.
What If...
The evening program portion of our event was emceed by Scott Moore, Youth Unlimited's Executive Director. He opened our time together by sharing about YU's new four-year strategy: Gaining Ground, and highlighting our five key commitments for 2023-2027. This is the big picture of what we believe God is inviting all of us into for the coming four years.
Watch a compelling video that set the scene for our time together, showcasing our staff as they envision all that could be for our program, young people and city over the next four years.
“What if” … two powerful words that invite us to imagine possibilities; to envision what could be; to move towards what might seem – right now – unattainable. “What if” - this is what Gaining Ground: Seeds to the Future is all about. -- Scott Moore
Stable Housing
Over the past two years, all but one of our ministry teams have had to address housing insecurity with their youth. One of our Gaining Ground commitments is to address the urgent need for stable housing among youth and their families. We’ve formed a council of 8 YU staff who will implement a multi-faceted approach to increase access to stable housing for those we serve. This includes adding to our existing emergency residence, partnering with other agencies building supportive housing, and fostering what we’re calling radical hospitality among the Christian community.
Watch the story of a couple who opened their home to a young person we’ve called Jane, who was facing very real housing insecurity.
Multi-Service Spaces
Calvin & Emma from our DOXA team in Scarborough shared with us about YU's commitment to deepen our wholistic engagement with youth and their families through multi-service spaces.
Click on the link below to listen in to Calvin and Emma's discussion on meeting the complex and multi-faceted needs of our young people.
Church Mobilization
We are deeply committed to reaching young people with and alongside local churches. Over the coming four years, we are aiming to see more and more neighbourhood youth experiencing welcome and belonging in local churches. And here’s why. Eventually a young person becomes not so young. They can’t be part of a YU program forever and we want young people to experience a whole life-long journey of faith. So, the earlier our young people can be flourishing in a faith community, the better. Welcoming youth into faith communities is a two-way street for adults and young people alike.
Click on the link below to hear Tope and Erielle share one way YU is beginning to step into this commitment.
New Ministries
Our vision statement expresses our desire to see every young person in the Greater Toronto Area encounter Jesus and His love, hope and life-changing power. We have a long way to go! But more tangibly in the coming four years, we believe God is inviting us to reach into new neighbourhoods, particularly those where young people are underserved.
Click the link below to hear about what partnerships in under-served communities might look like in the coming years. Special thanks to Darlene Lucas from Weston Park Baptist Church and Shirley Buchanan from Prison Fellowship Canada for joining our discussion.
South Sudan
Youth Unlimited in Canada has a strong track record of fostering mutually impactful partnerships around the world. After many months of discerning, we have committed to cultivating a collaborative partnership with YFC in South Sudan. South Sudan is one of the newest countries in the world and also one of the poorest after decades of civil war. But James, the National Director of YFC South Sudan is doing amazing things there through school outreach, a soccer program, and a computer literacy program. As Anna from South Sudan said in our opening video, this is about building global friendships for young people to grow closer to the heart of God and make an impact in a globally connected world.
Click the link below for a Zoom discussion about this partnership featuring Scott, Jenn Mikelait - YU New Ministries Strategies, James, and Luc - East Africa Regional Director.
We closed our evening with a final story from Dave and Leo. Dave Burridge has been on staff at YU for 21 years now. On any given week, you might find him engaged in meaningful conversation with his youth on the Anchor Point 3D archery course, taking a charge on the basketball court at First Alliance Church in Scarborough, or strumming the guitar singing worships songs with inmates at the detention centre. Leo is a young man who has been mentored by Dave and also joined our summer staff this year.
Click the link below to watch Dave and Leo share about their journey together.
Youth Unlimited’s Executive Director, Scott Moore, closed out our time together by inviting our guests to join us in in and reaching into new places, new spaces, and new ways of doing things to see more and more transformed youth transforming our city.
As we all express our faith through love – which is the only thing that matters – we will see God bring our what ifs to light.
"Will you gain ground with us? Will you carry your ‘what if’ even if it’s painful and uncomfortable and demanding? Will you commit with us in the areas of stable housing, multi-services spaces, mobilizing neighbourhood churches, launching new ministries, and partnering with YFC South Sudan?"
May you know the joy of faith expressing itself through love. May you carry God’s hopes and desires for every young person, family, and community in your ‘what ifs’. And as you do so, may we collectively see new ground gained in the lives of those who right now experience loneliness, or pain, or brokenness. May we hold on to the hope of our “one day” God, who is always making everything new in Jesus. Peace be with you.