Pray for Toronto
Something is happening in Toronto. It really is. Here’s some of what I see happening right now:
- two new church plants in the core of the city
- a new, younger generation of gospel-centered pastors taking shape
- interdenominational cooperation
- informal networks of pastors and leaders
- a growing concern for both evangelism and cultural engagement
I’ve lived in this city for over twenty years now, and I’ve seen things come and go, but this seems different somehow, and I’m excited.
Don’t get me wrong. This is all very new and fragile. I see brushfires, but it’s still a long way from where it needs to be.
It’s not all rosy:
- I met with a pastor recently who feels discouraged, unsupported, and under-resourced.
- Most churches I know are not growing or reaching the community.
- Churches are closing and their buildings are becoming condos or mosques.
- A recent visitor to the city noticed that there’s a negativity, a tendency to be critical, that pervades Toronto.
This is Toronto: both full of hope and full of challenges. The good news is that in the middle of all of these challenges, something is beginning to happen.
If you’re in Toronto, we need you here. Don’t be one of those people who bails on us and moves to the burbs. Start to look around. You may notice, as I do, that something is beginning to change.
Even if you’re not from Toronto, pray for us. We need it. Even if you hate Toronto, sit on a hill beside Jonah and pray for it. Pray that we’ll wake up. Unless I’m mistaken, Aslan is on the move, and I want to be there to see it.
