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I wonder why my mother wasn't a crack addict. Why wasn't I born in poverty? Why wasn't I born HIV positive? Why wasn't I born in slavery? Why wasn't I sexually or physically abused as a child? I don't really have an answer to that. I could just as easily have had to face these kinds of horrors in my own life. (I know some of you have.) I did not have a choice as to whether or not I would have to face this as a child.

As humans, there are many things in our lives that shape us that we have no control over. We don't choose who our parents and siblings are. We don't choose the color of our skin. We don't choose our economic status as children. And we, almost always, don't choose when we die.

The people we work with every day have had situations in their lives that they wouldn't have chosen if given the opportunity. Stories of horrible abuse and destruction permeate our community. Given the histories of some of these guys, it's a wonder they're still alive.

Sometimes we scratch our heads when we witness the choices that they do make. We ask ourselves why people don't get a job. We wonder why they squander rent checks or FBA money on drugs. Decisions that seem so much like common sense to us don't even occur to some guys when forced to make a decision. And we wonder why.

The fact is, our ability to make choices depends on the way we have been taught to make them. Somewhere along the way, we learned that holding down a job, paying bills, and taking responsibility for our own lives are very important in the process of life. However, a lot of people have never learned this along the way. As a result, we encounter on a daily basis, people who do not have the ability to make healthy choices. They appear lazy, abusive, argumentative, whiny, violent and inappreciative. (Just to name a few)

What have some people been taught in Toronto? The south central/ southeast side has the largest concentration of poverty in all of Canada. Up until WWII, it was the place where poor people found affordable housing and low-skilled jobs. Every decade since then has brought more people and fewer jobs. This has led to a community of dependant people being taught to expect a high level of care. Also, throughout history it has been shown that first generation of dependant poor wants work. However, subsequent generations want care. Because of downsizing and technological advances, the need for low skilled labour has diminished. As a result, there is very little work for first generation poor. Therefore, subsequent generations are being taught that it is someone else's responsibility to care for their needs. This is the scene here in Toronto.

As a Christian agency, our view of poverty needs to be informed by scripture. Given that there are over 400 references to poverty in Scripture, it shouldn't be too difficult to see God's heart revealed on this issue. However, the problem is we often let our view of poverty get influenced by things like our political biases, social class or the media. For example, if we read a right wing newspaper we might be led to believe that people who are poor should just get a job and that would fix everything. If we read a left wing paper we might believe that everyone who is poor should blame everyone else for their predicament and just sit around until the government gives them free stuff. However scripture, for the most part, portrays poverty as a circumstance beyond a person's control, and balances it with a reminder of personal responsibility.

With this scriptural foundation of poverty, we must design programs that follow this model. We must strive to try and understand who our community is. We have to work hard at not labeling people as hopeless causes. We have to be creative in our approach, so as to try and help people unlearn unhealthy decision-making skills.

We can do this by being models. Some people on this staff have some unbelievable stories. We have those who have been brought up in situations of poverty and have lived lives similar to that of many of our clients. We also have staff members who were brought up in loving families and still wandered away towards drug abuse and other such vices. And yet they've returned to their upbringing like 'The prodigal's Son'. Yet others can model lives of "normal" upbringing and bring stability into the picture. With the eclectic mix of life stories we share as a staff, we can identify with everyone who comes in here in some way or another.

Our calling, as humans and as people of faith, is made pretty clear in Proverbs 14:31: "He (she) who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God." Scripture makes it very clear on many occasions that helping people in need is not an option!

And that leads me to the most important thing of all: FAITH. Only by faith can we witness the miracles that God has in store for this community in downtown Toronto. There are all kinds of pockets of faith throughout this ministry. I'm calling everyone to pray. Pray for this ministry. Pray for each other. Pray for the building. Pray for revival. Pray for forgiveness. Pray for faith. Just pray!

While you're doing that, keep on being The Hand of God in the Heart of the City.

In Peace,

Dion