Every night in the city of Toronto, over 12,000 people are homeless – seeking somewhere warm and safe to lay their head. And Scott Mission is here – serving hundreds of people who experience hunger and homelessness every day. People like Gerald who had no means to buy food and nowhere to go.
Before immigrating to Canada, Gerald was an elementary school teacher in Uganda. Due to circumstances beyond his control, he soon found himself on the streets of Toronto. He came through the doors at Scott Mission and was very grateful for a bed, food, a hot shower, laundry facilities, and more.
Gerald visited the Mission’s health clinic where he got a check up and he emersed himself in all the resources that were available to him at the Mission – things like, community events, Bible studies, and help with finding employment and the next steps forward.
Recently, Gerald found employment and was able to move out of the shelter. He is also serving at a church and studying to become a PSW. He remembers his time at the Mission and had this to say on the day he left, “Scott Mission took me in when I had nowhere else to go. They gave me shelter, clothed me, fed me, counselled me, and gave me direction. I started volunteering and learned how to serve people from all walks of life. I am now employed and living on my own because you equipped me to face life’s challenges. God allowed me to live under your care and used you to help me overcome many obstacles. I pray that God will bless all of you!”
Scott Mission gave me shelter – they clothed me, fed me, counselled me, and gave me direction.
Gerald’s story is just one example of how a life can be transformed with the support of caring donors and dedicated frontline workers who came alongside him as the hands and feet of Christ at Scott Mission.
It is our prayer that every single person who comes through the Mission’s doors will know how high and how deep Christ’s mercy and love is for them – everyday – we are the compassionate neighbour for 80 years and counting.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
