Don’t Do It Alone
Joining God's mosaic masterpiece (aka what I've learned organizing a charity walk for 300)
Hi friends,
Happy mid week! Hope you’re healthy and not dealing with the inklings of a sore throat like I am. But the faith-filled Pentecostal in me is commanding the germs to go in the name of Jesus. And actively using bee propolis spray. And turning to God for rest and prayer. Faith and works go hand in hand. ;)
Anyway. If I’m honest, yesterday I felt great. Most things in my life felt under control. I gave a few announcements at our all staff meeting and had a number of colleagues say nice things about how things were running so smoothly with a charity walk I’m organizing. I thanked them, reminded them that we still had a few goals to hit, but was also thinking “Yes! I am grateful things are going well.”
So perhaps this tiny sore throat is a reminder to rely on God more rather than self. It’s because of him that we have opportunities to steward. And if you’re reading this newsletter, I’d guess you’re the kind of person that prays God gives you more of these.
How can we ensure we’re doing things God’s best way? Here are a few things God has been teaching me lately:
Don’t Do It Alone
Yes, Jesus withdrew to pray. Silence and solitude is a spiritual discipline. For sometimes the world can feel so noisy, we often overstimulate our minds, and even church can feel over scheduled. But there’s no doubt that God wants us in community.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
My ability to oversee this fundraising walk well is in large part because I have trustworthy team captains. I am blessed to work with incredible, God-loving, stewardship-focused (and top of their field!) believers who take our charity’s mission to serve adults, youth, and families experiencing poverty seriously.
One woman has worked in volunteer management for over a decade.
Another man has a huge network and is growing our media footprint rapidly.
Someone else is simply organized and hardworking, and able to take on responsibilities totally unrelated to her day job as a therapist.
Even as I write this, these words barely scratch the surface of these peoples talents!
Also, this year we’ve been able to work with wonderful creators and influencers who have created reels to share about the walk — exposing us to new audiences yay.
And our community member speaker is someone who joined our Computer Literacy Centre in grade one and is now a volunteer instructor at the Centre while working at SickKids, one of the best research hospitals in not only Canada but the world!
I could go on but you get it.
Sometimes as the lead, it might feel tempting to just do everything yourself. You know all the details in your mind and it might feel time-consuming to explain to others what you could just do yourself. But this isn’t the right attitude, amen? There will always be people who are more experienced, just as there will be people who are more junior. And everyone’s testimony is unique and deserves to be heard!! We are all part of one body — may we see it as a joy to learn together and help each other grow, in work and in the Lord.
But Also, It’s Ok to Withdraw (Follow the Holy Spirit)
When I got home last night, I had a choice to make: was I going to eat a proper dinner or rush out the door to go to a worship night? I chose to try and quickly eat a bowl of soup (my favourite Thai carrot soup, recipe from Minimalist Baker) but then as it soothed my throat, I decided to stay in, take a bath, and rest up.
But not before I asked the Holy Spirit what I should do.
Logically it made sense: it’s event week! I need to be healthy. But sometimes I can still struggle with church ‘peer pressure.’ I’ve walked with God long enough that I know a clear conscience before him is key, but also know that he speaks through others as well as directly to us. So when invitations come to take on or attend more, more, more, it doesn’t always feel natural to say no. There is a lot of work to be done in the kingdom — but what is God saying our role is? He doesn’t want us to burnout. He wants us to move oiled by his Spirit and walking in his paths for us.
So I felt God say it was OK to rest up but still had lingering fomo about missing worship night. This morning, I’m letting it go. I did my best, in seeking God and moving as I felt him lead. That needs to be enough; after all, God knows how to speak to us and can teach or correct us whenever he wants. We hear his voice.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
If you’re also struggling with ‘did I hear you right, God?’ moments this week, I pray you are comforted by the fact that God is so close. We have his Spirit in us. His eyes are always on us. There’s nothing he wants more than for us to be in relationship with him, speaking with him often, worshipping him as our King. Let’s spend our precious energy the right way and keep seeking him, trusting him to lead.
And document it! Are you in the habit of journalling or writing down prayers requests and God’s answers? If not, maybe this is a nudge to start. Have faith for God to move powerfully in your heart, mind, and whole life this year.
Supporting Neighbours in Need
It’s been minus double digits in Toronto lately and not easy but perhaps especially hard for people who are still looking for community, stable housing, even food. All over the downtown core are posters and digital billboards advertising warming centres as well as how to donate in order to provide charities with support to keep offering their programs.
The event we’re organizing, Winter Walk for Neighbours in Need, is our largest event of the year. We expect to welcome about 300 walkers and volunteers, and hope everyone comes out even if it’s supposed to be minus 19 on Saturday! There are 2km and 5km options, and then an afterparty with Thai food (thanks to our donor, Salad King), a DJ, a pop-up night market, and more. So it will be lots of fun celebrating our community who has helped us raise over $100,000 (we hit six figures yesterday!) for over 100 programs and services, from a food bank, to youth drop-in centre, to mental health counselling, and more.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed. (Proverbs 28:17 — hope this doesn’t sound harsh, when God opened my eyes to it a few years ago, I was like . . . omg)
As you can imagine, our budget to put on such an event is small, with dollars raised going directly to programs. Again with not doing things alone, perhaps an option could be to host the event in our offices but God who has provided free use of the sanctuary and event spaces at St. Paul’s Bloor Street, one of Toronto’s largest, most beautiful, and central churches. We could maybe make do with Costco granola bars and water for our walkers, but blessed are we to have one of the city’s coolest Thai restaurants donating dinner. And we could just have dinner but how wonderful to have colleagues willing to come out on their Saturday night and host the pop-up market (linked to Double Take, our thrift store and upcycling studio) and DJ!
So many reminders this week about not doing things alone. It is amazing how God multiplies things. May we move as he leads, ask when he gives us ideas, pray for divine partnerships and connections. Oh what miracles he will do — let us be expectant for more.
On this note, no pressure whatsoever, but if you’re interested in donating to Winter Walk, please check out our event site (tax receipts issued) where there’s lots of information about our organization, current needs in Toronto, and who we’re fundraising for. Here is my fundraising page if you’d like to donate to my page directly — help me and my team move up the leaderboard! ;) Nothing like some healthy competition amongst me and my colleagues haha, and all money raised goes towards the same bottom line — to programs supporting people experiencing poverty in Toronto.
Our goal is $145,000 — will you help us get there?
To Wrap
I’m finishing writing this at 7:44 am. It was dark when I started and now I’m staring at a pastel sunrise. Feeling grateful for a new day, that God teaches us new things daily, and that there’s strength in community — offline and online.
Wherever you’re reading this from, I pray that your day is blessed by the Lord! That you’re walking under God’s protection and in his best plan for you. May your week contain sweet solitude with God, filling up and being strengthened by his Spirit. May there also be opportunities to be in community, serving, celebrating, and otherwise rejoicing with believers God has gifted you to do life with this season.
God is good, always.
It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned ‘experiment’ in a newsletter but let’s keep experimenting with God aka putting into practice God’s principles and believing they will lead to his best. For me, it’s going to be the ‘pray over everything and obey what God says’ principle. Two days until Winter Walk — have we made all the best decisions? Is there anything I’m not thinking about that I should? How are we going to handle any last minute kerfuffles? Going to be praying and trusting God will answer, for it’s in his hands.
Love you, friends. Amen.