THE GOLDEN BOOK COMES TO TORONTO

Several hundred people, mainly Karen from Toronto and New York state, filled the basement of Kipling Ave. Baptist Church on July 17 for the Toronto premier of The Legend of the Golden Book. This new play by Dennis Hassell shows how the Karen people of Burma welcomed the Bible almost 200 years ago, and how its message gives them courage today. The ambitious production--complete with "gibbons" and puppets--featured a cast of Burmese and "Canadian" children and youth from a week-long drama camp at First Baptist Church, London.

"INFINTELY MORE THAN WE WOULD ASK OR HOPE"

The refrigerator at the Parkdale Neighbourhood Church died of old age and overwork on one of the hottest days in July--even as the demands upon the PNC kitchen were heating up: Monday dinners for 75-90 people and PNC's own commmunity garden, plus neighbourhood food-related programs such as Greenest City, the West End Food Co-op, a City of Toronto Kids program, and Not Far From the Tree (an urban fruit harvesting program). Pastoral director Joe Abbey-Colbourne e-mailed a desperate plea for $500 to cover repair costs or donations toward a new $2500 commercial frig.

Responses poured in immediately. Then, within 24 hours of sending the e-mail, Joe received a call. An anonymous friend of PNC, who is not particularly wealthy, said, "Joe, I want to buy you a new commercial grade fridge and freezer--up to $6000."

"God will take care of this tiny, persistent community, by moving through the hearts of individuals, and bringing the rhythms of their hearts to beat in time together along with the heart of God," Joe wrote.

STUDENTS TRAIN FOR SUMMER OUTREACH

Thirty students from seven churches participated in the 2010 Training Day hosted by TBM's METRO (Mission Experience and Training Opportunity) program at Immanuel Baptist Church. Presentations and interactive activities challenged them to be servant leaders, set smart goals, manage inappropriate behaviours, and practise health and safety principles.The students were trained to deal with various emergency situations including allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock.

IT'S A BUSY SUMMER FOR DAY CAMPS AND VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS

At TBM churches throughout the GTA, children have been signing up for High Seas Expeditions, Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventures, and Rainforest Explorations; learning to become Heroes for God; visiting Narnia (on the Danforth); and following Joseph's journey from prison to palace and experiencing other Egyptian adventures. They have been (or will be) Camping "on the Rock" and "on the Block" at Immanuel Baptist, and attending Central Park Baptist Church's Camp Odyssey in Brampton (July 26-August 27), and Lorne Park Baptist Church's SPARC Sunshine, Day, Challenge and Adventure Camp (July 5-August 27).

Members of the Oasis Dufferin Community Centre's football club taught soccer skills at the centre's new summer venture-- a week-long day camp--with the help of 14 Baptist volunteers from Tennessee.  

MISSISSAUGA CHURCHES SEND MISSION TEAMS TO FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES  
Several churches are developing partnerships with our First Nations Baptist brothers and sisters. In mid-July Mississauga City Baptist Church sent a a multi-generational mission team to Ohsweken, near Brantford. From August 15 to 20, MCBC and another Toronto-area church will partner with Careforce International in a summer camp for Six Nations youth.

SPARC Day Camp Leaders (Lorne Park Baptist Church) are offering a one-week day camp experience to children of the Oneida community (near London) August 1-6. Other people from Lorne Park planned to travel to Little Saskatchewan Reserve in Manitoba July 31- August 6 to assist in camp for the First Nations children.