Toronto has become a prime destination for Baptists who want a short-term experience in cross-cultural mission. Rob Patterson welcomes queries from churches who would like to send volunteer teams to our city, and from churches who would like to host such a group. We also encourage partnerships between churches and outreach ministries within the GTA,

OUR AMBASSADORS TO LATINO AND LATINA BAPTISTS IN VIRGINIA

Sigfrido and Phyllis Ortiz of Dufferin Street Baptist Church attended the Virginia Baptist Convention in Fredericksburg, Virginia, November 16-19. They were asked to encourage the Virginia Baptists' Hispanic churches and our Latino brothers and sisters. This is a result of the partnership between the Latino Network of Virginia Baptists, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Phyllis and Sigfrido led a workshop, "Living from Extravagance to Extravagance", based on what they have learned about living out the demands of the gospel in a city like Toronto. A team from Virginia visited Dufferin St. earlier last fall.

DRAMATIC CHANGE FOSTERS YOUTH PARTNERSHIPS IN DRAMA AND THE ARTS

Dramatic Change Youth Theatre offers full-scale stage productions by and for youth, production kits, drama ministry consulting and workshops, and other services to churches, including:

• The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, (above), a great pre-Christmas outreach to young families, which churches can sponsor at their location in November.
• March Break and Summer drama intensives for ages 9-12 and 13-18, from three hours to five days. Youth receive professional instruction in drama in a faith-based context.
• Production Kits for Everyouth, the DCYT original drama which made its debut last summer, for use by one or a group of churches locally or as a touring production. Available in English, Spanish, and French.
• Facilitating a Toronto Baptist youth leaders network
• Facilitating city-wide events for Baptist youth
• Youth Arts Faith Conference (coming soon)

DCYT can supply scripts, training, director, sets, costumes, and soundtrack for local or touring productions involving 10-20 youth--think Mission Trip. The local team gets a license for unlimited touring performances for a year. Script translations available.
See sample videos on Youtube: dcytheatre. See also www.dcyt.org and Facebook group: dcyt.org. For info contact toronto@christianyouthdrama.com or Project Director Dennis Hassell (416-251-1210). Sponsored by Toronto Baptist Ministries with assistance from CBOQ (BCOQ) Special Projects.

SUMMER PROGRAMS INVOLVE YOUTH

Again last summer, Toronto Baptists put dozens of students to work in partnership with the Canada Summer Jobs program. Some led day camps and Vacation Bible schools across the city. Others were part of TBM's 2010 METRO (Mission Experience and Training Opportunity) program, based at Immanuel Baptist Church.

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