Laughing Beth
It’s been a wild ride! I’ve learned a lot about myself and others. My eyes have been opened to old and new experiences, time management, stress, hair pulling and even how to sit back, relax, read a book or two, and sip on a starbucks chai latte!
Here are a few things that I have learned:
1. I have learned a lot about myself when it comes to time management and work environments. It isn’t always easy buckling down and getting work done when my office is my bedroom – but I’m learning self-control and good use of time. It isn’t always easy juggling many different tasks at one time – but we make lists and feel a sense of accomplishment when we can check something off our list. I’ve learned that small tasks can get done quicker than I thought possible. Overall, I’ve learned time management is a discipline and essential so I must become better at it if I’m going to succeed in life.
I am blessed and honoured that I was able to work with such a great team – Pastors Dave & Jess, Nina, and Pastor Alex! I appreciated your willingness to welcome me in, teach me, correct me, talk to me about life issues, have fun, and push me. None of you are afraid of constructive criticism and didn’t hold anything back, but instead taught me what a leader is and how I can work effectively in different team dynamics. You pushed me to do things I wouldn’t normally do and held me accountable. Each of you is passionate about God and what He is doing in the church – it’s infectious! Who wouldn’t want to be on a team of individuals who love God and love the community? I really appreciate the experience and wouldn’t take it back for the world.
This really is only a few thoughts of everything I have learned – if I kept going I could probably write 10 pages…but I’ll spare you the agony!
Bethany Tozer
|Bethany Tozer is currently studying at Masters College and Seminary, working on her degree in Youth & Children’s Ministry. She has been giving of her time and passion over the past 3 years and her internship experience has come to a close. Thanks for your passion for people Beth! Pastors Dave & Jess|
The Abbreviated Version
I don’t know what else to call it except for what the title says, “Prayer Birthing.” This experience has left me exhausted and yet overwhelmed by the answer that I received in intensive prayer. I guess prayer birthing is a statement that can explain what has just occurred in my life over the past 12 months.
The word prayer has a whole bunch of ideas associated with it, but most of us understand what prayer is all about. It’s a means of communication to God whether you’re looking for an answer or just trying to convey your thoughts to Him on a daily basis.
The though of birthing for those of us who don’t give birth (all men included) comes with a whole new set of understanding and possibly a weak stomach for others. My definition for this purpose is simply the delivery of a promise.
Now for what I’m attempting to explain here prayer birthing is simply a need that has been presented to God which has gone through a period of time then finally a delivered promise comes forth.
So let me explain to you my most recent prayer birthing experience. It has been over a year now since we have been searching and praying and seeking God to provide us with some direction and answers in regards to church strategy. Part of the answer for our growth strategy is that God would provide some new staff members to help us strengthen our efforts in the community.
This may sound like a simple task- go and find someone that will fill the current need, there, done! Problem is, there is no one qualified in my opinion to help us accomplish what needs to be done in our unique setting in the city of Toronto. We looked high and low, (and sometimes felt very low), we looked north and south, and finally went east and west, then that’s where it happened, east.
So for a number of months now we have been in contact with a young couple with a passion to reach people with the message of Christ in the city of Toronto. This couple does not live in the immediate area, in fact they are currently residing in Hong Kong (far East). This task to be honest seemed kind of daunting and a bit challenging to take on- however, we have found the right fit!
After meeting with our new friends Junn & Tet for three weeks in the summer of 2008 we knew and they knew this was a God appointment. The fun part occurred in acquiring the visa paperwork that is required. After doing everything the officials told us we must do in order to process their paperwork we applied and then were rejected- my heart dropped!
What in the world is going on? Didn’t you approve this God? What about all the time spent in prayer, did it not mean anything? These are just some of the thoughts that I had when this happened. After catching my breath and seeking legal counsel, we recognized this sort of thing was to be expected as we realize that what we are doing is bigger than any one of us, but this is God’s deal and He’s going to make it come to pass. Anyway, sometimes easier said than done.
So after spending some time in prayer, I really felt God speaking that this process was going to be similar to a birthing process (oh great I get to give birth, thought that was just for women). The answer to our prayers was given, we just needed to wait until the mature time to see His answer come to fruition.
It’s been 12 months since our first discussion with Junn & Tet, and they have finally been approved to come to Canada!!!! Hooraaaaay!!! We are anticipating their arrival very soon and look forward to what God has in store for us as a revolutionary group of people trying to impact the world we live in with God’s transformational power. (that’s a mouthful!)
Please continue to keep the DeLeon family in your prayers as they seek to serve Him and humbly do what God has called them to do in the city of Toronto.
Prayer Birthing, not an easy task but then again who said it would be easy?
Do you have a prayer birthing story to share? Go ahead and post a comment.
Dave
Read Dr. David Yonggi Cho’s book: The Fourth Dimension on this concept of prayer birthing.
The investigation is on as Toronto police are looking into the stabbing death of a resident of Coin St. co-operative housing complex. According to reports, a male senior citizen was found suffering from multiple stab wounds in his own home. The man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead later in the afternoon.
This is the 68th homicide in my neighbourhood in 2008.
My neighbourhood consists of a large population of people with a variety of social and economic challenges.
My neighbourhood is a place where young children are always on guard because of the unknown security issues they are confronted with daily.
My neighbourhood is fighting for survival and looking for caring people to help.
This recent tragedy takes place in the same building we facilitate weekly Rumble Kidz rehearsals . When Jess got home from practice a few minutes ago - she told me that lots of the kids were unnerved and frightened. Lots of them said they wouldn’t be sleeping tonight. Many of them will be left with lots of questions. I think about my own kids and realize that I can’t always protect them they way I want to protect them.
Sometimes I wonder if I am growing calloused to this sort of violence, but I pray that I’m not. I pray that I never get used to seeing kids hide under tables because they are afraid. I pray that I never get used to running programs under police lock-down. I pray that I will keep faith that our neighbourhood can change.
I am praying that we will start a movement to end the poverty, and hopelessness that seem to go hand in hand with cities. 68 murders in one place doesn’t have to be tolerated. God can give us innovative ideas to reach our city with a message of hope, love and peace. I will assure you that I am not a hippie - I am just a man sold out to the idea that things can change.
Will you join me in this revolution?
Dave
Tonight I stayed up quite late – It was after 1:00am and I couldn’t sleep. My brain was still racing and I was mentally going over the list of things I needed to do before the next day.
After tossing and turning, I decided to turn on the T.V. and see what was on. I flicked past a church show, and for a moment I thought about whether or not I should stop and watch – I decided not to – Sports Highlights seemed like a more engaging show. (more…)
