Stories From Our City | Doxa

A Reminder that God Shows Up in Unexpected Places

Story shared by Christen Wong, Youth Ministry Intern

Female youth at mirrored prayer wall.

Our Doxa team welcomes over 200 youth to an event they host every year called REMIX. It is an immersive urban mission experience for youth that spans their involvement across the GTA, and for four days. There are sessions designed to teach youth how to centre their lives within the mission and message of Jesus. Each morning starts in a classroom receiving training, and every afternoon there’s an opportunity for the youth to go out and serve the community. In the midst of a full and energetic schedule, the youth are also encouraged to be listening and learning from God. (See above photo of one of various prayer stations during an evening program.)

After a busy morning of running around, helping with set-up, and participating in some training herself, YU Intern, Christen Wong, headed out with a group for an afternoon service experience.

The group arrived in Parkdale where Buddhism is the most commonly practiced religious belief, given the large population of Tibetean immigrants.

Christen led a group of five students on a prayer walk and they started off at a very slow, intentional, pace. They wondered how they would find God in a community where other religious beliefs were more common.

They started praying on their own for the people and buildings they encountered. The group took care to stay observant and open their hearts and minds to what God would tell them about the streets they were walking. Christen recounted feeling God in this walk. The presence of God through the tugging of her heart by His Spirit led the team and kept them going in what initially felt like a bit of an awkward activity. Following the Spirit’s lead, they decided to stray off the path they were given and go another way.

A few turns and prayers into their route they stumbled upon a church. It was a bit of a surprising discovery, given the very few Christians known to be living in the area, and they took time to pray for the ministries happening there.

Some streets later, they saw another Christian church. This time, their surprise faded into overwhelming encouragement about what God is doing in this neighbourhood. After their

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