Stories From Our City | YU Board

When I joined LAUNCH, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to challenge myself.

Growing up, sports were my safe place. Basketball, in particular, felt accessible. It didn’t require much financially, and it taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience before I even had words for those things. What I didn’t realize at the time was that God would use that simple passion as the entry point into something far bigger.

Through LAUNCH (a former YU leadership program), I was paired with a mentor, Randall Linton, who helped turn an idea into action. Randall embodied so many qualities I admired and aspired to grow into: godly character, kindness, patience, wisdom, and a deep ability to listen. He believed in me before I fully believed in myself. With his support, we launched the Toronto Sports Association (TSA) with a vision to use the lessons learned on the court to help underserved youth navigate the challenges of life off the court.

In 2011 and 2012, we hosted five-day basketball camps during March Break in the Jane and Finch community at Prayer Palace Church. Community businesses stepped up to sponsor food. Volunteers gave their time. High school students showed up ready to lead. And to top it off, the voice of the Toronto Raptors, Herbie Kuhn, came to speak into the lives of young people who needed encouragement and hope.

Those weeks were powerful. We competed hard, laughed a lot, learned together, and opened God’s Word in ways that connected directly to the pressures and choices these youth were facing every day. For many of us, including myself, those moments were deeply formative. Looking back now, I see how God was shaping me through that season. What started as a step into something challenging has come full circle, and I now serve in my community and on the Youth Unlimited Board of Directors. Most young people are not looking for perfect answers, but for someone who will show up and stay. God often uses that simple act of faithfulness to change lives, both theirs and ours.

*This story first appeared in our 2026 Signs of the Times publication.