Tired eyes full of experience, David Collins, President of Canadian Food for the Hungry International, succinctly and poignantly challenges, What is the sin of Sodom? 

Answers spring up of debauchery and sexual immorality.  More specifically, the town demanding that Lot release his two [angel] guests so that they might have sex with them (Genesis 19:5).  Perhaps Lot himself is a part of it as he offers his virgin daughters in lieu of his guests.  Understandably God would be upset with this city and want to cast judgement upon it. 

What is the sin of Sodom?  Ezekiel 16:49 tells us this:

“She and her daughters were arrogant,
overfed and unconcerned: they did not
help the poor and needy.” (NIV, emphasis mine)

Not the answer we were expecting.      

Theology teaches us that God can do anything; Why then does poverty still exist in the world (as it directly opposes His desire)?  We must believe that either God cannot do everything, or that God chooses to allow it-a snap of a finger would eradicate strife, hunger, need.  Similarly, God does not need us to take care of it.  He could do that Himself if that were the goal.

Rather poverty-having been created by our own sin-is but a mirror in the human experience-recognition of having, or not having is a state of circumstance, not of right or achievement.  When we stare at poverty, we stare at ourselves, battered, torn and hungry.

That introspection inspires humility, recognizes the Grace of God, and demands action.  We love others because we love God, and we love ourselves!  There is no dichotomy of Conservative vs. Social Gospel, as if God does not exist when we want to help others.  We help others because God stands in contradiction to the sin of Sodom: the arrogant, overfed and unconcerned.

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The fact that a large number of the worshippers in the 10:00 am service at City Mission are believers that are “less mature” than those at the 11.00 a.m. service does not count them out as being of the church of Jesus Christ! 

Paul spoke to the Corinthian church as “brothers,” yet they arguably had more problems than what many of the “street people” suffer from. These were believers who had been saved for some years, yet Paul berates them in 1 Cor. 3:3 [as being] yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  Where could you find a church today where this does not occur?    Yet God sees through all that; He sees the heart.  The fact is that even in buildings that are considered “established mature churches,” the vast majority of the believers aren’t there to give but to take or be entertained.

On any given Sunday morning, at around 9:30 a.m., Albert and Isobel Johnston or Kay Kerr arrive to find some people already lined up for the 10:00 a.m. service, willing to help if anything is to be carried in.  The side doors are opened and everyone files in, the men respectfully removing their assortment of caps in respect to the sanctuary where week after week the gospel is proclaimed.  There is a definite aura of peace in this place!

By 9:40, volunteer greeters at the entrance hand out hymnbooks, also acting as ushers and enforcers if ever an incident were to occur, which has been very rare.  At the front, Dave Robertson, the song leader is contemplating the selection of songs and chorus to be sung.  In the kitchen, workers led by Kay Kerr, our City Mission matron, are busy separating and sorting sandwiches and treats to make sure every needy one who comes gets an equal share.  It’s apparent they enjoy and take their ministry seriously.

By 9:55 Kay will have found her place at the piano, a thing she first did  65 years ago when she was 14 in 1939.  A very talented musician, her life-long commitment and faithfulness to her Saviour is very evident.

At 10:00 the assembled are greeted and the opening prayer offered.  Next we sing a chorus from an assortment of bristol board placards.  After this, three hymns are sung often with lively gusto by almost everyone!  More prayer is presented to God, and then the speaker (a different one every week) presents God’s Living Word!  The service finishes with a closing prayer at between 10:30 and 10:35 a.m.

Immediately,workers spring into action bringing the prepared food and drinks out to be distributed to attendees first followed by those waiting outside for handouts.  On the three occasions in the past two years when sandwiches had not been prepared, all assembled stayed to listen to the message, although given the chance to leave!  Many of the attendees often linger outside and discuss what they’d heard with workers. Many apparent decisions for Christ have been made this way!
So far this year, 10 requests for baptism were voiced.  Albert Johnston is anxious to baptize them soon, preferably at Philpott.  Some have also asked to do chores in an attempt to repay  what God has performed in their lives through both City Mission and Albert Johnston’s “Mount of Olives” ministry.

City Mission is decidedly non-denominational and non-partisan.

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Jesus was anointed to preach to the poor (Luke 4:18), and so are we (James 2:2-5).  That’s exactly what happens at City Mission; we preach the gospel to the poor.  Often I am stopped by someone at the church and asked whether the City Mission ministry is redundant work compared to the numerous relief missions around the city.  The resounding answer is NO!

Most relief missions’ primary focus is physical feeding (and there is a definite need for this) but at City Mission the primary goal is spiritual feeding.  That means preaching, teaching, discipling and many one-on-one challenging encounters!  Challenging, because, but for the grace of God, we could all be in the same position as most who make City Mission their church.  That’s precisely what the homeless and poor have made it: “their church”, “their safe place”, and “their shelter in times of storm”.

What would accurately describe the ministry at City Mission? No words can describe it, except that God is in control.  On Tuesday afternoons, Albert and Isobel Johnston head up a drop in.  This is where much of the one-on-one discipleship and personal counseling and prayer take place.  On most Wednesday evenings, intensive Bible study and small group interaction are the norm.  Thursdays see “Alcoholics for Christ” in action, hosted by Chuck.  It is interesting to note that Chuck is traveling around Ontario planting other chapters of “Alcoholics for Christ”, but City Mission is where it started in Canada.
In addition to this, impromptu prayer meetings are often held on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday nights, (some Saturdays also) sometimes lasting several hours, as the need arises.  That really is the secret of any successful ministry at City Mission: PRAYER! 

That brings us to the central theme of the City Mission ministry through most of the 20th century, the Sunday Worship!  Every Sunday, we begin at 10:00 a.m. with a worship service for the poor and needy, complete with hymn singing and a preached gospel message, followed by a bagged lunch consisting of sandwiches and assorted goodies and a beverage (coffee during winter and pop during summer).  Often the volunteer staff will engage in soul-searching discussion with attendees related to the message.  Next, at 11:00 a.m., Vern Browne leads a traditional Sunday service, open to anyone, featuring hymn singing, the occasional special music, Bible memorization and great Bible preaching from a rotating roster of speakers, primarily from Philpott.  All financial support from City Mission is given during this service.

On any given Sunday night, from 5:00 to 5:10 p.m., a regular call to prayer is given to those attending the Sunday “Drop In”, between 3:30 and 6:00 p.m.  At 5:00 p.m., those interested file into the smaller room to approach the throne room of Almighty God!  As soon as Pastor Albert says, “Let’s pray”, every person present automatically reaches out to hold hands!  Holding hands brings the group together as one, diffuses any perceived animosity, and is intended to bring unity.  Sunday evening service is followed by supper:  the sharing of God’s word is given first priority (as it should be) followed by physical sustenance.  Make no mistake about it; City Mission is a church community of believers, most of whom do not feel welcome in many of the evangelical churches today.  City Mission is a church ministering to people in need and as such, should never be ruled out as a redundant downtown ministry.

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