The View from King Edward Avenue

Last weekend, I was driving along King Edward Avenue with my wife. As we drove, I shared my reflection about how sad it was to see so many people hunched over because of drugs, sleeping in a small alcove or tent, and just seeing groups of street friends huddled near the shelters. It was truly heartbreaking. I shared how incredibly blessed I felt to have a roof over my head, even though I sometimes can be a bit ungrateful for the kind of home I have. 

My wife chimed in, saying how surreal it felt to see so many people. She shared that when she grew up in Quebec, she was always kind of sheltered from seeing people on the streets. While she had heard me talk about how bad Bank Street could be and how many people OIM serves, seeing the situation in person was completely different. For the first time, she truly saw the situation of those struggling with homelessness. 

I agreed with her. It is heartbreaking. And it should break our hearts to see these people in such a state: no place to live, surrounded by drugs and alcohol, feeling unsafe, and being worried about being a victim of a crime. 

But all hope is not lost. So many people that OIM serves each year (33,000+ connections) are asking for prayer. Many are crying, weeping, about their situation, but are seeking the Lord in the midst of it. People are hearing about Christ, asking for prayer, and more people are seeking God. Our recent Alpha Course is an example of that, welcoming our street friends to a table with food and listening to a video about God.  

People are hungry for a relationship with Him. They’re starving for something better. So, when our street outreach teams go out, they meet their physical needs with food and meet their spiritual needs with Christ. 

Come and be part of OIM and participate in urban missions.

~ Andrew, Strategic Communications and PR Manager