John Torrens was the founding City Director of CSM Toronto. He faithfully served with CSM from 1995-2003.

How did you become involved with CSM?

I became involved with CSM through International Teams Canada. My family and I had just completed 5 years serving in Manila, Philippines and were searching for the next step. IT and CSM were looking for someone to start up CSM Toronto. At first I was reluctant, but after spending a weekend at the Chicago site as a member of a team from Kentucky, I was ready to sign up.

How did your time with CSM impact your life?

My life was most impacted by people. I was constantly challenged by the most amazing people. I became friends with the hard working, dedicated, self sacrificing people at the many ministry sites we served. There were youth leaders who were committed to raising up today’s youth to see the world as Jesus sees it. I was especially impressed with the top quality youth who served with us and were open and sensitive to God's Holy Spirit moving in their lives.

Was there a "moment of impact" that you remember vividly where God revealed an important lesson to you?

There were so many powerful insights gained in my time at CSM. I remember while taking food to the homeless one morning thinking about how this was authentic Christianity. I still try to balance the being and the doing and the knowing involved in following Jesus. Another biggie for me was in working with some of the most amazing staff. I came to realize that the most gifted, talented, capable people also have their faults, flaws and short-comings. On the other side, those who lacked in some areas also had huge insights and other strengths that made them just as valuable to our mission. We are not all the same, thank God!

Is there any advice you may have for those serving (or about to serve) with CSM?

Advice to those serving: Listen to the pros (at CSM) and talk to them. They are in a position to know how to maximize your experience. Be open to God's agenda -it may not be the same as yours. It is not all about you and your group, you have come to serve and to grow (I hope) and that is not always pretty, in fact sometimes it hurts to be stretched...no pain, no gain as they say. Maximize your experience. Put all you have into getting all you can out of it. Try new things, get to know the people you are serving -people who will be there long after you leave. Get out of your comfort zone.

Anything else?

My greatest joy-even beyond seeing one of the youth "get it", was seeing people who had been effected by a CSM experience get involved in ministry. There are a number of people along the way who have been so moved by what God is doing in the city that they have given their lives to join Him there. I can think of several former staff members who are nurses at one of our ministry sites. Another (who took her youth group to Chicago) came back to attend seminary and direct one of the major youth drop-in centers in Toronto. And then there is Tara and Holly.... I was in the city recently and was able to take them out to dinner. It was good to hear their reports of how God is continuing to use CSM in Toronto to change lives.

Big thanks to John for sharing his heart for ministry with us! It is an honor to see God continue to work through him and his wife, Sherry, at Joy Bible Camp in Bancroft, Ontario.

Want to serve with CSM in Toronto?