Elita served with Toronto City Mission in the neighbourhood of St. James Town from 2005-2019, working with children, teens, and families. There, God grew her heart for ministry workers as she saw the impact they make on whole communities. In 2019, she joined Youth Unlimited (YU) Toronto and after a time of discernment, began working on the Internship program.

Elita's desire is to see emerging leaders minister out of a wholeness and rootedness in Christ. She wants to invest in building this next generation of ministry workers into healthy workers who will in turn, pour into the youth of the GTA. Her prayer is that this investment is a way to partner with God in establishing His witness in the city for decades to come.

You can learn more about YU and Elita's work at the link beside (or below) this paragraph.

If you’ve ever come across graffiti, breaking (breakdancing), emceeing (rapping), or deejaying, then you’ve encountered the culture of hip-hop. Those in this unique and misunderstood people group don’t know anything about Jesus. If they do, it’s usually the “bad things” about Christianity. Because of this, many or them are unlikely to go to a church to find out.

So God sends Youngdo to them.

Calling this mission City Lights, the purpose is to reach this community with the gospel in “their world”. A hip-hop ministry hasn't been done before in Canada, but since 2013,  through running events and programs, giving away Bibles, sharing the gospel, and building relationships, disciples, and other leaders to do the same, they are learning about God’s love and truth.

You can find more information here to receive monthly updates, connect with the mission team and they can link you with Youngdo to receive those. You can also view the City Lights introduction video.

The vision is to see the hip-hop community following Jesus Christ and with the help of supporters, including Grace Toronto Church, God keeps moving this ministry forward. It was his idea and he keeps paving the way. Youngdo (and his team) have been faithful to the work and God has been making the work fruitful. He is fulfilling the vision as this often-unreached group is being reached!

Kevin is currently serving with Power to Change - Students at Toronto Metropolitan University. P2C helps students take their next step toward Jesus. He is deeply passionate about working with young adults as they are building the foundations of their adult lives. Our relationships with work, money, missions, people and most importantly Jesus experience radical development at this crucial time. He desires to work with these young men and women, especially here, in the city, at Toronto Metropolitan University and help them take their next steps toward Jesus through discipleship and evangelism.

Toronto Metropolitan University is a uniquely positioned campus that can impact the world. In the core of the most multicultural city in the world, TMU is truly at the heart of the city. Students from TMU come from all over the world and more so than other campuses, reflect the cultural, social and economic diversity of Toronto. TMU grads work in financial institutions on Bay Street, hospitals on University Ave, the media, shelters, small businesses and social programs all over the city. If you impact TMU, you impact Toronto. At P2C-TMU Christian students are challenged to live missionally and journey together to work through the implications of doing so in each aspect of their lives. We strive to be the intersection point between the growing Christian who desires to share life with their friends and the spiritually hungry and curious students at TMU.

Kevin is the husband of Ashley and father to Eira and Luke and has been a part of Grace Toronto since 2013. They host a GG which Kevin leads in their condo downtown. He has also completed his training in psychotherapy and is integrating his skills into ministry work. Outside of family and ministry, he loves motorcycles, coffee, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, modifying Nerf Blasters, 3D printing and most importantly, people!

Erika Hynds is passionate about helping young adults take their next step towards Jesus. She works in Toronto with Power to Change Ministries. Erika helps equip students with Spirit-led coaching, practical tools, and leadership development to help them live out God’s mission with courage and joy. Power to Change wants to show Jesus' relevance to all of life and create space for transformation by seeing and accepting all, welcoming faith and doubt, centring everything on Jesus as we call students to missional living. Interested in connecting with a Christian community on your campus or curious to learn more about P2C? Message Erika at erika.hynds@p2c.com