From Organized Crime To True Religion (Alan Campbell interview)

March 15, 2024 by Kevin Rogers in Alan Campbell, Refuge Ministries Canada, At Risk Youth, Canada, Chaplaincy, Christianity, Corrections Canada, Housing, Kevin Rogers, Religion & Spirituality, Street Ministry Worker, Toronto, Urban Ministry

Years ago, I worked as a federal chaplain at a halfway house. I learned so much about the value of faith-based community friendships for men and women returning to the community.

Alan Campbell has devoted his adult life to Jesus-inspired care for people being released from jail. He is humble and virtuous in his approach and remains focused on the mission. l am grateful to know ‘Refuge Ministries Canada’ and to serve them when I can.

Alan shares his story of conversion from incarceration for his involvement with the Toronto Mafia, God’s call to help prisoners and the role of suffering in his ongoing transformation.

Links:

Refuge Ministries Canada

https://www.refugeministriescanada.com/

Refuge Freedom Stories

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/refuge-freedom-stories/id1524349333

Sidewalk Pastors - QUEST Conversation (part 1)

June 01, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Chaplaincy, Christianity, Kevin Rogers, Mission Canada, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

In the acronym QUEST describing models of engagement for Canadian urban ministry, the letter ‘S’ stands for Street Ministry Workers. Often, the role is pastoral in nature so we have sidewalk pastors.

You will enjoy my conversation with Bob Gal (Edmonton,Alberta), Anna Morgante (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Ejay Tupe (Toronto, Ontario).

What happens if you intentionally hang around with people on the streets looking for ways to befriend, show hospitality and nurture their spiritual formation? Instead of a formal office with a sign on the door, the office is a backpack, a vehicle or a cell phone.

Street ministry workers find themselves visiting in jails, shelters and hospital wards. They go where they see an opportunity to be the sidewalk pastor of the unchurched. And miracles happen there.

Gangland Preacher - Ejay Tupe

June 01, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Welcome back to Sidewalk Skyline Podcast where we explore faith at work in Canadian cities. This is our fourth episode looking at gangland preachers. While gang activity is prevalent in parts of Canada, there are also men and women in those neighbourhoods that are making a difference one-on-one.

Today I am talking with Ejay Tupe, an urban missionary in downtown Toronto. I have had many conversations with my friend Ejay and heard about his pimp exit strategies, interaction with gang-affiliated youth and the pastoral care he provides to people in crisis all the time.