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-by-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.

In his book Generous Justice, Tim Keller wrote these words.

‘If a person has grasped the meaning of God's grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn't live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God's grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn't care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn't understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just.’[1]

Certainly the grace of God has made Ejay Tupe into a man of merciful justice.

I hope that hearing Ejay’s passion inspires you to consider how you can go and partner with the things God is doing downtown in your city.

You’ve heard us mention the ‘Our City Toronto’ conference that happened last fall. While it’s too soon to plan a post-pandemic large gathering, it’s not too soon to be planning some online urban ministry conferences and possibly some smaller gatherings.

I’m part of Ejay’s team looking at how we can do some ‘Our City’ conferences online this fall. We will be sure to let you know when something like that is happening, so subscribe to this podcast and keep listening.

Links:

https://paoc.org/canada/workers/ejaytupe

https://ejaytupe.com/

http://ourcitytoronto.ca/

One of Ejay’s urban immersion street tours