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What is Mission to the Margins for?
M2M exists to see the poor engage with the gospel and the church engage with the poor. We believe that the result of this will be new disciples following Jesus on the one hand, and on the other a deeper spiritual maturity in those disciples already following Him. We believe that both of these will result in the building up and expansion of Christ’s body the church in the city and the world.
What is the gospel?
It is simply this: because Christ died for us, those who trust in Him may know that their guilt has been pardoned once and for all. What will we have to say before the bar of God’s judgement? Only one thing: Christ died in my place.
That’s the good news; that’s the gospel.
What is a disciple?
At the heart of Christianity is God’s desire for a people to display His character. They do this through their obedience to His Word in their relationships with Him and with each other. Therefore He sent His Son to call out a people to follow Him. And part of following the Son is calling still more to follow the Son . . . The lives of these people, in other words, should be dedicated to helping others follow Jesus.
Helping others to follow Jesus; that’s a disciple.
What is the church?
The good news of Christ’s coming includes the good news of what He came to do: to join disciples to Himself and to one another as His new body, the new people of God. The church then is a sign of God’s kingdom come: the kingdom that will come when Christ comes, and that is already present through His Spirit. To be clear, the church is not the centre of our devotion - Christ alone has that place. But instead, with the apostle Peter we confirm, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
A people who show the bond of Christ’s love; that’s the church.
NOTE: We acknowledge the use and are thankful for the giftedness and wisdom of Greg Gilbert for his description of the gospel; Mark Dever for his desciption of disciplship, and Ed Clowney for his description of the church.
Our Mission
To serve as a bridge between the poor and the gospel, and between the local church and the local poor.
Our Vision
Mission to the Margins will be a dynamic extension of the local church. Through acts of mercy and prayer as well as the proclamation of the gospel, we will see lives transformed among the poor as well as the church. Among the marginalized: as they engage with and are changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Among the church as Christian volunteers are shaped and matured through engaging with the poor in meaningful relationships.
Our Story
Mission to the Margins was planted in the Autumn of 2020 by Fellowship Chaplain Jeff Hesselink with the partnership and support of nine local churches and ministry partners. We wish to be a faithful presence in the lives and the fabric of the marginalized community, serving with mercy and care, fostering relationships to see discipleship flourish, and witnessing to the saving power of Jesus in word and deed.
The Objectives that drive us are:
Outreach
Interdependence
Mercy and Service
Transformation
Spiritual Regeneration
Mission to the Margins is a collaborative ministry made up of many volunteers and co-workers. Lord willing, looking ahead we dream of the expansion of our Gathering Place Outreach in new locations and times; the establishment of a prayer summit around issues of poverty, marginalization, and justice; expanded partnerships and internships with Christian colleges and seminaries; classes like Alpha and Christianity Explored regularly offered; even a lecture series! The sky’s the limit - as the Lord leads (Psalm 127:1; Proverbs 16:9; James 4:15).
Our Counsel of Advisors
Shannon Pharoah
Brenda Ahimbisibwe
We have a counsel of five women and men who are invested and committed to providing prayer, wisdom, and insight.
Peter Phillips
Laura Ross
Bianka Wong
Our Staff Team
Jeff Hesselink is our Ministry Director and a street chaplain. Before planting M2M he directed an adult urban ministry as well as steering committees in similar Christian ministries. As a younger man Jeff lived on the streets of Calgary, Vancouver, and Guelph, as well as living life from the inside government public housing. It was God’s hand through these experiences that influence and drive him in this work now. Jeff is married to Eliza; they have four children and live in Hamilton, Ontario.
You can contact Jeff at: jeff@mission2margins.org
Rachel Walker is our Program Director and a Community Chaplain for Cambridge. Rachel has been on staff with Mission to the Margins since November 2022. She has background experience volunteering with similar ministries in Waterloo Region as well as previously working in the developmental services sector. Rachel serves with Mission to the Margins because she has a passion to see those who are marginalized given the opportunity to hear of the hope and peace found in a relationship with God. Rachel is married to Sean; they have one child and live in Cambridge, Ontario.
You can contact Rachel at: rachel@mission2margins.org
Karen Bast is our Kitchener Community Chaplain. From Drop-Ins to In-School to Street-level ministries, she has spent the majority of her working life with youth on the margins. Karen is passionate about going to places otherwise ignored or forgotten and pointing people in the direction of healing and spiritual wholeness available only through the work of Jesus Christ. Karen in married to James and they have three kids.
You can contact Karen at: karen@mission2margins.org
Our Office
Grace Bible Church
2 Grand Avenue South
Cambridge, ON
N1S 2L2
Hours
Call for an Appointment
Phone
(519) 829-0842