Big News: We're Moving!

As we turn the page and begin writing AFC’s next chapters, one of our deepest desires is to build more bridges, work more collaboratively, and invest more intentionally in our Kingdom partnerships.

On June 1st, 2023 we will be officially moving our offices and joining North York (Chinese) Baptist Church in their office located at Unit 510, 685 Sheppard Ave East.

Moving forward, what does this mean for AFC?

This move reflects several of our core values since its founding more than 50 years ago:

Partnership with Churches: As we look toward the next 50 years of faithfulness, we seek to renew, restore, and strengthen our ties to the church. Our proximity to NYCBC will be a daily reminder that we all work together for God’s kingdom.
Collaboration with other Gospel Ministries: UrbanPromise Toronto’s office is located just down the hall from our new location! We look forward to building trust and relationships and also increasing collaboration with other ministries with the same heartbeat.
Faithful Stewardship: AFC seeks to be good stewards of all that God has given us. This move will allow us to focus more of our resources on what God has called us to do amongst students.

This move represents a new chapter in AFC’s story. It symbolizes a new start, a bright future, and an expanding horizon of dreams and possibilities. I am excited about what God will do as we continue to take this next faithful step.

Until May 31st, you can continue to drop by our current office location to say hello. We love it when our friends and partners come by!

Teens Conference 2023: Our World Transformed

Today, teens are living in a particularly troubling time in history — a global pandemic, a war in Ukraine, a mental health crisis, soaring rates of addiction, and a failing economy. Even within the church, there can be rampant division across generations, cultural lines, and political lines. Does knowing Jesus really make a difference?

Our TC theme this year is “Our World Transformed,” based on Micah 6:8: “the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Teens will be exploring how knowing Jesus isn’t just about getting a “ticket to heaven”, rather it is also an invitation to be a part of God’s mission to bring about flourishing for all. I am beyond excited about our keynote speakers this year, as they are both deeply committed to bringing about God’s shalom through their lives and work.

Alyssa Esparaz (Left/Top) and Jennifer Lau (Right/Bottom) will be speaking at Teens Conference 2023. To learn more about them, check out their bios here.

For nearly 7 years, Alyssa Esparaz has worked with Compassion Canada, whose mission is to “release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.” Alyssa describes herself as someone who runs “towards the most broken places on earth armed with radical love, subversive peace, reckless faith and unwavering hope.” Alyssa will be our keynote speaker during our Junior Conference (March 13-14), designed for students in Grades 7 to 9.

Jennifer Lau is the Executive Director of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM), whose ministry is “committed to expressing God’s love through word and deed. [CBM believes] that God brings hope, healing, and reconciliation to a broken world through local churches. [Their] vision is a broken world made new.” Jennifer will be ministering at the Senior Conference from March 15-16 to our high school students (Grades 9 to 12).

Both of these women are leaders of integrity, vision, grit, and a deep love for Jesus. We trust that God will empower Alyssa and Jennifer as they minister to our kids, raising the next generation of visionary leaders to bring about flourishing for all.

So far, 334 students have registered for both conferences. There is still time to register before the early bird deadline. If you know any student who is currently in Grades 7-9, please share this event and register here today!

[UPDATE 2/14/2023] TC 2023 Senior Conference has sold out!

TC 2023 Registration is now open!

Know anyone who would benefit from Teens Conference? Please help us share our event and registration page in the link below!

Share the TC 2023 page

Welcome, Clarence and Martin!

As the new year begins, we welcome Martin and Clarence who have recently joined our growing staff team. They are now in the process of building their Ministry Partnership teams, inviting people to support them in both prayers and finances.

Clarence Pong (Left/Top) and Martin Tam (Right/Bottom). Learn more about them here.

Clarence Pong has been a long-time volunteer at Teens Conference (since 2009). He has worked as a paramedic, videographer, and digital content producer. He is an answer to prayer, as he will be pioneering AFC’s Digital Media Ministry! Clarence also produced our 50th-anniversary celebration video (which you can see on our website. He is passionate about telling stories about how God is moving in students’ lives and is “excited to use [his] technical and creative skills to help share others’ stories to further the Gospel.”

Martin Tam is joining our Student Ministry staff team and bringing a diverse cultural and academic background. Raised in the US, Martin moved back to Canada in 2012 where he earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Studies from Wycliffe. His MTS thesis was based on Chinese immigrant readings of the book of Ruth. Martin has interned as a pastor and a Salvation Army chaplain. Martin says that he is “passionate about cultivating relationships with students, empowering student leaders to be lifelong learners of Scripture and followers of Jesus.”

Please join us in welcoming and praying for Martin and Clarence as they trust God to build their partnership teams. If you are interested in partnering with them, either through prayer or finances, let us know by sending us an email at info@afccanada.org, and we would be happy to get you connected.

We are so thankful for how God has been growing AFC’s staff team over the last two years. The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the labourers are few (Matthew 9:37). Join us in continuing to pray for more labourers!

Thank You

Thank you for continuing to join us in cultivating courageous student communities that come together for the flourishing of all. As the father of three young kids (12, 10, and 8), I know that it is the heartbeat of every parent to set our children up for a bright future. Your partnership and investment in AFC help create communities that allow our young people to develop strong foundations, grow in their faith, and become Kingdom leaders in all spheres of life. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we trust God to provide all that we need.