As someone who has spent the past 18 years of my life working amongst the poor in downtown Toronto, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the world. There are some things the reader should know about me before reading any future blogs of mine:

1. I came to work amongst the poor in the hopes of saving people. I quickly learned that it was me being saved from my own baggage, prejudices and brokenness. I came to bring Jesus to the dark alleys and streets of Toronto’s inner city. I was thrilled to discover that Jesus was already there and I got to meet him in those dark places. After 18 years I am still learning how to depend on God and trust him with every part of my life. The people I meet and develop relationships with, often those who have been discarded by our society, are the ones demonstrating to me what this dependence on God can be like. They are living prophets to me.
2. I have some critical things to say about the Church. It is vital to note that when I speak of the Church I speak of myself as part of the Church. It is also important to note that when I speak of the Church, I speak of the one structure, with God’s help, that I believe has any chance of effecting change in the darkness. This is why I am so passionate and hopeful about it.
3. I do not intend to guilt anyone into anything. It is not my intent to convict the reader to quit everything they are doing and move to the inner city and hang out with people on the street. If that is your response than that is great but it is not a necessary response. It is my prayer that a closer look at the Scriptures regarding issues of poverty and justice will bring the reader to a place of joy and conviction to do something with the “widows and orphans and aliens” in your own existing circles of influence.
4. It is not my intent to ever portray Yahweh as a God who cares more about the salvation and well-being of the poor than he does about the middle class or the rich. While I will attempt to portray God as being on the side of the marginalized when they need an advocate, God loves all people equally and desires that all people and communities come into relationship with him.

Now that you know me a little better, I look forward to writing more in the weeks to come.

Dion Oxford, along with his wife, Erinn, and daughter, Cate, live in Toronto and are committed to journeying alongside people in the margins of society. Dion and Erinn have spent a combined 30 years working amongst folks who are living on the streets of Toronto. Dion is the director of Gateway, a Salvation Army shelter for men experiencing homelessness. He and his wife see the solution to homelessness as the church taking seriously the two great commandments of loving God and loving our neighbours. He likes to read, write, fly kites, cycle long distances, watch TV, play in his band and hang out with his friends.