Christmas Dinner in the heart of Toronto, at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, helped by Oakwood Wesleyan Church.

Christmas Dinner in the heart of Toronto, at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, helped by Oakwood Wesleyan Church.

BLCF Cafe: Why Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?

Why Did Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?

Most of us have heard the Chinese Proverb: 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'

 Sandwich runs and to a lesser degree Food Banks offer scant opportunity to fellowship with or establish a meaningful dialogue with the homeless and marginalized. Both can make it awkward and embarrassing to those on the receiving end of a sandwich or food from a relative stranger. This can be a great stumbling block to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the 'volunteer' may appear condescending or patronizing to a homeless or marginalized person.  

It is extremely difficult to share how faith in Jesus' sacrifice allows all to be equal in the eyes of God, especially if they find out that volunteers are paying a fee to give a sandwich to them! At the cafe, there are no fees required to volunteer. 

At BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, the homeless and marginalized are treated with dignity and respect, served a warm meal with music and fellowship. These conditions are perfect for meaningful dialogue and to establish friendships as a launching point to witness as equals at the same dinner table.

 

At BLCF Cafe, a short testimony and shared scripture are given as the dinner's second course, served between the main and dessert. Over time, our guests develop an appetite and appreciation for spiritual sustenance as much as the food served at the dinner.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit some of our guests now help to serve others at the dinner, giving of themselves, showing that they have learned to become fishermen/women and embracing the Mission Statement BLCF Cafe Community Dinner: 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25:40.

A number of our guests have made a decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, which demonstrates how marvelous and great the work of the Lord is when we trust him to transform a simple function as serving and sharing a community dinner into a meeting of faith and worshiping of our Lord. Many returning guests feel that the community is their church meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing when he fed the multitude when He shared His message on the mount.

BLCF Cafe Info Brochure

BLCF Café Contact Info: Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON | Phone: 416-535-9578 | Email: blcfcafe@yahoo.ca | BLOG: blcfcafe.blogspot.com | Facebook: BLCF Cafe Facebook | Web Page: blcfchurch.ca

Why Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?

Why Did Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship Start A Community Dinner Instead Of Sandwich Run Or A Food Bank?

Most of us have heard the Chinese Proverb: 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'

  Sandwich runs and to a lesser degree Food Banks offer scant opportunity to fellowship with or establish a meaningful dialogue with the homeless and marginalized. Both can make it awkward and embarrassing to those on the receiving end of a sandwich or food from a relative stranger. This can be a great stumbling block to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the 'volunteer' may appear condescending or patronizing to a homeless or marginalized person.  

  It is extremely difficult to share how faith in Jesus' sacrifice allows all to be equal in the eyes of God, especially if they find out that volunteers are paying a fee to give a sandwich to them! In a Community Dinner the homeless and marginalized are treated with dignity and respect, served a warm meal with music and fellowship. These conditions are perfect for meaningful dialogue and to establish friendships as a launching point to witness as equals at the same dinner table.

At BLCF Cafe, a short testimony and shared scripture are given as the dinner's second course, served between the main and dessert. Over time, our guests develop an appetite and appreciation for spiritual sustenance as much as the food served at the dinner.

  Through the power of the Holy Spirit many of our guests now help to serve others at the dinner, giving of themselves, showing that they have learned to become fishermen/women and embracing the Mission Statement BLCF Cafe Community Dinner: 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25:40.

  A number of our guests have made a decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, which demonstrates how marvelous and great the work of the Lord is when we trust him to transform a simple function as serving and sharing a community dinner into a meeting of faith and worshiping of our Lord. Many returning guests feel that the community is their church meeting. Jesus knew what He was doing when he fed the multitude when He shared His message on the mount.

 

BLCF Cafe Info Brochure

BLCF Café Contact Info: Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON | Phone: 416-535-9578 | Email: blcfcafe@yahoo.ca | BLOG: blcfcafe.blogspot.com | Facebook: BLCF Cafe Facebook | Web Page: blcfchurch.ca

Bluegrass Music to Feed the Homeless in the Heart of Toronto at BLCF Cafe Community Dinner

Version française

Bluegrass Concert on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 7PM, featuring the talents of 'A Cup of Cold Water' in an encore performance.
 

Admission $15. All proceeds go to BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, BLCF Cafe operates every Wednesday evening from 6-8 PM and feeds over 150 homeless and marginalized guests weekly, without any government funding or corporate sponsorship.Enjoy 'A Cup of Cold Water' perform Traditional Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel at:

Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship- BLCF Church, 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 7PM BLCF is located just 1 block west of the Lansdowne Station, on the south side of Bloor Street.
 

BLCF: 416-535-9578.
 

 

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=blcf+cafe

 

Help Toronto's Homeless Keep Warm This Cold Winter

Now that the weather's turning cold, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship is asking for donations of socks, gloves, scarves and toques for our homeless and marginalized guests in the heart of Toronto at the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner. Donations may be brought to the BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, (Wednesdays between 6 and 8 PM). To arrange delivery at a different time, contact Sophie by email: blcfcafe@yahoo.ca or call BLCF at 416-535-9578. Not a bread line, food bank or soup kitchen, BLCF Café has been serving wholesome dinners to upwards of 150 of Toronto's homeless every Wednesday evening since January 2008. BLCF Cafe/BLCF Church, 1307 Bloor Street West, one block west of Lansdowne Avenue. Help bring some warmth to those in need.  

BLCF Cafe Fundraiser featuring Bluegrass Gospel of 'A Cup of Cold Water'

A Cup of Cold Water performs their trademark Bluegrass Gospel at a Benefit Concert on behalf of BLCF Café Community Dinner which feeds 150 homeless and marginalized men, women and children weekly right in the heart of Toronto. - October 19, 2013  

Click:  Video Clip of 'A Cup of Cold Water'

To all our friends, volunteers and supporters who help keep this vital outreach running, we at the BLCF Café just like to say:

 

Bluegrass Music to Feed the Homeless in the Heart of Toronto at BLCF Cafe Community Dinner

• 

 

Version française

Bluegrass Concert on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 7PM, featuring the talents of 'A Cup of Cold Water' in an encore performance.

Admission $15. All proceeds go to BLCF Cafe Community Dinner, BLCF Cafe operates every Wednesday evening from 6-8 PM and feeds over 150 homeless and marginalized guests weekly, without any government funding or corporate sponsorship.

Enjoy 'A Cup of Cold Water' perform Traditional Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel at:
Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship- BLCF Church, 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 7PM BLCF is located just 1 block west of the Lansdowne Station, on the south side of Bloor Street.
BLCF: 416-535-9578.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blcfchurch/6141447387/in/photostream

Prayer Walk in the Heart of Toronto at Bloor Lansdowne Christ Fellowship - BLCF Church

A Prayer Walk is where believers walk throughout a neighborhood, usually in pairs, stopping to pray  to the Lord for the people who live, walk and pass through the comunity. The walk begins at a meeting place, disperses to walk and to pray, and concludes by gathering back at the place where the walk began.

For the last several years, Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship - BLCF Church is one of several Christian Churches that participate in monthly Prayer Walks on the evening of the first Tuesday of the month. This Tuesday, June 3, BLCF Church will host June's Prayer Walk.

If you would like to participate in the next Prayer Walk, join us this Tuesday at BLCF Church sanctuary at 7:30 PM. Every prayer counts.

^"  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” - Matthew 18:20

                                                         

Question: "What is prayer walking? Is it Biblical to go on a prayer walk?"

Answer: Prayer walking is the practice of praying on location, a type of intercessory prayer that involves walking to or near a particular place while praying. Some people believe that being close to a location allows them to “pray nearer to pray clearer.” Prayer walks are taken by individuals, groups, and even whole churches. They can be as short as a block or as long as many miles. The idea is to use the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—to increase the intercessor’s understanding of prayer needs.

For example, if you walk through your neighborhood looking for things to pray about, you might come across a yard that is extremely untidy and rundown. This might prompt you to pray for the health, both physical and spiritual, of the residents inside. Some groups prayer walk around schools, prompting prayer for the teachers and students inside, for their safety and peace, and for the schemes of the devil in their school to be thwarted. Some people feel they can concentrate and direct their prayers more effectively by walking near the people and places they are praying for.

Prayer walking is a relatively new phenomenon, the origin of which is not clear. There is no biblical model for prayer walking, although since walking was the major mode of transportation in Bible times, clearly people must have walked and prayed at the same time. However, there is no direct command that prayer walking is something we should be doing. To believe that prayers offered in any setting, or while in any position, are more effective than those offered at another time or in another manner is not scriptural. In addition, while we may feel we need to be close to a location or situation to pray more clearly, our heavenly Father, who is everywhere at all times, knows exactly what needs are present and will respond to them in His own perfect will and timing. The fact that He allows us to be part of His plans through our prayers is for our benefit, not His.

We are commanded to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and since walking is something we do daily, surely part of praying without ceasing is praying while walking. God hears all prayers offered by those who abide in Christ (John 15:7), regardless of time, place, or position. At the same time, there certainly is no command against prayer walking, and anything that prompts us to pray is worthy of consideration.
http://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-walking.html

 

 

Sunday Morning at Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship - BLCF Church, In the Heart of Toronto

Join us Sunday morning at 11AM, where Steve Mickelson shares the message: 'On Your Way to Heaven, Leave the Baggage Behind' (John 3:1-14). BLCF Church 1307 Bloor St.W. at Lansdowne

Terry Sywanyk's Benefit Concert to Feed the Homeless in the Heart of Toronto 7PM Saturday April 6

Event Detail

Terry Sywanyk singer/musician of 'A Cup of old Water' performs "My Life In Music" featuring selections of Bluegrass, Folk and Popular Music live on stage at BLCF Church on Saturday April 6, 2013 at 7PM at BLCF Church.

Suggested Admission: a donation of $15 (or what you can afford). All proceeds go to BLCF Cafe Community Dinner. BLCF Cafe operates every Wednesday evening from 6-8 PM and serves dinner over 150 homeless and marginalized men, women and children weekly. Operating without any government funding or corporate sponsorship, the Community Dinner relies on fundraisers, private donations and volunteer help to serve over 7,500 dinners a year to those in need.

Why not invite a friend to support the cause of feeding the homeless right in the heart of the Toronto by enjoying Terry Sywanyk live in concert at BLCF Church?

Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship - BLCF Church, located in the heart of Toronto at 1307 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Saturday, April 6, 2012 at 7PM BLCF is located just 1 block west of the Lansdowne Subway Station, (take the Bloor Street West Line), on the south side of Bloor Street West.
Concert to Feed the Homeless in the Heart of Toronto 7PM Sat. April 6