EMMA – INTERN

Emma Johnson sought God in the midst of confusion and gave up her definition of a “normal life” for a powerful experience that would transform her life.
        Now a 2nd year intern with UrbanPromise Toronto (UPT), the journey to where she is now wasn’t easy. Weeks shy of starting as an intern, people were discouraging her from going. As if that wasn’t enough, she was constantly fighting tormenting thoughts that she now realizes was Satan’s way of trying to thwart God’s plans for her life. Throughout this all, Emma knew where God was calling her to be, right in the heart of Toronto with UPT.
        God planted this desire in her heart a year before when Peter Kentie, Director of Programming at UPT, spoke to her youth group in Barrie, Ontario. A few months later, she joined seven others from her youth group to volunteer with Camp Hope’s March Break Camp in Scarborough. Emma was surprised at how different life was for inner-city children. The way they talked, interacted and their outlook on life was unlike anything she had experienced before. She says, “When I met the kids, I was shocked by how they lived and was outraged that I lived an hour away and never knew about it!” But after witnessing a slice of intern life, she finished the week thanking God she wasn’t an intern. Right then, she heard God say, “You’re going to be coming back!”
        Before this experience in Toronto, her parents had been encouraging her to apply to university as September was right around the corner. But now Emma’s mom saw something in her that she hadn’t seen in a while - sincere joy and passion for life. Even Emma couldn’t deny that something had changed in her. Before long, the application process was underway for her to join UrbanPromise Toronto in September.
During that time though, fear and anxiety returned, making daily life more difficult to bear. She began to wrestle with God about going. Emma was worried that God wouldn’t be able to use her. After having a conversation with her father, they decided that the only way things could get better was to trust God and obey His call.

        After her arrival at UrbanPromise Toronto, she began to realize the support God had placed around her. The love she received from staff and fellow interns helped her overcome some of the obstacles that were preventing her from living the abundant life God had for her. She says her most life-changing experience occurred while leading an UrbanPromise youth retreat when her relationship with God was dramatically transformed. It was at that time she decided to start trusting God more than trusting people. She experienced his loving presence in a new way, which brought freedom and the great realization that, “God is more interested in knowing us in an intimate way than what we can do for Him. It’s just about knowing Him and then out of that, we’re able to follow Him and do (the things) He wants us to. It’s not people trying to change or be anything they’re not. It’s just walking with him, spending time with him.”
        She faithfully continues to share God’s love with the youth in the Scarborough community of Warden Woods through UPT’s YMAD (Youth Making a Difference) program. Every day she sees God in the children and youth of the community. “They’re so open and real. It taught me a lot about God, that it’s okay to be honest and real.”