Diverse ethnic communities partner to fuel local mission
TORONTO, ON - A Christian United Way-style organization hopes to tap into ethnic communities to help fund local ministries.
The seed for Urban Covenant was planted at the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Capetown, South Africa in 2010 when Jusep Sim heard a prominent New York City minister challenge delegates to minister to their cities.
"When I was back at the hotel it stuck with me about how important it is to minister to the city - and Toronto is the most ethnically diverse city in the world," recalls Sim, Urban Covenant board chair and founder. "I let it simmer for two months."
Sim talked to his wife about the idea, quit his fundraising job and recruited his first board member: musician Hiram Joseph. "He was the person who got me to Capetown," says Sim.
The Urban Covenant business model is a "clear Christian version of the United Way.
"We don't do programs and service delivery but advocate and [gather resources]," says Sim. "We partner with organizations and distribute funds."
The organization's fundraising objectives are twofold: to raise the funds through a variety of methods and to give individuals and private foundations a way to anonymously give to the church or charity of their choice.
The main difference between Urban Covenant and similar organizations is its core value of diversity - as summed up in the organization's catchphrase: "Never in history has 'Go ye into all the world' only required a bus pass."
Urban Covenant plans to both model Toronto's ethnic diversity within the organization and to tap into Toronto's vast ethnic communities for funds.
"That's why we put together the team the way we did," says Sim, a Korean-Canadian. The board includes members of the Chinese, Japanese and East Indian communities, among others.
"We want to change the narrative. We want to start a dialogue with unique communities. We've already started," he says. "I can walk into any Korean church and have a discussion."
Sim is now working up to Urban Covenant's November 5 launch event. He hopes the concert featuring Joseph, Kelita, Marlene O'Neill and Kevin Pauls will attract at least 1,500 people and raise $150,000 in sponsorships, gifts and pledges. He says they'll also continue fundraising until the end of the year before distributing money to their partners: the Yonge Street Mission, Toronto City Mission, The Scott Mission, Matthew House and the jesus network.
"We'll figure out where the funding amount is and distribute it according to a ratio on their operating budget," he says.
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