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To honour my father-in-law's birthday, which was yesterday, I thought I would post a snippet from this 1963 cover story in the United Church Observer on him and his street ministry in downtown Toronto. Kenneth Bagnell, the writer, really got into it and wrote the whole thing in a steamy crime noir style. No doubt very cool for the United Church Observer, then or even now.The irony---sad I guess, though it's something I'm very proud of---is that Wendy, Paul's daughter, works the exact same streets today reaching out to the same "clientele," in her job as an addiction and mental health counsellor.
A Church Man in the World of Addicts and Hustlers: How Paul McCarroll meets the night people of Toronto's sin strip.
by Kenneth Bagnell
The United Church Observer
Feb. 15, 1963
"One night last month, Paul McCarroll, 27, parked his car in a cluttered alley in Toronto, got out and began his work as perhaps the most daring student minister in Canada. For he stood in a wasteland of drug addiction, a neighbourhood of heroin and hypodermic needles, pushers and prostitutes."
"Every week for three years, virtually unknown to the church, he has spent one night, sometimes three, away from his college books, sitting in sleazy restaurants of Chinatown or walking beneath the garish signs, where Jarvis slices Dundas. He stays until the fingers of dawn creep into the streets, on a mission to "revive and redeem" young people his own age, who are down at the count of nine...."
What a great tribute to my dad and his vital outreach work. He never forced his faith on folks although the article talks as if that happened. Instead he listened and counselled and found them safe housing and jobs and training programs. But mostly he was with people whom society deems unworthy,"where they were at." Many find the streets a violent and cruel place-and they can be but I think my dad found more humility and kindness and respect on "The Corner" as it was called- then in the white middle class church he ministered. Somehow "the comfortable" found ways to be more cruel and more dark within then any hard core drug dealer!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this ... Rev. M has been one of my heroes since I first met his delightful daughter ...
ReplyDeleteHe's a man who has stood for what he believes in - taken his knocks and remained a radical presence in the Body Of Christ ...
We need more like him ... we could truly change the world ...
Thanks for your comments. It's a really interesting article and I'd like to post more of it...perhaps I will in excerpts. Rev. Shawn, if you would like a copy of the whole thing let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you.
ReplyDeletePeace---A