BIOGRAPHY - Steve Martin, one of the original staff members, is Sanctuary's primary street presence. Although each Sanctuary staff member is involved regularly in meeting the people of community on the street, Steve spends the majority of his time outdoors where people spend their lives.

In addition, Steve coordinates the street outreach teams and handles the street orientation sessions for urban outreach educational sessions. He also functions as chaplain to abate, an association of bikers.

Steve's passion for the people on the street grew out of his own fringe involvement with the street culture as a teenager. As he struggled to deal with the issues in his life, he developed a compassion for people who couldn't overcome the crises in their lives. Steve has over 10 years experience working with homeless and troubled youth. Prior to joining Sanctuary, he worked with Yonge Street Mission's Evergreen Centre.

Steve was commissioned by Church-on-the-Street in September 1994 and by St. Peter's Anglican Church in 1996. He is married to Crystal, who partners with him on some of the street outreach.

"I believe God has brought me to Sanctuary to befriend people, living or working on the streets of the downtown core, and to be the presence of Christ in their lives - offering love and acceptance without conditions. My goal is ... to plant seeds of Christ's love, which God can bring to maturity and fruitfulness, which He can then harvest ... As I minister to others in their pain and suffering, God ministers to me in mine."

NEWSLETTERS - July 2004 / Fall 2004

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