Building Community Through Partnership: TDChristian and Act Five

William Groot, Principal of Toronto District Christian High School, reflects on the meaningful partnership between TDChristian and Act Five. He shares insights about Act Five’s “Serve and Observe” trips and their role in fostering learning, faith, and community engagement in TDChristian’s students.

Partners in Action

As a Principal of TDChristian, one of the five Christian high schools that partnered with Redeemer University to launch Act Five as a gap year program, I have been involved with Act Five since its inception.  

As an Act Five board member, I have seen how God has used people and circumstances to help the organization grow, change, and morph into Act Five Initiatives. After five years, Act Five is operating as a registered charity committed to impacting young people and neighbourhoods in ways that shape lives for Kingdom service. 

The importance of community is essential to learning at TDChristian. When students are enfolded into our school, they flourish as learners. Like Act Five, we want them to be engaged in authentic ways outside the classroom. For that purpose, we run an all-morning, two-period course that we call English-Perspectives Block. 

In this block, students see and learn God’s story of Redemption within the context of their own local communities, and surrounding ones. They are challenged to articulate and share their philosophies of life with each other while grappling with the realities of our culture and the complexities of relationships. God is on the throne and is sovereign, but how do we seek to serve God and our neighbour in the everyday messiness of life? 

That’s where Act Five comes in! As partners, we work together to help students see how God calls us to improvise in community. Act Five does that; our students get to see it, talk about it, and serve with people in Act Five. They experience this improvisation in a concrete, non-theoretical way. And many come away with a deeper knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for what it is to be human. Better yet, how God, who calls us all out of darkness, works through people and organizations to redeem the world for Him. 

From Classroom to Service

About one-third of the way through the block course, students take a three-day, two-night trip to Hamilton with Act Five. In short, this experience offers incredible opportunities to help students grow in learning, faith, and relationships – to God, each other, and those they meet in Hamilton. 

Here is what two students shared in the reflective English assignment they wrote right after the trip: 

Even though our world is broken, I still realize that Jesus wants us to shine our light to other people. The trip helped me to realize the importance of outreach to people in need and the necessity for community and relationships everywhere (which can physically promote healthier lives). Nearing the Thanksgiving weekend, I reflect on the past three days and realize that I am grateful to be living my life in a house with provided finances, safety, comfort, and connections. Just like Jesus, I will also try to be a more kind and helpful person to those who need it. 

This trip taught me many things. When we see homeless people, we are quick to assume and judge. We assume that people are homeless because they are lazy or maybe they started addictions. But this is not always the case. We don’t know what people have been through and what they have to do to survive. Judging and looking down on people is sinful and dishonouring to God. Instead, we should be slow to judge, quick to show love, and quick to give. Because of this service trip, I was able to see what was going on in our world outside of the classroom. I made connections with people and experiences and saw how people are struggling. However, I also saw how these organizations are serving those who are struggling, and they are spreading the hope of the gospel.

TDChristian is thrilled to partner with Act Five. Act Five’s “Serve and Observe” trip helps our students learn and grow as they complete their work this semester and beyond.

William Groot, Principal
Toronto District Christian High School

Read More!

The following page from the TDCH Magazine highlights another Grade 11 student’s experience on an Act Five Serve & Observe Trip back in the spring of 2024.