STORMY WEATHER
It’s that feeling you get when you see the dark clouds moving in and you realize that today, of all days, you’ve forgotten your umbrella.
Uh oh.
Some storms move slowly, while others hit hard and fast, drenching everything in their path. And if you get caught in one, even the most minimal shelter can be a welcome refuge from the downpour.
There may not be weather forecasts to help us prepare for the storms of life, but when we put our trust in God, He promises to be our shelter. No umbrella needed.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ ”
—Psalm 91:1-2
To find refuge in the love of Jesus, visit our website at faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4.
Photo: Ranimiro/
12 Full Circle
GOD IN MY LIFE
5 Wrong Number?
A fateful call changed Harold Reid’s life.
KETTLE CARING
8 Wishing Them a Merry Christmas
Ringing bells has been a decades-long tradition for Joseph Driscoll.
SOMEONE CARES
10 “Lifetime of Giving”
A caring Salvation Army pastor's one act of kindness transformed a First World War veteran.
Richard Bonds went from client to volunteer to employee.
16 Displaying a Great Story
A previously unknown exhibit sheds light on an important part of The Salvation Army’s wartime past.
22 Fantastic Voyage
In Moana 2, our hero seeks to reconnect her people to a wider world.
GAME CHANGER
24 All-Star Faith
Laurie Boschman’s belief in God centred him through the highs and lows of an NHL career.
LITE STUFF
28 Eating Healthy With Erin Sudoku, Quick Quiz.
NIFTY THRIFTY
30 Serve Yourself!
Craft a tray just in time for the holidays.
Volunteer Efforts
As part of the Salvation Army team responsible for building up the volunteer management system in the country, Alice Johansson was amazed at the incredible work being done at the Army ’s distribution facility on Railside Road in Toronto. No one impressed her more than Richard Bonds.
“His attention and passion for the work—from carefully checking expiry dates to determining whether a can was too bruised or damaged to be used—really stood out.”
But it was his own story, which he shared with Alice’s team—a journey from Salvation Army client to volunteer to employee—that really touched her, so much so that she wanted it to be shared with a wider audience.
“Richard’s dedication is a perfect example of why this work matters, and his story reminded me of how important volunteers are,” says Alice. “I’m fortunate to have a job where I can spread the importance of volunteering, and I am proud to be part of an organization that gave Richard hope.”
Richard is just one of the volunteers featured in this issue of Faith & Friends. Take Joseph Driscoll, for example, who has been ringing bells at Salvation Army Christmas kettles for three decades. You can also read about Harold Reid, who dialed a wrong number that led to a lifetime of service with the Army.
I encourage you to consider a volunteer effort of your own as we head into the holiday season. When you take action to help others, whether that be at Christmastime or throughout the year, you, too, will find the joy of giving.
Ken Ramstead
Mission Statement
To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.
Faith & Friends is published bimonthly by:
The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4
International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England
Lyndon Buckingham, GENERAL
Commissioner Lee Graves
TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Lt-Colonel John P. Murray
SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS
Geoff Moulton, DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND LITERARY SECRETARY
Pamela Richardson
ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ken Ramstead, EDITOR
Kristin Ostensen
MANAGING EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST AND SALVATIONIST.CA
Lisa Suroso
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST
Emily Pedlar
JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Rivonny Luchas
DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Giselle Randall
SENIOR EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST
Abbigail Oliver
EDITOR OF JUST FOR KIDS AND STAFF WRITER
Logan Graves CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR
Scripture
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version
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When thinking about the circumstances that led
Harold Reid to The Salvation Army, he recalls a memory from his teenage years that he believes sums up God’s will—and sense of humour.
“Some friends and I were in Toronto,” he says. “At the time, the Army’s College for Officer Training was located there, and the students would go around and hand out copies of the Army newspaper, The War Cry (now Salvationist magazine). Two cadets wanted to give us a paper and I remember saying,
A Fine Romance Judy and Harold Reid. "God knew I was looking for Him," he says
Wrong Number?
A fateful call changed Harold Reid’s life and led him to The Salvation Army.
by Nathan Reid-Welford
‘Not now. I’ll catch you later.’ God probably chuckled at that, saying, ‘Oh? I’ll catch you later.’ ”
The “later” took decades and a misdirected phone call. But catch Harold, God did!
Early Life
Harold recalls first “becoming fascinated with the stories of Jesus” in Grade 7, after hearing biblical tales from pastors who visited his classroom.
In high school, he felt that there must be more to life than “working, sleeping, eating and drinking.”
Photo: Nathan Reid-Welford
Though an unconscious search and longing for God may have begun, outside of these instances—and a Gideon Bible given out in grade school—faith was not present in Harold’s life.
While they were not churchgoers, his family had already encountered The Salvation Army, though not in any religious sense.
“Before I was born, our house caught fire,” recalls Harold, “and the Army helped our family. After this, my parents always spoke fondly of them.”
So, in 1973, when Harold and his wife, Judy, drove past the Salvation Army camp in Jackson’s Point, Ont., it caught his attention.
Seeds Are Sown
Harold and Judy married in 1972. After renting an apartment in Mississauga, Ont., the couple decided they wanted to find a place to settle down somewhere between both their families, who lived in Toronto and Orillia, Ont.
This led them to Willow Beach, Ont., a small hamlet a few minutes from Jackson’s Point. They drove around to get to know the area, and this is when they first saw the camp.
“I saw the leaders and kids and felt called to volunteer,” he says. “But I never did anything about it because I was too busy.”
A few years later, after the birth of their two children, Harold and Judy— who were nominal but not practising
believers at the time—decided they wanted them to be baptized.
“I remembered seeing the camp in Jackson’s Point and my parents’ fond words,” says Harold. “I thought the organization must do more than just charity work.”
When Harold saw a truck outside the camp, he inquired. The driver gave him the number of Salvation Army Envoys Andy and Daisy Rice, the founding pastors of Jackson’s Point Corps (now Georgina Community Church).
But Harold put off calling. In the meantime, the family TV broke, and a “wrong number” changed his life.
Lifestyle Makeover
“I wanted to call a TV repair man but accidentally dialed a number I had jotted down weeks before,” smiles Harold.
That number was the Salvation Army church in Jackson’s Point.
After a chat, the pastors suggested the couple try out their upcoming Sunday church service, which happened to be a dedication service for one of the member’s children. In the Army, a dedication ceremony involves parents symbolically presenting their children back to God with thanksgiving as they promise to bring them up in His way.
“Judy and I went to the dedication service thinking it was just for the kids,” says Harold, “but when the pastors explained what it was, we
realized it was really directed at the parents.”
The Reids’ first experience at a church service—not just in The Salvation Army but in general—planted a seed of faith that compelled them to throw away their alcohol when they returned home.
“We were convicted to change our lifestyle and be more Christlike,” Harold says.
official members of The Salvation Army—and in 1978, Harold took on the role of corps sergeant-major, the senior lay official of an Army church, a position he held for 26 years.
This year marks the Reids’ 47th year as members of the church, which has felt like “a second family” to them. The couple have taken an active part in the life of their
“God knew I was looking for Him. He led me to live near the camp, to come to the Army, to call that ‘wrong number.’ ”
HAROLD REID
Falling Into Place
“As we began going to church regularly,” Harold goes on to say, “we continued to hear God’s message through songs, Scripture and sermons. Our faith just grew.
“We saw a community of people that lived a lifestyle different than we had experienced,” Harold says of the congregation’s abstinence from drinking alcohol and smoking. “Being part of that community and building relationships in it helped keep Judy and me from going back to some of our old ways.”
By the end of 1976, Harold and Judy both decided to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. The next year, they enrolled as senior soldiers—
church, from helping with the kettles at Christmastime to volunteering as church custodians.
Harold and Judy never went to church until they began attending The Salvation Army, but since then, Georgina Community Church has been their home.
Harold knows that his personal relationship with God has fulfilled his desire for something more to life.
“If you seek the Lord, He will reveal Himself,” Harold concludes. “God knew I was looking for Him. He led me to live near the camp, to come to the Army, to call that ‘wrong number.’ From there, everything fell into place.”
Wishing Them a Merry Christmas
Ringing
bells for The Salvation Army has been a decades-long tradition for Joseph Driscoll.
by Juan Romero
During the holiday season in Penticton, B.C., you might come across Joseph Driscoll, wearing his signature Santa hat and ringing a Salvation Army bell outside a local grocery store. He aims to get the attention of passersby and encourage them to support the Army’s Christmas kettle campaign.
Rewarding Activity
Joseph, 90, is involved with The Salvation Army all year around, but when kettle campaign registration opens, Joseph is always ready and eager to put in his shifts.
“I feel like I have an obligation to do this each year,” Joseph says. “As soon as the notice comes out, I volunteer. I look forward to that.”
“I hope to be able to volunteer for many, many years to come.”
JOSEPH DRISCOLL
The Christmas kettle campaign has been a decades-long tradition for Joseph. For 30 years, he has been raising money for families each Christmas. Loving the social aspect of volunteering and admiring the Army’s work, Joseph finds this task enjoyable.
“All the things that The Salvation Army does in our area are amazing, so I am interested in encouraging the work they do, and it all ties in with the bell ringing,” he says. “A lot of the money that comes from it will go into the areas that they sponsor. The rewarding part for me is being able to greet people in the different stores and wish them a merry Christmas.”
Every Shift Matters
Through the years, Joseph has made friends while volunteering. He takes on three to four shifts weekly at different locations in Penticton and has also inspired other people to volunteer.
“I hope to be able to volunteer for many, many years to come,” Joseph adds.
Mary MacArthur, last year’s kettle campaign co-ordinator in Penticton, says that volunteering is a great opportunity to give back to the community, as the shifts are flexible, and you can pick your own hours.
“Two hours of your time would help support a family,” she says. “If more people were willing to give just two hours, it would make a huge difference at the food bank. It would enable us to help people who are struggling now more than ever with food security, just trying to get by day by day.”
(left) Juan Romero is the staff writer/news media relations specialist at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.
(below) Swapping Stories
June Warenycia and Delicia Carvery, a donation giving specialist with The Salvation Army, outside a community centre in Toronto
(above) Fond Memories
June looks at a photo of her father, Ron, from when he graduated from Central Technical School (inset) Gone to the War Joe Alderson left home to serve overseas in the First World War. This photo is from the 1920s
“Lifetime
of Giving”
Thanks to a caring Salvation Army pastor, a First World War veteran changed the trajectory of his life.
by Melissa Yue Wallace
On a long, slow drive from Oshawa, Ont., to Mississauga, Ont., in the midst of a fierce snowstorm, June Warenycia and her father, Ron, watched as the car in front struggled to manoeuvre.
“His lights were fading, and he pulled over to the side, so my dad stopped to see what was the matter,” June recalls.
The driver’s car battery had died, and his wife and two children were in the car. Ron took out his cables, gave them a boost and followed them to make sure they got home safely.
“I asked him, ‘Why did you do that? You didn’t even know them.’ ” June shares. “That’s when he told me the story of my grandfather.”
Photos: Melissa Yue Wallace
Inset
photo: Courtesy of June Warenycia
Wartime Act of Kindness
Joe Alderson was a single man in his 20s from the Bruce Peninsula area of Ontario when he left home to serve overseas in the First World War. Near the end of the conflict, his unit was attacked and gassed in their trenches. Joe spent a year recovering from his wounds at Christie Street Hospital, the First World War veterans’ hospital in Toronto.
The day before he was set to be discharged, he became despondent about the future. A Salvation Army pastor noticed and said, “You should be happy, son, you’re finally going home.”
Joe explained that his only possession was his shot-up and bloody uniform and that he had no money to provide for himself.
“Just a minute,” the pastor replied. “I’ll be back.”
“A little while later, the Salvation Army pastor returned with clothes, some money to tide Joe over, an address where he could get room and board, and the name of a man he could go and see about a job at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company,” says June. “That’s where he was employed for the rest of his working life.”
Helping Others
While working at Goodyear, Joe met and married his wife, Cassie, and together they took in two infant nephews, raising them along with
their five children in a two-bedroom home.
“He instilled sharing what you have and helping others in need with his children and grandchildren,” says June.
Joe died at the age 76 on April 28, 1966.
“He was a very quiet, humble man, and I was only 14 when he died, but it was the first time I’d lost one of my family members,” June continues. “So many people showed up to the funeral home, they had to open up two extra rooms to put all the flowers in.”
June worked as a medical secretary for 47 years, 37 of which were at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital, before retiring. She enjoys using her talents to knit and crochet blankets, which she donates to her friend’s church to keep people warm in northern communities.
Ron donated to The Salvation Army until he died in 1998. June has supported The Salvation Army for more than 15 years, grateful for the care her grandfather received in his time of need.
“It started with a Salvation Army pastor—he was the one that put this all into motion,” says June. “He helped my grandfather get his start at rebuilding his life, and if he hadn’t come along when he did, none of this would have happened.
“That one act of kindness—helping a man when he was down—blossomed into a lifetime of giving.”
Helping Others
Richard Bonds, here at The Salvation Army’s distribution facility on Railside Road in Toronto
Full Circle
RICHARD BONDS WENT FROM SALVATION ARMY CLIENT TO VOLUNTEER TO EMPLOYEE.
by Ken Ramstead
Richard Bonds’ first experience with The Salvation Army was in 1987, when he had just started serving his time at the detention centre in Hamilton, Ont., awaiting trial.
“I was visited by a Salvation Army pastor,” he says. “He was an older gentleman, and his smile just lit up the cellblock.
“The Sunshine Bags came my first Christmas inside, and every year after that,” he says, remembering the small bag of items and treats distributed by The Salvation Army. “Often, it was the only thing I got at Christmas. They reminded me that I still possessed some human value, and they always meant a great deal to me.
Photo: Alice Johansson
“Little did I know that three decades later, I would go from receiving them to creating them to being in charge of distributing them!”
“Bad
Choices”
The middle child of nine whose family came from Gaspe, Que., Richard had a troubled childhood.
“I had a lot of emotional and identity issues growing up,” he says now. “I projected to cover the pain. I became the class clown, the loudest one in the house, the loudest one in the school. I stood out in the wrong way.”
By nature, Richard had a good heart, “but my heart wasn’t the trouble. I just couldn’t handle alcohol.
So when I drank, I made bad choices, and when I made bad choices, I acted on those bad choices because, at the time, I didn’t know better.”
Richard served more than 32 years in prison—more than half of his life—and among other offences was convicted of second-degree murder.
“Wonderful
Journey”
While at an AA meeting, Richard met a member of The Salvation Army. She shared with him that she attended a Salvation Army church in Kingston, Ont. He asked the prison authorities if he could attend, and his request was granted.
As it happens, that week’s service was one the church held every year dedicated to restorative justice.
Richard was invited to sing three hymns to open the service.
“I felt extremely welcomed, and so that began my wonderful journey with The Salvation Army.”
From Part Time to Full Time
After obtaining permission to attend church services on a weekly basis, Richard started volunteering at the Salvation Army thrift store on Bath Street in Kingston, and then at the Salvation Army church on Alfred Street.
“At the thrift store, my tasks were sorting donations, separating good from the bad,” he explains. “At the church, I was responsible for bagging groceries for singles, single family and full households.
“I enjoyed every minute of it!” Richard says.
Richard applied for day parole, which was granted in 2021. He met Juliane Martin, a Salvation Army chaplain, when he was released to Bunton Lodge/W.P. Archibald Adult Resource Centre in Toronto, a halfway facility for ex-offenders.
“She’s a blessing to the institution, and to me,” explains Richard, “because that December she arranged for me to do volunteer work at the Army’s distribution facility on Railside Road in Toronto.”
Proving Himself
After a couple of months, management realized that Richard was an asset to the warehouse and loved working there, so in April 2023, Major Chris Rideout, divisional secretary mission resources, asked him if he was interested in becoming part of the staff.
“I’ve never regretted my decision to start working there,” says Richard. “I asked Major Chris to give me an opportunity to prove myself. And he did exactly that.”
“Rick is an extremely happy and grateful individual,” says
“I live in a Salvation Army halfway house. I work at a Salvation Army warehouse. How can I go wrong?“
RICHARD BONDS
While there, he became acquainted with the staff, the warehouse workers, manager and director.
The expectation was for Richard to work at Railside twice a week for three hours a day.
“What if I wanted to work five days a week?” Richard asked.
“Well, we’re not going to stop you,” the management replied, smiling.
So Richard did just that.
Major Chris. “He’s always happy to greet you and tell you what is happening in his life. He’s an all-round good guy.”
As a warehouse worker, Richard supervises the food production area. He also deals with the donations that come in.
“I went from being a volunteer to supervising volunteers every day. And from receiving Sunshine Bags to assembling and distributing them. My life had gone full circle!”
Under the Shield “ I learned with the help of God's people at The Salvation Army that I never stand alone,” says Richard
Never Alone
Richard is always happy to talk about his faith journey. Alice Johansson, the head of volunteer services at the Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto, found this out recently when she and some of the staff came to Railside to help out.
“Richard was in charge of teaching us how to sort the food items,” she says. “He was so full of joy and took tremendous pride in his work. You could tell his heart and soul were fully into the mission, and when I asked him about his life, he slowly
started to open up about his journey of faith.”
“Through my incarceration, loneliness, fear and sin, I learned with the help of God’s people at The Salvation Army that I never stand alone,” Richard replies. “God was and is always with me. The Salvation Army gave me a holy place to worship in and holy people to worship with. To this day, I still feel that safety and love.
“I live in a Salvation Army halfway house. I work at a Salvation Army warehouse,” Richard smiles. “How can I go wrong?”
Photo: Alice Johansson
War and Home Services Campaign
This campaign emphasized the importance of civilian financial assistance to the Second World War effort and reminded citizens of The Salvation Army’s important contributions to the troops’ welfare during the First World War.
Photos: The Archives of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory
Friendly Faces
Commissioners Will and Kathleen Pratt, who led The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda from 1984-1990, spend time with Canadian civilian dependants at Baden-Soellingen, Germany, to help them cope in an unfamiliar environment.
Great Story
A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN EXHIBIT PREPARED FOR THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM IN OTTAWA SHEDS LIGHT ON AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SALVATION ARMY’S WARTIME PAST.
by Ken Ramstead
MAJOR RON MILLAR WAS at a loss.
As the director of archives at The Salvation Army’s Archives and Heritage Centre in Toronto, he had discovered some material that had been in storage in the back room of the building, tucked away and undisturbed for years.
“We wanted to reclaim some space, and we saw these items piled in a corner, securely wrapped. We had no idea what was inside them, so we undid the wrapping paper.”
What he and his staff found surprised them.
“We stumbled upon a historical treasure trove,” says Major Ron.
The Canadian War Museum acknowledges with appreciation the loan of photographs and artifacts for this exhibit from The Salvation Army’s George Scott Railton Centre. The museum would also like to thank Randy O’Malley of The Salvation Army for his valuable assistance.
“We’ve searched through our database and it seems these items were never accessioned or entered into our records,” says Major Ron. “At some point, we can only surmise that at one time, they were prepared as part of a Canadian War Museum exhibit in Ottawa and were given to us when the exhibit closed, but that’s all the information we have.
“The Salvation Army was, in truth, our comforter and friend.”
GENERAL HARRY CRERAR FIRST CANADIAN ARMY
Mystery Exhibit
What Major Ron uncovered were more than 25 magnificently prepared displays of military boards and posters. Professionally made and backed on wood mounts, these large displays are attractive and durable.
Major Ron does not know when they came to the Heritage Centre, nor did his predecessor, Colonel John Carew.
On one of the plaques was a dedication:
They’re just here.”
Major Ron contacted the museum, but there were no files that indicated when the exhibit had been displayed. There are no records of a Randy O’Malley at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters, and the name of Commissioner George Scott Railton has not been part of the centre’s name for some time.
“It seems that they have been here for a while. It’s a mystery,” declares Major Ron.
United Front
Canadian Salvation Army huts were a welcome sight to tired troops in need of relaxation, refreshments and comfort. The Salvation Army erected this model hut in Canada, using it for publicity and fundraising purposes.
“A Great Story”
What isn’t a mystery are the rare photos and the information in the accompanying captions.
Together, the exhibit chronicles the vitally important role that Salvation Army members played during the two world wars of the last century. In an official letter of thanks following the end of the war in Europe in 1945, General Harry Crerar, former commander of the First Canadian Army, wrote: “It would be easier to forget one’s name than fail to remember the times without number when
The Salvation Army was, in truth, our comforter and friend.”
For more than a century, The Salvation Army has provided a “home away from home” for the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.
“It’s a proud part of our history and the display boards tell a great story,” says Major Ron. “It would be wonderful if we could find a way to make them much more publicly seen.”
The following pages offer a glimpse of all the exhibit has to offer:
Help From Home
Cover of the Salvation Army publication The War Cr y (December 28, 1918), showing a makeshift Salvation Army canteen amid the ruin of war. Clean socks, donated by The Salvation Army Home League, were especially welcomed by Canadian troops enduring muddy conditions at the front.
of the drawing
So integral a part of the Canadian military effort overseas were the services provided by The Salvation Army that several official Canadian war artists used Red Shield activities as subject matter.
Reproduction
Sally Ann in Sicily by William A. Ogilvie
Army Meeting Army
General H.D.G. Crerar, commander of the First Canadian Army during the Second World War (right), chats with Salvation Army officers and nurses in the early postwar period.
Dear Mom ...
Canadian naval artist Jack Muir used an actual piece of Salvation Army stationery from the Red Shield centre in Halifax to sketch this familiar scene of a sailor writing home to his loved ones.
Photos: The Archives of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory
Moana2, in theatres this November, takes place three years after the original movie. In it, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), the curious young daughter of the village chief on the Polynesian island of Motunui, went on a dangerous journey across the ocean to return the heart of Te Fiti and save her village.
In this second instalment, Moana hears a call from her ancestors urging her to embark on a mission to reconnect her people with other communities across Oceania. This requires Moana to leave her comfortable, friendly village and sail the far seas, where she will face
Fantastic Voyage
IN MOANA 2, OUR HERO SEEKS TO RECONNECT HER PEOPLE TO A WIDER WORLD.
by Diane Stark
challenges she’s never encountered before, including the underworld goddess Matangi. With the help of Maui (Dwayne Johnson), the shapeshifting, singing demigod, and a crew of friends, including her pet pig and a rooster who eats rocks, Moana embarks on the dangerous journey.
But will she be able to reconnect the people of Oceania and break the curse that has befallen them?
Building Relationships
Like Moana, each of us has been called to a specific mission in this life, and if we are a Christian, that mission is connecting people with Jesus.
Man the Boats
In Moana 2, our heroes, Moana and Maui, are sailing to adventure
Each of us has been called to a specific mission in this life, and if we are a Christian, that mission is connecting people with Jesus.
DIANE STARK
In the last words Jesus spoke on earth, He said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
These words are known as the Great Commission, and just as Jesus assigned this task to His disciples 2,000 years ago, He assigns it to us today.
Some Christians live out this mission by sharing the Bible overseas, but we can share the good news about Jesus right where we are. We can do it every day, in big and small ways, by telling people about God’s love.
Eternal Benefits
It’s true that the Great Commission is a job, but it’s also a promise. Jesus gave us a mission, but He didn’t ask us to carry it out on our own. He is with us, helping us and comforting us every step of the way.
This doesn’t mean the mission is easy. Sharing Jesus with those around us means stepping out of our comfort zone and forming connections with other people, even those we may not have much in common with.
But completing it—with Jesus’ help—has benefits that will last for eternity.
And I’ll take the help of Jesus— the Saviour of the world—over some rock-eating rooster any day of the week.
(left)
Diane Stark is a wife, mother of five and freelance writer from rural Indiana. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith.
Hard Charger
As of completion of the 2023-24 season, Laurie Boschman is one of only 16 players in NHL history to have recorded more than 500 points and more than 2,000 PIM (penalties in minutes) in their career
by Jayne Thurber-Smith
On the first weekend of February, Toronto hosted the NHL’s annual All-Star weekend. Hockey stars, friends and mentors met for breakfast at the Royal York Hotel early on that Saturday morning for an All-Star breakfast to put the spotlight where it belonged—God. They shared not only inspiring stories of hockey but also of their faith and lives that were miraculously changed.
The breakfast was hosted by Hockey Ministries International (HMI), which serves and supports the hockey community through camps, chapels and events. Their director for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario is retired NHL centre Laurie Boschman, who was pleased with the morning’s turnout.
“We had enough tables for 440 people, and the room was full,” Laurie says. “This was HMI’s 19th year to be included in the All-Star weekend. When this event is held in Canada, it’s well-attended because Canadians love their hockey and know a lot of the individuals. It’s always encouraging to
hear the speakers testify to how meeting God at some point in their hockey careers changed their lives and the difference God has made. There are always some good hockey stories, but the main focus is how Christ transforms lives, and they want to show what that looks like.”
Born Again
Laurie has a strong story of his own. Drafted as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ ninth overall pick in 1979, he played with them, then with the Edmonton Oilers and spent the rest of the ’80s with the Winnipeg Jets. He played for a couple of seasons with the New Jersey Devils and completed his career with a year with the Ottawa Senators, becoming that expansion team’s first captain.
by Example
Leading
Laurie was the first captain of the Ottawa Senators expansion team
Photos: Courtesy Ottawa Senators Hockey Club
Laurie testifies to the peace of God and His goodness throughout his roller-coaster ride of a career. That’s what he wants to share with future NHLers through HMI.
“Injuries, performance issues, there are so many stressful and uncontrollable variables in these young players’ lives,” he states. “We want to make sure we share with them what the Word of God says and how we can apply that to our lives as athletes, husbands, dads. These guys face the same pressures most of us do, but added to that is a great public scrutiny of everything they do, unlike most other jobs. Often, there’s a lot of pressure being so visible in their community. Our chaplains share with these guys what the Bible says to support them through these life issues.”
Laurie didn’t have access to a chaplain when he first entered the Leafs’ arena as a 19-year-old.
“As a youngster growing up in Saskatchewan, I thought if I could ever make it to the NHL , I would have everything life had to offer,” he recalls. “However, a few months into it, even though things were going great professionally, I felt very unfulfilled. Ron Ellis was 35 years old and sat next to me in the dressing room. I noticed Ron had a peace I did not know. One morning I cornered him and said, ‘I’ve been watching you, and there’s something about you. How do you have this peace in your life?’ He said, ‘I’m a born-again Christian and I use the Bible as a guide for my life.’ ”
“Too Much Religion”
Laurie had never heard that terminology growing up in his Catholic household.
“In March 1980, I went to a chapel program where I heard the reason Jesus came to this earth and died on the cross. The revelation that Jesus died for me … I had never made that connection before. I prayed, ‘Lord please forgive me my sins, come into my life and make me a new person.’ It literally changed my life.”
Veteran Humility
“ I give all the credit to God that I’m blessed to be here,” says Laurie
However, not all the changes seemed good at the time.
“I had a pretty good first season on the ice,” he says. “But in my second year, I felt a lot of pressure and, on top of that, I got injured. My third year, there were increased expectations for me, but I got off to a slow start. I ran into lots of difficulty with the owner, Harold Ballard, so much so that after a game against the New York Rangers, he said on TV that he was going to trade me because I had ‘too much religion.’ ”
Credit Where Credit is Due
Laurie and the Leafs parted ways, and he had the opportunity to play in Edmonton for a year with half a dozen future Hall of Famers.
“My teammates there saw the positive difference faith had brought
about in my life, that it made me a better worker and teammate.”
When Laurie is asked to speak on one personal accomplishment that matters to him, his answer has nothing to do with the NHL , but with the opportunity that was offered to him when his career ended: working with HMI.
“I have been involved in a wonderful not-for-profit Christian ministry for more than 30 years now. I never thought I’d still be doing this after all this time, but it has been such a good fit for me. I get to talk about the two things I really enjoy doing.
“I get to share who Christ is and how He can make a difference in our lives, and I also get to share what I’ve learned about playing hockey. I give all the credit to God that I’m blessed to be here.”
Breakfast of Champions
This past February, hockey stars, friends and mentors gathered at the All-Star breakfast in Toronto hosted by Hockey Ministries International
Eating Healthy With Erin
HOLIDAY WILD RICE PILAF
TIME 1 hr 15 min MAKES 4-5 servings SERVE WITH roasted turkey, ham or chicken
45 ml (3 tbsp) olive oil
125 ml (½ cup) yellow onion, diced
1 garlic clove, diced
375 ml (1½ cups) wild rice
1 red pepper, diced
30 ml (2 tbsp) carrot, shredded
2 bay leaves
1 sprig rosemary
5 ml (1 tsp) oregano
750 ml (3 cups) vegetable broth
250 ml (1 cup) dried cranberries
60 ml (¼ cup) praline pecans or nut mix salt and pepper to taste
1. In large pot, add olive oil, diced onion and garlic, and cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add rice, diced red pepper, shredded carrot, bay leaves, rosemary and oregano. Reduce heat to medium low and cook together for 2 minutes.
2. Add vegetable broth and 15 ml (1 tbsp) of the dried cranberries. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 50 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes with lid on.
4. Transfer to bowl or platter. Remove herbs and stir in nuts and remaining cranberries. Salt and pepper to taste.
CANDIED SWEET POTATOES WITH CRISPY SAGE AND GOAT CHEESE
TIME 45 min MAKES 4-6 servings SERVE WITH roasted turkey, ham or chicken
1250 ml (5 cups) sweet potatoes, diced
90 ml (6 tbsp) butter
30 ml (2 tbsp) orange juice
250 ml (1 cup) brown sugar
2.5 ml (½ tsp) cinnamon
1 ml (¼ tsp) salt
30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
12-15 fresh sage leaves
pinch of coarse salt
60 ml (¼ cup) crumbled goat cheese
1. Place sweet potatoes in pot with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 8 minutes or until you can pierce with a fork. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter and then add orange juice, brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour over sweet potatoes and lightly salt.
3. Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and lightly grease a baking dish with butter. Transfer sweet potatoes to dish and bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir and return to oven to bake for another 15 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes.
4. Coat a skillet with olive oil and heat over medium low. Add 12-15 sage leaves and cook for 30 seconds. Remove leaves from heat and place on paper towel to drain. Sprinkle with coarse salt.
5. Remove sweet potatoes from oven and serve topped with goat cheese and hand-crumbled crispy sage.
QUICK QUIZ
1.
Craft a tray just in time for the holidays.
This simple DIY allows you to repurpose thrifted or scrap materials and explore your creative side.
Supplies Needed: Thrifted wooden board or scrap piece of wood; old drawer pulls or handles; chalk; ruler; pencil, paint or pencil crayons; stencil, cookie cutters, etc., as a pattern; Mod Podge or wood oil.
1
Step 1 Source an old wooden cutting board from your local Salvation Army thrift store or a scrap piece of wood. If you want to use the tray for food or as a cutting board, then you’ll need to find wood that is safe for food, and use foodgrade paint and finishing products.
Step 2 Find some old drawer pulls or handles for your tray. I used some handles I removed from a previous DIY. Definitely an on-budget project! 2
Step 3 For the design on the tray, you can use a stencil, cookie cutters for a pattern or you can download a printable design. 3
Step 4 Prep your surface—you may need to sand the wood. Then add your measurements for the placement of the handles and design with chalk so the marks can be easily removed.
Step 5 You can either add your handles before or after the stenciling. I added my handles before determining the best placement for the design and then traced the stencil with a pencil. I then tried a few materials—paint, pencil crayons and Sharpies.
Step 6 Once your work is dry, seal the finish with Mod Podge or wood oil.
Now you’re ready to use your tray!
(left) Denise Corcoran (aka Thrifty By Design) is an author, upcycler, community builder and workshop facilitator based in North Vancouver. She shares her enthusiasm for crafting and upcycling by facilitating “Crafternoons” throughout Vancouver. She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores. Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.
