Refugees Turn Corner
OUT OF THE PAST P.22
Beyond Disability
ARMY HELPS RABIN P.10
What’s in a Name?
CALVARY P.26
Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G
faithandfriends.ca
SUMMER 2021
Diving Right In OLYMPIC DIVER STEELE JOHNSON IGNORED THE “WHAT IFS?” AND FOCUSED ON THE “WHY NOTS?” P.10
On Your Mark … “ My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” —The Apostle Paul (Acts 20:24)
This month, the focus of the world is on the Olympic Games being held in Japan. Thousands of athletes from around the world are going for the gold, silver and bronze. Records will be shattered and spectacular sporting deeds will become part of Olympic legend. Going for the gold is all well and good, but even the most sought-after trophies eventually tarnish and gather dust. God’s love, however, is fresh and forever. When you stumble out of the starting gate, knowing God is there will help keep you in the running.
If you want to find out more about God’s promises, visit our website faithandfriends.ca, contact us at The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ont., M4H 1P4 or visit your nearest Salvation Army church.
July/August 2021
VOLUME 24 NUMBER 7/8
LAUGHING MATTERS
5 Roger & Me
Or, what happened when the atheist met the Christian. SOMEONE CARES
8 When Life Gives
You Lemons … … you change the world, as Raelyn and her family demonstrate. COMMON GROUND
10 Refugees Turn Corner
OUT OF THE PAST P.22
Beyond Disability
ARMY HELPS RABIN P.10
10 Looking Beyond His Disability
Salvation Army helps Rabin Betkhoodoo create the business of his dreams.
What’s in a Name?
CALVARY P.26
Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G
faithandfriends.ca
SUMMER 2021
FEATURES
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Diving Right In OLYMPIC DIVER STEELE JOHNSON IGNORED THE “WHAT IFS?” AND FOCUSED ON THE “WHY NOTS?” P.10
COVER STORY
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Full-Court Press
In Space Jam: A New Legacy, the Looney Tunes gang go all out to save LeBron James’ son.
Diving Right In
Olympic diver Steele Johnson ignored the “what ifs?” and focused on the “why nots?”
Out of the Past
Couple turn the corner on their refugee lives.
GOD IN MY LIFE 24 Calvary
A little girl’s name reminded Jeanette Levellie of God’s enormous love and power. LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin
Sudoku, Quick Quiz.
22
NIFTY THRIFTY 30 Tea Time
Repurposing tea towels into one-of-a-kind wall art. faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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FROM THE EDITOR
“You Can Do This!” “
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wish I had one-tenth of Olympic diver Steele Johnson’s grit,” declares writer Jayne Thurber-Smith. “He is so inspirational!” “Rehab takes a lot of mental strength—you feel it every time you jump or even walk,” Steele says about powering through a foot injury, “but I have the choice to let that pain be too much and not give 100 percent—which I won’t do.” Through this assignment, Jayne gained new insights into the athleticism, bravery and sheer mental toughness required for diving. “I also appreciated the fact that Steele will often use his own name in his self-talk,” she says. “This is a trick I’ve been learning in my weekly tennis match against my son, Craig, in order to get my own complete attention, just like my mom did when I was five years old. Under my breath, I say, ‘Jayne!’ first, then I say, ‘You can do this’ or ‘Focus!’ or give myself whatever coaching and encouragement I need at the time.” As of press time, Jayne had not yet disclosed her win-loss record against her son. Steele Johnson’s story is on page 16. What’s in a name? A lot, when yours is “Calvary.” See why on page 26. Elsewhere in this special double summer issue of Faith & Friends, Phil Callaway tells us whether all dogs do go to heaven, and you will find out how one couple are drawing on their experiences as refugees to help The Salvation Army assist newcomers to Canada.
Ken Ramstead
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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 monthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England William and Catherine Booth FOUNDERS
Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Floyd Tidd TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR
Brandon Laird SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Hannah Saley DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Pamela Richardson, COPY EDITOR, PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR
Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR
Kristin Ostensen STAFF WRITER, PROOFREADER
Giselle Randall STAFF WRITER Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@salvationarmy.ca All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131
Faith&Friends
LAUGHING MATTERS
Roger & Me Or, what happened when the atheist met the Christian. by Phil Callaway
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ne Sunday, our pastor was talking about the Rapture of the church, when many believe Jesus will return to gather His faithful saints and whisk them skyward. Forgive me, but my mind got to wandering: How many in our church would go?
On my left was Ed, 85 years old. Ed lives his faith, tells others about it and sings loud worship songs, calling them “wonderful.” Without a doubt, he’s going up. He’ll blow the roof off the place! But there are some unlikely candidates; I won’t name them. The preacher says a trumpet will sound
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first. Will that allow people to grab hold of people such as Ed in hopes they can hitch a ride? An Exchange of Notes Then I got to thinking: If the Rapture happens while we’re in church, who will take care of our Maltese Shih Ttzu that was discounted at a pet
Hi Phil, I sense a degree of enthusiasm that I could literally cut with a knife. Sorry, we cover your pet rescue contract for 10 years. So I recommend you flush those fish and save money. Roger also told me that he has written a book about Christians, and that I should check it out online.
Christians are like manure: We do pretty well when we’re spread out, but when you pile us together too long, whooie! PHIL CALLAWAY store because its teeth are crooked? What will happen to my dog? I asked a dog-loving friend about this. He mentioned that some atheists have a website, claiming that in the event of the Rapture, they will graciously take care of my dog—for a price. How cool is that? I found them. And wrote them a note: Dear atheist friends! My Maltese Shih Tzu is 10. Does your lifetime guarantee last for the life of my pet or for my earthly life? Additional pets are $15 each, I see. Would this apply to goldfish or would you consider a group price for a bowl of them? Thanks! Roger replied with good humour.
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So I responded with another note: Congrats on the book. I’ve written some myself. I’m a follower of Jesus but not always a big fan of what I see in some of our churches. Christians are like manure: We do pretty well when we’re spread out, but when you pile us together too long, whooie! All the best to you and yours! I received the nicest note in response; we exchanged books and now keep in touch. A Beautiful Friendship One day, Roger admitted to me, “I’ve met some horrible Christians and some wonderful ones. There are more like you than there are like them. Next time you’re on the coast,
I’m taking you out for lobster.” Roger calls himself an antitheist and loves to send me examples of Christians who have messed up. I tell him he doesn’t need to look far. Those who name the name of Jesus don’t always follow Him. But much of what we see depends on what we’re looking for. I’d love to tell you that Roger has done an about-face, but God is writing his story, not me. Roger is just a guy Jesus loves. Yes, he’s angry, but he’s thoughtful and intelligent. His eternal destiny is not my responsibility. Loving him is. GAP Perhaps you have a Roger in your life. Five things can make all the difference: Be Real. You don’t have to be all smiles, no problems. All answers, no questions. In fact, it’s OK to say, “I don’t know. Let me find out.” Be yourself. Be real.
Be Prepared. Care about the answers. And don’t be afraid to dig for them. And tell your story. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Be Loving. Whoever said it was right: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Show genuine interest in their world. Be Funny. Go ahead and laugh. I haven’t met one skeptic who said, “Those Christians just laugh too much. I don’t want to join them.” Others need to see our joy. And if you’re not funny, buy one of my books and plagiarize freely. Be Prayerful. God changes lives. Never stop praying to the God of hope. And the next time you see a GAP T-shirt coming, remember what it stands for: God Answers Prayer.
(left) Phil Callaway’s Laugh Again radio program airs 700 times a week in Canada. Visit him at laughagain.org.
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SOMEONE CARES
When Life Gives You Lemons … … you change the world, as Raelyn and her family demonstrate. by Ellwood Shreve
Raelyn Drew, 11 (back, right), and her brother, Johnathan, seven, drop another large donation of food to the Salvation Army community and family services location in Chatham, Ont. Manager Allie Matthews (back left) says this is one of several donations the Drew family has made
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family conversation about helping homeless people inspired a Chatham, Ont., girl to become a champion for the impoverished, helping collect food and money donations for The Salvation Army—and a pandemic wasn’t going to stop her. A Big Heart Eleven-year-old Raelyn Drew, along with help from her parents, Jen and Randy, and little brother, Johnathan,
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seven, has been making annual donations since 2017. When Raelyn was six, she innocently asked during a conversation about helping the impoverished if the family could give all of their money to the homeless. When Jen suggested they could perhaps do something else to help, Raelyn came up with the idea to have a lemonade stand to collect donations. That first lemonade stand in 2017 raised $300 and collected 10 boxes
of food. In 2018, her stand raised $900 and gathered four boxes of food. Another lemonade stand that year raised $200 for The Salvation Army’s annual toy drive, earning Raelyn an honorary induction into the Chatham-Kent Harley Owners’ Group for her big heart.
services office in Chatham for its food bank program. The donation included food and money collected from pickup and drop-off locations in Chatham, Blenheim and Wallaceburg, Ont. When asked about the source of the donations, Raelyn shyly replies, “From people.”
“It was amazing to see the younger generation want to step up and help the community.” ALLIE MATTHEWS “From People” In 2019, Raelyn was curious how much food the more than $700 raised at the lemonade stand that year would buy, so the family teamed up with Real Canadian Superstore to deliver five full shopping carts of food to The Salvation Army. When COVID-19 hit last year, Raelyn and her family knew they couldn’t do the lemonade stand due to pandemic restrictions, so they put out a call for help and organized a drop-off and pickup food drive, collecting $425 and 20 bags of food. Raelyn’s uncle, Scott Burke of Lally Kia, got the auto dealership involved, raising another $340. This past May, the family donated a vanload of food, as well as $250 in grocery store gift cards, to the Salvation Army community and family
Helping Out Overcoming the challenges of COVID-19, the Drew family adopted the motto: “When life gives you lemons, you change the world.” Raelyn never imagined five years later that she’d still be collecting food and money for The Salvation Army. But she likes doing it because “it’s helping people and it’s fun.” “It was amazing to see the younger generation want to step up and help the community,” observes Allie Matthews, manager of the Salvation Army community and family services office. She adds that as many people are experiencing their own time of need right now, Raelyn is continuing to help out any way she can. Reprinted from Chatham Daily News, April 30, 2021
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COMMON GROUND
Looking Beyond His Disability Salvation Army helps Rabin Betkhoodoo create the business of his dreams. by Linda Leigh
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“
ever allow your disabilities or weaknesses to prevent you from achieving your goals,” says 45-year-old Rabin Betkhoodoo. “You have to look beyond your challenges to succeed in whatever you put your mind to.” Born in Iran in 1976 and part of the Assyrian community, Rabin was diagnosed at birth with spastic quad cerebral palsy—the inability to control his legs, arms and body. Unable to speak, he eventually learned to communicate by using his toe to type on a computer. Today, with help from The Salvation Army, he is pursuing his ultimate goal—to use his graphic design skills in a small business of his own. Early Life Challenges Rabin’s inability to use his facial muscles and the core of his body meant he was unable to communicate with others. “I couldn’t speak—even to my own family. Those were difficult times,”
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Smiling Through “I always receive encouragement from the staff at The Salvation Army,” says Rabin Betkhoodoo
says Rabin. It was the inspiration he received by watching the bravery of his parents that encouraged Rabin to never give up. “Resources to accommodate my physical challenges were unavailable in Iran,” says Rabin. “My father left his job and moved our family to
Turkey, with the expectation that we would go to the United States, where medical help would be more readily available for me.” Unable to immigrate to the United States, they remained in Turkey for two years. When they heard that Canada was open to the process, they moved forward with applications.
later, he was introduced to a “touch talk” computer. Before long, he was learning English and grammar. Rabin had always hoped that his condition could be cured through surgery. He wanted to walk and talk on his own. But doctors said that wouldn’t be possible. “I was extremely upset,” says
“I couldn’t speak—even to my own family. Those were difficult times.” RABIN BETKHOODOO “To get an exit visa, I had to prove to health authorities that I was capable of counting and thinking for myself,” says Rabin. “At the hospital, I beat my father at dominoes five times! “Our papers were approved.” New Ways of Communicating When they arrived in Hamilton, Ont., Rabin, his mother, father and sister didn’t understand English. His mother accompanied the 13-year-old to elementary school on his first day. “My mother instructed me to move my head up and down, indicating yes or no,” says Rabin. “We had no idea what people were saying.” The next day, therapists visited Rabin at school. He showed the team and his teacher that he could type using his right toe. A few months
Rabin. “The thought of never being able to walk or speak my language, Assyrian, was unbearable.” Rabin spent one year in elementary school before high school; therefore, his English was limited. Fortunately, the “touch talk” had a dictionary that allowed him to compose whole sentences. Later, when he was introduced to a new speech-generating device, he could use his toe to verbally express whatever he typed on the keyboard. “I wrote emails, stories and essays,” says Rabin. “I chatted with friends and played games on the internet.” Achieving Lifelong Goals At age 20, Rabin graduated from high school. He furthered his education at community college with a certificate in business applications
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COMMON GROUND
“ I have made new friends and I’ve improved my spelling, reading and writing skills.” RABIN
for Microsoft Windows. “I am extremely proud of my accomplishments and am confident that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to,” he says. Rabin eventually went to PATH Employment Services for help with his career goals. Meanwhile, he became proficient in designing business cards, party invitations, flyers, posters and calendars. In 2016, he was introduced to The Salvation Army, and he enrolled in programs at its Lawson Ministries in Hamilton, which provides support and social inclusion to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
“I always receive encouragement from the staff at The Salvation Army,” says Rabin. “I participate in their digital arts program and, through weekly conversations, assistance and interactions, I have made new friends and I’ve improved my spelling, reading and writing skills.” Staff at The Salvation Army ask Rabin to create cards for holidays and flyers for events. And they help him share and upload his work. “Thanks to parents who proved that giving up wasn’t an option and The Salvation Army’s willingness to come alongside me, I am well on my way to creating a business of my own. And it feels great!”
(left) Linda Leigh is national manager of communications at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.
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FEATURE
Photos: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Faith&Friends
Welcome to the Serververse In his quest to save his son, LeBron James turns into an animated version of himself. What gives?
Full-Court Press IN A NEW MOVIE, LEBRON JAMES AND THE LOONEY TUNES GANG GO ALL OUT TO SAVE THE BASKETBALL GREAT’S SON. by Diane Stark
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pace Jam: A New Legacy, in theatres and on streaming platforms this July, is a liveaction animated sports comedy. A sequel to the original Space Jam starring Michael Jordan, the film combines live action, traditional hand-drawn 2D animation and 3D computer-generated effects. As NBA star LeBron James
discusses summer plans with his young son, Dom (Cedric Joe), he just assumes that his son will follow in his footsteps and go to basketball camp. But Dom wants to attend computer camp and dreams of becoming a video-game developer. When LeBron insists that his son has potential on the court, Dom replies, “It’s not what I want, Dad. You never let me do faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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FEATURE
What’s Up, Doc? (right) LeBron and Bugs Bunny get their first view of the opposing Goon Squad
what I want to do. You never let me just ... do me.” When a CGI humanoid named Al-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle) notices Dom’s computer skills and realizes who his famous father is, he tricks Dom into the Serververse, a virtual space he controls. When LeBron goes to rescue his son, he too gets sucked into the Serververse. Once there, Al-G Rhythm tells him the only way to get Dom back is to win a basketball game against the Goon Squad, a team of powered-up avatars of professional basketball stars. Worse still, LeBron’s teammates are Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Lola Bunny and the rest of the notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes. Can Lebron, Bugs and the Looney 14 • JULY/AUGUST 2021 I faithandfriends.ca
Tunes beat the Goon Squad and save Dom? And even if they can, how will LeBron ever be able to form a true bond with his son without basketball at the centre of their relationship? Falling Short? When Dom takes off to do his own thing and ends up in trouble, LeBron does everything in his power to save him. That’s what good fathers do. Every one of us has been in a similar situation. When God created us, He gave us free will, or the ability to make our own decisions. In other words, God allows us to “do us,” even though our choices often get us into trouble. When we find ourselves in need of rescue, God is always there to help us, even when our own bad
decisions led us to where we ended up. He helps us even when we’ve made the same mistake over and over again. He rescues us even when we should know better. It’s never too late to call out to God for help. Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been in need of rescue. Each of us is born into sin and that sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23 says that everyone has sinned and we all fall short of God’s standard. Sweet Offer But like the good Father He is, God didn’t want to see His children suffer. He stopped at nothing to rescue us from our sin. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to earth to die on a cross and pay the price for our bad decisions. All we have to do is accept the sacrifice Jesus made. The second
half of Romans 6:23 says, “the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (New Living Translation). It’s an amazing offer. We can trade our sin and shame for eternal life. All we have to do is accept God’s gift. To make the offer even sweeter, God doesn’t need us to fit a certain mould or follow in someone else’s footsteps in order to gain His acceptance. He created each of us as a unique being and He loves us just as we are. He wants nothing more than to build a close relationship with us. God offers us forgiveness and eternal life, and all He requires in return is that we believe in Him. He loves us that much. Mission: Impossible? (below) Can LeBron and Lola Bunny whip this ragtag team into shape for the big game?
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COVER STORY
Diving Right In OLYMPIC DIVER STEELE JOHNSON IGNORED THE “WHAT IFS?” AND FOCUSED ON THE “WHY NOTS?” by Jayne Thurber-Smith
“EVERYONE HAS MOMENTS in their lives when unexpected things occur. It’s the unexpected happening to us, whether by choice or chance, that can shape who we are if we let it,” says Steele Johnson as he displays his silver medal in synchronized diving from the 2016 Summer Olympics. The unexpected occurrence to which he refers was a horrific accident he experienced at the age of 12 in 2009. While attempting a relatively new dive, a reverse 3½ somersault off the 10-metre platform, Steele hit his head on the 16 • JULY/AUGUST 2021 I faithandfriends.ca
Steele and Silver Steele Johnson showing off his Olympic medal at the Liberty University convocation that he spoke at in 2018
Photos: Courtesy of Steele Johnson
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Taking a Dive Steele with David Boudia at the Summer Olympics in 2016
Steele hit his head on the concrete platform. Unconscious, he was rushed to the emergency room where they pieced his head back together with 33 staples. concrete platform in the first rotation. Unconscious, he was rushed to the emergency room where they pieced his head back together with 33 staples. Learning Experience Since the accident, Steele has gone on to complete that dive hundreds of times. “That injury could have negatively shaped who I was for the rest of my life,” he reflects. “I could have decided not to be a diver, and not had any trust in myself to do what I could do or in anyone else to lead me where I needed to go. But because I didn’t let that moment stop me, I was able to continue to pursue and achieve my dream.” Sharing his comeback story gave Steele confidence going into his first Olympic competition. The dive that almost took him out of diving ended up being one of his best dives at trials.
“I told myself, ‘No, you can’t back down from any of your dives right now, because you didn’t back down seven years ago. If you had, you wouldn’t be diving at all!’ ” he says. “So why not put 100 percent into what I’m doing? I’ve already been through potentially the worst accident of my entire life. If that didn’t stop me, then what makes me think any dive can stop me now? I don’t think God created that accident, but I do know He really blessed it. It became a learning experience that I gained a lot from.” Driving Force To those who would question why bad things like that happen to good people like him, Steele comments that we all live in a fallen world where sad situations take place. “But at the end of the day, we have to trust what the Bible says, that God is good and He is Lord,” he says. “He has our best interests in mind. faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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He doesn’t cause our pain, but He can bring us out of it. He gives us the opportunity to lean on Him no matter what.” Steele feels that he is a much better diver because of that crash into the concrete platform. It was the driving force to make him want to be better and work toward his Olympic dream. “I knew that all of this might have been taken from me in a moment,” Steele says. “The fact that it wasn’t made me strive for greatness day after day. It inspired me to be the person God has created me to be, since He gave me the ability to dive.” So Steele ignored the “what ifs?” and focused on the “why nots?” He teamed up with David Boudia, and 20 • JULY/AUGUST 2021 I faithandfriends.ca
the pair made it to a diving platform in Rio de Janeiro in the summer of 2016. As the world watched, they recited Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then, in perfect symmetry, they executed a back 2½ somersault with 2½ twists in the men’s 10-metre synchronized diving competition, winning the silver medal. On to Tokyo Besides helping him medal in Rio, David also helped him increase his faith, along with Steele’s coach, Adam Soldati. Steele had grown up in church but had valued it mostly
True Love In 2017, Steele married his longtime girlfriend, Hilary Nussbaum
for its social aspect. “David and Adam shared with me that going to church isn’t the most important thing, following God is,” says Steele. “When I was younger, when I prayed, I would focus on hoping God would give me what I wanted. Now, I actively seek and trust Him.” Steele learned that actively pursuing God alone, in the quiet and unseen, was all he really needed. “I understand without a doubt that He is enough for me, even if I never once went to the Olympics or even married my wife, Hilary,” says Steele. “All these are variables in life and, whether they happened or not,
I can be joyful because I am seen, known, loved by God.” He is now preparing for Tokyo 2021. With a wisdom beyond his 25 years, Steele knows that even if he doesn’t get what he thinks he wants, God will give him what’s best. “When I started my Olympic journey, I used to think it was all I ever wanted,” he comments. “But you eventually find out the joy you’re searching for is not in medals. Your identity can’t just be found in being an Olympic diver, because that lasts only a few weeks every four years. We are designed to rest in the presence of God. That’s where our joy comes from.”
A Man and His Dog Steele with Aspen faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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FEATURE
Out of the Past
COUPLE TURN THE CORNER ON THEIR REFUGEE LIVES. by Darryl Whitecross and Colleen Flanagan
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ohn and Corina Ardelean know what it is like to depend on others for help. Both are from refugee families of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. Struggle to Eat Corina’s parents were forced to leave her and two of her sisters behind 22 • JULY/AUGUST 2021 I faithandfriends.ca
with their grandparents when they fled to Canada, after having spent time in a refugee camp in the thenneighbouring country of Yugoslavia, with the aim of making a better life for the family. Corina’s father was in the Romanian Army and was found to be a Christian, which was illegal.
Samson and Corina Corina Ardelean with her “buddy,” Samson the delivery van. Corina enjoys driving the vehicle to deliver groceries and other household items to needy families in the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows area of British Columbia
It was another two years before Corina and her siblings saw their parents again, having followed them to Vancouver in 1991 when she was eight years old. John’s older sister escaped from Romania in 1988 with her husband and sponsored the rest of the family—including John, his parents and siblings—in 1992. Corina says that when they arrived in Canada, their families depended on the local food bank. They could barely wait for the next hamper delivery, not knowing what they were going to eat.
Samson and Delilah It was their past that shaped the people they have become. They are now feeding and helping people who are struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet. Corina, who still dreams of one day being a trauma nurse, is employed by The Salvation Army’s Ridge Meadows Ministries in British Columbia, about 50 kilometres west of Vancouver. She began her role in October last year as a Salvation Army community and family services advocate assistant. She works five days a week faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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“ People that we help are extraordinary people. They just find themselves in a situation they don’t want to be in.” CORINA ARDELEAN as part of the team that runs Sonia’s Cradle, a ministry that provides clothing, food and other assistance to the needy in the community. She’s also a listening ear in the “tender moments” when “raw emotions” are shared by the clients. “It’s so much more than just the food,” she says. Corina says it’s a blessing to be part of Sonia’s Cradle as she can relate to the people assisted through the initiative. She enjoys getting out into the community for donation pickups, driving her “buddy,” Samson, the centre’s “huge” delivery truck. (They have a smaller one named Delilah!) “Launch a Ministry” Ridge Meadows Ministries executive director Mark Stewart says the ministry assists about 60 families a month and runs a bag lunch program serving schools in the area. For Corina, it’s a balance of work, ministry and family. Her role with the Army coincided with a ministry she and John, a self-employed timber flooring specialist, launched a 24 • JULY/AUGUST 2021 I faithandfriends.ca
few months before called City Serve, which is run through a church in Maple Ridge. City Serve delivers a range of goods and community services each week—not only food—to those in need. Corina says they knew they wanted to help people in whatever community they called home. Seven years ago, they sold their home in Coquitlam, B.C., and moved to nearby Maple Ridge because they felt a calling to do missionary work. About five years ago, they began working as local missionaries in Surrey, B.C., where they attended a Romanian church. Just over two years ago, they started a bread night at a church in Maple Ridge. On Tuesdays, they would pick up end-of-the-day bread from a local bakery and take it to the church, where they would divide it up for distribution. After completing a leadership course, they decided to turn their bread night into something more. Corina says a component of the sixweek course was that, at the end, the challenge was to “launch a ministry.” That’s how their latest venture began.
Preserving Dignity Over the past several months, the Ardeleans have done weekly deliveries of groceries to about 30 needy families, including to Sudanese refugees. That mission is run from a renovated room at the church in Maple Ridge, which she and John do after knock-off time at Sonia’s Cradle. On Wednesday mornings, they help Syrian refugees attached to a Middle Eastern Friendship Centre, also delivering food hampers, then, in the afternoon, turn the room at their church into a grocery store and
allow clients, one at a time, to enter, to choose their goods. In addition to groceries, Corina and John hand out gift certificates for other stores and services— whatever they can get their hands on. Because of their past, the Ardeleans are able to help in a non-judgmental way while preserving the dignity of those they assist. “People that we help are extraordinary people,” Corina says. “They just find themselves in a situation they don’t want to be in.” Reprinted from Others, February 2021
Dedicated Duo John and Corina, who have three teenage children, know firsthand the struggles of not having enough food to put on the table faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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Faith&Friends
GOD IN MY LIFE
Calvary A little girl’s name reminded me of God’s enormous love and power.
Photo: grki/stock.Adobe.com
by Jeanette Levellie
“
W
ill I live to see Jean come back to You, God? Or is it too late for her
to change?” I’d prayed, wept and reminded Jesus of my family member’s troubles for years. I’d done my best to live a good life in front of her. Talked about Jesus. Prayed with her. But in the last year, she’d become more deeply entrenched in confusion and rebellion than ever. Was I wasting my time praying? Was it too late for
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me to hope that Jesus would change her heart? The Epitome of Love Those discouraging thoughts attacked my mind as my husband, Kevin, and I went out to breakfast the week before Christmas. As we entered the restaurant, the aromas of frying bacon, pancakes and freshly perked coffee welcomed us. I tried to close my mind to worry. As we opened the door, a tiny girl
nearly ran into us. “Excuse me!” she said with a bright smile, holding her mother’s hand. I turned to Kevin. “Wow, a little kid who knows manners. That’s impressive!” After we ordered, I noticed the little girl and her mother slip into the booth across the aisle from us. The mother was attentive and kind, calling her daughter “Sweetie” and “Honey” as she helped her assemble a craft project. She allowed the child to help put some of the pieces together, gently guiding her wee hands, patient in every instruction. She was the epitome of a loving, considerate mother. Happy Tears After viewing the two interact for a half an hour, I couldn’t contain my admiration any longer. I stepped into the aisle and, keeping a safe distance, told the lady, “You are the best mother ever!” Her hazel eyes sparkled clear and bright. She grinned as she said, “Oh, thank you.” “May I ask your daughter’s name?” “Calvary.” I imagine my smile filled the room. Calvary was the name of the site outside of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified that has come to symbolize His everlasting love.
“What a wonderful name!” The mother nodded. “When we were expecting her three years ago, we found God. He helped my husband and me get clean from years of drug abuse. I know a lot of people’s prayers were answered when we decided to follow Jesus. I wanted to name our baby something to remind us every day that Calvary is the reason we’re free.” “Wow,” was all I could say, soft and low. “I’m so happy for you. And I know God is proud of you, too.” I could barely hold back happy tears. The Power of Change She thanked me again, bundled up her little reminder of the power and love of Jesus, and breezed out of the restaurant. I looked across the table at Kevin. “Did you hear that?” He grinned. “Isn’t that phenomenal?” My heart grabbed hold of the huge slice of hope this mother and her daughter had given me. Jesus does change lives. No one is too far gone for Him to restore. My prayers are not in vain. Before I went to sleep that night, I thanked the Lord for sending me that reminder of His faithfulness. “I will never give up on Jean, God, I promise. If Calvary can change longtime drug addicts into loving parents, Calvary can change Jean.”
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Faith&Friends
LITE STUFF
Eating Healthy With Erin CHIPOTLE CRISPY CHICKEN BURGERS
Recipe photos: Erin Stanley
TIME 35 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH fries
4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 egg 15 ml (1 tbsp) water 180 ml (¾ cup) bread crumbs or panko 5 ml (1 tsp) smoked paprika 5 ml (1 tsp) garlic powder 2 ml (½ tsp) salt 2 ml (½ tsp) black pepper 10 ml (2 tsp) olive oil 125 ml (½ cup) flour 4 hamburger buns 60 ml (4 tbsp) chipotle mayo (recipe below) Lettuce and tomato to garnish
1. Roll out chicken breasts to flatten. 2. Whisk egg with water and set aside in a bowl. 3. Mix bread crumbs (or panko) and spices together in small bowl and set aside. 4. Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F) and line baking sheet with parchment paper and brush with olive oil. 5. Dip each chicken breast in flour on each side, followed by egg wash, then in bread crumbs. 6. Bake chicken for 10 minutes, flip and cook for another 10 minutes, then flip again for 10 minutes more, for a total of 30 minutes. 7. Assemble burgers with chipotle mayo, lettuce and tomato.
CHIPOTLE MAYO AND FRIES TIME 25 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH burgers CHIPOTLE MAYO:
125 ml (½ cup) mayonnaise 125 ml (½ cup) low-fat sour cream 15-20 ml (3-4 tsp) chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 5 ml (1 tsp) lime juice SWEET POTATO FRIES:
3 large sweet potatoes 15 ml (1 tbsp) corn starch 22 ml (1½ tbsp) vegetable oil 5 ml (1 tsp) smoked paprika Salt and pepper to taste
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1. Blend all chipotle mayo ingredients together. 2. Slice sweet potatoes into fries and place in a bowl. 3. Add cornstarch. 4. Preheat oven to 220 C (425 F) and line baking sheet with parchment paper and grease with vegetable oil. 5. Bake sweet potatoes for 15-17 minutes until golden.
Sudoku Puzzle
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
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4 9 6
8
2
1
5
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9
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QUICK QUIZ
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7 5 9 4 1 6 8
5
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7 8
1
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9
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1 9 4
1 4 2 7 8 5 6 3 9
5 9 3 6 4 2 8 1 7
2 5 9 4 6 1 7 8 3
7 8 1 9 5 3 4 2 6
4 3 6 8 2 7 5 9 1
© www.kevinfrank.net
HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank
Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Barack Obama; 2. Grey’s Anatomy; 3. 1,000.
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faithandfriends.ca
JUNE 2021
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A Mentor’s Advice
“DON’T QUIT” P.26
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Finding a Father
I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G
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If the Shoe Fits ...
HELPING THE ARMY P.10 AN OPEN DOOR P.12
Faith&Friends
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1. What former U.S. president wrote a memoir entitled A Promised Land? 2. What TV series is partly named for a classic medical cookbook? 3. How many millions is a billion?
faithandfriends.ca I JULY/AUGUST 2021
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Faith&Friends
NIFTY THRIFTY
Tea Time Repurposing tea towels into one-of-a-kind wall art.
I
found these vintage unicornthemed Irish tea towels years ago at my local Salvation Army thrift store, and I’ve been wanting to upcycle them for ages. Now, these wall hangings are adored features in my living room.
Step 1 Drop by your local Salvation Army thrift store to source a funky second-hand tea towel. Wash and iron it.
Supplies Needed: thrifted tea towel, four 0.6-metre (24-inch) pieces of wood moulding (two pieces for the top, two for the bottom), wood stain or paint, four 25-millimetre (one-inch) screws (dependent on the thickness of the wood moulding), four wing nuts, double-sided tape, jute or cord, hardware for hanging your wall art.
Step 2 Visit your local hardware store to source the wood and hardware for your hanger, as well as the screws and wing nuts. There are many ways to make your hanger. You can glue the pieces together or wrap them with cord. I chose this option so I could take my hanger apart in case I wanted to replace the tea towels or use them for another DIY.
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sure it’s lined up correctly. Insert the screws in the holes and attach the wing nuts to tighten the wood moulding together. Tighten them enough to make sure your tea towel stays in place. Do the same for the other edge of your tea towel.
Step 3 Sand and stain or paint the wood moulding.
Step 6 Now that your tea towel has a frame, add a hanger along the top using the jute or cord and hardware of your choosing. You can also wrap the jute or cord around each end of the wood moulding.
Step 4 Drill two holes in each piece of moulding, 50 millimetres (two inches) from the ends. This will leave room for the tea towel to fit between the holes. Step 5 Place doublesided tape on the inside of one of the pieces of moulding in between the holes. Place the edge of the tea towel on top of the tape, making
Step 7 Hang your tea towel and enjoy your newest piece of wall art.
(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.
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