Faith & Friends March 2017

Without a Parachute

FREE-FALLING P.8

What’s in a Name?

BUMPA! P.27

Are You a Slave

TO FASHION? P.30

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

MARCH 2017

The Shack NEW MOVIE IM AG INES A WEEKEND WITH G OD P.16

Photo: Used with permission. © Ray Majoran, compassiongallery.com

Man With a Message The Bible records how Jesus gathered His disciples, who dropped what they were doing to follow Him. What was His appeal?

Jesus’ message was a revolutionary one of love and hope, one that echoes down the centuries with greater and greater clarity. “ And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”—Matthew 4:19-20 (English Standard Version) To find out more about Jesus’ message, mail the coupon on page 26, e-mail us at faithandfriends@can.salvationarmy.org or visit your local Salvation Army church.

March 2017

VOLUME 20 NUMBER 3

DEPARTMENTS FAMILY TIME

5 Random Acts of Kindness

A little goodwill can go a long way.

TURNING POINT

8 The Parachute Club

Do miracles still happen?

Ask the man who fell to earth.

FEATURES

12

COVER STORY

16 22

5

COMMON GROUND

11 Tea Party Caring

How one woman has turned a social occasion into a way of helping others.

The End of What We Knew

An icy patch of road forever changed one family’s life.

Talking With the Trinity

In The Shack, a grieving father has a conversation with God.

Time for Change

At The Salvation Army, Cyntra Seebaransingh knows she is part of a team that is a true reflection of Canada.

DEPARTMENTS

Cover photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate Pictures

LITE STUFF

24 Eating Healthy With Erin

Word Search, Sudoku, Quick Quiz.

LAUGHING MATTERS

27 What’s in a Name?

Plenty, if you’re a forgetful fiddlesticks like Phil Callaway.

22

EVERYDAY ETHICS

30 Slave to Fashion

Behind the racks of cheap and trendy clothes is a $1.2 trillion global industry. faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

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Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Ride of His Life

I

interviewed The Shack author William Paul Young six years ago this month. At that point, the book had been on the New York Times bestseller list for 26 weeks, and Young still couldn’t quite get over it. In fact, he’d only recently given up his day job—actually, his day job and two side jobs, to be precise.

“I was shipping out soldering chips in a manufacturer’s warehouse, cleaning the toilets and performing inventory control,” he noted, “but that all went away.”

It wasn’t so long before that publishers’ doors were closed to him. With nowhere else to turn, Young enlisted his two friends, Wayne and Brad, who believed in The Shack enough to back him with their own meagre funds, and the trio printed individual copies out of the writer’s garage.

Word of mouth slowly generated buzz, and by 2011, he was being celebrated and fielding script treatments. But even then, he knew who deserved the credit for his success.

“No one knows the purposes of God,” Young told me, “but I get to go along on this ride and watch the adventure of what God is doing and what grace is accomplishing.”

The story is finally hitting the big screen this month and Faith & Friends has given this longawaited movie the cover treatment. See our take on page 16. You can also read our original review of the book at salvationist.ca.

Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, read about the man who fell to earth and lived to tell about it, and why Phil “Bumpa” Callaway believes in the power of names.

Ken Ramstead 4 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

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

André Cox, GENERAL Commissioner Susan McMillan TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Lt-Colonel Jim Champ SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR

Brandon Laird DESIGN AND MEDIA SPECIALIST

Timothy Cheng SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER 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) 422-6120 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca E-mail faithandfriends@can.salvationarmy.org Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@can.salvationarmy.org 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

FAMILY TIME

Random Acts of Kindness A little goodwill can go a long way.

Photo: © RTimages/iStock.com

by Diane Stark

D

“

o you think we should pay for those ladies’ meals?” my husband, Eric, whispered.

We’d headed to a fast-food joint to grab some sandwiches after church, and it was obvious that the three elderly ladies behind us in line had attended services that morning as well. They were dressed to the nines, but their outfits were complemented with canes and walkers.

I nodded to Eric. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

He whispered to the cashier, who smiled and nodded. She punched some additional buttons on the cash register, then whispered the total to Eric.

We sat down with our food, inconspicuously watching to see what would happen when the ladies tried to pay for their meals.

Eric, our kids and I exchanged smiles when we heard the ladies say, “Really? Well, what a blessing that is.”

Our seven-year-old son, Nathan,

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FAMILY TIME

giggled. “This is so much fun! Let’s do this every day.”

I started to explain that that would be impossible because of the expense, but I stopped myself.

Instead, I said, “You’re right, Nathan.

We should do something kind for other people every day. Can you think of some things you can do?”

He frowned. “I don’t have any money.”

“Being kind doesn’t have to cost money. You just have to look for ways to help other people.”

Nathan thought for a minute. “I help Mommy in the kitchen. I also help my friend at school when he can’t read a certain word.”

“That’s good, Honey,” I said. “And remember at the grocery store a few

(right) “I realized that our ‘random’ act of kindness wasn’t so random after all,” says Diane Stark, here with her husband, Eric, her children and Judy

6 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

weeks ago, you helped the lady in front of us unload her cart.”

Nathan nodded.

“We’ll Look for You” As the ladies walked by our table, one of them said, “The girl behind the counter said you bought our lunches.” “That was such a nice surprise,” another said.

Nathan nodded maturely. “Our family tries to do kind things every day.”

The lady smiled and said, “What a wonderful young man you are.” She turned to Eric and me. “Did you all just come from church?”

Eric nodded and told her where we attend. We chatted for a few more minutes and then the ladies

eing kind doesn’t have to cost money.

B You just have to look for ways to help other people. DIANE STARK went to their own table.

Minutes later, another lady approached us. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop,” she started, “but I wanted to find out some details about your church. I used to go, but I haven’t been since my husband passed away five years ago. I think I’d like to start going again.”

Eric and I told her about our church and we wrote down the service times. “I also wrote our names and phone number, too, so you can get in touch with us if you have any more questions,” Eric said.

“I’ll come next Sunday,” she said.

“That would be wonderful. We’ll look for you,” I said.

Promise Kept The lady left and we finished our lunch. I didn’t think anything more about it until the following Sunday.

We were walking into church and my daughter, Julia, said, “I wonder if the lady from the restaurant will be here.”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I hope so.”

And then I heard “… and these really nice people invited me here,” she was telling one of our church leaders.

I went over to her and said, “Judy, I’m so glad you came!”

She hugged me. “I told you I would.”

Judy sat with us at church that week and went to lunch with us afterward. She told us about her late husband, her two sons and her six grandchildren. She was a wonderful lady and talking with her was fun for all of us.

“I’m so glad I overheard your conversation at that restaurant last week,” Judy said. “None of this would have happened if you weren’t talking to those three ladies.”

And that conversation probably wouldn’t have happened without Eric’s small gesture of kindness. I realized that something seemingly insignificant had led to Judy’s return to church.

When we left the restaurant, Judy hugged each of us and promised to come back to church the next Sunday. She’s been true to her word and regularly attends now.

I realized that day that our “random” act of kindness wasn’t so random after all. It may have been a small thing for us, but God used it for His purposes.

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Faith&Friends

TURNING POINT

The Parachute Club Do miracles still happen?

Ask the man who fell to earth.

Photo: © dzphotovideo/iStock.com

by Michael Ramsay

L

“

ord, please save me.”

I had gone skydiving with my best friend but what had started out as a lark had turned into something deadly. My parachute had failed to deploy and was uselessly streaming behind me. I was hurtling to the ground at terminal velocity, the cars and the power lines and the highway rushing up to meet me.

I knew with a certainty I was going to die.

With all my senses on overload, I managed to form

8 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

that one panic-stricken prayer as I plunged downward.

Summer Fun After our first year of university, my best friend, Jerry, and I decided to make the summer memorable. We received our scuba-diving certification, went white-water rafting and kayaked in the ocean. Jerry and I

No Parachute Instruction period over, it was time to get into the Cessna. Jerry and I flipped a coin to see who would jump first. I lost the coin toss, but by the time that we were 850 feet in the air I suddenly realized I was afraid of heights and convinced Jerry to jump first.

Once our plane reached 3,000 feet, it was time to jump. On a

My parachute had not deployed correctly and was trailing behind me as I plummeted down. MICHAEL RAMSAY were determined to have fun “or die trying.” That last part was meant in jest as only 20-year-olds can joke about something like that.

The next item on our to-do list was skydiving. What could possibly go wrong?

So one summer morning, a halfdozen of us assembled at our local airfield. As none of us had ever parachuted before, we spent the day at the airfield studying topics such as wind trajectories and the speed of acceleration of a freefalling object and what to do if the main parachute failed to deploy. I really didn’t pay attention to that part. After all, what were the odds that the main parachute would not automatically deploy?

Cessna, the parachutist has to exit the plane by climbing onto the wing, counting to five and sliding off.

Jerry did so, looked up to see that the parachute had opened properly, and then drifted to the ground on a perfectly windless day.

Emboldened, I did the same: I climbed onto the wing, counted to five, slid off and looked up to see the parachute open—only it hadn’t.

Or at least most of it hadn’t.

My parachute had not deployed correctly and had become what is called a streamer, trailing behind me as I plummeted down.

My panic-seized mind remembered what I’d been told in the instructional session, that in the unlikely event that the main

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TURNING POINT

parachute failed, I was to pull the cord to the emergency parachute.

All the while, the ground was getting closer and closer. That was when I pulled the cord and prayed, “Lord, please save me.”

One Piece I looked up and to my horror realized that the backup parachute had not deployed properly, either. I was still hurtling toward the power lines and the cars on the highway below.

What happened next defies any rational explanation.

As I descended beneath the treeline, a gust of wind on an otherwise windless day lifted my parachute up, where it deployed and gently set me down on the ground without a scratch.

Jerry later told me that he had never been more horrified in his life than when he saw me plummeting, unopened parachute trailing behind.

He’d no sooner landed safely then he, the support crew and bystanders rushed to the scene, dreading what they would find.

But to everyone’s surprise, I’d

made it to the ground in one piece.

Never Alone Why am I alive? A gust of wind on an otherwise windless day not only stopped my descent but wafted me high enough for my parachute to deploy and save me.

I can’t think of any other way to explain this but as a miracle.

Some people think there are no such things. But as a Salvation Army pastor, I’ve seen miracles too numerous to mention. I’ve seen people cured of dreaded diseases, I’ve witnessed events impossible to explain, I’ve observed lives transformed and people delivered from the demons that haunted them. I know God is at work all around us.

When God is with you, no matter how hard life gets, you will never be alone. Our God loves each and every one of us. And when we really need it, when we are at the end of our rope and there is nothing we think we can do, we often find God sending us that small gust of wind that places us firmly on the ground of salvation.

(left) Captain Michael Ramsay is a Salvation Army pastor serving in Toronto

10 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

Faith&Friends

COMMON GROUND

Tea Party Caring How one woman has turned a social occasion into a way of helping others.

by Krista Henry

F

or Ristina Ferrari, a cup of tea with friends has led her on a journey from tragedy to giving to those in need in her community.

Held each summer at her home in Stouffville, Ont., her Lavender Rose Tea Party brings together local women for a night of themed fun, steeped tea and giving to the Salvation Army thrift store in Newmarket, Ont. “I started this following the death of my first husband,” explains Ristina.

The party is named after the tea set he gave to her, and the guests are women over 50 who live in the Ontario

communities of Richmond Hill, Stouffville and Unionville.

Later on, Ristina decided to add another facet to the get-togethers.

“In 2007, I contacted The Salvation Army’s thrift store in Newmarket,” she says, “and we’ve been donating to them since then. The ladies agree that it is one of the best charities.”

Each year, 25 to 40 guests bring donations of gently used clothing, furniture and home decor items. “I wanted something everyone can do, and the ladies always bring enough stuff to fill a truck!” says Ristina.

(above) Every year, the women of Ristina Ferrari’s Lavender Rose Tea Party do their bit to help The Salvation Army. This past year’s fundraiser was Asianthemed, following Ristina’s recent visit to the East

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Photo: © SamBurt/iStock.com

The End of What We Knew AN ICY PATCH OF ROAD FOREVER CHANGED MY FAMILY’S LIFE.

by Mike Hebda

I

was sitting in my dorm room, blasting music and laughing with friends, when I got a phone call every family dreads. I heard an unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line say, “I’m with the police.

There’s been an accident involving your sister.”

My mind went numb.

Up until that moment, I’d enjoyed the perfect life, with supportive parents who’d always encouraged me and my two younger sisters to pursue our dreams, despite any obstacles in our way.

My sister, Jen, who was an amazing athlete, took their advice to heart. She threw herself into 12 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

every sport she tried—ice skating, track and field, soccer. In fact, when she got to high school and found there was no girls’ soccer team, she didn’t let that stop her— she simply joined the boys’ team.

I always admired her determination and grit.

Now, looking back, it’s clear that God blessed her with those qualities for good reason.

The Accident The weekend of the phone call, I had spent an amazing day with my parents and 12-year-old sister, Megan.

They’d come to campus for the day.

Jen, who was 17 at the time, stayed

home to attend a youth event at our church.

She was on her way there when she came around a bend on a back road and a deer jumped in front of her car. Instinctively, she slammed on her brakes, but her tires hit a patch of ice, sending her car sailing straight toward a telephone pole.

Tires screeched as the car smashed into the wooden pole, instantly crushing it like a flimsy accordion.

Glass shattered and sprayed across the roadway like shiny, sharp icicles.

When all was still, an eerie silence filled the frigid nighttime air as Jen clung to life through shallow breaths and gripping faith.

The Waiting I paced my dorm room floor, anxious to receive an update on my sister’s condition. When I finally got it, there was good news mixed with bad.

“She’s alive,” Mom said. “But she’s in a coma. We have no idea how long it will last.”

Days, then weeks, passed.

My parents, who always wanted the best for their children, encouraged me to return to campus and proceed with my life. I did, but I felt guilty taking classes, living life, knowing that my sister was lying motionless in a hospital room.

Six months later, our family witnessed a miracle. Jen emerged from her coma. But the celebration was short-lived when we learned that she was paralyzed.

My fists clenched in frustration as I recalled the conversation I’d had with Jen a few weeks before the accident about the newfound freedom that came with her driver’s licence.

That sweet freedom did not last long, however, and now she couldn’t even bathe herself or brush her teeth without assistance.

Following Their Lead I fought back tears as I thought about how gut-wrenchingly unfair the whole situation seemed. faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

“God has strength in store for us when we need it most,” says Mike Hebda (left), next to his wife and children, his parents (top) and sisters Megan and Jen (right)

“Help me fix my family, Lord!” I cried out in despair.

As the oldest child of the family, I felt it was my duty to step up. But my parents had a different vision.

“You need to live your own life— both you and Megan,” Mom gently told me. “Your lives shouldn’t stop because of this accident.”

But I didn’t feel as if I should have the luxury of making friends, earning a degree and building a life for myself while Jen was having to re-learn simple survival skills such as how to eat, dress and 14 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

communicate.

As for Mom and Dad, clearly their lives were forever changed. Mom spent her days battling insurance company representatives while Dad worked overtime to pay the mounting medical bills. But they didn’t seem to mind.

“We’re a family,” Dad said. “We support one another through every tragedy and every celebration. One day, you’ll understand that taking care of your family is a privilege, not a burden.”

“We love all three of you,” Mom

Tires screeched as the car smashed into the wooden pole, instantly crushing it like a flimsy accordion. MIKE HEBDA piped in. “We’ll always find a way to do what’s best for each of you— whatever that may be.”

“But what can I do?” I pleaded.

“Always show others compassion,” Mom whispered softly. “Offer compassion to your sisters, your classmates, professors, neighbours, friends—even strangers. That’s how you can help.”

At that moment, something clicked in my soul. Mom and Dad were demonstrating, in its truest form, the concept of family. My parents were living and breathing God’s Word. The least I could do was follow their lead.

The Meaning of Family Family life was never the same for us after Jen’s accident, but we didn’t retreat to a dark place of sorrow and self-pity. Instead, we gained a heightened sense of humanity. We also learned to genuinely care more for

others—to recognize when someone had a need and pitch in to help.

If there was one thing that got us through our ordeal, it was my parents’ love toward each other and for their children. Yes, our family suffered a trauma, but we also recognized that we were still immensely blessed.

Everyone experiences hardship.

Maybe it’s a fight with cancer, depression or addiction. Whatever it is doesn’t matter; it’s how we handle the hardship.

We can turn to God and to others to help shoulder our burdens. But we have to be willing to share a bit of the pain that’s inside of us in order to start the healing.

There’s one other thing of which I am certain. God has power and strength in store for us at times when we need it the most. My family is living proof of God’s strength and His great sense of compassion.

(left) As told to Christy Heitger-Ewing,

a freelance writer, columnist and author of Cabin Glory: Amusing Tales of Time Spent at the Family Retreat faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Talking With

IN THE SHACK, A GRIEVING FATHER HAS AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD.

by Diane Stark and Ken Ramstead 16 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

One on One: Papa (Octavia Spencer) and Mack Phillips (Sam Worthington) share a private moment in The Shack

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Photos: Jake Giles Netter

the Trinity

Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

IN THE SHACK, OUT IN theatres this month, Sam Worthington (Avatar, Hacksaw Ridge) plays Mack Phillips, who has not only lost a daughter but also his faith in God. During a family camping trip, his six-year-old daughter, Missy, is abducted. In an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon woods, police find evidence that she was murdered. It’s every father’s worst nightmare.

Four years later, Mack, now deeply shrouded in what he calls The Great Sadness, finds an unstamped letter in his mailbox. The letter invites him to spend the weekend at the shack, the site of his greatest pain.

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It’s signed “Papa,” which is what his wife, Nan (Rhada Mitchell), calls God. While Mack thinks the letter is a cruel joke, he decides to go, not knowing what to expect.

There, he finds a trio of strangers led by a woman who calls herself Papa (Octavia Spencer, The Help, Hidden Figures), a carpenter from the Middle East named Jesus (Aviv Alush) and Sarayu (Sumire Matsubara), a wisp of a woman who seems to appear out of nowhere.

These three characters reveal themselves as the Trinity—God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Mack stares at Papa and asks, “Do

(left) Happier Days: The Phillips family before their loss

I know you?”

She smiles kindly and answers, “Not very well, but we’ll work on that.”

As the realization dawns on Mack as to exactly who his companions are, he must let go of the anger he feels for the loss of Missy. “Why did you let this happen?” Mack rages.

“Why did you take Missy from me?

You’ve never been around when I needed you. Some ‘Papa’ you are!”

But as Mack spends time with Papa and the others, he feels the great love they have for him, and he begins to view his tragedy through a different lens. Mack knows his life will never be the same.

Useful Input The Shack is based on the 2008 novel of the same name by William Paul Young, which has been published in 39 languages and has sold more than 18 million copies around the world.

When asked why it took so long for the book to be turned into a movie, the author replies in one word: timing.

“I think that timing is the sandbox of the Holy Spirit,” Young explains, “and almost all the miracles in our lives are more about timing than any other factor. We are always able to see the hand of God as we look back and this was no different. The right director, producer, location, cast, it’s all about timing—and way beyond my ability to control.”

Young’s participation was sought throughout the movie-making

(left) Dark Time: Mack struggles through The Great Sadness faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

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COVER STORY

process, right through to vetting the script. “I also gave feedback during the editing stage. All of this was a wonderful and unexpected gift to me. For example, I was invited to the first day’s shoot and to pray a blessing over the entire cast and crew, which I did.

Playing God As with the novel, The Shack preserved the casting of a woman, Octavia Spencer, as God. The Alabama-born actress had already read the book before she signed on to the movie and is a person of faith.

“I learned about God before I could read and write. It’s what grounds me.”

How does one prepare to play the role of God the Father?

“I tossed and turned when I realized I would be playing the Almighty,” Spencer says.

“As actors, we bring certain elements of ourselves into the roles we play. The idea of somehow understanding then executing the omniscience and omnipresence of God was daunting, so I had to come at it from another angle. I had to truly see myself as ‘parent’ and Mack as ‘my child.’ Then, every door was somehow open to me.

I felt a deep and emotional bond to him.”

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“For me,” Young continues, “it was fascinating to watch all the streams of activity merge into crafting a single piece of work, one that has each person’s imprint. The result is a faithful adaptation, in which the story and impact have been preserved.”

Challenging Orthodoxy When The Shack appeared, the notion of a female God challenged the assumptions of many Christian readers.

“Some people felt the need to defend God,” smiles Young. “I’ve been accused of making graven images and attacking the orthodox.”

But as a self-described “missionary and preacher’s kid” himself and having attended Bible school and seminary, Young knew he was on solid ground.

“All imagery is going to be inadequate, whether male or female, and this was one way of bridging our understanding of the character and nature of God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” explains Young.

“With the Trinity, my focus was on how they related to each other, which is the key to the centrality of who God is. Relationship is at its core. And all of a sudden, that made sense to people.”

In the end, he says, “This is as good as I know how to paint the character of God. I know that I failed because He is better than I could ever write Him.”

“ Why did you let this happen? Why did you take Missy from me? You’ve never been around when I needed you.

Some ‘Papa’ you are!” MACK PHILLIPS Opening Hearts The Shack attempts to answer some of the most difficult questions in all of Christianity: If God loves us so much, why does He allow bad things to happen to us? Where is God in our pain?

These are not easy questions, and all too often, they can make it impossible for people to trust God and believe that He loves them. Like Mack, our painful pasts can become a stumbling block to faith.

When people ask how we can believe in a God who allows such pain, it can be hard to know what to say. The best thing to do is point them to the truth that will set them

free. That truth has a name: Jesus.

He bore tremendous pain on our behalf. Jesus is proof of God’s love for us.

As Christians, we can take comfort in knowing that no matter what tragedies may befall us, our stories have a happy ending.

“I want the movie to open people’s hearts in such a way that they sense the deep love of God, and that they are able to embrace some of their own great sadness in a way that will allow healing,” says Young. “I think the movie, as did the book, will give people a language to enable them to have a significant conversation about God.”

(right) Hope Ahead: Mack (Sam Worthington) with (from left), Jesus (Aviv Alush), Papa (Octavia Spencer) and Sarayu (Sumire Matsubara) faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

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FEATURE

Time for Change AT THE SALVATION ARMY, I KNOW I’M PART OF A TEAM THAT IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF CANADA.

by Cyntra Seebaransingh

B

eing on time is critical to my profession as a project administration co-ordinator.

I’m never late for meetings—except the one day when it really counted.

On my way to an interview for a job at The Salvation Army, I exited at the wrong subway stop and was half an hour late. I was flustered and felt I had totally messed up my opportunity.

But a sudden calm engulfed me as I entered the building. That, and the kind understanding of my interviewer, enabled me to land the job.

Looking back, I see that this didn’t happen by chance. It was just another step in a faith journey that shows no sign of ending.

Journey to Canada That journey began five years ago when my family and I immigrated to Canada. While we loved our home in Trinidad and Tobago, Canada offered us hope of a better, safer life for our children. Having lived in Guelph, Ont., for two years in the late 1990s, we knew Canada to be a beautiful, multicultural and tolerant country. God seemed to 22 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

pave the way for us: after acquiring our permanent residency status, my husband landed a job with his first application!

I was lonely … until I spotted something reassuringly familiar.

CYNTRA SEEBARANSINGH

Unfortunately, being new to Markham, Ont., I didn’t know a soul and I was lonely. One day, I found myself surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar shopping plaza. Then I spotted something reassuringly familiar: a Salvation Army thrift store. I gratefully entered and was greeted by the welcoming staff.

I started volunteering and was encouraged by my manager to apply for a part-time job. As a result, I became a member of a team that was a true reflection of Canada, a blend of ethnicities and cultures working for a common purpose— the success of the store.

Photo: Timothy Cheng

(left) “Little did I know when I immigrated to Canada how The Salvation Army would change my life,” says Cyntra Seebaransingh

More in Store But success is not just measured in sales and the bottom line. The Salvation Army thrift store is like a second home to the many customers who visit daily. Most are known on a first-name basis to the store employees as well as to other customers, forging bonds that extend beyond the bricks and mortar. And whether you’re snagging deals, finding treasures, or sharing stories and memories, with every purchase you make, you’re helping the less fortunate in society.

I was proud to be a part of this store but it was beneficial to me as well, expanding my support base in Markham through meeting amazing, genuine people who added friendship to my life.

I realized how blessed I was, so I promised God that I would have a more active church life in 2016.

But I never imagined when I started working at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto how that would happen.

An organization so interwoven with the work of God helped me to keep my commitment. Every Thursday, there is a chapel service that I attend regularly. My faith deepens each week and I know I am becoming a better person for it.

From volunteering and working at the thrift store to my new position at headquarters, I have spent more than half my time in Canada associated with The Salvation Army.

I love working at the Army and I see my work as a way of giving back to my adopted country.

God guided me to a new country and led me to The Salvation Army, exactly where I needed to be. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next! faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin CRISPY CHICKPEA AND MANGO CHUTNEY MASH TIME 25 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH grilled chicken or tofu

1. Cut cauliflower into florets, and peel

and chop sweet and regular potatoes.

Place in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil over high heat.

Reduce to medium and cook partially covered for 15 minutes.

2. In separate pan, fry onion and garlic in

oil over medium-high heat until soft.

Drain chickpeas and toss in corn starch and curry powder. Add to frying pan and continue to fry 5-8 minutes over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally.

Place on paper towel to drain.

3. Drain water from pot and mash potato and cauliflower with butter and milk.

4. Top with chutney and crispy chickpeas.

Garnish with cilantro (optional).

HONEY BRUSSELS SPROUTS TIME 30 min MAKES 3 servings SERVE WITH wild rice 450 g (1 lb) Brussels sprouts 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil 15 ml (1 tbsp) favourite hot sauce 30 ml (2 tbsp) honey pinch of sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 190 C (375 F).

2. Cut Brussels sprouts lengthwise.

3. Mix oil, hot sauce, honey and salt in

bowl and mix in Brussels sprouts until well coated.

4. Line baking sheet with parchment

paper and roast for 25 minutes or until golden and crispy.

24 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley/veganvirgin.ca

1 cauliflower head 3 sweet potatoes 1 russet potato 1 clove garlic, diced 125 ml (½ cup) sweet onion, diced 375 ml (1½ cups) chickpeas 7 ml (½ tbsp) mild curry powder 5 ml (1 tsp) coconut oil 30 ml (2 tbsp) corn starch 15 ml (1 tbsp) butter 30 ml (2 tbsp) milk 60 ml (¼ cup) mango chutney salt and pepper to taste cilantro garnish (optional)

Word Search The Big Bang Theory N X O A R C O X S E Z V O F H U B O B T S I C I S Y H P O R T S A S K M A N E D A S A P N B W F N T H T E H L E O N A R D B N B H V E R I U R R M M H P E H A L E Y I H U I G A T D F E X E D Z C R B D T O R N G R R E R E E N I G N E E D E W O G S T A M D R U N Y A J O T S B A S T B Q T J Y G G Y D D G N D L O R C H O D S T B A R E N A K E D L A D I E S P K N E E T I M A R Y D V R C E O O Z O W B T G E E K S H E L D O N R N G O H E A S C D S O F T K I T T Y N N B D V M I C R O B I O L O G I S T I C J E M R S W O L O W I T Z S V A K I Y R O E E L N A T S S E R T I A W M B L O K L I N G O N K C A Z O Y A O A Y R O T C A F E K A C E S E E H C F

Sudoku Puzzle

QUICK QUIZ

7

3

9

5

1

4

3

8

8 9 2 6 7

6 5 4 2 1

9 2 7 3 6

7 1 8 9 5

6 2 5 4 1 8 9

5 9 1 6 3 7 4

4 7 3 8 6 5 2

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Vitamin D; 2. The Milky Way; 3. Nunavut.

4

2

2

1

4

8

1

2

8

6

7

9

3

2

5

5

3

7

6

6

8

1

1

3

4

9

1 9

3

2

5

8

8

7

1

3

5

1

3

7

6

2

5

5

4

7

9

1

8

4

1. What vitamin is found in salmon, liver and sunlight?

2. What is the name of Earth’s galaxy?

3. What is the largest of Canada’s northern territories?

1

2

4

4

5

3

2

8

7

MICROBIOLOGIST MIT MRS WOLOWITZ NEUROSCIENTIST PASADENA PENNY RAJ ROOMMATE AGREEMENT SHELDON SOFT KITTY STAN LEE STAR TREK STRING THEORY STUART VIDEO GAMES WAITRESS WHITEBOARD ZACK

6

AMY ASTROPHYSICIST BARENAKED LADIES BAZINGA BERNADETTE BEVERLY CALTECH CHEESECAKE FACTORY COMIC BOOKS ENGINEER GEEKS HALEY HAWKING HIGGS BOSON HOWARD KLINGON LEONARD MARY

• 25

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Photo: © Ingimage.com

• inspiring true stories of hope and salvation • practical resources that will rejuvenate your spirit • uplifting articles that you can share with friends

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26 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

© www.kevinfrank.net

HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank

(416) 422-6119; circulation@can.salvationarmy.org; faithandfriends.ca/subscribe

Faith&Friends

LAUGHING MATTERS

What’s in a Name?

PLENTY, IF YOU’RE A FORGETFUL FIDDLESTICKS LIKE ME.

Illustration: Dennis Jones

by Phil Callaway

I

can’t tell you how excited I was the first time my granddaughter called me “Bumpa.” But then I

discovered that she calls everything Bumpa. She calls a tomato Bumpa.

Trees she calls Bumpa. A block of

faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

• 27

LAUGHING MATTERS

Gouda cheese is Bumpa.

But a friend’s grandchild calls him “Grumpy,” so I figure I don’t have it so bad. Bumpa is just fine.

Fiddlesticks Names. My mother once told me that she started thinking of my name months before I was born.

She wrote it on a slip of paper, tried it out on friends, whispered it to me when I was in the womb. She rocked me and sang songs to me with my name in them. When I was older, she even had “Philip” embroidered on a towel for a birthday present.

So it’s amazing that half the time when I was growing up, she had no idea who I was. She couldn’t remember my name at all. She called me by my siblings’ names: Dan, Dave, Tim and Ruth. Sometimes she called me Inky, which was our dog’s name.

28 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

I’m sure some kids would be traumatized by this. I thought it was more fun than a couch full of kittens. Sure, I went through a bit of an identity crisis there for a while when she called me “Get In Here You Know Who You Are.” For a whole week, I thought my name was Fiddlesticks.

Calvin?

My wife, Ramona, sometimes calls our children by her siblings’ names: Janice, Dennis, LaVerne, Caroline, Miriam and Cynthia. They’ve gotten used to it.

“I’m Rachael,” said my daughter once. “Say it with me, Mom. Rachael.”

“What did I call you?” asked my wife.

“You called me Rex. That was your dog when you were little.”

“I always liked Rex,” said Ramona.

Photo: Ron Nickel Photography

Faith&Friends

“That’s a lovely name.”

The more the family is extended, the worse it gets. Jeff married Raelyn. Rachael married Jordan. It’s too many R’s and J’s. We pray for them each night and often get the names mixed up. I’m thankful God is big enough to sort it all out. And I’m comforted to know that He never forgets our names.

alf the time when H I was growing up, my mother had no idea who I was.

PHIL CALLAWAY

In John 10:14 Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd who calls his sheep by name. “I am the Good Shepherd,”

He says, “I know My own and My own know Me” (English Standard Version). In Exodus 33:12, God says to Moses, “I know you by name and you have found favour with Me.” I like that.

In Isaiah 43:1, the Lord reminds the people of Israel, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine” (New King James Version). We have a Father who is intimately acquainted with all our ways. He knows our every thought. He knows what concerns us today. And He loves us. In fact, He sent His Son to prove that love to us. He loved us to death.

I never doubted that my mother loved me. But getting names right wasn’t her spiritual gift. I asked her once why she couldn’t get my name right and she said, “You’ll understand one day.” I do now. When my son was small, he had his jammies on inside out one Saturday. I called him Calvin Klein for two days.

(left) Phil Callaway is an author and

host of Laugh Again Radio. He has five grandchildren. They wear nametags. Visit Phil at laughagain.org

faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

• 29

Faith&Friends

EVERYDAY ETHICS

Slave to Fashion Behind the racks of cheap and trendy clothes at your favourite store is a $1.2 trillion global industry. Fashion moves from the catwalk to the mall at dizzying speeds, fuelled by demand for the latest trends.

The world now consumes 80 billion pieces of clothing each year. But where do our clothes come from?

Who makes them? And what’s the true cost?

*Environmental destruction* Fashion is one of the dirtiest industries in the world, second only to oil.

*Exploitation* One in six people work in the global fashion industry, a majority of them women, who work long hours for low wages.

*Child labour* Much of the supply chain requires low-skilled labour, and some taskS-such as beading and sequinsare often performed by children.

*Human lives* 1,000 people died when factory in Bangladesh in 2013. Although it isolated incident, reform have been

So what can you do?

Buy less Buy local Buy thrift Buy quality

30 • MARCH 2017 I faithandfriends.ca

Photo: © Eshma/iStock.com

More than a garment collapsed wasn’t an calls for ignored.

faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2017

• 31

No Child

Should Fail Breakfast

Last year, The Salvation Army served 154,000 meals to vulnerable children through our school feeding programs.

We want to see children focusing on their education, not on their empty stomachs.

Sadly, 1 million Canadian children face hunger every year.

Help us feed even more children this year by donating at

SalvationArmy.ca/donate

PM 40064794

For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@can.salvationarmy.org. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes.