Faith & Friends March 2021

Runaway Bunny

Army’s Safe Refuge

The Band Played On

PETER RABBIT 2 P.5 “DON’T WORRY” P.10 COVID-19 CONCERT P.26

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

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Faith on the Menu THERE’S NO BEEF WITH HOW THE BURGER’S PRIEST RESTAURANT GIVES BACK. P.16

Life Is a Highway

Between the competing demands of work, school, family and friendships, life can sometimes feel like one big highway with no exit ramp in sight.

If you feel like life is passing you by, then get out of the fast lane. STOP and evaluate what you’re doing. Is there a better way to live? LOOK around you.

Are you in a rut of your own creation?

LISTEN to your heart. Are you missing something in life?

“ God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love travelling this freeway!”

—Psalm 119:33-35 (The Message) Let God back in the driver’s seat of your life.

To learn more about God’s lessons for living, visit our website faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4

March 2021

VOLUME 24 NUMBER 3

FAITH BUILDERS 5 Runaway Bunny

Like Peter Rabbit, we have to decide who we want to be.

LAUGHING MATTERS 8 Word Power

The right one at just the right time is a work of art.

SOMEONE CARES 10 “Don’t Worry”

10 Runaway Bunny

Army’s Safe Refuge

For those experiencing homelessness, The Salvation Army offers a safe refuge.

The Band Played On

FEATURES

PETER RABBIT 2 P.5 “DON’T WORRY” P.10 COVID-19 CONCERT P.26

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Faith on the Menu THERE’S NO BEEF WITH HOW THE BURGER’S PRIEST RESTAURANT GIVES BACK. P.16

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COVER STORY

Cover photo: Courtesy of The Burger’s Priest

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Three Words

Because of them, a family was forever changed.

Faith on the Menu

There’s no beef with how The Burger’s Priest restaurant gives back.

The Frame Up

Brent Perry’s lunch bag reminds him of how far he has come, with the help of the Army.

GOD IN MY LIFE 26 And the Band Played On

Salvation Army brings joy through music during the pandemic.

LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search.

NIFTY THRIFTY 31 Spring Refresh

Five essentials to spruce up your wardrobe.

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FROM THE EDITOR

“End of Story”

B

rent Perry, one of The Salvation Army’s chief philanthropy advisors in Ontario, was chatting with Lt-Colonel Sandra Rice, then head of the Army in the central-east region of the province, about what motivates our mission.

“Obviously, we are faith-based and what we do is God’s work,” she said. “If anyone needs help, we are there. End of story.”

“That’s exactly what The Salvation Army is,” Brent says. “If you need help, they are there without question.”

Brent should know. Once helped by the Army when he needed it the most, he is now a passionate advocate for all they do.

“Any time I meet with anyone from front-line ministry units, I’m inspired,” he explains. “It’s a tough job and they work crazy hours—but they do it with love and compassion.

“I believe that people are inherently good,” he explains, “and if people realized how The Salvation Army is helping those in need every single day, they would chip in if they have the means to do so.

I’ll do anything I can do to support them and the incredible work they do.”

Brent’s story is on page 22.

The Salvation Army can’t do what they do without the generous support of people such as you, especially during COVID-19, so please give generously throughout the year.

Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, you’ll read how The Salvation Army offered a safe refuge to Ross and his best friend, Sassy, see our take on the new Peter Rabbit sequel and find out how three words forever changed three generations of a family.

Ken Ramstead 4 • MARCH 2021 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

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

Leigha Vegh 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 BUILDERS

Photos: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Faith&Friends

Runaway Bunny Like Peter Rabbit in the new movie, we have to decide who we want to be.

by Diane Stark

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eter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, in theatres next month, is a live-action and computeranimated comedy. A sequel to the 2018 movie Peter Rabbit, it picks up where the original film left off.

It tells the story of two humans, Bea (Rose Byrne, Bridesmaids) and Thomas (Domhnall Gleeson, The Revenant), who fall in love and get

married—despite the frequent chaos caused by a rabbit family that lives in Bea’s garden.

Safety or Adventure?

Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter Rabbit, based on the Beatrix Potter characters, have formed a makeshift family with Bea and Thomas.

The other bunnies are pleased with

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FAITH BUILDERS

their new family, but Peter (voiced by James Corden) struggles to fit in. He has always been a rabbit who loves mischief, and his new life isn’t exciting enough to suit him. He thinks the garden is “small potatoes,” so he leaves to find some adventure.

He ends up in the city, where he meets some shady characters. While they might not be the best influence on Peter, they enjoy his mischievous

tial taste of freedom, we might not have wanted it to end. We might have made choices that went against the values we were raised with, but we didn’t care. We wanted to be our own person and make our own decisions.

We wanted to be in control.

But all too often, that control isn’t real, at least not long-term. In the beginning, we feel powerful because we are in charge of our own lives,

Will Peter choose his family and the safety of the garden or will he decide that excitement and adventure are more important to him? nature in a way his family never did.

Peter loves the newfound freedom this exciting life provides, but when trouble arises and his family comes looking for him, Peter must decide how far he’s willing to go to discover who he really is.

Will Peter choose his family and the safety of the garden or will he decide that excitement and adventure are more important to him?

Out of Control Peter Rabbit’s runaway tale echoes many people’s real-life stories. We might have grown up in a home where we felt like we couldn’t be our true selves. When we left home for the first time and had that ini-

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but it rarely lasts. One bad choice can snowball and grow into more bad decisions, leading us into a life we didn’t plan. We might wake up one day and realize that what started out as excitement and freedom have turned into a prison we’ve built ourselves. Our own bad choices can lead us into a substance abuse problem, financial or legal problems, or an estranged relationship with our loved ones. Even our relationship with God can be negatively impacted.

Coming Home There’s a saying: “Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”

Who, Me? When trouble arises and his family comes looking for him, Peter Rabbit must decide how far he’s willing to go to discover who he really is

Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates this perfectly (see Luke 15:11-32). A father had two sons. The younger asked for his inheritance, left home and spent the money on wild living. Soon, he found himself broke and hungry. He got a job feeding pigs, and he was so hungry, he wished he could eat their food.

Then he remembered that his father’s servants had plenty to eat.

He knew he was no longer worthy to be called his son, so he decided to return home and beg his father to make him a hired servant.

But his father had been watching for him. When the man spotted his son in the distance, he ran to him and kissed him. He put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then he planned a celebration because the son he’d been waiting for had come home at last.

One Good Choice This story shows us that it’s never too late to return home. With God, there’s no such thing as too far gone. No matter what mistakes we’ve made, He will always welcome us back with open arms. God forgives runaways and celebrates their return.

Like Peter Rabbit, we must decide who we want to be. But it’s not a one-time decision. If we’ve made bad choices in the past, it’s never too late to choose a better path. Because He wants a real relationship with us, God gives us the freedom to make our own decisions. We are free to accept Him or reject Him, but again, it’s not a one-time decision.

God loves us, and no matter how many steps we’ve taken in the wrong direction, He is always only one good choice away.

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LAUGHING MATTERS

Photo: enterlinedesign/stock.Adobe.com

Word The right one at just the right time is a work of art.

I

sometimes use the wrong words in conversations. Just ask my wife. Thankfully, it’s not as bad as the husband who said, “Having one wife is called monotony.” I assume he meant “monogamy.”

When I was a kid, I told my mom a friend got exploded from school.

She was surprised. “That’s a little harsh,” she said.

Wixed-Up Merds Such mix-ups are called malapropisms, the misuse of similar-sounding words that can bring a delightfully humorous outcome.

Here are a few classic word blunders from kids. “I helped my dad in the garage. He let me hit some nails in with his hamster.” Ouch. Poor hamster. That’s not a nice way to go.

A proud niece said, “Auntie Mary will be having a baby in March because she is stagnant.”

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by Phil Callaway

Kids learn interesting things in school. Like this: “In geography, we learned that countries with a sea round them are islands and ones without a sea are incontinents.”

This is from an essay: “In wartime it was safer in the country. Children who lived in big cities had to be evaporated.”

Kids get their merds wixed up and it’s always nice to be around when it happens. “When you write a story,” said one, “you should do a daft copy first. Then you can change it round and make it sound better.” I’ve written a few daft copies myself.

This from an eight-year-old: “When you are writing, if you don’t want to use a full stop on a sentence, you can use an excitement mark instead.”

TMI Equally entertaining are children found guilty of TMI, or Too Much

Information. A little girl said, “My uncle shouts at my cousins and makes them do chores. One day they are going to be policemen and policewomen so they can put him in prison.”

Another little girl said, “I sleep in my bedroom. My brother sleeps in his bedroom. My mummy sleeps in hers and Daddy’s bedroom but Daddy sometimes sleeps on the sofa with our dog. I think this is because he growls like a dog when he is snoring in his sleep.”

An adult asked a little boy whose mother was expecting, “Do you want a boy or a girl?” The boy attempted to parrot his parents and said, “We don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl, just as long as it’s wealthy.”

Seven Words I, too, am guilty of inserting words and thoughts into conversations.

Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s belittling or demeaning. One of my prayers lately is that God would help me use words that build something noble.

Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly

spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (English Standard Version).

The right word at just the right time is a work of art. Just ask Mary. She always knew she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. Hated their teasing about her physical features. Hated being different. Hated that she could barely hear with one ear. Then she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Her teacher was kind and gracious; she smiled a lot. This was the 1950s and teachers routinely administered an annual hearing test. During that test, Mrs. Leonard whispered softy into Mary’s good ear while Mary pretended to plug her deaf ear. The teacher whispered seven words that Mary heard clearly. Words she held onto. Words that changed her life. “I wish you were my little girl.”

Apples of gold in a setting of silver are words fitly spoken.

Words such as: “Way to go.”

“Thanks for your friendship.” “You brighten a room.” “You just made my day.” “If I knew it was gonna be this good, I’d have married you in high school.”

(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

“Don’t Worry” For those experiencing homelessness, such as Ross and Sassy, The Salvation Army offers a safe refuge.

by Linda Leigh

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ow, more than ever, people are facing new financial challenges and frightening realities. The Salvation Army across Canada has seen a fivefold increase in the number of people needing support in some locations over the last year. And people listing homelessness as their reason for visits has doubled since 2019.

Temporary Refuge “I went to the front door of the Salvation Army shelter and rang the bell,” says Ross, 78. “When they answered, I wasn’t even sure what I was doing there. I had never been homeless.”

Ross had lived in the same apartment for 20 years when he was invited to move in with his sister.

A Dog’s Best Friend Ross, holding his beloved dog, Sassy, was relieved that The Salvation Army was there for them

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“I don’t know where I would be without The Salvation Army.” ROSS Both were widowed and on fixed incomes. It seemed like a good plan.

But a few months after Ross moved in, his sister had a heart attack and never recovered.

“New owners of the house raised the rent and I simply couldn’t afford it,” says Ross. “When I tried to find a place to live, landlords didn’t want to rent, fearful that people couldn’t pay their bills due to the pandemic. And rental units that were available were too expensive. I had no place to go.”

Ross found refuge in a hotel. But knew he couldn’t afford to stay for long.

A New Start “When I learned The Salvation Army in Campbell River, B.C., was pet-friendly, I was incredibly relieved,” says Ross. “Sassy was my only source of companionship and comfort at that point in my life.”

The shelter provided Ross with good food and a warm place to sleep. He was grateful for COVID-19 safety protocols that were in place and staff who truly cared about his well-being. After three months in the shelter, he moved into Kathy’s Place, the Army’s transitional housing program.

Across Canada, The Salvation

Army has an increasing number of transitional housing units that offer a safe, supportive and semi-independent environment where people can rebuild their lives and make the transition from homelessness and marginalization to stable housing and meaningful engagement with the community.

“The Army tells me, ‘Don’t worry,’ and I don’t,” says Ross. “I don’t know where I would be without them.”

Transitional Housing Across Canada, The Salvation Army has an increasing number of transitional housing units that offer a safe, supportive and semiindependent environment where people can rebuild their lives and make the transition from homelessness and marginalization to stable housing and meaningful engagement with the community.

Length of stay • Transitional housing: six months to two years (varies by province/ territory) Transitional housing programs also provide: • Job training and job search assistance • Computer access • Life-skills coaching • Health and wellness activities

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Three Words BECAUSE OF THEM, A FAMILY WAS FOREVER CHANGED.

by Wendy Mouland

Happy Siblings Wendy Mouland and her brother, Mike Mouland

W

hen people ask me what is the one thing they can give to help make the world a better place during this global crisis, I reply, “Time.”

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time to help, to lead, to reach out, to serve, to meet human needs and demonstrate our love for our neighbours. Our time is one of the most beautiful gifts we can offer. And God can use that time to transform the lives of those around us. And I

actually have a story that can speak into this.

Mission From God I’ve often heard the story of Majors Woodrow and Maxine Boyde, a young Salvation Army officer couple who were transferred to a small town with a large church.

After working hard and settling into their new church and community, the pastors were preparing to go on a short and well-deserved holiday.

with other pressing ministry demands on their time, and the visit slipped their minds.

As they were pulling their car out of the driveway to leave for their longanticipated vacation, God whispered a reminder of the promise they’d made to go see their local leader’s daughter. They knew they had to make the time to do what they had promised. So the young couple pulled back into the driveway. Major Woodrow stayed with their children

As the pastor left the house and retreated home to her family, she felt defeated and wondered why God had ever sent them to that church and community.

They were approached by their corps sergeant-major, the chief lay leader in any Salvation Army church who assists the pastors.

He asked if they would go and visit his daughter before they went on vacation. According to the corps sergeant-major, she was in serious trouble, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The worried father didn’t even think she’d be there when they returned from vacation.

The pastors promised to go see her but as sometimes happens, the couple found themselves sidetracked

while Major Maxine went back into their house, changed into her Salvation Army uniform and headed out on her mission.

Retreat and Defeat What Major Maxine walked into on that day was horrible.

She knocked on the door to enter a dirty, broken home where the mother, the corps sergeant-major’s daughter, was drinking, chainsmoking, and obviously high on drugs. She held a little boy who looked to be about a year old, and faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2021

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Two Lives Changed Wendy’s mother and father, Juanita and Arthur Mouland, upon the occasion of his commissioning as the corps sergeant-major in their home church in Musgrave Harbour, N.L.

next to her was a little girl who seemed to be about three. The girl was dressed in a dirty blue bathing suit and she looked like she’d been wearing it for days.

At that moment, the woman’s husband returned home. Extremely embarrassed that the Salvation Army pastor had walked in uninvited into this mess, he wasn’t friendly or welcoming to her.

The young pastor spent a few moments taking it all in, the mother high on drugs and alcohol, the dishevelled children, the surly father.

Totally overwhelmed and at a loss as to what she could possibly do or say, Major Maxine could only think of three words.

“God loves you,” she said.

As the pastor left the house and retreated home to her family, she felt defeated and wondered why God had ever sent them to that church and community.

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Changed and Transformed When Major Maxine and her family returned from their vacation, the last thing she expected to see was the mother and father and their two children at the Sunday night service.

But there they were.

And as the congregation started singing Amazing Grace, that broken couple walked to the mercy seat, that simple wooden bench at the front of the church where sinners and saints confess their sins. There, they made the decision to follow Jesus and to become Christians, and they promised they would serve God for the rest of their days.

The two were instantly transformed by the power of God’s Spirit, and from that moment on, they were set free from their addictions. They went on to live a life that was spiritually rich, full and free.

Time Well Spent The little boy and girl grew up knowing God. Like their parents, they started attending The Salvation Army. The children became involved in the church band and the youth programs, and they both became official members of the organization.

Today, the son is married with an amazing wife and two beautiful children, and they all attend The Salvation Army, giving of their time and resources to impact the world.

And I am the little girl in the dirty blue bathing suit. I grew up to become a Salvation Army pastor sharing my story.

Through the haze of alcohol and drugs, my mother heard a Salvation Army officer tell her that she was loved and valued. She heard three words—“God loves you”—three words used by God to change three generations of my family.

I have no idea where I’d be today if that Salvation Army officer hadn’t told my mother that God loved her.

Major Maxine sacrificed time from her vacation to step into a broken home, to minister to a family who many in the community had written

off as hopeless. That officer could never have known the impact she would make as she stepped into that house.

But because she did, three generations of a family were changed forever.

Happy Soldiers Mike with his wife, Ashley, and their two children, Isabella and Alex. The entire family are official members of The Salvation Army

(left) Major Wendy Mouland is the corps officer at Southlands Community Church in Winnipeg. faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2021

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Faith on the Menu THERE’S NO BEEF WITH HOW THE BURGER’S PRIEST RESTAURANT GIVES BACK.

by Ken Ramstead

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COVER STORY

The Vatican Two grilled cheese sandwiches (made from buns) and two cheeseburgers

WALK INTO ANY BURGER’S PRIEST

Photos: Courtesy of The Burger’s Priest

location and you’ll realize you’re not in some generic fast-food joint.

There are biblical quotes on the walls, and the hamburgers have names such as High Priest, Fiery Furnace, Noah’s Ark, Tower of Babel and Judgement Day. But the quotes and names are not just for decoration or to impress.

“Our entire business is built around Acts 20:35: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ That Scripture captures it all,” says Alex Rechichi, CEO of Extreme Foods, of which The Burger’s Priest is a chain.

“It’s not just about faith; it’s about doing what’s right, and the restaurant’s philosophy is built on that.”

Birth of a Burger The first Burger’s Priest opened its doors in Toronto’s Beaches area in June 2010.

It was founded by Shant Mardirosian, a seminary student who had attended Tyndale University in Toronto.

Born and raised in California with a background in the food industry, he put his plans for the priesthood on hold and decided to try his hand at launching an eatery based on the classic old-fashioned burger he

knew and loved as a child.

The Burger’s Priest soon developed a devoted following and attracted the attention of Alex, who owns almost 300 restaurants in Canada and the United States.

“I remember friends telling me, ‘You have to go check out this Burger’s Priest place.’ And I’d always reply, ‘I have an issue with burgers.

They’re not really something I’m crazy about.’ ” Alex was finally persuaded to try it out.

“I took a bite into a burger, looked at my partner and said, ‘Oh, my goodness. This is unbelievable.’ ” Alex met Shant, then opening up his third Burger’s Priest, and the two joined forces. When Shant exited the business, Alex became sole owner, and the nine locations have grown to 25, in Toronto, Ottawa and Edmonton, and there are plans to start spreading across the country in the next couple of years.

Giving Back A person of faith himself, whose children attend Christian college, Alex’s plan “was to always continue the culture, soul and mindset that the brand was founded upon” under his watch.

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depth of biblical knowledge, but we had a lot of conversations on faith and religion over the years,” Alex says. “One of the things I learned from Shant is how the organization has always given back. He was very in touch with that, and in tune with giving back to different causes he believed in. That’s exactly what we’ve continued to do with The Burger’s Priest.”

This was never truer than the steps The Burger’s Priest took during COVID-19.

Paying It Forward The Burger’s Priest was not immune from the damage wrought by the pandemic’s restrictions on the restaurant industry.

“Our primary focus last year was to get our restaurants reopened,” says Alex. “It’s important for people to put food on their tables and to work.”

To that end, the restaurant started the Have Faith campaign. The First Ten Burger was created to celebrate a decade in operation. Billed as the “ultimate COVID comfort food,” this classic maple-dipped bacon cheeseburger was served between two full soft-baked doughnuts, grilled with butter and topped with 18 • MARCH 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

Burger Boss “Our entire business is built around Acts 20:35: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’ “ says Alex Rechichi, CEO of Extreme Foods, of which The Burger’s Priest is a chain

a dusting of icing sugar. Proceeds from that and other burger sales and branded merchandise went toward The Full Plate, a Toronto non-profit charity that supports displaced hospitality and restaurant workers.

“We’ve been able to adapt,” says Alex, “but there are a lot of restaurants and small businesses that are finding it challenging.”

The Burger’s Priest also held a “giveaway giveaway” with a $10,000 prize. The winner submitted a video or essay nominating a deserving person, small business or charity that they would give the money to.

And the person who submitted the winning entry would get free hamburgers for a year!

“We created this contest as a way

Order Up! (left) A scene from the launch of a Burger’s Priest in London, Ont.

To Go (above) Catering options for work or play are a specialty of The Burger’s Priest Welcome! (right) A Toronto storefront faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2021

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“ We created this contest as a way to pay it forward. What better way to celebrate than to give?” ALEX RECHICHI to pay it forward,” says Alex. “It’s about giving back. What better way to celebrate than to give?”

The Way We Were A similar initiative was adopted within the chain itself, where the staff have been asked to identify co-workers who have impacted their lives in a positive way.

“It’s unbelievable,” smiles Alex.

“I’ve been reading the submissions and I have been wowed by what their co-workers are saying about the nominees.

“I’m proud of the connections we have with our guests, but it’s those connections we make with our front-line staff and fellow employees

that’s truly wonderful. It’s a reflection on everyone, including my family, my colleagues and the rest of the team.”

Alex has been in the restaurant business since he was 21.

“It’s in my veins. I’m passionate about it, but the best part of it is truly the people.

“Like everybody else, I want everyone to stay safe, that’s the number one priority,” concludes Alex, “but I can’t wait for the day when we can interact with people the way we used to.”

Time to Eat (left) A typical scene at a Burger’s Priest in Edmonton. “I can’t wait for the day when we can interact with people the way we used to,” says Alex The Pope (right) A panko-crusted, cheesestuffed portobello cap sandwiched between two American cheddartopped beef patties in a non-sesameseed bun faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2021

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FEATURE

Photo: serikbaib/stock.Adobe.com

The Frame Up

MY LUNCH BAG REMINDS ME OF HOW FAR I HAVE COME, WITH THE HELP OF THE SALVATION ARMY.

by Brent Perry

I

remember the date well: June 30, 2006. I had not washed or bathed in weeks, and I was passed out in Toronto’s Moss Park, right across from The Salvation Army’s Maxwell Meighen Centre, a multi-care facility where I was a resident.

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But unlike other benders, when I came to that morning, the first thing I saw was a lunch bag in front of me. The bag had a message written on it in crayon: “Xavier loves you.” And there was a happy face drawn on it.

I’d lost my children, I’d lost my family, I’d lost all my material possessions. BRENT PERRY

I never had any way of ever finding out, but I’ve always assumed that a child had walked by, either on a school trip or with his or her parents, saw me and took pity on me by leaving me their lunch.

At that moment, I saw myself through that child’s eyes. What happened? I thought. How did I get here?

Losing Yourself Where I was at that point was a million miles away and a thousand years beyond the life I had known.

I had graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., with an MBA. I moved from Kingston to Toronto, intent on a career in corporate finance.

I was married at the time and a father of a boy, but he sadly passed away from congenital heart disease.

That was a difficult time but my wife and I had two more children before we divorced.

Determined to make a fresh start, I moved to the United States and started working for Goldman Sachs in New York and London, England. I

became addicted to the lifestyle, but I also became addicted to alcohol and cocaine.

I ended up back in Toronto. I’d lost my children, I’d lost my family, I’d lost all my material possessions.

But the worst thing was that I’d lost myself.

“Are You Ready?”

Looking at that lunch bag, realizing how I must have looked to that child, made me realize I needed help.

I crossed the street and returned to the Maxwell Meighen Centre.

My support worker took one look at me and knew something had changed.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“I’m going to walk with you down the street to St. Michael’s Hospital.”

She brought me right to the emergency department because I was in very rough shape. From there, I went into detox, which was very desperately needed, and after that I went into treatment. And I got clean, for the first time in a long time. faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2021

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FEATURE

Choosing God But now what? I had nothing, and I had nowhere to go. The hospital was trying to get me into a safe facility but in the meantime, I had nowhere to go.

I returned to Maxwell Meighen, where I was placed in the protective services unit. There, I could stay clean, safe and sober. Without The Salvation Army, I probably would have relapsed and I seriously doubt I would be here today.

The Army found a place for me at Transition House, a short-term supportive residence in Toronto for men with addiction challenges who want to make a positive change in their lives. The Salvation Army gave me a subway token to get there. Every single thing I owned was in a garbage bag, and I can remember to this day walking up the steps to go to Transition House.

Fast forward to today. I’ve been clean and sober for more than 14 years and I am a firm believer in the 12-Step program, which requires a belief in a higher power.

As for me, I choose God. Full Circle For the last decade, I have been on the board of directors of Transition House, the place that took me in.

I have spent a considerable period of time trying to mend my relationships with those that I had harmed.

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My philosophy has been I needed to make amends for everything I had done in my past. I cannot control the outcome. Some people will accept that and some won’t, but that’s fine.

All I can do is clean up my side of the street.

I started over from scratch and created my own consulting company. It took some time but I got my business up and running and made it into a success.

Along the way—and this is the biggest blessing of all—I established an excellent relationship with both of my sons, now grown. I have a granddaughter now, who apparently finds me quite entertaining on FaceTime.

I also fell in love and I’m now engaged. It was my fiancée who called me up one evening and told me that The Salvation Army was looking for a senior philanthropy advisor in Ontario.

I applied, but during the job interview, I never once mentioned my past or how The Salvation Army had helped get me back on my feet.

I wanted to get the job based upon my merits and abilities. After I was hired, however, I shared my past with my boss.

Life for me has come full circle.

A Life Changed I still have that lunch bag, by the

A Changed Life “Without The Salvation Army, I probably would have relapsed and I seriously doubt I would be here today,” says Brent Perry

way. I have no idea how I was able to keep it but it was in the green garbage bag that had all my earthly possessions.

It’s in a hideously ugly frame that I found while I was at Transition House. I was walking down the street. It was garbage day, and somebody had thrown it away, not surprisingly, but I retrieved it and framed the lunch bag. I know that I could reframe it but there are too

many memories associated with it for me.

Looking at it reminds me of that long-ago day when my life changed, thanks to the good people at The Salvation Army.

Things have come a long way from my days as an international financier, but I have no regrets. I love the Army. I absolutely believe in the incredible work that they do—what we do. faithandfriends.ca I MARCH 2021

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GOD IN MY LIFE

Photo: Tim/stock.Adobe.com

Faith&Friends

And the Band Played On Salvation Army brings joy through music during the pandemic.

by Caroline Franks

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his past year, The Salvation Army’s Rideau Heights church band in Kingston, Ont., was interested in playing outside longterm care homes in the area to bring joy to residents. Because of the pandemic, however, they were unable to enter any of the homes for several months.

But on a Sunday last October, the brass band received permission to perform—socially distancing themselves, of course—outside Kingsdale Chateau, a retirement home in Kingston, and played some of the residents’ favourite songs. This is where Ineta Skepple, a longtime member of The Salvation Army, lived.

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Faithful Presence “Our band played at five different spots outside the building, so residents could see and hear us from their rooms,” says Lieutenant Thomas Marsh, Rideau Heights’ co-pastor.

“They were extremely grateful, many singing from inside their rooms.”

The Salvation Army band particularly enjoyed the concert, as it had been seven long months since they had performed together.

“The last spot we played was outside Ineta Skepple’s room,” Lieutenant Thomas says. “Years ago, she led our church’s community care ministries, a visitation program that provides the opportunity for Salva-

“Ineta’s frail hands clapped louder than our band. It was as if she was praising her God, in her own way, for God’s faithfulness through the years.” LIEUTENANT THOMAS MARSH tion Army pastors and volunteers to minister to people with special needs, physical impairments and the older adult community. Over the years, she ushered many into the church— including one of our band members who became involved because of Ineta. She was a faithful volunteer, and she also conducted many Bible studies.”

God’s Timing Outside Ineta’s room, the band played O Boundless Salvation, a hymn composed by the co-founder of The Salvation Army, General William Booth. During the song, she raised herself from her walker-seat, and clapped and cheered to God. “As we got to the part in the song where we played, ‘And now, hallelujah! The rest of my days, shall gladly be spent in promoting His praise who opened His bosom to pour out this sea of boundless salvation for you and for me,’ it brought tears to many, as Ineta’s frail hands clapped louder than our band,” continues Lieutenant Thomas. “It was as if she was praising her God, in her own way, for God’s faithfulness through the years.

“It was a moment that I find difficult to explain with words, as the moment was holy and transcendent.”

Six days after the band’s performance, Ineta passed away.

“I received a text from the program director and the bandmaster both expressing their gratitude and how God’s timing is perfect,” says Lieutenant Thomas. “I am always surprised by the truth that God takes our plans and uses them for bigger things. I love when that happens. I am humbled by these moments and extremely grateful to bear witness to the timing of God.”

Ineta Skepple

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley

TIME 35 min MAKES 5 servings SERVE WITH chicken or fish

1.5 L (6 cups) reducedsodium vegetable broth 45 ml (3 tbsp) butter 1 garlic clove 375 ml (1½ cups) Arborio rice 250 ml (1 cup) cremini mushrooms black pepper (garnish) 30 ml (2 tbsp) fresh Italian parsley (garnish) 60 ml (¼ cup) freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. In saucepan, heat broth over medium heat and reduce to simmer.

2. In large deep skillet or pot, cook 30 ml (2 tbsp) of butter and garlic clove for 2 minutes on medium heat. Add rice and stir constantly until rice is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

3. Add 125 ml (½ cup) of broth from saucepan and cook until absorbed, stirring frequently so that it does not stick to the pan. Continue to add broth 125 ml (½ cup) at a time, each time allowing it to be fully absorbed into the rice grains prior to adding more. This will take about 20 minutes.

4. Stir in mushrooms and remaining butter and allow mushrooms to soften.

5. Garnish with pepper and fresh Italian parsley. Add Parmesan cheese to taste (optional).

LOADED EGG SALAD TIME 25 min MAKES 2 servings SERVE WITH fresh rye bread

4 eggs 30 ml (2 tbsp) mayonnaise 7 ml (½ tbsp) Dijon mustard 15 ml (1 tbsp) chives, diced pinch of salt and pepper pinch of paprika 60 ml (¼ cup) red pepper, diced 60 ml (¼ cup) celery, diced

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1. Cover eggs in pot so that at least 25 mm (1 in.) of cold water is covering them. Bring to boil. Once boiling, remove from heat, cover and allow to sit for 12 minutes. Remove from pot and allow to cool.

2. Peel eggs and mash together.

Add remaining ingredients.

3. Add paprika to garnish.

Open Mouth ...

... INSERT FOOT P.5

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FEBRUARY 2021

In This Together

PLANNING A WEDDING IN A PANDEMIC. P.16

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Sudoku Puzzle

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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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QUICK QUIZ 1. In what city was Canadian Alex Trebek, longtime host of Jeopardy, born?

2. Are bell peppers, and all peppers, fruit or vegetables?

3. How many member states make up the United Nations?

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© www.kevinfrank.net

HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank

Answers on next page.

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Word Search The World of Woodworking S O F T W O O D Z E G T A B V T A F J J A E X Q T J M G Z T E N O N K R G P S C A B R I O L E L E G U O G I L A C Y M T T A B L E S A W H R C P G C I L B C H I S E L C B O B P A F J P A E K P B E S P O K E S H A V E F M V B C L D J R U H H N O M J Q N X E X U I A O Z N B T U C S S O R C L P H P T N V T R A O S H C W I Q E O U B C S E E O L R L A G K X N J D Q L U G H R T T E C I N R O C T D A N Q L N S C A I M L P D I D E E O R I X L I U S I U K A R E N T S R O F A G N D P U L C G M K R D U I U W K B K O L L E I S M P C E E Y T J D I B S S U W H S I N R A V R E R B R L I L E O S R E B M U L B R Z O E A P K E D M F D I C H F E R E F M A H C APRON BAR CLAMP BENCH GRINDER BEVEL BISCUIT BULLNOSE CABINETMAKER CABRIOLE LEG CHAMFER CHISEL CORNICE COUNTERSINK

CROSSCUT DOVETAIL DOWEL FASCIA FEATHERBOARD FORSTNER GOUGE HARDWOOD JOINTER LATHE LUMBER MORTISE

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MOULDING PILOT HOLE PLANER PUSH STICK RIP FENCE ROUTER SANDER SOFTWOOD SPOKESHAVE TABLE SAW TENON VARNISH

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Sudbury, Ont.; 2. fruit; 3. 193.

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Faith&Friends

NIFTY THRIFTY

Spring Refresh Five essentials to spruce up your wardrobe. * All items pictured are from a Salvation Army thrift store

S

pring is a wonderful time to shed your winter layers and finally show off the style underneath. But what if your wardrobe is feeling drab and uninspired? Head to your local Salvation Army thrift store to find affordable wardrobe essentials. Here are a few items you can shop for to elevate your look this spring: Sweater Perfect for warmer weather and layering under lighter jackets. Shop for a longer style to transition through spring.

Shoes A simple outfit can look stunning with the right shoe or low boot. Find a design to match your current wardrobe.

Jacket Look for one with a pop of colour or pattern to add some fun to your spring wardrobe.

Purse Something fashionable but practical is always a good idea. Leather is great to look for when buying a bag; it will last longer and be more durable.

Accessories Spring calls for a fashionable beret or an oversized necklace.

There are so many nice accessories that can be found in-store.

Adding a few key pieces into your wardrobe can make all the difference. Find all of these spring essentials without breaking your budget by shopping at your local Salvation Army thrift store.*

(left) Tijana McAllister is the frugalista behind A Plentiful Life, a lifestyle blog that shows readers how to live their best life on a budget. 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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