Faith & Friends October 2018

Mission Toronto

THE ARMY HELPS P.5

Thanksgiving Blessings

VOLUNTEER EFFORT P.9

Voice for the Voiceless

BOB’S STORY P.24

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

faithandfriends.ca

OCTOBER 2018

Fiddles and Family MUSICIANS NATALIE MACMASTER AND DONNELL LEAHY KEEP FAITH AT THE CENTRE OF ALL THEY DO. P.18

“ This is how much God loved the world …”

Romantic love is wonderful, as is love in general. But there are never any guarantees. People get let down, betrayed and hurt. Love can sometimes fade or die. And when this happens, it can be extremely painful.

But when it comes to God’s love for us, there really is no comparison. In giving us His only Son, for our redemption, God was giving us all we could ever need. And once we accept His great love for ourselves, we are locked into marvelous love—forever!

“ This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.”

—John 3:16 (The Message) Can we really ask for anything more?

To learn more about God’s wondrous love, email us at faithandfriends@ can.salvationarmy.org or visit your local Salvation Army church.

Beverly A. Ivany, Words of Life May-August 2018, London, England

—John 3:16

October 2018

VOLUME 21 NUMBER 10

THE BIG PICTURE 5 Coffee, Cookies and Christ

A Salvation Army youth group helps spread compassion.

SOMEONE CARES 9 Thankful to Volunteer

June Li realized that she can make a difference.

5

FAITH BUILDERS 11 Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Can a veteran make peace with the past?

FEATURES

14

COVER STORY

18

24

Cover photo: Rebekah Littlejohn

24

Acting Up

David A.R. White wanted to be an actor. His father wanted him to be an evangelist. God wanted him to be both.

Fiddles and Family

Celtic music’s power couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy keep faith at the centre of all they do.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Captain Peter Kim knew what Bob’s life on the streets was like—after all, he’d been there, too.

BEYOND BORDERS 26 Mission to Africa

A fact-finding tour opened Ruth Hobbis’ eyes to the good work The Salvation Army does worldwide.

LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Crossword Challenge.

NIFTY THRIFTY 31 Basket Bounty

Make your autumn awesome with upcycled home decor. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Mission: Home

I

n this month’s “Mission to Africa” on page 26, resource media co-ordinator Ruth Hobbis recounts her adventures on a three-week fact-finding mission with other members of The Salvation Army’s world missions department.

This wasn’t a sightseeing tour: Ruth and her boss, Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray, as well as the other members of the team put in gruelling days and nights. Their discomfort and exhaustion were more than compensated for by the knowledge that they were making a difference in the lives of the people they were helping through projects such as WASH, which focuses on providing clean water and sanitary toilets to people in Malawi.

“It’s all about loving other people,” says Ruth, “and working alongside them to make their lives safer and happier.”

Journeying overseas on a mission trip may be a viable option for many—and they are wondrous, life-changing opportunities, indeed—but you don’t need to travel halfway around the world to do good. In “Thankful to Volunteer” on page 9, June Li recounts how she spent her Thanksgiving at home helping out at a Salvation Army facility that hosts an annual supper for members of the community.

And in “Coffee, Cookies and Christ” on page 5, a youth group from a Salvation Army church spent the day handing out food, drink and compassion to people in Toronto’s inner city.

Read these stories and more in this October’s Faith & Friends.

Want to make a difference? Chances are, you don’t have to look far to find someone who needs help in your own backyard.

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 Susan McMillan TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Lt-Colonel John P. Murray 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 Email 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

THE BIG PICTURE

Coffee, Cookies and Christ In Toronto, a Salvation Army youth group helps spread compassion to those on the streets.

Photos: June Li

by June Li

Two members of the Salvation Army youth group hand out coffee and cookies

C

an you live on just $3 a day?

Would you skip a meal in order to pay your bills?

Unfortunately, those experiencing homelessness are forced to make these tough choices every day.

A New Perspective Bright and early on a Wednesday morning last fall, a youth

group from The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont., gathered together for Mission Toronto where, for the next five days, they would learn and experience the realities of homelessness on the streets of Toronto.

Organized by Nancy Harrison of Northridge, the days were filled with eye-opening experiences and

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THE BIG PICTURE

Nancy Harrison and the youth group from The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church prepare to hand out cookies around Toronto City Hall

Youth pastor Matt Delaney walks with part of the youth group around the streets of downtown Toronto

Youth volunteers pour hot coffee for a man experiencing homelessness

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A member of the youth group distributes paper cups to those wanting coffee

Matt and another youth group member carry backpacks called cambros, which can weigh as much as 23 kilograms when fully loaded with either hot coffee or cold water

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THE BIG PICTURE

“ What many people may not realize is that it takes a lot of strength to live on the streets.” NANCY HARRISON with many firsts.

Through a local church, the youth group experienced a glimpse of what it would be like to be homeless. They were provided a map of the city and tasked with objectives, such as finding a meal for $3 and a place to sleep for two nights.

Though the students were filled with optimism, they soon realized that these tasks were not as simple as they seemed.

“What many people may not realize is that it takes a lot of strength to live on the streets,” says Nancy.

“Sometimes, you have to make difficult decisions, such as which meals to skip so you won’t have to sleep on an empty stomach.”

After learning about the realities of homelessness, the students focused on giving back. Influenced by a Salvation Army church in Santa Monica, California, they brought “Coffee, Cookies and Christ.” With two canisters full of coffee and backpacks with cookies, the group walked around Toronto spreading compassion and hope to those on the streets.

Nancy explains that society’s per-

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ceptions about homelessness are often not shaped by direct experience, and to see and experience it first-hand puts everything in a different perspective.

“I’ve always struggled when I walked past homeless people. I wasn’t sure how to act, whether I should look at them or say something,” says Amber, one of those who participated. “Mission Toronto showed me that they are just people, who need to be loved like everyone else.”

An elderly man converses with some of the youths near the city centre

Faith&Friends

SOMEONE CARES

Thankful to Volunteer A day spent at a Salvation Army facility helped me realize that I can make a difference.

by June Li

Photo: Stacey Gordon

All Together June Li (right) and a group of community volunteers gather together to prepare for The Salvation Army Gateway’s annual Thanksgiving dinner

L

ast year, The Salvation Army’s Gateway facility in Toronto hosted their annual Thanksgiving dinner for members of the community. I was asked if I’d be interested in volunteering, but I had mixed emotions.

On the one hand, I was excited to provide hands-on assistance to those most vulnerable living in the community I grew up in. On the other hand, I was nervous and wor-

ried that I didn’t have the skills they were looking for. Can I do this?

Will I slow them down? Am I good enough? I asked myself.

Compassion and Care When I arrived at the shelter, I was greeted with warm smiles, and my nervousness quickly diminished. The volunteer team was asked to prepare the tables for dinner and serve meals to those attending. Having worked

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SOMEONE CARES

for The Salvation Army for more than a year, I was aware that many people across the Greater Toronto Area live in poverty and are faced with food insecurity. What I didn’t expect was how I would feel when I met people from all walks of life— seniors, young adults, mothers and grandparents. And, sadly, the reality for many people in that room was that this was the only hot, nourishing meal they would have all week.

As we began to serve Thanksgiving dinner, I overheard a conversation that warmed my heart. A volunteer nearby was serving a guest their Thanksgiving meal, but before he could do so, the guest pointed to the person seated next to him and said, “Give it to this man instead.”

The man declined, but the guest gently insisted, “You haven’t had a meal in days. Enjoy this dinner.” Even with the hardships these guests faced every day, they still had compassion and care in their hearts.

Stepping Back As the guests finished their dinner

and other new arrivals filed in for a warm meal, I saw something that surprised me. Many guests rose from their seats to help us clean up.

Walking around the room, I saw one woman clear her table. I went up to her and told her to enjoy the rest of her meal, that we’d handle the rest.

She looked at me and replied, “But I don’t mind at all! I want to help you guys!”

Reflecting on the conversations I had that day, I realized that we are all the same. We often become consumed with our day-to-day routine of the everyday hustle and bustle. But it’s important to take some time and a step back.

No matter your age, skill set, gender or race, your help can make a difference in someone’s life.

Whether it is once a week or once a month, a few hours of your time can help spread happiness to people who are vulnerable.

To learn how to be more involved in your community, visit salvationarmy.ca/volunteer/get-involved

June Li is the communications and social media relations associate at The Salvation Army’s Ontario CentralEast Divisional Headquarters.

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Faith&Friends

FAITH BUILDERS

The Next Chapter Unbroken: Path to Redemption asks, can a veteran make peace with the past?

Photos: WTA Group/Universal 1440 Entertainment

by Diane Stark

T

he 2014 movie Unbroken introduced theatregoers to the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, an American Olympic distance runner, a veteran of the Second World War and survivor of a Japanese prisoner of war camp.

After Louis’ bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, he and two other men drifted on a life raft for 47 days. One of the men died of starvation and exposure. The raft floated more than 3,000 kilometres,

Man of God Billy Graham is played by his grandson, William Graham, in Unbroken: Path to Redemption

eventually landing on the Marshall Islands, which were occupied by the Japanese. Louis and the other survivor were captured and put into a PoW camp, where they were tortured mercilessly.

For the next 2½ years, Louis suffered from disease, starvation, exposure, daily beatings and cruelty from the prison guards. He witnessed the deaths of many other Allied soldiers, convinced he would be next.

But against all odds, Louis survived the war and made it home.

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Past and Present William Graham (left) with Luke Zamperini (Louis Zamperini’s only son) on the set of Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Happy Days Ahead?

After returning from war, Louis Zamperini (Samuel Hunt) met and married Cynthia Applewhite (Merritt Patterson)

That’s where the first Unbroken movie ended—but Louis’ story was only just beginning.

Lifeline or Revenge Unbroken: Path to Redemption, in theatres now, describes the postwar life of Louis (Samuel Hunt, Chicago PD). Louis returned home to California to a hero’s welcome and, like many veterans, he intended to put the horrors of war behind him. In 1946, he married Cynthia Applewhite (Merritt Patterson, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief ) and

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began building his new life.

But Louis’ dreams were haunted by his past. Every night, his captors visited him in his sleep.

“You will never escape me,” snarls one of his dream captors. “Wherever you go, I will find you.”

Eventually, Louis turned to alcohol to numb his pain. Unable to deal with his inner demons and alcoholism, Cynthia filed for divorce and planned to take their infant daughter with her. Louis’ life was truly falling apart.

His emotional state declined

further, and he became obsessed with the idea of returning to Japan to murder the guards who’d tortured him.

In October 1949, a young evangelist named Billy Graham set up a tent in Los Angeles, and Cynthia went to hear him speak.

For the next several days, Cynthia begged Louis to attend a meeting with her. Finally, he gave in.

That night, Billy Graham asked the questions Louis himself had been wondering. “Why is God silent while good men suffer?” Graham asked the crowd. “Why doesn’t He stop the wars?”

Graham’s next words caught Louis’ attention. “Here tonight, there is a drowning man, just looking for some kind of hope for the future. But there is a lifeline. Just reach out.”

Would Louis be able to let go of his painful past and grab the lifeline Billy Graham spoke of? Or would he carry out his murderous plan for revenge?

Turning the Page Louis Zamperini passed away in 2014 at the age of 97. While Louis is most famous for his accomplishments during the first quarter of his life, the decisions he made after the war are the ones with eternal consequence.

Pain is a part of this life. None of us can escape it. Sometimes, we lose loved ones to a disease or an accident. We have no one to blame

for our pain.

But other times, such as in Louis’ case, another person’s choices bring us pain. And, like Louis, we are then faced with the choice of how to deal with our pain. We can turn to a bottle, we can seek revenge or just suffer silently while our pain consumes us.

Or we can give our pain to God and allow Him to heal it and even use it for good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Louis never imagined that God could ever use his pain for good. But could he turn the page?

No matter what we’ve been through in this life, we can turn the page on our pain. We all have a next chapter, just waiting to be written.

God is there, anxious to help us discover it, and then to live it.

Where There’s a Will …

Billy Graham’s character is played by his grandson, William Graham. Will is a preacher himself and says about his role in the movie, “I was only doing in the movie what I do in life.”

Will was extremely close to his grandfather, whom he called “Daddy Bill.” But he balks when people ask him if he’ll be the next Billy Graham.

“I just want to be the best Will Graham I can be,” he says.

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Acting Up DAVID A.R. WHITE WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR. HIS FATHER WANTED HIM TO BE AN EVANGELIST. GOD WANTED HIM TO BE BOTH.

by Diane Stark

I

t was 2000, and David A.R. White was at a crossroads, both personally and professionally.

He was acting in a Christian movie called Mercy Streets, where he played dual roles as a set of identical twins separated at birth. One was a preacher and the other was a con man, and they were switched into each other’s lives.

The irony was not lost on David. “I was making Christian movies, but I was living a very un-Christian life,” he says. “That movie was my crossroads. It was time to decide which way I was going to go. Who was I going to be?”

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Bound for L.A. David Andrew Roy White was raised in a small farming town near Dodge City, Kansas. His dad was a pastor. “I grew up going to church.

I didn’t really have a choice because every Sunday, my dad brought us to work with him,” he quips.

David spent his summers working in the wheat fields and dreaming of moving to Hollywood to become an actor. “I was too embarrassed to share my dream with anyone or even talk about it,” he recalls, “but I knew acting was a dream I had to pursue.”

However, David’s father had a non-negotiable rule: Each of his chil-

Class Acts Andrea and David A.R. White. The couple have three children

dren had to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for at least one year. “My father’s dream for me was that I would follow in his footsteps and become an evangelist,” David says, “and Moody was Step One in his plan.”

In the fall of 1988, David began his first year at Moody. He still dreamed of becoming an actor, and he still hadn’t told anyone. During that year, David realized that he just couldn’t spend his life living someone else’s dream. “I called my parents and told them I was going to finish out the year at Moody, but that I wanted to go to Los Angeles and become an actor.”

His father’s response was perfect. “As long as you serve the Lord in whatever you do, we support you,” he said. But David was about to realize that serving the Lord in Hollywood was harder than he’d thought.

Low Point At 19, David moved to Los Angeles.

Although he didn’t know anyone there, within six months, he landed a recurring role on the show Evening Shade, appearing for three seasons.

During those same three years, he guest-starred on Coach and Melrose Place, appeared in an American faithandfriends.ca faithandfriends.ca I I OCTOBER OCTOBER 2018 2018

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FEATURE

Express commercial with Jerry Seinfeld and made two Pepsi commercials with Cindy Crawford. “I refer to those as my ‘milk and honey years,’ ” David says.

But his success in Hollywood ended as abruptly as it started.

David played a joke on Burt Reynolds, the star of Evening Shade, and inadvertently offended him. He starred in one more episode of the show and then was never asked to appear again. His other television appearances, even the commercials,

Between Heaven & Hollywood is David’s inspirational journey from the wheat fields of his Mennonite home outside of Dodge City, Kansas, to the bright lights of Los Angeles

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dried up just as quickly.

“I didn’t understand why God would let that happen to me,” David says. “I was disappointed, confused and scared about what the future would bring.”

Over the next few years, David managed to get some small roles. “I thought I was just going through a dry spell and things would get better,” he says. But when he took a job dressing up as Barney the dinosaur for a little girl’s birthday party, he began to wonder why he’d gone to

David realized that God wasn’t interested in making him rich and famous.

Hollywood in the first place.

Even worse, David began to doubt that God had truly called him to a life of acting. He stopped going to church regularly and read his Bible less and less. He drank to excess and experimented with illegal drugs. “I was in my late 20s and was disappointed with my life and with God. I felt He had failed me,” he says. “It was definitely a low point for me.”

Double Duty David was depressed and felt that he lacked purpose in his life. Then, in the summer of 1998, he had a meeting that would change everything.

He met with a Christian filmmaker, who offered to mentor him in the business of film production. Finally, David had a purpose again.

He made a movie called The Moment After, which they distributed to ministries and churches. His next movie was Mercy Streets, the one where he played twin brothers who could not be more different.

“After that movie, I asked for a sign from God,” David says. “While there was no actual burning bush, God showed me that He gave me the dream of working in show business for His glory, not mine.”

David realized that God wasn’t interested in making him rich and famous. God wanted him to use his gift to share the gospel. “I made the decision to redevote my life to the Lord,” he says. “I had wandered a thousand steps away from Him, but He was following me the whole time.

All I had to do was turn around.”

David returned to church and there, he met Andrea, a beautiful woman who was completely devoted to her faith. It took him a year to convince her to go on a date with him, but it soon became clear to both of them that God meant them to be together. The couple married in 2003 and have three children.

In 2005, David became the co-founder of Pure Flix, the world’s largest Christian movie company.

In 2014, it released God’s Not Dead, which grossed $60 million in sales, and released its sequel in 2016. Pure Flix’s most recent movie, Unbroken: Path to Redemption, is in theatres now.

“It’s humbling to see what God is doing through our ministry,” David says. “My dad always wanted me to become an evangelist, but that’s not what I wanted. I wanted to be an actor. God made me both.” faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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COVER STORY

Fiddles and Family

CELTIC MUSIC’S POWER COUPLE NATALIE MACMASTER AND DONNELL LEAHY KEEP FAITH AT THE CENTRE OF ALL THEY DO.

by Kristin Ostensen

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Two Becoming One: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy were married in 2002 and released their first album together, One, in 2015

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Collaborative Effort Natalie and Donnell often write and arrange their own music.

“That makes us sound united,” she says. “It’s not just two fiddlers going; it’s arranged so that you hear the separate personalities”

WHEN WORLD-RENOWNED fiddler Natalie MacMaster picks up the phone at her home in Lakefield, Ont., there’s a gentle roar in the background—the sounds of a busy family having a typical Monday morning on the farm.

“I think Donnell’s let the lions out of their cages,” she says with a laugh.

“The kids were practising their music just a moment ago.”

Music touches every part of her family’s life, and it always has.

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and started fiddle lessons at nine, while her husband, Donnell Leahy, was fiddling at just three years old. Today, they are Celtic music’s power couple with dozens of awards, top-selling albums and accolades between them—including an Order of Canada membership for Natalie.

Not bad for a small-town girl who originally planned to become a teacher.

“I never set out to become a fiddler,” says Natalie, “but I think you have to be flexible. If you follow

“ There are decisions to be made every day, and God is involved in all of them.” NATALIE M MASTER AC

Photos: Rebekah Littlejohn

your dreams too much, you might miss out on what the Lord has planned for you.”

A Way of Life Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, N.S., Natalie’s love of fiddle music began with her parents, Alex and Minnie, who introduced her to the island’s signature Celtic style.

“We went to many local events that featured the traditional music, such as square dances and concerts, and my mother was always playing records and cassette tapes,” Natalie says. “Most of these tapes were from house parties, recorded on the spot with a home recorder, and then the tapes would circulate Cape Breton.

They were my biggest influence.”

Her first violin was a gift from a relative. “That’s what got me started and it just took off from there,” says Natalie, who released her first album, Four on the Floor, when she was 16.

Donnell had a similar experience growing up in Lakefield. “Music was a way of life,” he shares. “Mom and Dad had a band, so they would work all week on the farm, and on weekends, they’d play at weddings

and dances. I suppose I just wanted to be like them.”

As Donnell and his siblings learned to fiddle, they started playing at their parents’ gigs. “Over time, we got to be a bigger part of what Mom and Dad did,” Donnell says, “to the point where they stopped coming with us.”

In the early 1980s, the children formed a band, aptly called The Leahy Family, and started touring across Canada and internationally.

Before Donnell realized it, fiddling had become a career.

A Good Path While music was central to family life for both Natalie and Donnell, the only thing that was even more important was their Christian faith.

“My parents had charitable hearts,” says Natalie, who was raised in a Catholic home. “They were naturally giving of themselves, at any time of day, for anyone.”

Her parents’ example of faith in action included preparing meals for people in need on special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter.

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COVER STORY

them—and I always remember those things,” Natalie says.

At the same time, Natalie’s father impressed upon her the importance of attending church regularly. “So even when I was travelling, I never missed a service. I think that’s what kept me on a good path, because Lord knows there were lots of side roads I could have taken!

“And then at some point in my late teens, early 20s, I really became on fire with my own faith,” she continues. “It transitioned from me being obedient to me seeing the value in loving it and wanting to nurture it.”

As with Natalie, Donnell’s faith was deeply influenced by his family.

“Mom and Dad were full of faith and loved God, and my uncle, Father Leo Leahy, was the parish priest in Lakefield,” he says. “As a family growing up, going to church was the most important thing—and it still is for us.”

Faith First Now parents themselves, Natalie and Donnell are passing on their faith to their seven children. “It’s the base of everything we do,” says Donnell.

Natalie agrees. “There are MacMasterpiece Natalie, Donnell and their children will perform A Celtic Family Christmas across Canada in November and December. Visit natalieanddonnell.com/ tours for dates and more information

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A Canadian Treasure Throughout her career, Natalie has collaborated with many musicians, including Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin

decisions to be made every day, and God is involved in all of them.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean their life is all solemn and serious. “We want our kids to have fun,” Natalie smiles. “I believe God wants us to live a joyful life, so we’re not sitting here praying all the time, but when we pray, they never say, ‘Do we have to?’ They all seem to have their own personalized version of their faith.”

Even when they’re on the road, church attendance is a priority. “We love playing music and our whole life is based around it,” says Donnell, “but when we travel, part of our tour manager’s responsibility is to find us a mass on Saturday or Sunday. The way we see it, travelling is part of our thing, but our faith is our thing.”

Family Traditions To their children, Natalie and Donnell are not just parents but also music teachers, and the kids have been enthusiastic students. All

but the youngest—who is only six months old—have picked up the bow.

This November and December, the children will join Natalie and Donnell on stage as they tour across Canada performing A Celtic Family Christmas.

As Donnell explains, this concert represents all the joys of Christmas they experienced growing up and the traditions they continue to enjoy today.

“Rural Ontario and Cape Breton are pretty harsh in the wintertime, so music was more than something you enjoyed, it was something you needed,” he says. “You needed your neighbour to drop in, have a hot tea, and get away from the dark and the cold. The fireplaces were in the kitchen, so people would be hovering there where it was warm, and eventually a fiddle would come out. That’s what our show is—it’s a family celebrating the traditions of Christmas.” faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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FEATURE

A Voice for the Voiceless CAPTAIN PETER KIM KNEW WHAT BOB’S LIFE ON THE STREETS WAS LIKE—AFTER ALL, HE’D BEEN THERE, TOO.

by Robin Lillywhite

Team Effort Captain Peter Kim (left) and Bob. Together, they are improving the lives of vulnerable people

W

hen Captain Peter Kim first met him, Bob was drinking up to two bottles of vodka per day and was struggling with an alcohol addiction. He had just graduated from a 90-day recovery program.

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month before alcoholism took complete control of his life.

Journey Into Homelessness Their shared journey began when Captain Peter listened to Bob’s story, after which he had one question: “Bob, will you help me?”

Bob was surprised; he thought that

Voice for the Voiceless’ motto is “Nothing for us, without us.”

Captain Peter was there to help him, but the Grande Prairie, Alta., pastor shared his own experience of moving “from punk to pastor” and that he had also lived on the streets.

“He wanted to learn more about addiction and homelessness,” says Bob. “I agreed to let him join me so that he could observe what a person in my position goes through. He went with me to all of my appointments: counselling, psychiatry, housing, and so on.”

“The experience was difficult at times as I had to let Bob navigate and ask questions,” admits Captain Peter, “but I did step in when I felt his dignity was being trampled upon.”

This journey allowed Captain Peter to see what it was like to be homeless in their community and observe how someone in Bob’s position was treated.

“I experienced the prejudices and the looks some gave Bob because he was homeless,” says Captain Peter.

“There wasn’t a lot of humanity or compassion from some people.”

Asking and Listening The journey with Bob lasted from January to July of 2017, when Bob went into treatment. Captain Peter realized that there was more work to be done in how the community supports people struggling with

addiction and homelessness.

Accordingly, he started an advocacy committee called Voice for the Voiceless in September 2017 with a $20,000 grant. This committee consists of people who have experienced homelessness, rough living, single parenthood and poverty. With this unique perspective, Voice for the Voiceless takes a grassroots approach to helping vulnerable people. Their motto is “Nothing for us, without us,” meaning that while they are grateful for outside assistance, lasting solutions can only come through their input.

Captain Peter believes that this group will help improve service delivery and provide a platform for advocacy for change.

“All we have to do is ask and listen,” he says. “We need to journey with people and not just provide services or programs. Relationships are the foundation of sharing Christ’s love and enacting true transformation in people’s lives, including our own.”

Bob finished his addictions recovery program in July after a year. He keeps in touch with Captain Peter and is doing much better. Their journey together continues.

You can read Captain Peter Kim’s story, “From Punk to Pastor,” at salvationist.ca/from-punk-to-pastor. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS

Mission to Africa A fact-finding tour opened my eyes to the good work The Salvation Army does worldwide.

At Ease Ruth Hobbis (right) takes a break with local children in a Malawian village

“

W

hy me?” I asked myself when my boss, LtColonel Brenda Murray of The Salvation Army’s world missions department, asked me to join her on a three-week tour of sponsored projects in Mozambique and Malawi earlier this year.

I would gather stories for use in a promotional campaign to highlight the work of The Salvation Army, as well as assist our photographer and videographer. By departure time, I was as ready as I ever would be, but that question still nagged me.

Worldwide Reach The three weeks that followed were a

26 • OCTOBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

Photo: Joel Johnson

by Ruth Hobbis

whirlwind of activity, as we travelled across the two countries visiting Salvation Army projects in cities and remote villages. We were on the road for days at a time. For an introvert like myself, this could easily have been overwhelming, but I was too focused on my tasks to be nervous.

In those three weeks, I learned a lot about The Salvation Army and its global reach. Attending church services packed with hundreds of dancing, singing, happy people opened my eyes to the fact that the Army truly is a worldwide church.

But it was especially when we toured the project sites and talked to the people whose lives are being

transformed that the Army’s important role really hit home.

True Stories In a Malawian village, we were greeted by a singing and dancing crowd. The village is the site of the Army’s WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Project, which focuses on providing access to clean water and sanitary toilets.

We were shown a dirty stream, where the community previously gathered water for cooking, drinking and bathing. Then we were shown one of the five boreholes that The Salvation Army has drilled in the area.

Before, the community had no option but to relieve themselves in the bush, which polluted the very stream they were drinking from. This caused people to get sick, especially children, who were contracting diarrhea, the leading cause of death for children under five in Africa.

Since the boreholes and toilets were installed, cases of diarrhea have decreased dramatically.

In another rural village, we met Joyce, Thomsoni and their six children, who had participated in a Salvation Army agricultural training program.

Before the training, they struggled to make ends meet and afford the fees to

keep their children in school.

Thanks to the Army, they have expanded their farm from one plot to five, each producing more and better quality crops. Joyce and Thomsoni are now completely self-sufficient. They can feed their large family and sell what is left to pay for school fees and medical care. Their eldest daughter, Florence, took part in a Salvation Army literacy program and is helping to teach the children in the community.

These were just some of the many stories I heard over my three weeks in Africa.

Journey’s End All too soon, our fact-finding mission came to a close and we returned home to Canada. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I came away a changed person. I’m grateful for things I used to take for granted, simple things such as hot and cold running water.

But I also came away with a greater appreciation for what The Salvation Army does around the world. I tackle my daily duties with an urgency I did not have before, knowing that what we do and the funds we raise really do save lives.

“Why me?” I asked myself before the trip. Now I know.

Ruth Hobbis is the resource media co-ordinator for the world missions department.

faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin FAST FRY SIRLOIN STEAK TIME 8 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH your favourite salad

4 125 g (4 oz.) 4 mm (1/8 in.) thick sirloin steaks 5 ml (1 tsp) salt pinch of black pepper 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil 10 ml (2 tsp) fresh lime juice

1. Ensure steaks are at room temperature.

2. Rub salt and pepper on both sides of each steak.

3. Heat oil in skillet on high heat for about 5 minutes.

4. Cook each steak for 1 minute or until slightly pink still on top, then flip and cook for another minute.

5. Spoon some of the oil on top and allow to cook another 30 seconds.

6. Remove from pan and add lime juice to tenderize steak.

SPANISH QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS 250 ml (1 cup) uncooked quinoa 500 ml (2 cups) chicken or vegetable broth 5 ml (1 tsp) olive or canola oil 4 red peppers 5 ml (1 tsp) cumin powder 5 ml (1 tsp) garlic powder 2 ml (½ tsp) chili powder 2 ml (½ tsp) smoked paprika 125 ml (½ cup) olives 125 ml (½ cup) diced roma or field tomatoes 15 ml (1 tbsp) cilantro to taste Hot sauce of choice and salt (optional)

28 • OCTOBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

1. Add quinoa and stock to saucepan and bring to boil over high heat.

Once boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer approximately 15 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed, then fluff with a fork.

2. Preheat oven to 190 C (375 F) and grease baking dish with olive or canola oil.

3. Halve peppers and remove seeds, then lightly brush peppers in oil.

4. In large mixing bowl, mix quinoa with seasoning and olives.

5. Stuff peppers with mixture and cover with tin foil.

6. Bake for 30 minutes and then remove foil and broil at 205 C (400 F) for another 15 minutes.

7. Mix diced tomatoes with cilantro.

Top peppers. Add hot sauce and salt if desired.

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley/veganvirgin.ca

TIME 75 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH grilled chicken or beef

Graduation Day

STUDENTS HELP P.20

Olympian Lolo Jones

GOES FOR GOLD P.12

Army Snapshots

CARING FOR P.E.I. P.8

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

faithandfriends.ca

SEPTEMBER 2018

Back From the Brink AFTER DECADES OF ALCOHOLISM, CONRAD GINTER FOUND SALVATION AT WINNIPEG’S BOOTH CENTRE. P.16

Subscribe to Faith&Friends

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

Visit faithandfriends.ca/subscribe or call (416) 422-6119 today!

Sudoku Puzzle

7

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

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1. Forecastle and bilge are parts of what kind of vessel?

2. What is the capital of Australia?

3. Who wrote Catch-22?

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HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank

Answers on next page.

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faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Crossword Challenge 1

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ACROSS 1. Inquire of 3. Frog larva 8. Ashes to _____ 9. Finds fault 10. Decent 14. System for transmitting messages 15. Halt

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17. Wide street 19. Jaunt 20. “&” written out DOWN 2. Health resort 4. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (abbr.)

5. Tropical fruit

6. Fall behind 7. Retailer 11. Female sheep 12. Automobile 13. Past participle of “laid” 16. All This and Heaven _ _ _ 17. Calculate 18. Large vase

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. ship; 2. Canberra; 3. Joseph Heller.

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Solution: Across: 1. ask; 3. tadpole; 8. ashes; 9. nags; 10. respectable; 14. telegraphy; 15. stop; 17. avenue; 19. joyride; 20. and. Down: 2. spa; 4. ALS; 5. pineapples; 6 lag, 7. shopkeeper; 11. ewe; 12. Car; 13. lay; 16. too; 17. add; 18. urn.

30 • OCTOBER 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

Faith&Friends

NIFTY THRIFTY

Basket Bounty Make your autumn awesome with upcycled home decor.

Salvation Army thrift stores are a wonderful source of home decor items that can be refashioned or restyled, including picture frames, candle holders and baskets. A harvest-themed basket is perfect for holding napkins or cutlery in the dining room, or for displaying autumn fruits and vegetables.

Step 1 Find a basket in the size, shape and colour of your choice at your local thrift store.

Step 2 Pick up autumn embellishments, such as jute rope and artificial flowers, at the thrift store or dollar store. Jute rope gives the basket a rustic feel and it makes embedding flowers or other accents into your basket easy.

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Step 3 Wrap the basket handle(s) with the jute rope.

Step 4 Tie up the loose ends of the jute rope, then start inserting the flowers.

You may need to use pliers to trim the stems. If you prefer, you can use a hot glue gun to adhere the embellishments.

(left) Denise Corcoran (a.k.a. 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.

faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2018

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