Faith & Friends January 2018

Church to Catwalk

A MODEL LIFE P.12

Jonathan Butler

ALL THAT JAZZ P.22

NBA’s Chris Paul

THE ROCKETS’ MAN 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

JANUARY 2018

The True Top Chef THE SALVATION ARMY’S ALVIN CHONG SERVES MORE THAN MEALS P.16

“ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

— Revelation 21:4 (New King James Version)

As a new year dawns, instead of making the usual resolutions, why not just look at the new year as children do—with anticipation, joy and hope. Anticipation that this will be a better year than the last, joy in the blessings you have now and hope in a life filled with God’s love, with the promise of a life everlasting.

Children see the world for what it is and not what it isn’t. Seeing the world with a child’s optimism and love might accomplish more than a hundred resolutions.

To read more about God’s hope, mail the coupon on page 30, email us at faithandfriends@can.salvationarmy.org or visit your local Salvation Army church.

Photo: Used with permission. © Brian Klassen, compassiongallery.com

Eyes of Hope

January 2018

VOLUME 21 NUMBER 1

8 SOMEONE CARES 5 After the Storm

When hurricane Harvey ravaged the U.S. Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army was there to help.

IN CONVERSATION 8 The Rockets’ Man

The NBA’s Chris Paul is a small point guard with a big heart.

FEATURES

12

COVER STORY

16 22

A Model Person

Marlies Smedinga is as comfortable wearing the latest in haute couture as she is in her Salvation Army uniform.

The True Top Chef

The Salvation Army’s Alvin Chong serves more than meals.

All That Jazz

Gospel musician Jonathan Butler sings God’s praises around the world.

FAITH BUILDERS 26 Watch the Fur Fly!

In Paddington 2, it takes a bear to catch a thief.

LITE STUFF Cover photo: Kim Stallknecht

28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Word Search, Sudoku, Quick Quiz.

REFASHIONISTA RULES 31 New Year, New You

12

Start 2018 off the eco-friendly way!

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Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Behind the Scenes

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’d been aware of Alvin Chong for years before he made the cover of this month’s Faith & Friends. His accomplishments had been referenced so often in my correspondence dealing with The Salvation Army’s Belkin House, a transitional housing facility located in Vancouver, that I knew he needed to see his way eventually into the pages of the magazine. So when writer Joyce Starr Macias profiled Paul Wessel, a graduate of Belkin, in the June 2017 issue of the magazine, I suggested she follow it up with an article on the man behind the scenes.

I’m glad she did. As you will see, Alvin is a compassionate Christian whose actions speak louder than words. He may not take centre stage but what he does in the background speaks volumes. He represents all that is good about The Salvation Army in action, and we’re pleased to give him his long-overdue time in the spotlight.

Joyce’s profile is complemented by photographer Kim Stallknecht’s arresting images. The combination is a compelling portrait of a quiet mover and shaker.

Read all about this caring cook on page 16.

Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, we spotlight Marlies Smedinga, a young cornetplaying member of The Salvation Army from Holland who is making her mark on the fashion runways of Europe and Australia. We also feature Chris Paul, the talented NBA guard who makes his presence felt on and off the court. And we look at Jonathan Butler, the gospel musician from South Africa who does not shy away from singing of his love for God to packed audiences around the world.

Ken Ramstead 4 • JANUARY 2018 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 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

SOMEONE CARES

After the Storm When hurricane Harvey ravaged the U.S. Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army was there to help.

by Janice Keats

Three to Texas: Canadian EDS workers Louise Armstrong, Dean Hastings and Janice Keats pose next to their vehicle in Corpus Christi, Texas

L

eaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake in the Caribbean, hurricane Harvey made landfall on the American Gulf Coast last August 25 and rolled through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. More than 200,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 77 lives were lost.

At the request of the American Salvation Army, Canadian Salvation Army emergency disaster services

(EDS) personnel were deployed to the area, including myself.

Offering Hope With less than 48 hours’ notice, I was on my way to Corpus Christi, Texas, with the rest of my EDS team.

Upon arrival, we were briefed and assigned a canteen truck, and we made our way to our designated location. Door to door, we trekked through neighbourhoods delivering food and making sure everyone

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SOMEONE CARES

One would think there’d be no time for conversation but, amazingly, there was always time for gratitude. had a meal.

One of the many surprises was the food we served. When I first noticed Louisiana hot sauce packets on the truck, I almost removed it thinking, Why would they need that as a food staple? But as each day passed and the food choices got hotter and hotter—chicken fajitas and beans, beef brisket, chili dogs and even spicy potato chips—I reminded myself, Oh yes, I’m in Texas!

We spent several days in Bayside, one of the communities worst hit by the storm, where we served up to 900 residents a day. Many of the folks came out to greet us to accept meals, and they would engage in warm chit-chat, even though the debris of broken trees and metal roofing from damaged homes were all around their yards and walkways.

One would think there’d be no time for conversation but, amazingly, there was always time for gratitude. I can’t count how many times I heard, “We appreciate y’all,” “Thanks for all that you are doing” and “Y’all do a great work!” As brief as it was, we felt we were making a difference by offering hope.

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A Smile and a Wave We were recognized in public places, too. Even at local restaurants, warm remarks of gratitude flowed from the patrons as they passed by.

Each time we approached a new community, we gasped at the damaged homes and businesses. The debris along some roadsides was bulldozed into enormous piles of wood, roofing, appliances, furniture and even mattresses. Hundreds of families would have to rebuild.

In the midst of the suffering, I was amazed how grateful and resilient the people were. “Texans are like that!” said one woman who was living in her vacation trailer after her house was completely destroyed.

One elderly woman told me that she used to be active in sports when she was younger but was feeling disheartened now. I shared a story about a hundred-year-old woman who entered a marathon and won a gold medal. (I didn’t dare tell her that she was the only person in her age group who entered the race, though!)

Each day afterward when I saw that woman, she always greeted me with a smile and a wave.

(left) Hurricane Harvey’s trail of devastation

Forever Memories One of the most memorable moments was the day our team went to the local public beach in downtown Corpus Christi just to dip our feet into the water. It was a rare opportunity to break away from the hectic workload.

As we were returning to the parking lot, a woman who was about to get into her own car noticed our Salvation Army attire, leaned over and voiced wonderful comments

about the work we were doing. That turned into a heartfelt outpouring of her suffering from the effects of her loss. I offered a hug which turned into all six of us huddled together in prayer right there on the beach.

Although my days in Texas were long, hard and hot, I’d go back again in a heartbeat. Seeing how resilient these people were in the face of adversity and sharing what hope we could has provided me with memories that will stay with me forever.

(left) Janice Keats is the emergency and disaster services co-ordinator at The Salvation Army’s divisional headquarters in Halifax. She has authored three books and is actively engaged in sharing her faith story and teaching evangelism workshops based on her most recent book, A Journey to the Heart of Evangelism.

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IN CONVERSATION

The Rockets’ Man The NBA’s Chris Paul is a small point guard with a big heart.

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benefit in New York City this past September to raise money for the victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, giving $75,000 to that effort.

And as president of the NBA Players Association, he stated that their union would match donations of up to $20,000 given by any NBA player.

“Giving back has nothing to do with what you have but everything to do with what you can give by lending your time to support others,” he states.

Chris took time while relocating to Houston to answer a few questions for Faith & Friends: Describe your experience of being in both New Orleans and Houston in the aftermath of their hurricanes. What was it like to witness such horrific devastation, but also to see up close and personal the resiliency and sacrificial giving of people?

There is no way to describe the devastation that people in New Orleans felt during Katrina and now in Houston with Harvey and Irma.

Faith plays a strong role in surviving

Photo: NBAE/Getty Images

T

his past off-season, Houston and their NBA team scored huge when Chris Paul was traded to the Rockets in June.

USA Today weighed in, saying of Chris, “The Rockets added one of the greatest point guards of the generation to a system built for great point guards.”

That is true: Chris is 10th on the list of career assists leaders.

But this is also true: he is a giver not a taker, on and off the court.

Chris spent his NBA rookie year with the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, which was the year hurricane Katrina hit. That same year, he founded the Chris Paul Family Foundation to partner with various programs, including The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, to help those in need through their darkest hours.

This season, after a stint with the L.A. Clippers, Chris found himself traded to another city about to be hit by a hurricane—Houston.

Chris participated in a televised

Among his other achievements, Chris Paul has won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, was selected to nine NBA All Star teams and has two Olympic gold medals to his credit

Faith&Friends

IN CONVERSATION

Giving back has nothing to do with what you have but everything to do with what you can give by lending your time to support others. these situations, and I have seen that faith in action. My family and I have been blessed to be able to assist in the recovery of both of those cities.

But the thing that stands out most for me is seeing organizations such as The Salvation Army roll up their sleeves and get into the heart of the community to help with both tangible things as well as much-needed spiritual support. This is one of the reasons why I’m proud to be able to work with their Boys & Girls Clubs in the cities where I have lived and played.

At a Salvation Army’s Boys & Girls Club fundraising dinner a few years ago, you mentioned having to work hard at Wake Forest University because you were the smallest on the team and that, despite your success there, you had your doubts about making the NBA. What do you think is the difference between those who use tough circumstances as a cop-out and those who use them as a motivator?

It comes down to your foundation.

My parents, together with the rest of our family, raised us to know we should pursue our dreams regardless of the sacrifice. I was shorter than most guys who aspire

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to be in the NBA, but I learned to have confidence in my ability to play. Both my parents were coaches for my teams as a teenager, and I was expected to work as hard, if not harder, than other players if I wanted to be the best I could be.

Recently on Twitter, you celebrated Jada, your wife of six years. What contributes to such a happy union?

Jada and I have grown together.

We’re both from North Carolina, and we understand and believe in the power of family. We are raising our kids, Chris Jr. and Camryn, with a lot of family support. People always hear me say, “Our family rolls deep.” Members of both our families are in cities where I play regularly.

We normally host 30 to 40 family members during the holidays, so our kids know and appreciate that they can depend on family for support.

What’s the best thing about being a dad?

Watching my kids grow. I learn so much from them every day. I guess you could consider my wife and me “old school” parents who want our kids to have the same respect

Photo: The Canadian Press/Press Association/V. Flores

Off-Court: Jada and Chris arrive at a 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar party

for people that we were taught. The bond my wife and I have makes it even more rewarding to be a dad because we are on the same page regarding our kids.

Do you have a favourite Bible verse that helps you live a life of faith?

Yes, the most famous Bible verses about what love really is—1 Corinthians 13:4-7. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all

things, endures all things” (English Standard Version).

Describe one personal accomplishment, out of so many, that matters most to you.

One of my most important accomplishments is the work that our family foundation does together.

We’ve done tech labs at numerous schools and Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. My wife hosts two annual prom dress giveaways in Winston-Salem and Los Angeles.

When a young person comes up and thanks you not only for whatever the event is but also for taking time to show up, that is a memory that lasts forever.

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FEATURE

A Model Person MARLIES SMEDINGA IS AS COMFORTABLE WEARING THE LATEST IN HAUTE COUTURE AS SHE IS IN HER SALVATION ARMY UNIFORM.

Reprinted from The War Cry (Australia), July 8, 2017, and Others, June 6, 2017

by Simone Worthing

W

hen Marlies Smedinga isn’t gracing the runways of Europe or showcasing fashion trends on a photo shoot in Australia, you can find her at her local Salvation Army church in the Netherlands playing trombone in the brass band.

“I’m a real Salvationist, so when other models or people in the industry ask about my faith and about The Salvation Army, I tell them,” says the 19-year-old.

Casting Off Criticism Marlies, a senior soldier from the Leeuwarden Corps in the Netherlands, has travelled all over Europe for castings and assignments.

“I love my work,” she says. “I’ve done video campaigns, magazines

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and shows, and I love the variety of it, as well as the opportunity of meeting so many people.”

Although she has only been a part of the industry for two years, Marlies, who was discovered by talent scouts in Sweden, has had to work through some serious issues.

“Everyone always has an opinion about how you look, and they feel free to share their opinions,” she says. “It’s a hard world, and I often took their comments personally, but now I let most things go.

“I remember being really shocked at being told that I had ugly eyebrows,” she continues. “People don’t realize the impact their words can have on young girls. Now, I’m confident in who I am and what I look like, and people can take it or leave

Marlies Smedinga strikes a pose faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY 2018

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FEATURE

“ I’m confident in who I am and what I look like, and people can take it or leave it.” MARLIES SMEDINGA it. Most people, though, are nice— they see you as a real person and treat you like one.”

Opening Doors Marlies is a fifth-generation member of The Salvation Army who grew up playing cornet in the youth band, and then trombone in the senior church band. While she is away on assignment, she misses playing in the band next to her boyfriend and her 85-year-old grandmother.

It is not an understatement to say that working in the cutthroat business of international fashion is extremely challenging for the

young people involved. Like many of her workmates and friends in the modelling business, Marlies is on a spiritual journey.

“There aren’t many Christian girls in modelling,” she explains, “but a lot of the young people do think about spirituality and don’t know what is out there. They might be inspired.”

Lt-Colonel Donna Evans, an Australian Salvation Army pastor who was appointed to the Netherlands two years ago, became a good friend of Marlies.

“Marlies is beautiful inside and out,” she says. “She is open and

Marlies is as confident playing a trombone in her Salvation Army band as she is in front of a camera lens

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No matter what clothes she is wearing, Marlies’ inner beauty and her faith shine through

searching in her journey with God.” Donna and Marlies keep in touch via social media.

“We often have spiritual conversations. Marlies asked me once how she could reach others with her faith. I replied, ‘Pray and God will open up a door.’ She did this and the next day, one of the models asked her about the Bible and her faith. Marlies was so excited!”

Grounded in Faith Marlies finds that her faith gives her a foundation for living and a certain wisdom that helps steadily negotiate

the fast-paced and high-pressure world of the catwalk.

“So many people in the modelling industry want the girls to be so skinny,” she says, “and some of them don’t do that in a healthy way.

I make sure I keep myself healthy, and my family makes sure I eat well, so that’s not an issue for me. Being healthy and enjoying my work are the main things for me.”

Marlies’ dream job would be to “walk the Chanel show, or do a makeup campaign with L’Oréal,” she says. “But the most important thing though, for me, is to stay grounded in my faith and to be myself.” faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY 2018

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

The True Top Chef THE SALVATION ARMY’S ALVIN CHONG SERVES MORE THAN MEALS.

Photos: Kim Stallknecht

by Joyce Starr Macias

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“ My work here is my passion,” says Alvin Chong, here in The Salvation Army’s Belkin House kitchen

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

TELEVISION’S VERSION OF a tyrannical cook bears no resemblance to Alvin Chong’s caring leadership as head chef and foodservice manager of The Salvation Army’s Belkin House in Vancouver.

“Not every chef smokes and swears and is angry all the time,” says Alvin. But then, not every chef has the same goals he has. Alvin wants his culinary and management skills to reflect the love of Jesus.

Dishwashing Therapy That’s not always easy, given the pressures of his multi-faceted job.

His administrative tasks include managing the kitchen and overseeing staff who serve more than 100,000 meals a year to residents, paid workers and volunteers at the transitional housing facility.

Responsible for an annual budget of $250,000, Alvin’s duties also include keeping track of inventory, a task that seems monumental since his kitchen staff goes through 10,000 litres of milk, 28,000 eggs, 20,000 pieces of fruit, 15,000 slices of bacon and 2,500 heads of lettuce every year. Not to mention the countless food donations that need to be sorted and processed.

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Asked to describe an average day, Alvin presents calendar pages so full of appointments and reminders that there is hardly any white space left.

“Being food-services manager is mainly administrative but, on occasion, I will jump in to run the kitchen and even do some of the dishwashing. It’s quite therapeutic,” he says. “There’s no such thing as a typical day.”

Vision Alvin doesn’t take credit for the excellent food-services operation at Belkin House. He’s quick to say he couldn’t accomplish all that has to be done without the 11-member paid staff who run the kitchen, manage the volunteers, prepare food and serve the daily meals under his supervision.

“We all work together as a team,” he states.

Alvin refers to the staff members as “the Brady bunch,” mainly because of the diversity in their culture, personality, experience and gender. They are about evenly split between male and female, unusual in the typically male-dominated food industry.

The team manages about 12

volunteers a day, who come as individuals or in groups, and are assigned tasks in food preparation, light cleaning and serving. In the process, they gain first-hand experience.

Alvin also developed and supervises a culinary arts program that prepares recovering addicts for jobs in the food industry. Classes are kept small, usually three or four people at a time. In the past five years, 14 have

Alvin at Belkin House’s Roof Top Garden project, a Salvation Army initiative aimed at providing a way for clients, through mentoring, to learn skills such as timemanagement and accountability

successfully completed the program and graduated.

“My vision for this program is that it should be industry-standard, and that no potential employer would have to question whether a graduate faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY 2018

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COVER STORY

“ There hasn’t been a day when I’ve dreaded coming to work or wondered if The Salvation Army is the place I’m supposed to be.” ALVIN CHONG has the skills to do any kind of food service-related tasks, from fast food to fine dining.”

On the Right Path Besides his food-services responsibilities, Alvin is also part of the nine-member chaplaincy team at Belkin House, which assists with spiritual formation, personal development programs and worship services.

Team members also provide individual spiritual care, usually for Belkin House residents but sometimes for people who walk in off the street.

One such person was a former restaurant owner from Quebec who went bankrupt and ran away from it all, somehow winding up across the country in a homeless shelter in Vancouver.

“He’d been an unbeliever all his life,” says Alvin. “He knew nothing about The Salvation Army. He just wandered in to the front desk and said he needed to talk to someone.”

Alvin and others on the chaplaincy team reached out to him and offered encouragement 20 • JANUARY 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

and spiritual guidance.

“A year later, he still struggles with knowing who God is,” Alvin says, “but he has started going to a church and is on a path to spiritual healing.”

Called to Serve The hospitality industry is something that has been part of Alvin’s life for 30 years, beginning when he was only 15 years old. He went on to graduate from culinary arts school and did a practicum at a Vancouver hotel owned by Canadian Pacific, which led to apprenticeship, employment and achieving a Red Seal Chef designation.

After leaving the hotel, Alvin worked as a food consultant and food-safety instructor, started a catering company and taught cooking classes in the public school system. He fine-tuned his career by going back to college and obtaining a teaching certificate so

(right) An old friend’s phone call brought Alvin to a new place of employment: The Salvation Army

he could teach at a private college in Vancouver.

Later, during a time when he was temporarily unemployed, Alvin received a call from an old friend, a former pastor who had joined The Salvation Army.

“He told me about an open position at Belkin House that he thought I might be interested in,” Alvin recalls. “This was new territory for me as it would be my first foray into social services. I wanted to be sure God was leading me into it.”

Prayer has been an important part of Alvin’s life as far back as he can remember. Raised in a Christian home, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lisa, whom he met at church. They have been married for 18 years and have three beautiful

girls, aged 10, seven and five.

Alvin says that God’s answer to his prayer about the job offer was a reminder that he had learned all he could about the food-services industry and that he was being offered a chance to give back to the community in the city where he was born and raised. He went to work at Belkin House soon afterward. That was seven years ago.

“There hasn’t been a day when I’ve dreaded coming to work or wondered if The Salvation Army is the place I’m supposed to be,” Alvin says.

“My work here is definitely my passion, my home away from home, and I’ve never doubted the choice I made.

God called me to serve here at Belkin House, and I will faithfully do it with all my heart, mind and soul.”

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FEATURE

“ God will work His will in your life if you let him,” says Jonathan Butler

All That Jazz

GOSPEL MUSICIAN JONATHAN BUTLER SINGS GOD’S PRAISES AROUND THE WORLD.

by Christy Heitger-Ewing

F

rom New Zealand to Brazil to Africa to Japan, singersongwriter Jonathan Butler regularly hears fan testimonies that stir his soul.

“I was performing on a cruise ship and after the show, a woman and

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her husband approached me,” he recalls. “With tears streaming down his cheeks, the man told me that if I had a church anywhere near him, he would join it.”

Though the wife had never seen her husband break down emotion-

Photo: Raj Naik

Faith&Friends

ally, that day Jonathan’s music had moved him to tears.

“That’s the power of God’s work,” says Jonathan.

Enduring Tough Times Born in 1961 as the youngest of 13 children in his family in Cape Town, South Africa, Jonathan was raised in

album to make in the wake of intense heartbreak, including the attempted suicide of his bipolar son.

“He had a gun to his head. The disease was intense,” says Jonathan, who was hit with an onslaught of back-to-back suffering as he endured a house fire that left him with second-degree burns on his arms

“No one has every complained that I play too many songs about Jesus.” JONATHAN BUTLER poverty but uplifted by music.

He learned to play guitar well before he hit double digits. When times were tight and food was scarce, music fed both his soul and his body as the 10-year-old performed in villages to earn money for the family.

“Singing is all I’ve ever known since the time I popped out of the womb,” he says.

As a preteen, Jonathan landed a deal with a London-based record label, then moved to the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The multiple Grammy-nominee now resides in southern California, where he recently released Free—a difficult

and legs. He also suffered the death of his mother and two of his sisters.

“During those times, I didn’t run away from God. I ran toward Him,” he says. “Sometimes, like the story of Job in the Bible, we’ve got to go through hard times to come out refined and strong. During those tragedies, I knew God was standing right there beside me.”

Shaping a Spirit Jonathan, a year-round touring artist, performs 150 to 200 concerts annually and has sold more than 1.8 million albums worldwide. His first single, released when he was just 12 years old, was the first by a black faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY 2018

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FEATURE

artist to be played by white radio stations in racially segregated South Africa. It earned a Sarie Award, South Africa’s equivalent to the Grammy.

At the time, he didn’t comprehend the significance of the recognition.

That was due, in part, to the fact that he grew up during apartheid, when blacks were not allowed to stay in the venues where they played.

“I’m proud to be from South Africa, but growing up under an apartheid system shapes your life.

It certainly shaped mine,” notes Jonathan. “It made me a more compassionate, understanding human.

I know that whatever it is I’m going through in life will grow me for a better day.”

Giving Back To that end, Jonathan supports the Still Hope Foundation, which equips single mothers with parenting tools that will enable them to become self-sufficient leaders of their households, and the Grammy Foundation, which encourages and promotes young, aspiring musicians in schools and communities.

“I love giving back to music education,” says Jonathan, who is 24 • JANUARY 2018 I faithandfriends.ca

committed to seeing youth grow as musicians. Partnering with D’Angelico Guitars, a company that has been around since the 1800s, Jonathan visits schools around the United States, gifting instruments to students.

“Every musician hopes to one day own a D’Angelico guitar,” says Jonathan. “It’s wonderful to see the faces of these young people when they are presented with one.”

Blending Worlds So often the public wants to pigeonhole artists into a particular musical genre. Jonathan says, however, that God wants him to keep a foot planted firmly in both the secular and spiritual worlds so that he might reach a broader audience. This is why he intermingles jazz with gospel music at his concerts.

“No one has ever complained that I play too many songs about Jesus,” says Jonathan, who follows the advice he received years ago from one of his mentors.

“He told me that God had called me to be used in the house of the Lord and out in the world so I mustn’t be afraid to play at both,” Jonathan says. “He pointed out that

Photos: Dan Levin

(left) Jonathan with his daughters, Randy (left) and Jodi (middle top), and granddaughter Avia

God is not the God of confusion. He knows exactly what He’s doing and why He’s doing it.”

(above) Jonathan in concert

Stirring Souls It’s a message Jonathan has seen unfold before his eyes time and again.

He was playing in Detroit, and after a powerful show, a gentleman confided that when Jonathan sang, his wife, diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, felt God’s peace wash over her for the first time in her life.

During the concert, his wife’s pain subsided. Jonathan found out later that she was in remission.

Jonathan says such stories are proof of Christ’s enduring love.

“God will effectively work His will in your life—if you let Him.” faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY 2018

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FAITH BUILDERS

Watch the Fur Fly! In Paddington 2, in theatres this month, it takes a bear to catch a thief.

by Jeanette Levellie

Photo: Courtesy of StudioCanal

K

ick off your Wellingtons, relax and grab a marmalade sandwich while you enjoy the first family film of 2018, Paddington 2, in theatres January 12. The live action/CGI comedy is a sequel to Paddington, which has grossed nearly $270 million worldwide since its release in 2014. Similar to its predecessor, Paddington 2 promises the same endearing brand of fun, with a new adventure thrown in.

It Takes 2: Not many bears can boast two featurelength films, but Paddington can

Villains and Allies When Paddington Brown finds a unique pop-up book for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, he must embark upon a series of jobs to purchase it.

The antics begin when he hires himself out as a window washer, finally saving enough to purchase the gift.

But when thieves steal the gift, the Browns collaborate with their furry family member to catch the cul-

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prits. This leads them into a host of dangers, including breaking and entering by Mr. and Mrs. Brown and a dog-riding Paddington!

Paddington 2 sees the return of Ben Whishaw (A Hologram for the King) as the endearing klutzy bear from darkest Peru, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) as Henry Brown, Sally Hawkins (Maudie) as Mary Brown, Julie Walters (Brooklyn) as Mrs. Bird, and Peter Capaldi

Paddington is always ready to lend a helping paw to anyone in distress.

(Doctor Who) as Mr. Curry.

The villains skulking around 32 Windsor Gardens are Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins) as Phoenix Buchanan, a narcissistic actor, and Brendan Gleeson (Assassin’s Creed) as Knuckles McGinty, a baker and safecracker who surprises everyone by becoming Paddington’s ally.

A Special Legacy According to entertainment website denofgeek.com, director Paul King said of Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson’s addition and of the project in general: “It has been a complete joy to return to the world of Paddington. It was such a delight to see his first big screen adventure embraced by audiences around the world, and I couldn’t be more excited about Hugh and Brendan joining the cast to bring his next outing to life. Together, I hope we can make a film worthy of this most exceptional of bears.”

Michael Bond, the beloved creator of the Paddington books, passed away on the day before the filming of Paddington 2 wrapped up. Hugh Bonneville posted a stirring tribute to him on Instagram, saying, “It seems particularly poignant that we should learn of dear Michael Bond’s

death on the last day of shooting our second film about his unique, loveable creation. In Paddington, Michael created a character whose enthusiasm and optimism has given pleasure to millions across the generations. He leaves a special legacy: long live the bear from darkest Peru.”

Just Like Paddington Although Paddington is a British icon, he embodies the innocent childlikeness in all our best dreams of humanity the world over. He takes whatever anyone says to him at face value. He is always ready to lend a helping paw to anyone in distress. He solves his worst dilemmas with a cup of cocoa and a marmalade sandwich.

We love Paddington because we wish to be like him.

Jesus loved the guilelessness of children, too. “Jesus called the children to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’ ” (Luke 18:16). When we love with abandon, when we help others in need, when we believe the best of everyone, we make Jesus proud to have us in His kingdom.

And Paddington would be proud of us, too.

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin STRAWBERRY BREAKFAST SCONES TIME 25 min MAKES 10-12 scones SERVE WITH butter and jam

1. In bowl, mix flour, baking powder and 30 ml (2 tbsp) of sugar together until well blended.

Preheat oven to 230 C (450 F).

2. Mix butter into dry mixture with a spatula or by hand until blended. (It will have a chunky appearance.) Add milk and mix. If it appears a little dry, add an extra 15 ml (1 tbsp) of milk.

3. Lightly flour countertop. Flatten ball of dough until it is 5 mm (½ in.) thick. Using the rim of a glass or cookie cutter, make 75 mm (3 in.) circular shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Dice strawberries and arrange on top of scones. Sprinkle remaining sugar on top.

5. Bake on middle rack for 12-15 minutes.

Sudoku Puzzle

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

4 4

2

9

8

2

9 2

2 4

QUICK QUIZ 1. Who was the Greek goddess of love?

2. Who wrote Moby Dick?

3. The sugar maple is the state tree of what American state?

5

7 7

8

Answers on next page.

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6 5

5

1

4 7

7

3

3 6

3 8

8

9 5

6 3

4

Recipe photo: Erin Stanley/veganvirgin.ca

500 ml (2 cups) white allpurpose flour 20 ml (4 tsp) baking powder 45 ml (3 tbsp) sugar 75 ml (1/3 cup) salted butter 175 ml (¾ cup) whole milk 375 ml (1½ cups) strawberries

Word Search What’s Cooking?

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

5 3 2 9 7 4 6

6

9

2

7

4

3

7

1

5

4

8

6

9

8

1

2

3

5

5 1 8 9 7 2 3 6 4

4 6 2 8 3 5 1 9 7

3 9 7 4 6 1 2 5 8

2 5 9 6 8 3 4 7 1

7 3 6 2 1 4 5 8 9

8 4 1 5 9 7 6 3 2

STEAMER STOVE THERMOMETER TIMER TOASTER TONGS TUREEN UTENSILS WHISK WOK ZESTER

1

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Aphrodite; 2. Herman Melville; 3. Vermont.

KETTLE MEASURING CUP MIXER MIXING BOWL MORTAR AND PESTLE POTHOLDERS POTS AND PANS RANGE REFRIGERATOR SIFTER SINK SPATULA

8

BAKING DISH BLENDER BROILER BUTCHER KNIFE CAN OPENER COLANDER COOKBOOK COUNTER CUTTING BOARD FRYING PAN GRATER GRILL JUICER

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY 2018

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• inspiring true stories of hope and salvation • practical resources that will rejuvenate your spirit • uplifting articles that you can share with friends I want to: ❏ learn more about Jesus and how to be a Christian ❏ connect with a local Salvation Army branch ❏ ask for prayers for ❏ volunteer with The Salvation Army

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Faith&Friends

REFASHIONISTA RULES

New Year, New You Start 2018 off the eco-friendly way!

Try these sustainable lifestyle tips: 1. Reuse items you already have— instead of buying new. Why buy food storage when margarine containers can easily be washed and reused?

2. Swap meet. Do a house purge and swap things you don’t want with friends and relatives to score some new-to-you gear for free.

3. Mend and repair whenever possible—instead of tossing out.

Not only does this save you money but it also means fewer items will end up in a landfill.

4. Make do with what you already have. Before you make a purchase ask: Do I really need it? Will it be used often? Is it something I can easily pass on to someone if I decide I don’t want it anymore?

6. Refashion what you already own. It’s amazing how a quick snip or small tweak can transform those unworn pieces at the back of your closet into completely different garments.

7. Upcycle everything. So much of what we have cluttering up our houses and storage can be recreated into fantastic new items with a bit of imagination.

Each month, Sheri Pavlović will provide a new easy-does-it tutorial that’ll expand on these tips, and more. Stay tuned!

5. Visit thrift stores and shop preloved. If you absolutely need something new, get it second-hand whenever possible. New to you is still new!

(left) Sheri Pavlović is the do-it-yourself diva behind the Confessions of a Refashionista book series, channel and blog, which are full of step-by-step upcycling tutorials for everything from clothing and accessories to home décor. 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 JANUARY 2018

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PM 40064794

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