12 minute read
faithandfriends.ca I NOVEMBER 2021
Mary’s Memories OUR ARMY AT WAR P.12
Rowing for a Cause A MAN & HIS DORY P.10
Serving Both Flags ARMY HELPS P.22
Faith&Friends
INSPIRATION FOR LIVING
faithandfriends.ca
NOVEMBER 2021
Voices of Angels
FROM KETTLE BELLS TO BROADWAY, THIS SISTER DUO’S TALENT SOARS. P.16
COVER STORY
5
FAMILY TIME
5 Bird’s Eye View
How an encounter with some finefeathered friends reminded Diane Stark not to worry.
SOMEONE CARES
8 Brooke’s Way Back
Hard work and determination helped a young man turn his life around.
COMMON GROUND
10 Row, Row, Row Your Dory …
That’s what Ron White did to raise money for a Salvation Army food bank.
FEATURES 12 Mary’s Memories
The Salvation Army was everywhere during the Second World War.
16 The Voices of Angels
From kettle bells to Broadway, this sister duo’s talent soars.
22 Serving Soldiers
Iconic Salvation Army kettles come to the aid of the Royal Canadian Legion.
24
FAITH BUILDERS
24 From Big Dream to Big Screen
American Underdog: The Kurt Warner
Story is more about family than football.
LITE STUFF
28 Eating Healthy With Erin
Sudoku, Quick Quiz.
NIFTY THRIFTY
30 An Un-bowl-ievable DIY
Add some vinyl flair to your home decor.
In Peace and War
Throughout history, The Salvation Army and the Canadian Armed Forces have had a proud and powerful partnership. Salvation Army pastors have been with the troops for almost 125 years, from the veldts of South Africa in the late 1800s to the North German Plain in the 1980s. Salvationists have served in the ranks, and Salvation Army volunteers have ministered to the needs of our soldiers, sailors and airmen.
So, though 75 years lie between them, there’s a strong theme running between “Mary’s Memories,” Jan Keats’ account of how one veteran remembered the good works that The Salvation Army had performed during the Second World War, and “Serving Soldiers,” Angela Rafuse’s article detailing how the Army helped the Canadian Legion raise funds with their iconic kettles last year.
“We have a long-standing relationship of goodwill and service,” says Major Daniel Roode, Salvation Army pastor in Pictou County, N.S. “I’m glad we could help them in their time of need.” We pray it will always be so.
With this issue, we bid adieu to senior graphic designer Brandon Laird, who was present at the birth of Faith & Friends. His artistic sensibilities have been instrumental in making our little magazine what it is, as dozens of awards can attest.
“In this next stage of my career,” Brandon says, “I will be able to connect and coach the next generation of creatives and have some space to do my own creative work.” We wish him the best of luck as he goes on to achieve his dreams.
Ken Ramstead
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 Rivonny Luchas DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Pamela Richardson, COPY EDITOR, PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR Kristin Ostensen STAFF WRITER, PROOFREADER Giselle Randall STAFF WRITER Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@salvationarmy.ca All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131
Bird’s Eye View
by Diane Stark
Illustrations: Rivonny Luchas “Mom, we’re almost out of milk,” my 16-yearold daughter, Julia, said. “Can I drive you to the grocery store?”
Julia had just gotten her learner’s permit, and she was constantly looking for reasons to practise driving.
When I replied that I thought the milk would last another day or two, she pointed out that my coffee creamer was also running low.
We were in the car in less than 10 minutes. Are You Listening? Julia drove while I looked at the store’s website ad on my phone. Suddenly she tapped the brakes and yelled, “Move out of the way!”
I looked up and saw that a flock of birds were gathered on the road.
Julia honked the horn, and the birds scattered. But when she looked in the rearview mirror, she sighed.
“They all just landed back on the road. And I even slowed down and honked. It’s so frustrating. I just
want to protect them, but they aren’t listening.”
Getting Our Attention I smiled. “Keeping birds off the road sounds a bit like raising teenagers. We parents do the best we can to teach our kids to make good decisions, but once they reach a certain
age, we can’t protect them from everything anymore. Parents can still give advice, but teenagers don’t always follow it.”
“I thought parenting got easier as kids got older,” Julia said.
“It’s easier because you and your siblings are more independent than when you were little, but it’s also harder because I worry about you guys more now than I did then.”
“It must be hard to watch us grow up and make our own choices,” Julia continued, “especially when you see us making some that could harm us in the future.”
“You’re right. It is hard. I love you guys and I want the best for you,” I said. “I often wish that you and your siblings could learn from the mistakes that Dad and I made when we were your age but, unfortunately, it rarely happens that way.”
Julia nodded. “We all have to make our own mistakes, I guess.”
“I wonder if God ever feels frustrated as He watches us navigate through life,” I said. “Like the good
Father He is, He tries to protect us from getting hurt, but sometimes, we keep making decisions that put us in danger. It’s got to be hard for Him to watch because He loves us so much.”
“Do you think He’s yelling at us, like we yell at the birds?”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t blame Him if He did. He’s got to get my attention somehow.”
“Isn’t that what the Holy Spirit is for? God’s still, small voice that guides us?” Julia said.
Pray More, Worry Less Her words stopped me short. Of course, she was right. God shouldn’t need to yell to get my attention
because as a Christian, the Holy Spirit lives inside me. God will guide me with His still, small voice. All I have to do is listen.
I looked at Julia and smiled. “I just realized that I’ve been handing out advice to you and your siblings and then worrying like crazy when you don’t follow it. I’ve been praying that you all would listen to me, but instead, I need to pray that you recognize and listen to God’s voice when He guides you.” Julia smiled back. “I think that means you can stop worrying about us, too.” As if that would ever happen! “I used to feel so powerless regarding your decisions, and that’s why I worried so much,” I said. “I’ll always worry about you, but I realize now that I was trying to parent within my own power, instead of asking God to use His power to reach you.” Over the next few months, I reminded myself that my kids were in God’s hands and His voice guided their steps. I prayed more, which helped me worry less.
After all, worrying really is for the birds.
(left) Diane Stark is a wife, mother of five and freelance writer from rural Indiana. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith.
Brooke’s Way Back
Hard work and determination helped a young man turn his life around.
by Sharifa Duncan
Terrific Trio “I met my wife, who has been the light of my life, and now I can say one of my greatest achievements is becoming a father,” Brooke says
Change is never easy. For those facing mental-health struggles and overcoming substance-use disorders, the road to recovery can have setbacks, and it can be challenging to find the strength to reach out for help.
Journey to Stability Twelve years ago, Brooke was wrestling with his new sobriety when he was hospitalized for bipolar depression and anxiety.
“I was self-medicating to exist in the world,” he remembers. “Once I took it all away, things went into chaos.”
Brooke lost his apartment, had no money saved, no job and needed somewhere to stay.
While at the hospital, Brooke’s social worker secured him a room at The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light in downtown Toronto.
“Before Harbour Light, I didn’t have any life skills, such as budgeting, cooking or saving money,” he says. “During my one year with The Salvation Army, I learned so many great habits that pushed me to succeed in all facets of my life.”
The Toronto Harbour Light offers transitional housing and a residential treatment program with a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to recovery. Brooke and his
caseworker collaborated on an individualized action plan, allowing for consistent personal growth, structure and accountability as he strived to achieve his goals. Brooke was also offered several life-skills classes, including cooking, nutrition workshops and financial literacy.
Shortly after his stay at Harbour Light, Brooke got his job back at a local restaurant and, with hard work and dedication, he earned more managerial positions. Now that life is stable, he is back in school to complete a social work program that focuses on mental health and recovery.
“Here to Help” “I met my wife, who has been the light of my life, and now I can say one of my greatest achievements is becoming a father,” Brooke says. “When I first stepped foot in Harbour Light, I never imagined I would be here.”
Brooke is moving into a threebedroom apartment and has been in recovery for 12 years with more than five years of sobriety.
“Though I relapsed, I knew where
to go and what to do to turn my life around through the values, resources and skills I learned at The Salvation Army.”
Brooke discovered a lot through his time at Harbour Light, but one of his most powerful life lessons has been making and maintaining relationships with family and friends.
“The Salvation Army took me in and treated me like family,” Brooke beams. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, who you are or what you believe—The Salvation Army is here to help without judgment.”
(left) Sharifa Duncan is a marketing/ communications specialist at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.
Row, Row, Row Your Dory …
That’s what Ron White did to raise money for a Salvation Army food bank.
by Ken Ramstead
When Ron White (above) rows his dory from Cooper’s Cove to Jimmy Gilbert’s Garden across Come By Chance Arm in Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s not just for recreation. Each time he rows, he re-enacts a 95-year-old chapter in his family’s history.
Family Tradition In 1926, while her husband was away at work, Ron’s grandmother found herself alone with her ailing fatherin-law. He passed away on August 13, and “Nan Gilbert” had to make the dark and dangerous journey alone in a dory to the nearest neighbour.
“It was said that she was pregnant at the time,” says Ron.
That voyage has become a part of Gilbert family lore.
“The story was told to us small children,” says Ron, a retired schoolteacher. “And as we grew up, the story continued to be told to me and my cousins. Everybody in the family knows about it.”
Sometime during the summer, “I take my grandchildren in my dory, and I make the same journey that my grandmother did. I tell them the story of how she did it all those years ago. It’s becoming a family tradition.”
Rowing for a Cause This past August 13, Ron rowed his dory yet again, but this time
for a different reason.
“I’ve been volunteering with The Salvation Army in Clarenville for seven years,” says Alice, Ron’s wife. A retired nurse, she helps out with the Christmas toys and hampers.
“Clarenville is a larger town and so the Salvation Army food bank there gets a lot of support,” she explains. “But I noticed that there was an increased need at The Salvation Army’s food bank at Arnold’s Cove.”
Ron had mentioned to Alice that the next dory ride he took would be for charity, so Alice said, “Well, what about the food bank?”
Ron phoned Salvation Army Majors Beverley Dart-Stokes and Anthony Stokes in Arnold’s Cove.
“I don’t know how much money I’m going to raise,” he told the Salvation Army pastors, “but whatever I do raise, I’m going to give it to the food bank.”
“Bring It On” Ron advertised his event on social media, and VOCM, a radio station that broadcasts throughout the province, interviewed him a number of times and covered the journey.
It was a foggy and damp Friday, but there was a small, enthusiastic crowd at the beach, and people from as far away as Alberta watched the livestream.
Attired in period dress, Ron made the kilometre-and-a-half round trip in calm water in 44 minutes.
“My grandmother did it in lessthan-ideal conditions, and in the dark,” he says.
Ron collected $2,300, “and there’s still money coming in,” he smiles.
“I had dreams of $300-$500 for the dory ride—anyway, that’s what my goal was,” Ron says. “So it’s been a huge success and I think the food bank is going to be quite happy when they accept the money from us.”
Best of all, there’s already been interest from people to accompany Ron in their own kayaks and boats next year.
“It’s not about just me doing it,” he smiles. “I want other people to get involved and if they can raise money for the Salvation Army food bank, bring it on!
“Whether it’s a fire in the community or a disaster around the world, when you need help, the Army is there for those in need. That means a lot to Alice and me.”
