Faith & Friends October 2021

Coffee Conversations

#OVERCOMER P.12

Roadside Assistance

Conquering Addiction

ARMY HELPS P.26 RYAN’S BRIGHT FUTURE P.22

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

faithandfriends.ca

OCTOBER 2021

Desert Ordeal

IN DUNE, A YOUNG MAN HOLDS THE FATE OF THE GALAXY IN HIS HANDS.

P.16

Giving Thanks This month, many of us will gather with friends and family for Thanksgiving. The celebration will be particularly sweet this year, as we make up for time lost during the pandemic.

Preparing a meal for loved ones is a special gift. Carefully choosing each recipe. Taking time to cook each course. Serving each dish with care. It’s a beautiful offering, born out of love.

As much as we need physical food, people can’t live on bread alone. We need spiritual food—food that nourishes our souls. Jesus once said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry” (John 6:35). Like a meal lovingly prepared, Jesus offers Himself to meet our every need.

To learn more about how God satisfies our deepest hunger, visit our website at faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4.

October 2021

VOLUME 24 NUMBER 10

10

BEYOND BORDERS

5 The Battle Against Hunger

The Salvation Army is helping to bring food security to those without.

COMMON GROUND

10 Getting to Know You

God surprised Jeanette Levellie with a compliment from an unlikely source.

FAITH BUILDERS

11 The Power of Love

It changes everything. Even little red puppies.

FEATURES Coffee Conversations

Roadside Assistance

Conquering Addiction

#OVERCOMER P.12 ARMY HELPS P.26 RYAN’S BRIGHT FUTURE P.22

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

faithandfriends.ca

OCTOBER 2021

Desert Ordeal

12

IN DUNE, A YOUNG MAN HOLDS THE FATE OF THE GALAXY IN HIS HANDS.

Coffee Conversations

Sharing hope and encouragement, one doubledouble at a time.

P.16

COVER STORY

16

22

Desert Ordeal

In Dune, a young man holds the fate of the galaxy in his hands.

From Rock Bottom to Full Circle

Thanks to The Salvation Army, Ryan kicked his addictions.

SOMEONE CARES 26 Roadside Assistance

Salvation Army serves meals to hundreds of people stranded at provincial border.

LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search

26

NIFTY THRIFTY 31 One Handy Caddy

An easy upcycling project with big fall gatherings in mind. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Ryan’s Full Circle

C

ommunications specialist Maria Silva was thrilled when Ryan’s story came across her desk.

“I wanted to tell a story of someone who had gone through one of our Salvation Army programs and now gives back their time as a volunteer,” she says. “A feel-good, full-circlemoment type of story. What surprised me the most about our phone interview was how young Ryan was and all the hardship he had already gone through in such a short time.”

When Maria finally met Ryan in person for a photo shoot to illustrate the Faith & Friends story, she was surprised at how close he was with Salvation Army staff and residents, including Chaplain Doug Schultz and recreational therapist Sarah Bartkus.

“I knew Ryan volunteered and worked alongside these individuals through his recovery,” Maria says. “Still, his comfort level and friendliness toward everyone else in the Addictions and Residential Centre showed me that he spends a lot of time with the people who helped him through that recovery. It was nice to see how comfortable he was, and how much he is cared for by everyone.

“Stories such as Ryan’s show how The Salvation Army helps those who are struggling and how they, in turn, continue to help even after the recovery stage,” Maria concludes. “These are the stories I enjoy writing.”

Ryan’s inspiring story is on page 22.

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 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

Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS

The Battle Against Hunger The Salvation Army is helping to bring food security to those without.

by Heather Matondo

Yum! A young girl from the Evangeline Booth Girls Home in Bolivia enjoys a nutritious meal

I

n 2014, I sat in Toronto’s Pearson Airport ready to embark on a journey. At the time, I was enrolled in a master of theological studies program in urban and international development and was completing my practical hours at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters (THQ) world missions department (now international development). As part of my required hours, I had the opportunity to join a food study tour to Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso with Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

During my 10 days in western Africa, my eyes were opened to the very real, everyday battle of hunger.

Day after day, I would sit with individuals and community leaders listening to their stories and their struggles. Much of our time was spent with farmers who relied solely upon the land and the crops they grew to not only provide daily food for their family but also a small income that might allow their children to attend school. For many of those individuals, the story was the same—there was never enough food.

Year-Round Struggle In 2001, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization defined food security as “a situation that exists

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Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS

Happy Day Students from Chaanga Secondary School in Zambia pose during a goat distribution ceremony

when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” This definition is in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 2, which states that by 2030, we will “end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.”

However, it is important to remember that just because someone may have food to eat every day, it is not always sufficient, safe or nutritious.

Food security goes beyond simply having something to eat. As I witnessed on my trip to Africa, too many individuals and families struggle with food insecurity year round.

Focus on Food Being hungry affects us in many ways.

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Imagine a child who must walk long distances to and from school every day, sit in class for hours on end, and all on an empty stomach. Imagine a farmer who spends hours every day in the hot sun, battling a failing crop due to lack of rain, worrying how he will provide for his family.

Seven years after that trip to Sierra Leone, I have completed my master’s degree, written a thesis on food security in Sierra Leone and currently have an appointment at THQ in the international development department.

Our department is involved in many projects around the world, and bringing food security to individuals and families is a focus for many of them: • In Zimbabwe, we are currently supporting students at two different schools. At both, there is a food program incorporated into the project to ensure the students are not attending school hungry.

For some children, the meal they

receive at school may be the only one they have all day.

• In Zambia, we started a goat program. The goats provide milk for the family and are also a source of extra income.

• In the Caribbean, we are supporting The Salvation Army Cave Valley Public School, where Santina Bembridge’s daughter, Ganeilia, attends. Santina says the school is a blessing for the community because sometimes life is hard and she cannot find lunch money. But she doesn’t have to worry because she knows that when her daughter goes to the school, they will provide a nutritious meal for her.

Worthy Goal In many parts of the world, the vast majority of the poor (approximately 75 percent) living in developing regions are mainly located in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The international development department is actively involved in several agricultural projects. In partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank, it has been supporting a three-

year conservation agriculture and food security project in Mangochi District, Malawi. There, farmers are struggling to produce enough food due to several consecutive years of drought and flood, with declining crop yields and household income as a result. Through this project, more than 400 vulnerable farmers have been receiving training and support on conservation agriculture practices.

As a result, many farmers were able to double and triple their harvests.

The project’s sustainable agriculture practices will support the farmers, not only to plant and harvest enough food for their families but also to invest in future crops, children’s education, health and family well-being.

October 16 has been designated by the UN as World Food Day. This comes just days after Thanksgiving, when many of us will sit with family and enjoy a large meal together.

Maybe this year we will not only give thanks for what we have but also reflect on the millions of people around the world who have far less than we do and challenge ourselves to help work toward the UN’s 2030 goal of ending hunger.

(left) Major Heather Matondo is the sponsorship co-ordinator for The Salvation Army’s international development department at territorial headquarters in Toronto.

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Faith&Friends

Faith&Friends

MAILBAG

COVER STORY

Finding Ezra

WHEN I PRAYED FOR “HELP” THAT MY SON AND HIS WIFE WOULD FIND A BABY TO ADOPT, I HAD NO IDEA THAT GOD WOULD TAKE ME SO LITERALLY.

by Phil Callaway

“ARE YOU CATHOLIC OR

Mormon?” people sometimes ask when they discover my wife, Ramona, and I have been blessed with 13 grandkids in five years.

“Neither. We’re exhausted,” I reply. “And very, very happy.”

Of course, no one is more spent than parents who wander about the house saying things like, “Why is it

that the people who want to go to bed have to put the people to bed who don’t want to go to bed?”

They do this with a sluggish smile, remembering in their better moments that these kids arrived with God’s fingerprints all over them, and that each has a story, some more intriguing than others.

(left) Holding On Ezra on a “walk” with his parents (right) Where’s Ezra?

Ramona and Phil Callaway with 12 of their 13 grandchildren

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I faithandfriends.ca faithandfriends.ca I JUNE 2021

O

ur June article regarding Phil Callaway’s son and daughter-in-law adopting a little boy generated interesting reader replies on both sides of the issue: The Path to Healing I am deeply disturbed and disappointed at how this article portrays the adoptive mothers, especially the story of the first mom who is living with addiction.

Furthermore, highlighting the racial differences in the story perpetuates racist narratives of white families rescuing persons of colour through adoption and the child welfare system.

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This is unspeakably problematic. We, as The Salvation Army, know better.

The Callaway family does indeed have a story of God’s faithfulness to share, but why must we demonize a woman struggling to survive and living through pain that most of us will never understand?

I am not naive. I have cared for babies withdrawing in the NICU. I have also sat with mothers who want to love and care for their children, but lack support and live with challenges that make responsible parenthood not possible.

Who is responsible for this? The suffering woman who numbs her pain

our culture has a lot of work to do to see everyone as equal in the eyes of God.—Major Lynda Wakelin Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Hot Topics With the help of her Context team, Maggie John tackles issues, such as the opioid crisis, medical assistance in dying and race

Anchoring Her Faith

—Lieutenant Jenelle Durdle

TV HOST MAGGIE JOHN IS PASSIONATE ABOUT FINDING GOD’S STORY IN THE HEADLINES.

Everyone Is Equal I disagree with Jenelle’s comments. I don’t see in this article an attempt to demonize women who find themselves in difficult situations, but, rather, a family willing to walk alongside these two women for the time they desire that support.

Suggesting that the adopting parents see themselves as saviours because of their race is surprising.

I have worked with teen mothers who have gone through periods of parenting, feeling overwhelmed and giving their children up, then maturing and wanting to care for their children again. I have also seen how hard it is on children when they are in and out of the “system,” only to have supports removed when they turn 18.

There is a lot of suffering in the world, but suggesting that a family looking to reduce some of that suffering is “problematic” because they are white (without even knowing the races of the birth mothers) tells us that

by Helena Smrcek

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I faithandfriends.ca

Photos: Moussa Faddoul

through addiction? Indeed, she has power and agency to change, but are the systems of child welfare, health care, justice and law, and the church empowering her, giving her strength to fight and heal? I suggest that God tells us we hold the greater responsibility to listen to this woman’s story, to hear her heart, to walk with her on a path to healing and wholeness.

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Positive Feedback I just wanted to personally thank you for allowing me to be the Faith & Friends cover story this past April (“Anchoring Her Faith”).

I have received so much feedback— all of it positive!

I’m not sure if you know how much this has meant to not just me but a whole community who are not used to seeing our stories told in this manner.

Thank you for seeing my work, allowing writer Helena Smrcek to pitch the story and making the decision to share it in this fashion.

—Maggie John Have a comment on any articles you have read? WRITE to us at Faith & Friends, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4H 1P4. EMAIL us at faithandfriends@ salvationarmy.ca or POST your comments at faithandfriends.ca.

faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

COMMON GROUND

Getting to Know You God surprised me with a compliment from an unlikely source.

by Jeanette Levellie

T

wo decades ago, I’d worked with Robin, a born leader—and very outspoken.

I did something ditzy one day: I called a customer by the wrong name.

Robin asked me if I needed a “Stupid” sign to wear around my neck. I was shocked and hurt by what I considered a rude comment. After that, I avoided Robin. Until recently.

Praying for Grace The church Robin attends had been without a full-time pastor for more than two years. When one of the board members heard I’d become ordained, they invited me to preach.

I was thrilled. But I was also a bit intimidated. And nervous. Would Robin approach me after the worship service and make a hurtful remark?

I decided it was worth that risk. I

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remembered how Jesus once told His disciples, “If any of you want to be My followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24 Contemporary English Version).

I decided I wanted to follow Jesus more than I wanted to avoid criticism, so I prayed for grace.

Seeing Past the Surface After the church service, I stood at the back and shook hands with everyone. I braced myself when Robin approached.

“Wow, Jeanette, that was one great message,” she said, gripping my hand and smiling all the way to her blue eyes. “I could listen to you all day!”

My heart swelled with thankfulness.

Either Robin had mellowed over the years or I’d stopped taking myself so seriously. Or both.

When Jesus allowed Robin and me to see past the surface in each other, we both discovered hidden treasures.

Because of His generous grace, Robin and I are now friends. And when she teases me, I laugh louder than anyone else.

Faith&Friends

FAITH BUILDERS

The Power of Love It changes everything.

Even little red puppies.

by Diane Stark

C

lifford the Big Red Dog, in theatres now, is a live-action/ CGI family film based on Norman Bridwell’s children’s book series of the same name.

Clifford (David Alan Grier) wasn’t always big. In fact, he was the runt of his litter. When Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) adopts him, she asks the magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) how big he will get. The answer? “That depends on how much you love him.”

Seemingly overnight, Emily Elizabeth’s love turns Clifford into a giant red dog who wreaks havoc on the family’s tiny New York City apartment.

When a genetics company with a master plan to supersize all animals takes notice of Clifford’s remarkable size, Emily Elizabeth will do anything to protect him from harm.

Will Emily Elizabeth’s love be enough to save Clifford from the greedy company that wants to use him for their own gain?

Forgiven and Whole In real life, love doesn’t make tiny pup-

pies grow to be 10 feet tall, but it can have an emotional impact that is just as powerful. A hug or a kind word on a rough day can completely change our outlook.

If our love can impact another person in such a profound way, imagine what God’s love can do. His love not only changes lives—it saves them.

God’s love offers us the chance to become His sons and daughters and live with Him forever. Nothing is more life-changing than that.

But, sadly, many people don’t understand how much God loves them. They may not attend church or own a Bible, but that’s where we come in. One small act of love can give us an opportunity to tell people about God’s love.

It’s said that love is the most powerful force in the universe. It might not change the runt of the litter into a giant, but it can transform a sinful, broken person into someone who is forgiven and whole.

Love changes us. Love changes everything.

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Overcomer Major Morgan Hillier (with his wife, Major Lisa Hillier, inset) shares a note of encouragement— always written on a napkin, beside a Tim Hortons coffee cup—on social media every day

Coffee

Conversations SHARING HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, ONE DOUBLE-DOUBLE AT A TIME.

by Giselle Randall 12 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

I

n October 2019, Major Morgan Hillier, the Salvation Army pastor at Mount Pearl Corps, N.L., met a friend for coffee at a Tim Hortons.

“He was going through some challenges. As we were talking, I gave him some advice, which I wrote on a napkin,” says Major Morgan. Wondering if others would find it useful as well, he snapped a picture and uploaded it to social media.

“All of a sudden, my accounts lit up with people commenting and sending me messages, so I thought, Why not keep doing this?”

Dark Time Major Morgan was a pastor in Bay Roberts, N.L., when he suffered a concussion while playing hockey. Over the next five years, he had three more. The last one— from hitting his head on a cupboard door—did the most damage.

“It took me out of ministry for a while,” he says. “That was the year I lost my memory. I lost who I was.”

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body that makes the brain shake quickly back and forth. Although

“ I was just angry at the whole world.

It was devastating.” MAJOR MORGAN HILLIER It was the beginning of Coffee Conversations, a note of encouragement—always written on a napkin, beside a Tim Hortons coffee cup— that Major Morgan shares on social media every day. But as much as his words inspire others, they are also for himself. He often adds the hashtag #overcomer.

“That’s what I’ve called myself for the last two years,” he says. “I’ve overcome so many obstacles to be where I am today.”

not usually life-threatening, the effects can be serious. Short-term symptoms include headache, nausea and disorientation, but a concussion can also lead to memory loss, changes in personality and depression.

“I remember sitting in band practice after clearance to play again, and not being able to read a note on the page—and I’ve been playing cornet since I was eight years old,” Major Morgan says. “I had sticky notes everywhere to remind myself to do faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Being You “Everything I write applies to me first,” says Major Morgan

things. I even forgot my kids’ names.

“But it also brought up buried memories, unhealthy memories. It put me in a dark place.”

In the middle of this, the Hilliers were transferred to a small, rural community in central Newfoundland, a move that was also hard on his two youngest daughters.

“The congregation was amazing throughout our journey, but it was a struggle for me,” he says. “My whole personality changed. I used to be easygoing, loved to laugh, loved life.

Now I was just angry at the whole world. It was devastating.”

Being There Things started to change when The Salvation Army got Major Morgan in 14 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

touch with a local counsellor.

“She pulled me out of the darkness,” he says. “We came to believe we were there for the opportunity to connect with this counsellor. It was an appointment for healing. God knew what we needed. It’s not always about the moment we are in—it’s about God’s plan. He is always faithful and can be trusted.”

Late one night, while driving near the ocean, Major Morgan paused for a moment. Opening a Bible app on his phone, Psalm 46 caught his eye.

“It described my life—mountains crashing, devastation all around me. It felt like everything was falling apart,” he says. “And then it says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ And I realized, He’s there. He’s there through it all.”

“Everybody Needs Hope” Throughout his recovery, Major Morgan made a practice of writing down positive thoughts. After the response he received to the first encouraging message he shared on social media, he decided to continue the conversation. Every day during his morning coffee break at Tim Hortons, he writes a note, posts a photo and leaves the napkin for others to find.

“I share ideas I’ve read, thoughts from a sermon I’m writing or inspiration from a walk,” he says. “But everything I write applies to me first—it’s what I need for the day.

And usually, after those coffee conversations, my day takes on a whole different perspective.”

Sometimes, it makes an impact on others as well. Major Morgan recalls a message from someone who dis-

covered one of the napkins he left on a table.

“This gentleman was in town for a doctor’s appointment, and he was very anxious,” he says. “He dropped

by Tim Hortons for a cup of coffee and saw my napkin. It was a note about finding peace, reflecting on ‘be still’ from Psalm 46. He said it gave him the reassurance he needed to go to the appointment.”

The response he’s received to this simple gesture of encouragement has surprised Major Morgan.

“It evolved more than I thought,” he says. “But people are searching for peace and comfort and strength in this chaotic world. If I can offer a little advice, something to help people get through the day, a glimmer of hope—we need more of that.

Everybody needs hope.”

Inked Major Morgan’s tattoo is a permanent reminder of the words of Psalm 46: “Be still, and know that I am God” faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

House Rules Will the members of House Atreides—Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson)—survive the intricate challenges and dangers of Dune?

Desert Ordeal IN DUNE, A YOUNG MAN HOLDS THE FATE OF THE GALAXY IN HIS HANDS—IF HE CAN SURVIVE THE DANGERS AND PERILS OF A HOSTILE PLANET.

by Ken Ramstead 16 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

LONG BEFORE STAR TREK, long before Star Wars, long before Game of Thrones, there was Dune.

Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel created a multi-faceted universe, complex characters and a rich plot that influenced a generation of

readers. The Hugo and Nebula awardwinner has sold almost 20 million copies worldwide and is often cited as the greatest and most influential science-fiction novel of all time. Culturally, it brought environmental and ecological issues to the forefront faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Two Against Dune Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, ponder their next move

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“ This is an extermination. They’re picking off my family one by one.” PAUL ATREIDES

on college campuses and inspired numerous novels, music, games, comic books, a film and two TV miniseries.

The most recent attempt to tackle Dune is Denis Villeneuve’s movie of the same name. Delayed a year by the pandemic, it is coming to theatres and streaming services this month.

Death Trap In the far-distant future, the known universe is ruled by Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino, backed up by the Sardaukar, his feared shock troops. Power is divided among various major and minor Houses, of which the most important are House Atreides and House Harkonnen, bitter rivals.

The key to interstellar travel in the empire lies with “spice,” the incredibly rare and expensive substance that alone makes stellar navigation possible, while also

providing increased lifespan and mental capabilities. Spice is only available, however, on the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, a desert planet sparsely populated by the fierce warriors known as Fremen, and sandworms—fearsome and colossal creatures.

Whoever controls Arrakis controls the fate of the galaxy.

Cruelly occupied and despoiled for decades by House Harkonnen, the emperor has granted Arrakis to House Atreides, ruled by Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac). Seeing the potential as well as the peril, Leto takes control of the spice-mining operations, bringing his advisors as well as his son and heir, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), along with Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson).

But Paul has prophetic visions of the planet and of a mysterious girl of the desert (Zendaya).

Far from guaranteeing the future of House Atreides, Arrakis is an faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Desert Director Denis Villeneuve and Javier Bardem (Stilgar) on the set of the movie

Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

intricate death trap. With the connivance of the emperor—and a bitter betrayal—Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) unleashes a massive assault that decimates House Atreides’ toehold on Arrakis.

“This is an extermination,” Paul says. “They’re picking off my family one by one.”

Duke Leto is assassinated, and Paul and Lady Jessica barely escape the Harkonnen trap, fleeing to the deep desert and the uncertain assistance of the Fremen. But will they find the support and shelter they need to fight back against their Harkonnen enemies?

Viewers will only know the fate of Paul and his mother when the planned sequel, which roughly covers the second part of the novel, is released.

“I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,” Denis told Vanity Fair magazine. “The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”

Real-Life Purposes At first glance, moviegoers may spot similarities between Paul’s odyssey and the Christmas story.

Paul and his mother escape to the desert to save themselves from the Harkonnen death squads and their Sardaukar allies, just as Mary and Joseph, with the newborn baby Jesus in tow, escaped to the Egyptian desert once the parents were warned that their child had been marked for death.

And one of the reasons Paul escapes death in the first place is that his coming had been prophesied to the Fremen by the Bene Gesserit, an ancient and powerful sisterhood whose agents had planted such stories throughout the galaxy.

Defiant Warrior As House Atreides’ Warmaster, Gurney Halleck will do whatever it takes to protect the family he serves

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Photo: Chiabella James, courtesy of Vanity Fair

But whereas these tales were hearsay and rumour, Jesus’ coming had been foretold centuries earlier—and not through word-of-mouth.

The Old Testament contains numerous passages that predict Jesus’ coming in startling clarity—47 of them, to be exact. To give just one example, Jesus’ Crucifixion was foretold in Psalm 22:16-18 a thousand years before His death, long before such a Roman method of execution was even practised!

More specifically, the Bible includes prophesies that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2), would be born of a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14), would spend a season in Egypt (see Hosea 11:1) and that a massacre of

children would occur in Jesus’ place of birth (see Jeremiah 31:15).

Collectively, they were all proof of Jesus’ divinity. And as Jesus went about His ministry, He knew that He was fulfilling these prophecies and, therefore, used this knowledge to confirm His claims of being the Son of God in the flesh.

As we enjoy the fictional Dune, it’s important to remember the real-life purpose of God. Whereas Paul was trying to free Dune from the evil occupiers of that planet, Jesus Christ waged a battle to free all of us from sin. This gift of life can never be forgotten as we prepare yet again to celebrate in the coming months the birth of Jesus. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

From Rock Bottom to Full Circle THANKS TO THE SALVATION ARMY, RYAN KICKED HIS ADDICTIONS. NOW, HE PLANS TO GIVE BACK BY HELPING OTHERS AS HE WAS HELPED.

by Maria Silva

A

t 28, Ryan is an upgrading student with a bright future ahead of him. However, the classroom hasn’t always been an environment that brought out the best in him.

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The Road to ARC As a child, Ryan dealt with bullying at school. Compounded with the toll his parents’ divorce took on him, he often felt depressed.

Growing up, he began losing him-

On the Fence Ryan, here with Chaplain Doug Schultz (left) and Sarah Bartkus, the recreational therapist from Grace Manor

ever, as a way to keep family and friends off his back, he agreed to detox in Edmonton, away from his hometown. It was a process that would lead him to The Salvation Army’s Addictions and Residential Centre (ARC).

self in video games to escape his struggles, and this was when the early signs of addiction began to reveal themselves.

“I just got really depressed and eventually, after graduating from high school, I had lots of money from working on the oil rigs, and I found comfort in doing drugs and drinking all the time,” Ryan explains. “And it got to the point where I couldn’t even keep my job.”

Ryan’s drug of choice: crystal meth.

The first time Ryan tried to get clean was at the age of 21. Coming from a small town, he was unaware of the resources available to someone like him going through addiction.

At that point in his life, he had no intentions of going to rehab. How-

A Keystone Moment “I quit once on my own and then I relapsed, and then I went through the program,” Ryan says. “I would say that that’s way more effective than trying to do it on your own.”

The journey to recovery took six years and a rock-bottom moment that had Ryan ultimately deciding he would pick up the pieces of his life and put them back together.

“It’s one of the best things I’ve decided to do. I wish I would have done it so much earlier, but that’s just how these things work out,” Ryan says.

He began his treatment at The Salvation Army’s Transformations Addiction Recovery Program, a four-month live-in program at the ARC that is similar to the 12-step program and uses module-based learning, group counselling and individual counselling.

At the age of 25, Ryan completed the program and transitioned into The Salvation Army’s Keystone, a faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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FEATURE

“ I found comfort in doing drugs and drinking all the time. And it got to the point where I couldn’t even keep my job.” RYAN one-year, after-care recovery program where residents live together in a community. They live drug- and alcohol-free while working toward personal goals, such as work and education. Keystone helps men transition back into society and provides guidance to help each person make the changes necessary to achieve their aspirations.

Handling Mistakes “Ryan took his recovery seriously,” says Doug Schultz, a chaplain at The Salvation Army. “He’s always been growing forward. He would be the first to say that he’s not entirely there yet, but he’s making progress in the direction that he wants to go.”

As chaplain, Doug’s chief role is providing spiritual and emotional care to residents, staff, families and volunteers. He strives to be accessible and journey with people as they travel the road of life.

“In their life experience, they know how to handle defeat and distress. They know how to handle all the screw-ups in life,” Doug explains. “But many of them don’t know how to celebrate success, and because they don’t know how to celebrate, a lot of them will 24 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

self-sabotage because they know how to handle mistakes.”

Helping Others Heal Overcoming addiction is one of the most challenging matters one can face in life, and many people will stumble before reaching sobriety.

Many individuals healing from their addictions can have difficulty handling their success and finding it within themselves to stay clean.

“Going to rehab is the easy part, and then finding your reasons to stay is hard,” Ryan says. “After you get out of rehab, and there are no more eyes on you, you can do what you want. The hardest part for me has been trying to find a way to get my confidence back.”

For Ryan, that confidence came back when his hard work started showing results. The goals he set for himself were clear and finally attainable, and he began to get excited about the future.

“While he was here, he started having an idea of what he wanted to do with his education and how he wanted to move on in his life,” Doug says.

There was a moment for Ryan in recovery when he saw a couple of therapeutic students working along-

side residents doing arts and crafts, as well as meditation, to heal. He had a conversation with them that led to a moment of clarity. This was what he wanted to pursue with his life; he wanted to help others heal by using his creative side.

Going Full Circle Ryan is now upgrading and preparing for an educational career at Norquest College in Edmonton as a therapeutic recreation professional. The program explores the impact of recreation and leisure on individual wellness. With the help of Doug, Ryan was able to shadow recreational therapists Sarah Bartkus, from Grace Manor, and Jonathan Buecken, from Stepping Stone Supportive Residence, both Salvation Army programs.

“Today, I have so many community sources to tap into; faces that I know, and they know me,” Ryan says.

It’s still not easy for Ryan. Recovery is now an everyday journey. It’s the shame that can be difficult to overcome, but his support system and self-confidence have him looking at his accomplishments with pride.

“I recommend The Salvation Army. Looking back on it now, it

was some of the best times, like going camping with the guys—doing activities, such as singing praise songs,” says Ryan. “My biggest thing for guys leaving the program is to try to stay connected because you can fall off really quick.”

It’s a full-circle moment for Ryan, who looks forward to volunteering with The Salvation Army, which has helped guide him to become the man he is today.

"Fifteen-Two, Fifteen-Four ..."

Ryan plays cribbage with residents from Grace Manor

(left) Maria Silva is a communications specialist at The Salvation Army’s Alberta and Northern Territories Divisional Headquarters in Edmonton. She enjoys travelling, camping and spending time with family and friends. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

SOMEONE CARES

Roadside Assistance Salvation Army serves meals to hundreds of people stranded at provincial border.

by Angela Rafuse

Assembly Line Volunteers prepare more than 500 sandwiches at The Salvation Army’s Truro church

W

hen hundreds of truckers and motorists were suddenly stranded at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border due to protests over COVID19 restrictions, the Salvation Army churches in Truro and Springhill, N.S., stepped up to provide food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care.

“Urgent Need” The protests began on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 22. By Wednesday morning, word was spreading that hundreds of people were held up at the provincial border with no choice but to wait. While many were redirected into the town of Amherst,

26 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

N.S., others were waiting on the highway with no access to food or water.

Learning this, The Salvation Army leapt into action. Each church location began by preparing sandwiches—volunteers in Truro prepared more than 500 while volunteers in Springhill prepared 250.

They packed the sandwiches into bagged lunches, which included granola bars, sweet treats and bottled water.

“The volunteers did an exceptional job,” explains Jan Keats, emergency disaster services co-ordinator for The Salvation Army Maritime Division.

“People were in urgent need of food, and the hard work of the volunteers made it possible for us to serve.”

Hard at Work Volunteers from Salvation Army churches in Truro and Springhill distribute lunches and water to truckers and individuals

Not Forgotten When they arrived on-site, one team began distributing the lunches to those who were detoured into the town, while the other team hit the highway and served those waiting on the side of the road.

“It’s so important to volunteer during these times,” explains Beverly Sharpe, a Salvation Army volunteer who helped on the front lines. “Everyone really appreciates us coming out here today. It’s really fulfilling.”

In just a few hours, hundreds were served. Each lunch was met with a smile and words of appreciation by the stranded travellers who felt as if they had been forgotten about— until The Salvation Army arrived.

“It’s often said ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ but it takes an Army to care for a community,” explains Lieutenant Matthew Reid, the Salvation Army pastor in Truro. “That’s what happened here today. Hearing about the need, The Salvation Army engaged to ensure hope was given.”

(left) Angela Rafuse is the communications specialist at The Salvation Army Maritime Divisional Headquarters in Halifax.

faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin CREAM OF PUMPKIN SOUP

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley

TIME 25 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH fresh bread

45 ml (3 tbsp) butter 250 ml (1 cup) onion, diced 1 garlic clove, diced 1 L (4 cups) vegetable broth 1 398 ml (12/3 cups) can pure pumpkin 5 ml (1 tsp) paprika 5 ml (1 tsp) vegetable seasoning 1 ml (¼ tsp) nutmeg 60 ml (¼ cup) heavy cream 45 ml (3 tbsp) Parmesan cheese 60 ml (¼ cup) fresh parsley 45 ml (3 tbsp) pumpkin seeds

1. Heat butter over medium heat, and add onion and garlic. Cook until tender.

2. Add broth, pumpkin, paprika, vegetable seasoning and nutmeg.

Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.

3. Stir in heavy cream and cheese. Cook on low for 10 more minutes.

4. Add Parmesan, parsley and pumpkin seeds to garnish.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN, PEAR AND WALNUT SALAD TIME 30 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH creamy pasta

2 chicken breasts 2 ml (½ tsp) salt 2 ml (½ tsp) black pepper 2 ml (½ tsp) garlic powder 2 ml (½ tsp) paprika 30 ml (2 tbsp) vegetable or canola oil 30 ml (2 tbsp) butter 1 L (4 cups) spinach 500 ml (2 cups) diced pear 60 ml (¼ cup) feta cheese 60 ml (¼ cup) walnuts 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil 30 ml (2 tbsp) balsamic vinegar salt and pepper to taste

28 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

1. Make sure chicken breasts are no more than 25 mm (1 in.) thick and, if not, flatten them. Pat chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.

2. Heat oil in pan and cook chicken for 6 minutes on each side.

3. Add butter to pan and cook for another 2 minutes, scooping melted butter on top of chicken.

4. Remove chicken from pan and allow to cool for 5 minutes before dicing.

5. Add spinach, pear, feta and walnuts to bowl.

6. Mix oil and vinegar to dress salad, and add salt and pepper to taste.

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Support, “Every Time”

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THE BUTTERFLY P.10 CARING PORTRAITS P.12 BRIGHTER FUTURE P.22

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Rolling With the

Punches

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Sudoku Puzzle

2

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

QUICK QUIZ 1. Who was the Roman god of the sea?

2. What is cartography the study of and practice of making?

3. Which Canadian author wrote The Handmaid’s Tale?

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© J.Sanko/C. Layton, 2021

OH MY WORD!

by John Sanko

Answers on next page.

1

Teacher: “Children, one of the hardest things to say is ‘I forgive you.’ ” Johnny: “What about ‘Worcestershire sauce?’ ”

faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2021

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LITE STUFF

Word Search What’s in the Pantry?

A D B U V X Y Q Q S V F Y E Q C U D L N Y V V X L H S U L L E C L U D W Y P A N C A K E M I X D O M S E S Y U P D W F G B C O R N S T A R C H V S U P P E P P E R I W I L J H U K V E H A J U Y V Y P T R T H O C L M E V C P A F I S S B M U R C D A E R B R T R L L E E Q Q N O O S E L P P A E E I O H R I C O Q L L R M O V T K S K K C U Y K C M A F E E W N S S I E V A J K T O X T G C C K T A A N N R E D F S C O E U O U I C P R K I G P N Z Q J X C N F A O R A N G E S P E Y E N O H U F S T Y S R E R E I O R A J U I C E V Z F O T C H F D A W E M A P L E S Y R U P O S U G A R D Z D S E L K C I P V I N E G A R K E V Y C S T D P E A N U T B U T T E R APPLES BAKING POWDER BREAD CRUMBS CEREAL CHOCOLATE CHIPS COCONUT COFFEE COOKIES CORN STARCH CRACKERS CROUTONS FLOUR

GRANOLA HONEY JAM JUICE KETCHUP MAPLE SYRUP OLIVE OIL ORANGES PANCAKE MIX PAPRIKA PASTA PEACHES

PEANUT BUTTER PEPPER PICKLES PRESERVES RAISINS RICE SALT SAUCE SOUP SUGAR TEA VINEGAR

30 • OCTOBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Neptune; 2. maps; 3. Margaret Atwood.

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Faith&Friends

NIFTY THRIFTY

One Handy Caddy An easy upcycling project with big fall gatherings in mind.

W

ith autumn here and opportunities for family get-togethers, a utensil caddy makes the prep work easy peasy. And this DIY is simple to customize to your specific needs.

Supplies Needed: thrifted base for the caddy, cardboard, scissors, duct tape, Mason jars, spice containers or salt and pepper shakers, paint, paint brush or sponge.

Step 1 Visit your local Salvation Army thrift store for your caddy base. Look for a basic box that isn’t too big. You could also use an old bottle holder, toolbox or office organizer.

Step 2 Add some funk to your base. You could paint, decoupage, stencil or leave it as is.

Step 3 Gather the items you’ll be placing in the caddy. This will help you figure out how to organize the items in your caddy and map out the needed compartments.

Step 4 Repurpose cardboard to create an insert to go into your caddy. Measure the inside of your box and cut out the pieces of cardboard. (This is optional, but if you’re using glassware, use cardboard as a buffer between the items.) Once you’ve measured and cut out the pieces of cardboard, use duct tape to adhere all of your pieces.

Step 5 Insert the cardboard and place your items into each of the compartments. Next, add your cutlery, napkins, hot plates, spices, etc.

Feel free to add some funky embellishments—and some pizzazz—to your DIY cutlery caddy. I lucked out and found some box feet at my local Salvation Army thrift store, which I added to my caddy.

(left) Denise Corcoran (aka 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.

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