Salvationist - February 2017

When Valentine’s Day is a Disappointment

Partners in Mission: Tips for Fundraising Success

New Campaign Mobilizes International Army

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

February 2017

Salvationist.ca

Island of Hope The Salvation Army helps Sri Lanka rebuild after civil war and a devastating tsunami

MOBILIZE – NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

2017 DIVISIONAL CONGRESS &

COMMISSIONING GLACIER ARENA • MOUNT PEARL

JUNE

30 2 TO

JULY

WITH

General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox International Leaders of The Salvation Army

SUPPORTED BY

Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle Chief of the Staff and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries

Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander, Canada and Bermuda

Featuring the Canadian Staff Band

Visit Salvationist.ca/MobilizeNL for congress details, schedule and information on discounted hotel rates

CONTENTS

Salvationist February 2017 • Volume 12, Number 2

9

Departments 5 Inbox 6 Frontlines

Get more online

16 Calling the Courageous

Visit salvationist.ca to add your comments and read web-exclusive articles

Crashing the Party

by Ken Ramstead

18 Reel to Real

@salvationistmagazine Follow us on Instagram for the latest and best Army photos. Tag your photos #salvationistsofig

Labour Pains

by James Read and Michael Boyce

22 Spiritual Life The Rhythm of Rest

by Major Fred Pond

/salvationistmagazine Like us on Facebook for photos and updates.

Interact with our community of 31,000 fans

25 Cross Culture 27 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories Tug of War

by Laura Vargas

Columns 4 Editorial Of Muskrats and Self-Denial

by Geoff Moulton

9 Onward Dreaming Big

by Commissioner Susan McMillan

24 Herstory Courage, My Love

by Lieutenant Kristen Jackson-Dockeray

29 Troublesome Texts A Voice for All

by General Bramwell H. Tillsley (Rtd)

Features 10 Island of Hope In the aftermath of civil war and a deadly tsunami, The Salvation Army is helping Sri Lanka heal.

by Joel Johnson

14 Out of Syria The Salvation Army provides practical support for refugees in Germany.

by Kristin Ostensen

17 Fun With Fundraising Four ministry units get creative in support of Partners in Mission.

@Salvationist Follow us on Twitter for the Army’s breaking news. Use hashtag #SalvationArmy for your own updates and photos Cover photo: Joel Johnson

Read and share it!

Holy Guacamole!

Serving Up

After “I Do”

LEGO BATMAN MOVIE P.13 DIGNITY P.29 5 RELATIONSHIP TIPS P.5

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

faithandfriends.ca

FEBRUARY 2017

20 The Whole World Mobilising—Go Forward!

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle explains The Salvation Army’s new international campaign to unite Salvationists.

Interview by Major Deslea Maxwell

23 Border Crossing What I learned during my time as a cadet in Canada.

by Captain Charles Chalrimawia

So Happy Together

DAVE AND SHARON FOUND LOVE IN A SALVATION ARMY THRIFT SHOP P.16 faithandfriends.ca I FEBRUARY 2017 • 1

Salvationist February 2017 3

EDITORIAL

Of Muskrats and Self-Denial

W

hat’s the most unusual thing your corps has ever done to raise money for Partners in Mission, the Army’s annual appeal for donations to its overseas work?

I’ve heard of all sorts of weird and wonderful fundraising efforts for self-denial (as it used to be called), but I’m pretty sure my story can top it.

A recent edition of The Crest, the newsletter produced by The Salvation Army’s territorial archives, told the tale of my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Sheppard. Born in Wild Cove, a small inlet on Twillingate Island in Newfoundland and Labrador, she was commissioned as an officer in 1894 and served in various appointments around the island.

The Crest recalls how, one day, Lieutenant Sheppard “went to a nearby village to collect for ‘self-denial.’ While walking across the swamp she came upon a small animal perched on a rock.

Somewhat frightened she looked around and reached for a stone, which she threw in the direction of the animal. To her surprise, the stone found its mark and she was left with a dead muskrat, which she was able to sell for 75 cents to begin her self-denial collecting.”

With apologies to my animalloving friends, I find this an amazing and amusing story of what life was like more than a century ago in the out-

Salvationist

is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory André Cox General Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel Jim Champ Secretary for Communications Geoff Moulton Editor-in-Chief Giselle Randall Features Editor (416-467-3185) Pamela Richardson News Editor, Production Co-ordinator, Copy Editor (416-422-6112) Kristin Ostensen Associate Editor and Staff Writer 4 February 2017 Salvationist

ports of Newfoundland. What’s more, it proves that I come from hardy stock!

As a captain, Elizabeth went on to marry my great-grandfather, Captain David Moulton. When he was promoted to glory in 1909, she dutifully cared for five young children—all of whom eventually became officers—battled rheumatic fever, eventually retired from officership and started a boarding house.

Elizabeth was a strong woman who knew the meaning of sacrifice. It’s that time of the year again, when we remember some of the hardships that our Partners in Mission territories face and “deny” ourselves to support them, both financially and in prayer. The Partners in Mission campaign raises more than $2 million in our territory each year, which goes to sustain the vital work of the international Army.

In this month’s Salvationist, you’ll see how the Army in Sri Lanka is helping that island nation heal from decades of civil war and the devastating tsunami that razed entire villages in 2004 (page 10). Take a look at the Army’s response to Syrian refugees in the Germany, Lithuania and Poland Territory, one of Canada and Bermuda’s partner territories (page 14). Catch up with Captain Charles Chalrimawia, an Indian officer who trained in Canada, was commissioned in 2011

Timothy Cheng Senior Graphic Designer Brandon Laird Design and Media Specialist Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator Ken Ramstead Contributor Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769.

Member, The Canadian Church Press. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) © 2011.

All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory and can be reprinted only with written permission.

and returned to his home country to serve God (page 23). Lastly, if you’re looking for clever fundraising ideas, then read our corps success stories on page 17 (no muskrats were harmed!).

This year, let’s do what we can to help our fellow Salvationists overseas. Your donation can make a difference in the lives of so many.

GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Mission

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. Salvationist informs readers about the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. salvationist.ca facebook.com/salvationistmagazine twitter.com/salvationist youtube.com/salvationistmagazine instagram.com/salvationistmagazine

INBOX

In the United States, black men make up six percent of the population, but in 2015, they were 40 percent of all the unarmed people shot and killed by police.

No one says “all lives matter” when someone is drowning—we respond to the emergency in front of us. No one says “all cancer matters” when someone is dying of breast cancer. No one says “all cities matter” when praying for Orlando or another city struck by tragedy. Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean only black lives matter; it means racism and injustice against people of colour is something

Photo: © DJMcCoy/iStock.com

Captain Mark Braye is the corps officer at Sarnia Community Church, Ont. Salvationist

October 2016 23

I have occasionally disagreed with some of the political bias demonstrated in the opinion columns in Salvationist, but never more sharply than with “Race Relations.” While I do agree that injustice or racism has been part of the past, and for too many still exists in the present, the rhetoric and beliefs of Black Lives Matter stand at odds with the teachings and practice of The Salvation Army. Information on the Black Lives Matter website clearly states their goals as forwarding an agenda that is, at the least, unbiblical, and, at the most, promotes division.

A recent article in the New York Times cited a study that examined shootings across 10 major police departments, and found that while police officers are more likely to use non-lethal force on blacks, there was no racial bias when it came to lethal force. In addition, according to several prominent sheriffs and other law enforcement officials in the United States, recent shootings of police officers are directly attributable to anger generated by Black Lives Matter.

Surely there are better ways to promote racial harmony and advocate for justice without standing with this movement, whose methods and beliefs are questionable.

Major Gary Reilly Great article, Captain Braye. I agree with you! Here are words taken from the Black Lives Matter website: “We are committed to collectively, lovingly and courageously working vigorously for freedom and justice for black people and, by extension,

Love and Loss After reading about their journey to parenthood, I am so happy for Captains Jeff and Shannon Howard and their beautiful family (“A Dream Fulfilled,” October 2016). I pray the A Dream Fulfilled adoption of their little girl will be finalized soon. Children are a pre- Y cious gift from God and every child deserves the love that comes from caring parents like the Howards. Both of my grandparents were Salvation Army officers and so I have a love for the Army—and I know how hard officers work. Two years ago, our middle daughter lost our first grandchild a few hours after he was delivered full term. I know the heartbreak it caused our family, so I can feel some of the heartbreak the Howards must have experienced. I also know the love our little grandson brought to our lives in his short time on earth. My daughter did have another son a year later and he is the delight of our lives, but we will never forget our first grandson and we celebrate his short life every year. God bless the Howard family.

Sheril Dube Cpts Shannon and Jeff Howard, with their children

A Salvation Army family’s journey with infertility, infant loss and adoption.

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

ou have a one percent chance of ever getting pregnant.”

Captain Shannon Howard sat in stunned silence as she struggled to process the fertility specialist’s words. After three years of trying unsuccessfully to conceive, she and her husband, Captain Jeff Howard, had gone into the appointment feeling hopeful.

“It took a long time for us to get an appointment, so there was all this buildup,” she says. “We would finally find out what was going on and what we could do to fix it.”

With one sentence, the doctor crushed those hopes. They were infertile.

“I couldn’t wait to get out of the room,” Shannon recalls. “We went out

to the car, and I cried and cried and cried.

“Up until that point, we just thought it was going to take a little longer. And he basically told us that it would never happen for us, and that was hard. Really hard.”

Trying to Conceive Recounting their story at their home in Toronto eight years later, Shannon and Jeff still remember that day with emotion. “It was heartbreaking,” says Shannon.

It would turn out to be the first of many sorrows on their journey to becoming parents.

Growing up, Shannon had always wanted to be a mom. “I used to joke that

getting married was just a means to getting kids,” she smiles. “But when I was 16, I felt like the Lord told me that I would not be able to have kids easily, and that always stuck with me.”

Though roughly 16 percent of couples in Canada (or 1 in 6) experience infertility, it never occurred to Jeff that they could have trouble conceiving. “I just expected it to happen,” he says.

The Howards, who are currently corps officers at North Toronto Community Church, entered training college in 2002 and started trying to conceive shortly before commissioning in 2004. “That was back when we thought we were in control,” Jeff says with a wry smile.

Photos: Timothy Cheng

BY CAPTAIN MARK BRAYE

all people. As we forge our path, we intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative, not depleting.” To me, that sounds exactly like what Jesus talked about his whole life.

Captain Jaclyn Wynne

Salvationist October 2016 13

Political Leanings Captain Mark Braye articulates the Army’s political position well (“Beyond Left and Right,” November 2016). Being non-partisan is ideally where the Army should stand. But sadly, many of the opinion pieces in this periodical have had a decidedly political bent of late. Let’s see if we can maintain the objectivity.

Stuart MacMillan

#TRENDING

Beyond Left and Right The Salvation Army’s stance on politics.

BY CAPTAIN MARK BRAYE

P

lato, the ancient Greek philosopher, is credited with saying: “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” This is a harsh statement, but it describes the frustration many people feel about politics and political figures. In many parts of the world, the political landscape seems to have turned into bad reality television. Watching or reading the news leaves many of us wondering if there is prophetic truth to Plato’s words.

Sometimes, The Salvation Army uses the word “apolitical” or the phrase “politically neutral” to describe its stance on politics, but these terms aren’t entirely accurate. The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines “apolitical” as “not interested or involved in politics.” By this definition, we are not apolitical—we are both interested and involved in politics.

In the Christian view, God is the source of political authority (see Romans 13:1-8). Governments are charged with exercising this authority—providing just conditions and acting to protect the poor and marginalized—as servants of God. Of course, the political process is human and flawed. So the Army is keenly interested in political decisions that affect the vulnerable as we seek to live out the gospel. As James described: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).

Early in our history, the Army was involved in a campaign to raise the age of consent in London, England, helping to protect girls from abuse and exploitation.

Recently, our territory submitted a brief to the federal government outlining our opposition to new legislation around assisted dying. We regularly host MPs, respond to government consultations and provide feedback on the federal budget highlighting areas of concern for our clients.

So we are not apolitical. A better way to describe ourselves is “non-pa r tisa n.” The Salvation Army does not endorse or promote one political leader or party over another, so we are free to speak to everyone with credibility. Our role is to represent those in society who are often overlooked—to ask questions and express values that are more than selfinterest.

The Christian tradition is full of examples of people who were political but non-partisan: William Wilberforce, William and Catherine Booth, Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mother Teresa and Desmond Tutu. They engaged with the political context of their times, working for justice and the common good. If they had been “apolitical,” the lives of many people would have been dramatically different.

We don’t know much about the political beliefs of Jesus’ followers, but they probably didn’t agree on everything. Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans; the second Simon may have been a Zealot, a group that opposed Roman rule and wanted to overthrow it by force. Perhaps they had heated debates about politics. Jesus cautioned his disciples to respect and submit to the ruling authorities, but also called them to a new way of living.

As The Salvation Army, we must speak into the world of politics on behalf of those on the margins, to amplify their voices. But we do so from outside the political system, as people whose loyalty belongs not to a political leader or party, but to God. Derek Webb, a Christian musician, puts it this way: “My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country or a man. My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood. It’s to a King and a kingdom.”

Photo: © chaiyapruek/stock.Adobe.com

Why I support the Black Lives Matter movement.

n July 2013, George Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. In the protests that followed, a hashtag on social media, #BlackLivesMatter, soon grew into what has been called a new civil rights movement.

Black Lives Matter has organized more than a thousand street demonstrations, bringing attention to the deaths of African Americans—such as Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, among others—at the hands of police.

In the United States, black men make up six percent of the population, but in 2015, they were 40 percent of all the unarmed people shot and killed by police, reports the Washington Post.

Black Lives Matter is a call to action against systemic racism and inequality, a call for justice.

Some have criticized the Black Lives Matter movement by responding, “All lives matter.” While this is true, it’s not a helpful reaction. It’s insensitive and dismissive of real issues and concerns.

urgent we need to address.

Still another response to Black Lives Matter has been “Blue Lives Matter,” acknowledging that police officers risk their lives in the line of duty. In July, a gunman killed five police officers and injured nine others at a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas. A few weeks later, three more police officers were targeted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Both were revenge attacks for the killing of black men by police.

Let’s be clear—the killing of police officers is tragic and completely unacceptable. But does that mean we can’t support the Black Lives Matter movement? Former U.S. president George W. Bush said, “Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions.” Does supporting a movement for its best intentions mean we are also supporting its worst examples? Should peaceful members of Black Lives Matter renounce the movement because of the racism and violence of other members?

Should lawful police officers leave their profession because of the racism and violence of some police officers? Should Christians leave Christianity because of the bigotry and hate speech of the Westboro Baptist Church?

We often paint one group with the same brush (e.g. all Black Lives Matter members hate police) and another group with two brushes, to suit our beliefs (e.g. there are good police officers and bad police officers). Not all members of the Black Lives Matter movement hate police. Not all police officers are racist.

Our world is broken and suffering.

It’s why innocent black men are killed.

It’s why police officers are killed while protecting and serving the community.

We can be pro-Black Lives Matter and pro-Blue Lives Matter—these things do not have to be mutually exclusive.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks about his followers having love for each other. And not just any love, but the kind of love Jesus showed, love that lays down one’s life for friends. As Christians, we are called to show this self-sacrificial love. We are called to live in hope, as the words of Ella’s Song, by activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, make clear: “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.”

Captain Mark Braye is the corps officer at Sarnia Community Church, Ont.

22 November 2016 Salvationist

Persecuted or Irrelevant?

Martyr Complex I’m writing in response to an article

by Captain Mark Braye (“Martyr S Complex,” December 2016). He is correct, I believe, in his assertion that Christians in North America are not persecuted. The issue we need to address is not how we should deal with persecution, but, rather, how do we overcome being seen as irrelevant.

In addition, perhaps a better question to examine is not whether Christians in North America are persecuted, but whether Christians in North America are persecuting others.

Gary Robson #TRENDING

Are Christians in North America persecuted?

BY CAPTAIN MARK BRAYE

ometimes my kids come to me and say, “We’re starving!” When this happens, I try to help them understand that there are children in the world—even in our community—who are truly starving or undernourished.

Sometimes Christians in North America say, “We’re persecuted!” While Christianity has faced increasing cultural disdain in recent years, to call this treatment persecution “stretches the definition violently,” says one writer in Relevant magazine.

The first three centuries of the church are known as “the age of martyrs.” The Roman Empire mercilessly persecuted the early Christians, who refused to worship the emperor as divine or make sacrifices to Roman gods. They were tortured, thrown to wild animals, set on fire and used as human torches.

Their willing sacrifices led to the rapid growth and spread of Christianity. The church father Tertullian wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

Today, there are still places in the world where Christians are jailed and killed for their faith, where they must meet in secret. Sarnia, Ont., where I live, isn’t one of them. I can go to church openly, listen to Christian radio while driving home and then watch a Christian TV show or movie. We have Christian daycares, schools and universities; Christian magazines, books and publishing companies; Christian games, greeting cards and dating websites.

It’s true that Christians are sometimes ridiculed and marginalized, but being made fun of is not persecution. Being a Christian will not get me killed. So why does a certain segment of Christianity in North America claim persecution? I think it’s because we’re losing our grip on power, and we’re afraid.

In the fourth century, the emperor Constantine adopted Christianity after a key battle and made it legal. It became the official religion of the empire and the church gained tremendous power,

influence and cultural dominance. This was the beginning of Christendom, a partnership between church and state that shaped Western society.

Christians are used to being the dominant majority in our culture, but that’s changing. We now live in a pluralistic society, made up of many traditions, cultures and religions. Not everyone thinks or believes the way we do. But acknowledging and respecting our differences doesn’t mean we have compromised our faith. It means we understand that religious freedom means freedom for everybody.

Scripture is clear that living as a Christian will bring opposition: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12); “In fact, everyone who

wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).

In my opinion, we aren’t persecuted, but we do have a persecution, or martyr, complex—an unfounded and obsessive fear or sense that we are the object of collective mistreatment or hostility.

Do we read persecution into things because we want to prove our worthiness? Has it become a badge of honour that inflates our pride? Something that marks us as part of an elite group?

Alan Noble, an English professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, writes about the dangers of a misguided understanding of persecution in The Atlantic: “The danger of this view is that believers can come to see victimhood as an essential part of their identity … the real problem with many persecution narratives in Christian culture: they fetishize suffering.”

It’s true that the church no longer occupies a central place in our culture—but is that a bad thing? When the church became a powerful, state institution, abuse and corruption followed.

Throughout history, reform movements have arisen to call the church back to its roots—to be countercultural, pointing to a different way of living, different values.

Bishop Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, writes: “I think the detachment of the Christian religion from the culture in which we are living—the end of the age of Christendom—is an opportunity … [the] church can now emerge, [unencumbered] by the institutional arrangements that were part of the age of Christendom, and that’s an opportunity for some real religion. Now we [can] get on with the work of really following Jesus, really being his disciples and the community of his disciples in the world.”

We aren’t persecuted just because we’re no longer on top. Let’s get back to being the church—salt and light in a dark world.

Illustration: © erhui1979/iStock.com

The Struggle for Justice I’m writing in response to an article by Captain Mark Braye (“Race Relations,” October 2016).

Race Relations I want to thank him for his honest opinion and let him know that I agree I with him. Both the lives of African Americans and police officers matter. The people of the United States need to find a way to live peaceably with each other and to give freedom and equality to all that live in their country.

But here’s my small beef. I am the wife of a Canadian police officer here in Winnipeg. Captain Braye made sure to include the names of several of the black men who were shot and killed by police officers. He mentions that several police officers were murdered in revenge—officers who were not involved in those killings—but he did not take the time and care to include their names.

I think that is such a shame. These are men and women who risk their lives every time they go to work. Do you know what it’s like to say goodbye to your spouse in the morning, and not be sure if you will ever see them again? I do.

Here are their names. I hope you will print them in honour of their sacrifice to serve and protect.

Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens—Dallas Police Department Officer Michael Krol—Dallas Police Department Sgt. Michael Smith—Dallas Police Department Officer Brent Thompson—DART Officer Patricio “Patrick” Zamarripa—Dallas Police Department Officer Montrell Jackson—Baton Rouge Police Department Officer Matthew Gerald—Baton Rouge Police Department Deputy Brad Garafola—East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office Nettie Deacon #TRENDING

Captain Mark Braye is the corps officer at Sarnia Community Church, Ont.

Salvationist December 2016 23

All letters must include name, address and phone number or e-mail address where the writer can be contacted. Letters may be edited for space and clarity, and may be published in any medium.

Salvationist February 2017 5

FRONTLINES

Canadian Staff Songsters Dedicated for Ministry

T

he Canadian Staff Songsters (CSS) made their official debut in November at a dedication service held at Jackson’s Point Conference Centre, Ont. In the presence of family, friends and the territorial executive council, the newly formed group offered up songs of praise and committed themselves to musical ministry.

The service began with words of welcome from Colonel Mark Tillsley, then chief secretary, who shared that while many people had recommended the formation of this group over the years, the timing was now right.

After words of prayer, the CSS opened with Make His Praise Glorious.

Lt-Colonel Wendy Waters, executive officer of the CSS, then introduced each staff songster individually. The CSS come from a broad range of corps, including South Windsor, Simcoe, Bracebridge, Brantford, Ont., and Toronto’s Bloor Central, among others. The CSS then sang another set of songs, a highlight of which was I Love You, Lord, with soprano soloist Karen Gross.

Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, invited each staff songster to kneel at the mercy seat and sign their covenant, demonstrating that they are seeking the Lord’s blessing on

T

The Canadian Staff Songsters at Roy Thomson Hall

The songsters kneel at the mercy seat and sign their covenants

their ministry. Commissioner McMillan then officially commissioned Major Len Ballantine as leader of the CSS. This is the second staff songster section that

Major Ballantine has led.

As the evening concluded, the staff songsters and the congregation joined in singing O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

“These are exciting days for our territory as we focus on returning to a singing Army, and the CSS will play a key role in helping us get our congregations singing again,” says Craig Lewis, territorial secretary for music and gospel arts, who was one of the driving forces behind the launch of the CSS. The first public performance of the CSS took place at Christmas with The Salvation Army at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in December.

Ad Campaign Receives Awards

he Salvation Army’s spring 2016 advertising campaign gained positive attention on the awards circuit, receiving five awards in some innovative and unique categories.

With the tag line “Poverty isn’t always easy to see,” the campaign revolved around an “open house” exhibit held by the Army in Toronto last May. A sign in front of the house invited passersby to come in and view the home. But instead of finding a house for sale, viewers learned about poverty in Canada. Throughout the house were plaques with statistics, as well as information about how the Army is helping.

The open house also had 15 hidden cameras to capture visitors’ reactions, which were used to create a video highlighting the Army’s work and encouraging donations. That video has been viewed more than 925,000 times on YouTube.

The campaign, which was developed by Grey Canada, received two gold Ms at the Media Innovation Awards, in the categories “Best in Charities, Health Care and Safety, Public Awareness Messages” and “Innovation in Experiential Special Events/Stunts—Budget Under $100,000.” The campaign also garnered three bronze awards from the Canadian Marketing Association for “Advertising,” “Community Engagement” and 6 February 2017 Salvationist

“Direct Engagement (Direct, 1:1 and Loyalty)” in the Not-ForProfit/Fundraising/Public Service category.

“We’re very proud of the work and especially in our ability to expand digitally to reach new audiences,” says John McAlister, national director of marketing and communications. “The campaign allowed the public to engage with The Salvation Army in a new and different, but still very human, way.”

The Army’s spring advertising campaign, which included an “open house” exhibit, received five awards for excellence

FRONTLINES

N

Territorial Survey Reveals Army’s Values

early 1,300 Salvation Army officers, employees, volunteers and members answered a core values survey last year, shedding light on the values of the Army.

Participants were asked to choose their top 10 personal values, and identify current and desired cultural values in The Salvation Army.

This annual survey was conducted by The Salvation Army’s Ethics Centre in Winnipeg, which strives to ensure that the core values of the Army are evident in all areas of ministry.

New to this year’s survey, 14 ministry units were selected for unit-specific reporting. Ministry unit leaders were asked to extend invitations widely—to officers, employees, volunteers and corps members. These ministry units comprised 26 percent of the territorial responses.

“When participants were asked to select values they believed essential for their ministry unit and the territory to reach their highest potential, there were five values carried over from the current to desired culture: accountability, teamwork, compassion, community involvement and caring,” notes Sharon JonesRyan, consultant, management and organizational ethics, at the Ethics Centre. “This indicates confidence and alignment with the organization, but there are still some changes called for.

“Four of the respondents’ top personal values—accountability, compassion, caring and respect—show up in the desired culture,” she continues. “Of these, respect was not identified in the top values of the current culture.”

Top Personal Values

Top Current Culture Values

Top Desired Culture Values

1. Accountability

1. Community involvement

1. Accountability

2. Compassion

2. Caring

2. Teamwork

3. Honesty

3. Compassion

3. Coaching/ mentoring

4. Caring

4. Accountability

4. Compassion

5. Family

5. Faith

5. Community involvement

6. Faith

6. Teamwork

6. Intimacy with God

7. Respect

7. Mission focus

7. Caring

8. Commitment

8. Bureaucracy

8. Respect

9. Humour/fun

9. Service

9. Open communication

10. Positive attitude

10. Hierarchy

10. Adaptability

Feed My Lambs Project Combats Child Hunger

A

cross the territory, The Salvation Army is making sure students are getting the nutrition they need, one meal at a time. Feed My Lambs is a new, integrated mission initiative that aims to fight child hunger in Canada and Bermuda. The territory has set aside $750,000 for the project, which has already allocated funds to 13 ministry units in British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Quebec.

One of these ministries is St. Albert Community Church, Alta. In this small city northwest of Edmonton, The Salvation Army is providing breakfast for elementary-school children.

The breakfast bags are delivered to 14 schools from both of the city’s school boards, and they include a fruit cup and juice, with either a granola bar, oatmeal or cold cereal. The schools are also provided with gift cards to purchase milk for the cereal, or as an alternative to juice.

“Our goal is to make sure the kids have a nourishing start to the day with

Liz Benoit, Deb Gallagher, Kellie McTaggart, Christine McTeirnan, and Mjrs Joanne and Terry Cook pack bags for the Feed My Lambs program in St. Albert, Alta.

wholesome food,” says Kellie McTaggart, community services co-ordinator. “They will do better in school and have more energy.”

In September, the inaugural month of the program in St. Albert, the corps provided 3,520 bags, prepared and deliv-

ered by volunteers and staff.

“Already we have been asked if we could expand to include more schools, and add lunches and snacks,” says McTaggart. “There is a need here obviously, and we are doing what we can to meet it.”

Salvationist February 2017 7

FRONTLINES

A

Pyjama Challenge in Sussex, N.B.

lmost 300 children in Sussex, N.B., received pyjamas this Christmas thanks to a partnership between The Salvation Army and the Danny and Jessica Angel Foundation.

The donation was made in memory of Matthew Palmer, a local boy who passed away unexpectedly in 2013 at the age of 13.

Schools in Sussex took up the challenge to raise funds for the campaign in November. Students at Sussex Elementary had a successful spirit day where students payed $1 to wear their pyjamas to school. They met their challenge of 40 pairs, and also purchased 25 extra pairs. Using their staff’s dressdown-for-charity money, Sussex Corner Elementary donated 40 pairs, while Sussex Regional High School reached their goal of 56 pairs.

Sussex Middle School had the biggest fundraising challenge, bringing in a total of 124 pairs of pyjamas. A school spirit day and a class collection competition brought in close to $900. Grade 8 leaders Hayden Walker, Joe Sheppard and Tyler Babineau, with his mother, Joan Babineau, sold popcorn one morning, adding $230 to the total. Brody Peddle, a Grade 8 student and good friend of

R

Schoolchildren from Sussex, N.B., present pyjamas to Mjrs Stan and Judy Folkins, COs, Sussex CC

Palmer’s, made and sold glow-in-thedark “#doitformattiep” stickers, adding another $73 to the pot.

The pyjamas collected were presented

to The Salvation Army in December at a celebrating life service in memory of Palmer, and were distributed to 285 children in need.

Quilts for Residents of Fort McMurray, Alta.

esidents of Fort McMurray, Alta., who lost everything in the fire that consumed the city last May, received a comforting gift from The Salvation Army this winter.

Thanks to donations from quilting groups across western and central Canada, as well as the United States, the Army was able to give 476 blankets to residents in need.

The quilts were distributed through the local Catholic school board, public schools and the Fort McMurray Christian School, as well as the local hospital where smaller blankets were given to long-term care residents and the maternity ward for women with newborn babies. The Salvation Army also gave out quilts through the corps, including to corps members who had lost their homes in the fire.

For many residents, receiving the quilt was a moving experience. “The blankets that were received at the corps were tearstained by the time they left the office,” shares Major Stephen Hibbs, corps officer. “The recipients were touched by the fact that somebody cared enough to send them a blanket. Many people are just living day to day, so any gift is a treasure.”

The Fort McMurray fire, the costliest disaster in Canadian history, destroyed approximately 2,400 homes and buildings.

Eleven members of the corps lost their homes.

8 February 2017 Salvationist

From left, Joe Champion, principal of the Fort McMurray Christian School, receives quilts from Donna and Dave Watts, representing The Salvation Army

Photo: Joel Johnson

ONWARD

Commissioner Susan McMillan meets a new friend in Sri Lanka

Dreaming Big In Sri Lanka, Salvation Army projects support health, housing, education and livelihoods.

BY COMMISSIONER SUSAN McMILLAN

S

ri Lanka means “resplendent island,” and it certainly lives up to its name. I travelled to this lovely place with our world missions team to view projects supported by the Canada and Bermuda Territory, and to participate in filming material for this year’s Partners in Mission campaign.

The island is a jewel, but perhaps the most precious part was its people: warm, welcoming and proud of their long cultural heritage. Anthropologists suggest that the Sri Lankan civilization dates back at least 5,000 years. Yet the ancient and the modern come together in the commercial capital, Colombo, and in coastal cities such as Galle and Hikkaduwa.

The people we met who were involved in Salvation Army ministry were completely committed to helping their fellow Sri Lankans, providing opportunities for better health, housing, education and livelihoods. The gospel is preached not only from pulpits, but also in actions and relationships.

The main project that the Canada and Bermuda Territory

has been working on is known as S.W.A.L.D.: Safe Water and Livelihood Development. A significant number of communities in the Polonnaruwa area have exhibited disproportionate incidences of kidney disease, attributed to the lack of safe drinking water. As a result, The Salvation Army has been digging wells and providing filtration equipment to provide safe water to these communities. It was my great pleasure to participate in the dedication ceremony for a completed well project while we were there.

After lighting an elaborate oil lamp with many different wicks—one for each guest or dignitary—and several speeches, I was invited to cut the ribbon decorating the door to the pump house. Upon entering, the engineer asked me to push a button and the pump motor roared to life. He then gave me a clay pot to hold under the tap and told me to turn it on. When the sparkling clean water flowed into the pot, everyone cheered.

As the pot filled up, I motioned to the engineer that it was time to turn off the tap, but when he did, the hastily put-together plumbing gave way. The tap came loose and I was soaked! It was quickly repaired and everything was in working order as people from the community lined up with their containers to take clean water home.

The other focus of the project is livelihood development. We had the privilege of visiting a family—a mother, two teenagers and her in-laws—that received a sewing machine and fabric.

Although the mother is suffering from cancer, she has been the family’s breadwinner since her husband passed away. She uses the sewing machine to make mosquito nets, which she sells in the local market.

On Boxing Day 2004, this resplendent island was devastated by the tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean.

Approximately 30,000 people were killed, 20,000 were injured and more than a million were displaced. The loss of homes, business and agricultural land was staggering.

The Salvation Army responded to the disaster with relief and recovery efforts, supporting housing projects and helping local businesses re-open. We visited one such businessman who runs a metalwork shop. The Army helped rebuild the workshop and replaced some of the needed equipment. Now, he has several employees who also make their living from the shop. His daughter is able to study at university, and is working on an accounting degree—a woman after my own heart. I was happy to see the lasting benefit that came from investing in this project.

Perhaps my most significant memory is of the children we met who are being cared for by The Salvation Army. When we asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up, their responses included lawyers, teachers, engineers, and quite a few Salvation Army officers. They are big dreams, but because people in Canada and Bermuda care enough to sponsor children through our Brighter Futures program, they can come true.

As we start our 2017 Partners in Mission campaign, I challenge our territory to dream big as well, and consider what we can do to help people for whom life is a daily struggle for survival.

Commissioner Susan McMillan is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Follow her at facebook.com/susanmcmillantc and twitter. com/salvationarmytc.

Salvationist February 2017 9

Island of Hope In the aftermath of civil war and a deadly tsunami, The Salvation Army is helping Sri Lanka heal.

O

n December 26, 2004, an earthquake measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale shook the bottom of the Indian Ocean, triggering a series of massive waves that crashed against the shorelines of 11 countries, killing more than 230,000 people. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.

After Indonesia, the death toll was highest on the island of Sri Lanka, where tourism and the fishing industry are concentrated along the coast. The tsunami caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses and agricultural land.

It struck a country already devastated by a decades-long civil war, as the Tamil Tigers fought to create an independent state. After the tsunami, a dispute over how to administer emergency aid funds only led to further conflict.

Approximately 100,000 people lost their lives in the civil war before the Tamil Tigers were finally defeated in 2009.

In the aftermath of war and tragedy, The Salvation Army is supporting the 10 February 2017 Salvationist

people of Sri Lanka as they recover—not only by helping with their physical needs, but also by providing spiritual support as they heal from the deep emotional scars left by the terror of the tsunami.

I travelled to Sri Lanka with a team from the world missions department,

along with Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, to capture in photos the work of The Salvation Army, to meet people and listen to their stories. These photos reflect the courage and resilience they’ve shown in rebuilding their lives.

Major Brenda Murray, director of world missions, pauses to reflect at a museum of photos, taken by survivors, that show the devastation the tsunami caused.

Photos: Joel Johnson

BY JOEL JOHNSON

Worship at Siyambalangamuwa Corps, located a few hours outside Colombo, the nation’s capital.

The beauty of the Sri Lankan coast has made the country a popular tourist destination. For much of the population, fishing is a way of life. But when the tsunami hit, the ocean became a destructive force, something to be feared.

Major Shanti Seneviratne stops to talk to a resident of the Rajagiriya Iris Perera Elders Home.

The Salvation Army’s Hope House, a school located at the territorial headquarters compound in Colombo, provides education for all ages.

Salvationist February 2017 11

A woman brings a vessel to the new well to get safe water for her family.

In northern Sri Lanka, contaminated ground water is related to high levels of kidney disease, and even death. The Canada and Bermuda Territory supports the S.W.A.L.D. (Safe Water and Livelihood Development) project, which builds wells, provides filtration equipment and helps to identify, monitor and care for those who have been diagnosed with kidney disease. After dedicating a new water distribution unit in Elahera Welankatuwa, Commissioner Susan McMillan fills the first container with clean drinking water.

The tsunami swept away tens of thousands of homes and businesses, many of which were poorly constructed. The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, in partnership with other territories, was quick to aid in the rebuilding process. A family stands in front of their new home.

A metal worker who lost his shop in the tsunami received new tools and equipment from the Army to re-establish his livelihood. Today, his business is thriving and he is able to provide for his family, as well as employ others.

The tsunami reached more than a kilometre inland. This baker and his wife ran when they saw the wave coming, only to be separated from each other by rushing water. They survived by clinging to trees. The Army helped him rebuild his oven and he now provides fresh bread to his community.

Approximately 70 percent of the population practises Buddhism. The Salvation Army is well respected throughout the country as an organization that will help and support anyone, regardless of their religion.

Salvation Army community development workers in Pollonaruwa visit remote areas by motorcycle to assess community needs.

A mobile medical clinic is dispatched to test for illnesses related to contaminated water supplies.

Major Brenda Murray, director of world missions, Commissioner Susan McMillan and Colonel Nihal Hettiarachchi, then chief secretary of the Sri Lanka Territory, are welcomed to a community that provided new homes after the tsunami. The visit coincided with a wedding, and they were graciously invited to be part of the celebration.

Salvationist  February 2017  13

Out of Syria The Salvation Army provides practical support for refugees in Germany.

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

Col Patrick Naud, then territorial commander, Germany, Lithuania and Poland Tty, and Mjr Mark Backhaus, CO, Leipzig, Germany, open a facility where refugees can purchase furniture and other household wares at low prices

A

s 2016 came to a close, the world watched with horror as a devastating siege took hold of Aleppo, once the largest city in Syria, now a battleground between government forces and rebel groups.

For the past five years, scenes such as these have played on screens around the world, making the Syrian civil war and the resulting refugee crisis a reality that cannot be ignored. That crisis has rippled outward, as nearly five million Syrians have fled their country. Many of them have found a home in Europe, where The Salvation Army is providing assistance across the continent.

Difficult Journey In the Germany, Lithuania and Poland Territory, a partner territory of Canada and Bermuda, caring for refugees has become an integral part of The Salvation Army’s ministry.

Germany is the leading destination for refugees in Europe, receiving 442,000 asylum applications in 2015, and more than 300,000 in 2016.

In the city of Leipzig, the Army is providing accommodation for refugees.

About a dozen people live in apart14 February 2017 Salvationist

Abed Hilani and Moufak Alsadat are Syrian refugees who live in a Salvation Army apartment in Leipzig

ments attached to the corps, including Abed Hilani and Moufak Alsadat. Like many others, they arrived in Europe in an inflatable boat and then travelled through several countries to get to Germany.

“It was a difficult and terrible journey,” says Alsadat, “but as soon as you arrive in Germany, you can feel serenity and calm.”

For Hilani, the help he has received from the Army has made the transition to life in Germany much smoother.

“They help us to learn the language, education and different types of services,” he says. “Everything we need could be found here in Germany.”

The Leipzig Corps also supports refugees through its thrift store and household wares store, which offers furniture, electronics and other household items at low prices. The construction and oper-

ation of this store, which is housed in a temporary tent-like structure, was sponsored by the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

More than just customers, many of the store’s volunteers are refugees.

“Although The Salvation Army was helping them, they didn’t want to be taking and not giving,” says Major Brenda Murray, director of world missions, who visited the facility last year. “We spoke to some of them and they told us how much they enjoyed doing what they were doing. They were happy, like they were having fun.”

Challenges Ahead Not far from Leipzig, in the city of Naumburg, The Salvation Army has an apartment that houses refugees and offers a drop-in program for refugee women and children. This program provides tea, coffee, snacks, games for children and an opportunity to practise German and receive support, from both The Salvation Army and their peers.

Visiting the program gave Major Karen Lemke, world missions financial co-ordinator, insight into the challenges many refugees are facing. “I spoke to one woman with school-aged children,” she recalls. “Some of her family was in Turkey, some were in Germany, and some were elsewhere—they were trying to find a way to get everybody back together again. Meanwhile, she had been living in Germany for months and still hadn’t been able to get into German classes, or get all the ID cards that she needed.”

The Army also has a thriving ministry in Dresden, which received a massive influx of refugees in the fall of 2015, prompting the city to contact The Salvation Army and ask if they could operate an emergency shelter. Lieutenant Gert Scharf and Aux-Captain Rosi Scharf answered the call, accommodating 40 refugees in a school gym. With the Army’s assistance, all of these men had housing just three weeks later.

A church with 25 members, Dresden Corps maintains strong relationships with about a dozen refugees, including two families. Much of the assistance they provide is administrative, helping them navigate the immigration system and find jobs.

But the key to the Army’s ministry to refugees is not programs or practical assistance, says Lieutenant Scharf. “The most important thing is to be friends to them.”

Germany, Lithuania and Poland Territory The Salvation Army is called: Die Heilsarmee (Germany), Išganymo Armija (Lithuania) and Armia Zbawienia (Poland) Languages in which the gospel is preached: German, Lithuanian and Polish

62

active officers

58

retired

2

778

employees

848

senior soldiers

480

43

adherents

corps

cadets 3 outposts

6 auxiliary-captains 21 institutions

79

junior soldiers

Lithuania

Poland

A Salvation Army feeding program in Warsaw

•P oland is the most recent addition to the Germany, Lithuania and Poland Territory. Though the Army had been active there prior to the Second World War, work in that country officially re-commenced in 2005.

• The first Polish cadet in the history of The Salvation Army, Cadet Dominika Domanşka, is currently training at the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg, as part of the Messengers of the Gospel Session.

Partner Project: In 2016, the Canada and Bermuda Territory sponsored a summer camp program through Salvation Army children’s centres in Warsaw, Starachowice, Malbork and Rzeszow. Forty-two children and eight adults took part in this program.

• Salvation Army work began in Lithuania in 1998. A former Soviet republic, the country joined the European Union in 2004.

• Since coming to Lithuania, the Army has grown, despite opposition from the community, which sees churches as cults—a perception resulting from years of Soviet occupation.

Partner Project: The water boiler at the Klaipeda Corps was old and could break down any time.

This boiler provided hot water so that homeless people could take showers. In 2015, Canada and Bermuda sponsored the purchase of a new, larger boiler so even more people can benefit from its operation.

General André Cox visits Klaipeda Corps in September 2016

Germany • The Salvation Army established work in Germany in 1886. Today, the country is the economic powerhouse of Europe, with the largest population and economy.

• Lieutenants David and Tabea Cole, who trained in the Canada and Bermuda Territory and were commissioned in 2016, returned to their home territory and are now corps officers at Bremen Corps.

Partner Project: Last year, Canada and Bermuda sponsored two seminars, held in Berlin and Cologne, for people working with refugees. The goal was to improve their knowledge and understanding and thereby improve the quality and appropriateness of services offered.

Fifty people participated in these seminars.

Cpt Mareike Walz leads the Army’s ministry in Naumburg

Salvationist February 2017 15

CALLING THE COURAGEOUS

Crashing the Party Marcia Farrell was looking for a church home and found more than she ever imagined at The Salvation Army.

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

W

hen I watch the other church leaders of The Salvation Army’s Scarborough Citadel, I’m encouraged and inspired,” declares Marcia Farrell. “I, too, want to stand up and be counted, to go out and help the community. I want to be a helper. I want to be a witness for my God and for Christ.”

Finding Home Born on the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean, Farrell immigrated to Canada in 2001 to join her husband in Toronto’s west end, and then moved to Scarborough in the east of the city with her two sons.

The church she’d attended was now too far away to commute, so Farrell and her two sons started looking for a place nearby. But she wasn’t spiritually content with the churches she attended.

So matters stood until the afterschool program that Farrell’s children attended closed down.

“I had to find somewhere else for them,” she explains, “and I was fortunate that they were accepted at the program operated by Scarborough Citadel.”

Farrell interacted with Salvationists at the citadel and was impressed by what she saw and heard.

As it happens, Scarborough Citadel is situated on the ground floor of an apartment building, and the corps was hosting a potluck for the residents. Farrell thought it was a general invitation and decided to attend with her children and some of her homemade Caribbean dishes.

Though they were “crashing” the party, Farrell and her family nevertheless received a warm welcome.

“We loved how friendly and open everybody was,” she says. “You could see the sincerity, the honesty, the lack of pretense.”

Heartened by the experience, Farrell decided to attend a church service the following Sunday.

“I was blown away,” she smiles. “I 16 February 2017 Salvationist

and many more, I later learned—had been praying for us every single day. It warmed my heart. I hugged them like they were my family. For their part, they were thrilled to finally meet me and my children.

“That encounter confirmed to me that this is the place that I ought to be, at The Salvation Army. I realized I was home.”

Marcia Farrell attends Toronto’s Scarborough Citadel with her two sons

“We loved how friendly and open everybody was.

You could see the sincerity.” realized The Salvation Army believes what I believe, that one has to be in total obedience to God and recognize that Christ came and died for our sins—and he’s the only way to salvation.”

But that wasn’t all.

After the church service, Alison Moore, the outreach co-ordinator, approached the family.

“Marcia, I want you to meet some people,” she said, and introduced her to Marg and Eric. “This is the family who’ve been praying for you and your children.”

“I was astonished,” Farrell says.

“Here I was going about my daily business, unaware that these two people—

Empowered to Help Farrell and her children started attending regularly from then on.

“I loved the environment at Scarborough Citadel and saw how the congregation genuinely reached out to the community. I realized how much I wanted to be a part of this.”

But Farrell wanted to be more than someone who attends church.

“Making the decision to become a soldier was an easy one,” she says. “Being a soldier, wearing the uniform, represents who I am in Christ. I stand out!”

And she does.

“Marcia demonstrates a keen interest in, and understanding of, God’s Word,” says Major Ron Millar, the corps officer at Scarborough Citadel. “She’s a wonderful witness and actively invites family members and others to church.”

Farrell helps out at the food bank and in the corps office, and volunteers with the Christmas kettles.

Now that she has donned the uniform of a Salvation Army soldier, she sums up the transformation she has undergone in one word: “Empowering.”

“When we accept Christ as our personal Saviour and we go through our daily life, we sometimes tend to overlook some of the little things, like going the extra distance to help someone,” she explains. “But being a soldier, that’s exactly what I’m called to do.

“I’m called to be that help to the person who is disadvantaged, the person who is in need, the person who wants someone to pray, so I do feel different. I feel empowered to help.”

Fun With Fundraising

Four ministry units get creative in support of Partners in Mission.

Coin Wars For 11 years, divisional headquarters in the Alberta and Northern Territories Division has supported the Partners in Mission campaign through coin wars.

From February to April, everyone is divided into four teams. “Last year, our theme was ‘global impact,’ and the teams were named after continents: South America, Europe, Africa and Asia,” says Leslie Stuart, charitable gift advisor in the public relations and development department, who leads the initiative.

Each team decorated a space to illustrate the work of the Army on that continent, and hosted meals and activities related to their theme, such as a silent auction, colouring contest, pancake breakfast and selling homemade perogies.

“Despite the heated competition, we all support each other,” says Stuart. Last year, they raised $5,739 for the international work of the Army.

Three teams at Westminster Park in London, Ont., “bought” items to pack a suitcase for a trip to the partner territory

Pack Your Bags At Westminster Park Corps in London, Ont., Captains Jon and Tracy Savage, then the corps officers, encouraged the congregation to raise funds for Partners in Mission by “buying” items to take on a trip to the partner territory.

“We decided to use the fact that these

were destinations for tourism, and yet there is such poverty and hardship,” says Captain Tracy Savage. “We showed the videos and focused on how little it takes to support other communities.”

They divided the congregation into three teams of 50-60 people, and placed three suitcases at the front of the sanctuary. For six weeks, they set aside a time during the Sunday morning service to cheer on the teams and give a fundraising update.

“At the end of the service, the teams would gather as a group and choose what to add to their suitcase. Each item was assigned a cost, such as ‘passport—$80,’ ‘camera—$120,’ ” she says.

Along with regular weekly donations to Partners in Mission, they reached their goal of $3,600.

Building God’s Kingdom In 2016, the Partners in Mission campaign at Conception Bay South Corps, N.L., focused on “building God’s kingdom” (see 1 Corinthians 3:7-9).

To illustrate this theme, they placed a growth chart on the wall in the sanctuary. “For every $25 raised, we placed a colourful building block beside it, to symbolize that together, as partners in mission and ministry, we are doing our part to help build God’s kingdom,” says Claudette Hillier, assistant corps sergeant-major. Children were encouraged to participate by collecting money in “Lego” blocks created out of juice containers. By the end of the eight-week campaign, there were 576 blocks on the wall.

In addition, the home league held a sale; the 50-plus club donated a portion of the proceeds from their annual breakfast; and the men’s fellowship hosted a gospel concert and took up a free-will offering.

When the grand total was announced, they had raised $14,400. “When our people see and hear the need that is before them, they want to help—to be God’s hand extended,” says Hillier.

Tape the Pastor What are the ingredients of a success-

A member of Cornerstone CC in Mississauga, Ont., helps tape Cpt Jeff Arkell to the wall as a fundraiser for Partners in Mission

ful Partners in Mission campaign?

According to Cornerstone Community Church in Mississauga, Ont., they are “to make it different, make it fun and engage everyone—from young to seniors,” says Caroline Bell-Tiberio, who co-ordinates family services at the corps. “We decided to have each ministry department come up with a unique idea to raise funds, and they all participated with passion and enthusiasm.”

The corps spread their fundraising activities over several months, from February to June, to give each event breathing room. Initiatives included a bake sale, chili dinner and auction (where two homemade carrot cakes generated a bidding frenzy), a multicultural tasting buffet, toonie tins and a prayer breakfast.

But the funniest event was a challenge from Captain Jeff Arkell, then the corps officer.

“He challenged the congregation to try to tape him to the wall,” says BellTiberio. “A strip of duct tape could be purchased for $2. Captain Arkell is not a gentleman of slight stature, but the challenge was met!”

They were proud to surpass their goal of $7,030, raising $8,596.

Salvationist February 2017 17

REEL TO REAL

Labour Pains

Photos: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Can The Birth of a Nation bear the scandal of the director’s history?

In our culture, films have become a place where we wrestle with the big questions of life. Who is God? What gives life meaning? What does it mean to be human? Reel to Real explores the intersection between film and theology, offering thoughtful engagement with an art form capable of conveying deep spiritual truth. Dr. James Read, executive director of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre in Winnipeg, and Dr. Michael Boyce, acting academic dean and head of English and film studies at Booth University College in Winnipeg, reflect on The Birth of a Nation.

Dear Michael,

T

he Birth of a Nation really is a bloody movie, isn’t it?

Then again, I suppose birth usually is. Is that director Nate Parker’s point: that blood must be spilt for a country to be born?

Obviously, the “nation” the movie is mostly about is the United States. But, if so, why is it set in the 1800s, not the 1700s?

After all, we were taught that the U.S.A. was born in 1776, and every year July 4 is celebrated as a big birthday bash. They call it Independence Day to remind Americans of Washington and Jefferson and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Which resulted in the American Revolutionary War against King George and British oppression. Which led to the birth of the nation in which “all men are created equal.” Right?

No, not right. The nation that was born in 1776 did not treat all equally. People of African descent didn’t count. Their 18 February 2017 Salvationist

labour could be forced. Their women raped. Their children kept illiterate. Their men systematically humiliated.

I think Nate Parker is saying that today’s United States was really only born after people like Nat Turner, his movie’s 19thcentury hero, decided they would take the injustice no longer.

Black lives matter in 2016; they didn’t matter much in 1776.

Could we say similar things about Canada? When and where was Canada born—around a peaceable conference table in Charlottetown, P.E.I., in 1864? Or was the Canada we know now really birthed in 1995, when Mohawks and Ojibways took to the barricades in Oka, Que., and Ipperwash Provincial Park, Ont., and a bloody struggle ensued? Was it when thousands who had been coerced into Indian Residential Schools declared they were “survivors,” not “victims,” and forced everybody to take account of policies that had tried to destroy their heritage?

What do you think? Can a nation become a real nation, a people a real people, only after hard labour and spilt blood?

Jim Dear Jim,

Y

ou pose interesting questions—questions I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer. But I have been thinking a lot about versions of history, and Walter Benjamin’s oftquoted maxim, “History is written by the victors.” I definitely see the value in what Parker is trying to do with this film.

The Birth of a Nation is an uncomfortable, at times unpleasant, film. It’s about an unpleasant time in American history,

REEL TO REAL one that too often gets romanticized and sanitized. Behind the “heroes” of history are the broken, abused and forgotten.

It’s important to try to correct this.

It’s interesting that you raise the question of Canada.

Canadians sometimes see their own history through rosecoloured glasses, particularly when it comes to race and racism.

Yes, many former slaves came to Canada through the underground railway, but what they found in the true north wasn’t the tolerant society many of us like to imagine. One only needs to listen to a few residential school survivors to know we’ve had our share of discrimination and bigotry.

But The Birth of a Nation is a troubling work not only for what it represents on screen, but also the details that have come out about the director’s life—it’s the alleged white-washing of both a public history and a private one. As students in the 1990s, Parker and Jean McGianni Celestin, who co-wrote the film, were accused of and charged with raping a female student, who has since committed suicide. Parker was found not guilty; Celestin was found guilty but his conviction was later overturned.

Parker’s past has, in many ways, overshadowed the success and credibility of his film. Even his cast has expressed unease with this disturbing story. Has he become—like Woody Allen, Mel Gibson and Roman Polanski—so controversial and polarizing a figure that audiences are reluctant to support his work?

Do the actions and choices of an artist taint their work, even if that work is important?

Michael

It seems to me that it should matter in some way. But to think I should make a point of going to see a movie because the producer is a Christian, and stay away from one whose stars are atheists, is far too crude a principle. (I would hate to give up on Katharine Hepburn.)

You’re a professor who studies works of art. Any advice?

Jim

The Birth of a Nation tells the story of Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a slave and preacher in the antebellum South, who leads a slave revolt in a quest for justice and freedom

Dear Jim,

Should it matter whether the artist is a good person or a bad person if the art is good?

Dear Michael,

I

’ll come to the general question in a moment, but first let me say that I’m puzzled by what is being said about Nate Parker (and not just by you). As I understand it, Parker was found not guilty in a court of law.

Rape is a serious violation. It devastates victims. It is wrong, plain wrong. I couldn’t be more emphatic.

But Parker was acquitted. By contrast, Woody Allen admits to an adulterous affair with his wife Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter; Mel Gibson is on tape spewing hatred of Jews; and Roman Polanski pleaded guilty to “unlawful sexual intercourse” with a 13-year-old girl. So why is Parker being lumped in with these others?

I can’t answer my own question. Maybe it’s partly because rape is such a hard charge to prove in court that we feel the burden of proof should be reversed—that we should assume anyone charged with rape is guilty until proven innocent, and Parker hasn’t proven that. Maybe. But that really bothers me. I wish we had better ways of getting at truth and justice.

Even if we did, however, it doesn’t touch the more general question you raise—that is, about the connection between artists and their art. Should it matter whether the artist is a good person or a bad person if the art is good?

W

e certainly have waded out into the deep end, haven’t we?

To begin to address your last question, I agree with you that supporting a work of art because a producer, director or actor is Christian is too crude. I find it interesting that some of the early press for The Birth of a Nation—at least in the Christian media—anchored their support on Parker’s faith. Like that was enough of a reason to see this film.

And while I do think that we need to be conscious of how supporting one aspect of someone’s art, business or politics is a tacit support of them, at the end of the day, I come back to the film itself. For all its flaws, The Birth of a Nation should be seen if for no other reason than the deep racial divide that still exists. We need to understand the stories of other people, of the injustices that have been committed against others—especially the injustices committed in the name of Jesus. It’s difficult, and often uncomfortable, but to ignore these stories leads to the destructive racism and bigotry that has been rearing its ugly head in the United States and in Canada.

And that takes me back to your comments about sexual assault. I do think there is something different about it.

Statistics prove how few instances get reported. And just look at how many of the survivors are treated by the media. As for the law, it’s almost impossible for a rape charge to meet the legal burden of proof.

You began by talking about how Parker’s movie shows African-American women being raped with absolute impunity in the 1800s. While rape may not happen out in public now, it still happens. And women still can’t get justice. We—men especially—must not minimize that fact.

Michael Salvationist February 2017 19

THE WHOLE WORLD MOBILISING Commissioner Rosalie Peddle explains The Salvation Army’s new international campaign to unite Salvationists.

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, is the chairperson and co-ordinator of The Whole World Mobilising— Go Forward!, an initiative from International Headquarters (IHQ) designed to unite Salvationists through the use of technology and social media.

Commissioner Peddle spoke about the initiative with Major Deslea Maxwell, then editor of Revive, a resource magazine published by IHQ for women in ministry and mission.

I have been hearing the phrase “The Whole World Mobilising—Go Forward!” What is it all about?

This is an initiative that the international Salvation Army is embracing in 2017.

Our vision is to mobilize the global Army to go forward into the future with faith, courage and resiliency, winning victories on all fronts through the transforming power of Jesus. This exciting campaign will unite the global Salvation Army through the engagement of technology and social media as we share videos, pictures and stories from the 128 countries where we serve. It is an opportunity to recognize the work that is already being done to spread the good news of the gospel, share in daily struggles and celebrate achievements together.

How did the concept come to be?

As the General and Commissioner Silvia Cox travel around the world, they continue to hear stories of the impact of The Whole World Praying, The Whole World Reading and the Boundless—The Whole World Redeeming international congress held in London, England, in 2015. We wanted to build on this momentum by seeking to encourage, inspire, train and equip Salvationists around the world to be locally mobilized in God’s mission 20 February 2017 Salvationist

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle speaks with Mjr Deslea Maxwell

in their cities, towns and communities.

Why focus on mobilizing?

Mobilization is vital for the future of the Army, for the spiritual well-being of Salvationists and for the kingdom of God. He has not called his people to be spectators, to be comfortable in our churches, but to be people of action on a mission—to bring people to Christ and Christ to the people. The world is in such a chaotic state that there is a great urgency in our mission.

What are you hoping to achieve through this campaign?

We are setting our hopes high! We are challenging all territories, commands and regions to join us in a united and intentional effort to move every Salvationist (regardless of their age) beyond the walls of their corps buildings and out into their communities to share the gospel of hope and transformation

that is only found in Jesus. Our desired outcomes are: •• To have countless Salvationists trained and equipped in outreach skills and strategies.

•• To have the global Army passionately involved in creative local mission expressions.

•• To experience unity across the Army world as Salvationists join together in marching, praying, sharing the gospel and serving both the powerful and powerless within their communities.

•• To motivate and inspire as we celebrate the work and transformation of God in the lives of individual Salvationists, corps, divisions, territories, commands and regions.

What tools will be available to assist corps and centres to be mobilized?

The heartbeat of the campaign will be

The Whole World Mobilising app and website. These are interactive, relevant, informative and user-friendly tools that will enable Salvationists to connect, participate and celebrate how God is blessing and using the Army for his honour and glory. Resources will be available on the website and app to help with the training and empowering in discipleship, evangelism, prayer, Bible reading and other ways.

Will The Whole World Mobilising culminate or have a closing date?

It is impossible to have a closing date.

While we will use 2017 to focus on this initiative, we are hoping that the nature, impact and outcome will lead us far into the future.

There are two significant events that will happen during 2017. Mobilise: Go Children and Youth! will take place March 24-26 all around the Army world.

And then on October 8, Mobilise: Go Forward! will take place at London’s Regent Hall hosted by IHQ with the General and international leaders participating. During the meetings, reports and videos from the global Salvation Army being mobilized in mission will be shown. The event will be live streamed

“God has not called his people to be spectators … but to be people of action on a mission.”

the world through prayers, events, readings, articles and mobilization activities. Note the British spelling of “Mobilising” when accessing the website and app.

—Commissioner Rosalie Peddle

Contribute to the Campaign

and it will be a great celebration of what the Lord has done and is still doing in the lives of individuals and communities who are experiencing transformation and liberation in Jesus.

Is there anything else you would like to say about this initiative?

I invite everyone to pray for The Whole World Mobilising campaign, that the global Salvation Army will be inspired to move beyond its comfort zone, to dream big and impact the world for the kingdom.

Visit mobilising.salvationarmy.org to engage with Salvationists around

THE

This interview originally appeared in Revive. Reprinted and abridged with permission.

The Whole World Mobilising team is waiting to hear from you. They are looking for blog entries, videos and photos that show how you and your corps are mobilizing to spread the gospel. Give specifics. What did you do? What motivated you? What was the outcome? You can also share your testimony, contribute practical ministry tips or write about a social issue that matters to you.

E-mail your submissions to Melissa Wallace, content producer for the Americas and Caribbean, at melissa_wallace@can.salvationarmy. org. Let’s celebrate all that God is doing through the ministry and mission of The Salvation Army.

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In 2017, The Salvation Army kicks off a year-long campaign to encourage Salvationists to connect with each other, celebrate the work being done around the world to share the gospel and equip them with tools and tips along the way. The Whole World Mobilising app and website will provide real-time updates on mobilisation activities, practical coaching, community and global prayer. Visit the website today and download the app for inspirational tools to daily put your faith into action.

MOBILISING.SALVATIONARMY.ORG

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Salvationist February 2017 21

SPIRITUAL LIFE

The Rhythm of Rest Seven ways to reclaim the Sabbath.

BY MAJOR FRED POND

P

ainters and photographers often use the technique of contrast in their work.

If they want to highlight something, they use dark, sombre colours. Shadows make light stand out more clearly.

The purpose of a Sabbath day is to shed light on other days. When our to-do lists seem endless; when we can read and respond to e-mails on our smartphones any time of day; when we are tired, stressed and anxious, one thing is clear: we need to rest. Sabbath rest helps us stop and regain perspective, so we can discover if we are living to work or working to live. The Sabbath is for contrast.

In Scripture, the first mention of Sabbath is in Genesis, when God rested from the work of creation on the seventh day. In the Ten Commandments, we are instructed to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (see Exodus 20:8). In the Book of Acts, the early church made Sunday the day of worship, fellowship and rest to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus.

In my journey, I have struggled with rest. It can be difficult to wrench myself away from the computer. And as a corps officer, I’m not able to rest on Sunday, so keeping the Sabbath requires intentionality. I have learned to establish healthy habits by carving out portions of my week for different kinds of rest.

Without this structured rhythm, I find my times of work are less productive and less enjoyable. But if I know I have a time of rest with my family coming up, I can work with greater productivity and a sense of freedom, knowing that God takes pleasure in my work when I do it unto him.

Here are some ways to push back

22 February 2017 Salvationist

against the cult of busyness and reclaim Sabbath rest.

1. Gain proper perspective. In Genesis 1, each new day begins in restful darkness, preparing for the gift of light and activity. As writer and theologian Eugene Peterson notes, “I go to sleep to get out of the way for a while.” God and nature go on without us and we join in the work in the morning.

2. Rest before you get tired. When there is much to do, working until you crash is an easy default. Plan your work and build in times of rest.

3. Set boundaries. It’s not about legalistic rules, such as “don’t mow the grass on Sunday,” it’s about healthy boundaries. What constitutes “work” for you? It’s easy to think, “I’ll just respond to this one e-mail.” But there is something healthy about having space that is truly blocked out for rest—space that nothing can invade.

Take a break from social media as well, which can speed up and clutter life.

4. Find a hobby. Hobbies are often more restorative than simply sitting on a couch and watching TV. Sabbath rest is not just a matter of ceasing all activity, but redirecting our activity into

a lternative, life-giving channels.

5. Find ways to rest with your family. Some say you can measure how healthy a family is by how much they play and laugh together.

Take the family outside to enjoy nature.

Go to the beach or a local forest preserve and soak up some of God’s creation.

6. Take turns. Couples can give each other a Sabbath space by taking turns watching the kids. Try to enforce “ quiet activity time,” so that even if the children aren’t napping, everyone is at least playing quietly for a little while.

7. Spend some time in the Word as a family. You don’t have to spend the whole Sabbath doing “holy” things.

But a healthy practice of reading the Bible together can help your hearts to rest in the One who made you and sustains you. How beautiful for children to grow up in a home that loves the Word and orients itself around Christ as revealed to us through Scripture.

Define for yourself how Sabbath rest provides contrast. What will make you healthier, more rested and more rooted in your faith? Make time to relax, renew and refocus. The Sabbath is a gift from God. Let’s accept it with gratitude.

Major Fred Pond is the corps officer at Buchans Corps, N.L.

For further reading: The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest by Alan Fadling

Border Crossing

What I learned during my time as a cadet in Canada.

I

landed at Winnipeg International Airport at 10:45 p.m. on a Wednesday night, after flying for 23 hours. It was the first time I had ever left my home in India, and I looked around in excitement, eager to catch a glimpse of Canada and begin my journey to officership as an international cadet in the Ambassadors of Holiness Session.

I’m from Mizoram, a state in northeastern India bordered by Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mizos look quite different from other Indians—our ancestors are believed to have migrated from China.

Although India is a predominantly Hindu country, Mizoram is 98 percent Christian and I am a fourth-generation Salvationist. I dedicated my life to God as a junior soldier, and felt the affirmation of my call to officership as a teenager.

In 2009, I was working at territorial headquarters for the India Eastern Territory, when I met Commissioner William Francis, who was visiting India to participate in a Brengle Institute. He invited me to train in the Canada and Bermuda Territory, and God opened the door, despite all of the challenges. I am grateful to him and Commissioner Marilyn Francis for all they did, and to the leadership of my territory and the international secretary for the South Asia Zone who gave the approval.

When I arrived in Canada, everything

BY CAPTAIN CHARLES CHALRIMAWIA

was so new and different. I experienced a lot of culture shock. In Mizoram, people live together in big families; at first, Canadians felt much more reserved than I was used to. Speaking and studying in English, my third language, wasn’t easy.

I often felt lost in class, especially when the discussion related to the Canadian context. It took time to process what I was learning.

The people I met were the lights that helped me see—my session-mates, as well as the Prayer Warriors and Friends of Christ sessions, and the training college staff. They left a deep impression, and I remember them with warmth and affection. They taught me that relationships give us hope, which helped me to become an effective officer, to be the giver of hope.

Along with our academic work, field placements were an important part of our training. Some of the highlights were volunteering at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; travelling to Newfoundland and Labrador for the Atlantic congress and commissioning of the Prayer Warriors Session; and joining my friends, Captains Fred and Carolyn Reid, at their appointment in Bracebridge, Ont. Each placement was an opportunity to build relationships with the community. I was involved in many different activities, from preaching, to visiting a nursing home, to standing on a kettle, to sorting and packing toys and Christmas hampers. The son of my field supervisor, Captain Peter van Duinen, even took me to his school for show and tell!

Although there were many times I st r ugg led a nd From left, Cpts Charles Chalrimawia, Fred Reid, David Bond and Joyce found it hard to Downer volunteer at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver understand a differ-

Cpt Charles Chalrimawia, from Mizoram, India, trained to be a Salvation Army officer in the Canada and Bermuda Tty

ent culture, God used these struggles to stretch and mould me, to teach me to trust and rely on him. I learned to persevere and hope for the future. And there were many fun experiences along the way—playing floor hockey, enjoying Starbucks and Tim Hortons and seeing “white sunshine” (snow) for the first time!

My experiences in a multicultural and multi-faith country shaped me to offer the love of Christ depending on the needs of the context. It is a privilege to take up this commission as an officer in The Salvation Army, starting from Canada and Bermuda, to India, and beyond—wherever God appoints me to go. I will remain faithful and obedient to his call upon my life to serve him wholeheartedly and to be the giver of hope in a community where hope does not prevail.

Captain Charles Chalrimawia is the public relations officer, territorial children’s officer and event and hospitality officer for the India Eastern Territory.

Salvationist February 2017 23

HERSTORY

Courage, My Love When Valentine’s Day is hard.

I

v iv id ly remember sitting in class at Hampton Heights Middle School in Hamilton, Ont., on Valentine’s Day, as the spirit committee delivered treats—those candy hearts that, these days, say “Txt me” or “Swipe Right”—to those with a secret admirer.

The anxiety of waiting and wondering if I would be chosen was excruciating.

Fast forward several years.

I’m married, with two children.

On Valentine’s Day, my children will probably give me handmade cards. My husband isn’t a romantic, but he will probably buy me flowers and we will go out for the evening. The anxiety surrounding Valentine’s Day is gone, replaced with the unforced rhythm of love and marriage that we have known for 11 years.

But I still remember what it felt like to be 12 years old, sitting in math class, hoping for a bag of candy that I didn’t even like. We all know this holiday is made up and cheesy and commercial, but it can still bring sorrow. We all want to be loved. So, if you are planning to avoid all forms of social media on February 14, this is for you.

To the single person: I don’t assume everyone who is single wants to be part of a set, but for those of you who are lonely, I want you to know that I see you.

You are amazing. You are independent in ways that I have never been. I have never lived on my own, mowed a lawn, learned how to turn on the barbecue or hung a picture. I give you a valentine for being resourceful and full of courage.

To all the single parents: It may seem like you are too busy packing lunches and cleaning bathrooms to think about romance. I see you and the 24 February 2017 Salvationist

incredible work you do every day. When my husband goes away for the weekend, I don’t shower the entire time, because there’s always a child calling for me. But there you are, showing up to raise your kids. I give you a valentine for being brave and faithful to your family. I applaud you. Scratch that, I am giving you a standing ovation.

To those who lost their love: This used to be a happy day for you, but now it’s a reminder of what you’ve lost.

Everyone else’s happiness is a knife that rips through your already broken heart.

I see you, friend with the tear-streaked cheeks.

For those of you who lost a valentine because your relationship ended, I am so sorry. Love is hard and confusing and exhausting. You have full permission to feel however you want on this junky holiday. And if the church hurt you when you parted ways, again I am so sorry. I give you a valentine. Not that it will heal your broken heart, but just to remind you that you are going to make it.

For those of you who lost your love to death, I celebrate your life of love. I will hug my husband a second longer today as I remember that life is short. I know this scheduled day of love might be hard for you. But how I wish to hear your story, to learn how you showed each other love—on Valentine’s Day or any other day. I give you a valentine, to go with the many you saved from the one who loved you so well.

To those struggling with their partner: You’re fighting for your marriage and along comes this cursed day with its artificial affection, and all you want to do is take that scented candle and burn love to the ground. This day of mushy cards, flowers and heartshaped boxes might make you think you are all alone in your pain.

I’ve been married for 11 years, and I know—marriage is hard. So if you are fighting with your valentine this holiday, remember that Facebook and Instagram just show our best selves. My husband is the king of selfies, but he doesn’t take too many pictures when we’re exhausted, when our three-year-old has just thrown her supper at us and we’re arguing about whose turn it is to deal with it. You are not alone. I give you a valentine for working hard and I join you in prayer. Please reach out to someone. And may you find someone reaching back to you.

To all of those who feel somehow “less than,” know this—no cheap greeting card is going to validate your worth.

You are already worthy and deeply loved.

Lieutenant Kristen Jackson-Dockeray is the divisional youth secretary in the British Columbia Division.

Photo: © stasknop/stock.Adobe.com

BY LIEUTENANT KRISTEN JACKSON-DOCKERAY

CROSS CULTURE

IN THE NEWS

Photo: © FangXiaNuo/iStock.com

When it Comes to Faith, Mother Knows Best

A new survey by the Pew Research Center has found that mothers often play a more significant role than fathers in influencing their children’s faith.

While 58 percent of people said their parents played an equal role in their religious upbringing, one-third said their mother was mainly responsible, compared to only five percent for dad.

This trend was especially pronounced in interfaith families. Almost half (46 percent) of those raised by parents affiliated with two different religions said their mother was primarily responsible for their religious upbringing—more than those who said their parents played equally important roles (41 percent). And among people who were raised by one religious parent and one “none,” nearly two-thirds (63 percent) said their mother was mainly responsible for their religious upbringing.

The long-term effects of this trend were related. Nearly half (48 percent) of those whose parents had different religious identities now identify with their mother’s religion. And among those from mixed religious backgrounds who say their mother was mainly responsible for their religious upbringing, roughly six in 10 now identify with their mother’s faith.

IN REVIEW Comfort Detox

Finding freedom from habits that bind you

BY ERIN M. STRAZA While it’s commonly associated with breaking free of drug or alcohol addiction, the practice of “detoxing” has expanded to include freedom from various excesses, from food to digital usage.

In Comfort Detox, Erin M. Straza applies the concept to the pursuit of comfort.

For Straza, this detox has come out of her own personal experience. “Living for personal comfort had infiltrated every aspect of my life,” she says. “The false comforts I sought never satisfied because God designed us to find our comfort in him alone.”

In the first two sections of the book, Straza helps readers work through their own patterns of staying comfortable and points them to God, the true source of comfort. In the final section, “Comfort Set Loose,” she casts a vision for the many ways readers, free from comfort addiction, can extend God’s grace and mercy to the world.

ON THE WEB Princess Backs Salvation Army Campaign

The Secret Path

A Salvation Army anti-human trafficking campaign has gotten the royal treatment, thanks to support from Princess Eugenie.

The princess made a YouTube video explaining why she supports the campaign, and did a video interview with Major Anne Read, director of anti-trafficking and modern slavery programs, United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland.

The campaign encourages people to use the hashtags #askthequestion and #slavefree to ask businesses and services whether their supply chains are free from the use of slave labour.

In her interview with Major Read, Princess Eugenie shares her experiences visiting a Salvation Army safe house for victims of human trafficking and why others should support the campaign as well.

BY GORD DOWNIE AND JEFF LEMIRE This album, graphic novel and animated short film combination is based on the story of Chanie Wenjack, a young boy who died from hunger and exposure on October 22, 1966, while walking on railroad tracks; he was trying to escape from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School and walk home. In a statement explaining why he undertook this project, Gord Downie, lead singer and lyricist for The Tragically Hip, noted the importance of sharing this history to bring about reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous peoples: “All of those governments, and all of those churches, for all of those years, misused themselves. They hurt many children. They broke up many families. They erased entire communities. It will take seven generations to fix this…. This is far from over.”

The album includes 10 songs based on poems Downie wrote, and the short film is divided into 10 parts, based on each of these songs. The result of Downie and Jeff Lemire’s efforts is moving and educational, providing insights into the residential school system and its legacy.

Watch Major Read’s interview with Princess Eugenie at youtu.be/vPKeCp44ESI.

The film, which was broadcast on the CBC, can be viewed at secretpath.ca.

Salvationist February 2017 25

CROSS CULTURE

British Salvationists Knit the Bible

Salvationists and friends of the Warrington Corps in England have found a new way to spread the gospel. For 10 months, 28 people embarked on a major knitting project, creating 12 biblical scenes out of wool.

Put on display for an exhibition that was open to the community, the scenes spanned more than 20 metres. The largest scene is the Crucifixion, which on its own spans over three metres and includes 65 figures. Other scenes include the Garden of Eden, David and Goliath, the Last Supper and the Resurrection. All scenes together, the group knitted a total of 380 individual figures.

The display was featured on the BBC and other news outlets in the United Kingdom and beyond, bringing widespread attention to the corps.

Noah’s Ark

Photos: Kevin Elliott/Facebook

Watch a video of the exhibition at youtu.be/3iQN5gU4oWU.

Dozens of figures up the knitting group’s Christmas scene 2017 TSSCmake Salvationist Qtr.pdf 4 9/15/2016 3:16:57 PM

Moses gives the Ten Commandments

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Hilton Meadowvale Hotel & Conference Centre October 23-25, 2017 www.tsscon.ca 26 February 2017 Salvationist

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PEOPLE & PLACES

BOTWOOD, N.L.—Madison, Tristan, Chelsea, Abigail, Deandra and Chelsea are enrolled as junior soldiers at Botwood Corps. Celebrating with them are, from left,

Mjrs Janice and Peter Rowe, COs; Wes Thompson, holding the flag; Denise Sceviour, leader; Kimberley Best, child ministry co-ordinator; and Paul Sceviour, leader.

PENTICTON, B.C.—At 97 years of age, Joe Knypstra, a senior soldier at Penticton CC, temporarily exchanged his uniform for a Santa suit to help collect food and toys at The Concorde, the assisted living residence he calls home, in support of the Army’s Christmas efforts.

BOTWOOD, N.L.—Hazel Elliott receives a certificate of recognition and retirement from Mjr Janice Rowe, CO, following 63 years of faithful service as a community care ministries member at Botwood Corps.

Richmond Rotary Hospice House Celebrates 10 Years of Ministry RICHMOND, B.C.—The Salvation Army’s Rotary Hospice House celebrates its 10th anniversary of ministry to the community with an afternoon of special activities, including the planting of a dogwood tree that was donated by the Home Depot in Richmond. Planting the commemorative tree and unveiling a sign marking the occasion, are, from left, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie; MLA Linda Reid; Mjr Juan Burry, executive director, Rotary Hospice House; MP Joe Peschisolido; Nancy Yurkovich, community council chairperson; MLA John Yap; and Lt-Col Brian Venables, DC, B.C. Div. Rotary Hospice House is a 10-bed facility outside the acute hospital environment where end-of-life care is provided to people from the Vancouver and Richmond area.

Salvationist February 2017 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

VANCOUVER—Ten people have accepted the challenge to complete one year of intense, incarnational discipleship training and mission on the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside through The Salvation Army’s War College, a part of 614 Vancouver ministries. Members of the “Bloodwashed” session are, from left, Karah Walker, Jeff Wright, Daniel Kilby, Jacob McRae, Josh Stowe, Dave Ross, David Perry, Paula Ross, Meagan Roffel and Travis Williams.

SUSSEX, N.B.—Sussex CC celebrates as two senior soldiers and six adherents are enrolled, taking the total of new members enrolled at the corps over the past six years to 66! Twenty-five senior soldiers, 34 adherents and seven junior soldiers have publicly declared their commitment to God through The Salvation Army in Sussex. From left, Mjr Stan Folkins, CO; Mark Kisch, Nancy Kisch, senior soldiers; Wendy Virtue, holding the flag; Kathy Holloway, Julie Dearman, Cathy Melvin, Lisa Schafer, John Schafer, Mary Law, adherents; and Mjr Judy Folkins, CO.

BOTWOOD, N.L.—After serving 59 years with community care ministries at Botwood Corps, Bessie Elliott receives a certificate of retirement from Mjrs Janice and Peter Rowe, COs.

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BOTWOOD, N.L.—Six senior soldiers have joined the ranks of Botwood Corps. Front, from left, Lesley Sheppard, Katherine Dicks, Amanda Crann, Jamie Crann, Ernestine Lockyer, Kimberley Best, senior soldiers; Ruby Callahan, Ida Thompson, instructors. Back, from left, CSM Wavey Penton; Mjrs Peter and Janice Rowe, COs; and Wes Thompson, holding the flag.

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TROUBLESOME TEXTS

TRIBUTES COTTLESVILLE, N.L.—Eliza Rideout (nee Watkins) was born in Comfort Cove, N.L., in 1916 to Mary and John Watkins. At the age of nine, she moved with her parents to Cottlesville where she was raised. In 1938, Eliza married her best friend, Hardy Rideout, and together they raised a family of seven children. Following her commitment to Christ, she became a faithful and devoted Salvationist at the Cottlesville Corps, where she served for 25 years as the home league secretary. Eliza loved life and serving the Lord. Predeceased by her parents, loving husband, two sisters, two brothers, two great-grandchildren and three sons-in-law, she was promoted to glory at the age of 99 years and 11 months. Eliza will be lovingly remembered for her unselfish love, kind spirit and Christlike caring for others, by her children, Major Kevin (Mary), Carl (Lorraine), Peggy, Ruby (Ray), Goldie, Lloyd (Margaret) and Frank (Angela); grandchildren; great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Meta Watkins; a large number of nieces, nephews and friends.

SEAL COVE, FORTUNE BAY, N.L.—Edmund Rideout was born in 1937. Enrolled as a senior soldier in 1980, he loved God and served him faithfully for 36 years. Edmund was the colour sergeant at Seal Cove Corps for 20 years and a member of the men’s fellowship. Edmund loved his family very much, and is survived by his wife, Belinda; daughter, Isabelle (Roland); son, Rodney (Sarah); son, Captain David (Captain Melanie); daughter, Marilyn (Kerry); six grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren; extended family and friends.

GAZETTE TERRITORIAL Birth: Lts David/Laura Hickman, son, Malcolm William, Dec 3 Promoted to glory: Mjr Joan Vaughan, from Bridgewater, N.S., Nov 29; Mrs. Brg Violet Young, from Kingston, Ont., Dec 10

CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Jan 30-Feb 3 divisional retreat, N.L. Div; Feb 5 Barrhaven Church, Ottawa; Feb 5-7 Sector Champion roundtable, Imagine Canada, Ottawa; Feb 17-20 divisional rally weekend, 120th year of ministry in Bermuda, Bermuda Div; Feb 24-25 Hobiyee 2017 (Nisga’a new year celebrations), Gitwinksihlkw, B.C. Colonels Lee and Deborah Graves: Jan 30-Feb 2 divisional retreat, Que. Div; Feb 5 Christian Community Centre of The Salvation Army, Montreal; Feb 13-18 IHQ; Feb 24-26 Hobiyee 2017 (Nisga’a new year celebrations), Gitwinksihlkw, B.C.

GUIDELINES FOR TRIBUTES Salvationist will print brief tributes (maximum 200 words), at no cost, as space permits. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Tributes should be received within three months of the promotion to glory and include: • c ommunity where the • c orps involvement • c onversion to Christ individual resided • Christian ministry • survivors Photo requirements: • high-resolution digital photo or high-resolution scan of a clear, original photo (TIFF, Photoshop EPS or JPEG format; 300 ppi preferred) e-mailed to salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org • or a clear, original photograph mailed to Salvationist, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4 (photo will be returned)

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A Voice for All

BY GENERAL BRAMWELL H. TILLSLEY (RTD) “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak.”—1 Corinthians 14:34

W

ith the strong emphasis Salvationists put upon “female ministry,” this is a text we should try to understand. To suggest that Paul was a “woman hater” is much too simple, and is certainly difficult to reconcile with Romans 16 where about one third of those to whom the apostle sends greetings are women. The answer can be found in appreciation of the place of women in the ancient world, plus a careful look at the context of our text.

In the ancient Greek world, respectable women lived a sheltered, secluded life. They did not attend public assemblies or appear on the streets alone. Their duty was to remain indoors and be obedient to their husbands. In contrast to the present, there was no honourable way to make a living.

According to Jewish law, the woman was not to teach in the assembly or to ask questions. Unless women were poor or very loose in their morals, they led a secluded life. When writing to Corinth, the most licentious city of ancient Greece, every precaution was necessary to guard the church against suspicion. If the women suddenly burst every barrier and limitation imposed upon them, the only result would have been to bring discredit on the church, and to cause people to say that Christianity had corrupted womanhood.

One of the first laws of interpretation is to interpret according to the context. 1 Corinthians 14 is mainly a treatise on “tongues.”

A great deal of confusion had arisen regarding the use of this gift, thus Paul wrote to insist that “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40). This has led many New Testament scholars to interpret “keep silence” (KJV) as refraining from public debate. If questions arose, they were to “ask their own husbands at home” (1 Corinthians 14:35).

1 Corinthians 11:5 would certainly indicate that “prophesying” was not out of place for a woman. It would appear that Paul is simply concerned that women do not seek needlessly to flout the accepted ideas of the day. That “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28) did not find easy entrance into the thinking of many in Paul’s day. Biblical scholar William Barclay has stated: “It would certainly be very wrong to take these words of Paul out of the context for which they were written, and make them a universal rule for the church.” Writing in the Speaker’s Bible, the bishop of Manchester said: “It would seem to me that the need which most of all presses upon us now … is the need to find the right way in all its fullness of utilizing the services of women in the church.”

To this Salvationists add their “Amen.”

Excerpt from It Is Written by General Bramwell H. Tillsley, available at store.salvationarmy.ca, 416-422-6100, orderdesk@can.salvationarmy.org. For the e-book, visit amazon.ca.

Salvationist February 2017 29

SALVATION STORIES

Tug of War I stood in an airport, pulled in two directions, but God directed my steps.

BY LAURA VARGAS

30 February 2017 Salvationist

Photo: Lilia Pena

I

n my second year of high school in Kitchener, Ont., I invited a friend to hang out at the mall. She told me she couldn’t, because it was Sunday, and she had church—her favourite time of the week. I didn’t get it. I was raised Catholic and, to me, church was boring. When she asked if I wanted to come, I agreed, out of curiosity more than anything else. I was surprised to see people singing and dancing and having fun.

And then the preacher said something that touched me deeply. “There is nothing you can’t come back from. There is nothing you’ve done that Jesus can’t clean you. So what’s your excuse for not serving him?” My insides turned. That was the moment I decided to follow God. But it wasn’t easy to leave my old life behind. I didn’t want to say goodbye to my friends, the parties, the drinking, the unhealthy relationships. I pulled one way, and God pulled the other. It was like I sold myself to the world, and he would buy me back, every time. I felt such shame, pain and loneliness—I knew my friends didn’t truly care about me; they only wanted the fun I could offer.

In my last year of high school, my world turned upside down. My dad’s struggle with mental illness was getting worse. I would come home from my part-time job late at night and find chaos—shouting and screaming and objects flying around. When my mom decided to end the relationship, my dad returned to Colombia. We talked about moving to Quebec to be closer to our only family in Canada.

That summer, I went on a mission trip to Kenya for three weeks. I didn’t know where my mom would be when I got back—Ontario or Quebec. I called her from the airport, and she was in Montreal with her brother and his family.

I stood there, not knowing what to do.

Leaving Ontario would mean giving up my dream of attending McMaster University in Hamilton, where I had been accepted for the fall. It would mean giving up everything I knew, and what I

“God used the pain and hardship in my life to make me realize I needed help, that I couldn’t make it on my own,” says Laura Vargas

thought would be my life.

I got on a plane to Quebec.

This is where my love story with God really began, where I experienced God in a way I never had before. We met Lieutenants Ricaurte Velasquez and Vilma Ramos and started attending Light of Hope Family Church in Brossard, Que. It was a new church plant and we all had to work hard to get everything done. I began leading worship and slowly learned that it was more than just singing.

The biggest turning point in my faith was working at Camp Lac L’Achigan with Captains Matt and Rachel Sheils, the divisional youth secretaries for the Quebec Division. I saw children’s lives being transformed by Jesus. It showed me how real God is. I learned how important it is to spend time with God every day, to read the Bible, pray and sing praise; to surround myself with people who love God and keep me accountable. When I left camp, I had built new relation-

ships, created healthy habits and fallen in love with God in a way I never knew was possible.

Sometimes, God breaks us down to build us back up. He used the pain and hardship in my life to make me realize I needed help, that I couldn’t make it on my own. He won me, through love, persistence, grace, acceptance and truth. I stopped pulling in the opposite direction and starting letting him do his work in me. He made me new.

Who I am now is very different from who I was. I know my flaws, but I am also overwhelmed by God’s grace. Jesus is the centre of my life, thoughts and heart. I can’t contain everything he makes me feel. He makes me want to serve, to love others, to turn my back on temptation, to be in constant communication with him. I have struggles, but my roots are in Christ. I no longer look for ways to fill an empty heart, because my heart is so full of him.

HIGHER EDUCATION FOR A HIGHER PURPOSE. EDUCATION FOR A BETTER WORLD

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