Silent No More: #MeToo Is Also a Church Problem
Not Called? Think Again, Says New Campaign
Joseph’s Story Exposes the Perils of Power
THE VOICE OF THE ARMY
February 2018
Salvationist.ca
Heart for Kenya
Partners in Mission appeal highlights health, education and economic development
2 February 2018 Salvationist
CONTENTS
Salvationist February 2018 • Volume 13, Number 2
10
Departments 5 Inbox 6 Frontlines
Get more online
20 Calling the Courageous
Visit salvationist.ca to add your comments and read web-exclusive articles
Not Settling for Less by Ken Ramstead
21 Viewpoint
@salvationistmagazine Follow us on Instagram for the latest and best Army photos. Tag your photos #salvationists
The Sharing Economy by Rochelle McAlister
25 Cross Culture 27 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories School of Music by Paul Vos
Columns 4 Editorial A Global Perspective by Geoff Moulton
9 Onward Self-Denial or Partners in Mission? by Commissioner Susan McMillan
24 Grace Notes Silent No More by Lieutenant Erin Metcalf
20
Features 10 Kenya Dreaming The Salvation Army supports health, education and economic development in one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. by Joel Johnson
14 Every Child Matters In Kenya, Salvation Army schools and children’s homes are growing hope. by Major Brenda Murray and Major Donna Barthau
16 Martha’s Boys Salvation Army program offers safe space and education for street youth in Kenya. by Brianne Zelinsky
17 Grace-Full Giving Seven ways to create a culture of generous living. by Tharwat Eskander
18 Answering the Call Major Jennifer Hale talks about the territory’s new campaign that encourages soldiers to become candidates. Interview by Kristin Ostensen
22 The Perils of Power The story of Joseph reveals the deathly dilemma of leadership. by Donald E. Burke
/salvationistmagazine Like us on Facebook for photos and updates. Interact with our community of 34,000 fans @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! Pooch on the Loose
DOGGONE IT! P.5
Double the Recipes
LITE STUFF P.26
Love at Any Age
MARRY ME? P.13
Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G
faithandfriends.ca
FEBRUARY 2018
THE COUPLE WERE SEPARATED BY HALF A WORLD, BUT LOVE FOUND A WAY P.16
From Bermuda to Fiji Salvationist February 2018 3
EDITORIAL
Y
A Global Perspective
our giving can make a world of difference. The focus of this year’s Partners in Mission/SelfDenial Appeal is Kenya, where Canadian officers Lt-Colonels Morris and Wanda Vincent serve as leaders in the Kenya West Territory. A recent letter from the Vincents gives a glimpse into what life is like for overseas officers: “Residing in rural Kakamega and serving in Kenya West has broadened our understanding of life in a developing world. Every day we watch locals set up and take down small markets on the side of the road to earn money, selling everything from vegetables to livestock to clothing, candy and trinkets. People buy three eggs instead of a dozen and bring a cup to purchase just enough cooking oil. But they persevere and do their best every day to provide for their families. “Kenyans are warm and friendly and make us feel welcome. They love to feed guests—just like Newfoundlanders! The working language is English but they naturally love to use their native tongue, Swahili. The people are quite happy when our morning greeting is “Habari asubuhi.” And of course, worship for us now includes lots of upbeat singing and dancing—yes, we join them. “We are so encouraged by many initiatives taken by the Army in the rural villages to help improve family life
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 and Literary Secretary Giselle Randall Features Editor (416-467-3185) Pamela Richardson News Editor, Copy Editor and Production Co-ordinator (416-422-6112) Kristin Ostensen Associate Editor and Staff Writer 4 February 2018 Salvationist
and address many social issues. Further efforts to support front lines include responding to the devastation of drought in the north, seeking support for hundreds of schools, and helping establish a forward path of self-sustainability in a country where poverty is the norm.” You can read more of the Vincents’ story and about other overseas personnel in The Globe and the Mail, our Territorial Missionary Focus newsletter produced by Major Linda McNutt at salvationist.ca/territorialmissionaryfocus. You’ll also spot Lt-Colonel Wanda in Joel Johnson’s photo essay on page 10 of Salvationist this month. And you can read about the changes the Army is making in the lives of Kenyan children, both through schools (page 14) and outreach to “street boys” (page 16). In addition to Partners in Mission fundraising, the world missions team manages more than 200 projects in 38 countries around the world. Check out their Global Link newsletter at saworldmissions.ca for more great stories. It’s an amazing international ministry, and it is up to each of us to support it through our prayers and financial gifts. Major Brenda Murray, director of world missions, who graces our cover this month, says it best:
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.
“As I think of the variety of ministry that exists within our global ministry, I see it as a beautiful tapestry. Different countries, special people and varying programs, all aimed at meeting the needs of vulnerable individuals and families around the world. We come together, united to support one another.” This Partners in Mission season, let’s show our global neighbours how much we care. 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
New initiative helps three families achieve their goals and transform their lives. BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN
Amanda Carto and her son, Rohamall, receive support from Mjr Tina Mitchell and Kyron Newbury at Toronto’s Cedarbrae CC, through the Pathway of Hope initiative
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hen a family in crisis comes to The Salvation Army, they are welcomed w it h open arms. Food, shelter, clothing, spiritual care—whatever their needs, the Army will provide, to the best of our ability. But what happens long term—when a family is ready to take the next step, to break the cycle of poverty and chart a new path forward? With Pathway of Hope (POH), the Canada and Bermuda Territory is providing that link to a new life. Developed by the U.S.A. Central Territory, POH offers families one-onone case management, helping them set and achieve goals. It is an integrated mission approach, combining practical and spiritual care, social services and corps resources, to maximize the impact
on each family. “It’s walking alongside a family,” explains Claire Dunmore, social services consultant. “It’s not about a handout; it’s a hand up. It’s supporting a family with their goals, with the things that they struggle with; it’s having conversations and building relationships that will be transformative for each individual family.” That client-centred approach is central to the success of POH. “We’re not imposing our goals on them,” emphasizes Julie Whalen, community and family services worker, The Salvation Army Markham Ministries, Ont., which participated in the pilot project. “It’s supporting their strengths, ideas and aspirations.” “For a lot of these families, we’re the first people that have ever believed
in them,” says Kyron Newbury, family services worker at Toronto’s Cedarbrae Community Church. “They know we’re on their side.” The territory officially launches the POH initiative this month, after a successful year-long pilot project at six ministry units in the Greater Toronto Area. During the pilot period, 22 families were enrolled in POH and five families graduated, having achieved their goals. By building on the Army’s existing programs and resources, Dunmore believes POH will help the Army take its ministries to the next level. “The Salvation Army has always been ahead of the game, a leader in the field,” she says. “POH is a way that we can be even more impactful.” The territory’s goal is to have POH in all nine divisions by 2020.
10 October 2017 Salvationist
A Correction Bringing the I always read Salvationist from Grace Home cover to cover when it arrives. I enjoyed the November 2017 ediO tion, in which the Toronto Grace Hospital was featured both in the editorial and in an article and historical timeline (“Bringing the Grace Home”). It brought back many wonderful memories of my officership years in health care, although I was never appointed to the Toronto Grace. In the editoria l, Geof f Moulton mentioned that at one time there were 10 hospitals managed by The Salvation Army in Canada. I count 11: Vancouver Grace, Calgary Grace, Winnipeg Grace, Windsor Grace, Toronto Grace, Scarborough Grace, Ottawa Grace, Montreal Catherine Booth, Labrador City Captain William Jackman Memorial, Halifax Grace and St. John’s Grace. The Good Nephew Major Edith Verstege Photo: Major John Murray
Toronto Grace Health Centre building reopens after three-year infrastructure renewal project.
n September 25, The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) celebrated its official opening and rededication after three years of infrastructure renewal. The 60-year-old facility, which is located at 650 Church Street in downtown Toronto, underwent a multimillion-dollar retrofit and renovation. The renewal included an update to the fire and life safety systems, heating, airconditioning and other critical systems. The project was made possible through funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and The Salvation Army. “I am thrilled that The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre is celebrating their return to their original location after three years of renovations and upgrades,” noted Dr. Eric Hoskins, minister of health and long-term care. “Our government’s infrastructure investment in The Salvation Army’s facility will help them maintain their excellent health-care services.” Toronto Grace is a 119-bed hospital owned and operated by the Army. Once a maternity hospital, the Grace now provides services to individuals who require complex, rehabilitation and palliative care. “Today we celebrate the opening and rededication of The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre,” said Mary Ellen Eberlin, president and CEO. “The Toronto Grace is a valued and important contributor to the health-care system, and The Salvation Army thanks the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and our many partners and donors for making this day a reality.” Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, attended the
Displaying the Army flag on the front steps of the Toronto Grace Health Centre are Cherry Pond, executive assistant to the president and CEO; Colonel Lee Graves; Commissioner Susan McMillan; Patti Pilon, director of giving; Lt-Col Jim Champ, secretary for communications; and Mary Ellen Eberlin
plaque unveiling together with Colonel Lee Graves, chief secretary, and Major John Murray, territorial public relations and development secretary, who brought greetings from Toronto Mayor John Tory. “Over the years,” noted Commissioner McMillan, “this place of healing has had many different rebirths and served a variety of health needs. But what has not changed is the compassionate manner in which the care has been provided.” Also on hand to bring greetings was Susan Fitzpatrick, CEO, Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network. Glenn
Foden, a major donor of the Barbara and Jack Foden Palliative Care Unit, spoke of the care his father received at TGHC. And Joanne Smith paid tribute to the Grace team for the care of her son, Michael. The major construction project, designed and completed by Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc. and Elite Construction Inc., also included internal structural changes, such as a new rehabilitation area, kitchen and lobby. Upgrades to patient washrooms and showers, expanded work areas for Salvationist
November 2017 13
tlers from Russia in East Germany. I’m grateful he shared the Salvation Army building for Bible study, for his co-operation during the flood of 2002 in Grimma, and for New Year’s night in 2003. When many Christians celebrated the new year in warm churches, he took me along to hand over a cup of coffee and warm soup to the homeless on behalf of Jesus. While others have spoken of love for neighbour, David and Marsha showed it in deed. May God bless David and Marsha with new authority and give them both much strength and joy in their new fields of service. Jakob and Helene Dyck Learning to Let Go Thank you for this awesome testimony (“Free Falling,” November 2017). I think we can all relate at some point in our lives. I know I can. Proverbs 3:5-6 is what the Lord reminds me of when I hurt and feel lost in direction. Thank you, Jesus, for always being there for us when we need to rappel! Kevin Saylor
GRACE NOTES
Free Falling
Photo: © skynesher/iStock.com
Pathway of Hope
Photos: Timothy Cheng
God is Good I read this article with tears of happiness (“Pathway of Hope,” October 2017). God has been so good to these families through the love of his people and the Pathway of Hope program. I was blessed to read the beautiful stories of how their lives were changed from darkness to light through the power of God’s love and faithfulness. God is so good! Verna McDonald
Learning to let go when life seems overwhelming. BY LIEUTENANT ERIN METCALF
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e arrived in Niagara Falls, Ont., to begin our first year of ministry as a family 443 days ago. It’s hard to articulate how many emotions and discoveries that number represents. We had no idea what life was going to look like. As Salvation Army officers, we have the freedom to grow together in ministry—to invest in our marriage and our children. After all, God called us as a family, didn’t he? Only—it’s not happening. Not the way I expected, at least. Each week feels more fragmented than the last. Each day brings a “to do” list that we never seem to be completely on top of. Sleep is elusive and never long enough when it comes. Most nights I lay awake wondering if anything I’m doing will ever make a difference. I wonder if I’m pouring enough love and energy into my children. I wonder if my marriage will suffer if we go any longer without a night out together. Sometimes I lay awake desperately trying to connect to the God I long to serve well, and wonder why he feels so far away. A few nights ago, we had our first junior youth group gathering of the year. It landed at the end of a busy week and a busy day and, I confess, I was tired. I was excited to return to the rural property owned and offered to us by a member of our congregation—a wonderland of outdoor space and activities where kids can run wild—and the company was
a welcome distraction from the week, but my heart hung heavy in my chest. A nagging thought tugged at the back of my mind: My soul is weary. Just over a year. Only 443 days. And my soul was weary. I wasn’t ready to face the reality of that thought, especially there, surrounded by the laughter of children and the friendly chatter of friends, those from my congregation whom I love and lead. I am not afraid of vulnerability or transparency, but junior youth group was not the time or place to fall apart. So I said a quick prayer and promised my weary soul I’d figure something out later. A few of the kids wanted to try the rock wall. Our gracious host rigged up the harnesses, and with patience that far outweighed my own, began helping them climb the wall and rappel back down, one by one. Here’s what I learned that night: rock walls can be scary and sometimes they can be vessels of grace. Two of the kids reached the top, but were terrified to rappel down. Our host calmly and clearly repeated his instructions: “Just lean out over the wall, sit back like you’re sitting in a chair and push off the wall … trust me … I’m not going to let you fall.” It didn’t matter how many times he spoke softly to the kids—they remained frozen with fear, terrified at the thought of leaning out over the edge, of falling.
As I watched the children struggle, I was struck by the realization that my weary soul identified with their fears. The man who had built the structure with his own hands was gently encouraging them to trust him, and yet they were afraid. Afraid to give over control. Afraid to venture out in complete trust. They made it to the top on their own strength, but had reached a point where the only way forward was faith. Over the last year, I had muscled through some stuff on my own. I had used my own strength and abilities to get where I needed to go. And I had reached a point where I needed to trust that God wasn’t going to let me fall. I needed to trust that God wasn’t going to let me fail. My soul was weary from trying to do everything on my own. My soul was weary with fear. “Just lean out … trust me … I’m not going to let you fall.” Jesus was speaking directly to me. I needed to hear those words. As the two children finally leaned out and rappelled down the wall, cheering when their feet hit the ground, my weary soul began to mend. My weary soul was finding rest in the unending grace and arms of Jesus. Lieutenant Erin Metcalf is the corps officer at Niagara Orchard Community Church in Niagara Falls, Ont.
24 November 2017 Salvationist
All letters must include your name and address, and a phone number or email address where you can be contacted. Letters may be edited for space and clarity, and may be published in any medium.
CALLING THE COURAGEOUS
How supporting my Salvation Army aunt and uncle changed my life. BY DEAN PRITCHETT
Encouraging Words I’m writing in response to the article by Dean Pritchett (“The Good Nephew,” November 2017). Thank you for sharing your story. It’s good to hear how God is working out his purposes in people’s lives. May he continue to use you and your wife for the kingdom. God bless you. Major May Hart Home from the Mission Field It was good to read about how Lt-Colonels David and MarshaJean Bowles have been received after returning from the mission field (“From Haus to Home,” November 2017). I thank God that we met in Leipzig in summer 2001. David, a Salvation Army officer from Canada, and me, a preacher for German reset-
“I can only compare it to a light switch being turned on,“ says Dean Pritchett of his being saved
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s a former pub owner, I often see past customers walk into The Salvation Army’s community and family services office in Moncton, N.B. They are as surprised to see me wearing the uniform of an assistant corps sergeant-major as I am surprised to see them. I tell them I’m now spending my time trying to help fix all the people I may have inadvertently broken along the way with my attitude and my choices. A Life Changed If you had asked me then, I would have told you I believed in God, but my lifestyle didn’t bear that out. I realize now I was making a lot of bad decisions—with alcohol, with drugs, with relationships. I was not a regular churchgoer to say the least and my knowledge of The Salvation Army was hazy at best, but when I heard that my aunt and uncle, Majors Vida and Leigh Ryan, were being transferred to Moncton Citadel Community Church, I decided to attend their Sunday service, as any good nephew would. Aunt Vida had always been an important part of my growing up. While
I’d only see her about once a year, our get-togethers were very special to me. For some reason, they were the only time I was completely genuine and honest with anyone, including myself, baring my soul with her and only her. I had never stepped into a Salvation Army church before, but that first Sunday, the congregation was welcoming, and by the third Sunday, I found myself approaching the mercy seat, tears in my eyes, asking God to forgive me for my past life. Moving On Now that I had been saved, I realized my life had to change. For starters, I needed to stop drinking, so I asked God to take this sinful nature away from me. When I woke up the next morning, the habit I’d had for years was gone. From that day forward, I promised him I’d never allow alcohol to touch my lips, and I have kept that promise. I also needed to divest myself of my pub holdings. I was prepared to sell at a loss but before I could put them up for sale, I was approached by someone who offered to take them off my hands, and I was able to move on with my life.
Defining “Success” Shortly after I became a Christian, my aunt and uncle were involved in an accident right before Christmas, and were unable to attend to some of their duties. They asked me if I could help out. By now, I had transitioned from running pubs to being a business manager for a local RV dealership. There’s not a great call for RVs in the winter, so I had time to spare. I started volunteering at family services and it soon became clear that I was called to work with God’s people in general and for The Salvation Army in particular. I talked it over with my then-fiancée, Erika, a fellow Christian who had helped me on my journey of discovery. We prayed about it, and by the end of the day, we came to the conclusion that if we were to answer his call, we would put our faith in him. At that time, I was also the Christmas kettle co-ordinator. Hearing so many wonderful stories of how the Army had helped so many reinforced my belief that I was called by God. So in the new year, I sat down with the director of family services, Natasha Burkett, and poured my heart out to her. “I don’t want to return to the secular world, I don’t want to go back to my job,” I said. “I really want to work here.” What The Salvation Army could offer money-wise was not what I was used to, but my definition of success had completely changed by then. I consider myself 10 times more successful today than I ever was before.
Inner and Outer Faith From attending church every Sunday, I moved to being the assistant corps sergeant-major, and my wife, Erika, and I joined the worship team. But despite my aunt and uncle’s wonderful sermons and our reading the Bible, Erika and I still felt we had a lot to learn. So when we were approached about taking a soldiership class, we jumped at the opportunity. As we learned about what the Army stood for, its history and doctrines, everything matched perfectly with how we believed we should live, how we should give back, how we should be servants in our church and our community. We couldn’t wait to finish the course, to become soldiers and wear the uniform, which we did in 2014. It’s an outward expression of our inner faith.
16 November 2017 Salvationist
From Haus to Home
After 20 years of ministry in Germany, Lt-Colonels Marsha-Jean and David Bowles return with fresh insights for the Army in Canada and Bermuda. When Lt-Colonels Marsha-Jean and David Bowles signed up for overseas service in Germany, they never expected they would spend the next two decades in ministry there, holding appointments as varied as corps officer, territorial youth secretary, sports ministries co-ordinator for Europe and chief secretary. In this interview with Kristin Ostensen, associate editor, the Bowles reflect on pastoring in post-communist East Germany, becoming the first male “territorial secretary for women’s ministries” and how Christian culture transcends all cultures. How is The Salvation Army perceived in Germany? David: It’s not known that well. Before the Second World War, there were around 20 corps in Berlin; now there are two corps and a separate project in a city of three million people. Marsha-Jean: Most Germans are pacifists, so to have a military-style church is a tricky thing. But the people who know the Army, respect what the Army’s doing. People were often surprised that a small number of people could accomplish so much, and it’s true. The corps and most social centres are smaller, but the ministry that those small groups accomplish is amazing. What is the Army best known for? Marsha-Jean: It’s known primarily as a helping organization—addressing homelessness, poverty, hunger, loneliness—rather than a church, although that’s changing. David: With International Headquarters’ approval, the Army in Germany officially integrated a cross into the Red Shield in 2000, and that’s on all their marketing, uniforms, buildings and so on. It was done to show that they are a Christian organization—it’s a visual to help people quickly understand who they are. Given Germany’s history, does The Salvation Army downplay its
Lt-Cols David and Marsha-Jean Bowles returned to Canada in January 2017 after serving many years as officers in Die Heilsarmee
use of military symbols? David: No, but we were sensitive about the uniform, how strong that looks to people. It’s hard to explain in North America when we’ve won the wars, but over there, it has a very negative connotation—not necessarily because they lost, but because they never want that to happen again. There’s so much education around what happened, how a society could get to that point. And here we are, walking around in a military-style uniform in a country that has all this baggage. So the Army came up with an optional business uniform—trousers or a skirt, and a light blue dress shirt with the shield and cross—that was an adjustment to the culture. Marsha-Jean: There’s no hiding the uniform—they still do open airs on the street in full uniform—but other clothes have been introduced over the years that are appropriate to the ministry being done. Your second appointment was in Leipzig, the first corps to open in East Germany after the fall of communism. What was that
experience like? David: We were in the northeast quarter of the city—a poor, densely populated area with communist-built apartments. It had been nine years since reunification. We asked some of our older corps members: Was it better then or is it better now? And the answer was generally 50-50. We had thought, with our understanding of communism, that obviously things would be better postreunification, but under communism everybody had work, everybody had a reason to get up in the morning. Now, the unemployment rate was climbing to 30 percent. It was a struggle, especially for older folks. If you didn’t have a job, or if you lost your job, it was almost impossible to find work. Marsha-Jean: We had unique opportunities for ministry because people in Leipzig were looking for some sort of structure—places to hang out, to have community. We had Canada-themed events and all kinds of neighbours came because they wanted to get out and, with us, they could afford it. David: We had a small thrift store in the corps building and feeding programs
22 November 2017 Salvationist
Salvationist February 2018 5
FRONTLINES
Booth University College Receives Accessibility Award
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he City of Winnipeg’s Access Advisory Committee presented Booth University College with an Access Award—Circle of Excellence following various renovations to the campus, which were designed by Ager Little Architects Inc. Booth University College’s front entrance was replaced with two gently sloping accessible walkways; the stairs, landscaping and bike storage were replaced; and public washrooms were renovated to improve accessibility. The entrance now features LED strip lighting at walkways, improving night safety; detectable warning areas and contrasting pavers, directing the visually impaired to the entrance; new sliding entrance doors allowing hands-free operation; and an integrated in-slab snow melting system.
Cpt Kevin Elsasser, CO, Comox Valley CC, Courtenay, B.C., welcomes Ronna-Rae Leonard, member of the legislative assembly—CourtenayComox, to the grand opening of the renovated shelter
Shelter Reopens in Courtenay, B.C.
T From left, Councillor Cindy Gilroy, City of Winnipeg; Gail Little and Bobbi MacLennan, Ager Little Architects Inc.; Dr. Marjory Kerr, president, Booth University College; and Denise Young, vice-president administration, Booth University College, at the presentation of the accessibility award
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he Salvation Army’s homeless shelter in Courtenay, B.C., reopened in December after extensive renovations that will help the Army better serve the community. The expansion improves upon the existing 18-bed shelter—having 12 spots for men and six for women—with a 1,200-square-foot addition that includes six new transition beds with computer and Internet access, a 24-seat dining area and a casework office. One of the transition rooms is pet-friendly. People staying in the transition beds will have the opportunity to take part in life-skills programming—such as budgeting, creating a resumé and job skills—that will help them get back into the workforce and out of poverty. Following the renovation, the shelter has new windows and doors, heating system, commercial kitchen, bathrooms and storage lockers, as well as 15 cold and wet weather beds, which will operate from November 1 to March 31.
Remembering the Halifax Explosion
n December 6, 1917, a tragic navigation error in the Halifax Harbour resulted in an enormous explosion that obliterated the town, killing or injuring thousands. To mark the 100th anniversary of the tragic Halifax Explosion, a memorial service took place at Fort Needham, Halifax, in December, with a delegation from The Salvation Amy participating. Despite inclement weather, hundreds gathered at the park monument commemorating the disaster. The Salvation Army participated in the laying of a 6 February 2018 Salvationist
wreath in memory of the victims of the tragedy. A Salvation Army canteen was also present at the event, offering attendees hot chocolate. The Halifax Explosion has special significance for The Salvation Army, as the Army’s response in the wake of the tragedy gave birth to the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s emergency disaster services program. To read about The Salvation Army’s response to the Halifax Explosion, visit salvationist.ca/articles/halifaxexplosion-salvation-army.
From left, Cpt Jamie Locke, DSPRD, Maritime Div; Mjr Wade Budgell, DC, Maritime Div; and Lt-Col Jim Champ, secretary for communications, offer a wreath at the Halifax Explosion memorial service
FRONTLINES
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Hope in the City Events Inspire Salvationists and Friends
he Salvation Army held various Hope in the City (HITC) events across the territory in November and December, to raise funds for the Army’s work at Christmas and throughout the year. Snow and blowing winds couldn’t keep more than 600 people from attending the HITC luncheon in Calgary with former NHL player Theo Fleury, who encouraged everyone to have compassion for those struggling with addictions and mental health issues. The event, which raised more than $168,000, also included the announcement of a donation of $1 million from the Gerry Wood Family for a special project in Calgary. With more than 400 guests, Edmonton hosted its largest HITC event to date, with keynote speaker Rex Murphy. Murphy also lent his support to the HITC event in Vancouver, where he spoke of The Salvation Army’s remarkable commitment, compassion and enduring purpose in serving others. More than 900 people attended the event, raising over $300,000. The Prairie Division held its 13th annual HITC breakfast in Winnipeg, which highlighted the division’s many programs. Close to 400 guests heard personal stories from Arlene Wilgosh, Ben Ghiyasi and Zulfia Habib, who spoke of how their lives had been changed for the better thanks to the Army. Two HITC events were held in the Ontario Great Lakes Division. In London, a room full of government, corporate and community leaders heard from a victim of human trafficking who was helped by the Army, and Darby Allen, who was fire chief when wildfires devastated Fort McMurray, Alta., in 2016. Guests in Windsor welcomed Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions quarterback, who lost his 15-year-old son to suicide. Addressing the stigma around mental health issues, Hipple emphasized, “It’s OK to ask for help.” Mental health was also a theme at HITC in Toronto, in the Ontario Central-East Division, where sports journalist Michael Landsberg opened up about his personal struggle with depression and anxiety. “How do we treat mental illness?” he
Former NHL player Theo Fleury speaks to guests at the Hope in the City luncheon in Calgary
asked rhetorically. “We must change the way we see it. Change is hope.” Also in the Ontario Central-East Division, Dion Oxford, director of mission integration for Toronto Housing and Homeless Supports, spoke in Barrie on the importance of community to alleviate loneliness and combat poverty. In Newfoundland and Labrador, The Salvation Army held its first ever HITC event in St. John’s. The sold-out breakfast featured music from Cory Tetford, whose rendition of Amazing Grace was particularly moving, and an inspirational talk from Dr. Andrew Furey. Drawing on his experience as a medical missionary to places such as Haiti, Furey said, “We need to create hope from despair. Hope is energizing; hope is inspiring.”
Rex Murphy (second from left) spoke to more than 900 guests at Hope in the City in Vancouver. Murphy is pictured with Lt-Cols Anne and Brian Venables, DDWM and DC, B.C. Div; and Mike Leland, DSPRD, B.C. Div
At Hope in the City in London, Ont., the Army presented its annual Hope Award to Caroline Pugh-Roberts, a victim of human trafficking who connected with the Army through the Centre of Hope. From left, Julia Parker, operational director, correctional and justice services—London; Mjr Everett Barrow, DC, Ont. GL Div; Caroline Pugh-Roberts; and Shannon Wise, public relations and development representative, Ont. GL Div
Salvationist February 2018 7
FRONTLINES
ainbow Country Church in Parry Sound, Ont., is fighting hunger with a new food bank system. Rather than following the traditional model of offering pre-packed boxes, the new food bank allows individuals to pick out their own groceries based on a point system. Mimicking a supermarket, the food bank gives clients a set number of points that they can “spend” on groceries, allowing them to practise budgeting skills when choosing their items. Lieutenant Scott Allen, corps officer, says this system promotes dignity for users. “They’ve selected the food for themselves and it gives them a sense of self-worth.” To further fight hunger in Parry
Sound, Rainbow Country Church will offer a cooking program, teaching individuals how to create nutritious meals using food available in the food bank. “Some people may think Parry Sound is cottage country and everyone is well off, but there is a lot of poverty here,” Lieutenant Allen says. He believes these classes will be particularly useful for seniors, helping them transition from cooking large family meals to smaller ones. Over the years, the food bank has seen an increase in the number of senior clients. Due to mobility and health issues or a lack of technological knowhow, seniors with financial difficulties may not be able to find employment. To help
them overcome such barriers, Rainbow Country Church plans to introduce budgeting and computer skills classes.
Photo: Sarah Bissonette
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Revamped Food Bank for Parry Sound
With support from volunteers, Lts Cathy and Scott Allen, community ministries officer and CO, and CO, Rainbow Country Church, welcome clients to the revitalized food bank
New West Thrift Store Marks Milestone
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The enthusiastic team at the Army’s New Westminster thrift store
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he Salvation Army thrift store in New Westminster, B.C., celebrated more than 40 years of serving locals in October. “Our New West location is our largest and has been one of our most successful stores in British Columbia for years,” says Maytte Abad, National Recycling Operations’ retail district manager for British Columbia. “We are honoured to have served this tight-knit community for over 40 years and to have played a part in the growth, development and preservation of the history of the city.” In almost 10 years, the New Westminster thrift store has contributed nearly $40,000 toward sending children to summer camps, assisting children overseas and providing support to people in need. For families and individuals who have required additional support, the store has also provided more than $400,000 worth of items free of cost through its voucher program.
A Successful Santa Shuffle
aking place in 41 cities across Canada, the 27th annual Santa Shuffle saw more than 16,000 people run or walk in support of The Salvation Army in December. Presented in partnership with The Running Room, the fivekilometre run and one-kilometre Elf Walk raised more than $600,000 for the Army. From elf ears to Santa suits to reindeer onesies, runners and shufflers dressed in festive gear, often braving cold temperatures for the event. Many locations offered participants hot drinks and food, as well as a commemorative Santa Shuffle medal. The Ottawa Salvation Army held its largest event to date— the largest in the territory—attracting more than 1,500 participants, while Toronto runners raised the most funds, collecting over $40,000 in pledges for the Army.
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Festive runners are ready to hit the road at Sunnybrook Park in Toronto
ONWARD
Self-Denial or Partners in Mission? Whatever you call it, we are responsible for each other.
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t this time of year, when much of the church is thinking about Lent, our thoughts often go to The Salvation Army around the world. In recent years, the Army’s appeal for financial support for its international ministries has been called “Partners in Mission” and, indeed, it is a time when we remember that we serve in 128 countries. In many of those places, serving God is a huge sacrifice. Our people live and work in difficult conditions, some in areas that have been torn apart by conflict, and often where poverty is the norm rather than the affliction of a minority. Yet, the service of God knows no barriers and people’s lives are being transformed and hope restored, even in these difficult situations. When I was young, we celebrated the “Self-Denial Appeal.” For eight weeks every year, we worked hard to raise funds to send to the international Salvation Army. We washed cars, cleaned instruments, sold candy and collected from our neighbours. But the heart of the appeal was not in the extra work to raise funds, but in denying ourselves something in order to be able to contribute. This approach began in 1886, when General William Booth was trying to raise funds for the Army’s missionary work. One of his officers, Major John Carleton, pledged to go without dessert for a whole year and give the money to the fund. The General thought this sacrifice was too great, but decided that if many Salvationists denied themselves
something for a shorter period of time, the needed funds could be raised. The Self-Denial Appeal was born. For me, it was always a blessed time. I was fascinated by the accounts of Salvation Army work in other countries. At times we would have a visiting missionary show “slides” and tell us about their work. In one corps, a Sunday school teacher dressed one of the children in a national costume from another country every week, and had them tell the story of the Army there by reading a short report she had researched and prepared. A group of us was once featured in The Young Soldier magazine in various national costumes. For the few years we attended that corps, I was always dressed as a Bolivian. Little did I know that my own service would one day take me to Bolivia! One of the great outcomes of this special appeal is the knowledge that we are, in fact, partners in the mission of
The Salvation Army. And while we have been assigned certain territories to help us focus our partnerships, we are really one Army, with arms stretching around the world. And yes, we are our brother’s keeper. We are responsible for each other and so we all pull together to make a difference. You may be interested to know that the Self-Denial Appeal/Partners in Mission campaign is supported by Salvationists all over the world. All territories contribute to it. The funds raised are vital to the ongoing ministry of The Salvation Army in many territories where public support is minimal. Without this support, we could not continue in some countries, where the service we provide is so important. So, I ask you this question: selfdenial or partners in mission? Maybe both monikers are important. Self-denial to remind us that we are blessed, and partners in mission to highlight that we are all together in this important work of taking the transforming message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. 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 2018 9
Photo: © Rawpixel/iStock.com
BY COMMISSIONER SUSAN McMILLAN
Kenya Dreaming
The Salvation Army supports health, education and economic development in one of the most culturally diverse places in the world.
he name Kenya evokes dreams of adventure—touring the wild grasslands of the Maasai Mara National Reserve; weaving through herds of elephants, giraffes and zebras; watching animals come to drink at a watering hole, acacia trees framed in the setting sun. For many of us, these experiences would be a dream come true. And rightly so—they are truly magical. For many in Kenya, their dreams are smaller. The Salvation Army’s work there happens in the background, as it does in so many places around the world—meeting the needs of the disadvantaged, the disabled, the poor and the forgotten. Choosing what to highlight is to inevitably leave so many things out. Love and hope abound—from Mombasa on the east coast to the streets of Nairobi; from the lush hills fed by the tributaries of Lake Victoria in the west to the arid, desolate Turkana region in the north. The work is not easy there; it is trying and, at times, dangerous. As a photographer travelling with the world missions department, it’s easy to document poverty and hardship. But what has always affected me most is the dedication and determination that grows from hope. It is amazing what people can achieve when given opportunities. With the support of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, a great number of people now have access to education, employment and health care. 10 February 2018 Salvationist
I hope that as you look at these photos, you will focus not on how much still needs to be done, but on how much has already been accomplished.
Photos: Joel Johnson
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BY JOEL JOHNSON
The Mombasa Central Corps is located in the most densely populated Muslim community in the city. In the past, the corps has been subject to vandalism and arson
Today, Mombasa Central Corps is thriving and works with the community’s elders to create and strengthen the relationships around them
Lt-Col Wanda Vincent, TSWM, Kenya West Tty, with children from a Salvation Army school in Kakamega Div, Kenya West Tty
Kibera, an informal settlement outside Nairobi, is the largest urban slum in the world. The population is estimated at more than one million, with most people earning less than $1 per day
Despite the poor living conditions, people in Kibera are incredibly resourceful. Cpt Titus Kithinji, CO at Kibera Corps, visits a woman selling charcoal for fuel
Lt Richard Bradbury and his wife, Lt Heidi Bradbury, have dedicated themselves to working for The Salvation Army, with various posts in Africa. Now appointed to the Kenya East Tty, they manage economic development and health programs
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Children play at The Salvation Army’s nursery school at the Kibera Corps complex
While the children are in school, their mothers gather to create crafts to sell at the market, with materials provided by the Kibera Corps
Pamela is one of the mothers helped by the Kibera Corps. With the income she generates, she is able to feed her family of 10, pay her rent and put her daughter in school. Without the support of The Salvation Army, she would have few options
Cpt Geoffrey Muyoma, project officer for Kenya West Tty, meets with farmers in a rural area
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A Salvation Army mother and child health program at the Kolanya Health Centre provides pre- and post-natal care, education for new mothers about nutrition and preventing disease, and mobile medical clinics
Micro-finance groups empower women by providing small loans and teaching business skills, increasing family income. They also foster support and accountability among the women
Lt-Cols Wanda and Morris Vincent, TSWM and CS, Kenya West Tty, meet with members of a pastoral community to understand the hardships they face and offer assistance
The Turkana region, in northern Kenya, borders South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. It’s a desolate place that has seen extreme drought this past year and, as a result, pastoral communities have lost their herds, forcing many to flee the area. However, the town of Kakuma is home to one of the world’s largest refugee camps. While some flee, others arrive, displaced by conflict in their own countries
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Every Child Matters In Kenya, Salvation Army schools and children’s homes are growing hope.
Photos: Joel Johnson
BY MAJOR BRENDA MURRAY AND MAJOR DONNA BARTHAU
The Joytown Primary School in Thika provides education, vocational training and extra-curricular activities for children and youth with disabilities
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n Kenya, children with disabilities often have no access to treatment or education—many are confined to their homes, with no help, no hope. When a corps officer in the Bunyore Division, Kenya West Territory, learned of one such child, he approached the family to tell them about The Salvation Army’s Emuhondo Special School, which provides education, vocational training, physical therapy and extra-curricular activities for children and youth with disabilities. Today, the child is flourishing at the school, and has a bright future. This is just one of the success stories we heard when we visited Kenya last year to see the ministries of the Army’s Brighter Futures children’s sponsorship program in action. We believe every child matters, and because of this we are actively involved in schools and children’s 14 February 2018 Salvationist
homes in many territories, caring for children who might otherwise be left behind. In Kenya, The Salvation Army was a pioneer in offering special education for children with disabilities. Former students are now contributing to their communities as farmers, carpenters, shop owners, shoemakers, teachers, elders, lawyers, nurses and government personnel. Joytown and Joyland, two other schools for the physically disabled, are also “home” to children throughout the school year, a place they can grow socially, spiritually and relationally. Children with multiple disabilities find a caring and therapeutic environment in which to grow and learn to their individual capacity. When we visited, what impressed us most was the way children looked out for and helped each other. The children who could walk took respon-
sibility for pushing their friends in wheelchairs as they moved from classroom, to dorm, to various activities. You could see how they—especially those who shared a room—had become extended family. Schools for the visually impaired in Likoni, Thika and Kibos—from the east coast of Kenya to the western border of Lake Victoria—offer braille and teach independent living skills along with core subjects. They also provide a safe and secure environment for albino children who are at risk of being kidnapped by human traffickers. As we walked around Likoni, we spoke with various teachers, some of whom were also visually impaired, and caught some of their joy in helping children reach their fullest potential. We also saw the new computer lab in action and watched as the children learned how to use this equipment. At the end of our day, we gathered
together in the main hall, and the children sang. We can’t even begin to describe the joyous expressions, beautiful harmonies and excitement in the room. We were so proud of the children and their approach to life. Elizabeth, the school headmistress, was radiant and her personality infectious. Her joy ripples through the school at all levels— she believes in the children, and so they believe in themselves. We also visited children’s homes in Mombasa and Nairobi, where orphans and vulnerable children are cared for and receive an education. They gain good health and hygiene habits, independent living skills and basic agricultural training, along with a spiritual foundation. After spending several days at the Mombasa Children’s Home filming for FUSE, our territorial youth initiative, we thought it would be nice to throw a pizza party. When the pizza arrived, each child was given their own box. Forty children sat in the dining room, but it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Happy smiles were all around, but the pizza was just too good to stop and talk. We were happy, too, to be part of the Mombasa family for a short time. We made another special memory at the children’s home in Nairobi. The students left early in the morning to go to school, all dressed in their school uniforms. At the end of the day, the routine included washing their clothes, shining their shoes, some time to play outside and then off for supper and organized homework time. We watched the way the house mothers interacted with the children, and how the children inter-
At the Mombasa Children’s Home, orphans and vulnerable children are cared for and receive primary education. Many go on to study at university
acted with each other. It always amazes me (Brenda) how the children help each other. As I sat on a chair watching the children play soccer, one little girl came into view. She was about three and had come to the children’s home only recently. A boy, not much older, joined her and the two played soccer, emulating the older children playing in the field. Suddenly we heard the sound of the supper bell and everyone scurried inside, leaving the little girl and me together. As we made our way into the home, her little hand reached up to take mine, and it was at this moment that I said a little prayer—Dear God, protect this child, keep her safe from harm, help her to know
A student at the Likoni School for the Blind in Mombasa uses the computer lab, which functions through voice control. The lab was created in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
that she is precious in your sight and that she is loved. This is our prayer for all the children in our homes and schools. We pray that we can provide skills and education that will carry them through life, help them to be independent and, ultimately, break the cycle of poverty. There are so many stories like these repeated every day as The Salvation Army globally seeks to care for children so no one is left behind. Major Brenda Murray is the director of the world missions department. Major Donna Barthau is the sponsorship co-ordinator for the Brighter Futures children’s sponsorship program.
Children receive physiotherapy to enable them to have more active lives
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Martha’s Boys Salvation Army program offers safe space and education for street youth in Kenya.
n any given Monday morning in Kakamega, Kenya, Edwin Shem wakes up, throws on his backpack and goes to school. After passing through the city’s bustling marketplaces, he walks along a red-dirt road as food transport trucks, motorbike taxis and tuk tuks (Kenya’s version of the rickshaw) speed by. Edwin’s destination is Martha’s Boys, a Salvation Army outreach program that provides education, safe space and social assistance for boys on the street. Some boys ditch their packs into nearby bushes before entering the Army compound, but Edwin keeps his strapped on since it functions as a laundry hamper and the water pump behind the school doubles as a laundry facility. When he arrives at Martha’s Boys, an old house-turned-school on the same property as the Army’s Kenya West Territorial Headquarters, class has begun and many boys have already started working through math problems. The instructor, Lumumba Lusine, who is pursuing a master’s degree in social work, scribbles a math problem onto the chalkboard. One student stands up to solve the question. “What do you think, boys? Is he right?” asks Lumumba. “He is. Clap for him.” All six students clap in unison and “clap for him” becomes the response to every correct answer. All of the boys who come through this ministry are invited to participate in class, though many are only here to rest and clean up. Some arrive and walk straight to the back fence where they bask in the shade of a water tower. Others find rest under the canopy of avocado trees, but most wait their turn at a single water pump to rinse their bodies and scrub their clothes in a plastic basin. Edwin began attending Martha’s Boys in 2009. Now 17 years old, he considers himself a leader among many of the younger boys. “I want them to know that they are important,” he says. “They only need hope to change their lives.” As with many boys his age, Edwin 16 February 2018 Salvationist
has been self-reliant for most of his life. When he was eight years old, his parents divorced and his father remarried, leaving Edwin with a stepmother who didn’t want him around. He eventually fled home and ended up on the streets, finding a new family with the street boys. There are many gang divisions among Kakamega’s homeless youth. While many suffer the associated consequences of living on the streets—including inadequate housing, hygiene, health care and education—the biggest threats are gang violence and police brutality. Many street boys say getting arrested or beaten by local authorities is one of their greatest fears. When the boys are not studying or socializing at The Salvation Army, gambling is a popular pastime. Kevin Isunta, a close friend of Edwin’s and, at 27 years old, an elder in their street group, demonstrates a common card game used for gambling between gangs. “One time, I was accused of cheating and my opponent’s gang beat me,” recalls Kevin. “You can still see the scar.” For Edwin, Martha’s Boys is more than a hang-out spot; it’s a safe space, away from distractions on the street, that allows him to explore his interests
Photos: Joel Johnson
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BY BRIANNE ZELINSKY
Martha’s Boys has been a refuge for Edwin Shem, who lives on the streets
beyond gang activity. Edwin writes rap songs and has recorded one with help from staff and teachers at The Salvation Army. “I write rap songs based on people in the Bible,” explains Edwin. “I have performed them at two radio stations where I was interviewed.” His passion for pursuing a career in music landed him a scholarship from the Army to attend classes at a music school in Kenya where he is learning to be a DJ and composer. Edwin has learned to navigate life without a family or home. At Martha’s Boys, he found more than an education and a laundry facility; through the support of staff, teachers and his street family, Edwin has learned to rely on his faith as a source of hope. “I love God,” he says. “I’ve learned to leave everything with him.”
The Salvation Army provides laundry facilities for street youth
Grace-Full Giving Seven ways to create a culture of generous living. BY THARWAT ESKANDER
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ccording to The Giving Report 2017, produced by CanadaHelps, giving to charity is on the decline in Canada. In 2015, just 21 per cent of individuals claimed donations on their tax returns. And of those who did give, only 18 per cent donated to a religious organization. In The Salvation Army, tithes and offerings for the 2016/17 budget year totalled about $33 million. If you divide that by the number of soldiers and adherents, it comes out to $675 per person, or about $12 per week. As the new stewardship consultant for the Army in Canada and Bermuda, I visit corps across the territory, providing training and resources to help people live as good stewards of their time, talent and treasures. But even more than stewardship, I want to encourage generous living. Generosity is a word that reflects the heart of God. When we grasp what we have been given, the indescribable gift of grace, it calls us to respond with openhearted, open-handed giving—that’s why generosity is one of the measures of a healthy, growing congregation. A corps officer once told me that he couldn’t ask his people to be more generous, because they were already struggling financially. But this deprives our people of the chance to grow spiritually—giving is not only a financial issue, it’s a heart issue. It gives us the opportunity to trust that God will provide for our needs, and there’s a sense of joy and fulfilment that comes from looking beyond ourselves toward a bigger purpose. So how can we create a culture of generous living? Here are seven places to start. 1. Changing the way we see God. We might have known God for many years, and yet haven’t experienced him as a
Father who delights in giving his children good gifts. When we start reflecting on his generosity, we’ll begin to experience generosity in our lives—and then we can also believe it and experience it for our ministry unit and the people around us. 2. Leading by example. To create a culture of generosity, we need to be generous ourselves—we can’t lead others somewhere we haven’t been. Observations of generous congregations show that their leaders set an example. Interestingly, they often don’t even call it being generous, seeing it simply as following Jesus. 3. Preaching and teaching about it. It can feel awkward to talk about money, but it shouldn’t—after all, Jesus talked about it all the time. Sixteen of Jesus’ 38 parables were about how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing one out of 10 verses (288 in all) deals directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers approximately 500 verses on prayer and fewer than 500 on faith, but more than 2,000 on money and possessions.
A holistic theology of money always goes beyond the tithe. It explores the generosity of God, the connection between grace and giving and also between God’s kingdom and our possessions. We need to make the time for giving our tithes and offerings an essential part of worship. 4. Sharing testimonies. There’s nothing more powerful than hearing about real people who have experienced God’s goodness and faithfulness—in finding a job, overcoming financial difficulties or being healed from sickness. 5. Celebrating milestones. We need to celebrate generosity in a healthy and balanced way. Stories of changed lives assure us that we’re not spending our time, talents and treasures in vain. Let’s remember that we accelerate what we celebrate. 6. Influencing the community. We need to partner with other churches and ministries in our community. After all, we’re not seeking to build a denomination or a church; we’re seeking to build the kingdom of God. Let’s join with other faith groups to be generous to our communities. The possibilities are endless. Here’s a great resource for ideas: thebiggive.ca. 7. The sky is the limit. We’re not just looking to pay the bills and balance the budget; our goal isn’t merely a self-sufficient ministry unit. We want to win souls for Christ, and that will require an unlimited number of resources all the time. There’s so much more we can do for the kingdom. Let’s dream big! As we cultivate a culture of generosity, we can serve more, influence more and transform more. Tharwat Eskander is the stewardship consultant in the corps ministries department. If you’d like to arrange training for your corps, contact tharwat_ eskander@can.salvationarmy.org. Salvationist February 2018 17
Answering the Call
New campaign encourages soldiers to become candidates.
What is the purpose of this campaign? We want to raise the profile of candidates and make people aware of the opportunities that are available to be in full-time ministry in The Salvation Army. As Jesus said in Matthew 9, the fields are white to harvest, but the labourers are few. So we are asking the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into the fields. It’s a natural follow-up to the recent “Calling the Courageous” campaign, which encouraged Salvationists to become soldiers for the first time and called existing soldiers to become more engaged in mission and ministry. It’s a great time for people to consider further commitment, to say, “I’m an active soldier at my corps, trying to live a surrendered life, so is the next step for me officership in The Salvation Army?” What does it mean to be a candidate? Being a member of the candidates’ fellowship simply means that you’re open to considering officership. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re making an application to training college, or that that’s where you’ll end up, but you’re listening to God and open to where he leads you. Why did you choose “Not Called?” as the theme? It comes from a letter William Booth wrote to officers and soldiers around the world in 1884, in which he writes, “ ‘Not called!’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say.” Essentially, he’s encouraging Salvationists to consider 18 February 2018 Salvationist
Photo: Timothy Cheng
This month, the Canada and Bermuda Territory launches a new campaign to recruit candidates. Kristin Ostensen, Salvationist associate editor, spoke to Major Jennifer Hale, secretary for candidates, about the campaign, its goals and her own experiences as a candidate.
Mjr Jennifer Hale is the secretary for candidates
how they can go into the world and bring other people to Jesus. As believers, we all have a call on our lives to share the gospel, and for some of us, the best way to live that out is through officership. We hope this campaign will help people realize that, yes, they are called, and that they’ll be willing to answer the call. What are your goals for the campaign? We want to see an increase in the number of people entering training college—we’d love to have 30 new cadets each year. How will the campaign unfold over the course of the year? “Not Called?” kicks off this month with call and commitment Sunday on February 4. We have a resource packet
for corps that includes sermon outlines, Bible study ideas, prayer stations and testimonies from newly commissioned officers. In April, we will hold a weekly onehour webinar on calling and covenant, with different teachers each week. Corps can host it as their Bible study for that month, or people can log on at home. We hope to have a moderated question and answer time with the presenter at the end of each webinar. As a territory, we’re going to take the month of August to pray for candidates, 24 hours a day. So people can visit salvationist.ca/candidates to sign up for a spot, as individuals or as a corps. We’ll be praying specifically for the Officership Information Weekend that’s coming up in October. That’s a wonderful week-
end where people come to the training college, sit in on classes, tour the residences, interact with cadets and staff, and explore officership. In November, we will give people the chance to experience a day in the life of an officer. Some people may not know what their corps officer does, aside from preaching and leading worship on Sundays. This will give people a better understanding of what officers do: pastoral visitation, journeying with families, family services, thrift stores. Kind of like a “take your soldier to work” day. And finally, we’re working with the training college to arrange visits to divisions across the territory for the purpose of candidate recruitment. We’re planning a visit to Newfoundland and Labrador at the end of February, and we hope to visit one or two more divisions throughout 2018. Officer recruitment has sometimes been a challenge for our territory. How are we charting a new path forward? I think we need to change our conversation—we’ve spent time talking about the challenges, now we need to focus on the opportunities. We hope the campaign will give people a new vision—to see that there’s a world around us that is desperate for the Lord’s transforming work in their lives, and we’re called into that mission. We’re saying to Salvationists, “There’s a place for you, there’s an opportunity for you to spend your life in service.” It will be exciting, it will be challenging, but at the end of the day, you know that you’re making an eternal difference in the world around you. Before you became an officer, were you once a candidate? I was! I became a candidate when I was 16 years old and those were formative years for me. I grew up in The Salvation Army and my family was quite involved in our corps. I knew from an early age that the Lord had called me to be a Salvation Army officer. I remember, as a junior soldier, looking at our corps officers and I could see myself preaching and leading meetings. I had wonderful corps officers who included me in their ministry; I had leaders who invested in me, cared for me and trained me up. I went to the training college when I was 18—I had my 19th birthday in October in my first year—so I was very young. But it’s been an exciting journey.
A Step in the Right Direction BY ALECIA BARROW, CANDIDATE CHILDREN AND YOUTH DIRECTOR, PARK STREET CITADEL, GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L.
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y Christian walk began at the age of four, when my family started attending St. John’s Temple, N.L. My parents joined the plant team for Pathway Community Church in Paradise, N.L., when I was 12. I spent a lot of time with them, so I was involved in all aspects of our church. From sitting in on worship team practices and various meetings, to helping with children’s programs, I was immersed in a life of ministry. That continued into university, where I became involved with the Salvation Army Student Fellowship. My first calling to full-time ministry came in the midst of a lot of frustration. After three years of attending university and not finding my place, God clearly pointed me toward Park Street Citadel. In August 2015, I became the children and youth director there, and for the first time I felt I was where God wanted me to be. A few months after a candidates’ information session, I felt led to apply for candidacy. Although I wasn’t sure that was the direction I was going, I had come to realize that true contentment only comes when you follow God’s leading. I was open to whatever that may be, so becoming a candidate seemed like a step in the right direction. Over the past three years, I have questioned and struggled with whether or not God was calling me to officership. I had been waiting for the neon sign to flash, but what I hadn’t realized was that God had been laying stepping stones for me, in his own time. One of my favourite quotes is “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” I also love 2 Corinthians 12:10, which says, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It has been in my struggles and weaknesses that I have found strength through God. During a candidates’ luncheon at the Mobilize—Newfoundland and Labrador Congress last year, I felt God speaking to me through the testimony of one of the cadets. That weekend, I decided to start the process of applying to training college. After attending the Officership Information Weekend in October, I felt my anxieties shift to excitement; I had confirmation that this was the direction God was calling me. I believe that my journey up to now has been preparing me for a life of ministry as a Salvation Army officer, and I can’t wait to see where God will lead me.
Having been a candidate, what would you say to Salvationists who may be considering joining the fellowship? I would encourage people to take advantage of every opportunity that they’re given for ministry. Never say, “Oh, I can’t do that!” or “I’m not the right
person” or “I don’t have those skills.” The Lord can use you—take advantage of those opportunities to be stretched and challenged. Make the most of your time. Live your life for God’s kingdom purposes in the best way you can. And if the Lord is calling you to officership, answer the call. Salvationist February 2018 19
CALLING THE COURAGEOUS
Not Settling for Less For Brian and Natalia DeBoer, soldiership in The Salvation Army means complete surrender. BY KEN RAMSTEAD
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hen you’re wearing a Salvation Army uniform,” says Brian DeBoer, “it’s a symbol that you’re a part of the body of Christ. You’re involved in something bigger than you.” “You’re giving yourself up completely to following him,” continues his wife, Natalia. “That’s what soldiership is all about.”
person. We complement each other, and The Salvation Army plays to both our strengths.” The DeBoers became soldiers in April 2017.
Called While they are still getting to know the corps, Brian and Natalia are now playing an active part in the life of The Salvation Army’s Cornerstone Community Church in MissisRequired Reading sauga, Ont. Brian was raised in a Christian “I feel a strong sense of home and even studied to calling in this position, workbecome a pastor and worked ing with the corps, working for a time in his denomination. with community services “But as time went by,” he and working with the passays, “I kept asking myself the tors, Lieutenants Daniel and same question: ‘Does this minBhreagh Rowe.” istry look like Jesus to me?’ I Brian and Natalia DeBoer’s different personalities complement each Brian is the director of chilwas having a hard time con- other. The Salvation Army plays to their strengths dren and youth ministries, and necting what I was doing to Natalia participates alongside what I felt the gospel was.” theology that matches the work helps him. Their children, Kylynn, seven, and So Brian stepped back and evaluated me feel a part of the mission of God. Carson, four, are often involved in special his life, wondering what were the most It makes every task more spiritual and music presentations. important priorities in his understanding clearly done for Jesus, not just for an Brian, a Christian singer-songwriter, of the gospel. organization.” has also been called upon to lead worHe looked at Luke 4:17-21, where ship, and Natalia—who plays the violin— Jesus quotes from Isaiah, and James All In has occasionally sat in with the worship 1:27, where James defines true religion. The couple started attending Georgeteam. In addition, the couple are helping “Those are formative Scriptures from town, but Brian and Natalia were not to build up the corps’ Sunday school my understanding of the gospel.” content to simply sit in a pew and program and Brian helps out with the Brian wanted to find a church that worship. They had always intended to food bank and does kettle pickups durprioritized the saving of souls, caring for become soldiers. ing the holidays. the poor and holiness. “That seemed like “It’s second nature for us to want to be What’s more, they’ve been welcomed The Salvation Army to me.” everything we can for the church,” says into the candidates’ fellowship (see page Encouraged, he contacted two Brian. “We wouldn’t settle for less. If we 18 of this issue for more information on local Salvation Army officers, Majors were going to be part of The Salvation the Army’s Not Called? initiative), sigDarrell and Lise Jackson at Georgetown Army, we were going all in.” nifying their interest in Salvation Army Community Church in Ontario, who Brian and Natalia have always officership. gave him The Salvation Army Handbook dreamed of being in ministry together, “We are taking this as a time to pracof Doctrine, and he read it from cover and feel the Army is the right place to tise our co-ministering fellowship,” says to cover. make that dream come true. Brian. “Helping the sick, the marginal“Natalia and I were happy to see “Brian and I have very different perized, people that don’t always fit in and that those tenets we held dear, such sonalities,” laughs Natalia. “He’s more are outcasts in society, helping to point as assurance of pardon, were also part of an academic while I’m a roll-up-mythem to Jesus, that’s what The Salvation of the Army,” says Brian. “Having a sleeves-and-get-my-hands-dirty kind of Army is for us.” 20 February 2018 Salvationist
VIEWPOINT
The Sharing Economy Learning to receive from our partner territories. BY ROCHELLE McALISTER
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decade ago, my husband, John, and I had the opportunity to work for The Salvation Army in the Zimbabwe Territory for just over two years—an experience that transformed our lives and perspectives forever. We were there at a time when the economy collapsed. Hyperinflation made us billionaires, but the money was worthless. There were shortages on everything from food to fuel to electricity. Everyone we knew was struggling with poverty, so we shared what we had, and others shared with us. I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. A few months after arriving, one of our colleagues had to go to the hospital. When a group of women planned a visit, someone suggested I bring some money. I was offended and felt targeted. Why should I bring money just because I am the white Canadian? I thought. So I didn’t. At the end of our visit, we prayed with her—and then everyone discretely passed her some money to help with the bills. Everyone except me. I felt so ashamed. My friends had tried to include me as part of a loving, generous community, and I had made false assumptions. What does it mean to be partners in mission with another territory? How can we have truly reciprocal relationships, where we learn from and share with each other? Marriage is a good example. I believe my marriage works because we love each other, communicate well and have learned to honour and respect each other. We both bring our strengths and skills—which are different, but equally valuable—into our marriage. We both think we got the better end of the deal. For those of us who live in rich parts of the world, we need to bring our wealth and resources to the table, as well as our love, compassion and respect. And we need to be open to receiving from our partner territories as well. In Zimbabwe, I met people with incredible, deep faith who trusted God without a back-up
John and Rochelle McAlister with children in Zimbabwe
plan, and prayed in profound ways. I met people who shared without question or worry. We need this faith, this depth of prayer and this boundless generosity, just as much as others need our money. If we are to be true partners in mission, we will respect and honour one another, each thinking we got the better end of the deal. I have come to realize that not many people think of themselves as rich. As a kid, my parents took us to visit some wealthy people and we marvelled at their huge house. They suggested we go for a drive so we could see where the really rich people lived. In Canada, most of us are rich. We eat every day, we’re clothed appropriately, we have access to free health care and social services. Most of us are also rich in choices and opportunities, sometimes to an overwhelming degree. My hope is that those of us with abundant choices use them to support those with limited choices. I was born with a lot of privilege. I’m healthy and able-bodied, with white skin, and from a stable, Christian family in Canada. I could just as easily have been born into vastly different circumstances.
I used to feel crippling guilt over the privilege, power and opportunity granted to me at birth. I have realized that it is mysterious grace that I will never understand, but that my role is to be mindful, to be grateful and to share. Luke 12:48 says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” I don’t feel sorry for people living in poverty; I feel compassion and love. I also feel respect for their resilience, determination and hard work. And this makes me want to share—both giving and receiving. We need to move beyond guilt, indifference and even pity, to love, respect and sharing. Loneliness and isolation are not part of God’s plan for us— we were designed to be in community. May those of us in rich countries or rich neighbourhoods never exclude ourselves from the opportunity to connect and be impacted by our brothers and sisters in poorer countries or neighbourhoods. Rochelle McAlister works with seniors in crisis through WoodGreen Community Services, and has two boys. Salvationist February 2018 21
The Perils of Power The story of Joseph reveals the deathly dilemma of leadership.
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n the late 1960s, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote the playful musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, based on the biblical story of Joseph (see Genesis 37-50). There is an appealing simplicity to the storyline and at the end of the musical we are left with an impression of Joseph as a badly wronged, but graciously forgiving sibling who beats the odds to rise to power in a foreign land. Traditional retellings of the Joseph story in Sunday schools and churches reflect the easygoing naiveté of the Lloyd Webber-Rice musical. We gloss over Joseph’s “goody two-shoes” early days when he ratted out his brothers, taunted them with his grandiose dreams and lorded their father’s blatant favouritism over them, epitomized in the coat of many colours (see Genesis 37). Later in the story, we overlook the excruciating tests to which Joseph subjected his brothers when they appeared before him, not recognizing that their long-lost sibling had risen to power in Egypt. Joseph exacted a delicious revenge for the cruel treatment he had received from them (see Genesis 42-45). Once again we excuse this because it is inconsistent with our image of Joseph as a man blessed by God. The way in which we skip over Joseph’s embarrassing shortcomings reflects our childlike desire for our leaders and heroes to be faultless. We want them always and only to embody untainted virtues. But a closer examination of Joseph’s story leads us to more realistic (and biblical) reflections on leadership. Rise to Power Joseph clearly possessed qualities that allowed him to ascend to positions of authority. The narrator attributes much of his success to the fact that the Lord was with Joseph (see Genesis 39:3). But this did not immunize him against the perils of power; it certainly did not turn Joseph into a saint. In the house of Potiphar, Joseph 22 February 2018 Salvationist
BY DONALD E. BURKE became the overseer of all that Potiphar possessed. This position of responsibility brought with it the potential to satisfy baser appetites. To Joseph’s credit, when Potiphar’s wife made repeated sexual advances, he resisted. But he paid a high price for his virtue when his seductress falsely accused him of attempted rape and he was thrown into prison (see Genesis 39). Fortunately, God’s blessing was still upon him and Joseph rose to power a second time by successfully interpreting Pharaoh’s enigmatic dreams. Joseph made sense of the confusion in the king’s mind by announcing that Egypt would experience seven years of bountiful harvests followed by seven years of famine. He then proposed a strategy to protect Egypt from famine. In response, Pharaoh appointed him to oversee Egypt’s famine emergency plan (see Genesis 41).
After Joseph had taken everything else, he took the Egyptians’ freedom. All of this confirms that integrity and God’s blessing are keys to ultimate success, even with apparent setbacks. But if we read further, we also find that Joseph’s rise exposed him to the ambiguous nature of power. We see this especially in the implementation of the plan to prepare for the coming famine. Coercion and Violence On the one hand, Joseph’s strategy to manage the predicted famine in Egypt was prudent. In the seven years of plenty, Joseph, armed with Pharaoh’s authority, gathered and stored food to compensate for the shortages that would occur during the seven years of famine (see Genesis 41). Joseph used Pharaoh’s power to miti-
gate the devastating effects of drought. So far, so good. But if we look beneath the surface of the story, we see several reasons why Joseph’s plan would have required the use of force. First, taking one fifth of the land’s produce to store it for an anticipated seven years of famine (see Genesis 41:34) would be a hard sell for many Egyptians. In the ancient world, this level of taxation was excessive and would have caused significant hardship. Second, not everyone in Egypt would have been convinced of the need to store vast amounts of food for some future, hypothetical famine. The human tendency to live in the present must have created significant pressure to eat now and worry about tomorrow later. Lastly, the entire strategy to stockpile food was based on the unscientific interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams by a Hebrew convict. How credible could that be? There would have been many “famine deniers” in the years of plenty when food was abundant. As a result, Joseph’s strategy, though well-intentioned and necessary, required discipline and sacrifice. Joseph would have had to use Pharaoh’s power to compel farmers to hand over a portion of their crops. Those who failed to comply would have felt the sharp edge of Pharaoh’s sword. While Joseph’s exercise of power was for the greater good and led to Egypt’s survival, coercion and violence were necessary. In other words, there were victims. Collateral Damage Joseph’s use of power became even more troubling once the famine struck. We read of his devastating economic strategy in Genesis 47:13-26. The food that had been taken from the Egyptian people and stored for seven years was not distributed freely—even to those who had provided it. Instead, as the famine progressed, the Egyptian people were forced to pay for food until they had handed over all of their money. Then, when their
Illustration: © Sky Light Pictures/Lightstock.com
money was gone, Joseph took all of their flocks and herds as payment. When the Egyptian people had no more livestock, Joseph seized their land. Finally, after Joseph had taken everything else, he took the Egyptians’ freedom and made them Pharaoh’s slaves. While Joseph’s strategy had saved Egypt, survival came at an extreme cost. Joseph’s “good” plan also caused great economic and personal harm. The Egyptians were enslaved even as Pharaoh’s fortunes flourished. Hard Reality The story of Joseph—and the stories of other great leaders in the Bible such as Moses and David—illuminates the ambiguity of power. It shows us that even when attempting to do something good, we can sometimes unwittingly do harm. Power appeals to our basest instincts, and can cause leaders great and small to succumb to temptation.
Too frequently, we are blind to our own motivations. We may think we are acting in the best interest of others, when in fact we are acting out of self-interest. We may think we are being virtuous, and yet be blissfully unaware of the harm we are causing. The frequency of failed leadership in politics and business fills today’s headlines, demonstrating that earnest appeals to honesty and integrity are not sufficient to guard against the dark side of leadership. Similar failures by Christian leaders show that it is not good enough simply to parrot pious platitudes about servant leadership or “being like Jesus.” Without confronting the deeper problems, these approaches are based more on wishful thinking than hard reality. A Deathly Dilemma To truly be effective, we must wrestle with the nature of power in our world. If a man like Joseph, who was guided and
protected by God, was subject to these perils of power, what hope is there for us to escape them? How can we even begin to exercise power in legitimate ways? If we are blind to power’s potential to harm, is it possible that we will recklessly inflict pain and suffering precisely as we seek to do the most good? And if we are aware, will we be paralyzed into inaction? What can deliver us from this deathly dilemma? Wishful thinking won’t save us. Pious platitudes won’t save us. Avoiding the responsibility of leadership won’t save us. Fortunately, our Christian faith offers us the resources not only to understand this “deathly dilemma,” but also to move beyond it. In next month’s Salvationist, we will explore how the gospel brings good news to leaders charged with the responsibility that comes with power. Dr. Donald E. Burke is a professor of biblical studies at Booth University College in Winnipeg. Salvationist February 2018 23
GRACE NOTES
Silent No More
How will we respond to #MeToo and #ChurchToo?
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n December, TIME magazine named “The Silence Breakers” as the 2017 Person of the Year. Let that sink in. The person of the year was a group of women (and some men) who spoke out about sexual harassment and assault, igniting a movement that spread like wildfire across social media, as one by one, people began to share their stories using the hashtag #MeToo. This movement caused several highpowered and influential men to resign amid clouds of controversy. I was one of the many who said #MeToo, but that’s all I wrote. I wasn’t ready for this movement. I wasn’t ready to reveal my secrets, to share my story—a story of powerlessness and fear, ugliness and pain. A story of lost innocence, violence and gaps in memory. I admired the women and men who did. I believed their stories, applauded their bravery and rejoiced as the accused were stripped of powerful positions and forced to account for their inappropriate, abusive and criminal behaviour, too long swept under the rug. But I couldn’t share my story. People wouldn’t understand. People would be hurt. People would talk. And so I simply said #MeToo and let that be enough. And it was, for a time. Here’s the thing: the people who hurt me were in the church. They were people I spent time with, looked up to and trusted. They were all men who claimed to be followers of Jesus. And that messed me up. Because, for a while, I felt 24 February 2018 Salvationist
really guilty. Guilt, by definition, is the fact of having committed an offence or crime and an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. But over time, and through therapy, I came to realize that what I was feeling wasn’t guilt. It was shame. Shame is the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonourable or improper. In my case, it wasn’t from something I had done; it was from things done to me.
Dear fellow survivor: your story has power. I was drowning in shame. The kind of shame that settles in and makes itself at home. The kind of shame that strangles you when a long-dormant trigger suddenly breaks into the present, flooding your mind and emotions with memories shoved deep. I couldn’t scrub it off my skin. I couldn’t erase the images in my head. At times, my chest was so tight, I couldn’t breathe, except in fragmented gasps. Shame defined and dictated everything I was and everything I did. Shame led me to a dark place, where the only relief
I could find was the bliss of chemicallyaltered consciousness, of oblivion, where I could be alive and not exist at the same time. But I began to tell my story, in a small voice, to small audiences. Stories have power. In the Gospel of John, we read a story about a Samaritan woman who went to a well to draw water. She, too, is shamefilled—she has had five husbands, and the man she is with now is not her husband. Her decision to draw water during the hottest part of the day is enough to tell us that she doesn’t want to meet anyone. But she encounters Jesus. Jesus knows her shame—not just because he is God incarnate, but because it is so palpable. He doesn’t turn away. He asks her for water, inviting a conversation. In the hot sun by the well, she speaks out. “I have no husband.” I can only imagine how much it cost her to say those words to a man, how they would have caught in her throat. But as she speaks, her shame begins to lose its grip and her healing begins. Dear fellow survivor: your story has power. Sharing it can loosen shame’s hold and start the healing process. Dear church: what will your response be to our stories? Will you believe us— the collective “us” of the #ChurchToo movement—or will you silence us? Will you hold space to allow healing to begin, as one by one we share our stories in bigger voices, to bigger audiences? Lieutenant Erin Metcalf is the corps officer at Niagara Orchard Community Church in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Photo: © DigitalStorm/iStock.com
BY LIEUTENANT ERIN METCALF
Eleanor’s Choice The Good Place is a heavenly comedy that offers laughs and lessons. BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN
Can Eleanor (Kristen Bell) keep Michael (Ted Danson) from finding out that she doesn’t belong in The Good Place?
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elcome! Everything is fine.” Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) wakes up, as if from a dream, sitting on a couch in an unfamiliar room with those words emblazoned on the wall opposite from her. A well-dressed white-haired man named Michael (Ted Danson) ushers her into his office where she learns that she is dead, her life has been evaluated and, lucky for her, she is going to The Good Place. Only there’s been a mistake. Contrary to what Michael says, Eleanor was not a human rights lawyer who devoted her life to helping death-row inmates; she was a salesperson who sold seniors questionable nutritional supplements. Her efforts to avoid being found out and keep her spot in paradise are chronicled in the TV comedy The Good Place, now in its second season. To help her on her quest, Eleanor has Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper), her assigned “soulmate.” Chidi, a university professor specializing in moral philosophy, agrees to teach her ethics to hopefully give her a chance to earn a legitimate spot in The Good Place. That unusual premise makes The
Good Place unique in today’s TV landscape: more than just making people laugh, it strives to make people think. As Bell commented in an interview with Vulture, “Once you capture someone’s attention with the laughter, you do find these spots where you can insert these moral or ethical examinations.” For The Good Place, the primary ethical question is, What does it mean to be good? Chidi diagnoses Eleanor’s problem immediately, telling her, “You are too selfish to ever be a good person.” And sure enough, Eleanor fails her first opportunity to show that she can put the neighbourhood’s needs above her own desires. On her first night in The Good Place, Eleanor gets drunk at the welcome party and eats all the shrimp. The next day, the neighbourhood is attacked by giant flying shrimp, ladybugs, frogs and more. When Chidi convinces her that the chaos is her fault—she is the flaw that’s throwing the whole neighbourhood off—he suggests that she take part in the clean-up efforts. Only to do so, she must forego her opportunity to try flying. Unsurprisingly, Eleanor shirks her duties and goes flying, resulting in
a trash storm. Yet later that night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Eleanor gets up and spends the night picking up trash. She admits to Chidi that she did it because she felt remorse for her actions: “It was a weird feeling, not used to it, didn’t love it.” For Eleanor, it’s the first demonstration that she is capable of change. As the first season continues, viewers are given flashbacks to Eleanor’s time on earth that demonstrate just how selfish she can be. In one episode, she borrows a friend’s dress without asking, rips it, and then doesn’t speak up when her friend blames her drycleaners. In another flashback, Eleanor abandons a dog she is supposed to be looking after while a friend is away, in order to go to Vegas. Each episode, however, the flashbacks are paired with parallel situations in The Good Place where Eleanor chooses differently. The ethical framework of The Good Place is based on philosopher Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative: essentially, “Treat others how you wish to be treated.” (Or, as Kant phrases it, “Act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law.”) It echoes the second half of Jesus’ greatest commandment: to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (see Mark 12:31). Yet The Good Place goes further than Kant, suggesting that doing good, in itself, is not enough if you are doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. Though this is a running theme throughout the show, it is explored in depth in the episode, “What’s My Motivation?” in which Eleanor tries to improve her “good” score by holding a party for everyone in the neighbourhood and apologizing for her actions. Her score remains unchanged, however, as her primary motivation was to save herself from The Bad Place. First and foremost, The Good Place is a comedy—and much like executive producer Michael Schur’s other TV shows (such as The Office and Brooklyn NineNine), it provides plenty of laughs. But Eleanor’s journey also holds up a mirror to our own lives—to remind us that love is not self-seeking but self-sacrificing, and every decision matters. The first season of The Good Place is available on Netflix. Season 2 is now airing on Global TV. Salvationist February 2018 25
Photo: Courtesy of NBC
CROSS CULTURE
CROSS CULTURE
f you haven’t been homeless, chances are you haven’t spent much time in a Salvation Army shelter. But thanks to a new half-hour documentary, produced by CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, viewers can get a behind the scenes look at how one shelter is giving hope to homeless and vulnerable people. Persons First: Inside the Wiseman Centre visits the Army’s Wiseman Centre in St. John’s, N.L., which includes a shortterm emergency shelter (16 beds for men, four for women) and long-term supportive housing units for 10 people. The documentary interviews several people in the temporary shelter, who typically stay one to two months, and people in supportive housing, all of whom speak frankly about their experiences and the cycles of addiction, crime and poverty. “I’m off the merry-go-round now,” says one supportive housing resident who has been at the Wiseman Centre for over a year. “It’s great.” The film also features interviews with the centre’s social workers and executive director, Major Lloyd George, who emphasizes that the Army’s work is motivated by the love of God. As God loves everyone equally, he notes, so, too, does
The Salvation Army see beyond labels—alcoholic, drug addict, criminal. “From our perspective, they’re persons first,” says Major George. “And if you treat someone as a person first, they respond quite differently.” Watch Persons First on YouTube at youtu.be/380oD7aNkFY.
A new CBC documentary explores the Army’s Wiseman Centre in St. John’s, N.L.
IN REVIEW Seven Fallen Feathers
In Our Time
BY TANYA TALAGA When Toronto Star journalist Tanya Talaga travelled to Thunder Bay, Ont., to repor t on why Indigenous people were not voting in the 2011 federal election, s he s t u m ble d on a story that was much more i mpor ta nt to tell. From 2000 to 2011, seven Indigenous high school students had died in Thunder Bay, all hundreds of kilometres away from their families, forced to leave home and live in a foreign and unwelcoming city. In Seven Fallen Feathers, Talaga tells their stories and delves into the history of this small northern city that has come to manifest Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations against Indigenous communities. Though Thunder Bay has the most hate crimes of any city in the country, according to Statistics Canada, Talaga says this could be a story about any city, telling the CBC, “Thunder Bay is almost a microcosm of what is happening across Canada.”
HOSTED BY MELVYN BRAGG Describing itself as a show about “the history of ideas” might make In Our Time sound stuffy, but most assuredly, it is not. The show and podcast is a fascinating dive into our collective past, guided by Melv yn Bragg and a set of expert guests each week. Individual episodes look at well-known historical figures and events, as well as important works of art, fiction and non-fiction. Many episodes discuss religious themes, such as a recent episode on Constantine the Great, the emperor who legalized Christianity and made it the official religion of the Roman Empire. Bragg and his guests have also devoted episodes to Mary Magdalene, medieval mystic and writer Hildegard of Bingen, and the Salem Witch Trials, and ideas such as the Trinity, prophecy and the Protestant work ethic. The show airs on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom, but is available worldwide online. The show’s website even offers a list of the top 10 episodes, as chosen by listeners, to help people get started. Listen online at bbc.co.uk/ programmes/b006qykl or download using your preferred podcast app.
Racism, death and hard truths in a northern city
26 February 2018 Salvationist
IN THE NEWS Secret Agent Preacher Man
An inner-city pastor who’s also a crimefighting secret agent—it sounds like a preposterous premise for a TV show. If it weren’t based on a true story. In December, NBC announced that it is developing a new TV show called Spirit of the Law, based on the life of Kalvin Cressel, a pastor of Greater Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in California who also worked as a special agent with the U.S. Department of Justice for 30 years. According to Deadline, Cressel would work on dangerous gang-related cases during the week, including going undercover, and then on Sundays would return to his role as pastor of what was once the toughest church in Compton, a city that has been torn apart by gang violence. The show will be produced by DeVon Franklin, who has produced such films as Miracles From Heaven and The Star and is a pastor himself.
Pastor Kalvin Cressel and his wife, Patricia
Photo: Kalvin Cressel/Facebook
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Documentary Profiles Salvation Army Shelter
PEOPLE & PLACES
PENTICTON, B.C.—Members of the Prayer Shawl group at Penticton CC display some of the lap robes, blankets and scarves they made for residents at seniors’ centres in their community. From left, Mjr Miriam Leslie, CO; Helen Driscoll; Fran Ronson; Lisha Anderson; and Jean Mackie.
TORONTO—Four young people are enrolled as junior soldiers at Etobicoke Temple. Standing under the Army flag held by Randy Peddle, colour sergeant, are, from left, Zoë Jibbison, Mikayla Hume, Angelina Rattanaphannarong and Owen Lamb.
JACKSON’S POINT, ONT.—His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, shares a moment with Commissioner Susan McMillan, TC, and Colonel Lee Graves, CS, during the Territorial Leaders’ Conference at JPCC. Cardinal Collins spoke to the Army leaders in attendance about the structure of the Catholic Church and its social justice initiatives.
TORONTO—From left, Brianna Banarange, Mickala Myers and Jaheim MierezMortley are enrolled as junior soldiers at Cedarbrae CC. Supporting them are, from left, Krishna McFarlane, JS co-ordinator; Ravel Locke, holding the flag; Mjr Tina Manuel, chaplain, Broadview Village, Toronto, and guest speaker; and Roshan Lazarus, Sunday school co-ordinator.
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
REGINA—The Salvation Army’s Regina William Booth Special Care Home and Regina Wascana Grace Hospice have received the Speers Caregiver Award in “recognition of the care given every day by a wonderful group of professionals who offer kindness, empathy and caring” to their community. Sponsored by Speers Funeral and Cremation Services, the award was presented to Ivy Scobie, executive director (centre), and Heather Ness, director of care, by Wally Kauk, community outreach co-ordinator for Speers. William Booth Special Care Home and Wascana Grace Hospice offer long-term residential, respite and convalescent care, an adult day support program that provides recreation, socialization and personal care for clients, daytime respite for caregivers and palliative/hospice end of life care.
Do you know the difference between the CCM and the CSM? Who’s your CO? And what exactly is a DDWM? See below for a list of some common acronyms and abbreviations that appear in the pages of Salvationist. BM/SL—bandmaster/songster leader CC—community church CCM/CCMS—community care ministries/community care ministries secretary CO—corps officer CS—chief secretary CSM/YPSM—corps sergeant-major/young people’s sergeant-major IHQ/THQ/DHQ—International Headquarters/territorial headquarters/ divisional headquarters JSS—junior soldier sergeant RS—recruiting sergeant TC/DC/AC—territorial commander/divisional commander/area commander TPWM/TSWM/DDWM/DSWM—territorial president of women’s ministries/ territorial secretary for women’s ministries/divisional director of women’s ministries/divisional secretary for women’s ministries Tty/Cmd/Rgn/Div—territory/command/region/division TYS/DYS—territorial youth secretary/divisional youth secretary
Salvationist February 2018 27
PEOPLE & PLACES
TRIBUTES TORONTO—Lt-Colonel Norman Coles was born in Toronto as the youngest of seven children, five of whom served as Salvation Army officers. Norman spent 16 years in England and served for a period of time in the Royal Navy before entering the training college from Toronto’s Danforth Corps. He was commissioned in 1952 along with his future wife, Faith Russell, who was born in India where her parents, Colonel and Mrs. Leslie Russell, served for more than 30 years. Norman and Faith married in 1955 and welcomed three children to their family. Appointments took them to Whitby, Bowmanville, Brampton and Oshawa, Ont., Saskatchewan and Toronto. Norman was the divisional commander of the Ontario North Division, Ontario South Division and, after a brief time in the program department serving as the assistant secretary for program and director of church growth, the Metro Toronto Division. Norman had a great sense of humour, was positive in outlook, fair and encouraging. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Faith; children Major Brian Coles, Major Brenda Coles and Gwenyth Wagner; and his grandchildren. LACHINE, QUE.—Lt-Colonel Marilynn St-Onge (nee Hollingworth) was born in Hamilton, Ont., in 1942, and promoted to glory following a courageous battle with ALS which had been diagnosed two and a half years before. While growing up in Hamilton, Marilynn attended Barton Street Corps with her parents, where she accepted Jesus at the age of seven. In 1962, she entered the training college in Toronto in the Heroes of the Faith Session, where she met Gilbert St-Onge. Following her first year of appointment to Edgewood, an outpost of Fredericton, they were married in 1965 and served together in a variety of appointments, including in Campbellton, N.B., and Burlington, Ont., and in Montreal in correctional services, at the Eventide Home and in divisional assignments. Marilynn enjoyed her role for many years in women’s ministries. Other divisional appointments took them to Bermuda, Ontario North and the Quebec Division, where they retired as the divisional leaders. They retired in Montreal where their two daughters and five grandchildren reside. Marilynn enjoyed spending time with the family, especially preparing festive meals. Marilynn is survived and missed by her husband, Gilbert; daughters Charlotte (Jeff) and Charline (Lester); five grandchildren; and brother, Major Donald (Margaret) Hollingworth. TORONTO—Mrs. Lt-Colonel Shirley Grace Kerr was born in Winnipeg, the only child of Lt-Colonel and Mrs. Arthur and Muriel Hill. Shirley trained as a medical technician at Halifax’s Dalhousie University and entered the training college in Toronto in 1949, in the Standard Bearers Session. Shirley served at the Toronto Grace Hospital and in Gananoque, Ont., and married William Kerr in 1955. Together they ministered in Kirkland Lake, Welland and Oakville, Ont., and Saskatoon, and as divisional youth secretaries in the Manitoba, Ontario West and British Columbia South Divisions. Shirley served as divisional league of mercy secretary in Toronto, in the property department and as chaplain at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, St. Michael’s Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. For many years, Bill and Shirley supported the North Toronto Youth Band, with him as the bandmaster and her as the chaperone during band trips. They spent their final years of active service as divisional leaders in the British Columbia South and Ontario South Divisions. In retirement, they attended North Toronto Community Church, where Shirley was a songster. She is survived by daughters Maryon (Stan) Walter and Joan (Richard) Cameron; grandchildren Melissa and David Walter, and Daniel, Brett and Mark Cameron.
28 February 2018 Salvationist
BURLINGTON, ONT.—Peter John Zelinsky was born to newcomer parents in Hamilton, Ont., in 1938, the youngest of seven children. Peter married the love of his life and perfect helpmate, Betty, and they shared 59 years together, growing even closer in the last years as he became her full-time caregiver. He was father to Lisa, Richard and Deana, and grandfather to Elissa, Brianne, Jordan and Leah. Peter served his Lord through the ministries of Hamilton Temple and Burlington Citadel where he had a passion for seeing children and youth come to faith in Jesus, having accepted Jesus in Sunday school himself in 1974. Betty was always the out-front member of this dynamic duo, but it was Peter’s quiet and humble service that supported all of the work they did with Sunday school, bus ministry, family services, kettles, adult ministry and so much more, including countless fellowship meals he prepared with friends from church. Peter leaves a legacy of godly influence. He was a fun-loving friend, supportive brother, playful and loving grandfather and father, and a devoted and faithful husband. Peter was a blessing to all who knew him and is deeply missed. NORTH VANCOUVER—Doreen Kate Havercroft was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1924 as part of a large family of Salvationists. A lifelong member of The Salvation Army, Doreen was a woman of faith, devoted to Scripture and a prayer warrior. On moving to England, she served in the corps at Eccles, part of Greater Manchester. In 1975, Doreen moved to Canada, settled in Mississauga, Ont., and attended Mississauga Temple where she wore her uniform with great pride and served as the songster sergeant. In 1990, Doreen surprised her family and friends when she became engaged to Lt-Colonel E. John Havercroft whom she had known for many years from their time in Cape Town. As her corps officer, John had enrolled Doreen as a senior soldier. They were married at Cariboo Hill Temple in Burnaby, B.C., and enjoyed 12 happy years together serving at the temple, participating in the retired officers’ league and travelling to the United Kingdom, South Africa, Israel and Egypt before John’s promotion to glory in 2002. Doreen loved her new family, especially her four great-grandchildren. There were many health challenges in her later years, but Doreen faced them with her trademark determination.
GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL Appointments: Apr 1—Comrs Merle/Dawn Heatwole, international secretary for business administration/secretary for mission strategy, IHQ; Comrs Mark/Sharon Tillsley, international secretary for the Americas and Caribbean/zonal secretary for women’s ministries—Americas and Caribbean, IHQ; Lt-Cols Devon/Verona Haughton, TC/TPWM, Caribbean Tty, with rank of comr; Lt-Cols Kelvin/Cheralynne Pethybridge, CS/ TSWM, Eastern Europe Tty; Jul 1—Lt-Col Paul/Mjr Jenine Main, CS/TSWM, Caribbean Tty, Mjr Jenine Main with rank of lt-col TERRITORIAL Promoted to glory: Mjr Gerald McInnes, from Toronto, Dec 11
CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Feb 12-15 divisional retreat, Ont. GL Div; Feb 20-23 divisional retreat, Bermuda Div; Feb 28-Mar 4 Whitehorse Colonels Lee and Deborah Graves: Feb 4 call and commitment Sunday, Mississauga Temple CC, Ont.; Feb 8-9 personnel consultations, JPCC*; Feb 20-23 divisional retreat, Ont. CE Div (*Colonel Debbie Graves only) Canadian Staff Band: Feb 3-4 Cambridge Citadel, Ont.
PEOPLE & PLACES
Salvation Army Officer Honoured by Correctional Service of Canada
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 individual resided
• c orps involvement • Christian ministry
• c onversion to Christ • survivors
Photo requirements:
Photo and story: Dominique Liboiron
• high-resolution digital photo or high-resolution scan of a clear, original photo (TIFF, Photoshop EPS or JPEG format; 300 ppi preferred) emailed to salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org • or a clear, original photograph mailed to Salvationist, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4 (photo will be returned)
COMING SOON ACROSS AN OCEAN AND A CONTINENT
Brass bands, Christmas kettles, thrift stores—these are what most Canadians commonly associate with The Salvation Army. Few know, however, that between 1904 and 1932, the Army was an official immigration agency, approved and financially sponsored by Canada’s Department of Immigration. During that time, the organization brought to Canada approximately 111,000 British settlers, most of them juvenile male farm helpers and young female domestics. Across an Ocean and a Continent is a descriptive account of the Army’s immigration work, detailing how it conducted that work, offering first-hand reports of trips across the Atlantic and Canada in its chartered ships and trains, discussing its dealings with Canada’s Department of Immigration, and the public’s perception and reception of its efforts. Enlivened by more than a dozen personal recollections, this book not only expands our appreciation of The Salvation Army as a worldwide social agency but also provides another important chapter in Canada’s immigration history. “R.G. Moyles knows how to make historical data come alive through striking facts and gripping first-hand accounts.” —General John Larsson (Rtd)
Dr. R. Gordon Moyles is a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, having taught Canadian literature and served as the associate dean of arts. He was born in Newfoundland and Labrador, was educated there and at the University of London, England. He has written 30 books, 12 of them on The Salvation Army, the most recent
Women (Frontier Press, 2014). Dr. Moyles is a member of The Salvation Army Edmonton Temple and shares an active retirement with his wife, Ada.
ISBN: 978-0-88857-532-6
Canada and Bermuda
9 780888 575326
Territory
RELIGION / The Salvation Army / Church & Doctrine
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R.G. MOYLES
being Glory! Hallelujah! The Innovative Evangelism of Early Canadian Salvationists (Triumph Publishing, 2013) and Maud, Emma, Evangeline: America’s Love Affair with the Three Booth
ACROSS AN OCEAN AND A CONTINENT
MAPLE CREEK, SASK.—Cpt Ed Dean, corps officer in Maple Creek, received the Taylor Award from Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the National Volunteer Association in recognition of his exceptional dedication to CSC. The presentation of the award—a glass statue featuring five inukshuks—was made at the Okimaw Ochi Healing Lodge, an Indigenous correctional facility near Maple Creek. Cpt Dean and his wife, Cpt Charlotte Dean, provide support to the women at the lodge, including opportunities for community service and a work release program that enables women with no work history to develop skills, gain work experience and earn money. He also received a beaded medallion of a white horse, one of the highest honours bestowed by the Cree, symbolizing that he honours and respects life. Residents of the lodge then presented him with a star blanket they had sewn as part of their rehabilitation and as a way to connect with their culture. “Being given a star blanket is a real honour,” said Chief Alvin Francis of Nekaneet, explaining that the recipient is seen as a person who shows respect to others and puts their needs ahead of his own. Cpt Dean was nominated by staff of the healing lodge and the Citizen Advisory Committee, a public committee that acts as an impartial observer of the institution and a liaison between the community and CSC. The award is named in honour of Dr. Charles Taylor of Wolfville, N.S., for his lifetime dedication to faith-based counselling with offenders and contribution to prison ministry education.
The Salvation Army as a Canadian Immigration Agency 1904-1932
ACROSS AN OCEAN AND A
CONTINENT The Salvation Army as a Canadian Immigration Agency 1904–1932
R.G. MOYLES FOREWORD JOHN LARSSON
Salvationist and Army historian Dr. R. Gordon Moyles offers a descriptive account of The Salvation Army’s immigration work and presents first-hand reports and personal recollections from those who journeyed to Canada with the Army’s help.
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Contact (416) 422-6119; circulation@can.salvationarmy.org or visit salvationist.ca/subscribe to order Salvationist February 2018 29
SALVATION STORIES
School of Music Music ministry has taught me to let God set the tempo. BY PAUL VOS
I
was born at The Salvation Army Chikankata Hospital in Zambia, where my parents worked for several years. We returned to Canada when I was three, settling in Kitchener, Ont., and started attending Kitchener Community Church. I learned to play the cornet, and music has been part of my life ever since. At junior music camp, I made a commitment to follow Jesus. I became a senior soldier when I was 14, because I wanted to be part of our corps ministries and wear the uniform to be visible in the community. A few years later, I joined Impact Brass, our divisional youth band, which we hope changes the lives of listeners, but certainly has changed the lives of the members. In my second year of university, I had some big decisions to make that would shape my future. I hadn’t been able to find a co-op job and was worried about not meeting my course requirements, which could delay graduating. I like to plan, to be in control, so I was stressed and anxious as I tried to figure things out. I knew God was there, but I thought I was strong enough to handle it all on my own. One night, I finally gave up and gave my concerns to God. I had the best
Vos and his wife, Melissa
30 February 2018 Salvationist
sleep of my life. The next day, I could feel that a weight had been lifted. Soon after, I found a placement in Ottawa. Although it meant leaving everything that made me feel comfortable, I trusted that God had a plan—and things worked out far better than I could have imagined. Since then, I strive to give things to God and let him handle the burdens in my life. After graduating, I went to Zambia and travelled around the country. It made me aware of the struggles people face, but I was also encouraged by the work being done. When I got home, I joined the board of directors for an organization that supports orphans and widows. In 2014, I was appointed to the Canadian Staff Band (CSB). I thoroughly enjoy band ministry and the way God can be glorified as we share his message with others through music. I’m also part of our corps band in Kitchener, and run a music program with kids from the community. Music ministry influenced my life growing up, so my goal is to continue it today, knowing it is an effective way of connecting with the community. Our program has more than doubled over the last two years. Each week, a child reads a
Paul Vos is a member of the Canadian Staff Band
devotional for the group. It’s rewarding to see kids make new friends, develop their music skills and accomplish goals. God is working through our service to him. Another way we’re connecting with the community is through a martial arts program called Kung Fu for Christ, which I help with as an instructor. We have more than 50 kids and 20 adults each week. I enjoy teaching them the art of kung fu and the discipline that comes with it, while incorporating biblical teachings and memory verses. It is an amazing ministry that, like music, brings in people from the community. There are several kids who are in the music program who also go to kung fu, which is exciting. Last April, I married Melissa, who grew up just a few minutes away and attended Cambridge Citadel, Ont., where she played in the band. Although we have many family and friend connections, we never met until a few years ago at Territorial Music School. It was my 18th year, and her first. God’s timing is perfect. We went to Zambia for our honeymoon to visit Chikankata and Victoria Falls. Whether playing with the CSB, teaching kids music or kicks in kung fu, I have many opportunities to share how God has been working in my life. The refrain of I Know a Fount has a lot of meaning for me: “Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see. There’s a wonder working power in the blood of Calvary.” It’s such a beautiful song, with a message everyone can relate to. God never promised life would be easy, but he will help you and carry you through any circumstances you will face. Let him lead your life and he will bless you more than you can imagine.
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR A HIGHER PURPOSE. EDUCATION FOR A BETTER WORLD
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