Salvationist July 2018

Prophet of Doom: Amos’ Warning

Northridge Bridges Church and Community

Pipeline Controversy: Economy or Environment?

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

July 2018

Salvationist.ca

Farewell to General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox

The Next General

Commissioner Brian Peddle elected 21st leader of The Salvation Army

CONTENTS

Salvationist July 2018 • Volume 13, Number 7

18

Departments 5 Frontlines

Jesus Brings a Man Back to Life

Hi kids!

This week’s Bible story is about Mary and Martha, two sisters whose brother, Lazarus, died. This made them very sad.

16 Live Justly

ISSU

Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you will have troubles.

But be brave!

I have defeated the world!” (John 16:33 ERV). Sickness is a terrible thing, but it’s not the final answer.

The story of Lazarus shows us that God is more powerful than any illness.

Thy Kingdom Come

by James Read

E

30

Your friend, Kristin

Looking for Lazarus What does a dentist call his X-rays?

17 Fresh Ideas

Tooth-pics

Making Room

by Tim Bohr

What do you give a sick pig?

Oink-ment

The Bridge Text by Giselle Randall, photos by Steve Nelson

In the Pipeline

by Lieutenant Crystal Porter

26 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories Never Alone

by Barry Morgan

Columns 4 Editorial Who’s the Boss?

by Geoff Moulton

24 Grace Notes Holy Days

by Lieutenant Erin Metcalf

30

U H I D B W K M J Y

R M T E T Q O K E S

E A X R D T S Y T D

BROTHER GOD LAZARUS MARY STONE

H R D H A U N O X O

T Y G Z R M N I E G

O T R A R E V O I Z

R S Z B A K G C D K

B A V I X B P L N S

L S U S E J T M B I

DIED JESUS MARTHA SICK TOMB

Reprinted from Kids Alive! (April 28, 2018)

Just for Kids

18 Snapshots of Ministry

25 Ethically Speaking

A D S I C K J V B U

Features 8 Commissioner Brian Peddle Elected 21st General The 2018 High Council chooses Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle to lead The Salvation Army into the future.

by Major Christine Clement, Pamela Richardson and Kristin Ostensen

12 A Fond Farewell

Just for Kids is an exciting weekly activity page published by The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda for children ages five to 12, packed with Bible stories, games, puzzles, colouring, jokes and more.

Email circulation@can. salvationarmy.org or phone 416-422-6119 to learn how you can receive Just for Kids in your ministry unit.

Cover photo: Salvation Army IHQ

Salvationists honour the General and Commissioner Silvia Cox as they retire.

by Kevin Sims

Read and share it!

13 ¡Hola, Cuba!

Faith&Friends

A short-term mission trip paves the way for future service projects.

by Sam MacLeod

More Than a Meal

FOOD & FRIENDS P.5

Critters Fighting Jitters

PAWS OF LOVE P.15

New How-To Department

NIFTY THRIFTY P.23

I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

SUMMER 2018

14 The Power of Prayer After a life-changing stroke, Major Margaret Burt embraces new ministry at care home.

by Kristin Ostensen

22 Prophet of Doom Amos accused the people of Israel of meaningless worship.

What can we learn from their mistakes?

by Donald E. Burke

That’s Incredible!

CAN OUR FAVOURITE SUPERHERO FAMILY SAVE THE DAY AGAIN? P.12

Salvationist July 2018 3

EDITORIAL

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Who’s the Boss?

few years ago, our family went camping with some friends from the neighbourhood. One afternoon, I went on a nature walk with my six-year-old son, James, and two of the other parents. Along the way, my son piped up, “Who’s your boss?”

One parent said, “I work as a TV producer, so I report to the station manager.”

The other responded, “My supervisor is the president of the bank.”

“Oh, yeah?” James proudly proclaimed. “Well, my dad works for God!” After we laughed at my son’s outburst, I explained how The Salvation Army is first and foremost a church—a fact that is not always immediately apparent to the public, due in large part to the success of our charity work. Obviously James wasn’t at all shy about sharing his faith.

It was a point that The Salvation Army’s new General-Elect, Commissioner Brian Peddle (page 8), emphasized in his first interview after his election with the United Kingdom’s Premier Christian radio. When asked about his plans for The Salvation Army, he noted: “We need to proclaim the gospel clearly to the world. We can easily be put into another ‘bucket’ as an NGO or charity, but primarily we’re called to preach the gospel.”

He then recalled his own encounter with his young daughters, when they

Salvationist

is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory André Cox General Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel John Murray 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 July 2018 Salvationist

asked him, “Daddy, will you ever not have a job as a Salvation Army officer?” He replied, “As long as the world remains broken, as long as it needs the gospel, as long as it needs people to serve suffering humanity, then your dad will always have a job.”

In this issue of Salvationist, we feature people who are carrying out that great mission. Check out some of the exciting activities happening at Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont. (page 18). Meet Major Margaret Burt, who, despite a paralyzing stroke, is still ministering through prayer and preaching (page 14). And delve into the Book of Amos with Donald Burke to discover the dangers of “empty” worship and the priority of caring for our neighbours (page 22).

Speaking of new leadership, the editorial team is pleased to welcome Lt-Colonel John Murray as the new secretary for communications.

Lt-Colonel Murray has served as secretary for communications at International Headquarters and continues to lead the public relations and development team, emergency disaster services and federal government relations section here in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Let’s pray for our new inter-

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.

national leaders, Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle, as they take office on August 3. We are thrilled to have these Canadians serving as General and World President of Women’s Ministries respectively. Even as we salute them, may we never lose sight of the fact that we are all working for the Lord.

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

FRONTLINES

Booth University College Celebrates Graduating Class

Booth’s 2018 graduating class with, front, from left, Dr. Marjory Kerr; Commissioner Susan McMillan; Brig.-Gen. Linda Colwell, chair, Booth University College’s Board of Trustees; and Dr. Michael Boyce, academic dean

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ooth University College’s largest graduating class ever was sent out into the world in April during convocation celebrations held in Winnipeg.

More than 600 people were in attendance at Knox United Church to celebrate the 120 graduates.

“Education for a better world, as the slogan of the university college says, depends upon God’s people responding to the impulse of the Holy Spirit in every situation,” said Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander and Booth University College’s chancellor, during the baccalaureate service. “My prayer for all of us here today is that we would be open to his leading, willing to use every opportunity that God provides to witness about the light of the world, Jesus Christ.”

“Graduating class: Congratulations, you have done it!” proclaimed Dr. Marjory Kerr, president of Booth University College. “You represent a range of ages, cultures, interests and programs of study. But regardless of the path and the journey you have taken,

this afternoon, we celebrate your accomplishments, your perseverance and your success, and we’ve come to honour you and to let you know how proud we are of each of you.”

After the students received their diplomas, Commissioner McMillan presented the Chancellor’s Medal to bachelor of arts graduate Laura Nadine Hepditch and bachelor of social work graduate Amy Lynn Patrick. Bachelor of arts graduate Lieutenant Laura Hickman was awarded the General’s Medal.

“If you want your education to count for a better world, you have to live in a way that is wise,” Hepditch advised her classmates as she addressed those gathered. “To be wise means to live in such a way that good things are produced and reproduced. It’s paying it forward.

It’s fruits of the Spirit. It’s being slow to speak and quick to listen.

“Much of living wisely is in how we respond to what happens to us,” she continued. “Think before you react and be intentional in what you do. How you respond to the world around you makes

a greater difference than you may realize.

It’s how you use the gifts that God has given you that matters.”

Lt Laura Hickman receives the General’s Medal from Commissioner Susan McMillan and Dr. Marjory Kerr

Salvationist July 2018 5

FRONTLINES

Salvation Army Honoured by Canadian Church Press

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he Salvation Army’s magazines and website won 24 awards at the Canadian Church Press convention in May, honouring work published in 2017. Salvationist took home 11 awards; Faith & Friends received eight awards, including general excellence; Foi & Vie was recognized in two categories; and Salvationist.ca received three honours.

The Canadian Church Press includes representatives from more than 60 member publications, including mainline, Catholic and evangelical churches. The awards were judged by accomplished journalists and academics from both the religious and secular media. All of the winners can be read at Salvationist.ca.

Salvationist

1st Place •• Feature Photo: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. Photographer: Carson Samson •• Biblical Interpretation: Fear and Trembling by Donald Burke 2nd Place •• News Photo: A Journey of Reconciliation. Photographer: Pamela Richardson •• In-Depth News Report: A Mobilized Army by Pamela Richardson •• Feature: The Children Who Never Came Home by Kristin Ostensen •• Service Journalism: In Harm’s Way

by Major Shirley King

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3rd Place •• Column: Herstory by Captain Kristen Jackson-Dockeray •• Feature Layout and Design: Bridge Builders. Designer: Timothy Cheng •• Theological Reflection: At the Same Table by Major Christine Johnston •• Interview: Force for Change.

Editors: Geoff Moulton and Kristin Ostensen •• Photo Essay: Island of Hope.

Photographer: Joel Johnson; designer: Timothy Cheng

Salvationist.ca

1st Place •• General Excellence—Website: Salvationist.ca. Designers: Brandon Laird and Radiant Honourable Mention •• Use of Social Media. Editors: Kristin Ostensen and Giselle Randall; designer: Brandon Laird •• Website Redesign. Designers: Radiant and Brandon Laird

Faith & Friends

1st Place •• Humour: Cowpocalypse Now by Phil Callaway 2nd Place •• Front Cover: October 2017 3rd Place •• Service Journalism: Fair Trade in an Unfair World by Lieutenant Kaitlin Adlam

Carson Samson’s photograph of Mjrs Sandra and Owen Budden won first place in the feature photo category

•• Biographical Profile: Hammer’s Time by Ken Ramstead •• Media Review: Son of a Preacher Man by Giselle Randall •• Original Artwork: Cowpocalypse Now. Illustrator: Dennis Jones •• Edition Design and Layout: October 2017 •• General Excellence

Foi & Vie

1st Place •• Humour—Cartoon: Pour L’Amour Du Ciel by Kevin Frank 3rd Place •• News Story: Salut, Quebec! by Kristin Ostensen

Toronto Hospital Receives $1 Million for Dementia Research

he Salvation Army’s Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) has been awarded $1 million from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation’s (CABHI) Industry Innovation Partnership Program to participate in research to advance pressure injury management systems for individuals living with dementia.

Partnering with Curiato Inc., an innovator of smart technologies to prevent pressure injuries, Schlegel Villages, a provider of long-term care and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, the TGHC is advancing its role as a leader in wound care for patients receiving complex continuing care and rehabilita6 July 2018 Salvationist

tion. Curiato Inc. will provide state-of-the-art “smart beds” capable of communicating changes in a patient’s skin condition and monitoring patient movement for caregivers and staff.

“This research project is an opportunity for the TGHC to advance our capacity to provide exceptional and compassionate care for our patients,” says Mary Ellen Eberlin, president and CEO of TGHC. “As part of the Industry Innovation Partnership Program the hospital is contributing to science that will directly impact the quality of care for individuals living with dementia, including those that require complex continuing care and rehabilitation.”

FRONTLINES

Army Assists Following Floods in N.B.

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istoric flooding brought destruction to New Brunswick in May, causing widespread damage and forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes. In the aftermath, The Salvation Army provided emergency disaster services in Fredericton and Saint John, offering practical and spiritual care.

In Saint John, a community response unit provided three meals a day at the University of New Brunswick, where displaced persons were staying in the dormitories.

The Army in Fredericton, which has an agreement with the city to provide shelter, went into active duty as soon as the floods started. Its St. Mary’s Street location acted as a shelter and reception area during the flooding.

“Displaced people arrived in shock,” says Larry Moss, emergency disaster services co-ordinator for Fredericton. “This disaster was totally unexpected. Some people were staying with friends and coming to us for meals.”

A community response unit was summoned from Halifax to Fredericton’s Exhibit Centre to provide meals for volunteers who were looking after farm animals displaced by the flooding.

“It could be a long time before some people get back into their homes,” says Moss. “The Salvation Army will continue to support them with practical assistance and spiritual care.”

A community response unit serves meals in Saint John

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From left, Mjrs Garry and Sandra Ward, COs; Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle; Colonels Deborah and Lee Graves, TSWM and CS; Lt-Cols Genevera and Eddie Vincent, DDWM and DC, N.L. Div

Chief of the Staff at Trinity Bay South

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re you all in?” asked Commissioner Brian Peddle, Chief of the Staff, of Salvationists in Dildo, N.L., as Trinity Bay South Corps celebrated its 125th anniversary in April. Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, led the weekend of events under the theme, Great is Thy Faithfulness.

The weekend began with dual men’s and women’s breakfasts, attended by more than 100 people combined. At the men’s event, Commissioner Brian Peddle reminded the group that “God is faithful. There is a future and there’s lots of hope. God wants men who are willing to work for him.” Commissioner Rosalie Peddle exhorted those attending the women’s breakfast to be women of influence. “It’s time to make a difference in our world,” she said.

At the afternoon rally, Commissioner Brian Peddle encouraged Salvationists to live a life different from the world so people will see Jesus in them. “We need to be bright lights to bring people to a safe harbour,” he said. At the celebratory dinner later that day, he reflected on how his Army life began in Dildo, and reminded guests that God has a plan for everyone.

During Sunday’s services, the Peddles encouraged the corps to go forward in faith. “Where do we go from here?” challenged Commissioner Rosalie Peddle at the morning meeting. “What is God asking of us? We need to step up and move out.”

Premier Visits Vancouver Shelter

ohn Horgan, premier of British Columbia, visited The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light treatment centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in May, to learn about the Army’s addiction programs, shelter and community services. Jim Coggles, executive director, and Lt-Colonel Jamie Braund, divisional commander, British Columbia Division, welcomed Horgan to the shelter, where staff and clients shared their experiences with detox and recovery with the premier.

Following the visit, Horgan expressed gratitude to the Army for the opportunity, saying, “Thank you for all the hard work and compassion you put into making our communities better places to live.”

From left, Jim Coggles, Premier John Horgan and Lt-Col Jamie Braund

Salvationist July 2018 7

Photo: Joseph Halliday

General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox with the General-Elect, Commissioner Brian Peddle, and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle following the election

Commissioner Brian Peddle Elected 21st General The 2018 High Council chooses Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle to lead The Salvation Army into the future.

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BY MAJOR CHRISTINE CLEMENT, PAMELA RICHARDSON AND KRISTIN OSTENSEN

he General-Elect is Commissioner Brian Peddle!” declared Commissioner Birgitte Brekke-Clifton, president of the 2018 High Council, as thousands of Salvationists around the world watched by live stream on Thursday, May 24. The General-Elect, currently serving as Chief of the Staff, and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, will assume international leadership of The Salvation Army following the retirement of General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries, at midnight on August 2.

“It is my absolute pleasure to stand before you today and acknowledge the confidence that the High Council has placed in me and Commissioner Rosalie,” said the General-Elect 8 July 2018 Salvationist

immediately following the announcement. “We pray that The Salvation Army internationally will now move from strength to strength, and that God almighty will bless in an incredible way, that he will surprise us with his mighty power as we move forward into the future.”

“For Such a Time as This” The Salvation Army’s 19th High Council, meeting at the London Heathrow Renaissance Hotel in England, commenced on Thursday, May 17, to elect the 21st General of The Salvation Army.

Following the singing of Great is Thy Faithfulness, the Chief of the Staff reminded the council of the story of Esther with its memorable phrase: “For such a time as this.” For Esther, as

Commissioner Brian Peddle, then territorial commander for Canada and Bermuda, visits with children at a Salvation Army project in Malawi during a Partners in Mission trip in February 2012

Seven officers from the Canada and Bermuda Tty served on the 2018 High Council. From left, Cols Wayne and Deborah Bungay, TC and TPWM, Tanzania Tty; Comrs Floyd and Tracey Tidd, NC and NPWM, Australia; Commissioner Susan McMillan; and Commissioners Rosalie and Brian Peddle

The people of Karachi, Pakistan, welcome the Chief of the Staff and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries in December 2016

for the members of the High Council, “for such a time as this” came with privilege but also responsibility and obligation.

After he called the High Council to order, the legal preliminaries were dealt with, including confirming that the High Council was convened in accordance with the Salvation Army Act 1980. The roll call confirmed that 108 members were in attendance of the 111 summoned.

Opening procedures were followed by the election of three High Council officers: Commissioner William Cochrane, territorial commander, Norway, Iceland and The Færoes Territory, as president; Commissioner Birgitte Brekke-Clifton, international secretary for program resources, International Headquarters (IHQ), as vice-president; and Commissioner Mark Tillsley, international secretary for the Americas and Caribbean, IHQ, as chaplain.

During the second day of proceedings, on Friday, May 18, a questions committee was elected by the High Council and tasked with formulating questions to be answered by each candidate for General and their spouses, as applicable. The nine members of the committee included the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, Commissioner Susan McMillan, as well as representatives from Germany, the

United States, Sweden, Mexico, India, Kenya and Indonesia.

On Saturday, May 19, a public meeting was held at Central Hall, Westminster, to officially welcome members of the 2018 High Council and to bid farewell to the retiring international leaders (see “A Fond Farewell,” page 12). The next day, Pentecost Sunday, was a day of worship for the High Council and included an afternoon of prayer.

The Nomination Process High Council proceedings resumed on Monday, May 21, after Commissioner Tillsley shared from Luke 5:1-11 about Jesus calling fishermen as his first disciples. Commissioner Tillsley emphasized the need to leave the shallows and “put out into the deep.” While there may be uncertainty in deep waters, he explained, it is there that the depth of Christ’s love, mastery and majesty can be discovered.

Following the council’s review and agreement with the questions prepared over the weekend, the council had a significant time of prayer before moving to the nomination process.

One by one the members left the chamber to make their nomination in private, returning to post their ballot in one of two boxes for this purpose (the original ballot box used over the years and a second added at a recent High Council). At the conclusion of the day, nine individuals had been nominated.

History in the Making Tuesday morning, May 22, began with nominees indicating whether they would accept or decline their nomination. The five officers accepting the nomination were Commissioners Brad Bailey, William Cochrane, Kenneth Hodder, Jane Paone and Brian Peddle. Declining the nomination were Commissioners Salvationist July 2018 9

Photo: Dave Bird

Commissioners Rosalie and Brian Peddle march through the streets of London, England, during The Whole World Mobilising celebration in October 2017

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle makes a new friend while distributing coffee outside International Headquarters in June 2017

Dick Krommenhoek, Benjamin Mnyampi, Floyd Tidd and Mark Tillsley.

History was made with a number of these nominations.

Commissioner Cochrane is the first single male officer to be nominated, almost 90 years after the first single woman was a candidate for the office of General—Commander Evangeline Booth. When asked about Commissioner Paone being the first married woman to be nominated, fellow married women High Council members said it gave them dignity, empowered them and showed the confidence The Salvation Army has in its women leaders. Similarly, the nomination of Tanzanian Commissioner Mnyampi, a leader from one of the Army’s youngest territories, prompted some council members to say it is “good for us Africans” and that they are ready to be considered for such a level of leadership.

As the candidates and their spouses left to prepare answers to the questionnaire and write speeches to be presented to the High Council, remaining members reconvened to elect a new president to replace Commissioner Cochrane, who had to step down from the role as a result of accepting his nomination.

This resulted in another historic moment for a High Council when Commissioner Birgitte Brekke-Clifton was elected the first woman to take this office. Commissioner Clive Adams, territorial commander, Sweden and Latvia Territory, was elected as vice-president.

The final business of the day was to consider questions to be addressed to individual candidates. Those submitted 10 July 2018 Salvationist

Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle enjoy a lighthearted moment while visiting Hurstville Corps, Australia, in October 2017

by members were reviewed and accepted or rejected by the council. Commissioner Tillsley concluded the session with prayer for the candidates and their spouses.

The Candidates Speak Additional time was given on Wednesday morning, May 23, for the candidates and their spouses to finish the questionnaire and write their speeches. When the council resumed, Commissioner Tillsley spoke from Ephesians 3, emphasizing that strength comes from the Holy Spirit, both personally and corporately, until we are “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

Before lots were drawn for the order in which the candidates would speak, Commissioner Brad Bailey informed the council that he had withdrawn from the election process.

The answers to the questionnaire were delivered without interruption and listened to in respectful silence. As outlined in the Orders of Procedure, no approval or dissent was expressed.

Following each candidate’s reading of his or her prepared responses and then having answered any clarifying questions, the chaplain offered two verses from Scripture. The plea: “I am your servant; give me discernment” (Psalm 119:125); and God’s response: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), after which everyone engaged in moments of silent prayer.

divided administratively became a focus for prayer as members from each zone were encircled by their fellow council members.

Speeches from the four candidates were delivered without interruption and there followed no expression of approval or dissent. The drawing of lots again determined the order in which the can—The General-Elect, didates gave their speeches, which were received in silence. The council then Commissioner Brian Peddle adjourned.

The council resumed as the chaplain led the singing of Salvation! O the Joyful Sound! and spoke from Acts 7:51-60.

Drawing on these verses and directing his thoughts to the candidates, but sugCommissioner Brian Peddle speaks at the Mobilize—Newfoundland and Labrador congress in July 2017 gesting they were for all present in the chamber, Commissioner Tillsley spoke Election of a General of the need for holy boldness.

Thursday, May 24, the day voting would begin to elect the new The election process took place in silence as a solemn and General, opened with the worldwide prayer meeting. Led by the sacred duty, resulting in the election of Commissioner Brian chaplain, the five zones into which the international Army is Peddle as the 21st General of The Salvation Army.

From Newfoundland to International Headquarters

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s General and World President Between December 1979 and June ment at divisional headquarters in the o f Wo m e n’s M i n i s t r i e s , 1985, the Peddles held various appointthen Ontario East Division, Majors Commissioners Brian and ments at the Colleges for Officer Training Peddle became divisional leaders in the Rosalie Peddle will be based at in St. John’s and Toronto, and brought Maritime Division in 2001—a position International Headquarters in London, two daughters into the world, Stephanie they held for six years.

England. But their real Army roots and Krista. Their next appointment took Majors Brian and Rosalie Peddle took will always be in Newfoundland and them to the then Saskatchewan Division, up their first international appointment Labrador. in 2007 as divisional commander Bria n Pedd le wa s born and divisional personnel secretary, in Norman’s Cove, N.L., and Northern Division, in the New attended the nearby Trinity Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory.

Bay South Corps in Dildo, Their next appointment took them N.L. Rosalie Rowe was born in to the United Kingdom Territory Carbonear, N.L.—about an hour’s with the Republic of Ireland, with drive away—and attended the the rank of colonel, where they local corps. were chief secretary and territorial Rosalie went to training colsecretary for women’s ministries. lege in St. John’s, N.L., as part C om m i s s ione r s Pe dd l e of the Overcomers Session, returned to their home territory as receiving the rank of lieutenant territorial commander and terriin 1976. Brian, a member of the torial president of women’s minisCompanions of Christ Session, tries, where they served from 2011 was commissioned the followto 2014. They were then called ing year.

The Chief of the Staff and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries to International Headquarters as Remaining in her home prov- greet Salvationists in the Kenya West Tty in March 2018 international secretary and zonal ince, Rosalie’s early appointments secretary for women’s ministries, took her to Lethbridge—Circuit with where Brian served as divisional youth Americas and Caribbean Zone, before Random Island, Deadman’s Bay and the secretary and Rosalie was divisional General André Cox made Brian and divisional camp, while Brian had his guide director and then divisional corps Rosalie Chief of the Staff and World first appointment in Hants Harbour, cadet consultant.

Secretary for Women’s Ministries.

N.L. The couple began their ministry Captains Peddle returned to corps together following their marriage in 1978 work in 1988 with appointments to This article has been amended since as assistant corps officers at St. John’s Chatham Corps, Ont., and St. John’s it was first published in the July 2018 Citadel, N.L. Citadel. After a year-long appointissue of Salvationist magazine.

Salvationist July 2018 11

Photo: Kristin Ostensen

“We pray that God will surprise us with his mighty power.”

Salvationists honour the General and Commissioner Silvia Cox as they retire.

BY KEVIN SIMS

The General and Commissioner Silvia Cox give the Army salute

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he welcome to the High Council and farewell to retiring General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries, was spectacular and yet personal. The General’s message that every person can change the world if they give themselves over to God was backed up by stories from the international leaders’ lives that demonstrated how, through service and sacrifice, they have made an impact around the world that will last long after they retire in August.

The event took place on May 19 at Central Hall, Westminster, London, England, and began with the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Household Division of the British Army, resplendent in red tunics and bearskin hats. The congregation rose to welcome the General and Commissioner Cox, who were followed into the hall by the 108 members of the 2018 High Council.

The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Brian Peddle, welcomed the congregation to the “best ticket in town”—a nod to the royal wedding which had taken place earlier in the day about 40 kilometres to the west.

The General charged the High 12 July 2018 Salvationist

Council to consider the “sacred purpose” of electing the next General. He told them it was “time to cast aside any personal opinions,” and added, “God does not always work in the way we expect.”

Music played an important role in the meeting, with contributions from the International Staff Band (ISB), International Staff Songsters (ISS), Boscombe Timbrels, trumpeter Simon Cox (nephew of the General and Commissioner Cox) and African Praise, a British singing, dancing and drumming group made up of Salvationists from Zimbabwe and other African countries.

The African influence was appropriate for the farewell to the Army’s first Africa-born General.

Consecrated Service, a new piece

by Bandmaster Richard Phillips, was written as a musical tribute to the Coxes. Featuring the ISB, ISS, vocal soloist Gemma Hinchliffe, Simon Cox, African Praise and Boscombe Timbrels, the work took the listener through the General’s term of office, from his election to their taking the message of being a consecrated, mobilized people around the world, all using well-known Army songs.

Tributes to the retiring leaders

Photo: The Salvation Army IHQ

A Fond Farewell

were paid by two members of the High Council. Commissioner Margaret Siamoya, territorial commander, Zambia Territory, thanked them for their spiritual leadership and his championing of the Accountability Movement.

Commissioner Massimo Paone, territorial commander, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory, spoke about how they had embraced their roles with “commitment, passion and energy,” and highlighted the example they had set in working closely as a team.

Commissioner Cox spoke about the “immense” privilege that has been hers and paid tribute to the support she had received from her husband, whom she described as “such a wonderful man” to the delight of the congregation.

A video presentation reminded the congregation of the General’s “I Dream” statements that had underpinned his term of office and focused on the Army he wanted to see—an accountable, mobilized Army that gave young people a voice.

The General took up the last “dream” statement, then told the congregation— and thousands of people watching by live stream—that he had been delighted to see some aspects of his dream become reality. Far from being satisfied, however, he warned: “The Salvation Army around the world has the potential to be so much more!” He told his listeners not to allow compromise to take hold and to avoid being taken in by the spirit of the world.

“Do we rely on ourselves or do we rely on God’s strength?” he asked, pointing out that “the light of our lives can sometimes be diminished by compromise,” and yet “the world in which we live is desperate to see light and hope.”

Referring to Joy Webb’s song The Candle of the Lord, the General called on everyone to join him in saying: “Lord, light me so I can make a difference in the world.”

In response, people knelt at the mercy seat with members of the High Council who moved to speak to the seekers.

The meeting finished in joyful style with William Booth’s O Boundless Salvation! As the congregation sang, music groups that had taken part in the meeting joined in one by one while officers from International Headquarters waved flags.

The congregation left having praised God and committed themselves to being a light in the darkest places of the world.

¡Hola, Cuba!

A short-term mission trip paves the way for future service projects.

BY SAM MacLEOD

The team leads a day of games, sports and crafts at Havana Corps for Salvation Army youth and other children in the community

I

n March, a team from Kingston Citadel in Ontario stepped off a plane into the heat of Havana, Cuba—goodbye winter, hello sandals! We were met by Colonel Julio Moreno, a joyful, bulldog of an officer— both a retired professor and a former amateur boxer—who treated us like longlost family. We piled onto an antique school bus covered in revolutionary graffiti and set out for our quarters.

Our group, led by Major April McNeilly and our youth pastor, Amanda Doyle, was made up of four adults, two university students and six high school students. The purpose of our trip was to connect with The Salvation Army and learn about Cuba, and how we might be able to help.

We spent the next several days visiting various Ejército de Salvación operations, including corps buildings, youth ministries and an Army nursing home.

As we toured the seniors’ home—a maze of staircases and turquoise hallways— many of the residents shook our hands

and offered friendly holas. The director of the facility, an Army officer, explained the centre’s mission: to take care of those who need care and offer the light and love of the Lord.

On the upper floor, an unfinished great room that could double the facility’s capacity remains unfinished. The space had been a labour of love for past Salvationists, who laid tiles and erected walls, but resources are nearly non-existent. Elsewhere, the steel roof over the dining hall has rotted away due to a neighbouring vinegar factory. We think of the resources we have access to in Kingston—builders, architects and labourers that worship at the citadel and nearby corps. We feel charged to explore whether we can help. We will bring this project back with us.

Throughout the trip, we caught glimpses into the difficulties experienced by average Cubans—from conversations with friends along the way; from a visit to a children’s playground, consisting of a broken swing, glass and garbage; from

views of dilapidated apartments along the highways. We were there to learn— about the needs, and about ourselves and the luxuries we take for granted.

To learn that there is work to be done outside our walls.

While there is great need in Cuba, there is also abundance of spirit. The beauty and hospitality we experienced rivals the best any nation can provide.

This is a country full of love—love for each other, love for Cuba and love for Jesus Christ. We saw this while attending an Army worship service in downtown Havana. On a side street, up a broken marble staircase, over a residential courtyard, and into a classroom, our group gathered with Colonel Moreno and his wife, the corps officer and a congregation of 50 or so.

Mi corazón entona la canción, ¡cuán grande es él! ¡cuán grande es él! We sang and prayed together, just as we would 1,000 kilometres northward. Major McNeilly, with a translator beside her, offered a message regarding the importance of balancing social work with spiritual work (see James 1:27). The presence of the Holy Spirit was powerful, as both Canadians and Cubans knelt at the altar, rededicating their lives to the great work to be done. We prayed and then we ate—a collection of home-cooked delicacies, prepared by the women who can be found at every Salvation Army church across the world.

We were sent off with the same love that greeted and kept us during our stay, forever thankful for our experiences and the friends we made. We left knowing our work is not done—we were called to Cuba and will return.

For now, we will return to Kingston Citadel to pray and plan, and introduce our brothers and sisters to our future in Cuba. The Salvation Army in Cuba has a great motto: Cuba Para Cristo, Cuba for Christ.

Sam MacLeod is the administrative co-ordinator for Kingston Citadel in Ontario.

Salvationist July 2018 13

The Power of Prayer After a life-changing stroke, Major Margaret Burt embraces new ministry at care home.

Mjr Margaret Burt has taken up residence at Trillium Manor in Orillia, Ont., where she has an active ministry

T

he last thing I remember was sitting in the living room at my friend’s house,” says Major Margaret Burt. “And in 10 minutes time I would have left the house and been driving on the highway.

So I’m very thankful that it happened where it did.”

On August 9, 2016, Major Burt had a stroke, resulting in the paralysis of the left side of her body. She had just returned to Toronto from a trip to Israel, and had recently settled into a new apartment with her little dog. And on that day, everything changed.

Gifted Teacher Major Burt has lived at Trillium Manor in Orillia, Ont., since December 2016, 14 July 2018 Salvationist

but before her stroke, she spent nearly 50 years in active service in The Salvation Army. Though she officially retired in 1999, Major Burt accepted two further appointments, keeping her active into her 70s. “I retired three times, in the end,” she says with a laugh.

Commissioned in 1964 as part of the Heroes of the Faith Session, Major Burt spent a few years in corps work before she found her niche in Christian education, both in her home territory and internationally.

“I love teaching, and I feel that’s what my gift is,” she says. “For me, it was so fulfilling to see people grasp the ideas and grow, and put what they learned into practice.”

Most of Major Burt’s officership was

spent in teaching roles, including nine years in Pakistan where she served as territorial youth secretary, territorial education secretary and education officer for the South Asia region. After Pakistan, Major Burt was appointed to International Headquarters as international training officer, before returning to Canada to take up appointments in personnel, education and pastoral care.

“I had a wonderful officership,” she reflects. “At the beginning, it would not have been my choice, but I felt God leading me that way, so I obeyed.”

“OK, God” After a lifetime of teaching roles, Major Burt’s two post-retirement appoint-

Photos: Kristin Ostensen

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

ments were a significant departure for her. Little did she know that both would help prepare her for the ministry that God has given her where she lives now.

Major Burt spent a number of years as liaison and chaplain at a hospital in Windsor, Ont., and as chaplain at P.L.U.S. in Toronto, a program that helps people with disabilities, mental health challenges and special needs learn job skills.

“Those appointments were a good learning experience for me,” Major Burt says, “especially my time at Windsor, where I was often ministering to people who were dying. There are people here at Trillium Manor who are facing the end of their lives, and I’ve had the opportunity to be close with them. Several families have asked me to pray with them before they die.”

Her own experience with adjusting to life after having a stroke has also given Major Burt keen insight into the challenges faced by those around her at Trillium.

“Before the stroke, I was a very independent person,” she reflects, “and I was constantly on the go. Not only did I take those extra post-retirement appointments, but I also travelled and just had fun.

“And overnight, I went from being independent to totally dependent,” she continues. “I couldn’t do anything by myself. That was really tough.”

Moving into a care facility was a sorrowful event for Major Burt as she mourned the loss of the life she expected to have. “I cried and cried because I didn’t

want to be here,” she says. “But then I knew that I had to just say, ‘OK, God, you’ve got to help me.’ ” The Prayer Wall Despite the difficulty of the transition, Major Burt is grateful for the support of loved ones and the many occasions she has had to be a pastor to her new community.

“My friends and family have been absolutely superb—the people here tease me about how many people come to visit me,” she smiles. “And the opportunities for ministry have been fantastic.”

Not long after she arrived at Trillium, Major Burt was given the chance to teach a Bible study.

“I enjoyed that. I felt like I was back to the Marg I knew,” she says. “With the stroke, I got paralyzed on the left side, but I kept my ability to speak.”

She has also spoken at different events at the manor, said grace at mealtimes and recently led a church service.

But the place where Major Burt has seen the greatest impact is right in her bedroom, where an entire wall is covered in notes. Each of them represents a person and a prayer.

“The prayer wall has been the biggest opportunity for me,” she says. Major Burt got the idea from a friend of hers, who writes the names of the people she prays for on notes and sticks them to the wall in her prayer room. “I thought, That’s a wonderful idea—I could do that. Soon, I had staff come in and ask me what it’s all about. So I’d tell them and they’d say, ‘Can I put my name there, too?’ ”

More than 50 notes—each representing a person and a prayer—make up the prayer wall in Mjr Burt’s room

The requests are often practical, and in the past year and a half, Major Burt has seen many answers to prayer.

A father and son, estranged for many years, reconciled. A childless couple finally able to have a baby. A house sold.

The prayer wall is the perfect opening for Major Burt—its can’t-miss size and location invites curiosity and conversation. Requests come from staff, residents and their families; people of Christian faith, other faiths and no faith at all.

“It’s been an eye-opener for me that people want us to pray for them,” says Major Burt. “They want to know about God.” Whenever she leaves or returns to her room, Major Burt will pause as she passes the wall and pick a person to focus on. “In a situation like mine, I think you need to find that which you can still do,” she says. “There are many things I can’t do anymore, but I can still pray.”

Faithful Intercessor While ministering to the people of Trillium Manor as a result of a stroke is not the ministry Major Burt would have chosen, she says she is “amazed” that God has used her in this way.

“What I have learned since coming to Trillium is that relationships are what’s really important in all of our ministry,” she says. “Being in a long-term care facility is hard for everybody. For some people, it’s just terrible what they’re going through. So to come alongside them and be friends—that’s what I’ve tried to do.”

Having been through a life-changing health crisis herself, Major Burt emphasizes how important friendship has been to her own well-being.

“Phone calls, cards, people just being there for me—it’s been fantastic,” she says. “You have to depend on God, but you have to depend on people, too. You have to let people help you.”

As the guest speaker at a recent prayer breakfast at Orillia Corps, Major Burt shared two verses with the congregation: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6); and “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act” (Psalm 37:7 NLT). As an intercessor for her community, these verses have taken on new meaning.

Though Major Burt is retired—for a third and final time—her ministry as a Salvation Army officer is far from over.

Salvationist July 2018 15

LIVE JUSTLY

Thy Kingdom Come Christians are called to detect and correct injustice.

BY JAMES READ “I, the Lord, love justice.”—Isaiah 61:8

16 July 2018 Salvationist

Photo: © Joel Carillet/iStock.com

W

hile much of the Bible says God loves it when individuals relate to each other justly, Isaiah 61 is addressed to a whole society. God will set oppressed people free, release captives, return plunder stolen by Israel’s enemies to its rightful owners and so on, because God loves social justice.

Perfect social justice is the fulfilment of the prayer that God’s kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven.

We need to pray and work for this. But for the present, the biblical priority is to detect and correct injustice. As Isaiah 58 records, the call to God’s people is “to loose the bonds of injustice … to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke” (Isaiah 58:6 NRSV). Jesus announced this as his mission, too (see Luke 4:16-21).

Today, the quest for social justice typically uses the language of human rights. Some Christians rankle at this because rights-talk seems like language that comes from secular politics rather than the Bible. However, the idea that everyone deserves a fair shake, that no one deserves to be enslaved, that it’s wrong to discriminate against people because of their sex or race or health status—these elements of social justice are central to the biblical message.

So, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” Christians who believe Genesis 1:27 (“God created humankind in his image” NRSV) should applaud.

Thinking in terms of rights and social justice gets people thinking about power: How is power distributed in society?

Who gets to have a say in what decisions are made? Who gets to have the final say?

Charity encourages us to think that the people who hold the resources should have the power to decide what and how much needy recipients get. Social justice encourages us to think of those who are needy in a different way. Social jus-

Since last August, nearly 700,000 Rohingya—an ethnic and religious minority in Myanmar—have fled persecution, seeking safety in neighbouring Bangladesh

tice wants us all to see rich and poor, women and men, professionals and the unschooled, as fundamentally equal, and that everyone has a legitimate place at the decision-making table.

When we think of ourselves as having rights, we hold our heads high with dignity and refuse to think we are merely the object of society’s generosity. While rights-talk is not inherently adversarial, we know that in practice it often is.

Some people claim to have rights and find that lots of others disagree. That can lead to violence. Those who believe their rights are being violated may be confrontational. Those who think they are not getting a fair share of society’s prosperity may oppose the government.

Christians are called to live at peace “so far as it depends on you,” says the Apostle Paul (Romans 12:18 NRSV).

And so we rightly want to work hard to find amicable and just ways to avoid and resolve disputes. But at the same time, the Salvation Army spirit ignited

by William Booth himself means that some things are worth fighting for.

Questions for Reflection: • What do you think perfect social justice (God’s kingdom come) would look like?

• What forms of social justice are especially important for The Salvation Army to pay attention to now in our territory?

• What injustices does The Salvation Army need to repent of and apologize for?

• How could you tell if someone truly loved justice as God loves justice?

Dr. James Read is the director of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre in Winnipeg.

FRESH IDEAS

Making Room An innovative shelter design allows rapid response to homelessness in Chilliwack, B.C.

BY TIM BOHR

W

hen the last homeless count was conducted in Chilliwack, B.C., the results shocked the community: between 2014 and 2017, our homeless population had tripled, from 73 to more than 200 persons.

Homelessness is a problem that’s not unique to our community. Across Canada, the cost of housing has skyrocketed. The vacancy rate in Chilliwack is below one per cent—landlords know this and rental prices have gone up accordingly. Affordable housing is in short supply.

Our current shelter provides 11 beds (16 during extreme weather), and in October 2016, at the request of B.C. Housing, we opened up our soup kitchen to provide an additional 30 mats. But we always knew that wasn’t a long-term solution. We are working with B.C. Housing to build a brand-new shelter, but what could be done in the meantime?

The answer was a temporary, modular shelter, which was built on Salvation Army property in February and opened to clients in April. The shelter is made up of eight 12 x 60-foot sections, built off-site and then assembled here. Unlike a permanent structure, the modular shelter took only two days to assemble, plus a few months to complete the finishing work. The shelter has the capacity to house 46 individuals—we were full the second day after we opened.

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is that we’ve been able to

move to a low-barrier service delivery model. Clients may arrive in any condition of intoxication, so long as they pass the safety risk assessment. We only have one rule: Be safe. We inspect bags as part of the intake process, wearing military-grade Kevlar gloves to protect staff from injury, and remove all items that may be illegal or used as a weapon.

These items are then stored, if they are not illegal, and returned to the client upon discharge. We have two shipping containers to provide storage for client’s belongings while they are our guests.

We provide secure storage of client medication as well, both to guard from theft and the illegal sale of prescription drugs to other clients. Clients then come to staff to self-administer their own prescriptions, and this consumption is documented. All staff have been trained and equipped to administer the opioid overdose antidote naloxone.

The low-barrier model includes being pet friendly, so we have kennels for dogs, cats, birds and rodents, and could probably accommodate a reptile, too. For some clients, their pet is their best friend and if the pet can’t come, the client won’t come. That’s a barrier, so by welcoming the pets, we’re able to welcome the client and that’s the first point of engagement toward permanent change.

Along with pet-friendly rooms, there are two rooms with single beds, which can accommodate homeless couples, as well as transgender individuals who may need a little more privacy. The rooms

have light-proof curtains in place of doors so clients cannot barricade themselves inside. We don’t require the clients to go to bed at a certain time, but do ask them to observe a quiet time from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

We have two case workers and one internal outreach worker who engage with clients to address their barriers to long-term housing, health and wholeness. They work with the clients to create case plans to mitigate those barriers, which may include referrals to other services such as mental health, welfare, addiction treatment, employment services or other assistance. Our shelter manager regularly provides pastoral care to the clients, in co-operation with the chaplaincy ministry I provide as community ministries director.

We are grateful for the opportunity to develop this expansion, even if it is temporary. It’s enabled us to evaluate our program and make significant improvements in our client service delivery. It has been a paradigm shift in many ways, moving from a rulesbased approach to an individualized client-focused approach, but we believe this is consistent with the unconditional love of our Lord Jesus Christ for the lost.

We trust that our new house of hope will do just that: bring hope to these broken lives.

Tim Bohr is the community ministries director at The Salvation Army Care and Share Centre in Chilliwack, B.C. Salvationist July 2018 17

SNAPSHOTS OF MINISTRY

The Bridge Northridge Community Church is serving and growing.

TEXT BY GISELLE RANDALL, PHOTOS BY STEVE NELSON

Mjrs Glenda and Brian Bishop, corps officers at The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont.

I

n 2016, The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont., moved into a new building, designed with the community in mind, embracing their motto “A place to begin, belong and become.” “The design was so intentional that we decided to postpone building the sanctuary so we could have a full-sized high school gym, which also serves as our current worship space,” says Major Brian Bishop, corps officer. The sanctuary will be phase two of the development project, with construction anticipated to begin in 2020.

“Whether or not it’s things that occur at the church or offsite—such as inviting students to our basketball league on Saturday mornings, or our Red Cap and Mercy Street youth mobile outreach in local schools—we want those community elements to take priority,” says Major Bishop. “To impact our community with God’s love, our vision has been to integrate 18 July 2018 Salvationist

our church and community ministries.”

Ray Varkki, Northridge’s commun it y capacit y development co-ordinator, agrees. “A lot of people who walk in the doors looking for assistance don’t know that The Salvation Army is a church,” he says. “What we’re doing in community and family services is about planting seeds, inviting people to explore. We’re trying to connect people in the community with what we’re doing as a church.

If I was going to use one word, it would be bridge.”

And it’s working. Since 2015, Sunday attendance has increased more than 100 per cent. This past January, Northridge celebrated as close to 30 people enrolled as members. The following photos are a window into this thriving corps.

When people come to Northridge’s family help centre in need of food, clothing or community referrals, they find Brian and Betty Chatterton waiting with fresh coffee and cookies. “Everybody who comes through that door gets a hug and a smile,” she says. “If they’re new and don’t know what to do—we want them to feel comfortable. So if we play with the kids for a little bit while they fill out the forms, it’s just a little thing, but it means a lot.” The Chattertons also help prepare dinner for the ALPHA program.

SNAPSHOTS OF MINISTRY

Cindy Atkinson, a volunteer who attends Northridge, assists Dwayne, who started coming to the family help centre when he got sick and could no longer work. “It’s helping me keep on track with all my bills and food that I can’t afford now,” he says. “It’s been difficult, but these guys are fantastic.

They will help you if you fall behind, to get caught back up—to become alive again, because it can be depressing. But since coming here, I’ve been a lot better. They’re always there to help with whatever is needed.”

Photo: Fred Brown

Christine Lawrence helps a client register for the Ontario Electricity Support Program. Along with the family help centre, Northridge’s community services also include a homelessness prevention program and immigration and settlement services. “Northridge serves a large geographic region where there has been an increase in homelessness, addiction, unemployment—a lot of struggling families,” says Ray Varkki.

Boomers and Beyond, a ministry to people 50 and over, meets once a month for an inspirational message or music and to share a meal— with leftovers packaged and delivered to those in need in the group.

“Our vision is to see this demographic grow in their faith for Christ and in their love for one another,” says facilitator Heather Pichora. “We want to make the most of this season of our lives and impact those

who come behind us in a godly way.” One of the ways they are seeking to close the gap between generations is by pairing participants with a university student, and committing to pray for and support them during the school year. The planning committee, from left, Alex and Rin Van Hemert, Mary Jane Patterson, Jan and Gord Evans, Heather and Geof Pichora, and Joan and Richard Hayward.

Salvationist July 2018 19

SNAPSHOTS OF MINISTRY

Sue Allen meets with Giti and Joanna to study the Bible. “We stop and talk about the meaning of words, so we’re using the study to work on vocabulary as well as understand the Bible,” says Allen. After the Bible study, which is usually attended by four to six people, more will join them for a “conversation café”—a chance to practise speaking English. “We’ve had people from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Korea, China, Iran, Mexico and Colombia,” says Allen. “It’s a real mixture, so that’s been neat.”

Sarah Johnston is ready to serve coffee during Mission Toronto this spring. The senior youth group at Northridge spent five days learning about homelessness, and caught a glimpse of what it would be like.

They were given a map of the city and asked to find a meal and a place to sleep for $3.

They soon realized it wasn’t an easy task.

On another day, the group walked around Toronto, handing out coffee and cookies.

20 July 2018 Salvationist

Photo: June Li

On Monday nights, Northridge holds several support and recovery programs, overseen by Terry Wiseman, a registered psychotherapist. Emotional Rescue is a peer support group for those struggling with mood disorders. Kayla Klein has attended for several years. “It has become an important part of my life,” she says. “Having a group of people who have had similar experiences and are struggling with similar things, for us to be there with each other, and lend support to each other, has been helpful for me.” Wiseman believes more people have started attending Northridge through this group than any other program the church offers. In October 2017, they launched Emotional Rescue for Teens to provide a safe space where they can express themselves and find support. Other support groups include anger management, GriefShare, HealingStrong and Recovering Couples Anonymous.

SNAPSHOTS OF MINISTRY

A team huddles before a game at the Northridge basketball league tournament. The league, for boys and girls ages 10-13, offers an affordable sports program.

Photo: Giselle Randall

Welcoming. Friendly. Community. Fun. These are some of the words parents at the “moms and munchkins” group use to describe the weekly drop-in program. About half of the parents attend Northridge, and the rest come from the community. “I want them to feel that this is their church, even though they might not have a church,” says Sandra Reid, Northridge’s children’s pastor. She also chose the day to coincide with when the food bank is open, to encourage clients to come in with their children. “We let them know about other resources that the church has to offer—such as our summer camps and basketball league.”

Estelle, Brooke and Capri participate in a nature scavenger hunt with the 1st Northridge Salvation Army Scout Group, a leadership development program based on the principles of duty to God, duty to others and duty to self. Along with learning about the outdoors and earning badges, the three age groups—Wolf Cubs (8-10), Scouts (11-14) and Venturers (15-17)—do community service projects. Last year, they cleaned two kilometres of beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park in Picton, Ont. They have also raised funds for the youth group’s mission trips.

Salvationist July 2018 21

Amos accused the people of Israel of meaningless worship.

What can we learn from their mistakes?

T

he prophet Amos, a contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah, was a forceful advocate for justice and righteousness in Israel, sounding a clarion call that Israel’s future was in jeopardy. Rampant violence and injustice were eating away at Israel’s core as the people of God. Amos saw through the veneer of prosperity, exposing the hidden poor with laser precision.

Empty Worship The Book of Amos describes a society with a stark disparity between rich and poor. Land and livelihood had been stolen from families through unfair advantage, manipulation of the legal system, coercion and violence. Cheating in business transactions was standard practice, especially when the victims were unable to defend themselves (see Amos 8:4-6). Laws were changed so that what was legal was no longer connected to what was just.

22 July 2018 Salvationist

BY DONALD E. BURKE Amos saw clearly that the excesses of those at the pinnacle of power and wealth were rooted in the systematic oppression of those who had few resources and little say. He scorned those who lived in luxurious comfort—feasting, lounging and denying themselves no pleasure—while simultaneously ignoring the ruin of their community (see Amos 4:1-3; 6:4-7). The cruel reality was that there were far more victims than victors.

Even more scandalous, Israel’s temples were flourishing. Sacrifices were offered, hymns were sung and festivals were celebrated by those who could afford it, while many of their fellow Israelites were starving to death. Israel’s life and worship had become so disconnected that going to worship at the major shrines at Bethel and Gilgal simply made things worse.

“Come to Bethel—and sin. Come to Gilgal—and sin even more,” roared the prophet (see Amos 4:4, author’s transla-

tion). Rather than cultivating character and community, Israel’s worship drove God away. God’s displeasure erupted in his declaration, “I hate, I absolutely despise your celebrations; I find nothing pleasing in your worship” (see Amos 5:21, author’s translation). This was not the way it was supposed to be.

Community of Contrast What lay beneath Amos’ demand for justice ran much deeper than simple offence at the abuses of power and privilege. It was more than moral outrage at the fundamental unfairness of the distribution of resources. According to Amos, the crushing oppression of some Israelites was a betrayal of Israel’s covenant relationship with God and its vocation to be a community that would look and operate differently from those around it.

Born out of its experience of brutal slave labour under Pharaoh’s regime in

Photo: © iStock.com

Prophet of Doom

Egypt, Israel was called to be a community that would strike a profound contrast. Where Egyptian society was divided along social, economic and ethnic lines, Israel was called out of Egypt to become a community that shared resources, a community in which there were no poor (see Deuteronomy 15:4).

No one would have too much, especially at the expense of those who have less; no one would have too little to survive.

Power was also to be shared broadly.

The concentration of power in the hands of a few posed a mortal danger to the community’s well-being. This is why we find the king’s powers restricted dramatically in the Book of Deuteronomy (see Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The power, status and wealth of a king could be an addictive, corrupting influence. Left unchecked, it would spread like a cancer through the entire community, resulting in a race to power and affluence at the expense of fellow Israelites. The trickledown effects would quickly threaten the very life and witness of Israel as the covenant community, grounded in its faithfulness to the God who frees the oppressed.

Vision of Shalom In Hebrew, one word captures the Israelite vision of wholeness, flourishing and healthy human community: shalom.

Usually translated as “peace,” shalom has connotations that go far beyond the simple absence of conflict. It is used to

express a vision of a world in which relationships are healthy, strong and based in good will. Such relationships are life-enhancing—even life-giving—rather than life-threatening. Shalom describes an environment in which all are able to flourish. It expresses the hope for a world much like that described in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 2), in which people live with one another in openness and harmony with the world around them and in faithful relationship with God. We might dismiss this as wishful thinking, but God’s redemptive purpose—the dream of a world in which the reality of life matches God’s will— reaches fulfilment in an astonishing vision of a new heaven and a new earth (see Revelation 21). This vision does not derive from human imagination; it is a vision inspired by the God who is revealed in the Scriptures.

Israel, brought out of brutal slavery in Egypt and called to be a community of shalom, should have been a light to the nations (see Isaiah 42:6)—pointing to the new heaven and new earth and to the Lord who would bring it to pass.

Instead, in its quest to become like the nations (see 1 Samuel 8:5), Israel abandoned its vocation and, by the time of Amos in the eighth century BC, was indistinguishable from Egypt. Instead of being a light to the nations, Israel’s light had been placed under a bushel; its salt had lost its saltiness (see Matthew 5:13-16).

Who is My Neighbour?

In this situation, what was left for Israel?

Not much, frankly. Amos would go on to declare that because Israel abandoned the requirement for neighbour to care for neighbour, it had relinquished its covenant with God entirely. Worship of God devoid of concern for our neighbour is empty, shallow—even offensive to God. One of the great temptations (but not the only one!) that confronts the church is to ignore the experience of Israel in the time of Amos. We, too, are called to be a community of contrast, in which our love for God is expressed in our concern for our neighbours. We are called to recognize that the well-being—the shalom—of our neighbours and our neighbourhoods is a vital Christian interest. We cannot rest when so many are consigned to poverty and the margins of society, and frozen out of the abundance that some of us enjoy.

Amos pointed out that undivided loyalty to God leads necessarily to concern for our neighbour. The church should be the community that lives out this vision of a world of shalom, not as though we have already achieved it, but that we press on—with God’s help—seeking the fullness of God’s salvation for the world.

Dr. Donald E. Burke is a professor of biblical studies at Booth University College in Winnipeg.

This is the first of a two-part article.

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Holy Days The rest of summer.

BY LIEUTENANT ERIN METCALF

S

ummer. For many of us, it means the rush of the school year that dictates the pace of our lives has come to an end. We are invited to slow down and breathe, to enjoy two months of warm, sunny days and fill them with memories. And yet we are so tied to our calendars—whatever we use to keep on top of all our activities—that it seems strange to think about setting them aside for the summer, or even for a moment.

I recall my childhood summers with such fondness, it stirs a place deep inside me, a place I guard fiercely. Summers spent with cousins and family friends.

Summers spent running wild through what seemed like a vast wilderness of open space, with long grass and trees as far as our eyes could see. Summers spent swimming in the lake, hollering to each other to duck under the water when the horseflies began swarming.

I remember the smell of the campfire at dusk as my dad and grandpa created a sacred space for us to share stories, sing and play some instruments. We 24 July 2018 Salvationist

For me, that small cottage in Ontario was sacred land, a thin place—where heaven and earth meet and seem to touch. roasted marshmallows and baked potatoes wrapped in tinfoil. We performed the same skits over and over again for our parents, an audience that never grew tired of cheering and clapping, bestowing on us something beyond our comprehension at the time—the gift of esteem and self-worth.

When the singing and skits were over

and the sun was tucked away for the night, we dared each other to sneak off into the neighbouring graveyard—never sure we would make it out alive. We shared ghost stories in the dark, resulting in hysterical laughter or a terrified trip to the safety of our parents playing board games in the cottage up the hill.

Come Sunday morning, we often found ourselves sitting around the fire once again, for our own version of church—lawn chairs on holy ground.

Lifelong friendships developed as we ran around in the hot sun, playing hide and seek in the bushes. We learned how to be doctors when we happened upon wounded forest creatures, once desperately trying to save a snake with a BandAid. We learned how to be entrepreneurs when we raided cupboards for cookies and baked goods, then sold them back to our unsuspecting parents and used the profits to buy our own candy and treats from the general store. We became amateur counsellors when a heart was broken or an ego bruised from losing a game of chicken. We defied sleep at sleepovers, giggling over crushes.

There was no such thing as being careful or cautious—it was normal for eight-year-olds to race a four-wheel vehicle around the property. We took our cues from my grandfather, a man who saw the joy in every situation and longed to create a wonderland of fun where kids could be kids. We all cheered when he sat on an old kitchen chair, on top of a wooden board, and was pulled around the lake by a speedboat. He showed us that we are only limited by our imaginations.

I miss those days. For me, that small cottage in Ontario was sacred land, a thin place—where heaven and earth meet and seem to touch. In the midst of a busy schedule, I long for more of this peace for myself and my family, for play and deep rest.

Jesus knows our need. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). What a beautiful promise. I can’t recreate the past or transport myself back to those summers. But what I can do is find rest in the presence of Jesus, and wait in expectation as he creates new thin places in our lives.

Lieutenant Erin Metcalf is the corps officer at Niagara Orchard Community Church in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Photo: © Warchi/iStock.com

GRACE NOTES

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

In the Pipeline Economy or environment? How should Christians respond to the Kinder Morgan expansion?

BY LIEUTENANT CRYSTAL PORTER

W

hat’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about oil? Perhaps you remember the oil-covered duck in the Dawn dish soap commercial. Or maybe you think of the ability to power your vehicle. Or, if you live in certain parts of the country, employment.

A few nights ago, I turned on my oven to roast some local veggies and a delicious ouananiche (Labrador landlocked salmon). Our family gathered around the table and thanked Creator for our meal.

Later that evening, as I scrolled through Facebook, my newsfeed was flooded with articles about the proposed expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline. I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the world of “big oil.”

From my couch on the East Coast of Canada, I felt disconnected from the West Coast. Then a lightbulb went on.

I realized the issue was closer than I imagined. Our kitchen appliances, our furniture, our clothes, even the phone I was using—almost everything in our home—required the one ingredient at the root of this political debate: oil.

Oil has become a household necessity.

In 2017, Canada produced 1.7 million barrels of oil per day (96 billion litres), most of which was shipped to the United States. Texas-based Kinder Morgan currently transports 300,000 barrels per day from Edmonton to refineries and export terminals in British Columbia and the state of Washington. In 2013, the company applied to expand the pipeline to 890,000 barrels per day, which would include a new pipeline, 12 pump stations, three marine berths and 19

storage tanks.

The expansion would triple product distribution, increase employment and benefit the economy. It would also increase water traffic, disturbing the natural habitat for marine life. Many Indigenous groups, as well as the B.C. government, have taken a stand against Kinder Morgan and Ottawa, questioning their lack of consultation.

On January 31, 2018, during a town hall meeting in Winnipeg, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained that his job is to stand up for the interests of all Canadians. “That’s why we put in place a process—understanding that you can’t make a choice between what’s good for the environment and what’s good for the economy,” he said. “You have to make sure you take care of both of them at the same time.” (At the end of May, the Liberal government announced it would buy the pipeline and related infrastructure for $4.5 billion to ensure the project goes ahead.)

Many of us could not imagine a day without our refrigerator, eyeglasses or cellphone, yet as followers of Christ we are called to protect our environment.

Truthfully, I struggle to navigate between two worlds. I understand the economic benefits of expanding the pipeline, but I also believe it is the church’s responsibility to protect and care for God’s creation.

In Genesis 1 and 2, God declares all things (water, land, animals and humans) “very good.” Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, a Keetoowah scholar, explains that “there is an interconnectedness of everything God made. Each part of the created

whole comes from the unique mind of the Creator … God never intended human beings to consider ourselves— theologically or experientially—separate from creation, but rather as part of its community.” The decisions we make, the opinions we voice, the way in which we live, either encourages or disrupts the natural harmony of creation.

Oil is a resource from Creator, a gift we should not misuse or take for granted.

We must ensure creation is not harmed by corporate greed, but instead appreciated for the ways in which it helps us live. Indigenous groups have been on the front lines protecting the sacredness of creation for years. Perhaps it’s time we, the church, join them.

I believe there is a way to walk gently in both worlds, but it’s not easy.

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus often means going against popular opinion.

Sometimes it means choosing the difficult, rather than the convenient, and asking ourselves whether or not we need everything we want.

The church has been called not only to protect creation, but to seek reconciliation with our Indigenous neighbours.

Standing with them and protecting the land is one important step.

Tonight, I will turn on my oven to cook another meal and our family will gather around the table. Tonight, we will thank Creator not only for the food, but for the resources that enabled us to have a warm supper and a comfortable life.

Lieutenant Crystal Porter is the corps officer at Labrador West Corps in the Newfoundland and Labrador Division.

Salvationist July 2018 25

Photo: © francisblack/iStock.com

A worker holds Alberta oilsand

PEOPLE & PLACES

THOMPSON, MAN.—Five senior soldiers display their Soldier’s Covenants as they are enrolled at Thompson Corps. From left, Roy Bladen, corps leader; Cristy Critch; Ray Compton, holding the flag; Catherine Pelley; Rebecca Walter; Shirley Allen; Norman Allen; Rose Bladen, corps leader; and RS Dorenda Colbourne.

DEER LAKE, N.L.—These are exciting days at Deer Lake Corps as six senior soldiers are added to the ranks. Front, from left, Phyllis Lodge, Stanley Pinksen and Nadine Spence, senior soldiers. Middle, from left, RS Dale Johnson; Reg Rubia, Glenda Rubia and Corey Thorne, senior soldiers; Mjrs Louise and Frederick Pond, COs. Back, from left, Robert Cull, colour sergeant, and CSM Doug Preston.

MOUNT PEARL, N.L.—Kristina Hawkins is the newest junior soldier at Mount Pearl Corps. With her are, from left, Mjr Pauline Randell, CO; JSS Kent Brett; and Mjr Joshua Randell, CO.

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.—Ocean Crest Corps welcomes six people to its community care ministries team. From left, Lt Violet Hopkins, CO; Judy Assmus; Carol McMurdo; Betty Tiede; Jackie Whan-Kite; Hazen Taylor, holding the flag; Sharon Esau; Karen Zabinsky; and Lt Keith Hopkins, CO.

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.—Hazen Taylor is commissioned as the colour sergeant at Ocean Crest Corps. Supporting him are Lts Violet and Keith Hopkins, COs, and Doug Vater, holding the flag.

NORTH BAY, ONT.—North Bay Corps celebrates the enrolment of three senior soldiers. From left, Mjr Bonita McGory, CO; Stephen Dean, Bonnie Reynolds and Dan Reynolds, senior soldiers; and Bill Norton, holding the flag.

MOUNT PEARL, N.L.—Supported by his grandparents, Nathan Elliott is enrolled as a senior soldier at Mount Pearl Corps. From left, Mjr Wavie Penney, Nathan’s grandmother; RS Mjr Melva Elliott, Nathan’s grandmother; Nathan Elliott; Mjr Edgar Penney, Nathan’s grandfather; and Mjrs Joshua and Pauline Randell, COs. 26 July 2018 Salvationist

COBOURG, ONT.—In recognition of her faithful assistance with the technological components of Cobourg CC’s midweek kids’ program, Journey Leavitt receives the Junior Soldier of the Year Award. From left, AYPSM Mike Graham, YPSM Lisa Graham, CT Eric Hobe, Journey Leavitt, and Cpts Carolyn and Michael Simpson, COs.

PEOPLE & PLACES NORTH BAY, ONT.—Yvan Otis, centre, receives a certificate marking his retirement following 18 years of faithful service to the North Bay Corps and community and family services. Also recognized for their respective 20 years of service through the thrift store are, from left, Pauline Loranger and Diane Neufeld.

TORONTO—Yorkminster Citadel enrols three senior soldiers and two adherents.

From left, CSM Rick Allington; YPSM Brendan Hill; Gail Hill, Sarah Lynch and Judith Hann, senior soldiers; David Lynch and Hannah Lynch, adherents; and Mjr Pauline Gruer-Caulfield, CO.

TORONTO—Etobicoke Temple celebrates as four senior soldiers are enrolled and one is reinstated. From left, Stephen Fasuyi, preparation class leader; Randy Peddle, colour sergeant; Edward (reinstated) and Darlene Shelley, Carol Oblak, Charles and Carolyne Okongo, senior soldiers; and Mjrs Kathryn and Kester Trim, then COs.

GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L.—Proudly holding their Junior Soldier Promises as they are enrolled at Park Street Citadel are, from left, Jessica Blake, Damissa Cornish, Danesha Cornish, Chloe Cooper and Rebecca Osmond. With them are, from left, CSM Lorraine White; Alecia Barrow, children and youth director; Jason Young, colour sergeant; and Mjrs Judy and Larry Goudie, COs.

OFFICER RETIREMENTS Lt-Colonel Jim Champ has served as a Salvation Army officer since 1975, when he was commissioned in the Soldiers of the Cross Session.

Following his marriage to wife, Barbara, they ministered as corps officers in Melfort and Moose Jaw, Sask., Hamilton and Scarborough, Ont., and Peterborough, England.

Other appointments have included divisional youth secretary in the Ontario North Division and divisional secretary for program in the Alberta and Northwest Territories Division. More recently, Jim has worked at territorial headquarters as assistant chief secretary and as editor-in-chief for Salvation Army publications. In his final appointment as secretary for communications, he gave oversight to the public relations and development department, editorial department, emergency disaster services, federal government relations and ecumenical relations, which included a term as president of the Canadian Council of Churches from 2012 to 2015. Jim and Barbara are blessed with sons Stephen (Julia) and Brian (Shannon), and grandchildren Ryan and Nathan. Jim is looking forward to joining Barbara in an active retirement and spending time with his family.

Majors Rick and Jane Shirran entered training college from Dartmouth Corps, N.S., in 1981, with their children. Before college, Rick was a communications technician in the Canadian Navy for 12 years while Jane spent 10 years as a nuclear medical technician. Commissioned in 1983, they served for 26 years as corps officers, in Markham, Bowmanville, Windsor Eastwood and Woodstock, Ont., Hamilton, Bermuda, Winnipeg’s Heritage Park Temple and Tillsonburg, Ont. Rick served nine years as the territorial emergency disaster services director, 23 years as the territorial SATERN director working with national government and non-government groups, and as the national SATERN director for the United States. He was a Red Zone co-ordinator at Ground Zero during 9/11, with IES in Uganda, and a team leader assisting Syrian refugees in Athens, Greece. Rick is a qualified EDS trainer. Jane served nine years as the administrative assistant to the executive office and women’s ministries department at territorial headquarters. The Shirrans are grateful for God’s faithfulness throughout their 35 years of ministry. “He has blessed us with wonderful opportunities to serve while caring for our children in every situation,” they say, “and trust that he will continue to fulfil his plan and purpose in our lives.”

Salvationist July 2018 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

TRIBUTES

GANDER, N.L.—The ranks of Gander Corps are reinforced as five senior soldiers are enrolled. From left, Cpt Sheldon Bungay, then CO; Dion Wade; Caitlin Adams; Eva Redmond; Sherry Adams; Brian Vivian; and Cpt Ashley Bungay, then CO.

TORONTO—The corps family at North York Temple celebrates as three junior soldiers and two senior soldiers are enrolled. Front, from left, Aiden Kweon, Rina Jeon and Benjamin Kim, junior soldiers. Back, from left, YPSM Sherrilyn Hall; Mjr Donna Barthau, junior soldier teacher; Peace Lin and Hongkyu Jeon, senior soldiers; and Mjr Sandra Stokes, then CO.

BOTWOOD, N.L.—Chloe Peckford (left) and Lacey Callahan are the newest junior soldiers at Botwood Corps. Supporting them are, from left, Kim Best, children and youth worker; Paul and Denise Sceviour, junior soldier preparation leaders; and Cpts Lisa and Morgan Hillier, COs.

GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL Appointments: Sep 1—Lt-Cols David/Elsa Oalang, CS/TSWM, Philippines Tty; Mjrs Yusak/Widiawati Tampai, CS/TSWM, Indonesia Tty, with rank of lt-col TERRITORIAL Retirements: Jul 1—Mjrs Gordon/Constance Armstrong, Mjr Beverley Buell, Mjrs Edward/Rose Canning, Lt-Col Jim Champ, Mjrs Pierre Croteau/ 28 July 2018 Salvationist

TORONTO—Gerald Charles Budgell served as the corps sergeant-major for many years at Toronto’s Cedarbrae Community Church before he transferred to The Salvation Army Community Church of West Hill in Toronto. A faithful soldier, Gerald was an enthusiastic Christmas kettle worker and a strong supporter of corps activities, including the men’s fellowship and 55-plus groups. His witness of God’s faithfulness throughout the years of his life has impacted many people. Gerald is lovingly remembered by his wife, Evelyn; son, Dwight (Anne); grandson; many lifelong friends.

WINNIPEG—Major Leonard (Len) Millar was born in Toronto in 1924. At a young age he was invited to the Salvation Army Sunday school, an invitation that shaped the rest of his life. Len served with the Canadian Armed Forces in Holland and Germany during the Second World War. He married Dorothy Knaap in 1947 and together they entered the training college from Danforth Corps as cadets in the King’s Messengers Session. Len served as a corps officer and public relations officer in Canada, and ministered for more than 20 years in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Liberia. God blessed his service and protected him from danger, most specifically when he returned to Uganda in 1980 to help with the rehabilitation of the country and The Salvation Army’s work after the regime of Idi Amin, and again when he pioneered the Army’s work in Liberia. In retirement, Len took opportunities to show his love for people and live out his youthful commitment to serve God. He is survived by his wife, Major Dorothy; children Major Len (Ros) Millar, Major Jo (Dale) Sobool, Major Cath (John) McFarlane and Pat (Cyril) LeBlanc.

BAY ROBERTS, N.L.—Major William Robert French was born at Coley’s Point, N.L., in 1931 to William and Mary French. As a boy, he committed his life to the Lord. After finishing his education, William received his teaching certificate. He became a school teacher in 1952 and taught in Salvation Army schools in many rural outports of Newfoundland and Labrador, including Wesleyville, Ming’s Point, Roddickton, Rocky Harbour, Western Harbour and Cottrell’s Cove. William was enrolled as a senior soldier at Bay Roberts Corps in 1953

by Captain Ernest Pretty. He married Elizabeth Louise Rideout in 1959, and in June 1962, they received word that they were accepted for the fall session at the College for Officer Training, in the Heroes of the Faith Session. William’s ministry took him many places across his native province as well as to other parts of Canada. Promoted to glory from Carbonear Hospital, he is remembered by his wife, Major Betty French; son, Wade (Ann); daughter, Angela R.N. (Stephen); brothers Wilson (Margaret) Bishop and Allan Bishop; sister, Daisy Stoyles (Gordon); nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a large circle of family and friends.

Claudine Tardif, Mjr Jo-anne Gilbert, Mjrs James/ Gwendolyn Hagglund, Mjrs Lorne/Edith Jewer, Mjrs Val/Gloria Redner, Cols Lindsay/Lynette Rowe, Mjrs Richard/Jane Shirran, Mjrs Kester/Kathryn Trim, Mjrs Ralph/Sharron Young Reaccepted as major: David Braye Promoted to major: Cpts Serge/Yvette Brunet; Cpts Val/Gloria Redner Promoted to glory: Cpt Lawrence Campbell,

from Halifax, Apr 12; Mjr Miriam Evenden, from Markham, Ont., Apr 16; Mjr Alexander McEwan, from Hamilton, Ont., Apr 22; Mrs. Cpt Vera Linkletter, from Wingham, Ont., Apr 26; Mjr Wallis Stainton, from Belleville, Ont., May 6; Mjr Gilbert Fowler, from Hamilton, Ont., May 8

CALENDAR

Canadian Staff Songsters: Jul 4-8 Glenmore Temple, Calgary

PEOPLE & PLACES

MONTREAL—Light of Hope Family Church enrols three senior soldiers. From left, Jorge Urbano, Zulmary Cortez and Margalie Jean-Baptiste, senior soldiers; Roberto Ramos, holding the flag; and Lts Vilma Ramos and Ricaurte Velasquez, then COs.

BELLEVILLE, ONT.—Seven senior soldiers and one adherent are enrolled at Belleville Citadel. Front, from left, Isobelle Baker and Debbie DeVries, senior soldiers; Connie McConnell, adherent; Norm McWaters, senior soldier. Back, from left, Mjrs Catherine and Wil Brown-Ratcliffe, COs; Caleb DeVries, Liam Gonyea, Nathaniel Roffel and Noah Gonyea, senior soldiers; and CSM Gerri Leavitt.

To purchase your copy of this daily Salvation Army devotional, visit store.salvationarmy.ca, email orderdesk@can.salvationarmy.org or phone 416-422-6100 today.

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Salvationist July 2018 29

SALVATION STORIES

Never Alone Though I had strayed from God and the church, he never gave up on me.

BY BARRY MORGAN

I

n October 2016, I lay in a hospital bed, facing a grim future.

I’d been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious lung disease caused by the asbestos I’d been exposed to while working as a firefighter.

Even though it was the middle of the night, I couldn’t sleep. As I lay there worrying about the future, I realized that I didn’t feel alone in the room. Although I’d been away from my faith, I knew God was with me.

Something’s Missing Born and raised in Conception Bay South, N.L., The Salvation Army has always played a role in my life. In 1969, I was enrolled as a junior soldier and accepted as a corps cadet in 1973. I wanted to be an officer when I grew up.

But as I got older, I fell in with the wrong crowd. I got out into the world and hung around with people who weren’t Christians, and I allowed them to pull me away from my faith. I began playing guitar in a bar band, and got involved with drugs and alcohol.

Despite everything, I still found time to attend church. Every time I went, I would go to the altar and ask Jesus into my life, but the next day, I would be back doing the same old things and living the wrong way. I felt like a fake. This pattern continued for many years.

Finally, in 1993, I met a woman named Shirley and we were married.

While I settled down, I still felt as though something was missing in my life.

Full Control Everything changed that night in the hospital, when I poured out my heart to God. 30 July 2018 Salvationist

I went to the mercy seat and asked God to take full control of my life.

The moment I did, I was like a man walking on air. A big weight was off my shoulders and the load of sin was gone.

I began attending the new believers class so I could learn more about my refound faith. I also discovered that there was a hymn written just for me: He Touched Me. I love t he song because that’s exactly what God did to me in that hospital bed. He reached out and touched me to tell me that I wasn’t alone. God never gave up on me.

Barry Morgan and his wife, Shirley. “My whole life, I’d felt disappointed with who I’d become,” he says. “But now, I’m who God created me to be, and that brings me a peace I’ve never felt before”

I wanted a different way of life.

I wanted to stop faking it.

Before then, I hadn’t been to church in about 10 years. But on October 30, 2016, I returned to The Salvation Army’s Conception Bay South Corps. I wanted a different way of life. I wanted to stop faking it and make it real this time. I was ready to make a true commitment to my faith.

In God’s Hands In June 2017, I jumped at the chance to be enrolled as a senior soldier by General André Cox as he led congress and commissioning events in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was an honour.

In October 2017, things got even better when Shirley gave her life to the Lord. I was overjoyed. We’ve always had a good marriage, but now it’s even better.

It’s made a huge difference in our home.

Shirley is now attending the class for new believers and she is involved in the home league. She never misses church now.

I’m involved at church, too. I help with technical operations in the sound room, sing and play my guitar for Sunday services. I also provide the music when the men’s fellowship group visits local nursing homes to minister to the residents.

Since January, I’ve been on the waiting list to have a lung transplant. I have good days and bad days with my health, but I know I’m in God’s hands. Whatever I face, I will not be facing it alone.

A CELEBRATION of CULTURE

AUGUST 24-26, 2018

FRIDAY Registration 2-4pm Welcome Ceremony & Talent Showcase

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