Editorial

Going Viral

As I write, a new health scare is on the horizon. A coronavirus, originating in China, has already killed more than 100 people, sickened thousands and is spreading around the globe. It has provoked lockdowns in 14 Chinese cities and closures of tourist sites such as the Great Wall and Disney’s theme park in Shanghai. Airports are on high alert, screening people for possible infection, and health centres are bracing for a possible flood of patients. Many will remember the SARS epidemic of 2003, particularly those who faithfully ministered at The Salvation Army’s Scarborough Grace Hospital where many Toronto residents and front-line staff were infected. That virus killed 44 in Canada and nearly 800 worldwide. Knowing the potential for harm, we pray that the current coronavirus can be contained. Our ministry units are taking appropriate precautions, but these cases show just how vulnerable we are to outbreaks.

Health is a precarious thing. Testimonies in Salvationist about people’s personal health journeys are among our most popular stories. We all know someone who has had a health scare. Maybe you have had to wrestle with an illness or injury. While God doesn’t always cure us, we know that prayer and the fellowship of church friends can carry us through dark times. This month’s cover story features Debbie DeVries, a street nurse in Belleville, Ont., who is working to improve the health of a vulnerable population (page 8). She not only works for The Salvation Army, she also has an amazing journey of faith. Elsewhere in the publication, Lieutenant Rick Apperson shares about the challenges of an acquired brain injury (page 20) and Cadet Jenelle Durdle helps start a conversation about the importance of breastfeeding (page 16). In Faith & Friends magazine (found in the centre spread), we profile former baseball major-leaguer Corey Koskie, who suffered a debilitating concussion that not only put him out of the game, it almost ruined his life. Find out how his faith kept him strong. Then pass the magazine on to someone who could use some encouragement.

Health is not the only problem on the global radar. As of the end of January, the devastating bushfires in Australia had destroyed an estimated 18.6 million hectares and killed at least 30 people and more than a billion animals. The Salvation Army emergency services have been on hand since the beginning, giving aid to the first responders and helping families pick up the pieces (page 7).

In The Salvation Army, we care about the whole person—body, mind and spirit. Ultimately, our bodies will fail and we’ll pass from this life—promoted to glory as we call it in the Army. When we do, we can only hope to receive the same salute as Major Lorraine Abrahamse who served so faithfully (page 15). Whatever our role in this Army, we all work to hear those words from Jesus, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Salvationist is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory Brian Peddle General Commissioner Floyd Tidd Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel John P. 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

Salvationist Brandon Laird Senior Graphic Designer Hannah Saley Digital Media Specialist Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator Ken Ramstead Contributor Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769. Member, The Canadian Christian Communicators Association. 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.

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