Salvationist + Faith & Friends September 2021

Black Son, White Mom: Learning About Racism

Immigrant Family Finds New Home in Kelowna, B.C.

Call to Worship: From Back Pew to Valedictorian

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

September 2021

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Orange Shirt Day

Meet the Salvationist whose art inspired this year’s territorial orange shirt design

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September 2021 • Volume 16, Number 9

DEPARTMENTS 5 Frontlines 18 Global Focus The Second Call Interview with Commissioner Deborah Bungay

Fighting Hunger in the Alberni Valley

What Is God Saying Through the Millennial Generation?

Indigenous Art Helps Officer Reclaim Identity

Study Group Seeks to Decolonize Faith

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

July/August 2021

Salvationist.ca

What to Do When Kids Are Bored Silly

Welcoming Our New Chief Secretary

•

Camp-in-a-Box and Other Creative Summer Ideas

Salvationist.ca

Ministry in Australia With Majors Tim and Krista Andrews

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

June 2021

May 2021

Salvationist.ca

Territory to Unveil New Strategic Plan Forge Stronger Partnerships

New officers ready to share God’s grace through a pandemic and beyond

Optimize Mission Impact

Strengthen Spiritual Health

Thy Will Be Done Design for People

21 Mobilize 2.0

Be Ready for Anything The Salvation Army’s extraordinary year in emergency disaster services

Canada and Bermuda on journey of transformation through Mobilize 2.0

CATCH UP ONLINE

Strengthening Spiritual Health

26 Perspectives Pandemic Lessons

by Lt-Colonel John P. Murray

27 People & Places 30 Not Called?

22

Comfort Zone

by Ken Ramstead

FEATURES COLUMNS

9 Big Little Miracles

4 Editorial

From Athens, Greece, to Kelowna, B.C., how one couple found family and a new home with help from The Salvation Army.

by Kristin Ostensen

Whale of a Tale

by Geoff Moulton

24 Onward Catch the Fire

by Commissioner Floyd Tidd

12 Every Child Matters The Salvation Army honours the survivors of residential schools through Orange Shirt Day.

by Giselle Randall

25 Grace Notes Called by Name

by Captain Laura Van Schaick

Did you know that you can find free back issues of Salvationist and Faith & Friends magazines at the issuu.com/salvationist website? Catch up on all the Salvation Army news and features on your tablet or desktop.

Also available on the Territorial Archives section of Salvationist.ca is a searchable record of every War Cry dating back to 1884.

Visit salvationist.ca/archives.

Cover photo: Becken Photography

READ AND SHARE IT! God’s Timely Reminder

Support, “Every Time”

Army vs. Illiteracy

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

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

faithandfriends.ca

16 A Colourful Ministry

25

After a devastating diagnosis, Captain Karen Holland found a new way to pray.

by Abbigail Oliver

20 Curious and Brave A Salvation Army after-school program in Paraguay encourages children to dream and grow.

by Robyn Goodyear

22 Black Son, White Mom

SEPTEMBER 2021

STUNT PERFORMER NEIL DAVISON BRINGS FAITH TO FILM. P.16

Rolling With the

Punches

What my son becoming a man taught me about racism.

by Captain Colleen Gleadall Salvationist September 2021 3

EDITORIAL

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Whale of a Tale

id you hear the story of the veteran lobster diver who almost became a humpback whale’s lunch? Michael Packard was diving off the coast of Provincetown, Massachusetts, at a depth of about 15 metres when the whale scooped him up.

“All of a sudden, I just felt this huge bump, and everything went dark,” Packard told CBS Boston. “I felt around, and I realized there’s no teeth.... I’m in a whale’s mouth, and he’s trying to swallow me. I thought to myself, ‘OK, this is it. I’m going to die.’ ” Thankfully, Packard’s scuba gear was intact, and he still had his wits about him.

He figures he was in the whale’s mouth for about 30 seconds, and then “all of a sudden, [the whale] went up to the surface and just erupted and started shaking his head. I got thrown in the air and landed in the water. I couldn’t believe I got out of that. I made it.”

Rushed to hospital by a crewmate, Packard was “all bruised up” but otherwise whole. Now, he’s got quite the story to tell.

Of course, for Christians it immediately brought to mind the biblical story of Jonah. Whether or not you believe Jonah was literally swallowed by a whale, there is a lot to learn from his experience. Fleeing from God, he is dumped overboard, ends up in the belly of a fish and is eventually spat out on the shores

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 4 September 2021 Salvationist

of Nineveh—exactly where he should have been in the first place.

There are times, personally and organizationally, when we may be heading in the wrong direction—intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes it takes a dramatic event to turn us in a different direction. As Lt-Colonel John P. Murray points out in his Perspectives column this month, the pandemic could be one of those opportunities for realignment as we refocus our priorities (page 26).

Elsewhere in this issue, we examine the first pillar of our territory’s new strategic plan: Strengthen Spiritual Health (page 21). That seems like a good place to start.

Our cover story commemorates Orange Shirt Day and highlights Inuk artist and Salvationist Trinity MurphyDicker’s unique design (page 12). It’s an opportunity to reflect on the terrible legacy of Indian residential schools, but also to take a hopeful stance on the opportunities for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. On page 22, Captain Colleen Gleadall challenges our thinking around race, chronicling her journey as a white mom with a Black son. When we think of race and reconciliation, there is much work still to be done.

We cannot run from difficult challenges that God has put in our path. He is calling us to obedience.

Like Jonah, we need to put our trust

Brandon Laird Senior Graphic Designer Rivonny Luchas Digital Media Specialist Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator Ken Ramstead Contributor Abbigail Oliver Summer Intern 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.

in him and work to fulfil our calling. May we experience a profound “sea change” as God works in our lives and ministries.

Congratulations to our digital media specialist, Hannah Saley, and her husband, Phil, on the birth of their son, Jayden Christopher. We also welcome Rivonny Luchas to the editorial team and say thanks to summer intern Abbigail Oliver.

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

Youth Gather Online for Voit/See Connect 2 Weekend

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ore than 250 delegates across Canada and Bermuda gathered for a virtual territorial youth event in May. Delegates “spawned” (appeared virtually) on a beach in a video gamestyle web platform called GatherTown, crossed a bridge to the gates of a castle and entered the virtual world of Voit/ See Connect 2: Electric Boogaloo (VC2).

Captains Marc and Mariska Potters, children and youth department, International Headquarters, kicked off the event on the digital main stage where they introduced the theme of the weekend: new hope. They focused on Exodus 18, prompting the youth to think about the roles of Jethro and Moses, and to consider the people in their lives who act as mentors and teachers, and those who may need a mentor or voice of wisdom.

The night closed with illusionist Zak Mirzadeh who shared his own testimony after performing.

Saturday morning began with “near screen-free challenges” that encouraged delegates to take some time away from GatherTown to engage in a bake-off competition; a five-kilometre prayer run led by Major Terence Hale, then territorial youth secretary; do-it-your-

self heavy metal art with Salvationist Deryck Robertson; and “quick mission projects,” where Lieutenant Adriane Cartmell, divisional youth secretary, Bermuda Division, sent participants out to do small acts of kindness for their community. The group reconvened for online breakout sessions on topics such as innovation and leadership, mental health, healthy sexuality, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

On Saturday night, the group revisited the main stage for testimonies of faith, worship from Outside Worship, a comedy show by Jaron Myers and a late-night Rocket League soccer tournament.

VC2 ended on Sunday morning with worship led by Captain Juan Chirinos, divisional youth secretary, Quebec Division, and Captain Norm Porter, divisional youth secretary, Prairie Division; Bible study with Captains Josh and Joyce Downer, divisional youth secretaries, British Columbia Division; and a formal passing of leadership to Captains Jason Dockeray and Kristen Jackson-Dockeray, territorial children and youth secretary and territorial secretary for candidates.

Reflecting on the weekend and its message of new hope, Major Hale, now

corps officer, Halifax West Community Church, says, “This gathering of young people from across the territory embodied that theme. From coming together to rekindle or birth friendships signalling a hope of a near future with fewer social restrictions, to pledging to serve Jesus who both ‘sees’ and ‘saves’ by bringing that message of hope to the world, the young people and leaders gathered to embrace the God of new things that we see in Isaiah 43:19. For me, this weekend felt like a step into the brave new world that this generation will lead us into and through.”

Ariel and Eva Redmond, Gander Corps, N.L., participate in a heavy metal art-making session

N.L. Division Hosts Online Women’s Ministries Conference

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he pandemic has brought many changes and challenges to the way The Salvation Army engages in ministry. In the Newfoundland and Labrador Division, it has meant not being able to hold women’s ministries camps for the past two years.

“With the launch of the international women’s ministries’ new vision, ‘Reimagine,’ in February 2020, we were already thinking of relevant and innovative ways to reach women,” says Major Jennifer Reid, divisional secretary for women’s ministries, Newfoundland and Labrador Division, “and God gave us the vision for our firstever online women’s ministries conference.”

Held in June, the conference took the theme Removing the Mask, “a spiritual invitation asking God to help us remove the masks that may be holding us back from being all that he has intended us to be,” Major Reid explains. As part of the conference, each woman in the division was gifted with a mask.

Thousands of Salvationist women participated in the conference, some gathering in churches across the division while others watched from home and as far away as Australia. Music ministry was provided by Krista Noble, a recording artist and worship leader, and Bible messages were shared by Captain Ashley Bungay, divisional youth secretary, Newfoundland and Labrador Division, and Erika White, encouraging attendees to take a fresh breath and experience God’s transforming power. The weekend also

Erika White, right, holds up a mask as a sermon illustration during the conference, while sister Cpt Ashley Bungay listens

included pre-recorded workshops by Captain Kristen JacksonDockeray, then territorial advocate for gender equity, and Captain Laura Van Schaick, divisional secretary for women’s ministries, Ontario Division.

“We celebrate God’s goodness as we continue to hear the impact on women’s lives through this endeavour,” says Major Reid.

Salvationist September 2021 5

FRONTLINES

Salvation Army Opens Centre of Hope in Port Hardy, B.C.

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he Salvation Army opened a new Centre of Hope in Port Hardy, B.C., this past spring, to serve the wider Mount Waddington community. Previously known as the Lighthouse Resource Centre, the facility offers free services and programs to the public with a focus on individuals facing unemployment, addictions, mental illness, homelessness and other personal barriers.

Built on a foundation of respect and a love of Jesus, the Centre of Hope’s mission is to offer a safe, nurturing environment to anyone in need. They operate on a philosophy of “everyone is welcome” and vow to maintain an open-door policy, free of judgment. From Monday to Friday, the centre serves hot lunches and provides shower and laundry facilities, a computer resource room, prayer and spiritual care, clothing, food and hygiene products. Other services are available throughout the week, such as mental-health support, nurse practitioners, legal consultations and AA meetings.

The centre also provides 12 shelter beds during cold months.

The Centre of Hope operates under the pillars of hope, love,

dignity and respect. “I want to express my deep and heartfelt gratitude to The Salvation Army for investing in the Mount Waddington region,” says Michael Winter, community ministries supervisor at the Centre of Hope. “I pray that our ministry unit continues to be used by God—to love, to support, to encourage, to serve and, through it all, witness transformation.”

Ontario Divisional Leaders Join Anti-Racism March

National Recycling Operations Opens 100th Thrift Store

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housands of individuals walked seven kilometres as part of a multi-faith march to end hatred in London, Ont., including Lt-Colonels Brenda and Shawn Critch, divisional leaders, Ontario Division. The march, which took place in June, followed a shocking attack on a Muslim family in London, four members of which were killed, while a fifth was seriously injured.

“The tragedy that occurred in London was deeply felt in all faith communities,” says Lt-Colonel Shawn Critch, divisional commander. “The entire march, we prayed for the victims, their family and friends.”

The march took participants from a memorial site to the London Muslim Mosque, where leaders from all faiths denounced racism and Islamophobia, and emphasized that the only way forward is through love, peace and respect for one another.

“While listening to the faith leaders and observing the large gathering paying their respects, an overwhelming feeling of empathy and unity ran through my body,” says Lt-Colonel Brenda Critch, divisional secretary for spiritual life development. “I’m grateful that we were part of this time of solidarity and hope on behalf of The Salvation Army.”

The Army’s emergency disaster services brought a canteen truck to the march route, handing out water and snacks to those needing refreshments as they made their way to the London Muslim Mosque.

Lt-Cols Shawn and Brenda Critch speak with fellow participants in the march

6 September 2021 Salvationist

The new Centre of Hope in Port Hardy, B.C.

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he Salvation Army’s National Recycling Operations (NRO) opened a new thrift store in Bedford, N.S., in June—officially bringing the number of NRO thrift stores in Canada to 100.

With the store at 25 percent capacity as per provincial COVID19 guidelines, thrifting enthusiasts lined up outside the store ahead of its opening. The 12,000-square-foot space welcomed more than 200 guests throughout the day.

“We are so excited to finally be open in Bedford,” says Julie Buchanan, NRO’s Nova Scotia district manager. “After many delays due to COVID-19, we are now pleased to serve Bedford and surrounding communities with a large selection of great finds at affordable prices, all while generating funds for those in need and contributing to environmental sustainability through reuse and recycling.”

Staff at the Army’s newest thrift store in Bedford, N.S., stand ready to welcome shoppers

FRONTLINES

IHQ Releases Soldiership Resources

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he Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ) released two significant books on soldiership at a livestreamed launch event in London, England, in July.

Called to be a Soldier–Exploring the Soldier’s Covenant is the successor to Chosen to be a Soldier (also sometimes known as Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of The Salvation Army).

Compiled with the support of the International Theological Council, the book’s easy-to-read content focuses in turn on each of the “I will … ” statements of intention that form the Soldier’s Covenant by outlining the possibilities and opportunities of life as a Salvation Army soldier.

Published as a companion to Called to be a Soldier is Day by Day–Call to Mission, written by Commissioner Robert Street, which considers what following Jesus looks like in today’s reality.

Both books will be available in more than 50 languages and dialects, ensuring as many soldiers as possible can journey together in exploring the implications of soldiership.

The launch event highlighted The Salvation Army’s internationalism with prayers and testimonies offered by Salvationists and officers from around the world: from India to Nigeria, Japan, The Netherlands, Rwanda and beyond.

In his message at the launch, General Brian Peddle explained that Called to be a Soldier and Day by Day provide opportunities to “reconnect what it means to be a soldier,” adding that the time had come to move away from soldiership being a “rite of passage” or simply an obligation.

“We will be able to serve others with authenticity,” he declared.

“I am asking that all soldiers make themselves available and sacrificially share in God’s mission in the world.”

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, closed the event with a prayer of dedication, thanking God for calling The Salvation Army “to be a dynamic force for good in this world.”

General Brian Peddle (right) and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle hold copies of two new books on soldiership

New Board Chair Appointed to Booth University College

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t-Colonel John P. Murray has been appointed the new chair of the Board of Trustees at Booth University College in Winnipeg as of June 1. An officer for 25 years, Lt-Colonel Murray is secretary for communications for the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

“It is with pleasure that I commend Lt-Colonel Murray as the chair of the Booth University College Board of Trustees,” says Lt-Colonel (Dr.) Susan van Duinen, interim president and vicechancellor of Booth University College.

“I’ve had the privilege of working directly with John, and there are few who can match his passion and dedication to mission.”

“With its motto ‘Education for a Better World,’ Booth University College has gone from strength to strength as it has served The Salvation Army and the Winnipeg community,” notes Lt-Colonel Murray. “As we enter a new phase of development, we will be building on the rich legacy of those who paved the way.

We anticipate exciting new initiatives that will expand Booth UC’s offerings

and ensure it evolves into a centre of learning excellence for The Salvation Army, domestically and internationally, for years to come.”

Lt-Colonel Murray replaces outgoing chair Brig.-Gen. Linda Colwell, a retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces and a Salvationist. Under her tenure, Booth UC grew as an accredited university college and underwent significant

renovations to the campus building and updates to programming.

“It is with deep gratitude that we recognize Brig.-Gen. Colwell’s service to The Salvation Army,” says Commissioner Floyd Tidd, territorial commander and chancellor of Booth University College.

“Her wisdom, expertise in education and passion for the mission of The Salvation Army have been invaluable.”

Lt-Col John P. Murray

Salvationist September 2021 7

FRONTLINES

B.C. Women Gather for Virtual Retreat

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he British Columbia Division’s women’s ministries network hosted a virtual event in June called The Open Door. Nearly 150 participants engaged in online workshops, a worship session and videos by guest speaker Carolyn Arends, a Christian musician, author and director of education for Renovaré.

Like an open door, the event was meant to be an invitational and welcoming retreat that would lead women to new places in their faith. “Jesus is the open door for all people,” says Lt-Colonel Ann Braund, divisional director of women’s ministries, British Columbia Division. “He is always inviting people to come to him and abide in him; to find their identity, their home and their hope in him.”

The event consisted of seven workshops that explored various pathways to God, which offer an opportunity to deepen relationships with him: serving, creation, activism, contemplation, worship and relational pathways. In addition to the workshops, participants engaged in a halfhour worship session with Anne Ivany and Sarah Michele, and heard testimonies of women from The Salvation Army’s Belkin House in Vancouver.

Arends hosted an hour-long session, sharing her own testimony of faith, musical

worship and lessons about building a mindful, intentional relationship with God. Where they were able, some women’s groups joined together for small in-person screenings of The Open Door in Vancouver, Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna and other cities across British Columbia.

“Every speaker at this event was articulate and passionate,” says Leanne Bradbury, a first-time participant in women’s retreats offered by the division’s women’s minis-

Women gather at Cariboo Hill Temple in Burnaby, B.C., to participate in The Open Door event

tries. “Each and every one held the door open and made sure you knew there were great things on the other side.

“I couldn’t have imagined that such warm teaching and sharing could have been conveyed on the internet,” she continues. “God is good.”

Territory Supports Vaccine Equity Project

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he Salvation Army in Canada is helping to ensure that every corner of the globe has access to life-saving vaccines by supporting the national Love My Neighbour project.

An initiative undertaken by Millennium Kids in partnership with UNICEF Canada and diverse faith communities, Love My Neighbour aims to ensure global COVID-19 vaccine equity by procuring doses for 92 countries with limited access to vaccines.

“Since COVID-19 hit, we have had regular communication with our international partners regarding its impact in their respective countries,” says Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray, director of international development. “It’s heartbreaking to hear that not everyone has the opportunity to be vaccinated. A global pandemic requires a global approach, and because of this, we were happy to support the Love My Neighbour campaign. It was, and is, the right thing to do.”

The Salvation Army has provided $100,000 in funding toward this initiative, helping to supply more than 4,000 doses to the world’s hardest-to-reach communities. A single $25 donation is enough to pay for the first and second dose for an individual, as well as the costs associated with it, which include transporting the vaccine, training health-care workers to administer it and safely disposing of the waste.

8 September 2021 Salvationist

“We must be better neighbours,” says Sara Hildebrand, project co-ordinator for Love My Neighbour. “We want to cross the COVID-19 immunity line side by side, and write this pandemic ending together.”

To learn more about Love My Neighbour, visit lovemyneighbourproject.org.

Big Little Miracles From Athens, Greece, to Kelowna, B.C., how one couple found family and a new home with help from The Salvation Army.

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

Photo: Walt Shawlee

Hengameh and Mohammad, along with their baby, Danial, were sponsored by The Salvation Army’s Renew Church in West Kelowna, B.C.

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ieutenant Jennifer Henson woke up suddenly in the middle of the night. Earlier that day, she and her husband, Lieutenant Rob Henson, corps officers at Renew Church in West Kelowna, B.C., had been asked if their corps would consider sponsoring a family to come to Canada.

Unable to go back to sleep, Lieutenant Jennifer started to pray about it.

“And God gave me a very clear message,” she recalls. “When I shared it with our congregation the following Sunday, everybody agreed: Of course, we’re saying yes. We don’t know how, but we’re all saying yes.”

More than 9,000 kilometres away, Hengameh Mortezaie and her husband,

Mohammad, would soon get some lifechanging news.

“Can you imagine?” says Hengameh.

“There was a community in Kelowna that wanted to sponsor us. We were in Greece and they didn’t know anything about us, but they decided to help us. I think this is a miracle.”

You’re Hired Hengameh and Mohammad arrived in Athens, Greece, in 2015. “At that time, we were in a bad situation,” she says. “We were looking for jobs and I came to The Salvation Army to take a Greek class.”

The case worker who taught the class asked Hengameh if she would be interested in volunteering at the Army’s Day

Center, and she gladly accepted. That was how she met Major Jean-Curtis Plante, then regional business and administration officer in Athens, and Major Rachele “Ray” Lamont, then anti-human trafficking co-ordinator for Greece. Major Curtis was looking for warehouse workers to organize all the goods that had been donated to the Army for people in need and decided to hire Hengameh.

“She is so smart and capable, and such a hard worker,” says Major Ray. “She ended up taking the lead in that warehouse, and she excelled at it.”

Not Alone in the World After the warehouse position ended, Hengameh worked as a translator for the Army for a year.

“It was not an easy job because I was translating for refugees and immigrants that came to Greece—some of their stories were really sad,” Hengameh says.

“Sometimes I cried with them, sometimes I laughed with them, but it was a good experience for me because I learned I’m not alone. There are a lot of people in the world that have the same situation as me.”

As that contract came to an end, another position opened up at the Day Center.

“At that time, we had more than 5,000 asylum-seekers accessing our Day Center downtown, assisting people in a wide variety of ways, so we needed a case worker,” says Major Ray. “The best part of my job was that I could talk with the people who were in need in the same language,” says Hengameh. “I was happy because they trusted me and told me what happened to them and what they needed.”

At one staff meeting, Major Ray shared the idea of offering sewing classes for vulnerable women at the centre. “I said, ‘I used to be a tailor—I had my own shop!’ ” Hengameh smiles.

Hengameh led the classes in Farsi and Major Ray provided the support group component. After a few months of classes, the women had a marketable skill. “At Salvationist September 2021 9

the beginning, some of them couldn’t even cut fabric and, by the end, they were able to make clothes for themselves,” Hengameh says.

As a case worker, Hengameh made a major difference in the lives of others— but the experience was just as transformative for her.

“I learned a lot of things from The Salvation Army, and especially from Majors Curtis and Ray,” she reflects. “I learned that the world is not ugly like I thought. The world is beautiful because there are nice people in the world, like Curtis and Ray, who are helping people.”

Saying Yes Majors Ray and Curtis returned to Canada in November 2019 and are now territorial modern slavery and human trafficking response co-ordinator, and assistant divisional secretary for business administration, British Columbia Division, respectively.

Major Ray had become close friends with Hengameh and Mohammad during their time in Greece—“We see each other as family,” she says—and knew that they did not want to stay in Greece.

Conversations began around the possibility of sponsorship, and ministry units were approached about bringing a family to Canada.

Renew Church said yes.

A recent church plant, Renew Church was an unlikely candidate for sponsoring a family—at least on paper. It was a small congregation still getting established.

“If you thought about it logically and rationally, you would have to say no,” Lieutenant Jennifer smiles.

But that middle-of-the-night message

from God came through loud and clear.

“Scripture talks about helping the orphans, the widows, the people without a home, and I felt God saying to me, ‘Do you hear their cries? Because I do,’ ” she shares.

“When you hear their stories and the difficulties that these people are going through, we felt like, how could we not say yes?” Lieutenant Rob adds. “We believed that God would provide the resources for it, and he did.”

God Moments While territorial headquarters worked with Hengameh and Mohammad on the paperwork, the Hensons put together a settlement team and started raising funds.

Bringing the family to Canada was a true grassroots effort, involving corps members, staff, volunteers, donors and the Army’s wider network in the Kelowna community. “A lot of people responded and were very generous,” says Lieutenant Rob. Heading into Christmas 2019, Renew Church was closing in on their fundraising goal of $20,000 when a phone call came in from an elderly woman, asking if the corps could send some folks to sing a few Christmas carols.

Expecting an ordinary ministry opportunity, Lieutenant Rob gathered a small group and drove to the woman’s house.

“As we were singing, one of the members asked, ‘What are you thankful for this Christmas?’ ” Lieutenant Rob recalls. “As we went around, one individual shared the story of how our little church—which didn’t have much influence or money at that time—had been able to raise $16,000 from our community to sponsor a family.

“And the woman said, ‘Hang on a

second,’ and went into another room,” Lieutenant Rob continues. “When she came back, she handed me a wad of cash and said, ‘I want to give you this.’ It was $5,000!

“That was the biggest miracle for me,” he finishes. “And there have been many neat God moments throughout, his way of saying, ‘You guys are on the right track.’ ” Warm Welcome As the sponsorship process unfolded, two unexpected events occurred: the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, and Hengameh found out she was pregnant.

“I hoped my baby would be born in Canada, but I thought, No, it’s impossible,” she recalls.

Hengameh was 35 weeks along when the email came. “It said our residence permit was approved—we could go to Canada!” she says. “It was the last week that my doctor would allow me to fly. It was just in time.”

Hengameh and Mohammad arrived in Canada on November 30, 2020. A local hotelier provided a room, at no charge, so that they could isolate for the required two weeks, and the church stocked it with food, clothing and more. “They were so warm with welcoming us,” Hengameh says. “They thought of everything.”

For the first four months, Hengameh and Mohammad lived with Karen and Gary Durose, a couple from the church who were members of the settlement team. “When we arrived at their place, they made it ready for us—a room with everything, with baby stuff,” Hengameh remembers. “It was really nice. It made us cry.

“They are our Canadian mom and dad now,” she adds. “We had a wonderful time living with them.”

Family Five weeks after Hengameh and Mohammad arrived in Kelowna, they welcomed a new member into their family: baby Danial. A local doula donated her time to help the family through the birthing experience, and Renew Church held a socially distanced baby shower. “We said, COVID’s not going to stop us from having a party, so we decided to do a drive-by baby blessing,” Lieutenant Jennifer smiles.

Hengameh teaches a sewing class at the Army’s Day Center in Athens, Greece

10 September 2021 Salvationist

The church collected gifts for the family, expecting to drop off a basket or two, but ended up filling multiple car trunks with bags and boxes. Church members decorated their cars and drove up to the house, caravan-style, while Hengameh, Mohammad and Danial watched from the window.

“When Jennifer said, ‘We have a surprise for you,’ I was thinking maybe she would come to my house and say ‘Congratulations’ or something like that,” Hengameh remembers. “When I saw what happened, it was a big shock.”

“I could see Mohammad in the window, crying,” Lieutenant Jennifer shares.

“He couldn’t believe all these people who he had not yet even met were dropping off all these presents. But we said, ‘You’re part of our family now, and this is what family does.’ ” Gary broadcast the gift-opening on the church’s Facebook page using Facebook Live so the whole congregation could comment and celebrate together.

Getting Established Now living in their own apartment, Hengameh and Mohammad have a busy life of caring for Danial, working and

attending school. Mohammad is a floorer by trade and also works casual shifts at the Army’s thrift store, while Hengameh is taking English classes and hopes to work for the Army again someday.

“I loved my job in Greece—it was the best part of my life!” she says. “If I have the opportunity to do that again, that would be amazing.”

The family is also actively involved with Renew Church, attending Sunday gatherings and participating in a small group with the Hensons and another couple.

“At the end of our small-group time together, Mohammad or Hengameh will pray in Farsi, the other couple will pray in Spanish, and Rob and I will pray in English,” says Lieutenant Jennifer. “It’s really cool to be able to be together in that way. We may not share the same faith and understanding of God, but there we are having spiritual conversations and praying for one another.”

Reunited Almost two years after saying goodbye in Greece, Hengameh and Mohammad were finally reunited with Majors Ray and Curtis, and it was especially fitting

that they met on the family’s first-ever Canada Day. “There were a lot of tears, there was a lot of hugging,” Major Ray shares. “It’s still like a dream to think that they’re here in Canada.”

“I’m a lucky person that I had the chance to meet Curtis and Ray,” says Hengameh. “They completely changed my life. I want to thank Jennifer and Rob and everyone in the community who helped us.”

Hengameh, Mjr Ray Lamont, Mjr Jean-Curtis Plante and Mohammad share a moment together at a Salvation Army staff Christmas party in Athens

W E L C O M E SE RVI C E

S E P TE MBE R 1 9 , 2 0 2 1 | 4 P M C D T LIVE STREAM AT SALVATIONIST.CA

R EF L ECTORS OF

Salvationist September 2021 11

Photos: Becken Photogpraphy

Trinity MurphyDicker (centre) with her mom, Susie, and sister, Kaitlyn

12 September 2021 Salvationist

Every Child Matters The Salvation Army honours the survivors of residential schools through Orange Shirt Day.

BY GISELLE RANDALL

I

n May, the bodies of 215 children— some as young as three years old— were discovered in an unmarked grave at a former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., after a search by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.

The grim discovery provided physical evidence to support what many from the Indigenous community have always known: thousands of children who went to residential schools never came home.

This painful reminder led to outpourings of grief and anger, along with calls to search the grounds at all former Indian residential schools. As memorials sprang up across the country, many mourners wore orange T-shirts or hung orange banners with the words “Every Child Matters.”

Why the colour orange?

In 2013, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad shared the story of her first day at the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in Williams

Lake, B.C., as part of a commemoration event for former students and their families. She was six years old, and her grandmother had bought her a shiny new orange shirt for the occasion. But when she arrived, it was taken from her.

“The colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing,” she says.

Webstad started Orange Shirt Day, held every year on September 30, to raise awareness of the impact of residential schools, remember those who died and honour survivors, their families and communities.

“The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda is supporting Orange Shirt Day as part of our overall journey of reconciliation,” says Commissioner Floyd Tidd, territorial commander. “We believe the core message of this day, that ‘Every Child Matters,’ and we stand in solidarity with

Indigenous Peoples in this initiative.”

Recognizing the Harm The Indian residential school system— designed to assimilate Indigenous children into mainstream society—was a central part of Canada’s Indigenous policy almost from the beginning. In 1867, when Canada became a country, there were already a number of church-run boarding schools for Indigenous children. In 1876, the Indian Act allowed the federal government to establish such schools.

Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, told the House of Commons that “when the school is on the reserve, the child lives with its parents, who are savages … Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence.” He argued they should be placed in schools “where they will acquire the habits and modes of

Trinity with Mjr Byron and AuxCpt Linda Kean, COs, Happy Valley-Goose Bay Corps, N.L.

Salvationist September 2021 13

The Salvation Army commissioned Trinity, a young Inuk artist from Nunatsiavut and a member of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Corps, N.L., to design the artwork for Orange Shirt Day

Photo: Becken Photogpraphy

You Matter Each survivor carries a unique, valid, heavy, true story in their hearts. I used a drum to represent not only Inuit but many other Indigenous groups. The drum expresses the soul and deep, soothing heartbeat of Indigenous culture.

The northern lights signify the beautiful teachings and knowledge of Indigenous culture, and the people holding hands below represent Indigenous people reconnecting with their identity, language and traditions, and celebrating their strong, beautiful, resilient heritage.

The trees represent the journey of breaking the chains of hurt and brokenness and planting a path of healing together, where change can begin to grow.

The feather symbolizes freedom. It was no easy road for the ones before us to get to this point of freely expressing ourselves and our culture together.

It’s important to keep these cultural practices going because there were many who weren’t allowed to. I realize that each element of this symbol may resonate differently within each person who has been impacted by residential schools and I hope that they sense a feeling of strength from this symbol and know that their feelings, their stories and their voice matters. You matter.

—Trinity Murphy-Dicker 14 September 2021 Salvationist

thought of white men.”

The same year, the federal government established three large residential schools in western Canada, and the school system grew quickly from there. By 1931, there were 80. In total, 139 government-funded, church-run schools operated across the country, with the last one closing in 1996.

It’s estimated that more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children, between the ages of four and 16, were compelled to attend residential schools.

These children were taken—often by force—from their families and homes, stripped of their names and belongings, and separated from their siblings. They were forbidden to speak their languages or practise their customs and spiritual traditions. The education and vocational training they received was substandard and often gave way to manual labour. They faced fear, loneliness and harsh discipline.

Many were physically, sexually or psychologically abused. Although the exact number is not known, as many as 6,000 died.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has said that, in removing children from their families, communities and culture, the residential school system is best described as “cultural genocide.”

Confronting the Legacy In 1996, the final report of a Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples was released, bringing national attention to the harms of the Indian residential school experience. In the following years, several thousand court cases related to this legacy resulted in the largest class-action lawsuit and settlement in Canadian history. The settlement agreement, which took effect in 2007, included the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

The TRC’s purpose was to document the history and impact of the Indian residential school system on former students and their families. The commission spent six years travelling across Canada, gathering testimonies from more than 6,000 survivors through national events and community hearings. In 2015, it released a final report. “Now that we know about residential schools and their legacy, what do we do about it?” the report asked, offering 94 Calls to Action.

Action #48 called church and faith groups to adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation. On March 30, 2016, an ecumenical group, including The Salvation Army, issued a formal response at a press conference on Parliament Hill.

“As Christ has called us to be ministers of reconciliation in this world, we recognize our responsibility in engaging the principles of this declaration,” said Major Shari Russell, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant.

In its statement, the Army committed to developing a comprehensive plan in response to each of the appropriate Calls to Action: “We realize reconciliation is an ongoing process that acknowledges our past with Indigenous Peoples, reframes our current relationships and works toward a future based on dignity and trust.”

Emphasizing communication and consultation with Indigenous people, the plan included a focus on accessibility, building trust, awareness and education, leadership development and addressing the needs of Indigenous women.

Remember and Change Since then, the Army has held two roundtables to bring together Indigenous Salvationists from across the territory for support and encouragement, as well as several celebrations of Indigenous cultures, with workshops and traditional pow wows.

“As an organization, we seek to respect and honour Indigenous people—their stories, their ceremonies, their ways of knowing,” says Captain Crystal Porter, divisional children and youth secretary, Prairie Division, and associate territorial Indigenous ministries consultant.

“Partnering with the Orange Shirt Society in support of Orange Shirt Day is another tangible way to actively engage in reconciliation. The Salvation Army is acknowledging the past hurt and working to heal and restore that relationship.”

For Captain Porter, this work is deeply personal. It wasn’t until she attended Booth University College in Winnipeg that she began a journey to reclaim and embrace her Mi’kmaw heritage.

“The roundtables that Major Russell organized were key—just being able to connect with other Indigenous people in the Army and to share our journeys,” she says. “For me, the path of healing and reconciliation, being able to reclaim my culture, has happened through these events. Seeing the Army commit to the work of reconciliation, to be willing to

“We believe the core message of this day, that ‘Every Child Matters,’ and we stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in this initiative,” says Commissioner Floyd Tidd, with Commissioner Tracey Tidd, territorial president of women’s ministries

learn, to walk gently, has been important.

“In moments like this, as we honour residential school survivors and their families through Orange Shirt Day, my faith and my Indigenous identity come together.

Reconciliation is a spiritual process.”

Committed to Reconciliation Orange Shirt Day opens the door to a con-

versation about the legacy and ongoing impact of Indian residential schools, but also to current injustices.

“The Salvation Army is working with and alongside Indigenous groups and communities to rebuild relationships and respond to the recommendations from the TRC,” says Commissioner Floyd Tidd. “The recent discovery of unmarked

graves has reminded us as a country about the historical mistreatment and abuse of Indigenous children, but we acknowledge that this mistreatment is not just a historical reality or a ‘dark chapter.’

“Indigenous people continue to experience injustice and inequitable treatment.

The Salvation Army desires to be part of the solution and not the problem. We are committed to supporting and walking alongside them in communities from coast to coast.”

Visit the corps mission resource page for resources in support of Orange Shirt Day, including sermons, children and youth programming, educational and partnership ideas, and Sunday service ideas.

Photo: Danielle Shack

The Orange Shirt

Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), is the executive director of the Orange Shirt Society. She tours the country sharing her story and raising awareness about the impact of the residential school system

I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned six years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front and was so bright and exciting—just like I felt to be going to school!

When I got to the Mission, they stripped me and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me—it was mine!

The colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying, and no one cared.

I was 13 years old and in Grade 8 when my son,

Jeremy, was born. Because my grandmother and mother both attended residential school for 10 years each, I never knew what a parent was supposed to be like.

With the help of my aunt, Agness Jack, I was able to raise my son and have him know me as his mother.

I went to a treatment centre for healing when I was 27 and have been on this healing journey since then. I finally get it, that the feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the Mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further from the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter. Even with all the work I’ve done!

I am honoured to be able to tell my story so that others may benefit and understand, and maybe other survivors will feel comfortable enough to share their stories.

—Phyllis (Jack) Webstad Salvationist September 2021 15

A Colourful Ministry After a devastating diagnosis, Captain Karen Holland found a new way to pray.

BY ABBIGAIL OLIVER

I

t was a regular Monday night at home, but after weeks of feeling “off,” Captain Karen Holland experienced a grand mal seizure. Her husband, Captain Stephen Holland, called an ambulance that rushed her to the hospital, where she was put on anti-seizure medication. Three months later, an MRI found a tumour on the left side of her brain and the doctors diagnosed her with grade III anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare form of malignant brain cancer that occurs in the cells and tissues that protect the brain’s neurons. The average survival for adults with this diagnosis is two to three years.

Since that life-altering day in September 2019, Captain Karen has endured three brain surgeries and exhausting chemotherapy treatments.

But through it all, she has found a new, unexpected opportunity for ministry.

Currently assistant community services officer and corps officer at The Salvation Army’s Chatham-Kent Ministries in Ontario, Captain Karen has had to bow out of her official duties due to considerable short-term memory loss and extreme fatigue. Communication is difficult for Captain Karen, so her husband, Captain Stephen, corps officer and assistant community services director, agreed to share their story.

One Day at a Time After that first grand mal seizure, Captain Karen experienced frequent focal seizures.

The tumour on the left side of her brain would cause her eyes to drift rightward and “zone out” every few minutes. In December 2019, one week before Christmas and three months after her initial diagnosis, Captain Karen had her first surgery to biopsy the tumour. Only a few days later, doctors performed a second surgery to remove 80 percent of the mass from her brain.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, astrocytomas such as this one can spread through the brain and blend with other tissues, making it difficult to remove the entire tumour with surgery alone.

Despite the ordeal, Captain Karen 16 September 2021 Salvationist

Cpt Karen Holland wears a “Just Beat It” T-shirt for brain cancer awareness month in May

kept her spirits up. “I remember after her first surgery, she was lying in bed and said she wasn’t worried about anything,” says Captain Stephen. “The rest of us are probably more concerned than she is—she just takes one day at a time.”

In February 2020, Captain Karen began radiation therapy in an attempt to minimize the remaining 20 percent of the tumour and prevent further growth.

Radiation continued for six weeks, five days a week. In February 2021, doctors performed a third brain surgery because the tumour had grown since her last surgery 13 months prior.

Now, rather than enduring further chemotherapy treatments, Captain Karen takes oral chemotherapy pills and receives MRIs every three months to monitor tumour growth.

A New Ministry Before her diagnosis in 2019, Captain Karen enjoyed pastoral care. Captain Stephen notes that she loved to visit with women’s groups and seniors, to connect with old friends from Salvation Army summer camps, and to get to know people inside and outside of the Army. She enjoyed officiating at funerals and visiting hospitals to spend time with people in need of support and prayer.

“That was her gift,” says Captain Stephen, “so she felt really lost.”

Captain Karen, unable to continue her pastoral duties at Chatham-Kent and isolated from visitors due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, was spending the majority of her time at home juggling boredom and fatigue.

Since last Christmas, however,

Captain Karen has found a new way to engage in pastoral ministry. It began when she received a present from a friend of her sister, whom she didn’t know. It was a Christian colouring book filled with Bible verses and a handful of coloured pencils. Each page had a Scripture verse or quote surrounded by ribbons, leaves and other decorative illustrations.

“Karen opened it and she was excited about it,” says Captain Stephen. “She started colouring and loved it right away.

Now, she does it constantly.”

As Captain Karen finished the colouring pages, she decided to detach them from the book and mail them to people at Chatham-Kent Ministries. Then she went on to send them to other people she knows—officers, family members, friends and people she’d grown up with at camp. In each envelope, she includes a short note that reads: “You remain in our thoughts and prayers. God bless you greatly. Love and prayers from Captains Karen and Stephen.”

When Captain Karen finished her first colouring book, she bought more.

Today, she has mailed out more than 390 colouring pages. “She doesn’t remember why she chose to do it; it was just something she felt she needed to do,” says Captain Stephen.

Photo: Sarah Cowan/Blackburn News Chatham-Kent

Pages of Prayer Colouring has become Captain Karen’s primary ministry. She colours every day, between meals and bouts of fatigue brought on by the chemotherapy pills.

Though she sometimes has difficulty recalling names, reading and deciphering simple words that get jumbled on the

Cpts Karen and Stephen Holland are the corps officers at Chatham-Kent Ministries, Ont.

page, colouring serves as a therapeutic creative outlet that lets her focus, concentrate and reflect. Colouring is her new form of prayer.

“As she’s colouring the page, she’ll think about the person she’s doing it for, her memories with them and how she knows them,” says Captain Stephen. “She picks out the saying that she thinks would

Bermuda Territory, and a close friend of the Hollands, is among the many grateful recipients.

“I know that she prayed for me while she was working on it, and during the pandemic it was a beautiful way to feel connected to Karen,” says Captain Barb, whose colouring page included words from the hymn His Eye is on the Sparrow.

Cpt Karen has mailed more than 390 Christian colouring pages

fit that person. For her, it feels like she’s part of something, and she hopes that it helps others when they receive them.

“Something as simple as colouring pages can make an impact on her life and the lives of the people she’s sent them to,” he continues. “She says she could never do enough colouring pages to send to everyone she cares about, so she has done her best.”

The Hollands have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from recipients of the colouring pages who have reached out to thank Captain Karen.

Some have told her that the colouring pages have brightened their day and the Scripture was exactly what they needed to hear.

Captain Barb Stanley, director of pastoral services for the Canada and

“It was also a lovely reminder to me that our lives, our families and our worries are always on the heart of God. We are not forgotten, abandoned or orphaned.”

A Stronger Faith Despite her diagnosis, Captain Karen maintains a positive outlook and a strong faith.

“She surprises me,” says Captain Stephen when asked if Captain Karen’s faith was ever tested throughout her journey with cancer. “She doesn’t worry about death. She’s excited to meet Jesus.

“We, as pastors, talk a lot about the peace and understanding God gives you,” he continues. “I never knew what that looked like until I saw it in her. She’s not afraid.”

Salvationist September 2021 17

GLOBAL FOCUS

Comrs Wayne and Deborah Bungay serve as TC and TPWM in the Zimbabwe and Botswana Tty. “The wealth of talent, competence, experience, wisdom and passion to support the mission of The Salvation Army in this territory is encouraging,” says Comr Deborah Bungay

What is your approach to cross-cultural ministry?

The Second Call Canadian Salvation Army officers reflect on their international service.

C

ommissioners Deborah and Wayne Bungay have been Salvation Army officers for 37 years, spending more than 12 years in international service. Today, they serve as territorial president of women’s ministries and territorial commander in the Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory.

Features editor Giselle Randall spoke with Commissioner Deborah Bungay about adapting to new cultures, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and their vision for the territory.

Tell us about your journey to international service with The Salvation Army.

It’s difficult to articulate what drew us to international service. We experienced two calls to service: first, to serve as officers within The Salvation Army and, second, to serve internationally. Our calling to international service can only be described as an overwhelming inner sense that we needed to offer ourselves to serve others outside of our borders.

We had no preference as to where this could be; we just allowed God, through 18 September 2021 Salvationist

our territorial and international leaders, to appoint us where he needed us.

What were some of the biggest adjustments you had to make when you started living overseas?

The current pandemic has been a painful experience for many as it has kept them away from family members for prolonged periods of time. For those who live overseas, this is a normal occurrence, and for us it has been the biggest adjustment.

Leaving children and grandchildren behind, and only getting to see them once a year or every couple of years, depending on where you are appointed, is difficult. It’s especially challenging when you want to be near family during times of illness or bereavement—it’s during these times that the kilometres that separate become painfully obvious. Not having the comforts of home can also be a huge shock at first, but we have learned to live within our means, and you soon grow accustomed to it.

Every appointment is different because each culture is different, with their own traditions, foods, languages and social norms. Our diet has consisted of some of the “normal” foods that we eat at home, but often we eat what our people eat: goat, crickets and “meat” that you dare not ask about.

The language barrier can be a challenge, but we have discovered most appointments use English as the business language and, when ministering outside the office, we often are provided with translators. While we have not become fluent in any of the languages, we have learned enough to get along in a pinch, and when it comes to cultural traditions and celebrations, we immerse ourselves as much as possible.

Obviously, there are cultural norms that don’t fit with our Canadian way of thinking, but it would be unwise and unfair to the people we serve to approach ministry in such a way.

This is especially true when serving in a non-western country. People are eager to learn western ways related to leadership and service in The Salvation Army, but we’ve discovered that there is a time and place to integrate our western expertise and knowledge with a view to enhance the lives and ministry of the people we serve. One must be careful, however, not to force western standards, or bring a “West is best” mentality, because this will put your ministry at a deficit right from the beginning. One must be respectful of the people’s frame of reference and how their culture intersects with the way they do ministry. We discovered that the quicker we assimilated to the culture, the fewer challenges we had.

There are, however, some amusing things that have happened to us while living in different cultures—things like using hand gestures that were quite innocent to us but have a completely different and not-so-innocent meaning

GLOBAL FOCUS

to others. We have chased lizards out of our bedroom on numerous occasions, until finally we realized that they were only there to eat the insects and spiders, so we learned to just leave them there.

On another occasion, one of our employees came to our office just before Christmas with a gift. When we opened the package, we discovered a plate full of fried crickets! We both indulged, to the delight of the employee. Interestingly, they tasted like potato chips. It has also been amusing to receive live chickens, eggs or a sheep as a thank-you gift for visiting a corps or division.

God has been leading us toward serious discussions concerning our territorial strategic plan. While the territorial strategy has been in existence for some time, the current Cabinet, along with the strategic planning committee, is dedicated to the implementation of goals, objectives and strategies. While it is an ambitious undertaking, leaders at all levels of the territory are committed to identifying and seizing the “low-hanging fruit,” as well as determining how we can “build a ladder” to grasp the harvest that might currently appear out of reach.

What is your vision for the Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory?

The pandemic has had a tremendously negative impact. During our time in Tanzania, the pandemic had just started to ramp up. People were confused as to what this pandemic was all about. Many trusted traditional healing medicines and others thought that if they didn’t live in urban areas, they were OK. There was a lot of teaching to be done, so we embarked on awareness campaigns and were able to distribute handwashing stations around the city where we lived.

Once we moved to Zimbabwe, we discovered the same to be true. In addition to providing information, we were able to furnish all our Salvation Army schools, hospitals, social units, corps and other ministry units with handwashing stations and sanitizer.

COVID-19 also severely impacted the economic situation and left officers without the ability to get salaries and provide food for their families. Thanks to local and international donors, we were able to distribute food to many

Our personal vision is to see every Salvationist engaged in and committed to the salvation war through the gospel. We took up our current appointments in September 2020, and our usual ministry practice is to spend the first six to nine months listening at all levels. We met with a gathering of executive leaders to hear about the strengths and challenges of the territory, and the wealth of talent, competence, experience, wisdom and passion to support the mission of The Salvation Army in this territory is encouraging.

We are realizing that a large portion of this capacity is captured in the passion and drive of our youth, who are willing to engage in mission in their world. They are responsible for our hope in the future, and this means we can be encouraged about a strong Salvation Army with a powerful gospel message.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the countries in which you have recently served?

areas where the need is greatest.

We grieve the loss of many Salvationists due to COVID-19, especially our beloved chief secretary, Lt-Colonel Trustmore Muzorori. His untimely death is still a shock to us as we have lost a colleague, friend and stellar spiritual leader.

The Salvation Army continues to serve our suffering brothers and sisters where we can, while remaining diligent to be safe and not spread the virus further. Our prayers continue for the first responders who place their loved ones at additional risk by simply trying to relieve the suffering. We long and pray for a day when complete relief will come and life will return to normal.

How has international service changed you as a person?

The calling to international service has been very fulfilling. Our worldview has evolved and grown in many ways.

Having the ability to make an impact on others in ways that we may not have if we had stayed at home has been a blessing. While we have been able to share our experience and knowledge with others, we have been even more blessed to have learned from the people we serve. We have enjoyed rich cultural experiences, and the blessing of befriending those we have ministered to and with has been a gift from God. It has changed us as a family as well. In our first overseas appointment, our children were three, six and seven. They immersed themselves in the culture to the point where they called it home. Their worldview was expanded and influenced in such a way that even to this day, they have an affinity for anyone who needs support, they gravitate toward those whom society ignores and they seem to always be looking out for the underdog. Now, as adults, they each understand why their mom and dad are doing what they are doing. It’s not easy for them to be so far away from us, but they get it. We are very proud of them and grateful for the way that serving in a different culture has positively impacted all of us.

Comr Deborah Bungay teaches at a home league meeting in a remote rural village

Salvationist September 2021 19

Curious and Brave A Salvation Army after-school program in Paraguay encourages children to dream and grow.

BY ROBYN GOODYEAR A Salvation Army children’s program in Rayito de Luz, Paraguay

I

n Canada and much of the Northern Hemisphere, school is a place not just for learning basic skills, but also where students are encouraged to embrace individuality, think critically, ask questions, imagine new concepts and ideas, and offer their own insights and opinions. In many places in the developing world, however, public education systems do not include this kind of learning, which can leave students unprepared for life after school and stifle dreams for the future. In Paraguay, for example, students who graduate from the public school system, which focuses on memorization and conformity, are often at a disadvantage when it comes to applying for jobs or entering university.

The Salvation Army has worked to support children’s education in Paraguay for more than a decade, and now is seeking to challenge the norms of public education. In partnership with The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Slovakia Territory, the Norway, Iceland and the Færoes Territory, and the Canada and Bermuda Territory, the South America East Territory is offering a new after-school program, Curious and Brave. The program offers well-rounded, holistic educational support that provides basic needs for students and families and, as the name suggests, encourages them to be curious, to think critically and to bravely communicate and 20 September 2021 Salvationist

defend their feelings, emotions and ideas within a safe space.

The Curious and Brave program supports 128 children between the ages of six and 14 in four communities in Paraguay: San Lorenzo, Viñas Cue, Capiata and Rayito de Luz. In these low-income neighbourhoods, there are many households with multiple siblings sharing a bedroom, making it difficult to study and complete schoolwork without distraction. Often, teenagers will work at local supermarkets, where the tips they receive for carrying shopping bags to cars will be the only income they have to buy school materials. At The Salvation Army’s after-school programs in these four communities, students receive assistance with schoolwork from well-trained teachers and additional, specialized tutoring when needed. The program also assists in providing necessary school supplies and much-needed nutritional snacks.

Families in these communities tend to be isolated in their immediate areas, not even venturing to explore other areas of their own city. This can make it difficult to think about the future. In addition to the material assistance provided by the program, teachers encourage curiosity and the development of new ideas, empowering children to explore and dream about the future. The goal is that students will

be well prepared for the real world when they finish school, a world where children have the ability to think autonomously, express themselves freely, and assertively communicate their experiences, feelings and opinions.

“We chose these two adjectives—curious and brave—because it is the change that our children need to be ready to enter the world that is waiting for them, as soon as they finish elementary school,” says Claudia Franchetti, territorial projects officer for the South America East Territory. “Curiosity is essential for independent and autonomous thinking, and bravery is what they will need to stand up for what they think is fair and just.”

This is particularly important for young girls in the community, where gender roles are traditionally defined, and domestic and gender-based violence is a problem. The curriculum teaches a broad, complete and current vision of healthy relationships, as well as new concepts of family, which are framed in biblical and Christian values. The program aims to show children that they are individuals created by God, each given valuable skills and ideas.

Curious and Brave is an exciting opportunity for the Canada and Bermuda Territory to support an all-encompassing new program, as well as to strengthen our ongoing partnerships with The Salvation Army in South America East and in Europe. Your generous support of the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program allows us to reach beyond our borders and share in the amazing work that God is doing around the world to provide hope, dignity and the promise of a brighter future for children in need.

Robyn Goodyear is the international project support co-ordinator in the international development department.

MOBILIZE 2.0

Illustration: nazarkru/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Strengthen Spiritual Health

T

he Army’s future depends on its spiritual health. Without a vibrant, lived-out faith, we are in danger of becoming just another charity. Since its inception, the Army has been motivated by the love of Jesus to serve others in his name.

That’s why the first pillar of the Mobilize 2.0 transformation project’s new strategic plan is Strengthen Spiritual Health. In many ways, God is calling us back to that original purpose. Our new vision statement sums it up: “We are an innovative partner, mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship, building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus.”

In the July/August issue of Salvationist, we highlighted a new territorial strategic plan. In this four-part monthly series, we will unpack each of the strategic pillars: Strengthen Spiritual Health, Design for People, Forge Stronger Partnerships and Optimize Mission Impact.

Objectives There are three strategic objectives under the spiritual health pillar: • Our Christian faith pathways result in robust and authentic discipleship • Our ministry units are places of holiness and spiritual vibrancy • Our communities of faith are flourishing When these three things are happening, we’ll know we are being effective in

Strengthening Spiritual Health The Army’s new strategic plan puts faith first. developing vibrant spiritual health. The “how” of these objectives may look different in different ministry units, but the goal is the same.

Being Intentional One of the aims of the strategic plan is to create a unified understanding and application of discipleship. The church, and the Army, have seen decline over recent years. If we want to reverse that trend, we need to be intentional and serious about our spiritual health, and we also need to better understand how to reach people in our current society.

Kevin Slous, territorial secretary for spiritual life development, notes, “We need to develop a consistent, holistic and intergenerational approach to supporting people on their discipleship journeys, building a framework on identified essentials of healthy discipleship.” For Slous, the process is one of becoming a CHRISTcentred, OTHERS-focused disciple.

“We encounter Christ through the gospel story, proclaimed and lived out. It is in this greater ‘story’ that we find ourselves as Christians. As we seek to make disciples ourselves, we recognize that the experience and expression of faith is not solely for our own benefit. We have an others-focused faith.”

In Our DNA Spiritual health has been a crucial component of the Mobilize 2.0 process itself. From the outset, this territorial transformation project has been grounded in prayer and the Word of God. We began with 100 Days of Unceasing Prayer and Shared Scripture and then engaged in worship and discussion through Together in Mission and Together in Vision. Our territorial leaders, Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd, have used Ezekiel 37, the story of dry bones coming to life, as a metaphor for what God can do in this territory.

Through all these discussions, it’s clear that Mobilize 2.0 is about igniting the soul of who we are. Spiritual health has been given primacy as the first pillar, acknowl-

edging that Jesus is at the centre of all we do. Many have described it as the DNA of our movement. Only when we, as individuals, are of good spiritual health can we reflect that in our ministry expressions and in our communities.

Innovation and Accountability The pandemic has created challenges, but also new opportunities for the Army.

One area that has been strengthened is the connections between ministry expressions—corps, community services, social mission and external partnerships. We have been forced to look outside our four walls and now have the opportunity to further develop those relationships, to nurture spiritual health in our communities.

“We need to build on the innovation that we’ve learned in a pandemic environment,” notes Commissioner Floyd Tidd.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean throwing out old ways, but rather seeing what’s working now and applying it to strengthen spiritual health.”

The territorial strategic plan will help us ask the tough questions: How effective are we at developing and enriching spiritual health? What kind of impact are we having? What does spiritual health really look like? In response to the objectives, we will consider what tools and supports can foster discipleship, as well as considering how we best measure spiritual health and hold ourselves accountable to this pillar.

Measurement is more than just counting numbers in the pews; it is seeing people moving along the journey of discipleship and engaging in our mission as an expression of their commitment to become spiritually vibrant followers of Jesus.

A Salvation People The Army’s co-founder William Booth once remarked: “We are a salvation people—this is our speciality—getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved, and then getting saved ourselves more and more until full salvation on earth makes the heaven within.”

May this continue to be our goal.

Salvationist September 2021 21

Black Son, White Mom What my son becoming a man taught me about racism.

BY CAPTAIN COLLEEN GLEADALL

I

am a white woman. I was raised by two white parents. I fell in love with and married a white man. I am a mother to three white children. My Black son, my first-born, is being raised by white parents.

I was a 21-year-old single woman when the double lines appeared on the pregnancy test. It was unplanned and unexpected but, after the shock wore off, I settled into my new reality. My growing belly and tired feet were reminders of the baby that grew in my womb, who became part of who I am.

I considered our unique reality—a

Black son growing up with a white mom— but that issue seemed less pressing than the immediate concerns that filled my days. Would I be enough? Would I have enough to give him? How would the church react? Figuring out the intricacies of the racial divide could wait.

Growing Up Malakai was 91/2 months old when he took his first steps. This was around the first time a person questioned me and Justin, then my fiancé, about who his “real” parents were.

By the time he was two, we had managed—with the help of mini hockey sticks—to teach Malakai every single one of the 30 NHL hockey teams based on their logo. Around this time, a lovely Christian woman commented that I was lucky Justin agreed to raise a Black child with me.

Malakai was five when he received a certificate for leadership, Bible knowledge and proficiency in music from his kindergarten teacher. That same year, a Christian man told us that all Black children were poorly behaved.

He was almost nine when he scored his first goal in hockey and celebrated with his excited teammates. A year later, he was called the N-word for the first time by an 11-year-old child in our neighbourhood.

Malakai was 14 years old on the day he finally discovered he was half an inch taller than his mother. On that day, the world witnessed the murder of George Floyd.

The Day It All Changed May 26, 2020, started in a similar way to other days since the pandemic began.

Prior to the lockdown, our mornings consisted of a dash to get all the kids to bus stops and school drop-offs. Now, we navigated the chaotic puzzle of a family Zoom schedule. Four active, feisty kids with more energy to burn than the space in our house seemed to allow kept our days full.

As was often the case during those early days of the pandemic, I stole a few moments away from the chaos to catch up on the daily COVID-19 numbers, the news and, of course, social media. Out of sheer habit I opened Facebook and was confronted with post after post of the exact same story: a white man with his knee on the back of the neck of a terrified Black man. I watched a few moments of the video in horror, but before I had time to digest what I had watched, my kids

Now 15, Malakai is taller than his mother, Cpt Colleen Gleadall

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The Gleadall family: from left, Cpt Justin, Payton, Malakai, Emery, Laila and Cpt Colleen

were hungry once again. (“I’m hungry” had become my kids’ quarantine motto.) I tucked my phone away and dashed quickly to the kitchen to reheat leftovers from the night before.

I watched my kids interact with one another and felt an overwhelming gratitude for those moments when they were oblivious to the horrors of the world, all of which were captured on video. I prayed a futile prayer that God would help us shield them from the cruelty of this world.

I prayed that we would be able to shelter them from the evil of racism that lurks, not in the shadows, but on street corners in broad daylight with witnesses gathered.

My gaze shifted to Malakai. He regularly checked his height on the measuring board in our dining room and was anxious for the day he would surpass my five-foot-five-inch frame. He was getting close. I watched as he stood up straight, back against the wall, with a smile on his face and a ruler at the top of his head. Five feet 51/2 inches tall.

It didn’t hit me right away and, for that, I am grateful. Those precious moments allowed me to laugh with my son, for him to jokingly “look down” on me, to watch him stand tall. I was unaware of the thoughts that were waiting to assault my mind and linger indefinitely. I snuck away behind closed doors as Malakai instinctively helped his younger siblings tidy after lunch. All of those feelings needed space to overflow.

My eight-pound baby boy had been replaced with a 100-pound, strong-willed teenager. The squishy cheeks and round belly that I freely kissed as an infant were gone, replaced by broad shoulders and defined muscles, and a teen who offers affection on his own terms. The 21-inchlong newborn seemed to tower over me at five feet 51/2 inches. He looked more like a man than ever before, a Black man.

A Need for Change I think about those instances when racism snuck into Malakai’s life—the side glances, unfair assumptions and uncomfortable questions. I think about how the actions of others affected him. Most of all, I think about my reaction to those instances and how that was perceived by him. The moments I went along to get along. The moments I betrayed my

beautiful boy with silence. The moments I allowed hateful words to linger in the air uncontested, like a thick smog defiling those it touches.

On May 26, 2020, I developed an urgency regarding racial injustice.

Systemic racism that must be addressed.

Societal practices that need to be reevaluated. Eyes that need to be opened.

I began purposefully seeking out ways to broaden my understanding of racial injustice and equality. I started reading books and watching movies on the subject. I diversified my follows on social media and my music playlists. All the while pointing outward: They need to do better. They need to fix the problem. They need to stop being racist.

Austin Channing Brown’s book I’m Still Here shares her experiences of being Black while navigating a world dominated by whiteness—in school, the workplace and even in church. Her words were both heavy and life-giving. When I read her words, “Sadly, most white people are more worried about being called racist than about whether or not their actions are in fact racist or harmful,” it was a gut-punch.

Listening and Learning God used those words to speak truth into my life, highlighting ways in which my words, actions, beliefs and biases were at best unhelpful and untrue, and at worst harmful and racist. I was no longer willing to hide behind the white defensive cry of “I’m not racist.” Rather, I would do the work needed to ensure that statement matches my actions.

It is an ongoing process and a com-

mitment to dismantling racism in my own life. It is deep-rooted. The process is heavy, humbling and painful. It is timeconsuming, necessary and messy. It is powerful and, above all, it is holy.

I put it off for a long time, thinking I had it all figured out. For me, it took a specific reason on a specific day for God to show me the work that still needed to be done in my own life. I wish it didn’t take that long. I wish I had seen others hurting in the world and that would have been enough.

Now, I hope others are evaluating where they are on that journey of dismantling racism. I hope others have also been given a reason to start, to keep going or to pick it up again. I hope that this world will be better for all our sons and daughters. I hope that white people will no longer have to say “I’m not racist” because our actions will show it.

Malakai is 15 years old and just under six feet tall. He is learning to love his long, curly pandemic hair but would much rather have the sleek look of a fresh fade.

He loves to play hockey and football, which feeds his competitive nature. He is an attentive, loving big brother and an incredibly helpful son. He enjoys video games with friends and board games with family. He brings spiders outside rather than killing them. He is a kind, fun-loving, compassionate child of God. He is my reason to dismantle racism in my life. Perhaps he can be your reason, as well.

Captain Colleen Gleadall is the corps officer at Montreal Citadel.

Salvationist September 2021 23

ONWARD

Catch the Fire Our effectiveness as an Army is dependent upon the Holy Spirit.

BY COMMISSIONER FLOYD TIDD

Photo: imagedepotpro/E+ via Getty Images

O

lympic athletes met in Japan this summer, five years since they last gathered from around the globe. Hearing the stories of their journeys to Tokyo 2020, the power of inspiration is clear. More than just the dream of winning a gold medal, they spoke about the words of coaches, the sacrificial support of parents and family, the achievements of heroes and mentors, the Cheerios boxes of “cheer cards” and letters from fans at home. Inspiration can make all the difference.

Last year, the Canada and Bermuda Territory embarked on the journey of “Mobilize 2.0—Inspired for Mission, Positioned for Growth.”

Throughout the challenges of life and ministry in a global pandemic, we have prayed and shared Scripture together as a territory, seeking to discern God at work and his plan for The Salvation Army in the coming years.

Together, we have captured and articulated a vision for the territory and established a strategy to achieve that vision. The summer edition of Salvationist outlined the key pillars of this territorial strategic plan and, beginning this month, the fall issues will unpack each of the four pillars in greater detail. This will “position the territory for growth” and greater impact in more than 400 communities across Canada and Bermuda.

Mobilize 2.0 is about more than strategies and positioning for growth. It is about being freshly “inspired for mission.”

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines inspire as “to spur on, exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence” and also to “inhale, to draw in by breathing.” In Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, he sees dry, disconnected bones come to life, reconnecting and being covered with flesh and skin. But there was no life in them until “breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army” (Ezekiel 37:10). A vast army, standing up because of the inspiring—the breathing in—of God’s Spirit.

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Following his Resurrection and before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave his followers the Great Commission: to go into all the world and make disciples. He gave them a strategy. As his witnesses, he sent them first to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. More than positioning them for the growth of the kingdom, he made clear their need for the filling of the Holy Spirit. They would need to be inspired for mission. Jesus knew that a fresh wind of the Spirit of God upon the church would be necessary for this band of followers, and subsequent generations of the church, to fulfil the mission he had entrusted to his church.

From the earliest days of The Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth outlined strategies that would position the Army for growth, as it quickly spread around the globe. They knew the absolute necessity of the power of the Holy Spirit breathing into the Army. In 1869, William Booth wrote, “No matter what else you may lack, or what may be against you, with the Holy Ghost you will succeed, but without the Holy Spirit, no matter what else you possess, you will utterly

and eternally fail.” He wrote further that in an Army filled with the Holy Spirit, “O what zeal, what self-denial, what meekness, what boldness, what holiness, what love, would there not be? And with all this, what power for your great work? The whole city would feel it. God’s people in every direction would catch the fire and sinners would fall on every side.”

As we continue to move forward on the Mobilize 2.0 journey, there is a great risk before us. To emphasize positioning for growth without a fresh inspiring—without breathing in God’s Spirit—will leave us busier, but our effectiveness is ultimately dependent upon the Spirit.

A.W. Tozer, an American Christian author, provides this insight for us in mitigating the risk: “A church without the Spirit is as helpless as Israel might have been in the wilderness if the fiery cloud had deserted them.

The Holy Spirit is our cloud by day and our fire by night. Without him we only wander aimlessly about the desert.” In the post-pandemic days ahead, the path ahead may feel uncertain. Now, more than ever, we need the guiding inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

An Army, inspired for mission, is an Army asking God to breathe life into these dry bones. It is an Army surrendered, obedient to his Word and believing God will do what only he can do. Together, we will do the hard work required by the strategy in support of achieving our vision, positioned for growth. Together, let us open ourselves and seek a fresh breath of God upon his Army, inspiring us for mission.

Commissioner Floyd Tidd is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

GRACE NOTES

Called by Name Remembering the children who never came home.

BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK

M

y children know the meaning of their names. They know that their names were chosen for them specifically, with love and intentionality.

A child’s name holds significance, cultural importance and value. Names personify and identify. They are deeply personal and a reminder of worth.

Names hold great significance to the Creator as well. Adam names the animals in Eden. God makes a covenant with Abram and renames him Abraham.

God wrestles with Jacob and renames him Israel. An angel commands Mary to name her son Jesus, and later gives similar instructions to Joseph, “because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). In Isaiah 43:1 (NLT), God says, “I have called you by name.” We sing this truth, too: “He knows my name.”

Despite this, the moment Indigenous children set foot in an Indian residential school—frequently operated by a Christian church—the assault on their bodies and their identities often began with the stripping of their Indigenous names, replacing them with Euro-Christian ones.

What’s worse, each student was then assigned a number, which teachers would often use instead of a name. This dehumanizing behaviour is only a minute representation of the atrocities to which these Indigenous children were subjected.

Indeed, an estimated one in 25 of them died within the walls of these Indian residential schools after being malnourished, neglected and abused.

It’s no wonder that the graves of these children, now being revealed by the hundreds in various locations across the country, are largely unmarked, the names of these children carelessly discarded just as their little bodies were.

This should not come as a surprise. Of the 4,400 children who were previously known to have died at Indian residential schools, a statistic recorded by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (though the commission believed, even at the time of publication in 2015, that the number is much higher), one third were not named.

How can this be? It is possible that some of the records are simply missing or that graveyards have deteriorated over the years. Considering the general lack

Photo: Nick/stock.Adobe.com

A totem pole stands outside a former Indian residential school in Alert Bay, B.C.

of dignity shown to Indigenous peoples, it’s just as likely that the children’s identities were lost because the government and schools simply didn’t record the students’ name before burying them. In some places, the lack of record-keeping was quite intentional for fear of criminal charges being laid.

Although we may seek to rationalize this in statements that the property was abandoned, or that record-keepers were ignorantly negligent, the fact is that many children died without their parents and families being informed or being allowed to properly bury them in their home communities.

Haudenosaunee author Alicia Elliott, writing for Maclean’s magazine, reminds us that “the children whose tiny bodies have been unearthed on the grounds of Indian residential schools across the country in recent weeks had names and nations and communities. They had families who ached for their return, who asked after them and were deliberately told nothing.”

Sadly, the names of all the Indigenous children left in unmarked graves may never be known, but their lives have been grieved since the moment they were forced from their homes to attend Indian residential schools.

In recent months, it seems that nonIndigenous Canadians are finally listening to the narrative Elders and Indigenous communities have been telling for years.

Through the wearing of orange shirts, the colouring of artistic eagle feathers, the placing of small pairs of shoes along stairways and lantern-lit pathways, in conversations shared and stories learned, in lamenting hearts and acts of justice, we are remembering the thousands of children we had previously ignored.

In these ways we offer our confession, learn about our responsibility and what it means to walk gently with one another in right relations, and commit to overcoming injustice and doing better.

May we never forget again.

Captain Laura Van Schaick is the divisional secretary for women’s ministries in the Ontario Division.

Salvationist September 2021 25

PERSPECTIVES

Pandemic Lessons The world is a different place now, and that’s a good thing.

BY LT-COLONEL JOHN P. MURRAY

A

Photo: Maridav/stock.Adobe.com

s I sit down to write this column, it’s summer and I’ve just returned from a refreshing weekend in Algonquin Park, Ont., with my wife, Brenda, where we camped, canoed and fished. It was quiet and relaxing, which gave me a chance to reflect and look ahead to the coming autumn season. I think we’re all keen to move on and consider new opportunities for life and living after the past year and a half. However, I invite you to pause for a moment, because perspective is important, and there are many lessons to be learned from the pandemic. Let me share a few personal insights.

First, I don’t want to return to the same way of living and working that we did 18 months ago. I celebrate the fact that society quickly adapted and learned that many of us can work efficiently and effectively, remotely. We discovered that people don’t need to be in the office five days a week, nine hours a day, to accomplish great things. We demonstrated that we have the technology, ability and creativity to respond rapidly to new ministry opportunities in corps and social mission. This is encouraging for all who enjoy a strong work-life balance.

The world today is a different place than it was before the pandemic. COVID19 brought the world to a standstill.

International travel ceased, borders closed, stay-at-home orders were issued, and work, education and congregational life

all went digital. Life is different, and different is OK, because this period has given us an opportunity for deep contemplation and learning. Life as we knew it has been disturbed, and that’s not a bad thing.

In North America, we experienced a period of social and cultural tension and upheaval not seen since the 1960s. The response to the tragic death of George Floyd was swift and immediate, with people from around the world joining the cause for justice and equality. Closer to home, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians were horrified by the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., and by further graves across the country. These discoveries are heartbreaking and tragic.

As we mourn the lives lost, we need to listen quietly and walk gently so that understanding and healing may begin.

We also need to build relationships and foster tolerance, while working to eliminate discrimination and prejudice. May the legacy of these children be significant and everlasting.

With lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, the pandemic also provided a significant pause in the busyness of life. As a result, many turned their attention to these important issues, and this is a good thing, because there is no place in Canadian society for racism or hate. Indeed, we need to build on the philosophy of equity, diversity and inclusion in our movement, because it

will strengthen our ministry with those we are called to serve as a church and social mission organization.

Thankfully, our cities are starting to come back to life. However, life will be different moving forward. As communities, we’ve learned to pause and consider others in new ways, as demonstrated by people’s willingness to wear masks and stand in orderly lines for hours to be vaccinated.

Let’s carry the lessons of patience and kindness forward. The pandemic has given us the opportunity to strengthen relationships with our family and friends virtually.

Where possible, grow those important relationships face-to-face, invest your time in those you love, because life and living in community is precious.

As I look ahead to colourful, crisp autumn days, I cherish the chance to connect with family and friends in person. I look forward to meeting with colleagues over coffee to share ideas at our favourite café, all while balancing a new hybrid model of working from home and office.

I anticipate celebrating with my church community and sharing in special events, enrolments, dedications and weddings, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas programs, which we almost took for granted before the pandemic.

The pandemic has given me the opportunity to consider what is important to me, and while there have been moments of grief and challenge, this period of life has allowed for a deepening of my devotional life and been an occasion for personal growth. In moments of questioning and doubt, I have been reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” While the journey has been challenging, it has been important and necessary. I look forward to the days ahead with a renewed commitment to listen, learn and grow—personally and missionally.

Lt-Colonel John P. Murray is the territorial secretary for communications and chair of the Board of Trustees at The Salvation Army’s Booth University College in Winnipeg.

26 September 2021 Salvationist

PEOPLE & PLACES

ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—While video chatting with a friend, Salvationist Frances Locke was knitting a pair of socks to be added to the hundreds she has gifted to family and friends, and donated to craft sales at her corps. When her friend suggested she sell the ones she currently had completed to raise money for the Partners in Mission fundraising effort at St. John’s Citadel, Locke created a Facebook post and was overwhelmed with the positive response. “Within two hours, all of the socks were purchased, and I had to knit an additional eight pairs the following week,” she says, raising $410 for Partners in Mission.

From left, Mjrs Darryl and Cathy Simms, COs, and Frances Locke display some of her handiwork.

GAMBO, N.L.—Travis Brown receives a certificate of appreciation from his corps officers, Mjrs Cindy and Curtis Butler, for his ongoing efforts to operate the sound room each Sunday at Gambo Corps.

TORONTO—Pina Sciarra, one of the founding members of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board, receives a certificate of appreciation as she concludes her term of service following more than 10 years as a major contributor to the board’s development and success. From left, Lt-Col John P. Murray, secretary for communications; Pina Sciarra; and Joy Groulx, NAB liaison officer.

ST. ALBERT, ALTA.—When a massive fire at a seniors’ retirement home in St. Albert displaced more than 100 residents and destroyed all their personal belongings, personnel from The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services (EDS) and National Recycling Operations (NRO) sprang into action. More than 50 boxes of items, including sleeping bags, blankets, clothes, shoes and toiletries, were collected by NRO staff and delivered directly to the Army’s St. Albert Church and Community Centre for distribution by an EDS team on the ground in the community. From left, Teresa Ullyott, EDS co-ordinator, Edmonton; Cpt Daniel Rowe, CO, St. Albert Church and Community Centre; Mjr Roy Langer; and Mjr Al Hoeft, then DSPR, Alta. & N.T. Div, serve on the front line as part of the EDS team.

Salvationist September 2021 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

Accepted for Training Reflectors of Holiness (2021-2023) College for Officer Training, Winnipeg Jeremy Avery Meadowlands Corps, Hamilton, Ont. Div As a young adult, I sought an answer from God as to whether I should become an officer, and the answer I received was, “Not right now.” Seeking ways to use the gifts God had given me, I spent years in music and youth ministry. In the last few years, after prayer and reflection, I realized that he was calling me to full-time ministry. I am eager to become an officer so I can share the teachings of Christ and show the love of God to others.

Cori DeJeet Glace Bay Corps, N.S., Maritime Div After living in Ontario for 19 years, God called me back home to Glace Bay in 2017. It was a time of suffering and brokenness, when I completely surrendered and recommitted my life to Christ. God began a radical transformation in me and changed the desires of my heart.

After attending the Officership Information Weekend in 2018, I had confirmation that officership was the direction God was calling me in. Being chosen and called to join a mission to build God’s kingdom on earth is a tremendous honour and privilege.

Stephanie Avery Meadowlands Corps, Hamilton, Ont. Div I first felt God’s calling to go and make disciples of all nations as a young person, which led me to seek education in biblical and intercultural studies. Following that call has given me ministry opportunities in my corps and division, including in youth and music, and to serve internationally with other Christian organizations. As a Salvationist, officership was often at the back of my mind, but it has become evident to me that full-time ministry as an officer is the next step along the journey of following God’s call on my life.

Miya Bradburn Fenelon Falls Corps, Ont. Div Discovering God’s call to officership has been a gradual process of quiet revelations. A few years ago, my husband, Jeff, felt a strong call to officership. At the time, I did not feel the call, but I wanted to serve. An opportunity arose and we have been blessed to serve God and others through pastoral leadership and preaching in Fenelon Falls. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends as I now answer God’s call to officership.

Jeffrey Robertson Fenelon Falls Corps, Ont. Div Officership means setting aside secular work and distractions to fully commit to the teaching, support and encouragement of others, to walk alongside them throughout their unique journey of holiness. It has been an honour to do this in Fenelon Falls together with my wife, Miya, as lay corps leaders, and we look forward to continuing our ministry there as field-based tailored training cadets.

Natalia DeBoer Mississauga Temple Community Church, Ont. Div God attuned my listening to hear his voice calling me to become a Salvation Army officer. He taught me this through prayer, Scripture, spiritual disciplines, service and fellowship. He has placed people in my life who have helped me to fully surrender and know his great love for me, including my husband and children, friends, pastors, spiritual director and prayer partners.

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Krishna McFarlane Cedarbrae Community Church, Toronto, Ont. Div I hope that my time at the College for Officer Training will help me to grow deeper spiritually. I hope to harness new skills and tap into other areas of leadership that I never thought or dreamed would be possible. Most importantly, I hope to learn in a meaningful way to do for others what so many have done for me—encourage, mentor and affirm the call of Jesus Christ.

Dunia Molinar Fehr Yorkwoods Community Church, Toronto, Ont. Div My time at the College for Officer Training will give me the academic preparation I need to be an officer. I am grateful for the opportunity to do what has always been my desire, to serve God and others using the gifts and skills he has given me. The Salvation Army has plenty of doors that God can open to accomplish his plans. Being an officer means surrendering my life to God to spread the gospel and make disciples as he commanded.

GAZETTE TERRITORIAL Appointments: Mjr Everett Barrow, THQ chaplain (additional responsibility); Cpt Jon Savage, divisional mission resource officer, London, Ont. Div; Sep 3—Cpts Leonard Heng/Peck-Ee Wong, Ottawa Citadel, Ont. Div; Jan 2, 2022—Mjrs Krista/Tim Andrews, Richmond Hill CC, Ont. Div Promoted to major: Cpt Kay Barnes, Cpts Tony Brushett/Bev Howell-Brushett, Cpts Laura/Robert Burrell, Cpts Ian/Ruth Gillingham, Cpts Sergii/Tatiana Kachanov, Cpts Ben/Isobel Lippers, Cpt David Rideout, Cpts Jennifer/Rick Robins, Cpts Andrew/Stephanie Watkinson Promoted to captain: Lts Alfred/Cathy Esdaille, Lts Keith/Violet Hopkins, Lts Alex/Rhonda MacDonald, Lts Curtis/Erin Metcalf, Lts Stefan/Tinisha Reid, Lts Ian/Kam Robinson, Lt Kath Walker Long service: 45 years—Commissioner Rosalie Peddle; 40 years—Mjr Janice Bishop, Mjr Renee Clarke, Mjr Renee Dearing, Mjrs Elaine/Stephen Hibbs, Mjr Barbara Pearce; 35 years—Commissioners Floyd/Tracey Tidd, Lt-Cols Eddie/ Genevera Vincent, Mjrs Lloyd/Marlene George, Mjr Lisa Hale, Mjrs Bond/ Marina Jennings, Mjr Glenys Pilgrim, Mjr Danial Roode; 30 years—Mjr Debbie

PEOPLE & PLACES

TRIBUTE Servant of God, Well Done!

VERMONT SOUTH (VIC), AUSTRALIA—Commissioner Wesley Harris, territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory from 1990 to 1993, was promoted to glory from his home in Australia at the age of 92.

Born to Salvationist parents in Cardiff, Wales, Wesley grew up attending Cardiff Stuart Hall Corps, where he was an active soldier, corps cadet and bandsman. At age 14, he left school and joined the Cardiff Western Mail newspaper staff as a cub reporter. Two years later, Wesley offered himself as a candidate for Salvation Army officership and was appointed to serve in a small mining village in the Welsh valleys. That appointment became distinguished by the impression he made on miners and their families, particularly with the children who saw him as a youthful “Pied Piper.”

Wesley was commissioned in London, England, in 1948 as a cadet in the King’s Messengers Session and served as a corps officer throughout the United Kingdom. In 1955, Wesley married Captain Margaret Sansom, which began their lifelong shared ministry in corps and administrative appointments, and they welcomed two children, their son, Peter, in 1957, and daughter, Christine, in 1967.

In 1973, Wesley became the general secretary in the Scotland Territory, where he served for three years before being appointed assistant editor-inchief and then editor-in-chief at International Headquarters in London. In 1978, Wesley and Margaret were appointed to the Australia Southern Territory, where he served as the chief secretary. This was followed in 1982 by an appointment as territorial commander in the Scotland Territory. With a promotion to the rank of commissioner, Wesley became the territorial commander in the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory in 1986. In 1990, Wesley and Margaret were appointed as territorial leaders for the Canada and Bermuda Territory where they served with distinction until they retired in 1993 and settled in Australia.

In retirement, Wesley continued to minister in a variety of ways, including as a corps officer, regional commander and divisional commander, as president of the Retired Officers’ Fellowship and the Army Historical Society, as a religious education teacher at a local school, and as guest speaker at Salvation Army conferences in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. He was the author of 11 books, articles and poems for Salvation Army publications, and songs, two of which are included in The Song Book of The Salvation Army.

Wesley is lovingly remembered by his wife, Margaret; children Peter and Christine, and their families; and many friends.

The gift of adult literacy can change generations to come.

Visit SalvationArmy.ca/giftsofhope to browse all 17 gift items.

Allen, Mjrs Roxann/Terry Feltham, Mjr David Holliday, Mjr June Newbury, Mjr William Pearce, Mjr Keith Pike, Mjr Elizabeth Price, Mjrs Michelle/Scott Rideout, Mjrs Gayle/Stephen Sears, Mjr Faye Shail, Mjr Erin Verhey; 25 years—Lt-Cols Brenda/John Murray, Mjrs Brenda/David Allen, Mjrs Juan/Lorraine Burry, Mjrs Deris/Nelson Fillier, Mjr Donna Hayward, Mjrs Christine/Jeffrey Johnston, Mjr Bruce Mac Kenzie, Mjr Wendy Mouland, Mjrs Darlene/Wilson Sutton, Mjrs Betty/Brian Thomas Retirements: Sep 1—Mjr Ray Braddock; Mjrs Clarence/Karen Ingram Promoted to glory: Mrs. Mjr Joan Carter, Jun 2; Mjr Alonzo Twyne, Jun 26; Mjr Sandra Lewis, Jun 28; Mjr Rick Pollard, Jul 6

CALENDAR Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd: Sep 12 installation of divisional commander, Que. Div; Sep 18-19 cadets’ welcome weekend, Winnipeg; Sep 25-29 Mission Delivery Leadership Forum (virtual) Colonel Evie Diaz: Sep 14 Ont. Div; Sep 15-17 Prairie Div, Booth UC, Ethics Centre, Winnipeg; Sep 18-19 cadets’ welcome weekend, Winnipeg; Sep 25 installation of divisional leaders, Maritime Div; Sep 27-29 Mission Delivery Leaders’ Forum (virtual) Salvationist September 2021 29

NOT CALLED?

Comfort Zone Krishna McFarlane had it all—a great job, a home in Canada, a son who loved her—but something was missing.

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

W

hen Krishna McFarlane was in daycare, her class had a career day, where she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Young Krishna replied proudly, “I want to be a Salvation Army officer!”

She was four years old.

“I know that God is answering a prayer,” says Krishna McFarlane on her journey to become an officer

I had my own dreams.”

Krishna found her way to Cedarbrae Community Church in Toronto and threw herself into the life of the church, becoming part of the praise and worship team.

“It brings me to a space with the Holy Spirit. It’s amazing,” she smiles.

Finding Her Own Way Krishna was born and raised in Jamaica, where she attended The Salvation Army.

“I came up through the Army,” Krishna says. “I was a junior soldier, a senior soldier; I joined the songsters and the band. I was involved in everything.

“Then I became a teenager and church wasn’t fun anymore.”

When the 17-year-old announced that she did not want to attend church, her Salvationist mother didn’t force matters.

“She allowed me to find my own way,” Krishna says.

A Time of Loss Krishna grew up, met her husband and married in 2008. They had a son, Dorien, and purchased a house.

But then “life happened,” she says.

Her husband cheated on her, she lost a position she’d been promised and she experienced a miscarriage. Divorced, Krishna had to give up her house as she couldn’t afford the mortgage by herself.

“I lost my husband, my baby, my job and my house,” she says.

Tunnel Vision Krishna had tried everything humanly possible to fix the situation, and it hadn’t worked.

One day, she told her mother, “I’m looking for God, but I can’t find him.”

She replied, “He’s not lost.”

“It wasn’t God who was lost,” Krishna realized. “It was me.”

The next week, one of her sisters challenged Krishna to attend their mother’s Salvation Army church during Lent.

As she reached the entrance, some30 September 2021 Salvationist

thing felt different.

“My focus was on the music playing.

I don’t remember the song to this day,” she says. “I just remember a presence.”

Krishna ran to the mercy seat praising God. “I can’t explain it, but people know when they’ve had the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them,” she says. “It’s not a complete unawareness, but your focus isn’t on your surroundings or the people, but on worshipping, like tunnel vision.”

Amazing Space Krishna’s life was never the same after that.

She remembers even then feeling called to officership, but she wasn’t ready.

Krishna immigrated to Canada in 2015—“I wanted to move away from everything bad that had happened”—and studied to be an environmental technician at Centennial College in Toronto.

“But through that,” she says, “I said I didn’t want to become an officer because

Officer Training Meanwhile, Krishna had graduated and was employed by a pipeline company when she attended a transformational Salvation Army weekend in Richmond Hill, Ont., in 2019.

“It changed my life,” she says. “I remember saying, ‘God, I know you’ve called me. I don’t know how I’m going to move from this point to where you want me, but I’m going to leave it in your hands.’ ” That April, Majors Tina and Cecil Mitchell, her corps officers at the time, asked her if she was interested in working at the Army. She immediately said yes.

When they asked her to sleep on it, she replied, “I know that God is answering a prayer.” She started in June 2019 as the administrative assistant and soon became a Christmas kettle co-ordinator.

After three weeks on the job, Krishna declared, “I will never work in a secular place again.”

“I told them I had a call on my life and they replied they already knew,” she says.

In January 2020, Krishna became a Canadian citizen, then applied to the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg.

She was accepted and, with Dorien, will start this month as part of the Reflectors of Holiness Session.

“Before, I was happy but still not in a place of comfort. Officership will be my comfort zone.”

Earl Robinson Memorial Lecture Series: Christian Faith in the World

Join us online for three engaging webinars.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 7pm CT

Kate Bowler presents “No Cure for Being Human”

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 7pm CT

Dr. Donald Burke presents “Salvation for Both Worlds: Toward a Wesleyan/Biblical Social Mission”

Saturday, January 29, 2022, 1pm CT Steve Bell and Malcolm Guite present “Creativity in the Life of Faith”

To register visit: boothuc.ca/earl-robinson-memorial-lecture-series

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E D U C A T ION F OR A BE T T E R WO R L D

For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@salvationarmy.ca. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes. PM 40064794

God’s Timely Reminder

Support, “Every Time”

Army vs. Illiteracy

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

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

faithandfriends.ca

SEPTEMBER 2021

STUNT PERFORMER NEIL DAVISON BRINGS FAITH TO FILM. P.16

Rolling With the

Punches

True or False?

It’s a common test in schools everywhere.

The answers to some questions are clear and well known.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada. True.

Frogs are mammals. False.

But other times, it’s harder to know what’s true, especially when it comes to our deepest questions.

I have a purpose. True or false?

God loves me unconditionally. True or false?

Jesus once told His followers, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). We may not have all the answers, but God does.

If you want to learn more about Jesus, the source of all truth, visit our website at www.faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4.

September 2021

VOLUME 24 NUMBER 9

COMMON GROUND

5 Escaping the Pain of the Past

Kyle is achieving goals and realizing dreams he never thought possible.

GOD IN MY LIFE I

8 A Piece of the Puzzle

What began as fun turned into a chore.

GOD IN MY LIFE II

8

10 The Butterfly

God surprised Jeanette Levellie with a wee reminder of His faithfulness.

God’s Timely Reminder

Support, “Every Time”

Army vs. Illiteracy

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

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

faithandfriends.ca

SEPTEMBER 2021

FEATURES

12

STUNT PERFORMER NEIL DAVISON BRINGS FAITH TO FILM. P.10

Rolling With the

Punches

COVER STORY

16 22

Support, “Every Time”

Two families share how The Salvation Army provided care during their time of need.

Rolling With the Punches

Stunt performer Neil Davison brings faith to film.

A Brighter Future

A Salvation Army literacy program is writing a new chapter.

FAITH BUILDERS 25 Big Screen, Bigger Ideas

New documentary deals with spirituality, sci-fi and why stories matter.

LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Sudoku, Quick Quiz.

22

NIFTY THRIFTY 30 Back to School on a Budget

How to thrift kids’ clothes.

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Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Taking Direction

W

hen staff writer Giselle Randall was assigned to write a profile of Neil Davison, she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to relate to this adrenaline-driven stunt performer who crashes cars and plummets from cliffs for a living.

“Neil’s all about strength, speed and balance,” she smiles. “He pushes himself physically, while I’m more of a ‘curl up in a comfy chair with a book and a cat’ kind of person.”

Giselle drove to Neil’s home for the interview, and he took her on a tour of his custom-built gym/studio.

“I was impressed,” she says. “Neil has a big garage that he’s transformed into a training studio, with a climbing wall and big crash mats.

On the second level, the railings are removable so he can practise falls. The main room is equipped as a fight floor, where Neil can choreograph fight scenes and film them to make sure they’ll work on set.

“When filming a movie or TV show, the director has the big picture, and it’s Neil’s job to bring the action to life, while keeping people safe,” she continues. “He just needs to do his best with his part of the story.

“It reminds me that God knows the big picture,” Giselle concludes, “and I just need to do the best I can with the part of the story that’s mine.”

Neil’s story is on page 16.

Ken Ramstead

4 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

Mission Statement To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.

Faith & Friends is published monthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England William and Catherine Booth FOUNDERS

Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Floyd Tidd TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR

Brandon Laird SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rivonny Luchas DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Pamela Richardson, COPY EDITOR, PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR

Kristin Ostensen STAFF WRITER, PROOFREADER

Giselle Randall STAFF WRITER Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@salvationarmy.ca All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131

Faith&Friends

COMMON GROUND

Escaping the Pain of the Past With The Salvation Army’s help, Kyle is achieving goals and realizing dreams he never thought possible.

by Linda Leigh

A

s a child of an addict, Kyle learned early on that he had to take care of himself to survive. For years, he never received the attention he deserved, or the resources needed to overcome his intellectual learning disability. When he finally broke away from the chaos and abuse, he reached out to The Salvation Army for help.

“I had no role models,” says Kyle, 24. “The Salvation Army were the first people who said they would help me and actually did.”

Stealing Food to Avoid Hunger Kyle’s parents divorced when he was

seven. He lived with his mother, who was a landscaper, but when she became addicted, everything was drug-motivated.

“Mom had a successful career and was the nicest person in the world until my stepfather, who was an addict himself, introduced her to painkillers after a back injury,” says Kyle. “The drug use escalated and, before long, drugs were a deadly attraction.”

Kyle’s life quickly became one of instability, fear and abuse. Rent was never paid on time or in full, so the family was evicted and homeless on many occasions. Drugs were chosen

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Faith&Friends

COMMON GROUND

over food, and he was consistently belittled for his learning disability.

“We never had more than a box of Kraft Dinner or a loaf of bread in the house,” says Kyle. “I was always told I wasn’t smart. I went to nine different schools, and my shame prevented me from settling in. I never learned to read or write.”

kill him.

“Drugs were the only thing that mattered,” says Kyle. “I couldn’t change that.”

One day, Kyle was blamed for the family chaos with these words: “I wish you had never been born.”

He had reached his breaking point.

It was time to leave.

“We never had more than a box of Kraft Dinner or a loaf of bread in the house.” KYLE At 13, Kyle worked odd jobs to help fill the kitchen cupboards and have untattered clothes to wear.

When he wasn’t working, he was told to steal food if he wanted to eat. So, he did. Meanwhile, Kyle’s parents resorted to any means necessary to feed their habit. This included writing fake prescriptions, robbing pharmacies and lying at emergency room visits.

The Breaking Point Chronic addiction resulted in new and destructive behaviour by Kyle’s mom. She often hallucinated and kicked in his bedroom door at night.

He fell asleep, wondering if this could be the night that she would

6 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

“I called my biological father, who lived in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Kyle. “Our relationship was never healthy, but I had no other place to go. I asked for help and was soon on a plane.”

In 2017, Kyle moved in with his father on a temporary basis. His goal was to be self-sufficient. He had worked enough to pay his father rent and awaited his disability grant from the government to help with financial costs.

“When my money ran out, my father felt I was taking advantage of him, so he asked me to leave,” says Kyle. “I was in tears.”

Kyle called a taxi to go to a shelter in Gander, N.L., where the shelter

staff recommended that he call The Salvation Army for emergency housing support.

What Do You Need?

“The Salvation Army said they could help with emergency housing and food,” says Kyle. “I soon had a bed, a couch, a toaster, a microwave and groceries. It was such a good feeling.”

Danette Hicks, The Salvation Army’s housing support worker, became a role model for Kyle, one that he didn’t want to let down.

“Danette supported and celebrated every one of my successes,” says Kyle.

Kyle went to school for more than two years and never missed a day. Teachers poured their efforts into Kyle, teaching him to read and write, which gave him a huge boost in self-confidence. With 14 refresher

courses and 36 credits under his belt, he graduated from Grade 12.

“I learned after my first month of school that I was capable of anything,” he says.

Kyle has since obtained his driver’s licence and enrolled at the College of the North Atlantic. In a few short months, he will receive his certificate in comprehensive arts and social science. He gives much credit to his tutor, Dania, and The Salvation Army. Both have reminded him that while life may not be easy, anything is possible.

“I got lucky finding The Salvation Army,” says Kyle. “I can’t believe I am alive today, where I’ve come from and how far I’ve made it.”

Kyle’s goal is to enrol in the Canadian Armed Forces and be a firefighter. He wants to make a difference in people’s lives.

A Winning Duo Danette Hicks, The Salvation Army’s housing support worker, became a role model for Kyle

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Faith&Friends

GOD IN MY LIFE I

A Piece of the Puzzle What began as fun turned into a chore. Would we ever find the solution to this mystery?

Photo: Pranav/stock.Adobe.com

by Jeanette Levellie

T

“

his looks amusing,” I told my husband, Kevin, holding up a jigsaw puzzle box I’d purchased. “Put the picture together.

Then solve the whodunit,” I read. On the box’s cover was the depiction of a murder scene. Several suspiciouslooking people gathered around the victim’s desk, littered with clues. A bloodstained typewriter. An antique dictionary. A barely decipherable note. Kevin agreed that it looked like a fun way to spend a few evenings doing something other than watching TV. That night, we dumped the 550

8 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

pieces out on our card table and began assembling the border. After 15 minutes, we looked up at each other. My husband’s eyes showed the same confusion I felt.

“Wow, this is tougher than it looks,” I said. “Some of these pieces look like they have straight edges, but it’s hard to tell.”

We plugged away until our necks ached, managing to finish only half the border that first night.

“I have a feeling the picture on the box and the finished puzzle aren’t the same,” I said.

Success Over the next several nights, we pieced together more of the picture, confirming that the box indeed had a different picture from the puzzle. I felt misled, deceived. Our “fun” little way to pass the time had turned into a gruelling chore.

“How can we figure this out when

spot, we looked at each other and sighed in relief.

Well, I sighed in relief. Kevin smiled in satisfaction.

If the Piece Fits …

“That was too much like real life,” I said. “When you graduate from school, you think you have a plan for

Night after night, we persevered. Although frustrated by the lack of direction, I was determined to master this mystery. JEANETTE LEVELLIE we don’t even know what we’re looking for?” I demanded.

Kevin was undaunted, however.

A sparkle in his eyes hinted that he enjoyed this kind of challenge.

“Well, a few items are the same, Jeanette. The note and the typewriter, for instance. All that’s missing are the suspects.”

Night after night, we persevered.

Although frustrated by the lack of direction, I was determined to master this mystery. Several times during the process, we asked God to lead us to the exact piece we needed to fit into a certain spot. When we found it, we shouted, “Praise the Lord” or “Hallelujah!”

On the final day of the project, we had to rely only on shapes. The last 20 pieces were solid black. When I tucked the last one safely into its

your life. Then you realize your picture doesn’t fit with reality, and you have to work and sweat to fit all the right pieces in their proper places.”

“But if God gave you the blueprint for your entire life when you were 18 or 22, how could you ever learn to trust Him?” Kevin countered. “God knows what the final picture will look like, even if we don’t. And He always helps us when we ask.”

I thought of the words of King Solomon: “Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out” (Proverbs 16:3 Good News Translation). I had to agree with Kevin. Trusting God one day—or one hour—at a time always leads to more peace than our best do-it-yourself plans. He’s smarter than we are and He knows exactly where each piece fits.

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Faith&Friends

GOD IN MY LIFE II

The Butterfly When I had to move Mom to a nursing home, God surprised me with a wee reminder of His faithfulness.

by Jeanette Levellie

“Y

our mom is beautiful,” said the text from Genettia, the director at the nursing home where my mother had recently moved. Attached was a photo of my 94-year-old mother sitting in her wheelchair under a tree.

On her hand sat an orange-and-black butterfly. Mom’s face shone with childlike wonder.

A New Life Five weeks earlier, Mom had fallen in her assisted-living apartment and broken her pelvis. Before the doctor released her from the hospital, my husband, Kevin, and I discussed a permanent living arrangement. With an increase in falls over the past year, we agreed Mom needed to relocate to a facility that provided 24-hour care.

It was a heartbreaking decision to place my mother in a nursing home. Hundreds of my prayers over the last few years were pleas that Mom would never have to need this type of care. Although the rehabilitation and nursing centre was clean, bright and close to our home, I wrestled with feelings of guilt … until I received that photo.

10 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

Butterflies hold a special place in my heart. They symbolize rebirth. Hope.

God’s love at work. I’d often used butterfly sightings as cues to pray for someone who needed a new job, a new home or a new life.

Looking back over the previous weeks, I thought of all the times a nurse or physical therapist had gone the extra mile to help Mom adjust to her new environment. On several occasions, I’d received a phone call from a nurse to inform me of a new medicine they’d started giving Mom, or to report on her progress. She was receiving superb care.

As I gazed at Mom’s happy face in the photograph, my anguish lessened. And then I noticed the shirt she wore.

The fabric was covered with butterflies.

Thank You, Lord, for Mom’s new life.

Butterflies Are Free “I wrestled with feelings of guilt … until I received that photo,” says Jeanette Levellie of the image the nursing home staff sent her

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Support, “Every Time” TWO FAMILIES SHARE HOW THE SALVATION ARMY PROVIDED CARE DURING THEIR TIME OF NEED.

by Melissa Yue Wallace 12 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

There to Help Major Pauline Gruer-Caulfield (left) and Liz Colley provided a warm welcome

F

rom May 2020 to May 2021, 5,883 people received assistance from The Salvation Army Yorkminster Citadel in Toronto. Their community and family services offers a food bank, emergency assistance with clothing and household items, immigrant and refugee referrals, an English conversation café, a seniors’ luncheon and community kitchen, and Christmas assistance. Unfortunately, several activities had to be put on hold or amended due to COVID-19.

“The pandemic brought an increased demand on our food bank,” says Liz Colley, community and family services manager, noting

February 2020). “The pandemic was an opportunity to truly exemplify our mission to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in our community.”

Here are just two of the many examples of how The Salvation Army provided care during a time of need: “Don’t Worry” Fleeing turmoil and increasingly violent protests in their home country of Sudan, Tariq Duffuaa, his wife, Areej Adam, and their children arrived in Canada in July 2019, feeling uncertain about the journey ahead.

“ The pandemic was an opportunity to truly exemplify The Salvation Army’s mission to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in our community.” LIZ COLLEY a 48-percent rise in the number of families seeking food assistance each week from the first quarter of 2021 compared to the four months prior to the WHO’s declaration of the pandemic (November 2019 to

“We were most worried about our kids and how we would feed them,” says Tariq of his sons, who are four, six and 10 years old. “Before, we lived a financially good life because my wife was a doctor and I was an faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Advice and Warm Words “Every time we went to The Salvation Army, they greeted us with a smiling face,” says Tariq Duffuaa (left), pictured here with his wife, Areej Adam, and their children

accountant. We were good.

“But then we lost everything.”

To get by, the family stayed in shelters and received support from community organizations, including Yorkminster Citadel.

Tariq’s family was able to transition from a shelter to an apartment.

Since most of their money went toward rent, having regular food and clothing assistance from the Army lifted a huge burden.

“My kids needed many items such as winter clothes and boots, which are very expensive,” says Tariq.

“Even gifts at Christmas … The Salvation Army surprised me about that. It meant a lot to us.”

The family has applied for permanent residency in Canada and hope 14 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

to one day become Canadian citizens. Areej has been studying English and is preparing to work as a physician.

“Every time we went to The Salvation Army, they greeted us with a smiling face, asked us about our situation, and gave us advice and warm words: ‘Don’t worry, everything will be OK. We support you here,’ ” says Tariq. “Every time, every time.”

Beyond Food Support Risikat and her family came to Canada from Nigeria in 2018. At the time, Risikat’s son was only 18 months old and she was pregnant with her second child. Despite having university degrees in economics

and accounting, Risikat and her husband, Mukaila, struggled to find meaningful work.

The family lived in shelters as Mukaila found employment as a personal support worker. Eventually, they were able to move into an apartment and sought help from the Army during the transition.

“We were paying $1,850 for rent, so most times, we had to manage with whatever was left,” says Risikat.

“Sometimes we would miss out on things such as groceries for the kids.

“There’s always a difference in the house after we visit the Army food bank because we get a variety of things, options of cereals, and snacks that the kids like. Everyone is happy.”

She also recalls the joy of receiving Christmas gifts and vouchers to purchase seasonal items at grocery stores and the Salvation Army thrift store. But what touched Risikat’s heart the most was when the Army was present during a time of tremendous grief.

“I lost my daughter last year,” she says of her two-month-old, who

never left the hospital. “The pastor at that time, Major Pauline Gruer-Caulfield, was always calling me. We prayed together, she gave me words of encouragement and provided plenty of resources to help me with the grief.

“It was so wonderful to have that spiritual and mental support.”

Risikat participated in Pathway of Hope, the Army’s one-on-one case-management program, which helps individuals set goals for themselves and supports them as they take action steps to improve their lives. Through the program, she received help with her resumé, gained newfound confidence and graduated in March 2021. When she mentioned how challenging it was to look for work without a computer, a church member donated a laptop.

Within a week of setting it up, Risikat was hired and felt grateful that she could contribute to the family’s expenses.

“Now, I’m working from home and we can buy anything we want at any time,” she says. “My family is happy and we are comfortable.”

(left) Melissa Yue Wallace is a journalism graduate and freelance writer who is passionate about helping people in need and encouraging the organizations that work tirelessly to care for them. By writing, she finds meaning in amplifying the voices of people who don’t often have their stories told. Melissa lives in Richmond Hill, Ont., with her husband and twin children. faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Rolling With

the Punches STUNT PERFORMER NEIL DAVISON BRINGS FAITH TO FILM.

by Giselle Randall 16 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

NEIL DAVISON HAS CRASHED cars, plummeted off cliffs and been engulfed in flames. He has fought superheroes, monsters and mutants.

He’s died a thousand deaths in countless movies and TV shows.

But before filming every heart-stop-

ping scene, there’s always a moment when the stunt performer’s alone with his thoughts.

“What am I doing? Why am I doing this?” he thinks.

“Then I tell myself, I’ve prepared for this, I have the skills for it, we’ve faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2021

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Photo: Giselle Randall

One-Two Punch Neil Davison choreographs a fight scene in his home gym

Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

“ The kind of people who become stunt performers like to find the edge and push themselves. I like it when the stakes are high.” NEIL DAVISON done everything we can to make this right. We’re on!

“You put all those thoughts aside and focus on where you have to be in a few seconds. Because you have to go all in. You have to be 100-percent committed.”

For one stunt, those “few seconds” meant running at top speed, smashing through a third-floor window and landing on the fire escape outside—with no net or safety harness.

“I had to get on that fire escape, or I was in trouble,” Neil says. “But the kind of people who become stunt performers like to find the edge and push themselves. I like it when the stakes are high.”

Taking a Risk Neil grew up on a farm outside of Peterborough, Ont., with one older brother.

“I often credit Scott with my career,” he says. “We were always getting into mischief, trying out 18 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

crazy ideas. Usually his ideas, but he’d give me the honour of going first. I got used to bumps and bruises.”

Neil started gymnastics in high school and went on to compete at the national level while on the varsity team at Toronto’s York University. After graduating with a degree in education, he taught French and physical education at a school in Toronto, where he met his wife, Claudia.

Although he enjoyed teaching, he missed the challenge of gymnastics.

So he called a former teammate, who had done some stunt work for film.

“At first, it was just for fun on the side, a way to keep using my physical skills,” Neil says. “Over the course of a few years, though, it was evident that maybe I should chase it. But we had just moved out of the city and bought a house, and we had three kids. It was a risk.”

Photo: Giselle Randall

Ready to Roll “Being a good stunt performer is about intelligent courage,” says Neil

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

When they met, Claudia was a member of The Salvation Army, but Neil hadn’t been connected to a church in several years. He found the Army welcoming and down to earth, and Claudia’s faith was inspiring.

“She was on that solid foundation,” he says. “She could see how rewarding stunt work was for me— she said I was a different person when I was doing stunts—and she encouraged me to go for it. She’s a risk taker in a different way.”

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Action!

One of his first roles was on Mutant X, a sci-fi series with a lot of acrobatic fight action. While it was gymnastics that led Neil to stunts, he quickly started martialarts training, and became a black belt in Taekwondo.

“If you want to stay in stunts, you’ve got to keep expanding your skills,” he says.

Along with martial arts, Neil’s other skills include high falls, rappelling and wirework, and stunt

The Driver Neil prepares to crash a car for a movie scene

driving. He has fought at the edge of a cliff, flown on the outside of a helicopter and raced cars in adrenaline-pumping high-speed chases.

Injuries are just part of the job.

“There are always bumps and bruises and scrapes,” he says. “I had a broken toe for about a year once because I kept performing when I was already banged up. Things physically going ‘wrong’ is what we do.

You check yourself over, make sure you’re OK, and then you get up for take two.”

As a stunt performer, Neil can either play a character or be a stunt double. In the movie 300, he played several of the silver-faced Immortals, as well as some of the Persian infantry, and is killed by the King of Sparta in a pivotal scene. In Shazam!, he was onscreen just long enough for his character’s head to be ripped off.

These days, he can also be found co-ordinating stunts, working to bring the script to life.

“In the beginning, it’s a bit of a puzzle,” Neil says. “That’s part of the fun—solving those problems so that we create a reality that looks great on screen but keeps everybody safe.”

Setting the Scene Neil attends a Salvation Army church in Peterborough, Ont., and his faith is an important part of his life.

“I rely on my faith, but I don’t throw myself into things, thinking, God’s got me,” he says. “Being a good stunt performer is about intelligent courage— I don’t feel like I take foolish or irresponsible risks. But I still find strength in knowing that God is there for me and cares about me.”

Trusting God also helps him face the challenges of the film industry.

“It’s an adventurous field quite aside from the physical risks we take,” Neil says, “whether that’s encountering injury, of yourself or someone else, or long periods without work. The rollercoaster of this business is its own stunt.”

But even more importantly, Neil’s faith is grounded in his confidence that God is at work in the world.

“God’s got His plan, and that plan is going to play out regardless of what you or I do—we’re on that ride,” he says. “Things will happen along the way that we don’t have control over, but the scene is set. And we can rest in that, we can take courage in that.” faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2021

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FEATURE

A Brighter Future IN A WORLD BUILT UPON WORDS, A SALVATION ARMY LITERACY PROGRAM IS WRITING A NEW CHAPTER.

by Heather Matondo

I

n our everyday lives, words are all around us—a road sign, a prescription label, even the article you are reading right now. But how often do we think about the number of words we read, or how often we type or write words to communicate with others?

The Right to Education For many of us, reading and writing are second nature. What would 22 • SEPTEMBER 2021 I faithandfriends.ca

life be like if we couldn’t read or understand the words we see?

Globally, the literacy rate currently stands at approximately 86 percent, meaning 14 percent of individuals worldwide struggle to understand words. Put into perspective, 781 million adults are unable to read and write, and 250 million children are failing to acquire basic literacy skills.

September 8 has been declared by

the United Nations as International Literacy Day. The day was established in 1966 to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights. It’s an opportunity to celebrate literacy while also reflecting on the literacy challenges around the world.

One of the ways that we can increase the overall literacy rate is by providing a solid educational experience for children. This will give them the skills and tools they need to complete school, further their education through college or university and even apply for a job, so they can live successful, independent lives.

Education is a human right, but not everyone is receiving or has access to education that will provide them a solid foundation in literacy.

Photos: Joel Johnson

Portraits in Literacy The Salvation Army Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program recognizes the educational importance of teaching children reading and writing skills.

Some of the highest rates of illit-

eracy are in sub-Saharan Africa, with two thirds of illiterate individuals being female. In Liberia, the literacy rates are among some of the lowest in the world, at 48.3 percent.

There, the Brighter Futures program is currently providing opportunities for children and youth to receive a high-quality education at four Salvation Army schools.

While the focus is on education, equality for girls is also important and the program ensures that the same number of boys and girls receive assistance for schooling.

Here are just a few of those being assisted by The Salvation Army around the world: Arpita was born in Ranjangaon Ganpati, in India. Both her parents are illiterate, and there is no school in her village. After being given the opportunity to attend Fariyabag Boarding School in Ahmednagar, Arpita is now doing well at school with her studies. Her parents are happy to see her in such a wonderful place where she is being equipped to be successful in life.

Page Turner (top left) In Sri Lanka, a boy experiences the joy of a good book Two Readers (left) Girls in Kenya navigate the world of words faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER 2021

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Onel was placed in the care of The Salvation Army Swedlanka Child Development Centre in Sri Lanka due to the neglect that was happening at home. Before going to the home, he had never attended school. At age 12, he now attends school every day and enjoys learning.

Rasika is 12 years old and comes from a difficult home where she experienced abuse. At five, she was brought to a Salvation Army child development centre in Sri Lanka. Her behaviour was very challenging for the teachers and she would often act out. The teachers suspected she had difficulty seeing the board, but even receiving her first pair of glasses did not have much effect on her behaviour. It was then discovered by the teachers that she was illiterate.

With regular counselling and extra help at school and the centre, she is now able to read and write.

“Forever Free” Everyone deserves the right to be able to communicate freely in a world that is built upon words and the right to a high-quality education that will provide them a foundation of literacy. When individuals are empowered with the ability to read and write, they gain personal dignity and self-worth.

American writer, orator, social reformer and former slave Frederick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

“The Salvation Army promotes the importance of literacy,” affirms Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray, director of The Salvation Army’s international development department at territorial headquarters in Toronto, “recognizing that when one is given the skills to read and write, doors of opportunity are opened—breaking the cycle of poverty.”

We can all play our part in raising awareness about literacy and providing the freedom for everyone to have the opportunity to communicate through the world of words.

How Can You Get Involved?

Become a monthly donor for the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program. Currently, more than 2,600 children and teens in eight countries are being supported through education programs (salvationist.ca/ brighterfutures). Donate to the Gifts of Hope education program (salvationist.ca/gifts-of-hope).

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

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Faith&Friends

FAITH BUILDERS

Big Screen, Bigger Ideas New documentary, The Science-Fiction Makers, deals with spirituality, sci-fi and why stories matter.

by Kimberly Kakegamic

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cience fiction is a form that plays on the imagination and uses current developments to speculate about what things might look like in the future or, in some cases, the alternative past,” states Dr. Michael Boyce, vice-president academic and dean of Booth University College in Winnipeg.

What makes this statement unique, however, is that it was made via a recent documentary titled The Science-Fiction Makers (the second film in the Faith in Imagination trilogy). Dr. Boyce, along with an impressive panel of experts, appears in the 90-minute film written and directed by Andrew Wall.

The feature documentary

examines the Christian sciencefiction sub-genre and three writers that played a role in its emergence— C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia), Victor Rousseau Emanuel and Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time).

“Science fiction doesn’t naturally have a spiritual element,” continues Dr. Boyce in a follow-up interview about his appearance in the film.

“The focus is usually more on the physical world and using science as a way of progressing humanity.

But there was this small pocket of writers who used science fiction to try and explain something about their understanding of Christianity.

That’s what the film is about.”

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FAITH BUILDERS

Novel Response Dr. Boyce wasn’t actively pursuing the chance to appear in a feature documentary. The opportunity came somewhat “out of the blue.” He had met director Andrew Wall at a film festival where he was presenting the first film of the trilogy, The Fantasy Makers. A subsequent phone call and few discussions later, “I told him if I can help in any way with the making of the second film, I will. The next thing I know he’s encouraging me to be on camera,” says Dr. Boyce, who appears throughout the film.

Many of his more expansive insights focus on Victor Rousseau.

Rousseau, who grew up Jewish but was later influenced by Baptist teachings, wrote in a variety of genres during the first half of the 20th century, including science fiction.

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“Stories Matter” The conventioneers at the San Diego Comic-Con would definitely agree with Dr. Michael Boyce’s simple but profound statement

One of his best-known novels, The Messiah of the Cylinder, tells the story of a man who is frozen in suspended animation for 100 years. The man awakens to an entirely different society devoid of religion and family (a “dismal dystopia” is how Dr. Boyce describes it in the film), and then proceeds to try and bring Christianity to the world. “Rousseau wrote it, really, as a response to other science-fiction novels that left out religion and spirituality.”

Unique Experience Generally, an obscure novel such

“There was this small pocket of writers who used science fiction to try and explain their understanding of Christianity. That’s what the film is about.”

DR. MICHAEL BOYCE

as The Messiah of the Cylinder might be found in a university course grounded in critical readings of historical science fiction and fantasy. A documentary like The Science-Fiction Makers brings it to a wider audience. This is something Dr. Boyce appreciates.

“As academics, we don’t often get an opportunity to present ideas in as accessible a way as a documentary,” he says. “We try and we want to, but it isn’t always easy.” A film like The Science-Fiction Makers provides that opportunity. It also shines a spotlight on stories and storytelling,

something that touches all areas of life.

“Stories matter. I am constantly telling my students that. The documentary gave me a chance to talk about that, in the context of science fiction and Christianity, outside of the classroom. It was a different experience, a unique experience.”

The Science-Fiction Makers can be viewed on Super Channel (a streaming channel through Amazon Prime).

Reprinted from Booth UC Connect, Summer 2021

(left) Kimberly Kakegamic is a communications specialist at Booth University College in Winnipeg. She is also a children’s book author and occasional singer and actor.

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin SAUTÉED ONION AND GARLIC PRAWNS

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley

TIME 20 min MAKES 2 servings SERVE WITH pasta

20 large prawns in shell 250 ml (1 cup) red onion, diced 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil 15 ml (1 tbsp) butter 4 garlic cloves 10 ml (2 tsp) lemon juice 325 ml (1½ cups) water 5 ml (1 tsp) vegetable seasoning

1. Heat pan over medium heat and add onion, olive oil, butter, garlic and lemon juice, and cook for 5 minutes.

2. Add water and vegetable seasoning to pan and allow onion to break down for another 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

3. Add prawns and cover with lid. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until the shells turn pink.

LEMON HERB LINGUINI TIME 10 min MAKES 2 servings SERVE WITH prawns

200 g (7 oz.) fresh linguine 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil 10 ml (2 tsp) lemon juice 10 ml (2 tsp) dried basil 2 ml (½ tsp) red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste fresh parsley to garnish

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1. Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain and return to pot.

2. In a bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, basil and red pepper flakes until combined.

3. Toss pasta in olive oil mixture.

4. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Plate pasta, arrange prawns on top and serve with fresh parsley.

Sudoku Puzzle

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

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© www.kevinfrank.net

HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Wonder Woman; 2. Dalmatian; 3. Mexico.

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OLYMPIC DIVER STEELE JOHNSON IGNORED THE “WHAT IFS?” AND FOCUSED ON THE “WHY NOTS?” P.10

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ARMY HELPS RABIN P.10

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1. What superhero’s secret identity is Diana Prince?

2. What black-and-white dog breed is associated with firefighting?

3. What country is home to the city of Tijuana?

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NIFTY THRIFTY

Back to School on a Budget How to thrift kids’ clothes.

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S

eptember is back-to-school season and whether the kids are connecting virtually or in the classroom, they need to start the school year off right. It always feels great to have a new outfit, and if you have a smaller budget—or you are just a smart shopper—thrifting at a Salvation Army thrift store is a great option.*

Back-to-school shopping at a Salvation Army thrift store can allow your kids to get higher-end items for less. Quality clothing will last longer and stand up to all of the school fun! *All items pictured have been thrifted from a Salvation Army thrift store.

Know Your Size Measure your kids before shopping, including their feet.

Save the numbers as a note in your phone.

Brand New? When you find a brand you don’t know, look up their size guide online and compare with the measurements.

Mix and Match Try to find complete outfits; don’t simply purchase what fits. Pants, shirts, jackets and shoes will ensure you have multiple outfit options.

Set a Budget If your kids go with you, let them know the budget. They’ll be surprised how many pieces they can get at a Salvation Army thrift store!

Wishing Well Ask your kids what they would love to find. Having a wish list is always a great idea.

(left) Tijana McAllister is the frugalista behind A Plentiful Life, a lifestyle blog that shows readers how to live their best lives on a budget. She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores.

Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.

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