THE VOICE OF THE ARMY September/October 2022 Salvationist.ca On the road IndigenousreconciliationtowithPeoples More Than Words Living Right, Righting Wrong: A Theology of Protest New Committee Gives Young Salvationists a Voice Shine a Light: Abuse and Accountability in the Church
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Salvationist September/October 2022 3 September/October 2022 • Volume 17, Number 7 FEATURES 8 Messengers of Reconciliation Fifteen Salvation Army officers commissioned and ordained in Winnipeg. by Pamela Richardson 12 The Present Generation The Salvation Army’s Youth Action Committee ignites change for young people. by Abbigail Oliver 14 Living Right While Righting Wrong A new book by Colonel Wendy Swan explores the theology of protest. Interview by Abbigail Oliver 16 Come to Light Exposing the dark corners of power and sexual abuse in ministry. by Aimee Patterson 18 Leading the Way From learning and living the vision to leading it. by Jane Ayer SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2022 Faith & Friends INSPIRATION FOR LIVING Thai Cave Rescue 13 LIVES P.25 Nikoleta Curcin TRUE TO HERSELF P.12 Not Doing Without ARMY TACKLES HUNGER P.5 NUNAVUT TEACHER PARTNERS WITH SALVATION ARMY TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS. P.16 in the North Hope READ AND SHARE IT! DEPARTMENTS 5 Frontlines 10 Inbox 19 DevelopmentInternational Back-to-School Basics by Major Heather Matondo 20 Journey Reconciliationof More Than Words by Alex Stoney, Lieutenant Nathanael Hoeft and Rebekah McNeilly 22 Corps Health The Best Shape of Our Lives by James W. Watson and Major Norman Garcia 24 Perspectives The Red Shield by Lt-Colonel John P. Murray 25 Spiritual Life Word and Deed by Kevin Slous 27 People & Places COLUMNS 4 Editorial Yes, B’y! by Geoff Moulton 11 Onward By the Book by Commissioner Floyd Tidd 26 In the Trenches Open and Shut by Major Sheldon Bungay 30 Grace Notes Settling Down by Captain Laura Van Schaick 16 CONNECT ONLINE Visit Salvationist.ca to add your comments and read web-exclusive smartphone.onArmyCatchphotos.forhashtagArmy’sFollow39,000+withphotosLike#salvationists.photos.theFollow@salvationistmagazinearticles.usonInstagramforlatestandbestArmyTagyourphotos/salvationistmagazineusonFacebookforandupdates.Interactourcommunityoffollowers.@SalvationistusonTwitterforthebreakingnews.Use#SalvationArmyyourownupdatesandissuu.com/salvationistuponalltheSalvationnewsandfeaturesyourtablet,desktopor Cover photo: Adrienne Stoney 19
During the summer, members of the communications team were in St. John’s, N.L., and the surrounding area to capture video footage for a variety of projects, including the territorial annual report, candidates’ testimonies and innovative corpsTheyministries.werebusy days, but we had the opportunity to learn some Newfoundland sayings (“Yes, b’y! Stay where you’re to ’til I comes where you’re at”), visit a few of the sights and even “kiss the cod” (yuck!) to become honorary Newfoundlanders. My ancestors are all from Newfoundland, but I’m still technically a “come from away” mainlander, so it was good to reconnect with my roots. These were highlights to be sure, but the real excitement came in seeing the amazing work of The Salvation Army in that province:
• My heart was warmed by the stories of transformation as we met with residents and volunteers at the Army’s Ches Penney Centre and Wiseman Centre.
• Lastly, our team visited corps that have been innovating during COVID, reaching the masses online through digital ministry. Stay tuned for these inspirational videos in the coming days. This month, General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle will be visiting the island and leading public meetings. For them, it will be a glorious homecoming as they minister to fellow Newfoundlanders. Watch for coverage on Salvationist.ca.Inthisissueof Salvationist , we are educating ourselves about other unique cultures. On a serious note, as we acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, we consider Indigenous phrases such as “every child matters” and “all my rela tions” (page 20). It is a reminder that we have a responsibility to redress the harm and continue the journey of reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We also interview Colonel Wendy Swan about her new book, Living Right While Righting Wrong. She urges Salvationists to stand up for social justice as an integral part of what it means to be a disciple of Christ (page 14). Lastly, ethicist Aimee Patterson takes a hard look at clergy sexual abuse in the church and what can be done to prevent it (pageEnjoy16).these reflections as your fall programming begins. And may the wind of God’s Spirit fill your sails as you embark on a new season of ministry. Or, as they say on The Rock, “Long may your big jib draw.”
Yes, B’y!
• We travelled to a smaller outport to share conversation and a meal with retired officers who spoke of their great love for officership and how God has guided them every step of the way.
If you’ve ever been to Newfoundland and Labrador, you’ll know it’s a place that is rich in culture, natural beauty and hospitable, salt-of-the-earth people.
• We went to the top of Signal Hill to film candidates who are excited about what God’s got in store for them as cadets and future officers.
4 September/October 2022 Salvationist EDITORIAL Salvationist is a bimonthly 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 Director of Internal Communications, Editor-in-Chief and Literary Secretary Pamela Richardson Assistant Editor-in-Chief Kristin Ostensen Managing Editor of Salvationist and Salvationist.ca Giselle Randall Features Editor Abbigail Oliver Staff Writer Lisa Suroso Graphic Design Specialist Rivonny Luchas Digital Media Specialist Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator Ken Ramstead Contributor Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN Member,1718-5769.TheCanadian Christian Communicators Association. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Version ( NIV ) © All2011.articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory and can be reprinted only with written permission. Subscriptions Annual: Canada $30 (includes GST/ HST); U.S. $36; foreign $41. Available from: The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto ON M4H 1P4. Phone: 416-422-6119; fax: 416-422-6217; circulation@salvationarmy.ca.email: Advertising Inquire by email for rates salvationist@salvationarmy.ca.at News, Events and Submissions Editorial lead time is seven weeks prior to an issue’s publication date. No responsibility is assumed to publish, preserve or return unsolicited material. Write orsalvationist@salvationarmy.cato Salvationist, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto ON M4H 1P4. 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. instagram.com/salvationistmagazineyoutube.com/salvationistmagazinetwitter.com/salvationistfacebook.com/salvationistmagazinesalvationist.ca
GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After Calgary’s Women’s Integrative Supportive Housing shut down in 2020, a gap formed in the city’s shelter system with a shortage of beds and a lack of supportive housing for all women experi encing homelessness. In response, The Salvation Army’s community services in Calgary appealed for funding to reopen an improved shelter facility to meet the growing“Withneed.thefunds we received from the government and The Salvation Army, we were able to open a night shelter that would be available to women seven days a week, from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.,” says Clifford Wiebe, executive director. “Our spiritual care team was ready to come on board for three hours each night, allowing us to open our shelter earlier and meet the women first as they come in.”
The women's shelter team. Back, from left, Lt Connie Cristall, CO, Shaganappi CC, Calgary, and chaplain, community services, Calgary; Joshua Kim and Cameron Cristall. Middle, from left, Marylin Poon, Amber Capling, Sandy Scobie and Mariam Ojo. Front, from left, Kathy Blindenbach and Mjr Glenda McKenzie, director of chaplaincy, community services, Calgary
Residents of Fredericton quickly understood the need, and in just four short weeks 725 packages of menstrual products were donated, totaling more than 25,000 individual hygiene items. That number continues to climb as individuals and local businesses drop off their donations.
“It’s a beautiful building,” says Wiebe. “Everyone gets a bed, fresh sheets and towels when they arrive, there’s laundry facilities on site, a beautiful kitchen and dining area, even a living room with a TV and games, and a patio out back. It’s a dignifiedTherespace.”isgreat need for housing sup port in Calgary, and women with children are often given first priority at local shelters, leaving fewer beds for single women without children who may not feel safe in shelters that accommodate both male and female clients. This new shelter will fill this gap, giving them a place to go where they feel safe.
The 18-bed shelter, with five additional overflow beds for urgent or emergency assistance, has two primary focuses: hous ing and recovery. In consultation with a domestic violence specialist, the shelter staff help women facing homelessness find affordable and appropriate housing while they recover from external struggles such as addiction, trauma and exploitation.
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Tampon Tuesday is a grassroots program that works with community partners to collect menstrual hygiene products for those in need, as they are one of the most requested yet least donated items at food banks.
Throughout the month of May, Fredericton Community Church partnered with Fredericton’s Move 106.9 and the Regent Mall to help fight period poverty in their city through a Tampon Tuesday campaign.
Donations from the Tampon Tuesday campaign will be distributed through local food banks, including Fredericton Community Church’s, which operates three days a week.
“Period poverty is real, and it is a problem here as it is in every part of this country. It is prioritizing food over tampons, housing over pads and the dozens of other decisions made to survive in the face of this invisible form of poverty,” says Tanya Arseneault, community ministries co-ordinator, Fredericton.
“Together, The Salvation Army and the City of Fredericton are helping to combat period poverty and provide dignity to our clients, one box at a time,” says Arseneault.
The Salvation Army Fights Period Poverty in Fredericton
From left, Mjr Renee Dearing, CO, Fredericton CC; Tanya Arseneault and partners from Regent Mall and Move 106.9
Calgary Community Services Introduces New Women’s Shelter
Salvationist September/October 2022 5 FRONTLINES
“This is the cornerstone of the future of the women’s programming that we want to offer at this site,” says Wiebe. “We’re excited to share what God is doing here in Calgary and through our Salvation Army team, and we continue to pray that God will use this shelter as a place of hope and healing for these women as they move forward in their journey.”
Salvation Army Thrift Stores Send Kids to Camp
The music and gospel arts depart ment, in partnership with the Canadian Staff Band (CSB), hosted the first Territorial Composer Day in June. Ten composers of various experience levels took the stage, each with their own 15-minute segment for the band to play, discuss and analyze their music. The intention behind composer day was to provide musicians the opportunity to hear their music per formed on a large scale and to help identify areas for improvement in their compositions. Comments and musical analysis were provided by Rachel Ewing, music editor and events coordinator; John Lam, CSB bandmaster; and Marcus Venables, assistant ter ritorial music secretary.
From May to June, National Recycling Operations’ Send a Kid to Camp GoodWorks@Work campaign raised funds to send children from a range of backgrounds to Salvation Army camps across Canada. In total, the campaign raised more than $122,000 through 98 thrift stores, enough to send 490 kids to camp. Funds raised by the stores stay in the division in which they were collected to send local kids to camp.
“This event will take place again in the future,” says Marcus Venables. “We look forward to seeing more composers from the territory attend, gain experi ence and hear their music played by a band—music that is written to worship and glorify God.”
Music and Gospel Arts Department Presents Composer Day
“As we get back to some normality, the Salvation Army camps will be a highlight for many children living in the challenges of today. We are thankful to be a part of this mission for the children in Canada,” says Ted Troughton, managing director, National Recycling Operations. Salvation Army camping ministries offer children an oppor tunity to rest from the strain of sometimes difficult home lives, giving them a safe environment to develop their confidence, self-awareness and independence. “Our staff are very passionate about the campaign. We explain to guests every chance we get about the importance of kids going to camp,” says Patricia Wallis, manager at the Salvation Army thrift store in London, Ont., which has successful campaigns each year. “The kids we send are from low-income families, who otherwise may not have a chance to go to camp. Having a passionate local community also helps. It’s not a one-person show, it’s the whole team that makes a difference.”
6 September/October 2022 Salvationist FRONTLINES
“It’s always very cool to have one’s music played by a good band,” says Ty Watson, a composer who took part in the event. “I want to thank the music and gospel arts department and the CSB for their encouragement and support of Canadian composers.”
“We were able to have the CSB read this music in rehearsal, prepare it, play it and give it an honest read-through, and we provided feedback,” explains Venables. “It’s only the beginning of the journey for a lot of these composers because, in the days ahead, there will be follow-up dialogue with the hope that some of this music is revised and eventually published and performed across Canada and the world.”
The composer day concluded with a CSB concert featuring five premiere performances written and conducted by Canadian composers, including Hyfrydol by Ty Watson, How He Loves by Harrison Venables and Come Thou Fount by Craig Woodland.
The Canadian Staff Band in concert at Yorkminster Citadel in Toronto
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The Salvation Army thrift store in Thunder Bay, Ont., held a hot dog sale in support of the Army’s Send a Kid to Camp campaign, joined by members of ATU Local 966 and Journey to Life Centre staff
Funding Helps Combat Food Insecurity in Pond Inlet, Nunavut Divisional leaders, corps leaders and members gather to celebrate the merging of the Mississauga corps. Back, from left, Roberto Morsen, Cpt Graciela Arkell, Simon Gough, Cpt Jeff Arkell, Lt Alecia Barrow, Aux-Lts Mirna Dirani and Tharwat Eskander.
Salvationist September/October 2022 7 FRONTLINES
Mississauga Corps Merge to Become One Church Pond Inlet, or Mittimatalik, is a remote Inuit community located on Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut, which experiences the highest rate of food insecurity in Canada due to limited access, availability and food quality. With a popu lation of approximately 1,500 people, the community relies on services such as the Pond Inlet food bank for support. With COVID-19 causing a greater demand for food bank services and increasing the strain on funds, the Pond Inlet food bank has struggled to serve everyone in need.
“These are exciting times and already we are seeing people reaching out together from all three sites,” says Taylor. “We rely on God’s guidance, believing with all our hearts that this is what we are being called to do.”
Front, from left, Celina Cruz, Sherman Wu, CSM Susan Taylor, Judy Mansfield, Janette Brown, Kathleen Griffiths, Lt-Cols Brenda and Shawn Critch, and Mjr Robert Russell Plant a Garden $50
In May, Lt-Colonel Shawn Critch, divisional commander, Lt-Colonel Brenda Critch, divisional secretary for spiritual life development, and Major Robert Russell, area commander, Ontario Division, dedicated the new corps at a special service followed by a celebratory barbecue.
The three sites at Cawthra, Collegeway and Meadowvale will be led by Captains Graciela and Jeff Arkell, originally the corps officers at Mississauga Temple; Aux-Lieutenants Tharwat Eskander and Mirna Dirani, originally corps officers at Erin Mills; and Lieutenant Alecia Barrow, originally corps officer at Cornerstone.Committed to the pillars of worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship and service, the new corps unit, now named The Salvation Army Mississauga Community Church, will bring Jesus to the neighbourhoods of Mississauga and see lives and communities transformed, embracing the unique expression of ministry in each corps location.
In May, The Salvation Army provided $34,550 to Pond Inlet to support the provision of food vouchers to families in need. These food vouchers allow the individual the dignity and freedom of purchasing the food their family desires.
Three Salvation Army corps in Mississauga, Ont., including Mississauga Temple, Erin Mills Corps and Cornerstone Community Church, have merged to become one corps operat ing at three Encouragedsites.by the territorial vision statement to be an innova tive partner mobilized to share hope and build just communities, the corps came together, united in mission and positioned for growth.“We believed we were being led by God in this direction,” says Susan Taylor, director of corps ministries in Mississauga. “It is our hope and prayer that as one Army together, we will be stronger to spread the love of Jesus to the City of Mississauga.”
“The Pond Inlet food bank supports approximately 113 families, most with four to six family members, on a bi-weekly basis,” explains Theresa Dalueg, community economic develop ment officer for the municipality of Pond Inlet. “We support Indigenous men, women, children and elders in the commun ity. The majority of those we serve are women and children.”
“We are so grateful for this support because it means we can help more families in the community,” says Dalueg. With this funding from The Salvation Army, the Pond Inlet food bank can continue toward their objective of reducing food insecurity and hunger in the community, while helping improve the overall health and wellness of residents.
Sacred Service
Cadet Zachary Marshall, Cadet Tamara Randlesome and Aux-Captain Linda Kean presented the Officer’s Covenant. Colonel Evie Diaz, chief secretary, then stood before the Messengers of Reconciliation as they recited the doctrines of The Salvation Army in their Declaration of Faith.
Following Commissioner Tracey Tidd’s challenge to the cadets and auxiliary-captains, each knelt at the mercy seat or stood before the holiness table in dedication of their lives to God in the moments before they were ordained and commissioned.
The Canada and Bermuda Tty’s newest Salvation Army officers
Lending musical support to the commissioning service was an ensemble from the Canadian Staff Band (CSB), under the leadership of Bandmaster John Lam. Jennifer Hale, an accepted candidate for officer training, shared about God’s call on her life to full-time ministry.
8 September/October 2022 Salvationist
Messengers Reconciliationof
Fifteen Salvation Army officers commissioned and ordained in Winnipeg.
BY PAMELA RICHARDSON
I
t was an exciting day on June 18 as people gathered in person at Winnipeg’s Southlands Community Church to witness the ordination and commissioning of nine cadets and six auxiliary-captains in the Messengers of Reconciliation Session.
The service allowed Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd, territorial commander and territorial president of women’s ministries, to join with the cadets, their family members, training college staff and divisional leaders in the first public commissioning event to take place since the beginning of the pandemic.CadetJason Brinson, carrying the Messengers of Reconciliation sessional flag, led the cadets and auxiliary-captains to the platform where they each shared what being reconciled to God means to them, including redemption from the past, forgiveness and freedom from sin, and a message of hope, healing and belonging for all people.
“It is my privilege to present these cadets and auxiliary-captains to be commissioned and ordained as officers of the Canada and Bermuda Territory,” said Major Andrew Morgan, then principal at the College for Officer Training (CFOT), as he introduced them to the territorial commander. “I commend these individuals to you with the firm conviction that they have experienced the wonderful reconciliation work of God in their lives.”
Spiritual growth, character formation and Salvationist identification were vital components of the structured program the cadets and auxiliary-captains had experienced during their period of training, he explained.
“We rejoice that God has called you, equipped you and gifted you for sacred service,” said Commissioners Tidd as they addressed each cadet and auxiliary-captain, “and therefore we affirm that you are ordained as a minister of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and I now commission you as an officer of The Salvation Army with the rank of lieutenant.”
“It is a reconciliation for the whole world.” He reminded the congregation that Jesus is the message we are to proclaim.
Lt Janelle Colbourne salutes Commissioners Tracey and Floyd Tidd
Aux-Captains Carlos and Eva Galvez were commissioned with the rank of captain. The territorial leaders also shared a por tion of Scripture with each new officer that had been chosen for them by the staff from CFOT.
A Silver Star luncheon was held the day following the commissioning and ordination service to honour those who have made a spiritual impact on the lives of the new officers. Lt Nathanael Hoeft is pictured with his parents, Mjrs Al and Karen Hoeft, executive directors, Waterston Centre in Regina, and regional public relations officers
A Message to Share
Major Corinne Cameron, assistant training principal, led the congregation in the singing of the closing song, We Have Caught the Vision Splendid, before Major Les Marshall, then divisional commander in the Prairie Division, closed the service in prayer
While the new officers left the auditorium to prepare for the next portion of the service, the congregation viewed a video of the Messengers of Reconciliation sharing what their sessional name means to them. As the CSB ensemble played the iconic Montreal Citadel, the new lieutenants and captains marched to the platform wearing the characteristic red trim of Salvation Army officers to salute the territorial leaders.
Lieutenant Jessica Hoeft spoke on behalf of her sessionmates, pointing out that as Messengers of Reconciliation, they are uniquely poised to lean in to the territory’s vision statement as innovative partners, mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship, building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus. “We also have a message to share,” she said. “Ours is a message of restored relationship with God, first and foremost, but also of restored relationship with each other, with our neighbours, with ourselves and with creation.”
“Whatever the brokenness, whatever the alienation, whatever the separation, whatever the grief, whatever the war and strife, be that global, be that domestic, our message of reconciliation is the holy one, Jesus.”
Salvationist September/October 2022 9
Following the recognition of appointments of the Messengers of Reconciliation, and field-based tailored training appointments and summer assignments of the Reflectors of Holiness, the territorial commander shared from the Book of Colossians. “This reconciliation that God makes known to us through his Son, Jesus Christ, is not for us alone,” he said.
“This reconciliation that God makes known to us through his Son, Jesus Christ, is not for us alone. It is a reconciliation for the whole —Commissionerworld.”Floyd Tidd
PtashnickSymonPhotos: Lt Guan-Ming Parker Shieh marches in following his commissioning
Colonel Lindsay J. Rowe Thanks for this wonderful article. It’s scripturally sound, theologically rich and spiritually refreshing. It’s an excellent reminder that God is so much bigger than the boxes we try to put God in. It blessed my mind, heart and soul reading it.
We would know very little about the nature of God unless he had chosen to reveal himself to us. He does this through Scripture and most poignantly through his Son, Jesus. In both cases, he chooses to reveal himself as father. The Old Testament uses masculine terminology and Jesus nowhere refers to him as mother but frequently calls him father. If Jesus is God in human flesh, then there must be a rea son why he does this, and I do not accept paternalism as that reason. We do serious damage to the authority of Jesus and Scripture when we replace his words with more culture-friendly terminology.CallingGod
The article “Mother God” by Lieutenant Olivia Campbell-Sweet in the July/August 2022 issue of Salvationist is very well written, but I cannot accept it because it runs con trary to Scripture and is not in accord with Salvation Army doctrine. While I appreciate the writer’s compassion for the little boy whose father “was distant and caused pain,” she must surely realize there are some moth ers with a similar bent. Let’s hold to the teaching of the Bible. God is “our Father.” The Bible is not a book written by a group of men pen ning their personal thoughts and beliefs. The writers were given inspiration by God to write as they did. In various books of the Scriptures, readers are cautioned not to change what God inspired to be written. The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine states, “The Bible is also called ‘Scripture’ (meaning ‘writing’), ‘The Scriptures’ and ‘The Holy Scriptures’ because it is the written record of God’s message to mankind.” God is referred to as our Father and no one has a right to alter what is written.Through the centuries, God has greatly blessed the teach ing and preaching of his Word, resulting in precious souls, from young children to seniors, being born again of his Spirit. I suggest instead of altering what God has inspired, we read it and preach Christ Jesus as the only Saviour from sin. Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). Let’s proclaim Jesus and not be debating if God might be our Mother or “our Father.” Hold to the truth of the Word. Major Ivan McNeilly It’s fine to say, “God is like a mother.” It’s something very different to say, “God is mother.”
Aimee PattersonApril 2022 The Canadian criminal justice sys tem is broken. When comes to incarceration, Canadians often display sense of superiority to our American neighbours—but there are many ways our criminal justice system maintains Before started studying the experi ence of incarcerated men as part of my PhD in criminology at the University of Alberta, had preconceived ideas about those deserving punishment. What changed my perspective was going into federal prisons with my university’s research team to interview these men dicted was the utter humanity every prisoner displayed: shame, hope, fear, anger, disappointment, love and grace. In this article, will examine some is excessively punitive. A second article will address the overrepresentation of people of colour and Indigenous men and women in provincial and federal cus tody, and a third will reflect on what we can learn from Indigenous approaches to justice. hope that as you read this, you will be challenged to consider the pelled to take another look. Just Deserts? In Canada, we have understood pris citation, punishment and deterrence. Incapacitation is the most basic means up dangerous individuals, they cannot Punishment reflects the desire for retribution—offenders who inflict harm ion surveys show that people believe in punishment’s value and effectiveness. Punishment functions, in part, to produce deterrence, the theory that undergirds the late 20th century’s breathtaking increase in sentence length, especially for drug crimes in the United States. This theory suggests that the longer sentence against the gains of com mitting crime. Most scholars agree that increasing the severity of punish ment does not reduce crime. This is not that uses imprisonment as a cure-all to social problems. Of course, prevailing public sentiment—that prisoners must all be “bad people” who deserve to be punished—paves the way for this. visions of penal policy differ, both have made moves toward more punitive pris consequences for incarcerated people believe that the abolition of our prisons is the solution, believe that, as it cur serve primarily to disrupt vulnerable and marginalized communities, while and re-offending. It is an expensive nonIn Canada, our own era of “tough on crime” policy changes mostly occurred 2015. In strikingly similar fashion to its American counterpart, the Canadian government enacted range of legisla tion to make prison conditions harsher, sentences longer, expand mandatory minimum penalties and undercut oppor tunities for alternatives to imprisonment. What changed my perspective on the talking to prisoners. The Impact of Incarceration was a late afternoon in February, one interviewed more than dozen prison ers at that point, some convicted of seri ous and violent crimes and some in for drug possession or misdemeanors. These time, was in minimum-security wing, reserved for offenders who exhibited with greater degree of independence and autonomy within prison walls. spent almost two hours in small room with man in his 50s whoPlusImagesGettyviaRapidEye/iStockPhoto: Does the Canadian criminal justice system believe that people can be redeemed?
Crime Punishmentand Salvationist welcomes respectful dialogue regarding articles printed in the magazine. Letters should be sent directly to the editor-inchief at salvationist@salvationarmy.ca or territorial headquarters. To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must include your name and address, and a phone number or address where you can be contacted. Letters may be edited for space and clarity, and may be published in any medium.
The Bible presents us with a God who is loving and just and who is available to all of us, regardless of the performance or absence of our earthly parents.
Major Mark Braye
INBOX
“Cry out as a woman” is very different from “God is mother.” The latter is very different from the God revealed in Scripture.
“father” does not mean he is male, and I don’t think that’s what Scripture is teaching. There are feminine attributes assigned to God (see Isaiah 42:14; 44:2, 24; 46:3-4; 49:15; 66:10-13). He is here compared to mother but never addressed as mother. In other words, the usage is a simile not a metaphor. One aspect of his being is compared to another and not the whole of his being compared to the whole of another.
The concept of God as father retains a distinction between God and his creation while God as mother presents a very dif ferent idea. God speaks creation into being, he does not give birth to it. It does not proceed out of his being; it is spoken into existence out of nothing. God as mother blurs this distinction and does an injustice to the creation narrative, which stands in contradistinction to the fertility gods and narratives replete in the ancient world.
Thank you for this important piece on the Canadian criminal justice system (“Crime and Punishment,” April 2022). God has created us for relationship. Canada’s justice system does very little to encourage relationships between offenders and society. We have a lot to learn from practices like restorative justice. Rather than remove offenders from community, restorative justice reintegrates them. Facilitating meet ing between offenders and those they have harmed allows the offender to see the harm up close—the human face of it. This encourages amends-making and discourages recidivism. People who are harmed are given a voice. And seeing the face of their offender makes them more likely to forgive and agree to second chances. Restorative justice is not a silver bullet, and it must be accompanied by other social supports, but at this point I don’t think we have much to lose.
Restorative Justice
Ihave many memories from my time Army’s Camp Sunrise in Gibsons, B.C., that move, intrigue and challenge me. One involves young boy with shaggy assertive voice, who boldly proclaimed that he would not enter the chapel and would not learn about the Bible. quickly was distant and caused pain; he certainly While we may intellectually under stand that God has no form or gender— continuously referred to with male pronouns and imagery. Most aspects of our Christian experience—sermons, reinforcing the idea of God as male. “To God be the glory, great things he hath done.” “How deep the Father’s love for us.” “You’re good, good Father, it’s who you expansiveare.” understanding of and language for God, think of that small camper. been presented to him as mother? Would it have been a healing balm? An invitation not only into our space, but into deeper relationship with God, marked by safety? wonder. She Who Dwells That camper’s experience not unique, has missed out on relationship, heal ing and wholeness due to our restrictive language and understanding. If God has embrace and engage the feminine aspects of God. If we know that our earthly rela tionships affect how we relate to the Trinity, then we must offer opportunities and safe. Encountering God as mother is oneMotherway. God. She who creates and unravel knots, knit blankets, knead dough and tend to wounds. Her wisdom flows as is there on the mountaintops, celebrating alongside you. She is there in the low valley, where she sits quietly in your We see glimpses of this feminine God in Scripture:Shelabours, delivers and nourishes Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 49:15). She is present with her people— shekinah she who dwells (see Exodus 25:8). She is like mother hen, bear and eagle (see Matthew 23:37-39; Hosea 13:8; Deuteronomy 32:11-12). Our understanding and experience of the divine feminine is amplified when we engage with Lady Wisdom herself, dom or spirit. We encounter this per sonification most clearly in the Book of Proverbs, where “Sophia” or “Wisdom” (see Proverbs 8:1-9, 12). Wisdom not separate entity from God but, rather, they are one. We discover that Wisdom was present with God in the beginning, God’s master worker in creation (see Proverbs 8:30). Wisdom draws us into the story of our present and sustaining God. She is threads and radiating with the character Feminine imagery and metaphors for Early church fathers described God as a mother who cared for and parented her children. Theologians, philosophers and mystics, such as Saint Clement of Rome, Kempe and Saint Teresa of Avila, have their femininework.imagery for God have been men, including 12th-century Cistercian monks who favoured maternal images to In her savoured 14th-century writings, Julian of Norwich wrote, “As truly as God our Father, so truly is God our and relationships to the maternal or fem The Image of God Identifying feminine or maternal aspects ful, the examples we have explored could contribute to stereotypes of genders and archal understanding of God. We must remember that God as feminine does not mean subservient or passive. God sustains life, she is also powerful leader who will attack her enemies. While there is risk of reinforcing stereotypes, the risk of ignoring the femi nine aspects of God holds more potential for harm. Our culture no longer finds solely masculine understanding of God and liberation of all beings, we need to we embrace the imago Dei, we must be willing to embrace God whose experi ence and expression mirrors our own. Through the inclusion of feminine or maternal God we are offered chance at true restoration. is also risk with emphasizing binary model of male or female for God. This during the authorship of our sacred texts, but God cannot be contained in binary boxes. Instead, we acknowledge that God has no form or gender, and can thus be We also acknowledge that God goes beyond human understanding and can be described through metaphors such as Deuteronomy 32:18; Job 33:4). Releasing binary understanding of God offers the Mother God Encountering the divine feminine. BY LIEUTENANT OLIVIA CAMPBELL-SWEET
10 September/October 2022 Salvationist Our Father
As Wesleyans, we recognize the value of an experiential faith. Taking Scripture as truth, affirmed by tradition and aligned with reason, our lives and Christian com munity should give evi dence of the power of the gospel of Christ. In considering the recovery of spiritual authority, the Handbook of Doctrine reminds us that “obedience to the Word of God is first of all obedience to the living Word, Jesus Christ. While some absolutes are evi dent, the Bible must not be treated as an unbend ing book of law control ling Christian faith and practice, otherwise it will stifle creative discipleship. Salvationists need to learn how to read the Bible in ways that allow it to speak to both personal experience and the contemporary situation. True author ity emerges from learning to understand Scripture in light of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the ongoing tradition of theItchurch.”maybe the most wonderful time of the year in some ways, yet we recognize that these are also days of challenge for many people and for the church. As we watch students return to classrooms, hitting the books and taking new steps in their learning journey, the time is now for disciples of Jesus to renew our com mitment to studying God’s Word, both in personal reading and study and as part of a community of fellow Christians in Bible study and small groups. Commissioner Floyd Tidd is the Territory.CanadacommanderterritorialoftheandBermuda
Christian community (see Acts 15:1-29; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22). The Bible is not safely read without reference to the general understanding of the Christian community throughout history, any more than it is understood without the help of the Spirit. Each of these three founda tional sources required the authentication of the other two to ensure the gospel truth is maintained.”
By the Book
BY COMMISSIONER FLOYD TIDD
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Walt Disney, a pioneer of the American anima tion industry, once said, “There’s more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island.” Students are returning to classes to review old lessons and learn new ones in the life long journey of education. It may well be worth hearing the call once again to hit the book, with all its treasures to discover and re-discover. The primacy of Scripture was so important for John Wesley that he called himself “a man of one book.” Wesley believed that the living foundation of Christian faith is revealed in Scripture. In the Wesleyan tradition, it is not surprising that The Salvation Army’s first doctrine speaks to this: “We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.”
Salvationist September/October 2022 11 ONWARD
And so, as described in Called to be a Soldier, “the task of the church in each generation is to live in ways that are obedient to the authority of the Bible, and faithful to Christian heri tage.” John Wesley identified four ele ments to answering questions about Christian belief and practice. These four elements—Scripture, tradition, reason and experience—together have become known as the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral.” The primacy and authority of Scripture is understood in the light of tra dition, reason and experience. Tradition recognizes that the journey of followers of Jesus to interpret Scripture throughout the centuries can clarify and enlighten the work of biblical study. Wesley argued that without reason we cannot under stand the essential truths of Scripture, but that reason must be assisted by the Holy Spirit to fathom the mysteries of God.
The release of Called to be a Soldier in 2021 reminds us that the Bible is central to our understanding and practice of faith. Throughout the centuries, across countless cultures and in numerous lan guage translations, the Bible has con sistently been the source of instruction, challenge, inspiration and comfort for those seeking and following God. Our Handbook of Doctrine makes clear that “the Bible is the major author ity for the Christian.” It outlines that “there are three pillars which provide a secure foundation for Christian faith and practice. These three are: the teaching of Scripture, the direct illumination of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8:29; 9:10-19; 13:1-3; 16:6-8) and the consensus of the
The foundation of Christian faith and practice.
“It’s the most won derful time of the year!” No, it’s not quite Christmas, but for many parents—and some students—this refrain also applies to the back-toschool season. As summer begins to fade, it’s time to hit the books afresh.
BY OLIVER
The Salvation Army’s Youth Action Committee ignites change for young people.
HASKEYJILLIAN JERARDONUYDA VALERIARUIZ CAMERONKELSEY
Seen and Heard In 2021, through conversation with divisional youth secretaries, Captain Jason Dockeray and Captain Kristen JacksonDockeray, assistant territorial children and youth secretary and secretary for candidates, recognized a gap in how The Salvation Army’s children and youth department engages young people.
12 September/October 2022 Salvationist The Present Generation
W hat are the needs and desires of young people in the Army today? The simplest way to find out is to ask them. This year, Canada Bermuda Youth introduced the Youth Action Committee (YAC), a group of young adult represen tatives that will speak into topics and decisions at the territorial level regarding young“Wepeople.wanted young people to know that their voices are heard and valued, and for them to be able to see themselves in these leadership spaces,” says Captain Jason Dockeray, territorial children and youthThirteensecretary.representatives between the ages of 16 and 24 were nominated by their respective divisional youth secretaries based on their passion and leadership in faith, corps or camping ministry, or other local settings. Together, they share stories of The Salvation Army within their unique communities, bridging gaps and helping inform territorial decision-makers as they work to create a future Army that is innovative, creative and inclusive.
RITSONJESSE
CUELLARCARLOSKRISTENDEBEER
“This passage talks about personal holiness,” explains Captain Jason. “We want our youth to come together and make their holiness a benefit to the world—a lived-out, practical holiness. As we gather, we’re not just gathering to talk, but to actually move forward in
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To Captains Dockeray, it was important to ensure that the committee not only has diverse geographic representation, including individuals from divisions across the territory, but also people from various backgrounds—BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour), at least one third male and one third female, senior soldiers, and first-generation Salvationists and Christians.
“Many of the young people in The Salvation Army see it as their parents’ or grandparents’ church. There’s a disconnect between the few hundred young leaders we have at Army camps who are engaged in the mission of The Salvation Army, and those who are involved in corps life back at home,” says Captain Jason. “We want to hear from young leaders across the territory—not just hearing them for the sake of checking a box, but to actually get them involved in mission and in shaping what’s coming next.” After prayer and discussion with divisional youth leaders, the YAC was introduced.
The YAC is a one-year commitment, meeting four times a year. Their first meeting took place virtually in May, the second in August, and a third virtual meeting is set to take place in October before they will come together in person early next year. This year’s committee is guided by 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV): “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being soberminded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
ABBIGAIL
ELIZABETHBORGELA
Jenna Reid participates in the band at her home corps, St. John’s Temple, and often volunteers at the kettles at Christmas Jenna Reid, Newfoundland and Labrador Division I am 19 years old, from St. John’s N.L. My parents are officers and I’ve been involved in The Salvation Army my whole life. My name was put forward for the YAC because I’m openly passionate about my faith. I have a blog called A Wholehearted Pursuit about navigating faith in young adulthood and wholeheartedly pursuing Jesus while dealing with life changes.
After our first committee meeting, my reaction was, “That was so refreshing.”
If we want to keep youth in church, it’s important to listen to their voices.
I am 22 years old, from British Columbia. I was born in New York, grew up in Richmond, B.C., and I currently attend the Anchor of Hope Community Church in Vancouver, where my parents are corps officers. I was invited to the YAC by my divisional youth leaders, Captains Josh and Joyce Downer. I participate in youth groups and activities throughout the year, and I’ve worked at camp for the past seven summers. This has inspired me to become more involved with the youth in our territory. It’s a great honour to be involved in the YAC. It shows that the opinions and views of our youth in The Salvation Army are valued by our leaders and the people who are going to make the tough decisions. They are really looking at what we can do better and what young people can do to get involved. That’s inspiring to see. I think that the YAC provides a unique and valuable point of view. We have a lot of diversity in terms of age, gender and race, but also background. In one meeting, I was able to see what it is like to grow up in the Army in different parts of the country. Everyone’s experience with the Army is different. I’m not from generations of Salvationists. My parents are the first people in my family to discover The Salvation Army through a small interaction. My father was still in the United States, and it was just my mom, my sister and me here in Canada. We were looking for a mattress and were dropped off at The Salvation Army in Richmond, B.C. Just that one interaction, that little moment of generosity and kindness to someone who had recently immigrated to Canada, planted a seed in my parents and now they are leading ministry. I am involved in that ministry now, too. It’s nice to see that someone like me, with my family background, can have a say and be a part of this community. It means a lot. Young people want to see more people our age present in The Salvation Army. The YAC members are motivated, with issues and passions that we want the Army taking a bigger role in. Hopefully, we can be that little spark that starts a bigger flame.
Salvationist September/October 2022 13 action and to make this world a better place. This committee will help shape the young people in our department to move them closer to Jesus, not for their own benefit but for the benefit of the kingdom of God.” Captain Jason also poses the question to those within The Salvation Army, congregants, soldiers, staff, officers and other mission partners: How are you ensuring that your Salvation Army is a place that is welcoming and inclusive to young“Wepeople?cantalk about inclusivity at a territorial and divisional level, but where it gains traction is when our congregation members come alongside to support our young people in becoming leaders,” he says. “Are we creating a space that is ripe for these young people to act and to be active in The Salvation Army?”
The YAC is only 13 people, but there are more across this territory, in corps and working at camps, who want to be engaged in The Salvation Army. But first, they need a place where they can be heard, where they can grow and thrive.
I realized that other people in the Army who are around my age have thoughts similar to mine. They come from all across Canada and Bermuda, and I think this brings perspective. It’s easy to lose sight of what the Army is doing throughout the territory, especially in the small communities such as those in Atlantic Canada.
Having members from these communities will help speak into a lot of change. It’s a privilege to be part of the committee. I think the Army is at a point where change is coming. People are aware of that. I appreciate the fact that they are getting youth opinion. People always say, “Youth are the future,” but we’re also the present.
Carlos Cuellar, British Columbia Division
Carlos Cuellar has worked various positions at Salvation Army summer camps including dishwasher, cabin leader and program co-ordinator at Camp Sunrise in the B.C. Div
What can people expect to read in Living Right While Righting Wrong? We read in Scripture that Jesus protested social injustices, but how do we link that to the 21st century and to our own lives as disciples?Thisbook is for all Salvationists, but is targeted specifically to those aged 18 to 30. They are a very socially minded generation, concerned with so many moral and social issues. Within the book, I ask a number of questions, including, “Is it possible for a Salvationist to be morally mute or invisible?” I don’t think it is. And I think many of the young adult generation will agree. If the Holy Spirit has convicted you, you not only can do something but you must do something. I hope this book will allow readers to understand and articulately explain the theological grounding behind their com mitment to social justice, to understand
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While The Salvation Army has had several publications written about our social services work, which is incredibly important, it was confirmed by a number of scholars within the Army that no one had ever written about the theological underpinnings of our social justice work.
During her doctoral studies at King’s College London, England, she researched and wrote about a theology of protest. Now, she has published a book, Living Right While Righting Wrong, that offers Salvationists a framework for understand ing their own participation in social jus tice, based on Salvation Army theology. Colonel Swan spoke with Salvationist staff writer Abbigail Oliver about the book, the research and the global experi ences that guide them.
Social services is the day-to-day work of meeting people where they are. Social justice looks at the root cause of how they got there in the first place. When you look at those root causes, one can better address how to best come alongside people. Within The Salvation Army, we have no theological language to explain this. This book, Living Right While Righting Wrong, is a translation of my academic studies and is meant as a resource for our global Salvation Army family. It asks, “Is social justice just something you do, or is it an integral part of discipleship?”
I was born and raised in Burnaby, B.C., but after I completed training college, I was determined to explore the world in whatever capacity I could. I’m very much a global citizen. Twenty-six out of my 39 years as an officer have been a global journey. I am currently the director of the International Social Justice Commission, which I see as a great responsibility and a privilege. This appointment has the potential for global impact, and I’m incredibly grateful to God and the Army for these opportunities.
A new book by Colonel Wendy Swan explores the theology of protest.
Where are you from and what can you tell us about your current role with The Salvation Army?
Col Wendy Swan attends the Copperbelt District Congress in Zambia in 2019
C olonel Wendy Swan is the dir ector of the International Social Justice Commission, chair of the International Moral and Social Issues Council and sitting member of the International Theological Council.
I believe that Living Right While Righting Wrong is a timely resource, and yet I am hopeful that it is a timeless resource as well. Social issues continue to arise, and though they are not new issues, they reappear in new ways. The world-asit-is has been that way for a long time, but as God’s people rise up and say, “Enough is enough,” and do it in respectful and informed ways, I believe we fulfil God’s calling on us as followers of Jesus.
2022 Salvationist
How did this book come to be?
14 September/October
When will this book be available?
Don’t sit on the sidelines. Instead, God says, “Come and join me.”
General Brian Peddle has graciously agreed to launch the book at the International Conference of Leaders this fall. Both hard copies and e-books will be available to make it as accessible as possible. I hope that as people engage with the material, they will also find the language accessible. We all need the encouragement to focus and be intentional about the things that are important to us. I’m grateful for energy and friends around the world who believe in a lifestyle of justice. I’m grateful for all the learnings I’ve had, for sisters and brothers, aunties and uncles, who have been willing to correct me or challenge me as a disciple of Jesus. I pray that Salvationists can see themselves in the book and recognize why they do what they do, for engaging in a life of protesting injustice is part of our holiness journey.
To order a copy of Living Right While Righting Wrong, visit store.salvationarmy.ca.
What are the key messages that you hope readers will take away? That God is already at work. We need to find ourselves where God has already said God will be, which is out in the world. God still loves the world. His call on our lives is to go where he is. If you really want to see where God is, look for the margins. To understand what God is doing, start by speaking with your neighbour. Truly see the individual who is struggling.
Col Swan is the director of the International Social Justice Commission
Salvationist September/October 2022 15 not only what they are doing and how other people’s lives are transformed by it but also how it can change us into more mature disciples. There are intentional discussion and reflection questions that I hope will move beyond the individual into groups, communities, Bible studies and conversations over coffee.
“If the Holy Spirit has convicted you, you not only can do something but you must do
I want readers to perhaps be called back to the first claim that Jesus made on their life. Yes, we are saved from sin, but equally, we are also saved toward something— to be involved in a transformation of the communities, the families and the neighbourhoods where we live. And God is doing that. So, our job as Christians and as Salvationists is to find out what God is doing and to make sure we’re part of it.
—Colonelsomething.”WendySwan
BY AIMEE PATTERSON
Imagine a well-liked 22-year-old youth pastor of a small congregation i n the United States. One night, after a church event, he offers a 17-year-old girl a ride home. He sees something he wants—something that doesn’t and shouldn’t belong to him. And he uses his power to take it. Driving to a dark and secluded area, he tells her to perform a sexual act. Scared and embarrassed, she acquiesces. Immediately he silences her, ordering her to “take this to the grave.” It reminds me of another well-liked leader—David, the king of Israel. One night, from the roof of his palace, he surveils a beautiful woman bathing. He sees something he wants—something that doesn’t and shouldn’t belong to him. And he uses his power to take it. When Bathsheba becomes pregnant, David attempts to hide his dark deeds in dark corners, sending her husband to the front line of battle to be killed. In Sunday school, I was taught the G-rated version of this story. Now, I cannot help but see the connection between power and sexual violence— something we have inherited. Over the past few years, we have been saturated with news of spiritual leaders from every corner of the church using power to abuse and exploit the people they serve. It is exhausting and defeating. But can we take our cue from the prophet Nathan, who had the courage to confront the king and stand up to injustice?
I share the youth pastor story above every year as part of the Ethics Centre’s con versation series on human sexuality and Christian ethics. This case study demon strates how power and sexual violence intersect, particularly in Christian ministry. Although the young woman reported the abuse to other church leaders at the time, they did not contact the police, and she was advised to stay silent. Eventually, the youth pastor resigned with little explanation made to the congregation. Gossip turned into victim-blaming. The scapegoated victim left. Nearly 20 years later, the well-liked youth pastor had become a well-liked teaching pastor at a megachurch. In the midst of #MeToo, the woman contacted him, but he did not respond. Needing to have her voice heard, she shared her story through a blog directed to survivors of sexual assault by church leaders. It made the news, and the megachurch was compelled to respond. In a livestreamed service, the teaching pastor offered a public apology, claiming he had not realized there was “unfinished business” between them. He asked for forgiveness from the woman—who didn’t attend the church, hadn’t been informed of the service and wasn’t present—and the congregation. Then the head pastor preached a sermon on forgiveness. Then the worship team sang songs about forgiveness. The service ended with a standing ovation.
16 September/October 2022 Salvationist Come to Light Exposing the dark corners of power and sexual abuse in ministry.
Cheap Forgiveness
Nathan brought word of God’s prophetic punishment not in dark corners but before all Israel and in broad daylight (see 2 Samuel 12:12). How can we model this leadership?
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Its leadership repeatedly claimed that, due to the denominational structures in place, it was impossible to create a central database of cases. What the review found, however, was a highly classified roster of alleged abusers. While holding on to this information, the executive committee continued to allow persons listed on that database to move from one congregation to another. In addition, it refused to hold accountable a former SBC president who was accused of sexually abusing another pastor’s wife. The executive committee encouraged the mistreatment of survivors and their advocates by modelling pat terns of intimidation. It recast accusers as “professional victims,” making it more difficult to report abuse.
Systemic Evil
our territorial operating policy on abuse prevention and response stands out in the Salvation Army world as a robust system of accountability. It delineates a clear and detailed process of response to reports of abuse, indicating that complaints of criminal activity are subject to external investigation. It outlines how care is directed to the physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual harms suffered, whether experienced by the person reporting, the person accused or the larger community. When someone wants to report, they should know, Turley assures, “We will listen, and we will respond!” However, Turley admits, no system is foolproof. And there are always opportunities for improvement. As we move out of the pandemic, perhaps this is a time to boost awareness about how The Salvation Army has carefully shaped structures of responding to abuse. All people need to know it is safe to report. How can we ensure that every person in every Salvation Army community knows this? Having the policy visible in all our locations and engaging in more educational workshops would go a long way. But survivors only trust that their report will be taken seriously and handled justly when they feel safe to report. This is not only a policy matter. It’s a spiritual matter. We need to build communities where everyone feels safe to communicate honestly on a daily basis. This can only happen when we trust one another. So, let’s talk about it. Faith-based facilitation conversations on power and abuse can encourage us to begin exploring this sensitive topic (see salvationist.ca/faithbased-facilitation).Godholdsus all responsible to treat others with love and justice. And with great responsibility comes great power. Let’s raise awareness about how The Salvation Army holds leaders to account. Let’s subject ourselves to mutual accountability and compassionate care. Let’s be the kind of people who act in broad daylight and shine light into dark corners.
But viewers expressed outrage. Soon, the teaching pastor was put on paid leave, and the megachurch undertook an independent investigation. The head pastor admitted to knowing about the “incident” prior to hiring his colleague. They both resigned. The church confessed it had been “defensive rather than empathetic” to the situation and committed to engaging programs that preventToday,abuse.both pastors lead other churches. As the former teaching pastor opened his new church, he was recorded as saying, “We all have our story. Mine just got national news coverage.”
Holding Ourselves Accountable What about The Salvation Army? Salvationists value all people as created in God’s image. We are equal in God’s eyes. And because every relationship involves power, we have a shared responsibility to protect one another from abuses of power. But in light of what has happened in the SBC, I felt a need to debrief with our territorial abuse advisor, Nancy Turley. How, I asked, does our territory respond to accusations of abuse? Are we any different from the SBC?I learned that Turley routinely offers training and education on abuse prevention to officers, cadets and employees. From experience, she knows
Salvationist September/October 2022 17
There is no doubt in my mind that God forgives people who commit abuse. We are called to forgive them, too. Forgiveness includes the intentional work of supporting the rehabilitation of guilty parties. However, I hold great doubt that leaders who commit sexual abuse should be reinstated.Incidentsof sexual abuse are morally concerning in many ways. One is immediate and obvious. When a church leader abuses someone in their care, they abuse the power entrusted to them by that person. In exploiting this power, they cause harm that can lead to the kind of trauma that haunts a person for life. This is localized abuse. With the increasing number of church leaders being accused of sexual abuse, another moral concern is raised: systemic abuse. The sin of one leader is never confined to the local context. Its effects spread. It is possible, said Jesus, for one part of the body to cause the death of the whole body (see Matthew 5:29-30). Localized evil becomes systemic evil, particularly when those responsible to oversee the system don’t hold leaders to account.Intheworst cases, leaders collaborate with serpent-like craftiness, hiding evil deeds in a system full of dark corners. This kind of systemic abuse was recently brought to light by an independent review of the Southern Baptist Church (SBC). The SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. For 21 years, its executive committee covered up more than 700 reports of sexual abuse against women, children and men. One report comes from the story I shared above.The executive committee saw to it that reports were consistently mismanaged.
Sadly, if unsurprisingly, the executive committee resisted sexual abuse reform initiatives. In an internal email, one powerful committee leader argued that demands to bring sexual abuse to light “is a satanic scheme to completely distract us from Whereevangelism.”theSBCgoes from here is an open question. Its members now know they have been wronged not only by individual abusers but by a system held together by those with the most power. If the SBC survives this review, it will need to effect deep cultural reform. The review itself recommends many reformative actions, including opening a compensation fund for survivors, creating and maintaining structural resources for prevention and response, and ensuring the hiring process includes background checks and letters of good standing. Most significant, in my view, is that the SBC needs to provide thoughtful, theological reflection on its beliefs pertaining to sexual abuse.
Contact the Ethics Centre if you are interested in conversations on power and justice through faith-based facilitation. Contact Nancy Turley if you are interested in learning more about territorial responses to abuse.
Dr. Aimee Patterson is a Christian ethics consultant at The Salvation Army Ethics Centre in Winnipeg.
FORGEINNOVATI V E PARTNERSHIPS STRENGTHEN SP I RITUALHEALTH OPTIMIZE MI S SION IMPACT DESIGN F O R STRAOURPEOPLETEGY ImagesGettyviaVectorssorbetto/DigitalVisionIllustration:
From learning and living the vision to leading it.
From Living the Vision, inspired for mission and positioned for growth, it’s now time to consider how we all can be leading it. Leading the Vision is about bringing it to life locally, in the thoughtful, creative ways our local ministry teams do best. Maybe there’s an inventive new ministry service you’re pondering. Perhaps you’ve been exploring unique ways of expanding ministry support for neighbours living through hard times. Leading the Vision could even mean continuing on with the life-changing services you’re already offering. Whatever this looks like for each ministry unit, all will create a local action plan. This is a road map for achiev ing local commitments, complete with concrete actions that will help ministry units innovate on a greater level, mobilize on a larger scale and be there for even more people experiencing hardship as we continue to build just communities that leave no one behind.
Area commanders are also at the ready to provide support: be sure to share com pleted commitment and action plans with them for further encouragement and guidance.
The process of living and leading the vision begins by creating a local commitment. A related action plan is something ministry units will update every year as part of their budgeting and planning process. It’s designed to seamlessly fit into the wonderful work ministry units are already doing. And the newly published Leading the Vision toolkit is packed with guides and templates to facilitate this (find it at salvationist.ca/ leading-the-vision ).
Jane Ayer is a communications consultant with the department of internal com munications at territorial headquarters in Toronto.
BY JANE AYER
Living the Vision also involves ministry units making a local commitment. This is an expression of how ministries will live the vision locally by creating visionaligned goals. Many have already done this, some are still in the process of com pleting their local commitment, and all are encouraged to finish this by the fall.
The Vision Your thoughts and ideas shaped a vibrant new vision, launched in 2020: We are an innovative partner, mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship, building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus. Since unveiling the vision, we’ve turned our hearts to learning and living it. Learning the Vision has meant unpacking the language with toolkits and videos, joining community webinars to talk it through, praying about it, test ing it out on our tongues and so much more. We’ve done all of this for the same reason we memorized Bible verses during Sunday school as children: to imprint the words on our minds and our hearts, where they can spark ideas and be called into action. We’ve learned the vision so that we can live it.
Living the Vision continues to take many shapes across the territory. This includes ministries meeting regularly to talk and pray about what the vision could look like locally. Some corps may have gathered to move through their neighbourhoods in prayer walking ses sions, asking God to reveal how this new vision can be lived out in their streets, community kitchens and shelters. Many have engaged in training sessions and community rallies. All have been praying,
18 September/October 2022 Salvationist
talking and thinking about what we can do to become innovative partners; where we can mobilize to share hope in the face of hardship; and how we can build just communities that know the love of Jesus.
LeadingtheWay
Mobilized to Transform Lives As ministry units work on their plans for the year ahead, our four territorial strategic pillars provide a framework for all of us to lean on, again and again. Referring to them while creating local commitment and action plans is a way to constantly bring our mission and strat egy into focus, helping us think about exactly how we can strengthen spiritual health and design for people while forging innovative partnerships and optimizing mission impact. All of this—a God-inspired strategy, a bold new vision, new toolkits and vid eos—is intended to surround and sup port officers, Salvationists and mission partners as we carry out God’s work in communities across our territory. May it inspire beautiful, bold possibilities for growth and transformation in Canada and Bermuda, while we continue to embrace our mission of spreading hope, sharing the love of Jesus and creating just communities. May God lead us and bless us every step of the way.
Mobilize 2.0. kicked off more than two years ago, with our territorial leaders, Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd, travelling around the territory to meet, hear and speak with thousands of you about where we’ve been, where we are and where we want to go as The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Every August, parents receive a list of back-to-school basics for the upcoming school year: backpacks, lunch bags, runners, paper, pencils, clothing and so on.
My 13-year-old daughter has always loved school and September is an exciting time for her. With all of her back-to-school basics in hand, she heads off to school with a smile on her face and a skip in her step. As we move into a new school year, I am sure we are all hoping that things will be more normal than they have been since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Students around the world were impacted as school doors suddenly closed. Instead of gathering with friends in class, children were sitting behind a screen at home. In the months that followed, there was a constant swing back and forth between in-person and online learning, depending on the current COVID-19 situation.
To become a sponsor or to learn more about the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program, visit salvationist.ca/ brighterfutures. Major Heather Matondo is the sponsorship co-ordinator in the international development department.
Salvationist September/October 2022 19
How Brighter Futures sets children on a course for a successful future.
The Salvation Army has more than 2,600 educational facili ties, ranging from preschools to colleges and universities, which are attended by 471,000 children and youth. When COVID-19 hit, closures among these facilities presented a massive challenge to everyone in the field of education, from students and parents to teachers and sup port staff. Every Salvation Army territory had to find new and innovative ways to not only enable continued learning but also provide students with emotional, mental and practical support.
Students engage in learning at the Chaanga Secondary School in Zambia
Back-to-School Basics
During one of those remote learn ing periods, I sat at my dining room table every day listening to a class of fourand five-year-olds on the laptop beside me. One of my daughters had started kin dergarten in the middle of the pandemic and was sitting in front of the screen, trying to navigate camera on, camera off, mute, unmute and so much more! I was also working from home because our office had closed. Throughout that time, I was involved in many meetings with Salvation Army personnel from around the world discussing how COVID was impacting children. The story was the same for most places: schools were closed and children were learning online. But moving children online in Sri Lanka or Zambia was not the same as what many of us experienced here in Canada. In my home, we had laptops and tablets for each child to use; we had unlimited internet and a constant source of electric ity. This was not the reality for so many other children. While children in urban areas had a greater chance of accessing online learning, children in rural areas were often left out. But it wasn’t just technology issues that were affecting children. Mental health became a main priority as chil dren were secluded and unable to engage in social interactions due to shutdowns and closures. Nutrition was impacted as children lost access to feeding programs at school. And there were other increased risks associated with children not being in school: abuse, early marriage and school dropouts as children did not return after schoolsInternationally,reopened.
In Sri Lanka, child development centres focused on play and recre ational activities as they provided space for children to be active and socially engaged during community lockdowns. In India, food pack ages were delivered to the homes of children who were missing out on regular nutritional support from The Salvation Army. And in Congo, there were additional supports of school uniforms and kits provided for 200 children whose families were economically impacted by the pan demic.Even before the pandemic began, The Salvation Army Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program was actively involved in support ing children and youth across the world through schooling and edu cation programs. This support has continued throughout the pandemic and will continue for years to come as we recognize the importance of good education and how this can set children on a course for a suc cessful future. So, as another school year begins, let’s all work together to not only fulfil our back-to-school lists here at home, but also those belonging to some of the 3,300 students supported by Brighter Futures worldwide. The back-to-school basics that we help to provide include uniforms, backpacks and textbooks, as well as support to schools and teach ers through learning materials, furniture and equipment, water and sanitation, and feeding programs. Together, we can help provide brighter futures for children and youth around the world as we equip, prepare and support them throughout their schooling years .
BY MAJOR HEATHER MATONDO
WordsThan Exploring
Every Child Matters BY ALEX STONEY
Alex Stoney wears a T-shirt designed by his sister, Gitxsan artist Michelle Stoney, in honour of Indian residential school survivors. The artwork is entitled Majagalee, which is the word for children and flower in the Gitxsan language
20 September/October 2022 Salvationist JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION
What is “Every Child Matters”? It is a reminder that atrocities have happened to our most vulnerable. It is a reminder that Indigenous children are still being mistreated by our government. For exam ple, in 2019, Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitxsan First Nation, fought for and won a human rights case against the federal government for spending signifi cantly less per child in Indigenous com munities than in provincial child welfare systems. The federal government has since filed an appeal to try to overturn thisTheredecision.is much more to be done to ensure that “Every Child Matters” becomes a reality. I invite you to learn more. Alex Stoney is a member of the Gitxsan Nation. He is the children and youth ministry co-ordinator, Upper Skeena Circuit with Gitsegukla, Hazelton and Sik-E-Dakh (Glen Vowell), B.C.
Words hold great meaning. A simple phrase can inspire and motivate communities to rally support. It can invoke political and systemic change. It can transform how we view creation. Words have the power to bring us together or tear us apart. This month, our contributors tackle common phrases heard in reconciliation conversations between Indigenous people and settlers. Adding their perspectives, they actively explore what it means to journey on the road to reconciliation. As you read, consider how these phrases encourage deeper learning and how they settle in your heart.
Every child matters. You’ve probably heard that slogan before, perhaps many times, especially since May 27, 2021, when the unmarked graves of 215 children were recovered from a former Indian residential school in Kamloops, B.C. That number has been revised to 200, but that is still 200 too many. Not to mention the thousands of other unmarked graves found at former Indian residential schools across Canada and the United States. My heart is broken for these children and their families and friends.Both of my grandparents are survi vors of Indian residential schools, and the abuses they endured affected their lives in many ways, although my grand mother hasn’t spoken about it much. My grandfather suffered from substance abuse for many years. They were both punished for speaking their language and only allowed to speak English. This was especially challenging for those who only knew how to speak their native tongue. My mother and her siblings dealt with the intergenerational trauma while growing up. Because my grandparents were forced not to speak our native tongue, Gitxsanimx, my mother was not immersed in it, and it was a challenge for her to learn. I have not been able to learn how to speak Gitxsanimx fluently. This is just one small example of how cultural ways of being were taken from Indigenous nations all across Turtle Island. My Ye’e (grandfather) and Granny had a large family, and we continue to live our culture on our unceded territories. It is unfathomable to comprehend how many families have been affected by the cultural genocide of Indian residential schools. So many stories, cultures and lives were cut short by these violent acts of colonization financed by the government and operated by many church denominations.
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More three phrases often heard in conversations.reconciliation
Unfortunately, in our predominantly settler society, aggressive consumption of our world’s resources has ravaged creation for personal gain and com fort, causing ripple effects. Loving my neighbour means I acknowledge how my actions affect those around me and their ability to thrive. The way of loving my neighbour and seeing the world as “all my relations” helps me lose the sin of pride and selfishness. It also gives me a new perspective on how to walk more gently with creation and subsequently with my neighbours, both close to home and around the globe. In doing so, God’s loving character can be shown to the world through me.
Salvationist September/October 2022 21 All My Relations BY LIEUTENANT NATHANAEL HOEFT
JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION
Rebekah McNeilly is the social media and resource co-ordinator for women’s ministries in the Canada and Bermuda Territory. She is a PhD student at the University of Alberta.
What is Decolonization?
“W ho is my neighbour?” An expert in the law asked Jesus this question in Luke 10. To answer, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, one of the most beloved of Jesus’ teachings. It shows that no mat ter what our political or socio-economic differences are, you can still be a good neighbour to those you see by showing love in the face of hardship. In Mark 12:3032, Jesus said that the whole of the law can be summed up in two commands: love God and love your neighbour. In our increasingly individualistic society, the question could be: “How can I aid reconciliation work with marginalized communities?” There is a phrase, often used by Indigenous people, that counters individualism: “All my relations.” While this phrase can appear to mean those to whom we are related, this is not nearly the intention. In One Native Life, Ojibway author Richard Wagamese explained: “When we say, ‘all my relations,’ it’s meant in a teaching way, to rekindle community. We are a part of the great, grand circle of humanity, and we need each other.”
I believe that Jesus’ teaching to love our neighbour and the Indigenous phrase “all my relations” show us God’s character. Love for our neighbour is boundless, just as the acknowledgment that we are con nected to all of creation, not just human ity. The human species cannot survive without water, without trees and plants, without animals. Nor can the human species thrive without community. We honour God’s creation, acknowledging the interconnectedness of the world, when we say “all my relations.”
BY REBEKAH McNEILLY
We frequently hear the word “decolonization” today, but what does it mean? It’s typically used in two ways: to refer to resistance to a legacy of colonialism by Indigenous people around the world, and to describe changes in policy, best practices and in the structure of an organization.Tounderstand decolonization, we must first understand colonialism, defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or people.” Historically, this was violent and involved the forceful “claim” to a territory that was already occupied by another people. These set tlers caused immense harm and the era sure of culture, among other damage. So, how do we decolonize? How can the murder of thousands of children, the theft and destruction of cherished ideals, language and cultural practices, and the displacement from a sacred land be undone? This question is not for the faint of heart, and yet, as white settlers, it is a question we must ask ourselves because it characterizes the daily life of Indigenous people globally. We have the privilege of being part of the solution, rather than dismissing the “sins of our fathers” as a thing of the past. A key tenet of decolonization is that it is a long-term process. White people may say, “We’ve apologized; we’ve been work ing on reconciliation for so many years!” Hundreds of years of oppression will not be undone quickly. Decolonization is the handing over or divesting of colonial power in bureaucracy (the way organiza tions have been built around the needs and culture of white people), in linguis tics (English as the operating language across all spheres) and in psychological ways.In the documentary film series Stories of Decolonization: Land Dispossession and Settlement, Tasha Hubbard describes her upbringing as a Peepeekisis First Nations woman raised by an adoptive settler family. Although her grandfa ther had a profound respect and love for the land, there was never any dis cussion of how he came to “possess” or “own” that land as property. At times, he found arrowheads or buried stone tools and acknowledged people had lived there before, but nothing beyond that. Hubbard says that her ancestors were effectively erased from any history to which she had access.
As settlers, we sometimes get stuck on acknowledging, apologizing and tak ing responsibility for the grave wrongs of our forebears. I believe a more effec tive and hopeful approach is to dwell on the efforts required of us to listen, retell and highlight the lives and stories of the people who were here before us. There is much to their culture, practices and lives that remains untold and deprioritized. Decolonization endeavours to restore an Indigenous world view. Decolonization prioritizes Indigenous perspectives on themselves and their histories and ampli fies their voices. Decolonization is not about bashing white people; it is about returning to Indigenous people their most basic right to exist free of oppres sion. This will take time.
Lieutenant Nathanael Hoeft is the corps officer in Williams Lake, B.C.
One of the four pillars of Mobilize 2.0 is strengthening spiritual health. At the heart of The Salvation Army’s mission are healthy congregations. In the following months, the corps mission resource department will share a series of articles that explore the foundations of a healthy corps: authentic community, biblical stewardship, contagious evangelism, discipleship and effective leadership.
The Best Shape of Our Lives
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How healthy are you?
22 September/October 2022 Salvationist CORPS HEALTH
The Body of Christ In many ways, the pandemic has been a time of congregational examination. Our experience of connectedness was challenged as we complied with guide lines to protect the physical health of the people around us. It may be that the stress of the pandemic surfaced other issues or tensions, but perhaps it also inspired creativity in forming commu nity and engaging in outreach. Some of us may yearn for how things used to be, while others may be looking ahead to the future God is unfolding in front of us. The conversations we have with each other about these issues are important. Spiritual discernment should be at the heart of our discussions about corps health, and biblical wisdom can guide our interaction with each other. Most of the pastoral letters in the New Testament are about congregational health. They address spirituality, theology, holiness, ethics and the general behaviour appropriate for people who are followers of Jesus. It is important to read the letters that are addressed to the early churches not as communication for individuals but for the community of faith. Note that some were addressed to “God’s holy people in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1) or “to the churches in Galatia” (Galatians 1:2) or “to the church of God in Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2). The wisdom shared was for communal discernment, reflection andOneaction.ofthe ways Paul explains healthy congregational life is with the image of “the body of Christ.” Each of us contributes to the whole. In his letter to “all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people” (Romans 1:7), Paul writes: “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:4-8). This description is sandwiched between the encouragement to humbly offer ourselves both to God and each other, and the recurring reminder to sincerely love each other, but the emphasis
Using our gifts and talents to grow healthy congregations.
BY JAMES W. WATSON AND MAJOR NORMAN GARCIA
Over the past couple of years, personal health assessments and rapid viral tests have become normal. It has been necessary for us to become aware of our bodies and whether we can accomplish what we want to achieve in our day. In the same way we think about how to improve our personal health, we can think about how to contribute to congregational health.When we think about the life of our corps, what are the ways we think about health? Imagine creating a rapid assessment or a stress test for church. When corps leaders talk about corps life, often there are pastoral concerns for individuals who need prayer and support, but there is also an intuitive sense of how “we” are all doing together. There are diagnostic options. Some formal congregational assessments are observations of trends in attendance, participation or financial contributions, which raise questions about the underlying dynamics. Most assessments involve surveys or discussion groups that prayerfully draw out the perceptions of soldiers and adherents. Regardless of where our congregation might be on the congregational life cycle ca/corps-mission/corps-administration/(salvationist. corps-health), there is a collective desire to be vibrant and grow in healthy ways.
What does this mean where we live?
For others, it was more spontaneous as people were encouraged to reach out to neighbours. While volunteerism was challenged by health concerns, some corps had people step up to offer their time to serve the community and let people know they had not been forgotten. One corps, close to the end of the pandemic restrictions in their region, was doing a fall cleaning day at their building when someone noticed a neighbour from the community sitting on the curb. The soldier cautiously approached the person and when they saw that they were in distress, offered to help.
Growing in Love
the story of the person on the curb, the concerned soldier remembered that someone with a social work background was on the cleaning crew and could help address some of the challenges facing their neighbour. They made an introduction, and the result was that someone in that community knew they were loved by The Salvation Army. The corps officer learned about this scenario afterward and celebrated God at work.
“The pandemic created a test, not just for The Salvation Army, but for all Christian congregations to sort out what is essential.... This season of coming together can also be a time of growing together as we depend on each other and God.”
Salvationist September/October 2022 23 is on offering our different gifts for the good of the body. The human body is used repeatedly as an image for the body of Christ to emphasize how even when we are different, we are indispensable to each other (see 1 Corinthians 12) or that we each have a part to play in building each other up (see Ephesians 4:11-16) so that we function properly together.
The corps mission resource department offers support to corps in developing these abilities together. salvationist.ca/corps-mission.Visit James W. Watson is a corps health and planting consultant in the corps mission resource department. Major Norman Garcia is the corps officer at Meadowlands in Hamilton, Ont.
People who have studied churches of different traditions tell us there are multiple characteristics that work together to create a flourishing Christian community. If we reflect on what is essential, we can identify the need for effective leadership to encourage faithful discipleship, which creates an authentic community with a generosity of spirit that naturally invites others to share in Christian life together. These are pieces of the puzzle that can create a beautiful picture with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What might be easy for us to gloss over is the interconnectedness, that it is my use of my talents that contributes to the healthy witness of our congregation. We are each an essential piece when we offer and receive each other’s gifts. The various lists of gifts or talents can be read as both specific and general. We may have a specific role to play within the congregation as a preacher, teacher, financial contributor or the person serving food, but any of us can speak the words God has given us to say or be generous or be compassionate. This applies particularly well to the idea of leadership. While some people may have a title or job description as leader, any one of us can offer to ensure a specific task gets done. It is not so much about you or me making our own contribution as it is being attentive to what Jesus is directing us to do so that the body is healthy. During the pandemic, a few corps organized prayerful, caring people to contact everyone on the directory list, including some who had not been regular attenders, with a friendly call to check in on them during social isolation or lockdown.
The challenge presented to us, in our own
CORPS HEALTH
A Piece of the Puzzle
These stories are not isolated incidents.
Hearing
As you read Salvationist , note how often teamwork is mentioned and how the different gifts of officers, soldiers, adherents, friends and volunteers contribute to how God is reconciling and redeeming all things. This is the “deeper life of faith in action” mentioned in the strategic objectives of The Salvation Army (salvationist.ca/territorialstrategy).
congregations and communities, is how we both offer and recognize gifts and talents. Take the initiative to reach out, connect with someone and offer to help. When you are in conversation or working alongside a friend at the corps, take a moment to encourage them. One of the easiest ways to encourage someone is to simply state out loud your observation of their talents in action. The pandemic created a test, not just for The Salvation Army, but for all Christian congregations to sort out what is essential. We were created for relationship. When required to isolate or keep our distance for the sake of public safety, we learned what was important in our congregational life. This season of coming together can also be a time of growing together as we depend on each other and God. We can offer ourselves as we partner with what the Holy Spirit is doing all around us. We can be healthy as we “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
W h at do ArmySalvationTheand rock legends The Rolling Stones have in common? According to research by Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading global ingand“oneenduringTheAmericanOlympicOxfordtutions—along10bothconsultantmanagementfirm,theyareoneoftheworld’smost-enduringinstiwithUniversity,theGamesandtheConstitution.companydefinesaninstitutionasthathaschangedgrowninunswervpursuitofsuccessand relevance yet remained true throughout time to its founding principles.”
24 September/October 2022 Salvationist PERSPECTIVES
There you have it—they are brands that have stood the test of Thetime.Salvation Army Red Shield was first used in 1915 at the start of the First World War and was officially launched by Colonel Walter Peacock, a Canadian Salvation Army officer, who also cofounded the famed Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, following the war. From there, the Red Shield was adopted as The Salvation Army’s international brand symbol. Today, it is an emblem of help and hope in the 132 countries where we serve around the world. The power of The Salvation Army’s brand is humbling because it is a reminder of the tremen dous responsibility that is entrusted to us by our donors, supporters, government agencies and mission partners. For more than 140 years, The Salvation Army in Canada has adapted, “changed and grown in unswerving pursuit of suc cess and relevance.” Our corps, which are the heartbeat of The Salvation Army and our social mission ministry, have marched in lockstep in response to the spiritual and humanitarian needs of Canadians and, since 1896, of Bermudians. The brand remains relevant and strong because
The Red Shield
BY LT-COLONEL JOHN P. MURRAY
2.0 is a transformation program dedicated to ensuring that our organization remains relevant and successful in mission. It is rooted in our new vision statement and the spiritual bedrock of who we are as a people: “So I prophesied as he com manded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army” (Ezekiel 37:10). We remain an innovative partner, “mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship, building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus.” And we are committed to being innovative, relevant and successful in our mission because this is our calling and responsi bility as Salvationists, officers, employees andThesevolunteers.areexciting days for the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Of course, they are also days of challenge and change, but to stay responsive and relevant, as illus trated by our deeply impactful pandemic response, we must remain focused and committed to that mission. More than 100 years ago, Colonel Peacock launched the Red Shield and as a brand it has endured war, famine, drought, economic crisis and pandemic. It has endured because those who are called to serve in Christ’s name have been committed to the mission to which we’re called. It is my prayer that Mobilize 2.0 will strengthen us for mission and help The Salvation Army remain responsive and relevant to those who need us most. Lt-Colonel John P. Murray is the territorial secretary for communications.
An early example of the Red Shield
Salvationists and mission partners strive to fulfil our calling, which is beautifully captured in our mission statement: “The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the com munities of our world.”
A brand that has stood the test of time.
Our brand is unique because it reso nates with those we are called to serve, along with those who want to partner with us and be a bridge within their communities. The Red Shield is also a trusted symbol recognized by government and corporations as reflecting a genuine and sincere organization, and it is our people—who live out our organizational values of hope, service, dignity and stew ardship—who reflect the meaning and message of the brand. The Canada and Bermuda Territory is committed to remaining relevant and purposeful and we are dedicated to the journey of Mobilize 2.0, a transformation program that includes the creation of a vision statement for The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory so that we know where we are heading, and the development of a strategic plan that will help our movement get there. Our organization continues to adapt and respond to societal shifts and oppor tunities for service and ministry, which is why the Salvation Army brand continues to resonate with the public. We are innova tive and ever-changing, and a cursory review of Salvation Army history confirmsMobilizethat.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear with out someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ ” (Romans 10:14-15).
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The story is told in Salvation Army lore that William Booth, nearing the end of his life and unable to attend the Army’s annual convention, wanted to inspire the troops. Desiring to be frugal and concise at the same time, it is said he sent a one-word telegram to the delegates: OTHERS. This is the tension of discipleship: it’s not all about me and God. My life, as a follower of Jesus, is also about others. My faith should have an outward focus.
General Albert Orsborn painted a word picture of what this looks like for us: The Saviour of men came to seek and to save The souls who were lost to the Hisgood;Spirit was moved for the world which he loved With the boundless compassion of God … Except I am moved with comHowpassion,dwelleth thy Spirit in me? In word and in deed Burning love is my need; I know I can find this in thee. (SASB 626) Our world is in desperate need of those who are both moved to compassionate action and simultaneously proclaim the One in whom deepest compassion and love is found through their words. A faith that has an outward focus is motivated by sacrificial compassionate mission. This is the road our Saviour walked. It’s sometimes easy to get so busy and involved inside our walls that we forget that the Great Commission assumes we’re all going somewhere: “Wherever you go, make disciples!” (Matthew 28:19 GW).
A disciple whose faith is marked by an outward focus should be actively engaged in the world. During the pandemic—a time so often characterized by social distancing and isolation—I found myself walking my dog and talking with my neighbours perhaps more than I have since I was a child, playing outside on a regular basis. Working “inside” the church, most of my relationships are found there, too. But most Salvationists live and breathe the vast majority of their lives “outside” the church. So, what difference is our presence making? Where do we spend our time, with whom, and are we ready to give an answer for the hope that we have, wherever we find ourselves?
BY KEVIN SLOUS
While the time of holding weekly Sunday evening testimony periods has perhaps passed, there is still power in testimony.
In her book Almost Christian, Kenda Creasy Dean makes the claim that “talking about Jesus Christ actually deepens our identity as people who follow him.” One of the four key faith skills in Orange, our territory’s discipleship curriculum for all ages, is “talk,” which helps equip disciples to talk about Jesus and one’s journey of faith with others in the faith and those who are not yet Christian.
Salvationist September/October 2022 25 SPIRITUAL LIFE
If my life is centred on Jesus, what dif ference does he make to how I live my life?
A CHRIST-centred, OTHERS-focused disciple lives their faith with an outward focus. Kevin Slous is the territorial secretary for spiritual life development. So far in our series, we have explored the CHRIST-centred story we live in. It is the gospel story and is what should shape our lives as followers of Jesus. It is this story we proclaim, embody and invite others to join on a journey of discipleship. We live a faith that is CHRIST-centred and OTHERS-focused. The next six articles in our series will explore how we live in and live out this story oriented around Jesus by using the acronym OTHERS.
Word and Deed
Does your faith have an outward focus?
The famous quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words,” is some times (perhaps too often) interpreted as an invitation not to speak about what should be dearest to us, as those who have been transformed by the love of Jesus. A faith that has an outward focus is one that has an effective personal witness. What other opportunities are we providing—are we taking—to share Jesus in word and deed with others? But our deeds must also speak of and demonstrate the love of Jesus. The Apostle John writes, “He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked” (1 John 2:6 NKJV).
However, is it possible that we should be applauding, rather than lamenting, the closure of some church buildings? I know that might sound preposterous, especially coming from a church leader. But consider the following.
Ifind anrustedorapeelingwalkingaandthemeanderingabandonedaboutoddlysomethingappealingexploringspaces—throughsilenthallwaysclassroomsofshutteredschool,acrossthelinoleumofdesertedkitchensittingontheremainsofamusementpark ride.
I’m not alone in my fascination with neglected buildings and forgotten proper ties. The Instagram account Abandoned Central, which features photos of deserted spaces, has 77,000 followers. The hum of activity in a theatre, now grown silent. The well-polished furniture of a railway car, now covered in dust and grime. The neatly organized tools of an industrial structure, now strewn haphazardly across warpedHowever,floorboards.asIlook at photos of these abandoned spaces, one type of derelict building always captures my attention: buildings that once boasted the title “church.”Dwindling congregations, financial burdens, loss of vision or mission and societal changes have all forced many congregations to consider their sustain ability. The result is often congregational amalgamations, loss of paid staff or church closures in nearly every denomi nation, The Salvation Army included.
Open and Shut
Understandably, the loss of a church building can evoke many emotions within people. For some, it has been the venue for many of their family’s milestone events, such as weddings, baby dedications and funerals. For others, it represents a place of spiritual development where significant discipleship takes place. For still others, the church building is a hub of social engagement where they form meaning ful relationships. Therefore, when I see images of an abandoned church structure, it can be easy to lament and grieve the loss experienced by those directly affected.
After a church building closes, what new opportunities await? BY MAJOR SHELDON BUNGAY
While it’s true that their building closed, a new opportunity was open to them. After years of stagnancy and finan cial concern, they were being invited to amalgamate and join forces with a nearby church—a congrega tion actively engaged in mission and with a vibrant disciple ship ministry, with many possibilities for community ser vice, genuine con nection and unfairisdevelopment.spiritualCertainly,therenothingshameful,orheartbreak ing to God about any of that. Instead of lamenting what was, I believe these individuals should be celebrating what could be. As we move into the future, it may be necessary for Salvation Army corps to consider what is more important: a build ing or the mission itself? We are called to save souls, share hope and help our communities—not maintain a building. What is going to be the best use of our precious financial, practical and people resources? Failing to live out our mission must break the heart of God more than the closure of a building. I love to explore abandoned spaces, and it is possible that my future adven tures will include a former Salvation Army church. No doubt there I would feel a twinge of sadness if the items cov ered in dust and grime were forgotten brass instruments, mercy seats and discarded yellow, red and blue flags. But if that closure made room for innovative mission opportunities, for new relation ships or for more people to experience Jesus, then I will applaud and not lament that abandoned space. Major Sheldon Bungay is the corps officer at St. John’s Temple, N.L.
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26 September/October 2022 Salvationist
I recently observed the reactions of people whose church building was clos ing. While I realized that this decision would make an impact on their weekly activities and worship routine and under stood their sadness, I was also concerned by what I heard. “This is shameful.” “This is so unfair.” “This breaks the heart of God.”Was the closure sad? Yes. But is it possible that these individuals had lost sight of something important?
My journey began in Syria, through Lebanon, and now continues in Canada. God has been preparing me for ministry since 2009, and he is now taking me into a new phase of training. Officership means giving myself, my abilities and skills for God to use under the supervision of the Army. It is a responsibility and a privilege, and I want to do my best.
WESLEYVILLE, N.L.— Alvin Barrow was born in Gambo, N.L., and promoted to glory at the age of 75. He served as a bandsman in the Gambo Corps until moving to Labrador City, N.L., and then Clarenville, N.L., where he continued to play in the band, became corps secretary and played a significant role in developing a prison visitation ministry. Nearly 12 years ago while residing in New-Wes-Valley, N.L., Alvin suffered a severe heart attack. Despite his failing health, he supported corps ministries, especially men’s fellowship efforts, where he was appreciated for his joyful spirit and helpfulness. From childhood to his final day, Alvin actively cared for his family and encouraged people. To all who knew him, it was evident that his healthy attitude toward life and his integrity were based on his faith and values he learned at home. Alvin was predeceased by his Salvationist parents, Charles and Rebecca Barrow, and nine siblings. Left to cherish the memory of Alvin’s life of love and kindness are his wife, Louise; children Jillian and Paul; brother, Major Ira; several loving grandchildren; three sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews; many extended family members and friends.
Aux-Lieutenant Tharwat Eskander Mississauga Community Church— The Collegeway Site, Ont. Div Ever since Grade 11, I was very curious about God, wanting to know him and looking at ways to get involved at church. I had a personal conversion in 1998, and ever since felt God’s call on my life. After serving in a full-time pastoring position with a non-denominational church, I was scared to con tinue in ministry, so I worked for four years at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters. There I met friends, mentors and godly men and women who had a great impact on my spiritual walk and helped me see the possibility of returning to full-time ministry through The Salvation Army. I joined a corps, became a senior soldier and then an auxiliary-lieutenant.
Accepted for
Gladis Koshkarian Shaganappi Community Church, Calgary, Alta. & N.T. Div When I led home churches back in Aleppo, Syria, I was so happy supporting others in their spiritual journey. From there I knew God was calling me for ministry, and I thank him for The Salvation Army and for opening a door for me in Canada to serve.
Jenny Hale Southlands Community Church, Winnipeg, Prairie Div Working at Beaver Creek Camp as a young adult was the start of my journey to discover God’s call on my life to be an officer. It was through God asking me to change my plan of becoming a nurse and accepting the full-time youth co-ordinator position at my corps that I heard his voice get louder and clearer until I accepted that it was time to apply to the College for Officer Training.
Aux-Lieutenant Mirna Dirani Mississauga Community Church—The Collegeway Site, Ont. Div I discovered my love for serving others as I assisted refugees fleeing war in Iraq as they came to Syria for help. Those years changed my perspective of what I wanted to do with my life. I went back to school in Toronto to study social service work, specializing in work with immigrants and refugees. As Syrian refugees were fleeing war in Syria and coming to Canada, I was their first contact when they came to shelters and then settled in their own homes. During that time, I was hired to manage a Salvation Army homeless shelter. In the beginning I didn’t know why I was there but felt an assurance in my heart that God was teaching me something and I was there for a reason. My husband and I were both Army employees and loved the mission it stands for. We became auxiliary-lieutenants and couldn’t be more excited and thankful to be accepted into the field-based tailored training program. Field-Based Tailored Training
RETIREMENT
Salvationist September/October 2022 27 PEOPLE & PLACES
Atallah Albkhetan Shaganappi Community Church, Calgary, Alta. & N.T. Div
TRIBUTE
Majors Brian and Betty Thomas retire September 1 following 26 years of service as Salvation Army officers. Commissioned in 1994 as members of the Crusaders for Christ Session from the College for Officer Training in St. John’s, N.L., they were appointed as corps officers in Fairbanks, N.L. Subsequent corps appointments took them across the island of Newfoundland to Seal Cove/ Baie Verte, Chance Cove, Hampden, Ming’s Bight/Woodstock, Robert’s Arm and Green’s Harbour. Betty and Brian retire from their final appointment in King’s Point, N.L., which will be their home base in retirement. They look forward to what God has in store for their future.
28 September/October 2022 Salvationist PEOPLE & PLACES GAZETTE
Oct 1—Cols Janet/Seth Appeateng,TPWM/TC, Ghana Tty; Lt-Cols Mary/Samuel Mkami, TPWM/TC, Tanzania Tty, with rank of col; Lt-Cols Luka/Rasoa Khayumbi, OC/CPWM, Liberia and Sierra Leone Cmd; Lt-Cols
Lt-Col Les Marshall, executive officer for the Canadian Staff Band*; Lt-Col John Murray, executive officer for the Canadian Staff Songsters*; Mjr Corinne Cameron, spiritual formation officer, CFOT*; Mjrs Mark/Wendy Crabb, COs, York CC, Toronto, Ont. Div; Mjr Linda Daley, director of business and operations, Halton Hamilton Brantford (HHB) Housing and Support Services, Brantford, Ont. Div; Mjrs Carson/Teresa Decker, pastoral services officers, B.C. Div, THQ**; Mjr Roxzena Hayden, divisional family tracing co-ordinator, Ont. Div*; Mjr Stephen McNeilly, Gananoque Ministry, Ont. Div*; Mjr Patrick O’Doherty, personnel records administrator, officer personnel department, THQ; Mjrs Beth/David Pearo, pastoral services officers, Ont. and Prairie Divs, THQ**; Mjr Guy Simms, special assignment, DHQ, Ont. Div; Mjr Rhonda Smith, program director, Ches Penney Centre of Hope, St. John’s, N.L. Div; Mjr Sandra Stokes, DC, N.L. Div, with rank of lt-col; Mjr Leslie Wiseman, corps ministries secretary, THQ; Mjr Stephen Wiseman, pastoral services officer, Ont. Div, THQ**; Cpts Mathias/Myriam Divert, returning to Sweden and Latvia Tty; Cpt Donna Downey, chaplain, Meighen Health Centre, Toronto, Ont. Div; Cpt Shawna Goulding, mission and ministry formation co-ordinator and personnel co-ordinator, CFOT*; Cpts Eric/Rachael Olson (from Germany, Lithuania and Poland Tty), COs, Trail, B.C. Div; Cpt Jon Savage, divisional men’s ministry resource officer, Ont. Div*; Cpt Lynda Wakelin, executive director, Lakeview Manor, Riverview, N.B., Maritime Div; Lt Susan Goulding, personnel officer and records administrator, officer personnel department, THQ; Lt Guan-Ming Parker Shieh, CO, Southmount Citadel New Life Ministries, Vancouver, B.C. Div**; Florence/Steve Yau, COs, Richmond, B.C. Div, with rank of aux-lt; Sep 1—Sandra Rowsell, DSWM, divisional consultant for CFS, divisional modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) response advocate, B.C. Div, with rank of mjr (*additional responsibility, **designation change)
Long service: 45 years—General Brian Peddle, Mjr Shirley King; 40 years—Lt-Col Beverley Slous, Mjr Florence Andrews Borgela, Mjr Linda Budgell, Mjr Brenda Coles, Mjr Lynn Cummings, Mjr Sharon Hayward, Mjr Wayne McDonough, Mjr Linda McNutt; 35 years—Col Ian Swan, Lt-Col Jamie Braund, Mjr Elaine Bridger, Mjr Doreen Grandy, Mjr James Hann, Mjrs Alan/Karen Hoeft; 30 years—Lt-Cols Grant/Lauren Effer, Mjr Darlene Anderson, Mjrs Edson/Kathryn Chiu, Mjr Mervyn Halvorsen, Mjr Roxzena Hayden, Mjrs Beth/Dave Pearo,
Promoted to major: Cpts Mark/Nancy Braye, Cpts Ashley/Sheldon Bungay, Cpts Mark/Wendy Crabb, Cpts Jodi/Mark Dunstan, Cpts Karen/Stephen Holland, Cpts Michael/Susan Ramsay, Cpt Kathryn Ritson, Cpts Jason/Tammy Sabourin, Cpts Barbara/Mark Stanley, Cpts Debbie/James Vander Heyden
Post-retirement ministry: Mjrs Catherine/Kenneth Ritson, COs, Peterborough Temple, Ont. Div; Sep 5—Mjrs Constance/Gordon Armstrong, CO/community ministries officer, Hanover, Ont. Div
Appointments:INTERNATIONAL
Daniel/Nolega Imbiakha, CS/TSWM, Kenya West Tty; Lt-Cols Graçia/Lydia Matondo, TC/TPWM, Democratic Republic of Congo Tty, with rank of col; Lt-Cols Stephen/Theresa Malins, OC/CPWM, Angola Cmd; Lt-Cols Nighat Imran/Imran Sabir, TSWM/CS, Sri Lanka Tty; Mjrs Safdar Iqbal/Asia Safdar, CS/TSWM, Pakistan Tty, with rank of lt-col; Nov 1—Lt-Col Hary Haran, TC, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Tty, with rank of col; Lt-Cols Kyle/Lisa Smith, CS/TSWM, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Tty
Appointments:TERRITORIAL
Promoted to captain: Lts Catherine/Scott Allen, Lt Lana Anstey, Lts Dawn/ Geoffrey Butt, Lts Chad/Lisa Cole, Lt Connie Cristall, Lts Jennifer/Robert Henson, Lts Donna/Joseph Ludlow, Lts David/Renee McFadden, Lt Shelley Oseil, Lt Sabrina Silvey, Lts Carolina/Johnny Valencia
The Territorial Social Services Department celebrates these ministry units for meeting and exceeding organizational standards of mission delivery
Canadian Staff Band: Oct 1-2 Brantford CC, Ont.
CALENDAR Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd: Sep 7-11 visit of General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, N.L. Div (Commissioner Floyd Tidd only); Sep 11-14 area commanders conference, Toronto; Sep 13-16 Mission Delivery Leaders Forum, Toronto; Sep 17-18 CFOT welcome weekend, Toronto; Sep 24-Oct 2 International Conference of Leaders, Vancouver; Oct 12-14 National Advisory Board, Victoria; Oct 15-16 50th corps anniversary weekend, Mississauga CC, Ont.; Oct 22-23 125th corps anniversary weekend, Islandview Citadel, Musgravetown, N.L.; Oct 27-28 5th Year Institute, Toronto; Oct 29-30 Explore Your Call weekend, Toronto Colonel Evie Diaz: Sep 9-10 Booth University College board of trustees meetings, Winnipeg; Sep 11 Mountain Citadel, Hamilton, Ont.; Sep 13-16 Mission Delivery Leaders Forum, Toronto; Sep 17-18 CFOT welcome weekend, Toronto; Sep 25 International Conference of Leaders welcome meeting, Cariboo Hill Temple, Burnaby, B.C.; Oct 3-7 ARC councils, St. Louis, U.S.A. Central Tty; Oct 23-24 CFOT, Winnipeg; Oct 25 5th Year Institute, Toronto; Oct 31-Nov 1 divisional review, N.L. Div
REGINA—After learning about Partners in Mission in Sunday school at Haven of Hope Ministries, two junior soldiers, Gavin and Ethan Tang, set up an indoor lemonade stand as part of a special Partners in Mission fundraising event at their corps. The fundraiser was a success, raising almost $500 for the corps’ Partners in Mission campaign through the sale of homemade crafts, baked goods, lunch prepared by members of the congregation and, of course, lemonade. Mjr Shona Pike, Mjr Kelly Rideout; 25 years—Mjr Kristiana Mac Kenzie, Mjrs Kirk/Sharon MacLeod, Mjrs Andrew/Darlene Morgan, Mjrs Christopher/ Claudette Pilgrim, Mjrs Daniel/Lori Pinksen, Mjrs Karen/Michael Puddicombe, Mjrs Donna/Guy Simms, Mjrs Judy/Vaden Vincent, Mjrs Darren/Suzann Wiseman, Mjrs Leslie/Stephen Wiseman
COBOURG, ONT.—Cobourg CC celebrates as two adherents and one senior soldier are enrolled. From left, Al King, acting recruiting sergeant; Mjr Wendy Broome, CO; Eric Hobe, acting corps treasurer, holding the flag; Leone Wilson, adherent; Pauline Walker, senior soldier; Dennis Walker, adherent; and Mjr Dan Broome, CO.
Retirements: Aug 1—Cpt Claude Dagenais; Sep 1—Mjr Guy Simms, Mjrs Betty/Brian Thomas
Salvationist September/October 2022 29 PEOPLE & PLACES
Promoted to glory: Mjr Donna Pilgrim, May 31; Mjr Stanley Burditt, Jun 10; Mjr June Pike, Jun 22; Cpt Pearce Andrews, Jun 27; Mjr Anne Wood, Jul 9
Belkin House and Grace Mansion (BC) With Commendation Brantford Booth Centre (ONT) With Commendation Bunton Lodge and W.P. Archibald Centre (ONT) With Commendation Hamilton Lawson Ministries (ONT) With Commendation Kate Booth House (BC) With Distinction Kitchener New Directions (ONT) With Distinction Ottawa Booth Centre (ONT) Accredited Peel Shelter and Housing Services (ONT) With Commendation Richmond Community Church (BC) Accredited Ridge Meadows Ministries (BC) Accredited St. Catharines Booth Centre (ONT) With Commendation The Gateway of Hope (BC) With Distinction Toronto Correctional and Justice Services (ONT) With Distinction Toronto Harbour Light Ministries (ONT) With Distinction Winnipeg Community Venture (PRA) With Commendation Winnipeg Correctional and Justice Services (PRA) With Commendation
Congratulations 2021 Accredited Ministry Units
GRAND BANK, N.L.—Four junior soldiers proudly display their Junior Soldier Promises as they are enrolled at Grand Bank Corps. Front, from left, Kennedi Grandy, Grayson Collins, Michaela Brinston and Jaxson Newport. Supporting them are, back, from left, Goldie Langdon; Mjrs Darlene and Arley Masters, COs; Elmo King, ministry unit leader, Fortune Corps, N.L.; CSM Tom Banfield; and Calvin Foote, holding the flag.
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30 September/October 2022 Salvationist GRACE NOTES
Embracing the places we’re called to.
Settling Down
So, where does this leave us Christians, whose relationship with place is still so complex, so precarious? We cannot neglect the space around us. As officers, where we are appointed affects the way we serve and how we live out our commission and calling. Our task is not merely to save souls, but to trans form our communities. For all Christians, where we live and the places we visit affect how we experience God in nature and the community spaces around us. We cannot neglect the responsibil ity that God gives us to steward and care for the places in which we find ourselves. We must be mindful of those who have inhabited this place before us and must preserve it for future place.Wegenerations.mustembraceItrytolivebythe saying “grow where you are planted.” This can be challenging for those who move often, but I firmly believe that we won’t grow if we don’t put down roots. While this involves ensuring our spiritual roots grow deep into Jesus (see Colossians 2:7), I also believe it involves getting to know our physical surroundings—building relationships with the people who live there, join ing local community groups, explor ing green spaces and eating at locally ownedWhenrestaurants.theIsraelites were living in exile in Babylon, God urged his people to “settle down” and to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have car ried you” (Jeremiah 29:4-7), and I believe he would advise all of us to do the same as we embrace the places in which we find ourselves.
Walking through the front door of my child hood home, where my parents still live, feels like a warm hug. It’s a place where I can breathe deeply and rest completely, a place where I feel whole and secure. In the nearly 15 years since I left, I have lived in seven houses across five provinces. In many ways, this transient lifestyle has shaped my adult years as much as stability shaped my Thischildhood.summer, we tran sitioned once again to a new city, a new commu nity, a new house. We are busy exploring new land marks and making new friends. We’ve left one place behind and are embracing another. I’ve been thinking about place a lot lately. As Christians, we have a compli cated relationship with place. When I was young, I recall being taught that this world is not our permanent home and to prepare ourselves for heaven. But as I read the Bible, I am reminded that God cares about places. My children spent a whole month learning about the Genesis 1 and 2 accounts of creation this past spring. As I reviewed the story with them, it occurred to me that God put great effort into making places. He first created the sea, and then the fish. He first created the sky, and then the birds. He first created the garden, and then humanity. It may seem obvious that God would create in this order, but I think there is something profound that God knew we needed somewhere to be—a place— before he created our form. Only a few pages later in our Bibles we meet Abram, soon to be Abraham, whom God called to a place—to Canaan, the Promised Land. This place defined his God-given calling, not only his purpose but that of his children and grandchil dren—as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Some years later, God called Moses to liberate the descendants of Abraham, not only from a place, slavery in Egypt, but also to a place, the land promised to Abraham. I’ve heard it said that we must not be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. This phrase would have confused the earliest Christians, who did not believe that they would “go to heaven” when they died, but rather cel ebrated that, in Jesus, God had come to live with them where they already were.
Captain Laura Van Schaick is the corps officer at Barrhaven Church in Ottawa and the divisional secretary for women’s ministries in the Ontario Division.
It all leads me to believe that place matters. It matters to God, and it matters to us. Yes, we are called to be pilgrims on a journey, and yet we recognize the impor tance of community for God’s children.
BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK
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how can I support children's education? M a k i n g a w o r t h w h i l e d i f f e r e n c e i s o n l y a c l i c k a w a y . S a l v a t i o n A r m y . c a / b r i g h t e r f u t u r e s For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@salvationarmy.ca. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes. PM 40064794
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2022 Faith & Friends INSPIRATION FOR LIVING Thai Cave Rescue 13 LIVES P.25 Nikoleta Curcin TRUE TO HERSELF P.12 Not Doing Without ARMY TACKLES HUNGER P.5 NUNAVUT TEACHER PARTNERS WITH SALVATION ARMY TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS. P.16 in the North Hope
To learn more about God’s unfailing love, visit our website at faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4.
WithAntidisestablishmentarianism.28lettersand13syllables, it’s one of the hardest words to say in the English language. (Right up there with sesquipedalian and Inotorhinolaryngologist.)general,longwords can be difficult to say. We have to pause on each letter and sound out every syllable.
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But sometimes, short words are even harder. Words like “I love you” or “I’m sorry.”
While we all make mistakes, admitting our faults and asking for forgiveness is often not easy. It requires humility. And it can be risky—what if the person we apologize to does not forgive?
God is love. Three simple words, one eternal truth.
Thankfully, with God, we never have to worry about how He will react. If we confess our mistakes to Him, He will forgive us and make us whole again (see 1 John 1:9).
“If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from unrighteousness.”all—1John1:9
faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • 3 COVERSTORY September/October 2022 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 7 SOMEONE CARES 5 Not Doing Without Salvation Army boosts rural communities affected by unique hunger challenges. GOD IN MY LIFE 8 Feeling Seasick? Maybe it’s time to look up. COMMON GROUND 10 Planting a Seed The Salvation Army helped Spencer move on from a life of incarceration and drugs. 12 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2022 Faith& Friends 13 LIVES P.25TRUE TO HERSELF P.12 Not Doing Without ARMY TACKLES HUNGER P.5 NUNAVUT TEACHER PARTNERS WITH SALVATION ARMY TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS. P.16 in the North Hope FAITH BUILDERS 25 A Miracle Moment Not sure if prayer works? Just ask the rescued soccer team in Thirteen Lives LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search. NIFTY THRIFTY 30 Case Study Organize your supplies the “write” way with this DIY project. 12 True to Herself Nikoleta Curcin had to dig deep inside herself to find the strength needed for recovery. 16 Hope in the North Nunavut teacher partners with Salvation Army to provide clothing for hundreds of students. 22 As “Luck” Would Have It Once lost and alone, John found himself, thanks to The Salvation Army Belkin House in Vancouver. FEATURES 22 QulautPatpCoverhoto:
“From the moment I met Colleen, via video chat, I liked her,” Kristin says. “Though she was almost 3,000 kilometres away, I immediately sensed her warmth, her kindness, her passion and perseverance to make a difference. She is the real“Wheredeal. others may have given up, may have thought the project was too difficult to pull off, Colleen was determined,” Kristin continues.
“And thanks to her, hundreds of children received much-needed winter clothing. It was a pleasure to meet her and share her story.”
You can read Kristin’s article on page 16. Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, you’ll see our take on the new Thirteen Lives movie, which deals with the international rescue of a young soccer team from a cave in Thailand. And you’ll read about Nikoleta Curcin, a remarkable woman who reclaimed her dignity with the help of The Salvation Army. Ken Ramstead 2022 I faithandfriends.ca
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
4 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends FROM THE EDITOR 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 bimonthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Floyd Tidd TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND LITERARY SECRETARY Pamela Richardson ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR Kristin Ostensen MANAGING EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST AND SALVATIONIST.CA Lisa Suroso GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Rivonny Luchas DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR Giselle Randall, Abbigail Oliver STAFF WRITERS 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) Allcirculation@422-6119salvationarmy.caarticlesarecopyrightThe Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131 “The Real Deal” Salvationist Managing Editor Kristin Ostensen was first introduced to teacher Colleen Chau at a debriefing meeting. Through the efforts of The Salvation Army, Joe Fresh and Baffinland Iron Mines, hundreds of pieces of clothing—brand-new jackets, sweaters, pants and other sorely needed items—had been delivered to schoolchildren in Igloolik, Nunavut. But the catalyst for the event was Colleen, whose idea had made this all possible.
Not Doing Without Salvation Army boosts rural communities affected by unique hunger challenges. by Linda Leigh Ground Zero The Salvation Army’s food bank in Kirkland Lake, Ont., fills a vital need in the community
Lieutenant Robbie says that in most villages, a struggling economy has resulted in a lack of food retail ers. Rural shoppers may rely on more expensive and less nutritious food, such as the types available at gas stations and convenience stores.
Faith & Friends SOMEONE CARES
faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • 5
“Many people in remote commu
In rural villages surrounding Kirkland Lake, Ont., The Salvation Army is filling in gaps, so everyone can enjoy a glass of milk, a healthy snack and nutritious food.
“Our monthly school snack program and hamper delivery in remote and isolated villages is promoting community wellness and ensuring that individuals, families and children have access to healthy food,” says Lieutenant Robbie Donaldson, who served as the community ministries co-ordinator in Kirkland Lake until becoming the corps offi cer (pastor) of The Salvation Army Temiskaming Community Church in New Liskeard, Ont., in July.
Filled to the Brim Dozens of hampers are ready to be delivered
6 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends
“When I deliver the food items directly to a home, it protects dignity, and shows love and respect,” she says. “That’s important to people.”
Watching Out for Each Other
“I was a teacher’s aid for six years and saw children with no snacks or not enough lunch,” she states. “This can negatively affect their school performance. It was easy for me to identify families without them coming out to say they needed help.”
Melanie says that in the com munity of 600, everybody knows everybody. People who struggle do not want others to know.
In Virginiatown, Ont., one of the communities served by The Salvation Army, Melanie delivers school snacks and food boxes to people who need them most.
Food boxes include non-perishables, diapers, formula, personal hygiene items, frozen foods, milk, cereal, eggs, bread and fresh pro duce. As part of the Army’s school nutrition program, the Canadian Red Cross partnered with the local Salvation Army food bank to provide snacks that include granola bars and applesauce.“TheSalvation Army is grateful for strong partnerships that align with our vision to bring hope to those fac ing hardship,” says Lieutenant Robbie.
“Its nice to have the assurance that
SOMEONE CARES
“When I deliver the food items directly to a home, it protects dignity, and shows love and respect.”
MELANIE nities are limited by geographical isolation, financial restraints and inadequate transport. Many cannot afford vehicles. With no vehicle and no public transport to a town with a supermarket or grocery store, food insecurity and poor health outcomes have become an increasingly trou bling issue,” he explains.
Faith & Friends received five awards for articles published in 2021. “Coffee Conversations,” Giselle Randall’s profile of Salvation Army Major Morgan Hillier in the October issue, won second place in the Biographical Profile category, as did “Faith on the Menu,” a profile of the Burger’s Priest restaurant chain in the Feature Layout and Design category. Dennis Jones’ drawings for April’s “ABBA, You and Me” garnered a third place for Original Artwork. “Faith on the Menu” also won a third-place nod for Front Cover, as did October’s “Roadside Assistance,” Angela Rafuse’s article on how The Salvation Army helped hundreds of stranded motorists and truckers, in the News Story category. Our sister magazine, Salvationist, received seven awards. Salvationist.ca took home two first-place awards for their social media post on the sinking of the Empress of Ireland and a podcast featuring Salvation Army Captain Crystal Porter. Last but certainly not least, our marketing and communications department received a welldeserved first place in the Marketing Campaign category for its national Christmas campaign. Check out all of our winning entries online Salvationist.ca/cccaawards2022.at:
faithandfriends.ca people in my community won’t do without,” says Melanie. “We do as much as we can for each other and watch out for each other.”
(left) Linda Leigh is manager of communications at The Salvation Army’s territorial headquarters in Toronto.
INSPIRATION FOR LIVING The Band Played On COVID-19 CONCERT P.26 Army’s Safe Refuge “DON’T WORRY” P.10 Runaway Bunny PETER RABBIT 2 P.5 faithandfriends.ca MARCH2021 THERE’S NO BEEF WITH HOW THE BURGER’S PRIEST RESTAURANT GIVES BACK. P.16 Faith on the Menu
Faith & Friends
Salvation Army Media Wins 15 Awards
I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • 7
The anddigitalvationist.ca),websitemagazines,Territory’sandArmySalvationCanadaBermuda(Salmediamarketing and communications depart ment won 15 awards at the annual Canadian Christian Communica tors Association (CCCA) ceremony this spring. The CCCA (formerly the Canadian Church Press) has 75 members, including individual writ ers, musicians and representatives from publications of mainline, Cath olic and evangelical churches. The awards are judged by accomplished secular journalists and academics.
Feeling Seasick? Maybe it’s time to look up. by Dean Simpson
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8 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends
he Great Barrier Reef is one of the most vibrant and picturesque locations in the world.Ona recent holiday, I took my family on a cruise out to the reef, where we spent the day snorkelling and enjoying the unique environ ment around us. As we departed the marina, the views back to the tropical coastline and the rainforest-covered mountains were amazing. The salt air and the sea spray enlivened the experience, and the sight of distant islands increased the anticipation as the reef beckoned.Theonly shortcoming was the stretch of ocean between the coast and the reef. A tropical storm the day before had increased the swell signifi cantly, and the journey out to the reef was quite a rough ride. To combat any stomach upsets, the crew advised the 40-odd passengers to “look up and out” to the horizon and suggested the best place was from the top deck. Keen to take in the views and engage in conversation with fellow tourists, my family and I skipped up the steps to the open deck. But we found ourselves mostly alone. Where was everyone? I popped back down to the main cabin area for a drink and was
GOD IN MY LIFE
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Advice From God The Bible talks about this very theme on another level. King David, the man who wrote many of the Psalms, often felt “seasick” in life, pouring out his heart when he felt discouraged, dispirited, depressed and disheartened. It wasn’t until he “looked up” that he felt God’s presence and a sense of peace.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” he wrote. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
Other verses in the Bible pick up on this theme.
dismayed to find most passengers still sitting there, heads down and absorbed in their mobile phones. I asked an experienced crew member if this was a usual scenario. He sighed and said yes. But then, in a whispered tone, he confidently predicted what would happen next as the boat con tinued to rock and roll out to the reef. Within 30 minutes, more than half the passengers were holding paper bags to their faces as seasickness took hold. To add to the scene of woe, many passengers continued to look down at their phones in some sort of futile solace—sick bag in one hand and phone in the other.
Reprinted from Salvos Magazine (Australia) May 21, 2022 (left) Dean Simpson is part of the communications team for The Salvation Army in Australia.
The people who decided to “look up” and come to the top deck not only started feeling better but started to engage in conversation and take in the views. But, still, many stayed in the main cabin looking down—and suffered the consequences.
Over and over again, the Bible urges us to “look up” and look to God.Ifyou’re feeling down and discouraged today, or feeling “seasick” in life, then “look up.” Look to the support of friends, look to nature, look to things that lift your spirits and look to the Bible, where God will speak to you through His encouraging words. And I promise you that things will begin to “look up.”
John 4:35 says, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” And Luke 21:28 says, “Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
COMMON GROUND
It’s Official! Spencer (fourth from left) became an official member of The Salvation Army this past April
“I was 17,” says Spencer. “As my attachment to drugs got stronger, I spent more time getting high.”
On the outside, Spencer was in control. He’d gone to college, received a degree in hotel restaurant management and owned a business. But the reality was that he was deep into substance use. Then a transformative event gave him the courage to change.
Planting a Seed
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Drugs and Prison Growing up, Spencer had a difficult time figuring out where he belonged. He struggled to identify with the peers in his class and, in an attempt to fit in, he would act out with poor behaviour in school and at home. As a result, he left home in Grade 11, rebelled and started to dabble in drugs and alcohol.
In Ottawa, The Salvation Army helped Spencer move on from a life of incarceration and drugs. by Linda Leigh
“I remember overdosing in Toronto’s Regent Park,” he says. “People thought I was dead and dumped my body into an apartment stairwell for someone else to find. I
For 20 years, substance use was a priority for Spencer, and he often put his life at risk in order to use.
Before and After Spencer during his incarceration (inset) and today
SPENCER
Transformation is Possible In 2017, while in prison, a lifechanging experience altered what mattered to Spencer. “I participated in a Bible study and found Christ,” says Spencer. “I got on my knees, prayed and gave my life over to God.”
“My desire is to continue being useful and help my community. Sometimes that just means planting a seed.”
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also recall having a gun held to me during a drug deal that had gone bad.”Spencer tried treatment centres many times, but he couldn’t separate himself from the lifestyle. To get more drugs, he engaged in criminal behaviour that often led to incarceration.
In March 2018, Spencer was three months clean when he was accepted into the stabilization program at The Salvation Army’s Booth Centre in Ottawa. This is an abstinencebased residential program for men that provides a safe and supportive environment and encourages clients to pursue goals that are meaningful to “Againstthem.
Spencer is passionate about sharing his faith and influencing the lives of people who suffer from substance-use disorders.
all odds, the court overturned my detention order with the understanding that I would explore options for change at The Salvation Army,” Spencer says. “The Salvation Army provided me with guidance and direction as to my next steps. Living there and staying clean kept me Spenceralive.”eventually moved on, worked part-time, lived in a small basement apartment and attended college. Life Today Today, Spencer is the spiritual formations coach and facilities supervisor at Teen Challenge Canada, working with adult, at-risk men who suffer from lifethreatening addictions. In April 2018, he started attending Salvation churches services and, in April 2022, he became an official member at Ottawa’s Barrhaven Corps church. More than 40 of Spencer’s co-workers attended the ceremony. “It feels so good to be a part of the Salvation Army family,” Spencer says. “They showed me love when I was unlovable. This had a profound impact on my life.”
“It feels so good to be a part of the Salvation Army family.”
NIKOLETA CURCIN HAD TO DIG DEEP INSIDE HERSELF TO FIND THE STRENGTH NEEDED FOR RECOVERY. by KimberlyHerselfMcIntyre True to 12 • faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends FEATURE
In her mid-teens, Nikoleta started to experiment with drugs, and by 17, she was taking cocaine daily and continued to use for a year. Around that time, she started dating Sean,* who sold drugs. Nikoleta decided a few months into their relationship that she didn’t want to use anymore and stopped. However, that wasn’t the end of addiction for her. The Descent After a few months of dating Sean, Nikoleta realized she was in an abusive relationship. It would be four years until she could get away from“Thehim.relationship affected me a lot, and my perception and beliefs about myself, even up until recently,” she recounts. “It got really messed up toward the end. I really believed he would kill me.”
“I had a perfect, ideal childhood,” she says. “My parents were wonder fulHpeople.”owever, when Nikoleta went to high school, she started to feel that she didn’t belong. When life became overwhelming, her family sought counselling, but the psychologists she saw brushed off her feelings as hormones.
“I had no idea how to even do it,” she says. “I had to ask the guy how to take Thoughit.”
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Nikoleta stopped using upon her return home, when she journeyed to London the next summer, she fell back into addiction.
“Back in Canada, I approached a guy who looked like he might have a connection,” Nikoleta says. From then on, she was in the grip of heroin and fentanyl.
ddiction and substance abuse are often connected to a difficult childhood. In Nikoleta Curcin’s case, there were a combination of factors that led her into addiction, but lack of care and connection was not one of them.
While on vacation in London, England, Jude asked Nikoleta if she wanted to take some recreational drugs. She agreed. During the trip, they met a man who offered them heroin instead of what they had already been taking.
A
“My emotions controlled me,” Nikoleta recounts. “For the longest time, I didn’t trust myself.”
Sean was arrested and went to jail, and Nikoleta took over the drug sales, but she, too, was appre hended. After her release, and his death from health complications, Nikoleta avoided drugs for eight years, until she met Jude.*
“I had always felt overwhelmed by my emotions and a deep empti ness all the time,” she remembers. “Heroin helped numb my out-ofcontrol emotions and helped me detach from myself and the world. From a young age, I dreamt of par adise. I felt that the world was
supposed to be this beautiful place, and it disappointed me. I couldn’t accept the misery and cruelty I saw, but I also felt powerless in the face of it all.”
Steve Manuel was then the Salvation Army chaplain at Toronto’s Old City Hall courthouse and one of the program team members. Often, he would be the first point of contact for program attendees, providing coffee and snacks in his office before the Tuesday and Thursday meetings.
Major Steve was also the first per son many of the attendees would see if they were arrested during their time in the Nikoletaprogram.wasinthe program for three years. During that period, she was in and out of rehabilitation cen tres and relapsed multiple times. Eventually, she had the worst and hardest relapse of her life.
Nikoleta knew it would be awful, but she also knew it was her only chance at Addictionrecovery.isatraumatic experience, and within the cycle of addiction there are traumas every day. The sickness that comes is a trauma in itself and can strike terror in a person. In detox, Nikoleta was sick for 21 days.
“For two weeks, I couldn’t eat or drink water,” she says. “Each time I tried to quit, the next time would be even harder.”
“I love recovery. I love the feeling of growing. It’s so exciting!”
Help “Nikoleta’s an program”fromgraduatedwhenwasManuel.Majorwoman,”incrediblesaysSteve“Isohappyshethe
does.Major
The Bottom After another arrest, Nikoleta found herself at a crossroads. She had the option of either going to prison or attending the Toronto Drug Treatment Court Program. She chose the latter because she thought it would be easier.“Ithought, OK, it will be a year, then I can move on with my life. It wasn’t so easy,” she chuckles. Nikoleta doesn’t remember many of her interactions. But one person
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NIKOLETA CURCINFEATUREMajor
“It was three months long and I barely remember any of them,” Niko leta recalls. “I have no idea how I even fed myself or who the people around me were. I thought, I have to get away from this. I called my therapist from Drug Treatment Court, and she sug gested I go to detox. I couldn’t see another way out.”
“I love recovery,” she says. “I love the feeling of growing. It’s so exciting!”Nikoleta now works as a con sultant with the Canadian Mental Health Association and is a peer researcher with the justice and equity lab at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.“Forthe first time, I feel fulfilled, and I don’t need anyone else to com plete me. I’m good just on my own,” she says. “Our time on this earth is finite, and all the more precious. I want to have an adventure and learn as much as I can while being true to myself, now that I know who I am.”
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“Athrough.lotofthe people you see in court, you only meet once. Drug Treatment Court is different; you can build a relationship,” Major Steve says. “There are people you celebrate with, and Nikoleta was definitely one of those.”When COVID-19 hit, Nikoleta found herself with time to do one thing.“Self-reflect,” she says with a smile. “My self-worth was tied to productiv ity and achievement instead of who I was. It took me a long time to flip that way of Nikoletathinking.”learned to forgive herself and to have self-compassion.
“I had to be responsible for my own conscience,” she reflects. “I had to discover what my values were. I had been so far away from myself before. I wanted to embody my values.”
Nikoleta discovered what her ultimate value was and continues to work on it every day. “It’s freedom,” she states proudly. “Internal freedom, the freedom of yourThesemind.”days, Nikoleta maintains a passion for education and intends to pursue further academic studies.
The Recovery After detox, Nikoleta was transferred to the women’s inpatient unit. There, she saw a psychiatrist who gave her tools to work through her own traumas.“Itgave me a groundwork to overcome trauma on my own,” she says. “She had me write down how to pro cess it, the steps to take and how to change my thought process about the events.”Eventually, Nikoleta persevered into recovery, and Major Steve was the chaplain she encountered all the way
(left) Kimberly McIntyre enjoys writing stories of transformation, faith and the human experience. After completing a communications and media degree from Canadian Mennonite University, Kimberly is continuing her education and pursuing a bachelor of science in exercise science. When she is not writing or working in Riding Mountain National Park, she enjoys cooking, exploring Canadian national parks and dancing.
*Names have been changed.
16 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends QulautPatPhoto: COVER STORY Warm Hearts Igloolik students (from left) Sienna Rose Qulaut, Shannon Tapardjuk, Thoretta Iyerak and Ivy Iyerak are all smiles as they wear their new winter clothes, courtesy of Joe Fresh
IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER, you might have thought there was a rock star in town. By 10 a.m., a long line had formed in front of the community centre in Igloolik, Nunavut, stretching way down the street. Excitement filled the cold September air as students and their families waited for their turn to go inside. The big attraction was not a celebrity, but a massive donation of essential items. Tables piled high with jackets, sweaters and pants, backpacks and boots, mittens and toques. Brand-new with tags still on—and all for free. This happy day, a year in the making, would not have been possible without a passionate ele mentary school teacher—and the support of The Salvation Army.
NUNAVUT TEACHER PARTNERS WITH SALVATION ARMY TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS. by Kristin
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HopeOstensen in the North
Colleen’s Search
COVER STORY Worth Waiting
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Originally from Winnipeg, Colleen Chau graduated from teacher’s college in 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With all the schools in her area pivoting to remote learning, Colleen began looking for work in places still offering in-person classes. That led her to Igloolik. She began teaching at the Ata guttaaluk Elementary School in September 2020 and soon noticed that some of her Grade 4 students did not have adequate clothing.
She reached out to more than a dozen organizations, some of which were willing to provide the cloth ing—if Colleen could pay for the shipping. “That’s the catch-22 of living up North,” she says. Undeterred by her lack of success, Colleen kept searching and trying. And then she contacted The Salva tion Army. For A long line forms outside the community centre in Igloolik on distribution day
“Some didn’t have a change of clothes or their clothes were worn out,” Colleen recalls. “When winter came, I noticed some kids didn’t have a jacket or boots, and they were coming to school in hoodies and running shoes.”
At first, Colleen thought she would ask some of her friends and family in the south to ship clothing to Igloolik. “But it wasn’t really viable with the cost of postage—to get things up here would have cost at least $200 or $300 for a smaller box,” she explains. “So, I started digging around in my spare time, searching for non-profits and seeing what my options were in terms of getting clothes.”
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“I wrote back and said, ‘Let me look into it and see what I can do.’ ”
Coffee Date Colleen Chau (left) and McLeodMargaretMajormeet in person Winnipegin
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Big Dreams
Before becoming a Salvation Army pastor, Major Margaret had been a teacher herself. Seeing Colleen’s passion for helping her students struck a chord.
“When I got that email from Margaret, I was ecstatic,” Colleen smiles.From there, Major Margaret and Colleen began assembling their “dream team” as other Army per sonnel and supporters came on board.Thefirst piece of the puzzle was the clothing itself, which fell into place quickly thanks to Joe Fresh
MAJOR MARGARET McLEOD
“If we could do something to support her, wouldn’t that be great?”
Major Margaret McLeod, who leads the Army’s Alberta and Northern Territories Division, remembers getting that email from Colleen.
“My first thought was, That’s a long ways away,” Major Margaret recalls. “But in the same breath, I thought, If we could do something to support her, wouldn’t that be great? ”
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2022 I Friends and the Weston family, who are long-time supporters of the Army. In her original pitch, Colleen only asked for clothing for her class, but that soon changed with Joe Fresh on board. “They said, ‘We have the resources, Colleen. Dream bigger.’ ”
Made for Walking Winter boots were a popular item on distribution day
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Joe Fresh asked Colleen about the number of students attending Igloolik’s three schools, and cloth ing for 25 students became jackets, boots and backpacks for 750. In the Bag Igloolik students (from left) Alannah Rose, Henry and Sylver Robert Attagutaaluk show off their new Joe Fresh backpacks
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faithandfriends.ca Faith &
“This project became so much more than what I expected or asked for,” she says. “It puts a little bit of hope in your soul.”
Seeing the pieces fall into place was an incredible experience for Colleen.“Itwas an amazing feeling,” she recalls, “this moment where it felt like everything was possible. We could dream big and people were going to try to make it happen.
“When you’re dealing with the realities of living up North, you can’t help but wonder, Is this place forgotten by the rest of Canada? ” she continues. “And so, to realize that people do care, even if they’ve never seen the kids’ faces or been in the community themselves, people care about what’s going on up here and the quality of life the people have— that was awesome.”
The project was a full-circle moment for Colleen, who was once on the receiving end of assistance from the Army. “My mom took English classes at The Salvation Army after she came to Canada, and I got a new backpack through a backpack drive,” Colleen notes.
“It came together really well,” says Major Margaret. “That’s team work—it took a lot of people to be able to pull off what we did.”
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Something Good It took six hours and many volunteers to pull off that distribution day in Igloolik last September. But for Colleen, the results were more than worth the months of effort.
Finding a way to get all those things to Igloolik was a tall order—one that was enthusiastic ally embraced by Baffinland Iron Mines, whose chair, Bruce Walter, is a member of the Army’s National Advisory Board.
“The response was really, really joyful,” she says. “Now, when I’m walking through the schools or passing by the playground, I see kids wearing a brand-new jacket and boots. You feel like you’ve done something good.”
Looking back, she sees that email to The Salvation Army as a tiny “act of faith”—a small action that started something amazing.
“It was an amazing feeling, this moment where it felt like everything was possible.”
COLLEEN CHAU
22 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends FEATURE
ONCE LOST AND ALONE, JOHN FOUND HIMSELF, THANKS TO THE SALVATION ARMY BELKIN HOUSE IN VANCOUVER by Ken Ramstead One can’t help but be impressed with John today. He is holding down a steady job and has a place to call his own in Vancouver. However, a year and a half ago when he re-entered Canada, all he had—literally—were the clothes on his back.
But The Salvation Army’s Belkin House and a dedicated caseworker changed John’s life.
“God has a master plan for each and every one of us when we least expect it, says Alvin Chong, direc tor of community development at Belkin House. “And John is a great example of that.”
A Roof Over His Head In 2020, John was working as a dishAs “Luck” Would Have It Top of the World Belkin House’s caseworker and chaplain Andy Cuong Hy (left) with director of community development Alvin Chong
“And as luck would have it again, Belkin House took a chance on me and accepted me into the program,” smiles John. As a PDP resident, for the next 18 months, John would have a roof over his head, an assigned caseworker, and a program to help resettle back into Canada. From Uncertainty to Stability But now what? John was assigned a PDP case worker and chaplain, Andy Cuong Hy.“My focus when he came into our program was for John to obtain employment, save money and find housing,” Andy explains. “One month turned into two and I realized that he needed some handhold ing. But he was open to that and was appreciative that I was taking a pro active part in his homeless situation.” “I didn’t know if I makewouldit.”
JOHN Sharing a Moment
“This is a great story of someone who, if they get the right support, can really thrive in a beautiful way,” says Andy (left), here with John
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washer at a restaurant in Las Vegas. But when the global pandemic hit, the restaurant shut down, and John lostThateverything.fall,heslowly made his way from Las Vegas to Seattle. Eventually John made it to the U.S.-Canadian border, where—“with just enough documentation”—he made his way back into Canada, but with nowhere to go. That was when the border offi cials recommended The Salvation Army.“Iwas homeless, so I reached out and contacted Belkin House,” John says. “I was told that, normally, the waiting list was very long. However, as luck would have it, I got a bed rightWhileaway.”he was at the shelter, John applied to the Army’s Personal Development Plan (PDP) program.
“I look back at all the great pro grams Belkin House offered and the financial literacy workshop that helped me get my finances in order,” he says. “Luckily, I now had a sta ble job and financial statements to support my housing application. I moved in November 2021.”
“John’s a great story of someone who, if they get the right support, can really thrive in a beautiful way,” saysJohnAndy.takes a long and reflective pause.“Iknow I’ve used the word ‘luck’ a lot, but I truly believe ‘Someone’ was looking out for me. That ‘Someone’ led me safely through these past couple of years to end up at The Salvation Army, a faith-based organization, and to Belkin House, where my caseworker was a chaplain who genuinely cared.
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“He told me to practise in front of a mirror, to be myself and be hon est,” John says. “I forgot about the practising in front of a mirror part but did the interview anyways. By some luck, the café hired me!”
Giving Hope “When the pandemic hit and I was stuck in the United States with just the clothes on my back, I was lost and I didn’t know if I would make it,” John confesses. But he did, thanks to The Sal vation Army and some caring individuals such as Andy and Alvin.
Andy also assisted John in creating and posting a resumé (that had very little work experience) on some job-search websites. Very soon, John received a query from a local restaurant. Lacking interview experience, he again sought Andy’s guidance.
Andy helped John obtain a provincial ID, referral to medical assistance, enrolment in a life-skills and employment training program.
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The University of British Columbia’s job board posted an opportunity in the food services department. Soon after starting work at the café, John decided to apply for the position. “I went through the application process and sent my resumé in,” John says. “By some luck, they hired me.”For the first few months, John jug gled two jobs to make ends meet, but soon a position opened up that offered full-time hours and bet ter job security. This helped ease the difficult decision to leave his first gig. In October 2021, just 12 months into his residency at Belkin House, John applied for a rental spot.
Faith & Friends
“What I’ve been through over the past couple of years is not ‘luck,’ it’s God’s plan. It would be great if my story gives hope to others.”
FEATURE
“Thanks to Andy’s help, I was able to get some culinary arts and barista training, which prepared me and gave me valuable skills for a new career path,” John says. “I even got a new pair of work shoes!”
Not sure if prayer works? Just ask the rescued soccer team in Thirteen Lives. by Diane Stark
Running Out of Time Out in theatres in July and streaming on Amazon Prime Video in August, Thirteen Lives tells the true story of the rescue mission. An international operation began with divers from around the world travelling to Thailand to help. But for nearly two weeks, heavy rains prevented the divers from locating the boys. Finally, on July 2, two Brit ish divers, John Volanthen (Colin Farrell) and Richard Stanton (Viggo Mortensen), found the group alive, perched on an elevated rock four kilometres from the mouth of the cave.Divers delivered food and medicine to the boys while a rescue plan was formulated. It was decided that expert divers would train the boys to use diving masks so that they could breathe underwater while the divers escorted them out of the cave.
& Friends FAITH BUILDERS StudiosReleasing/AmazonArtistsUnitedofCourtesyPhoto:
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Faith
A MomentMiracle
On June 23, 2018, a junior soccer team and their coach entered the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand. Because of sudden, heavy rainfall, the cave flooded and the 12 boys—aged 11 to 16—and their 25-year-old coach became trapped inside.
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Humble, Heartfelt Prayer For 17 straight days in the summer of 2018, reporters told us that these Happy Days Director Ron Howard (right) at work with the cast of Thirteen Lives Deep, Dark Rescue
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The attempt to bring the soccer team home was an international operation
Then the worst happened: a Thai Navy diver drowned, highlighting the danger of this mission.
Updates on the nightly news grew worse with each passing day. One report said the water the divers had to swim through was so muddy that it was like swimming in coffee, and they couldn’t see anything. Another quoted one of the divers as saying that he’d never dove in conditions that bad, even with only professional divers, let alone young children with no experience. The quality of the air in the cave decreased, making a successful rescue even less likely, and more rain was expected. Would the divers be able to rescue the boys before time ran out?
The experts came to the sobering realization that it might not be pos sible to bring all of the boys home. They worried that the diving masks might leak or the boys—unused to being underwater for such long periods of time—might panic. Either scenario could cause the deaths of both the boys and the divers.
(left) Diane Stark is a wife, mother of five and freelance writer from rural Indiana. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith.
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James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”Ourprayers matter. Sometimes people think, “I couldn’t do anything to help, so I just prayed.” But praying is doing something. It’s ask ing the God of the universe for His help. God loves us and He wants us to bring our concerns to Him. Small miracles and even big ones often start the same way: with a humble, heartfelt prayer.
forWeriskingtecttheirandwereWeworldButrepresentatives—weregovernmentalsoinvolved.millionsofpeoplearoundtheplayedanimportantrole,too.watchedthenewsreportsandmovedtoprayforthe12boystheircoach.WeaskedGodtointerveneonbehalf.WeaskedHimtopro-themandthediverswhoweretheirownlivestosavethem.mighthaveevenaskedforpeacetheboys’parentswhilethey
JAMES 5:16 divers were attempting something that couldn’t be done. But news reports rarely consider the divine. The truth is that God cares about what happens to us, and He is active in our lives. He can—and does—still make miracles happen.
More than 100 divers assisted in the Thai cave rescue. More than 10,000 other people—first responders, soldiers and
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
waited for news. All too often, watching the nightly news can make us feel hope less. When that happens, we have two choices. We can feel angry, fearful or depressed about the state of the world—or we can ask God to change it. We might think that we can’t impact a situation on the other side of the world, but that’s not true.
StanleyErinphotos:Recipe Eating
3. Cook bacon in pan and drain fat.
4. Mix together in large bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.
1
1. Bring lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package.
2. Combine basil, parsley, kale, olive oil, garlic, lemon, Parmesan cheese and goat cheese in blender and mix until smooth.
5. Garnish with additional basil and cheese, if desired.
1. Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F).
28 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends LITE STUFF EASY BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE HERB AND KALE PESTO WITH BACON PASTA TIME 50 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH ice cream TIME 20 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH grilled or roasted chicken
5. Bake on the middle rack for 35 minutes.
2. Over medium-low heat, combine frozen blueberries, maple syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt. Stir occasionally for 15 minutes or until it thickens.
3. In separate bowl, mix quick rolled oats, brown sugar, flour and either solid coconut oil or cold unsalted butter until crumbly.
4. Grease a 22 x 22 cm (9 x 9 in.) pan, add blueberry mixture first and top with the crumble mixture.
Blueberry Mixture L (4 cups) blueberriesfrozen 75 ml (1/3 cup) maple syrup 22 ml (½ tbsp) fresh squeezed lemon juice 5 ml (1 tsp) cinnamon pinch of salt Crumble Mixture 250 ml (1 cup) quick rolled oats 75 ml (1/3 cup) brown sugar 125 ml (½ cup) flour 125 ml (½ cup) coconut oil or unsalted butter 200 g (7 oz.) bow tie pasta 500 ml (2 cups) fresh basil 250 ml (1 cup) fresh parsley 250 ml (1 cup) fresh kale 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled 5 ml (1 tsp) lemon juice 60 ml (¼ cup) Parmesan cheese 45 ml (3 tbsp) goat cheese 250 ml (1 cup) diced bacon salt and pepper to taste Healthy With Erin
faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • 29 www.kevinfrank.net©LOVEHEAVEN’S SHOPTHRIFT FrankKevinby SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2022 Faith & Friends INSPIRATION FOR LIVING Thai Cave Rescue 13 LIVES P.25 Nikoleta Curcin TRUE TO HERSELF P.12 Not Doing Without ARMY TACKLES HUNGER P.5 NUNAVUT TEACHER PARTNERS WITH SALVATION ARMY TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS. P.16 in the North Hope • inspiring true stories of hope and salvation • practical resources that will rejuvenate your spirit • uplifting articles that you can share with friends Subscribe Today Visit faithandfriends.ca/subscribe or call (416) 422-6119 today! Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Sudoku Puzzle 1 7 9 6 4 6 9 4 9 2 6 8 1 5 7 5 1 6 5 1 4 3 2 6 3 4 7 5 8 9 1 7 4 6 3 2 QUICK QUIZ 1. What does the texting abbreviation “WFH” mean? 2. Which star received a total of four Academy Awards during their lifetime, the most for any performer? 3. What team won the 2022 Super Bowl by a score of 23-20? QuickQuizAnswers:1.workingfrom home;2.KatherineHepburn;3.Los AngelesRams. 157928634 638541279 492637815 349785126 876219543 521463987 263194758 985372461 714856392
NIFTY THRIFTY
Back-to-school time is here again, and your local Salvation Army thrift store is ideal for organizing your pens and pencils in a thrifty, nifty jiffy!
Step 1 Source a second-hand treasure at your local Salvation Army thrift store. This can be a wool sweater, wool scarf, denim or anything else made from thick, durable Washmaterial.your secondhand find. If it’s wool, you’ll want to felt it by washing it in hot water.
Step 3 Once you have the rectangular shape drawn out, add a circular shape to the top and bottom. These circles will be the flaps at the bottom and the top of your case. (Note: I made the top slightly longer than the bottom to make it clear what was the main opening for my case.)
21 3
Supplies Needed: Thrifted sweater, scarf or scrap fabric, scissors, ruler, chalk, two buttons, needle, thread, Mason jar lid.
Step 2 Now, flatten your material, and use chalk to draw a pattern onto the material. I placed my pens and pencils on the wool scarf to gauge the dimensions I needed for my DIY pencil case. You’ll want to add 3 centimetres to the top and bottom. Make sure you have enough width to accommodate a three-fold for the case.
30 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 I faithandfriends.ca Faith & Friends Case Study
Organize your supplies the “write” way with this DIY project.
faithandfriends.ca I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • 31
Step 5 Next, use the chalk to mark where the button opening will be. Cut the holes on the top and bottom flaps. Then, use the chalk to mark where the holes will be on the top side piece, and cut the holes.
5
Step 6 Sew buttons onto the lower side piece that has no buttonhole. There will be a button at the top and Oncebottom.you’ve stitched the buttons, then you can pull the buttons through the holes in the top side piece. Pull the button through the bottom flap.
Step 4 Cut out your case. Now you can pin the case together. Fold the sides—the left side over the middle, then the right side over the middle. Fold the flaps over and pin them.
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Now, all you need is to add your pens and pencils to your case, and close the top flap.
That’s it! This is now how your pencil case will look.
(left) Denise Corcoran (aka Thrifty By Design) is an author, upcycler, community builder and workshop facilitator based in North Vancouver. She shares her enthusiasm for crafting and upcycling by facilitating “Crafternoons” throughout Vancouver. She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores. Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.
40064794PM For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@salvationarmy.ca. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes.
