VIRTUOSO ELIZABETH SHEPHERD’S SONG STYLINGS ARE PRAISED AROUND THE WORLD, BUT SHE HAS STAYED TRUE TO HER SALVATION ARMY ROOTS. P.16
The sinking of the Titanic, one of the worst maritime disasters in history, took place 111 years ago in April. More than 1,500 people died in the tragedy—a death toll much higher than it should have been. The ship only had 20 lifeboats, enough to accommodate 1,178 people. Not nearly enough for the 2,223 souls on board.
In the wake of the disaster, new regulations came into effect, requiring boats to have enough lifeboats and life-jackets for everyone on board. Because so many lives were needlessly lost, many more lives have been saved.
At Easter, we remember the death and Resurrection of Jesus. Though He was the Son of God, He willingly gave up His life so that we could be saved. His suffering is our salvation. His death is our life.
That’s the promise of Easter. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
/stock.Adobe.com
To learn more about Jesus this Easter, visit a Salvation Army church near you, go to our website at faithandfriends.ca or contact us at: The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4.
Photo: Andrey KuzminCOMMON GROUND
5 A Blooming Mistake
Joyce Starr Macias needed to start looking past the exterior to the heart of a person.
THE BIG PICTURE
8 His First Home
Edmonton photographer gives back to Salvation Army shelter.
FAITH BUILDERS
12 Enola Holmes 2
Sherlock’s sister seeks the truth about a missing factory girl. For the Army, though, the game was already afoot. 8
Jesus’ Resurrection transformed a weekend of sadness into one of triumph.
Elizabeth Shepherd’s song stylings are praised around the world, but she has stayed true to her Salvation Army roots.
Helena Smrcek thought her world had come to an end. However, there was hope in the midst of heartbreak.
BAD TO THE BONE?
26 Rahab: Hide and Seek
When a woman co-operates with God, her future turns bright.
LITE STUFF
28 Eating Healthy With Erin
Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search.
NIFTY THRIFTY
31 If the Shoe Fits …
Can a pair of thrift-store shoes be given new life?
hen freelance writer Kimberly McIntyre was asked to profile Edmonton photographer Dickson Obasuyi ’ s exhibit spotlighting clients at a Salvation Army shelter he once called home, she knew exactly what she had to do.
“The process of writing this piece was extra exciting since I knew the final layout would feature Dickson’s own photos,” she says. “Writing with that in mind allowed me to imagine the story as a completed whole, and I chose each word as carefully as photographers choose their best images.”
Kimberly was particularly struck by Dickson’s joy and appreciation for where he started, and the way in which he was able to give back.
“I came away from this assignment with the reminder that everyone is beautiful regardless of their story,” she concludes. “Every person is God’s child.”
Kimberly’s article—and Dickson’s photos—are on page 8.
Elsewhere in this month’s Faith & Friends, we showcase Juno-nominated jazz artist Elizabeth Shepherd, daughter of Salvation Army officer parents and a proud Salvationist herself. You’ll also see our take on the new Enola Holmes 2 movie—and the surprising link it has to an important bit of Salvation Army history.
In “Soul Survivor” (January/February 2023), Maryanne Oketch was misidentified as the recipient of a Survivor immunity idol instead of Drea Wheeler. Faith & Friends regrets the error.
Ken RamsteadMission Statement
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My mother was the gardener in our family. I am definitely not.
She made it look so easy: prepare the soil, sow some seeds, water as needed. Before long, beautiful flowers bloomed. For my mother, yes. But not when I tried it. And I tried it many times, with both flowers and vegetable plants.
I remember the year when I planted squash seeds in a small plot in the backyard. I watered them faithfully, checked on them daily and even talked to them on occasion. How excited I was when they began to grow!
They soon developed good-sized leaves and, later, some blossoms.
Like my mother and her plants, I need to start looking past the exterior to the heart of a person.Photo: Iryna/stock.Adobe.com
Nice, big blossoms. I was sure that I’d soon see something that looked like the yellow crookneck squash on the package of seeds I’d bought.
But that didn’t happen. One day, the blossoms just keeled over and dried up. The green stems turned a sickening brownish yellow, and I could almost hear them mocking me as they gave up whatever plants give up when they die.
Off I went to a garden shop where I bought potted outdoor plants. No more seeds for me. The salesman assured me that the flowers I chose would be easy to care for.
But first, I needed to clear the flower beds. They were so overrun with green plants that virtually no soil was visible. Healthy, nice-looking plants. But I wanted flowers, not healthy weeds.
After that I gave up gardening altogether, telling myself that a wellmowed lawn and a hardy bush or two was all my little yard needed. If I wanted more colour, I could always opt for plastic!
That lasted until my husband’s company transferred him to another town. The house we found there had a large grassy yard bordered by waist-high hedges. It was late fall when we moved, so I didn’t even think about flowers. But then, spring arrived and, with it, an unbidden urge to plant flowers in the beds out front.
I spent about an hour yanking them out and putting them into a big pile to throw out later. My mother was coming to visit, so I wanted to get at least that part done before she got there. By the time she arrived, I was covered with dirt, and my pile of weeds had grown pretty high.
I was feeling quite proud of my efforts, so I wasn’t prepared for my mother’s reaction.
“Joyce, Joyce, what are you doing?” she cried out. “Why are you letting those plants sit in the hot sun? They’re going to die if you don’t get them in the dirt and water them.”
She rattled off the name of some
“I’ve decided it’s much better to extend a friendly welcome to everyone God puts in my path each day.” JOYCE STARR MACIAS
perennial plant species I’d never heard of before. Before I could show her the flowers I intended to plant, she got down in the dirt with me and started digging little holes for replanting my “weeds,” saying they would be absolutely gorgeous with a little tender, loving care.
And she was right, of course. As the weeks went by, their stalks grew to just the right height and they soon produced stunningly colourful flowers that lasted most of the summer.
I don’t remember what I did with my potted plants!
Much later, it occurred to me that there was a similarity between my initial attitude toward the plants and the way we often treat people. We tend to surround ourselves with those who look like us, dress like us and talk like us without taking time to really see others who are different. We don’t make the effort to look for what’s inside of them.
The Bible speaks of this human
flaw in 1 Samuel 16:7: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I certainly hadn’t looked for the potential of the plants that were in my flower beds. My insistence that they were weeds almost kept me from seeing the true beauty within them. I wondered if a negative attitude toward other people could rob me in the same way.
I’ve decided it’s much better to extend a friendly welcome to everyone God puts in my path each day. If God values what’s inside people more than what they may seem like at first glance, then I need to have the same attitude. (And I can hope they will look at me the same way!)
By valuing each person as a unique creation of God, I’m seeing the beautiful blossoms of new friendships developing. I’m expecting those blooms will keep flourishing even for people like me who weren’t born with a green thumb! And that’s no mistake.
Shutterbug
“God is good,” says Dickson Obasuyi
Portrait of Dignity Graham. “The Centre of Hope represented a roof overhead for everybody,” Dickson states, “no matter whom.”
In 2014, Dickson Obasuyi found himself in Edmonton with $80 and no place to go as a new graduate from a college in Ontario. Looking for a place to escape the cold, Dickson weighed his options. Thankfully, he knew The Salvation Army’s Edmonton Centre of Hope would provide him with shelter, though it wasn’t an easy decision .
“I thought there would be drug addicts and terrible people in there,” he remembers. How would he cope?
Image of Hope
Brian. “I wanted to show that everyone is beautiful, no matter the situation, no matter what your status is,” says Dickson
When Dickson finally went in and got settled, he realized just how far off the mark he was. He was impressed and touched by the love that the staff showed for those in their care, from the cleanliness of the facilities to the protection and security of personal items. He also found an unexpected friend right in his room.
“When I moved in, the person I shared the space with was a new
graduate and new to the city, too. I realized that there are people here who are trying to start life,” he says. “Contrary to my belief, there were people there who were put together, and the Centre of Hope represented a roof overhead for everybody, no matter whom.”
With the downtown location of the Edmonton Centre of Hope, Dickson was able to walk to construction jobs just blocks away. He began to save money and eventually was able to settle in the city. As life went on, he often
passed by the building and reflected on how thankful his heart continued to be, thinking: “How can I say thank you back to this place? ”
“This is where my story began,” he says. “I don’t see it the way other people see it. I see it as my first home.”
The Centre of Hope was almost peeking over his shoulder during another major life event, receiving his Canadian citizenship.
“My citizenship ceremony was two blocks away from the Centre of Hope. After, I walked by and thanked God.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dickson went into a local store and looked at a camera. He couldn’t get it out of his mind and, after much deliberation, went back in and purchased it. What started as a hobby within the COVID-19 restrictions at the time became a business for him, all through the goodness of others.
“People were telling me that I took good photos, then someone asked if I
would take their engagement shots,” he says. From there, his photography business grew enough that he had an idea of how he would say thank you to his first home.
“I realized I could use photography to achieve my dream of giving back to The Salvation Army,” he says. “I would go back there and take photos of the clients.
“I wanted to show that everyone is beautiful, no matter the situation, no matter what your status is,” he shares. “I wanted people to look back at their photos and remember a day when they felt that way.”
Dickson reached out to some friends for help and had an acquaintance give free haircuts to those who participated, while another person came to help with manicures. At the event, which took place last October, a city councillor showed up to lend support and
thanked the management and Dickson for their efforts.
“The councillor said that because of people like The Salvation Army, people like me can go through their system and not be homeless,” he says.
Dickson remembers a conversation with a member of Parliament who was present.
“He told me that they can’t get people off the streets without The Salvation Army, and that he could see what the organization means to people.”
Homelessness continues to be a cause close to Dickson’s heart, and he plans to stay in touch with those he made connections with. He also gives back to the wider community in other ways, too. For instance, he conducts a photography workshop with high school students.
“God is good, God has been faithful,” Dickson beams.
“I realized I could use photography to achieve my dream of giving back to The Salvation Army.” DICKSON OBASUYI(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.
In the new movie Enola Holmes 2, Sherlock’s sister seeks the truth about a missing factory girl. But for The Salvation Army, the game was already afoot .
by Ken RamsteadWhen last we saw Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) in the 2020 movie bearing her name, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) had travelled to London, England, to find her missing mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter). After many misadventures, she ended up solving the case of Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), whose disappearance threatened the political stability of the United Kingdom. Along the way, Enola also reunited with her mother, who explained to her daughter why she had left and why she had to leave again—but not before saying how proud she was of who Enola had become.
Enola had found her purpose—she was a detective and a finder of lost souls.
“After solving my first case, I started a detective agency,” Enola proudly states. “I was going to join the pantheon of great Victorian detec-
tives. And best of all, I would be joining my brother. I would be his equal. A detective in my own right, worthy of the Holmes name. Or so I thought.”
It seems that the Victorian world is not yet ready to embrace a female detective, even one with as storied a pedigree as Enola Holmes.
Without clients, the young sleuth seemed fated to return home when a girl named Bessie (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss) asks Enola if she would take on the case of her missing sister, Sarah Chapman (Hannah Dodd).
The sisters work at a match factory that is experiencing a typhus epidemic. In the course of her investigations, Enola discovers that cheap white phosphorus, used by the match factory owner Lord McIntyre (Tim McMullan) to increase profits, is killing the female workers, not typhus.
Together with Sarah, Lord Tewkes-
bury and even Sherlock, Enola intends to expose the scheme. But Lord McIntyre and his police henchmen have other ideas.
In the movie, Enola and Sarah encourage her fellow match factory workers to strike for better conditions. In reality, the matchgirls’ strike of 1888, which was a protest against their appalling working conditions, also raised awareness of a medical condition called “phossy jaw.” The yellow phosphorus used in the production process contaminated the workers’ hands and food, causing their jawbones to decay—with death the result.
Enter General William Booth, the
co-Founder of The Salvation Army. Concerned with the workers’ wellbeing, he pioneered the production of non-poisonous safety matches at the Army’s own match factory. Other manufacturers gradually adopted The Salvation Army’s practices and in 1908, the use of yellow phosphorus was finally made illegal by an act of Parliament.
The Army’s response to this and other social concerns, such as poverty and homelessness, echoes down the years to the present. What has kept the church relevant with the times is a refusal to back away when injustice rears its head. When other institutions turn away, Salvationists echo Enola: “No one should be alone.”
And, God willing, no one will be.
“I would be a detective in my own right, worthy of the Holmes name.”
ENOLA HOLMES
JESUS’ RESURRECTION TRANSFORMED A WEEKEND OF SADNESS INTO ONE OF TRIUMPH.
by Matt GillonThe story of the first Easter is a roller-coaster of highs and lows and highs. Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph, acclaimed as the Messiah, the Saviour of the Jewish people, only to be arrested, tried and crucified by the Roman authorities. His followers are scattered, one of them, Peter, even denying he knew Jesus. Entombed for three days, it seems as if this is the end of Jesus’ story, until His followers, including Mary Magdalene, make an incredible discovery. Writer Matt Gillon takes up the tale:
There is hustle and bustle in the City of David. Crowds everywhere. The city is usually full, but now it is bursting. There is a joyful energy in the air thick with the voices of family and friends reuniting after long journeys, here to celebrate Passover.
“Hey … have you heard the news? A new rabbi is in town. They say he speaks about God in new ways and works miracles.”
“Really? Miracles? Has God begun to talk to us once more? It has been decades, no, hundreds of years of silence. I’ve heard the rumours, too, but I’ll believe it when I hear it for myself.”
Suddenly, there is a commotion. Roman soldiers push the crowds aside, yelling at people to clear the way. A blood-soaked, battered figure stumbles past, a rough-hewn beam strapped to his shoulders. As the small group continues toward the
city gate, a sea of people swallows the brief disruption.
“Someone is saying that was the rabbi, Jesus?”
“Surely not. Why on earth is He being punished by the Romans? He’s a Jew. And a rabbi!”
Confirmation came later that afternoon.
“It was Jesus. Some of the neighbours had been out to see Him. Crucified like a common thief. Apparently, it was one of His own disciples who betrayed Him, too.”
“Bah, what a waste of a good and godly man. I have so many questions.”
Collapsed in a side street is a shadow of a man, wincing at the conversation. Pressed into a corner, slumped behind some barrels, Peter can barely be seen. He hasn’t spoken all day; last time he did, he regretted it. His accent almost gave him away. He has been up all night and his world is shattered. His eyes, heavy with tears, give way to sleep.
Rooster crows break the crisp morning air, echoing through the neighbourhood. He staggers to his feet in the dawn light. Still groggy and barely functioning, the day is a blur of eyes everywhere and the fear
of discovery. Then, finally, familiar faces. Security. Food. Quiet company, broken only by deep questions with no answers. Is it night again already? Where did the day go?
“Peter!” Thump, thump, thump. “John!” Thump, thump, thump. Another morning, shocked awake; Peter recognizes Mary’s voice, but it sounds strange. She continues her incessant banging then bursts through the barely open door. Chatter from the women is as fast and punchy as their knocks.
“He’s gone! We thought they took Jesus’ body … instead, we saw angels. They asked us why we were looking for the living among the dead. He is alive!”
Peter, unsure, starts running, but his fellow apostle, John, beats him to the tomb. From a distance he can see the stone is rolled away, and not a guard in sight. Hearts already pounding, they enter—neatly folded grave clothes, no body.
The walk home is much slower; something has shifted deep inside. Hope has been born again. Could it be true? Is Jesus alive? And if He is, well, this changes … everything!
If you would like to know more about the Easter story, turn to John 20 in the New Testament.
“Jesus is alive!”
MARY MAGDALENE
VIRTUOSO ELIZABETH SHEPHERD'S SONG STYLINGS ARE PRAISED AROUND THE WORLD, BUT SHE HAS STAYED TRUE TO HER SALVATION ARMY ROOTS.
by Ken Ramstead
Music-Maker
“All ideas and all creativity come from God,” Elizabeth Shepherd explains. “That was what drew me to jazz"
Velvety-voiced jazz keyboardist Elizabeth Shepherd arrived on the international scene in 2006 and, since then, the Montreal-based soul-jazz innovator has established herself as one of the most alluring and imaginative artists on the scene today.
Elizabeth has a “soulful coolness,” states USA Today. Montreal’s La Presse writes that she is “more interesting than all the other jazz singers out there,” while MOJO magazine declares that her “wholly unique and unclassifiable style blurs the boundaries between jazz, R&B, pop and hip hop.”
A six-time JUNO nominee, Elizabeth has toured extensively in North America, Europe, Japan and Mexico, selling out shows from the Cotton Club in Tokyo to the Jazz Cafe in London, England.
“THERE’S AN IMMEDIACY TO MUSIC,” declares jazz musician Elizabeth. “There are so many things you try to put into words that ultimately can’t be expressed. You try, but you get bogged down in the nuances of what you actually mean to say, but not quite express correctly. With music, it’s immediate. That emotional content, whether you label it or not, is incredibly palpable.”
Elizabeth grew up in The Salvation Army, the daughter of pastor parents. Though the family moved around as they were transferred to different postings, Elizabeth never felt unmoored.
“In retrospect, the church provided community because it was the one place of continuity from city to city or even country to country,” Elizabeth recalls. “The Salvation Army was important in providing a sense of stability for me.”
The other source of continuity for Elizabeth as a child was music.
“Wherever we moved, music in general and The Salvation Army’s rich musical tradition in particular provided familiarity and structure.”
For instance, when the family
Her second album deals sympathetically with its Toronto neighbourhood namesake, known for its grit. The album was nominated for both the 2009 Vocal Jazz JUNO Award and jazz vocalist of the year at the 2009 National Jazz Awards.
Elizabeth’s debut album was voted among the top three jazz albums of 2006 by the listeners of the influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio 1 International. In 2007, it was nominated for a JUNO Award in the vocal jazz category and won the INDIE Award for jazz album of the year.
moved to France, Elizabeth befriended a Congolese choir. Though she could speak little French then and they spoke very little English, they took her under their wing.
“And so long before I knew what I was singing, I just had this incredible joy and sharing.”
Elizabeth discovered jazz as a student at McGill University in Montreal. There was something
Elizabeth’s third album was the first to be selfproduced. It includes the single, Seven Bucks, which climbed to No. 37 on the Tokio Hot 100 chart. The album was long-listed for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize in 2010 and garnered Elizabeth the INDIE Award for jazz vocalist of the year.
By far Elizabeth’s most ambitious work to date, the 2020 JUNO Award nominated album is her sixth. An innovative multi-media project celebrating her hometown, it is a collection of 11 songs inspired by interviews with strangers that together form an unofficial “people’s history” of the city. Groove-driven, soulful, electro-infused jazz, this opus is accompanied by a series of films for each song, as well as a coffee table book. 2010
Her fourth album is a collection of soulfully reworked covers of beloved songs. Dedicated to her first daughter, it was nominated for the 2013 Vocal Jazz JUNO Award, and was produced by Elizabeth.
about it that just spoke to her.
“Historically, jazz is deeply political and a music of empowerment,” she explains, “but it’s a deeply spiritual form, too.”
One of the biggest parts of jazz is improvisation, and that was an important spiritual step for Elizabeth.
“In order to improvise, you need to get out of your own way to allow God to speak through you, because all ideas and all creativity come from God,” she explains. “That was what
This studio album is an adventurous leap into electro-tinged soul jazz. JUNO nominated and Polaris Prize long-listed in 2015, it was produced by Elizabeth.
drew me to jazz. I remember writing in my journal when I was 19 that I felt as if my life’s mission was to learn how God spoke through music.”
Realizing that was a large part of the reason why Elizabeth is a musician.
“It’s not just because I love music, not because it brings me joy, not even because I feel that I’m good at it,” she says. “It’s because it’s a spiritual path and it’s a way for me to understand God, to understand my place in all of
this, to relate to others.
“To allow God to just speak through me.”
For years, Elizabeth was a Salvation Army soldier (an official member). But as she plunged into her musical career and spent more and more time touring and in the studio, her soldiership had lapsed and she was reluctant to recommit.
“Having grown up in the Army, I knew the demands it could—and should—make on your time,” she explains.
But as she settled down with her family in the Laurentian area of Quebec just north of Montreal, at some point, Elizabeth started to attend Salvation Army worship services on a regular basis again and has become more and more involved in the life of her church.
When not on the road performing, she works with the choir at the
Army’s Montreal Citadel. She also assists with the residents at the Booth Centre, a Salvation Army facility that offers temporary housing and the support of intervention workers to men experiencing housing difficulties, alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness, and has been developing a music program.
“I’ve repeatedly seen the power of music to heal and bring joy and light in that setting,” she says. “However, I’ve also witnessed some of the challenges residents have in getting out to enjoy live music—either due to physical disabilities, chronic health issues or mental illness/addiction programs that require they stay put for treatment.”
Elizabeth plans to become an adherent this year, someone who believes in God, participates in worship, fellowship, service and support of a local Salvation Army congregation, and identifies with the Army’s mission statement.
“I didn’t even know that was an option!” Elizabeth smiles. “I thought you were either a soldier or you weren’t. But when my parents told me all about it, I thought it was very cool.
“It’s a great way of telling the world, ‘The Salvation Army is my home church.’ ”
In February, Elizabeth released her seventh studio album, Three Things (based on 1 Corinthians 13:13). It is a joyful celebration of love, resilience and connection. She’ll be embarking on a cross-Canada tour this spring, summer and fall and plans to team up with The Salvation Army to include some concerts in Army shelters along the way.
“Music is a way for me to understand God, to understand my place in all of this, to relate to others.”
ELIZABETH SHEPHERDPhoto s: Courtesy of Elizabeth Shepherd
I THOUGHT MY WORLD HAD COME TO AN END ON GOOD FRIDAY. BUT THERE WAS HOPE IN THE MIDST OF HEARTBREAK.
by Helena SmrcekIt was the week before Easter 1995. I was five months pregnant, my husband took a day off work and we headed for the most exciting ultrasound appointment of our lives. We were going to see our first baby. A few minutes into the appointment, the technician’s smile
disappeared, then she excused herself to go find the doctor. My heart started to sink. The room filled with fear.
When she returned with the news that the doctor had needed to attend to a delivery and would call us later, I asked her what the problem was.
All she was allowed to tell us was that there was something wrong with the baby.
We drove home, and I couldn’t hold back my tears. We had waited so long for this pregnancy. This was our joy, our hope, our blessing. My mind raced through the possibilities. What was going on with our baby?
We prayed, like never before. When the phone rang later that day, I was unprepared for the news. Our baby was dead. My heart was crushed. I called our family doctor and asked for an emergency appointment, for this had to be a mistake.
The contractions started early in
the morning on Good Friday. I felt my world was going to end. When we came home that evening, my dreams were shattered. Where was God in all of this? How could He let this happen to us? And on Easter weekend?
I looked for an explanation. What did I do to cause this? We went to see our doctor, then the genetics team, the obstetrician again. All of them repeated that we had done nothing wrong; these things happened more often than we thought. But I still couldn’t comprehend it. Where was God on that day?
Our pastor had no answers, either, and friends seemingly didn’t know what to say. I felt utterly alone, lost in sadness, hopeless, depressed, questioning if we ever could have another baby.
And then I walked across the street from our apartment building and mustered the courage to enter a community outreach centre in Bramalea, Ont., staffed by volunteers with a weekly Bible study and an emergency food pantry.
I talked to Bob, the man in charge. I didn’t tell him about our Easter, but after sitting down for a coffee and a good chat, I asked if I could volunteer. Through my work with our walk-in visitors, searching for God, I slowly came out of the darkness that settled over my soul. My body healed faster than my broken
spirit, but over time, that did, too.
Three months later, we were blessed with another pregnancy, and on Mother’s Day 1996, our son was born. Two years later, on the day of our seventh anniversary, God blessed us with a daughter.
I had always thought these dates were not accidental. God talks to us through various means, and to me, this was one of His ways.
thoughts didn’t cross their minds.
In their despair, they hid, as we often do in the midst of our struggles and suffering, unwilling to accept that this painful situation is no surprise to Him. God found them, and He found me, as I’d almost lost my faith during that time. But God called out to me through Bob and a group of people who cared. They didn’t know my entire story, yet they
Years later, as I recall that Easter weekend and the pain of that experience, I can’t help but think of the disciples, witnessing the demise of Jesus. Their faith, hope and love were destroyed right before their eyes. They were devastated, scared, disillusioned. They asked where God was in all of this. Were they wrong to hope and believe? They must have felt robbed, cheated, destroyed.
Yet Easter Sunday was coming. Had they even thought of resurrection? Jesus brought people back from the dead before, but seeing the tortured body of our Lord must have been so devastating that such
took the time to listen and offer prayers, hope and love. They showed me that Jesus cares and loves me, no matter the difficulty I face.
Since that time, we have faced many hurdles as we continue on our journey toward eternity, but also many blessings and, may I say, a few miracles. Our faith remains strong, as we know who holds our future. Jesus not only showed us how to live, but on that first Easter weekend, He showed us that death is not permanent. He beat it, and because of His victory, we will beat it, too.
Reading about Jesus’ death and
“Where was God in all of this? How could He let this happen to us? And on Easter weekend?“
HELENA SMRCEK
Resurrection in the New Testament always leaves me astonished. This event was real, just as real as Jesus’ teachings and miracles were. What that tells me is that Jesus, in His physical, resurrected body, is somewhere. That “somewhere” is heaven. A real place of beauty, love and peace. And that gives me comfort, for I know that our baby is there, as are my in-laws and other loved ones who went before us, watching, cheering us on and waiting for the day our Lord calls us, too.
The miracle of Easter is a story of hope. God’s love is with us. He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us as we walk through life, but He also gives hope through us, His people. If you are suffering today, dealing with pain, loss or fear—as I was—find courage and visit a Salvation Army centre or church. There are hundreds scattered across this country. For God’s love shines through His people, people who understand pain and are prepared to help you.
Let them.
Most of us have heard the story of Joshua and his army marching around the city of Jericho for seven days. At God’s command on the seventh day, the men blew their trumpets and shouted. The high walls crumpled to the ground, leaving Jericho’s population defenseless. They were now easy prey for the Israelites. All but one clan: Rahab and her relatives.
Oh, did I mention that Rahab was a prostitute?
When Joshua took over from Moses as leader of the Israelites, he sent two spies into Jericho, a heavily fortified enemy city. The spies stayed in the house of a prostitute named Rahab, built into the city wall. We mustn’t assume that the soldiers sought her company. Most likely they hid in Rahab’s inn to avoid suspicion, as the citizens of Jericho probably thought nothing of seeing strangers come and go at all hours to her establishment. Further, we mustn’t assume that this was Rahab’s chosen vocation.
Unmarried women in that ancient society had no career options. Perhaps she was a victim, like many women today. With lavish love and mercy, God reached out to Rahab.
The Israelite spies told Rahab their mission. She explained how the Israelites’ reputation for conquering the lands God had promised them preceded them. “I know that the Lord has given Israel this land. Everyone shakes with fear because of you” (Joshua 2:9 Contemporary English Version). She hid the spies under stacks of flax on her roof, and then asked them to protect her and her family when they overtook the city.
When the king of Jericho heard that Israelite men had been spotted going into Rahab’s house, he demanded that Rahab turn the men over. Rahab lied and sent the king’s men on their way.
Upon hearing the spies’ story, Joshua gave orders to his soldiers to spare Rahab’s clan on the day they conquered Jericho. In a dramatic rescue operation, the Israelite soldiers took this woman’s family into their
When a woman with a dark past co-operates with God, her future turns bright.
tribe, and Rahab became a Jew. She married Salmon, who became the great-great-great- … (15 times over) grandfather of Jesus.
God used a former prostitute to help His chosen people. He saw in Rahab a brave heart and a strong soul. He wiped away her past labels and allowed her the honour of being in the same family tree as His Son (see Hebrews 11:31).
Many of us have a dark past, shameful things we’ve done or former lifestyles we don’t like to talk about. When we realized we were sinners and turned to Jesus for forgiveness, God wiped away the labels of our past. He erased every sin. Took us into His family. Made us new people (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).
But sometimes, when we recall our past, we feel unworthy to serve God and share His good news with others. Thoughts like, Who do you think you are? and You’re not worthy to call yourself a Christian rattle our confidence. Our hearts sink with
condemnation.
That’s when we need to remember Rahab.
Although she started out as an immoral woman, we see that she believed in the one true God to save and keep her. She bravely risked her own life to shield the Israelite spies. Faith in God changed her heart and entire life from dark to light. Rahab’s story reminds us that God’s grace— His willingness to forgive us and let us start over—is deeper than any wrongdoing in our past. Those old accusing labels don’t apply now. Like Rahab, we are part of God’s family.
He always allows us to turn the page on our past. And by His love, He sets us free.
Read Joshua 2 and 6:17, 22-23; Matthew 1:5-6; Hebrews 11:31.
• Who: A prostitute who hid Israelite spies in exchange for her family’s safety
• When: About 1400 BC
• Where: Jordan, on the West Bank of the Jordan River
He saw in Rahab a brave heart and a strong soul.
JEANETTE LEVELLIE
TIME 2 hrs, 10 min MAKES 10-12 servings SERVE WITH fresh bread
Chicken Noodle Soup
1.8 kg (4 lbs) chicken
4 L (16 cups) water
1 large tomato, sliced in half
2 garlic cloves
1 onion, peeled
1 parsnip, peeled and quartered
2 carrots, peeled and quartered
1 celery stalk, quartered
30 g (1 oz.) ginger, peeled
45 ml (3 tbsp) pickle juice
2 bay leaves
15 ml (1 tbsp) salt
250 g (8 oz.) egg noodles
fresh parsley to taste
Roast Chicken
5 ml (1 tsp) olive oil
15 ml (1 tbsp) salt
10 ml (2 tsp) black pepper
1. Take a fresh or defrosted whole chicken and rinse. Fill large pot with 3 litres water and add the chicken and soup ingredients except salt, noodles and parsley.
2. Bring to boil and add salt. Put a loose lid on top and simmer for 45 minutes.
3. Remove chicken and set aside in lightly greased roasting pan. Preheat oven to 200 C (400 F). Rub with salt and pepper.
4. Add 1 litre water to soup pot and simmer for 1 hour.
5. Roast chicken with lid off roasting pan for 45 minutes or until it’s browned with an internal temperature of 180 C (350 F).
6. Strain soup so it’s clear and add noodles, then cook until noodles are soft. Dice cooked carrot and add back in.
7. Serve soup and garnish with fresh parsley. Carve chicken and serve.
TIME 70 min MAKES 16 servings SERVE WITH dried fruit or chocolate chips
1 L (4 cups) rolled oats
15 ml (1 tbsp) sea salt
5 ml (1 tsp) cinnamon
1 ml (¼ tsp) nutmeg
125 ml (½ cup) melted
coconut oil or olive oil
125 ml (½ cup) real maple syrup
10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In bowl, mix together oats, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add oil, syrup and vanilla extract, then spoon mixture on to baking sheet and pat down evenly.
3. Bake for 22 minutes, stirring halfway.
4. Remove and allow to cool for 45 minutes in the pan. Break apart and transfer to an air-tight container.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
1. What gems are birthstones for the month of March?
2. What does the texting abbreviation “JSYK ” mean?
3. What is pyromania an obsession with?
How do you feel about thrifted shoes? As long as they are in good condition and have minimal wear, I am happy to purchase second-hand footwear. My local Salvation Army thrift store has so many different styles and sizes that it’s hard to choose sometimes! Over the years, I have been very lucky to find high-quality shoes for less. Now, some of these shoes have been so well loved, they needed some repair, and I was curious if making the investment in thrifted footwear would be worth it:
Thrift Price: $8.99, Actual Retail Price: $200. The sole at the front was coming away from the shoe and needed to be glued.
See by Chloe Maroon Leather Loafers
Thrift Price: $10.99, Actual Retail Price: $350. The leather was separating at the seam near the top.
Thrift Price: $8.99, Actual Retail Price: $575. The leather sole was wearing thin and needed to be reinforced.
I thrifted all three pairs for $28.97 from my local Salvation Army thrift store. If I had paid retail, that amount would’ve been $1,125! To repair all the shoes cost a total of $45, which brings the price to $73.97 for all three.
If you’re unsure of thrifting a pair of shoes, I say go for it! You’ll most likely find a highquality item for less, and they will last for many years to come.
A recent survey from The Salvation Army finds more than half of Canadians are extremely concerned about rising inflation and cost of living; one in four are not sure they will have enough income to cover basic needs.
At The Salvation Army, we have seen significant increase in demand for services. Those impacted are no longer the most vulnerable in society–they are friends, neighbours or family members.
Together, we can give hope to more than 2.6 million people who rely on us today and every day—because Canadians care.
Visit SalvationArmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY to donate.
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