How to Respond to the Refugee Crisis
Indigenous Healing Lodge Restores Inmates
Bermuda After-School Program Delights Kids
THE VOICE OF THE ARMY
February 2016
Salvationist.ca
Our Priority ‌ the People! Partners in Mission spotlights Latin America North Territory
2 January 2016 Salvationist
CONTENTS
Salvationist February 2016 • Volume 11, Number 2
DEPARTMENTS 5 Inbox 6 Frontlines
10
15 Fresh Ideas
Get more online
Grassroots Heroes by Giselle Randall
Visit salvationist.ca to add your comments and read web-exclusive articles
22 Spiritual Life Real Religion by Major Wanda Vincent
/salvationistmagazine Follow us on Instagram for the latest and best Army photos. Tag your photos #salvationistsofig
25 Cross Culture 27 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories This Little Light of Mine by Tamara Robinson
/salvationistmagazine Like us on Facebook for photos and updates. Interact with our community of 25,000 fans
COLUMNS 4 Editorial Frontier Justice by Geoff Moulton
9 Onward How Beautiful by Commissioner Susan McMillan
23 #Trending
FEATURES 10 Our Priority … the People! Partners in Mission spotlights Latin America North Territory by Steve Nelson
Love Without Borders by Captain Mark Braye
16 Up for School
24 Ties That Bind
Providing freedom, hope and a future through education by Major Gillian Brown
Everybody Hurts by Major Kathie Chiu
22
17 Prime Time
@Salvationist Follow us on Twitter for the Army’s breaking news. Use hashtag #SalvationArmy for your own updates and photos Cover photo: Steve Nelson
Read and share it! February 2016
FAITH &
faithandfriends.ca
frıends Inspiration for Living
An after-school program in Somerset, Bermuda, is meeting a community need by Pamela Richardson
18 Speak Up How lobbying advances the Army’s mission Interview with Jessica McKeachie
19 A Healing Place The Salvation Army and an Indigenous correctional facility partner to restore women’s lives by Kristin Ostensen
Life Changer
Jay Kivell beat his addiction. Now he helps others do the same
Words: Fighting When Spouses Clash
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Knitting to Help the Homeless IS CHRIST RISEN?
Roman Centurion Tackles the Ultimate Whodunit in New Movie
Salvationist February 2016 3
EDITORIAL
T
Frontier Justice
he two girls sat in the back of my Grade 5 classroom, murmuring in subdued tones and giggling to themselves. They spoke no English and seemed bewildered by Canada—the freezing weather, the wide-open spaces, the prosperity. For those of us growing up in London, Ont., in the early 1980s, the word refugee was not in our vocabulary. What we couldn’t understand—and what the teachers didn’t tell us—was the devastation these girls had endured in their homeland. In Cambodia, Pol Pot’s ruthless dictatorship had wiped out an estimated 2.3 million people—a third of the population—through forced labour, genocide and starvation in what came to be referred to as the “killing fields.” These girls were the lucky ones. Leap forward 30 years and once again the world faces a humanitarian crisis of unthinkable proportions. The West has been transfixed, and largely paralyzed, by the tide of human suffering that is emerging from Syria and spilling over into Europe and beyond. Another dictator and terrorist groups hold sway in Syria, and it’s the innocents who suffer. War is not the only cause of displacement. The last four years in Syria have been the driest on record, producing region-wide droughts. When crops fail, people grow increasingly desperate. If predictions about climate change are correct, in a couple of decades from now Salvationist
is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory André Cox General Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel Jim Champ Secretary for Communications Geoff Moulton Editor-in-Chief Giselle Randall Features Editor (416-467-3185) Pamela Richardson News Editor, Production Co-ordinator, Copy Editor (416-422-6112) Kristin Ostensen Associate Editor and Staff Writer 4 February 2016 Salvationist
mass migrations like Syria’s will seem routine. In the face of this suffering, how will we respond? Prayer, while crucial, is not enough. Safety is important, but we cannot linger while thousands perish. The Salvation Army has reached out to the federal and provincial governments to offer our services. But the onus is also on individual Salvationists to respond with hearts of compassion. Follow Captain
In the face of this suffering, how will we respond?
It took Mary Jo some time before she figured out that the house the woman was referring to was actually a garage. “You have houses for your cars?” she asked, incredulous. Think for a minute about the appalling conditions that refugees face every day. Now think of all that we are blessed with in Canada. What does it take for us to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8)? We, too, can offer hope at life’s frontiers. GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mark Braye’s new social issues column, #Trending (page 23), to see his take on refugees. Mary Jo Leddy is a Catholic nun who founded a residence for refugees in Toronto called Romero House. In her book, At the Border Called Hope: Where Refugees are Neighbours, she tells of a refugee who, upon arriving in Canada, looked in the backyard and asked, “Who lives in that house?”
Timothy Cheng Senior Graphic Designer Brandon Laird Design and Media Specialist Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator Ken Ramstead Contributor Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769. Member, The Canadian Church Press. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) © 2011. All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory and can be reprinted only with written permission.
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Mission
The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. Salvationist informs readers about the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. salvationist.ca facebook.com/salvationistmagazine twitter.com/salvationist youtube.com/salvationistmagazine instagram.com/salvationistmagazine
INBOX
Is there a “war” on Christmas? BY MAJOR JUAN BURRY
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number of years ago, I was standing at a Salvation Army Christmas kettle in downtown Victoria. As people passed by and dropped change in the bucket, I greeted and thanked them. Sometimes I said, “Merry Christmas,” especially if the donor said it to me first. But most of the time, I went with a universal acknowledgment like “Happy Holidays.” As my shift ended and a staff member from my ministry unit took over, a man wearing a yarmulke dropped in a $20 bill. I thanked him and wished him a “Happy Hanukkah.” He smiled and said, “Merry Christmas.” The employee who came to relieve me seemed bewildered. I knew little about him except that he wanted to work for the Army because it was a Christian organization. As he looked at me, I sensed he was bristling about the last exchange. “Shouldn’t we be saying ‘Merry Christmas’?” he asked. “I mean, we are Christians, after all.” “Who was the greeting for?” I replied. He seemed confused by my question. It made sense to me. “When I wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas,’ I’m saying I hope they have a great Christmas celebration. It’s a neighbourly wish, not a creedal statement,” I told him. “So why would I wish someone a great Christmas when I have no reason to believe they even celebrate it? Is it to antagonize them? Is it to assert the primacy of my faith? Is that what peace and goodwill toward humanity look like?”
Perhaps it wasn’t fair of me to pepper him with questions, but I wanted him to think about the message he was sending. Over the last few years, we’ve heard a lot in the media about a supposed “war” on Christmas. The rhetoric claims that Christ is being pushed out of Christmas, and that this is part of a larger assault on our faith. We often retaliate by blitzing our social media pages with “I’m keeping Christ in Christmas” memes and warn everyone to prepare to hear “Merry Christmas,” whether they celebrate it or not. When you think about it, this whole notion of a war against Christmas (or even our faith for that matter) is kind of silly. It’s peddled by the media and those with a political agenda and we fall for it. Why? Because it appeals to our identity as a persecuted people. For many of us, our faith is built on the notion that to be a Christian is to be mistreated. I heard that message in Sunday school, training college and many times since then. Scripture verses, written to believers in a very different time and place, are taken out of context and applied to us. Being persecuted is seen as a validation of our faith. No wonder we want to see this devil behind every bush. But the fact of the matter is that Christians are more likely to encounter apathy than hostility in our society. If there is such a thing as a war on Christmas, it is likely because of our own doing rather than the efforts of those indifferent toward us. We bemoan the secularization of our religious holiday,
even while we participate in the rampant materialism that comes with it. We allow the deep meaning and message of Christmas to become muted by the crassness of consumerism. But Christmas is a perfect opportunity for Jesus’ subversive message of “others” to draw attention to our unhealthy selfobsession. The Christmas story, in the language of John’s Gospel, is about light coming into our dark world. The story of the Wise Men visiting Jesus reminds us that the light is for all people, not only the Jews, but Gentiles as well. The presence of the shepherds reminds us that the gospel is especially for the poor and marginalized. Jesus’ escape from the clutches of Herod conveys the message that political systems that oppress and exploit people do not have the final say. Christmas is about the advent of a new kingdom of justice and peace on earth. Does persecution happen to believers? Yes. Sometimes it is real and severe. But to pretend what we face in the West is equivalent to real hardship is insulting to those who truly hurt. Let’s stop the self-serving rhetoric of persecution and victimhood. Let us instead bring light into the dark corners of our world. Let’s care for the poor and suffering this month and in the days ahead. That is really keeping Christ in Christmas. Major Juan Burry is the executive director of Rotary Hospice House in Richmond, B.C. This is his last column and we are grateful for his contributions this year. Salvationist
December 2015 23
Thank you so much for this wonderful column! I change back and forth all the time between various greetings—“Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays” or “Have a blessed day.” I cannot believe the number of people that openly attack me for saying “Happy Holidays,” so I remind them that the word holiday is derived from the Old English word hāligdæg, which means “holy day,” and that tends to smooth things over. Heidi Jernigan Smith
Divorce Care I’m writing in response to Colonel Bob Ward and Major Amy Reardon’s discussion on divorce (“Untying the Knot,” November 2015). How should the church respond to divorce? Supportively. God knows things don’t always work out to our expectations. As a supportive fellowship, we lend an ear and lots of prayers and counsel if necessary. Marianne Jackson Christmas Joy Thank you for sharing our story, “An Unforgettable Gift” as part of the article “Good Tidings” (December 2015). As I have shared it with staff, they feel a sense of pride knowing that, in some small way, we brought joy to the woman mentioned in the article. They are also pleased that our small community has been acknowledged. Thank you again for all you do. Major Lorraine Shea
Election Fever On October 19, make sure your vote counts Photo: © iStock.com/Niyazz
BY JESSICA McKEACHIE
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n August 3, Prime Minister Stephen Harper started the longest federal election campaign period in Canada since 1872. Over 78 days, representatives from each party will attempt to lure voters with promises of better policies, new programs, lower taxes and a generally better government. Party leaders will cross the country shaking hands, kissing babies, debating, trading veiled—and blatant— insults, all in an effort to gain attention and support. It would be easy to get overwhelmed or disinterested in the constant barrage of information and opinions about the candidates and parties. But rather than viewing it as an annoyance, try to see this election as an opportunity to engage in democracy. In the last two federal elections, close to 40 percent of Canadians didn’t cast a ballot. That works out to more than nine million registered voters. While some argue that one vote doesn’t make a difference, the statistics tell a different story. In the last election, no party received as many votes as people who didn’t vote. Your vote counts!
2011 Election Turnout Did Not Vote Conservative
affordable and quality housing as a way to support lowincome individuals and families? • How will their party respond to the recommendations delivered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission? Consider the fact that there are now more seats in the House of Commons than ever before. Under new boundaries drawn up by Elections Canada, 30 new ridings were created. Also, an estimated 55 members of Parliament will not be running in this election, which means a record number of seats—85 of the 338 ridings across Canada—are open, with no incumbent candidate. Living in a democracy, with the freedom to choose our leaders, is a privilege and a responsibility. Don’t waste the opportunity. Your voice matters, so make it heard. In the words of William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s 10th prime minister, “where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government.” Jessica McKeachie is The Salvation Army’s public affairs director in the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Connect with her at jessica_mckeachie@can.salvationarmy.org.
NDP
Judge Not Transcending Prejudice I a m w riting to ba la nce t he pointed responses to Major Juan O Burry’s provocative article, which included a photo of Caitlyn Jenner (“Transcending Prejudice,” October 2015). First, to the editors of this spiritually refreshing magazine— keep up the great work! Salvationist offers timely, intelligent, thoughtprovoking insights into the nature of God, our communities and churches. Major Burry should be congratulated on the above article (as well as many past articles). When a parent or guardian first hears from an adolescent that they feel differently than expected toward the opposite gender, there is a sense of “What have I done wrong?” If they are a good parent, they will offer trust, security and love—even if the feelings persist into adulthood. There is probably nothing more soul-searching for a parent or child than coming to terms with why some people are different in that way. As Christians, we are not (contrary to the actions of some well-meaning Christians) God’s personal judge on morality. We are his emissaries in a dark world. The world, and that means everyone in it, is hungering for acceptance. Let’s show them God as we reflect Jesus’ walk amongst us. Murray Clare TALKING POINTS
Is gender important to God? BY MAJOR JUAN BURRY
ne of the biggest news stories of 2015 was Caitlyn Jenner coming out as a transgender woman. In an interview with television reporter Diane Sawyer, Jenner—a gold medal-winning Olympic athlete, formerly known as Bruce Jenner—revealed she had dealt with gender dysphoria during adolescence and was, “for all intents and purposes … a woman.” That announcement thrust Caitlyn into the limelight and she has arguably become the most famous transgender person in the world. The subject of gender identity and reassignment has become a hot topic of conversation in our society, including in the church. Over the last few months, I have read numerous articles, blogs and social media posts that have weighed in on this issue. I avoided becoming involved in these online debates, not because I feared taking one side or the other, but because I felt uninformed about the issue. I have done a lot of reading on LGBT issues and have gay and lesbian friends and colleagues. But gender identification is not the same thing as sexual orientation. Even though, for the sake of advocacy and mutual support, transgender people are grouped together with people who identify as non-heterosexual (the “T” in LGBT), being transgender is independent of sexual attraction. Transgender people may be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual. While I had to admit I wasn’t well informed on this issue and had not been an ardent supporter of the transgender community in any tangible way, I didn’t feel scandalized by Caitlyn’s story. I’ve never been hung up on gender identification or gender roles. My wife and I have never conformed to traditional gender roles, either as marital partners, parents or officers. I don’t consider myself the “head of the household” because I am male. I may have paid lip service to that idea as a young officer, but I knew it wasn’t accurate in practice. As far as our children go, we have been equally involved in their lives. I haven’t
Caitlyn Jenner accepts the Arthur Ashe award for courage at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles
shied away from anything because it is a “woman’s job.” If we bring anything different to the table as parents, and as officers, it is because of our individual aptitudes and abilities, irrespective of gender. So, on the one hand, because of my general “gender blindness,” Caitlyn’s story didn’t shock or disgust me. On the other hand, because of that same blindness, I have to admit that I can’t fully understand it, either. It’s hard to imagine what it would feel like to believe your gender doesn’t match your physical body. Gender is not about one’s biological sex. According to the American Psychological Association, “gender refers to the attitudes, feelings and behaviours that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex.” People may identify as transgender when their biological sex doesn’t match their gender identification. But what does it mean to be male or female in our culture? Are there any attitudes or feelings that remain solely feminine in nature? Are there behaviours in our society that we can say are exclusively masculine? One of the things I have learned in recent years is that gender cannot be an “either/or” approach. Instead, it’s helpful to look at
it as a spectrum. So I’m a little saddened and confused when I hear that people feel the need to change their physical bodies in order to fit a set of societal expectations, which is essentially what gender is. When I feel that way for Caitlyn, I have to remind myself that I cannot possibly understand her struggle. I try to put myself in her shoes and empathize with her. When I do that, I come back to my original premise that gender is mostly inconsequential. I know there are many Christians who disagree with this approach and still see traditional gender roles as very important. But when Paul wrote to the Galatians, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28, emphasis mine), I think it meant something more than just being equal. I think it meant that these things are not important to God. My gender identification is no more important to him than my ethnic origin or economic status. So if it isn’t important to him, why is it important to us? Major Juan Burry is the executive director of Rotary Hospice House in Richmond, B.C.
Salvationist October 2015 23
How to Vote
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Get Informed The good news is that an 11-week election campaign offers Canadians more opportunity than ever before to learn about the candidates, the parties and their platforms. Issues such as poverty, homelessness, human trafficking and Indigenous rights are concerns for every community across our country. What do you care about? Poverty? Climate change? Health care? Your member of Parliament will be your local representative in government, so meet the candidates running in your riding and ask them questions. For example: • How will they and their party work to establish an overall strategy to reduce poverty, with measurable and attainable goals? • What are their party’s plans to ensure more accessible,
Step 1: Check if you are registered to vote. Elections Canada’s website (elections.ca) makes it easy. Enter your name, birthdate and address, and Elections Canada will confirm your electoral district (note: this may have changed under the new boundaries), and whether you are registered to vote at your current address. Step 2: Get registered. Follow the appropriate links online or head down to your local polling office with two pieces of government identification (at least one of which contains your address). Under new rules, you’ll also need these when you vote—either one piece of government identification with your address or two pieces of ID, one with your current address (e.g. a passport and a utility bill). Step 3: Educate yourself. Take time to learn about each of the parties and the candidates in your riding. Step 4: Mark your calendar and vote. Election Day is October 19, 2015. Polling stations will be open all day and into the evening. Advance polls will also be open October 9-12, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Voting at Elections Canada offices or by mail are also options.
12 October 2015 Salvationist
POINT COUNTERPOINT
Untying the Knot How do we care for families affected by divorce?
Photo: © WavebreakmediaMicro/stock.Adobe.com
Get Informed Thanks for the article by Jessica McKeachie encouraging us to get informed about voting (“Election Fever,” October 2015). What I find extremely frustrating is that we conservative evangelicals are the most uninformed and misinformed among the population. Neither NDP nor Liberal means “the devil,” and Conservative does not mean “Christian.” Captain Mark Braye
Refuge Captain Scott Strissel urges us to consider a Christian response to the refugee crisis (“Border Control,” salvationist.ca/2015/11/refugeecrisis-debate). We are fortunate to be born in the western world. My mind goes back to a young Middle Eastern couple travelling and looking for someone to take them in for the night. No one did and our Saviour was born in a manger. Can we not do more than the innkeeper of old and show love and compassion for the less fortunate? We are our brother’s keeper. The true spirit of Christ is to help and give to provide a better way of life for these people. Josie Nicolosi
Photo: © Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
TALKING POINTS
Happy Holidays
Photo: © alphaspirit/iStock.com
Holy Day Major Juan Burry asks, “Is there a war on Christmas?” (“Happy Holidays,” December 2015). It’s not so much a war as apathy and a lack of understanding of why we started celebrating Christmas in the first place. We continue down a secular path that gives little acknowledgement of God and his place in our lives. Philip Coller
In this series, Colonel Bob Ward, who retired in 2013 as the territorial commander in Pakistan, and Major Amy Reardon, corps officer at Seattle Temple in Washington, U.S.A., discuss issues of the day. DEAR BOB,
W
hen I was a young woman, I went through a divorce. I never dreamed divorce would happen to me. Although I was glad to be out of an oppressive, harmful relationship, I felt a deep sense of shame. And there were other feelings I didn’t anticipate: resentment toward women who were loved and valued by their husbands; having no one to share moments of pride when my son reached a milestone; vulnerability in a myriad of situations—Was the plumber ripping me off? Did men assume I was desperate because I’m divorced? Divorce is devastating and impacts every corner of life. For me, if the painful marriage followed by the emptiness of divorce wasn’t bad enough, the misunderstanding of the church just about did me in. Many things can lead a couple to divorce. In my opinion, what leads to the divorce should inform the church’s response. Was there an affair, and, if so, did it come out of the blue, or was there already a deep rift in the relationship? Was it a drifting apart, or did one person suddenly and inexplicably want something different? Was
there physical or emotional abuse? Was there mental illness that became unbearable? Whatever the reason, both people should be treated with love and grace. In the church, it is very easy to welcome repentant sinners while penalizing wounded saints. Even if the leadership of the church responds appropriately (as mine did), it is important that corps members try to do the same. But when the details of divorce are private, how do we know how to respond? So here is my question: When something dramatic and life-altering happens to a member of the corps, what is the role of the corps body? Since we live in community together, how much do we need or deserve to know? And if details aren’t forthcoming, how should fellow soldiers approach the people involved? AMY DEAR AMY,
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n some ways, the loss and pain of divorce can be as traumatic as grieving a death. You’re left dealing with the legal and financial fallout, facing huge questions—What happens to the children? Do we need to sell the house? How will my friends, family and church community respond?—while trying to recover from the shock of rupture, perhaps with little support. What is worse, many people choose sides and lay blame. Canada relaxed its divorce law in 1985, adopting a “no-
18 November 2015 Salvationist
Good Tidings From rural Saskatchewan to balmy Bermuda, The Salvation Army brings joy at Christmastime “Welcome to Hotel Dean” BY CAPTAIN ED DEAN Corps officer, Maple Creek, Sask.
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n December 26, 2009, I received a call from the RCMP to help someone on the highway who had hit a deer and could no longer travel because their vehicle was damaged. I went to respond only to find out that it was a family of five—a mom, dad and three children. All of the hotels in Maple Creek were closed because of the Christmas holidays, and they had no money. Now, what do you do when someone has no place to go? You find a place for them. And so they came to “Hotel Dean” at three in the morning on that Boxing Day. They stayed with us for four days
and we shared Christmas with them. We always do turkey and stuffing, so we introduced them to some of the traditions we do with our leftovers. (I’m from a big family, so it’s nothing for me to get a 12- or 14-kilogram turkey.) We shared bedrooms, we shared food, we shared a little bit of everything. But within the first day of their staying with us, I picked up through the children that things were not right. They told me that they had been forced to leave their home in Alberta by their father. They were new Canadians—English was not their first language and they didn’t know anybody here. So the next day, I sent him on a bus back to Alberta, while the mother and children stayed a few more days. I wanted to protect the
family and make sure they were safe. Then I sent them in the opposite direction, to a Salvation Army shelter in Ontario. I followed up with her about six months later—she had an apartment, was working, and was getting the family established again. My encounter with that family really hit home because, when I was a child more than 40 years ago, The Salvation Army brought Christmas dinner to my family—long before I was ever involved with the Army. My parents had just separated, and we would not have had Christmas without the Army’s help. To me, Christmas is a very important time of the year. If I have the opportunity, I’m going to make the best Christmas I can for anybody who’s around me. Salvationist
December 2015 13
I was encouraged by Major Burry’s article. It seemed to be based on biblical Christian values of inclusiveness, acceptance, compassion and mercy. We always need to see “the other” as God’s creatures, equal in his eyes to ourselves. We need to respond with empathy. We are called upon to love them. I was, therefore, disappointed to read the responses in the letters to the editor section in the December issue, which struck me as angry and judgmental in tone. We ought to be careful to distinguish between values based on societal norms and those based on scriptural truths. Gary Robson All letters must include name, address and phone number or e-mail address where the writer can be contacted. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium. Salvationist February 2016 5
FRONTLINES
Hope in the City Events Raise Funds
T Mayor Naheed Nenshi donates to the Army at Calgary’s Hope in the City event, as Cpt Pamela Goodyear, DSPRD, Alta. & N.T. Div, applauds
Canadian Ambassador Kevin Vickers speaks to a crowd of 900 in Saint John, N.B.
he Salvation Army held various Hope in the City events across the territory in November and December to raise funds for the Army’s work at Christmas and throughout the year. In Saint John, N.B., 900 guests heard from Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers, a native of Miramichi, N.B. As the former sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons, Vickers was responsible for taking down the lone gunman who attacked Parliament in October 2014. “My parents instilled values that include respecting the dignity of others and compassion for the less fortunate, and that is the essence of The Salvation Army,” said Vickers. Guests in Vancouver were treated to a presentation by Mary Walsh, who is best known for her work on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Outside of the entertainment world, Walsh is an outspoken advocate for mental health and addiction awareness. A Hope in the City breakfast in Calgary kicked off the city’s Christmas kettle campaign, with Mayor Naheed Nenshi on hand to make the first donation. Journalist Cam Tait helped
Edmonton kick off its kettle campaign, sharing how hope helped him overcome physical limitations stemming from cerebral palsy. Under the theme Immigrants and Refugees: From Uncertainty to Hope, Winnipeg’s breakfast featured guest speaker Abel, a young refugee from Africa who came to Canada in search of a better life. He credits the Army’s Life and Employability Enhancement Program with helping him learn to communicate in his new home, adapt to Canadian culture and integrate himself into the workforce. I n t he Ont a r io C ent ra l-Ea st Division, Peter Legge, CEO of Canada Wide Media Limited, gave presentations in Toronto and Barrie, while guests in Ottawa heard from Peggy Taillon, president of the Bruyère Foundation. Stanley Cup champion Ron Ellis headlined London, Ont.’s event, while entrepreneur Jody Steinhauer spoke at the first ever Hope in the City luncheon in Windsor, Ont., and “Skid Row CEO” Joe Roberts was in Hamilton, Ont., sharing how the Army helped him get back on his feet when he was homeless.
Stratford Corps Reopens After Renos
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tratford Community Church, Ont., opened its doors again in November after months of renovations. The corps, which had been operating out of temporary locations since April 2015, was due for an expansion and a refresh, thanks in part to its large and growing family services and correctional and justice services. The food bank had been using an old church nursery for storage, but now has a large storage space at the back of the building. Three new offices and a waiting area at the front of the building give corrections their own “mini-wing,” says Major Denise Walker, corps officer. “We’ve made good use of the space.” The front of the building has a brand-new entrance with an attractive maple wood canopy. “It’s beautiful,” says Major Walker. “It welcomes you into the building.” The corps held an open house luncheon for volunteers in November, which also served as the Christmas kettle kick-off. On November 22, Majors Morris and Wanda Vincent, divisional commander and divisional director of women’s ministries, along with Major Glenda Davis, area commander, Ontario Great 6 February 2016 Salvationist
Lakes Division, were guests at the corps’ dedication service. An ensemble from Jubilee Brass provided musical support. “It’s a wonderful place that we get to call home,” says Major Walker. “We’re very thankful for it.”
Mjr Denise Walker shows off the corps’ attractive new entrance
FRONTLINES
Multi-Media Campaign Tackles Poverty
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he Salvation Army Ontario Central-East Division held its second annual It’s Time to End Poverty event in Toronto in November. In partnership with Bell Media, this multi-media campaign was centred at Toronto Harbour Light Ministries but also featured other ministries nearby, challenging the Greater Toronto Area to get involved and help put an end to poverty, one child, family and meal at a time. Because of the Army’s partnership with Bell, various media covered the event live, including television (CTV Toronto and CP24), radio (104.5 CHUM FM, 99.9 Virgin Radio, Newstalk 1010 and 1050 TSN Radio Toronto), and digital (Bell Media websites), supplemented by digital billboards and advertising on transit shelters. The event was live-tweeted using the hashtag
#itstime, and people were encouraged to visit itstimetoend poverty.ca to obtain more information about the Army’s work on the front lines and to donate. “The Salvation Army understands that cause marketing works best when brands join forces to create engaging, dynamic content that pulls on the heartstrings and leads consumers to want to get involved,” says Neil Leduke, divisional director of marketing and communications, Ontario Central-East Division, explaining how the event was developed. “Through this event, we could share our larger community story, shed light on the many services and resources available for people in need and share how the Army has been a transforming influence in people’s lives.”
Salvation Army staff take media on a walking tour of the Army’s facilities in downtown Toronto
A CP24 reporter interviews Andrew Burditt, DSPRD, Ont. CE Div
Winnipeg Initiative Targets Sex Trade
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he Salvation Army in Winnipeg has introduced a new campaign educating people about Canada’s prostitution laws. The Reality Check Initiative, which launched in November, includes a poster and a booklet explaining the legal and societal realities of the sex trade. The poster, in 14 different languages, states that buying sex in Canada is illegal, while the booklet addresses myths and misconceptions around the sex trade. “This campaign is primarily about making people aware that the sex trade is a form of exploitation,” says Hennes Doltze, social worker, Winnipeg correctional and justice services. “It shows them that women involved in the trade are not doing it because they want to,
but because they are either forced into it by another person, or they are forced into it by life circumstances, where it’s a way of survival.” While spearheading this initiative, The Salvation Army has partnered with the local police, the provincial government and other community agencies to spread the message as widely as possible in the community. There are also pdf versions of the poster and booklet available for distribution online. The Reality Check Initiative is an update of a previous campaign, reflecting Canada’s new prostitution laws, which changed in December 2014. “Previously, prostitution wasn’t illegal, though some related activities were,” explains Doltze, “but that has changed, so we wanted to make people aware.”
L’achat de services sexuels est un acte illegal au Canada.
Mwác kakí atáwán anik ká atáwákátisocik itahstéw wanasowéwin óta kánata.
Покупка секса противозаконна в Канаде. ਇਹ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਿੰਗ ਖਰੀਦਣ ਲਈ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਹ
Labag sa batas ang pagbili ng “sex” sa Canada. Es contra la ley pagar por relaciones sexuales en Canada.
It is against the law to buy sex in Canada.
To jest niezgodne z prawem kupić seks w Kanadzie. Gibiigonan inaakonigewin gishpin diba’amaawad ji-wiipemig. In Kanada verstößt es gegen das Gesetz Sex zu kaufen. 购买性行为是违反法律 的在加拿大 Купівля сексу є протизаконною в Канаді.
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FRONTLINES
Renfrew Army Celebrates New Store at Grand Opening Photo and story: Sherry Haaima/The Renfrew Mercury
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alvation Army officials in Renfrew, Ont., joined community representatives, supporters and shoppers for the grand opening of a new thrift store in November. Flooding closed the shop at the former location almost two years ago and officials and customers alike are thrilled with the new store. Majors Rocky and Janice Bishop, corps officers, Renfrew Community Church, welcomed all those in attendance, including Majors Gary and Sharon Cooper, area commanders, Ontario Central-East Division, and Sean Maddox, area director for public relations and development— Ottawa. “We hope people take advantage of the store,” says Major Gary Cooper. “It’s an opportunity not only to buy clothes, but also to be involved in the community, to help bring dignity and self-respect to others.” Maddox says he had heard of the challenges in Renfrew with the flooding. “What we saw was the perseverance of The Salvation Army in Renfrew, the desire to see it prosper and continue to put resources into all the programming, 365 days a year,” he says. “There’s a lot of need in the community.” Landlord Norm Bujold was also in
Cutting the ribbon at the thrift store grand opening, are, from left, Jane Forrest, community and family services co-ordinator and office manager; Roger and Cindy Fraser; Mjrs Janice and Rocky Bishop; Mjrs Sharon and Gary Cooper; Sean Maddox; and Norm Bujold
attendance and Majors Bishop thanked him for his support. “It’s a pleasure to be associated with such a fine organization,” says Bujold. A ribbon cutting and cake were part of the festivities. The shop has been open since late October and there’s been a positive response.
Repairs Possible Thanks to $200,000 Donation
Story: energeticcity.ca
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he Salvation Army in Fort St. John, B.C., unveiled a plaque in the centre’s kitchen in November, recognizing BC Hydro’s $200,000 donation to the Northern Centre of Hope. Lt-Colonel Larry Martin, divisional commander, British Columbia Division, notes, “This funding has helped us to pay for important repairs and maintenance at the Centre of Hope, allowing us to continue to help those most in need.” “We are pleased to provide this funding to support The Salvation Army’s Northern Centre of Hope and its emergency and transitional housing services 8 February 2016 Salvationist
within the community of Fort St. John,” says Diane McSherry, BC Hydro Site-C’s vice-president and project director. The funding provides $175,000 for building repairs and maintenance and $25,000 to kick off the Army’s Christmas kettle campaign. The $175,000 donation has funded a new roof on the centre, as ice damming and seepage was a serious concern last winter. “I’m pleased to see BC Hydro investing in local organizations in Fort St. John,” says Pat Pimm, Peace River North MLA.
Army Launches Booth Sleep Line
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he Salvation Army’s National Recycling Operations (NRO) launched the Booth Sleep Line in January, to be sold at thrift stores throughout Canada. The Booth Sleep Line includes new mattresses in single, double and queen sizes and two varieties— Harmony and Haven. These mattresses are made in Canada and come with a 10-year warranty. In addition to the mattresses, the Booth Sleep Line includes foundations, adjustable bedframes and standard-sized pillows. As part of the Army’s commitment to stewardship of the earth, the Booth Sleep Line has integrated the Forests for Tomorrow program, an eco-friendly Canadian program that regenerates more trees than what are used in the making of the line’s foundations each year. Purchase of Booth Sleep Line products supports The Salvation Army’s programs, services and emergency relief efforts.
ONWARD
How Beautiful Bringing good news through the Partners in Mission campaign BY COMMISSIONER SUSAN McMILLAN
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ast year, I had the in effect around the world 130 opportunity to visit years later, even in countries Nicaragua to see the like Nicaragua and Colombia. work of The Salvation Army. The Apostle Paul wrote In a village on the outskirts to the Roman church about of Managua, there is a small the importance of supporting Salvation Army outpost. A sign the mission of the church: on the building—little more “ ‘Everyone who calls on the than a shed—lists a schedname of the Lord will be saved.’ ule of activities: a women’s How, then, can they call on the group, men’s group and kids’ one they have not believed in? club. More than 100 people And how can they believe in gather here throughout the the one of whom they have not week. Talk about doing a lot heard? And how can they hear with a little! without someone preaching But it’s not just about to them? And how can anyone activities or church servipreach unless they are sent?” ces—it’s about being part of (Romans 10:13-15). the community. The woman By partnering with other who owns, and lives on, this territories, we are participating property is a soldier. She visits in the ministry of the gospel in her neighbours regularly and those places. We can think of knows when someone is ill or ourselves as contributing to the has lost a job. She works with Commissioner Susan McMillan with one of the children who participated in latter question in Romans 10 the young lieutenants who are a holiness meeting at Managua Central Corps in Nicaragua regarding the sending of those in charge of the Army in this who will preach. We may not be region. Together, they are living out integrated mission. called or even able to go to far-off lands to preach, but when Once again, Salvationists, I ask you to consider the work of we financially support those who are already there, we are The Salvation Army around the world, especially that of our partners in their ministry. Partners in Mission territories. The world missions departVerse 15 finishes with these words: “How beautiful are the ment has produced videos that highlight the work of officers feet of those who bring good news!” I believe Paul was talkand soldiers in the Latin America North Territory, which you ing not only of the preachers, but all of those who enable the will have the opportunity to view in your corps. You will see spread of the gospel, including those of us who participate by them carrying out a range of services with minimal resources, contributing to the Partners in Mission campaign. but most importantly, sharing the message of the gospel of It is clear that self-denial can be a valuable spiritual exerJesus Christ. cise. As we live without something to be able to contribute to Of course, the purpose of these videos is to remind us Partners in Mission, we get a small taste of what it’s like to live about the Partners in Mission campaign, originally known and work in areas where the Army has limited resources and as the Self-Denial Appeal. This appeal began in 1886 as a must do without to accomplish ministry proposition from General William Booth in The War Cry: objectives. “We propose that a week be set apart in which every soldier Beautiful feet. What a compliment it and friend should deny himself some article of food or clothwould be to hear those words about our ing, or some indulgence which can be done without, and that efforts for the sake of the gospel. the price gained by the self-denial shall be sent to help us in this emergency.” Commissioner Susan McMillan is the territorial The “emergency” was The Salvation Army’s mission work. commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory. The idea of raising funds to support the ongoing mission of Follow her at facebook.com/susanmcmillantc and the Army through self-denial was a good one. In fact, it is still twitter.com/salvationarmytc. Salvationist February 2016 9
Our Priority … the People! Partners in Mission spotlights Latin America North Territory
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BY STEVE NELSON
ebruary marks the beginning of the 2016 Partners in Mission campaign, when Salvationists come together to support the work of The Salvation Army around the world through sacrificial giving. The funds raised through this campaign enable the Army to maintain a presence in the developing world and continue reaching out through corps ministry, community development and disaster response. The campaign also helps us get to know our partner territories so we can pray for and learn from each other. This year, we are focusing on the Latin America North Territory: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama and Venezuela. Their territorial theme is ¡Nuestra Prioridad ... La Gente! (Our Priority ... the People!) The following photos highlight the trip our Salvation Army World Missions team took to Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica. Consider how you can support our partners in mission. Yordi Chavarrio, a soldier at Tegucigalpa Corps in Honduras, with children from the neighbourhood
NICARAGUA
Photos: Steve Nelson
Wilma Garcia is a member of the Managua Corps and has attended for four years. “It’s hard to know how to pay back the Lord for all he has done for me—I am thankful for his grace,” she told us. Wilma has 10 children and 40 grandchildren. She has an amazing amount of energy, but her hands show the years of hard work. When we arrived at her outdoor kitchen at 6 a.m., she had already been working for two hours, making tortillas to sell in the neighbourhood. One tortilla costs two Córdoba (about 10 cents) and she makes 400 a day. Later that evening, we helped her celebrate her 74th birthday at a mid-week corps meeting. 10 February 2016 Salvationist
Lieutenants Alvaro and Vanessa Vargas, corps officers at Managua Corps, with members of KM21, an outpost of the corps about 21 kilometres outside the city, in Rosalio Murillo. Reyna (back row, second from the right), one of the corps members who lives here, provides the building where up to 60 people gather for activities throughout the week. The Salvation Army is reaching out to families in this community with pastoral and practical care, helping parents gain literacy and computer skills to be able to help their children with schoolwork.
The community of Rosalio Murillo was established when the government offered land to those who could build a home within three months. As a result, many homes are made of corrugated metal, with dirt floors, and often require renovation. This is Reyna’s home, where she lives with her two daughters and their children. Although they have very little, Reyna managed to raise enough money to attend the Boundless international congress in London, England, by selling SIM cards for cellphones.
PANAMA
Our next stop was Honduras, but the eruption of a volcano temporarily closed the airport, resulting in a short detour to Panama. We visited the Rio Abajo Corps and the Clara Ophelia Wattley School on the property, which is attended by 150 children from preschool to Grade 6. The children were excited to participate in a video being produced by Matthew Osmond and went wild when Happy by Pharrell Williams blasted throughout the playground. Salvationist February 2016 11
HONDURAS
One of the ways the Army is growing in Honduras is through house meetings, where Salvationists and their friends gather to sing, pray, study the Bible and share their lives. Lieutenant Sarai Almendares, regional commander (far right), offers support. Karen, seen here holding her daughter, Anna, has been through difficult times. When she was 12, her mother died, and then her father left. Karen ended up on the street, where she had Anna. She moved to Nicaragua for a time, but was mistreated by people she thought were friends. She had a second baby, Daphne. “When I returned to Honduras, I needed psychological help. I came with so many bad things. I argued with everyone,” she told us. When she was younger, her mother had taken her to meetings at The Salvation Army, but now she hid from her friend, Mercedes, the leader of the house group. “Then I could not hide any longer and God came into my life.” She began to go to church again, and the house group began to pray. After being out of work for nine months, Karen found a job with a cleaning company—an answer to prayer. She is also praying to be reunited with Daphne, who remains in Nicaragua with her father. “My life wasn’t the same without God and living in faith. I see life differently now. It changed me a lot,” she says. “I am a brighter person than I was when I first returned from Nicaragua.”
The Salvation Army provides volunteers and support for a school program at a hospital in San Pedro Sula. The teacher, Marjory Sarai soler Benitez (standing), leads a song. 12 February 2016 Salvationist
This is Pedro, eight, and his mother, Belkis. Not long ago, Pedro was an active, healthy little boy, able to walk, play and go to school. But then he started having trouble walking and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Pedro and his mother travel seven hours by bus to get to the hospital for treatment. Belkis is a single mother, with another young child. “Prayer and the presence of others here in this program give me strength,” Belkis says. Pedro is holding a colouring page titled “Jesus Loves the Children.”
On our final day in Honduras, we drove back to Tegucigalpa and dropped in on six house meetings. Marianna lives in a dangerous neighbourhood, where drugs and gangs are everywhere; we were told to always have an Army representative nearby. Despite the dangers right outside her door, God has given her the courage to open her house for his use. Nine adults and six children attend her house meetings. “I wanted to serve the Lord and for my house to be used,” she says. “It has been a blessing.”
COSTA RICA
From Honduras we travelled to San Jose, Costa Rica, where we stayed at the training college. On our first morning, we visited a before- and after-school program. The children were excited and proud to perform a traditional dance for us celebrating a local festival.
We arrived at the Restoration of Hope centre early in the morning, where The Salvation Army provides breakfast for people living on the street. During the meal, I observed caring interactions between Army officers, staff members and clients. Providing food to the hungry on an ongoing basis is a challenge for the Army in San Jose.
One of the highlights of our trip was joining the training college cadets for a Sunday afternoon “Hour of Joy” in a poor neighbourhood. As we walked through the community, the cadets knocked on doors and invited children to join them in the park for a service. They shared the gospel with the children through music and drama and then broke into small groups to pray with them. As I reflect on our visit to the Latin America North Territory, I am reminded that God uses ordinary people and limited resources to accomplish great work for his kingdom.
Poverty, political instability, lack of infrastructure and other obstacles aren’t stopping God from working in these countries. The Salvation Army is making a difference in the lives of people in this
territory, but they need our help. We can help by praying for the Army’s work and donating in support of the Partners in Mission campaign. Salvationist February 2016 13
Partners in Mission 2016 Latin America North Territory The Salvation Army in Spanish – Ejército de Salvación Languages in which the gospel is preached: English, Kaqchikel and Spanish
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64 corps 12 outposts 19 schools active officers 18 daycares 13 centres/ retired cadets institutions 191 employees 2 camps
18 18
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Cuba
4 primary schools 1 secondary school 1 camp
1 school 2 health-education programs in hospitals
Almost half of Guatemala’s population is younger than 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Pray for Salvation Army schools, that the children and their families will hear the message of hope in Jesus.
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has the world’s highest murder rate. Pray for the Army’s outreach programs in vulnerable communities.
Nicaragua’s infrastructure and economy were hit hard by civil war and hurricane Mitch, but are slowly being rebuilt. Pray for the KM21 outpost as it ministers to families struggling with poverty and unemployment.
1 feeding centre 1 vocational training centre 1 rehab centre 1 residential home for the elderly 1 College for Officer Training Cuba faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 after the withdrawal of Soviet subsidies. Illegal migration to the United States—using homemade rafts, smugglers or across the southern border—is a continuing problem. Pray for the cadets at the College for Officer Training.
3,460
senior soldiers
949
adherents
1,579
junior soldiers Dominican Republic 1 kindergarten 2 schools The Dominican Republic has the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region, but is also marked by income inequality. Mass migration, both to and from the country— especially Haitians crossing the porous border to find work—is a major issue. Pray for the gospel to take root and faith to grow.
Venezuela 1 children’s development centre 1 feeding centre 1 residential home for children 1 vocational training centre
Panama El Salvador 3 daycares 1 children’s development centre 1 camp El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. At least 20 percent of Salvadorans live abroad, and the money they send home is the second-largest source of external income after exports, which has helped to reduce poverty. Pray for opportunities to reach out to youth, especially university students.
Costa Rica 4 daycare centres 7 feeding centres 1 rehab centre 1 homeless shelter 1 home for people with disabilities 1 conference centre 1 College for Officer Training Costa Rica’s political stability, high standard of living and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbours. Pray for wisdom and direction as ministries grow.
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1 daycare 1 kindergarten 1 school 1 feeding centre 1 residential home for children 1 residential home for the elderly Panama is a country of demographic and economic contrasts. It has one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America and dedicates substantial funding to social programs, yet poverty and inequality remain prevalent. Pray for corps as they reach out to preschool and schoolaged children.
Colombia 1 daycare centre 5 children’s development centres 1 feeding centre Colombia remains a volatile and dangerous country characterized by poverty, violence and forced displacement. Pray for the safety of the officers who minister there.
During the Chavez administration, education and health-care spending reduced poverty and increased economic growth. But more than one million Venezuelans, predominantly middleand upper-class, are estimated to have emigrated as a result of the repressive political system, lack of economic opportunities, steep inflation, high crime rate and corruption. Pray for leadership within Salvation Army ministry.
FRESH IDEAS
Grassroots Heroes Corps support the Partners in Mission campaign in fun and creative ways BY GISELLE RANDALL
We asked corps across the territory how they raise funds for the Partners in Mission campaign. Here’s what they told us.
His and Hers Over the last few years, Barrie Corps, Ont., has raised funds through a friendly rivalry between men and women. Two jars decorated with “male” and “female” symbols are placed in the foyer before and after the Sunday service. Humorous updates, with applause and groans, are given each week of the campaign. “There’s nothing like a bit of competition to get things going,” says Major Colin Bain, corps officer. “Last year, the women won—no prize, just bragging rights!” The competition brought in $1,800 of the $32,000 raised in total through cartridge giving, special offerings and other events. “Barrie Corps is missionminded and sees this as a means of assisting others who do not enjoy the same benefits we do,” says Major Bain. Weight for It The theme at New World Island West Corps, N.L., was “Worth Your Weight in Cornmeal.” “We had a wall display with a corn field, truck for transporting, a mill and a place for stacking sacks of cornmeal,”
Illustration: © KUO CHU HUNG/iStock.com
Icing on the Cake Last year, Midland Community Church, Ont., held a potluck with a twist—everyone was asked to bring desserts, which were then auctioned off at the end of the meal. “There was no dessert unless you purchased an auction item,” says Captain Bill Preston, corps officer. Each table pooled their money together to bid on the dessert they wanted to eat, or take home. “I paid $25 for six apple tarts—they were so good!” continues Major Preston. “ It was a fun-filled event as each table tried to out-bid each other.” The auction raised $375.
“We support the Partners in Mission campaign because we are so blessed that we want to share our blessings” says Captain Dwayne LeDrew, corps officer. “For every $50 brought in, we added a sack of cornmeal to the pile.” They raised almost $5,000. A Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma Flin Flon Corps, Man., makes fundraising fun with a mystery auction. Those attending are asked to bring one or two wrapped items from home. “Some things have value. Others are just hilarious, like
an onion wrapped in a fancy parcel,” says Major Debbie Allen, corps officer. “This year, one of the items was labelled ‘dinner for two.’ Inside were two raw potatoes and seasonings.” One of the young people showcases each item, while the auctioneer encourages bidding. The auctioneer follows his own rules—if someone isn’t bidding, he may indicate that the slightest movement was a bid. “We have great fun bidding, usually no more than $10 an item,” says Major Allen. “We support the Partners in Mission campaign because we are so blessed that we want to share our blessings. No matter our need, there are always others in greater need.” The auction usually raises between $600 and $800. How does your corps support Partners in Mission? Share your ideas and photos with us: salvationist.ca/ grassroots-heroes. Salvationist February 2016 15
Up for School
Providing freedom, hope and a future through education BY MAJOR GILLIAN BROWN
Second in a four-part series in support of the Partners in Mission campaign.
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Above: Children at The Salvation Army’s Matumaini Primary School in Tanzania support #UpForSchool, a petition presented at the 2015 United Nations General Assembly calling for education for all. The Salvation Army collected more than 70,000 of 10 million signatures. Right: Mjr Gillian Brown with women from the Maasai tribe in Tanzania
The number of people living in extreme poverty has also declined over the last two decades, yet remains significant at 836 million people living below $1.25 a day. Poverty impacts school attendance, as families are often unable to pay for tuition, school uniforms and books. The Salvation Army is committed to helping every child receive an education. Around the world, the Army has 976 kindergarten schools, 1,241 primary schools and 323 secondary schools, with close to 20 that offer specialized programs for the deaf, blind or disabled.
Photo: Art Nickel
s a mother and grandmot her, I of ten f ind myself drawn to children as I travel internationally. Raising children is full of the same challenges the world over, but parents in some countries face exceptionally difficult choices. During one of my first visits to Tanzania, I spent time in a community where the Canada and Bermuda Territory had supported a literacy program for women. Primarily from the Maasai tribe, the women wore boldly coloured clothing and unique jewelry. One by one, they stood and read for me to demonstrate their new skill. We celebrated together, clapping, singing and dancing. After the program ended, one of the women drew me aside, her beautiful 10-year-old daughter beside her. She gently pushed her daughter into my arms and asked if I would take her. Gradually, I learned that her husband had arranged for their daughter to be married to a man in his 70s. It was a heartbreaking discussion. All this mother wanted was a better life for her daughter, to rescue her from a potentially dangerous situation. Eventually, with the support of the project staff in Tanzania, we were able find another solution. Families in Canada also have to make hard decisions, but usually have a wider number of choices available. One of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established in 2000 was to ensure primary school education for every child. Over the past 15 years, the number of children out of school fell by almost half, from 100 to 57 million. In Tanzania and Malawi, the percentage of children who reach Grade 5 is about 64 percent, with more girls dropping out than boys.
You can support the Army’s international work through the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship program, which provides funding for schools, as well as tuition, uniforms and school supplies, meals and after-school programs. It also supports innovative approaches, such as outreach to street children or child victims of trafficking. Education provides freedom, hope and a future. It is a key part of transforming lives and communities. Major Gillian Brown is the director of world missions for the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Prime Time
An after-school program in Somerset, Bermuda, is meeting a community need
Good Teaching The success of Prime Time is due to the faithfulness of the leaders who organize the weekly program that hosts approximately 30 young people from the corps, other churches and surrounding neighbourhood. “We are blessed with great leaders here at West End Community Church,” says Major Curtis Butler, corps officer and divisional youth secretary for the Bermuda Division. “They provide good teaching and a spiritual foundation that comes through the songs, story time and activities.” The Prime Time leadership team includes Joanne Fubler, young people’s sergeant-major, Leanne Hollis, assistant young people’s sergeant-major, Julia Astwood, junior soldier sergeant, and Ashley Martinez.
Photos: Pamela Richardson
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t’s a sunny Tuesday afternoon in Somerset, Bermuda, and West End Community Church is bustling with activity. Carloads of children, most still dressed in their school uniforms, are arriving for Prime Time, an after-school program for children aged four to 14. Jam-packed with singing, dancing, Bible stories, crafts and outdoor games, Prime Time began more than 10 years ago and quickly became an integral part of the corps’ Christian education program and overall outreach ministry to children and youth. Between the afterschool program, Sunday school, a thriving puppet team ministry, and musical groups for children and youth, West End Community Church is an exciting place to be. “How was your day?” asks Major Cindy Butler, corps officer and divisional children’s ministries secretary for the Bermuda Division, as she kicks off today’s Prime Time session. “Let’s sing some of your favourite choruses!” Within seconds, suggestions come from all over the room and everyone joins in to praise God together. The enthusiasm continues as the children memorize James 1:5, the day’s Scripture verse.
BY PAMELA RICHARDSON
“Prime Time is a safe place to be after school,” says Mjr Curtis Butler
Neizariah Wilson Jones’ smile shows how much she enjoys the nutritious meals served at the after-school program
Good Food In addition to its spiritual components, Prime Time provides practical support to the community surrounding the corps building. “This is a safe place to be after school,” Major Curtis Butler says. “That’s something the neighbourhood needs. We have an opportunity to provide that at least one day a week.”
Astwood agrees. “Prime Time works,” she says, “and it makes an impact on our neighbours.” To ensure that the children get to the church and home again, the leaders of Prime Time have parents’ permission to pick the children up from school. “They are all delivered home safely; that’s a big thing,” says Major Curtis Butler. As the children finish up their afternoon with an animated video of the Prodigal Son, a mouth-watering aroma drifts down the hallway from the kitchen. Soon, the teenagers, who have been meeting with Major Curtis Butler for their own activities, will join them to share a meal. “We have supper together every Tuesday,” explains Astwood. “We have good cooks in this corps, so everybody contributes.” Today’s menu features a tossed salad and a pasta casserole prepared by Lois Maybury, just one of the many volunteers who take turns making meals for the young people. “They always go home well fed,” smiles Major Curtis Butler, “and hopefully will remember what they’ve learned—that God loves them and it is our joy to show them just how God feels about them.” Salvationist February 2016 17
Speak Up
How lobbying advances the Army’s mission
Why is it important for the Army to be registered as a lobbyist? The Salvation Army is the largest direct service provider of social services in Canada. It touches 1.85 million people in this country every year. To make this possible, we are supported by both the public through donations and by the government. The government is the main partner on many of our operations. Under the current system, you have to be registered as a lobbyist to have dialogue with the government on issues, because any conversation around policies or funding is considered lobbying. So in order to be a good partner, we also have to be a lobbyist. We want to be as transparent as possible with the public, as well as the government, so that they know who we’re talking to, what we’re talking about and why. Then, if they have questions, they can come to us and ask, or they can follow up with the government. It’s about transparency and communication. What does being a lobbyist entail? It means that we communicate with government on anything from a contract for a single ministry unit to broad policy issues such as poverty, physician-assisted death or Syrian refugees—anything the Army touches. Being a lobbyist is about sharing the voice of the Army, in any capacity that we can. What projects are you working on right now? One is communicating with the new government on homelessness and housing strategies. The government has committed to working on these issues, so we want to make sure we’re there to pro18 February 2016 Salvationist
vide information based on our experience. Other issues we want to speak to include creating a poverty-reduction plan, human trafficking and the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women. At whom are these lobbying efforts directed? It depends on the issue. Sometimes we will speak directly to a member of Parliament; other times we will reach out and speak to staff in a ministry or department. We try to figure out the best method to get our information across, and we try to follow their processes as much as possible. So on physicianassisted death, we made a submission to the expert panel that was established by the last government. Is the Army non-partisan in its communications with political leaders? Absolutely. The government is not just the 184 Liberal MPs leading the government. The Opposition has a valuable role to play, so we try to keep the communication open with all parties and all members of government. What does the Army hope to achieve through our lobbying efforts? I think we have a lot of valuable information and experience to share because of the work we do and the people we serve, both in Canada and around the world through our global missions work. These are often people who are vulnerable or marginalized, who may not have a voice. And while we’re certainly not trying to speak for them, we want to speak with them. We can use our experience and understanding to say to government, “This is how your policies are affecting the people that we serve. Here are the pros and cons of your policies.” Our main goal is to share information so that the government can make more informed decisions, and develop new policies and amend policies to address the gaps we’re seeing.
Jessica McKeachie
Submission on PhysicianAssisted Dying At the beginning of 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the country’s legislation governing physician-assisted suicide contravened the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Supreme Court gave Parliament one year to introduce new legislation and the government established an expert panel to receive submissions from Canadians regarding the way forward. Jessica McKeachie chaired a small committee established to address this issue on the Army’s behalf. Guided by the territorial and international position statements, the committee drafted a submission addressing four key issues put forth by the expert panel: forms of physician-assisted dying; eligibility criteria; risks to individuals and society associated with physician-assisted dying; and safeguards to address risks. Read the submission and theological backgrounder document at salvationist.ca/2015/10/salvationarmy-physician-assisted-dying.
Photo: Timothy Cheng
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ast fall, The Salvation Army re-registered as a lobbyist in Canada, providing another avenue for advocacy in the political sphere. Kristin Ostensen, associate editor, spoke to Jessica McKeachie, public affairs director, about what this means for the Army and which issues are top priority for our lobbying efforts.
The spiritual lodge at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge
A Healing Place The Salvation Army and an Indigenous correctional facility partner to restore women’s lives prison since she was first arrested on drug-related charges in 2008. “I have no regrets about coming here,” she adds, “it has helped me so much.” Guided by Indigenous culture and spirituality, Okimaw Ohci provides a unique alternative to a standard federal prison, and its focus on healing impacts every aspect of life there, including its partnership with The Salvation Army. Open to Heal Okimaw Ohci is a prison with no bars, located in the Nekaneet Reserve, overlooking a river valley—a cell with a view. The first thing that struck me when I arrived with Captain Ed Dean, corps officer in Maple Creek, was how little it felt like a prison. No barbed wire. No concrete cell blocks. The facility is a collection of brightly coloured buildings.
The women live in apartment-style housing and cook their own food. The guards are known as older sisters and brothers. Karen is dressed in ordinary clothes with white, beaded moccasins on her feet. A tattoo dedicated to her late husband and six children is one of few hints at the sorrow she has experienced. Though there are guards nearby, we are allowed to talk privately in one of their offices. Indigenous art decorates the room. As Captain Dean explained as we made the half-hour dirt-road drive from the corps to the facility, the Army’s partnership with the healing lodge is unique. “When it opened in 1995, they would not permit The Salvation Army or any other church on their ground. Native spirituality was what they were going to teach, and there would be nothing else,” Salvationist February 2016 19
Photos: Kristin Ostensen
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grew up around alcohol and drugs, and I started smoking pot and drinking alcohol when I was 12. In my late teens, I’d progressed to cocaine, and that’s when I started dealing it, because I wanted to support my habit.” The woman sharing her story with me is Karen, an Indigenous woman from the northern region of Manitoba. For the past year, she has been an inmate at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge near Maple Creek, Sask., the only healing lodge for women in all of Canada. A high-ranking member of a drug gang in Winnipeg, Karen was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking and possession obtained by crime in 2013. “I was referred here by my parole officer, and I said I would try it out,” says Karen, who has been in and out of
BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN
he shares. “We’ve been working with them for eight years now, and they’ve come to understand that we’re not there to knock what they’re teaching—we’re not a threat. If anything, we can be a resource for them.” “The women have to sign a voluntary consent to come to the healing lodge, because they need to be open and willing to heal,” explains LeeAnne Skene, the acting Kikawinaw (“mother”) or executive director. “The Salvation Army walks hand in hand with Correctional Service Canada and the healing lodge on assisting the women in that healing process.”
“And there’s a lot of help there,” she continues. “If you need to talk, tell them your story, you can always tell them the truth. It’s homey. As soon as I walk in there it’s”—she breathes out—“relax.” Karen first connected with the Army through community service, volunteering around the corps and at the Army’s thrift store in Maple Creek. “I enjoy working with the clothes— tagging them, putting them out on the floor. I enjoy going through them—like, ‘Ooh, look at this!’ ” she smiles. Earning money legally was a first for Karen, who had only known gang life until coming to the healing lodge in her mid-40s.
tradition. “Coming here opened my eyes to my culture,” says Karen. “I am Aboriginal, but I didn’t know anything about being Aboriginal. It has helped me find my spirituality, because I was totally gone, lost. All I knew was the gang.” Karen also attends The Salvation Army once a month, with the help of Captain Dean, who picks her up at the lodge. “Going to the Army has helped me grow spiritually, big time,” she says. “I found a way, my faith, through them. Being around them, going to the church and singing and praising the Lord—it just came gradually to me.” Building For Angela, findConfidence ing spiritual healing C apt a i n E d D e a n has been a difficult and his wife, Captain path. Originally from Charlotte Dean, proa Cree reserve in cenvide a range of supports tral Saskatchewan, she to the women at the was sent to a residenhealing lodge, includtial school at the age of ing community service five, along with her four and work release, a prosisters. gram that gives women “When I was there, who have no work hisI couldn’t talk to anytory the opportunity body,” she rememto develop skills, gain bers. “If you were work experience and caught talking to a earn money. person in Cree, you’d As part of comget in trouble. It was munity service, women lonely—I felt lost and I come to the Salvation cried all the time. And Army church every I didn’t learn anything Wednesday to assist because I didn’t know with the lunch prohow to communicate gram, helping with in English.” preparation, serving Cpt Ed Dean and LeeAnne Skene work together to improve the lives of the women at the Living at the school healing lodge and clean-up. until she was 13, Angela “They’re not mansuffered years of abuse, dated to do it, but they come in to give “I bought my first clothes—legit and was raped and became pregnant at back to their community, and that’s part clothes—with my pay,” she shares. “It the age of 12. of the healing process,” says Captain feels good to work legit, not looking over “Some of those events—I try not to Ed Dean. my shoulder. Not worrying about cops remember them because they are still “Oftentimes it’s a gradual process for or a gang member, or that someone high raw,” she shares. “I don’t like my own those women to be comfortable enough on drugs is going to kill me. So, yeah,” skin when I think about them, so it’s to openly share with Captain Ed’s team,” she laughs, “it feels really good to have not a comfortable thing to talk about. says Skene. “But once they see that they a legal job.” But I know the more I do it, the better are accepted as community members, as “She was so excited when she got her I’ll heal and it won’t bother me as much. Salvation Army volunteers, it gives them first paycheque,” Captain Dean rememI’ll feel better about myself.” huge self-confidence. The transformabers. “She came to me and said, ‘Can I When she first came to the healing tion—it’s night and day.” frame it?’ ” lodge in May 2014, Angela was reeling “The Salvation Army is one of my with remorse over the crime she had favourite places to go on community serSpiritual Development committed. vice,” says Angela, who was an inmate at Spiritual life is a key component of the “I stabbed my common-law partOkimaw Ohci for a year. She was granted healing process at Okimaw Ohci. The ner, and I had no recollection of doing parole on the day I visited. “It gives me women participate in sharing circles, it because of the alcohol and pills I had the feeling of normalness, to be out there Indigenous ceremonies and feasts, in my system,” she shares. “My relationin the community and smile and say hi. and learn sacred teachings from their ship with my partner was abusive. He 20 February 2016 Salvationist
Jewelry made by the inmates is sold at The Salvation Army’s thrift store
hit me, gave me black eyes, for years. Then I started protecting myself and fighting back. “My lawyer recommended I come here because I had so much healing to do, with the grief and sorrow I had for my late partner, because I loved him, and I still love him today,” she continues. “I didn’t mean to do it intentionally. I was just trying to get him off me, so he wouldn’t hurt me.” Angela was convicted of manslaughter, having no history of violence or a criminal record. “When I first came here, I was full of grief and ashamed of myself. I didn’t love or respect myself,” she says. “I cried a thousand tears, and it’s still not over. This is the beginning—I’m still learning.” For Angela, a large part of her healing has come through her experiences with both Indigenous spirituality and the church. “I do both—the ceremonies and church, and I like that. It keeps it balanced,” she says. “They work together, because they’re both the same thing for me.” Above and Beyond While the chaplaincy, community service and work release are key components of the Army’s involvement with the healing lodge, they are only part of its reach in the community. While we tour the facility with Tara, an inmate, Captain Dean is stopped by two women who thank him for providing turkeys for a recent feast. The Army also provides gift cards
Cpt Ed Dean has provided support at the healing lodge for more than eight years
for the women to send to their children at Christmastime. “Last year, we sent out 67 gift cards,” Captain Dean notes. “But every woman that sent a gift to her children got to sign the card and address the envelope for them.” Not that the Army’s relationship with the healing lodge is one-sided. When we pass the lodge’s greenhouse on our tour, Captain Dean notes that the inmates grow vegetables for the Army’s food bank. The women also make beaded jewelry and moccasins, which are sold in the Army’s thrift store. “The proceeds from those crafts benefit the whole population of the facility,” he says. Captain Dean leaves Tara and me to go to a parole circle, where he is speaking on behalf of an inmate, at her request, and I have an opportunity to speak with some of the lodge’s employees. “Captain Ed goes above and beyond,” one tells me. “He believes in the program, and if he finds out someone is going to be released, he does whatever he can to set them up for success—for example, making sure they have interview clothing, prepping them and setting up resources in the release destination so they have support.” “Our mission is to contribute to public safety, to integrate the women back into the community to be law-abiding citizens,” explains Skene. “In order for us to do that successfully, we need to be able to provide a continuum of care from the healing lodge to the community. The Salvation Army provides support not only here, but also in multiple
other centres where they’re able to give the women that connection so they feel like they already have something there when they’re released.” After Karen is released, she plans to become an addictions counsellor and stay involved with The Salvation Army. “Before I came to the healing lodge, all I knew about the Army was someone standing on a corner at Christmas,” says Karen. “But when I started getting involved, I started to realize how much they help. And that’s what I want to do—I want to give back.”
Aboriginals in Corrections • Aboriginal adults account for nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of admissions to provincial/territorial correctional services, while representing three percent of the Canadian adult population • Aboriginal women represent 33.6 percent of all federally sentenced women in Canada • According to the Office of the Correctional Investigator, “The high rate of incarceration for Aboriginal peoples has been linked to systemic discrimination and attitudes based on racial or cultural prejudice, as well as economic and social disadvantage, substance abuse and intergenerational loss, violence and trauma” • The capacity of the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge is 48 women Salvationist February 2016 21
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Real Religion Learning to live simply through self-denial BY MAJOR WANDA VINCENT
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ow well I remember participating in the 13-week Self-Denial Appeal in Sunday school when I was a child. I must confess that my recollection of this annual project is somewhat shaded by how eager we were to get our yellow, red and blue buttons, to prove that we had contributed certain amounts to the cause. While my young heart may have been prone to the sin of pride (I admit to having a competitive streak), there was value in teaching us to consider the needs of others by denying ourselves a portion of our own blessings. To contribute tangibly to reducing global disparity is a reflection of the nature of Jesus. Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves” (Luke 9:23). Since spiritual disciplines are designed as “the true path to spiritual growth,” as Richard Foster writes in Celebration of Discipline, selfdenial is a Christian practice we should embrace. This past summer, I was privileged to spend two-and-a-half weeks in the rural village of Tshelanyemba in southern Zimbabwe as part of the Silokwethemba project. (Silokwethemba means “we have hope.”) I saw first-hand how people strive to provide for their families in difficult conditions. Many families in this village live in small homes without electricity or running water. They walk long distances for firewood to cook their food and must carry pails of water for drinking, cleaning and doing laundry. I saw many families caring for grandchildren or nieces and nephews because young parents had died of HIV-AIDS. 22 February 2016 Salvationist
Mjr Wanda Vincent presents a child with a new pair of shoes as part of the Silokwethemba project, which pays school fees for more than 650 students at 35 schools in Zimbabwe each year
When we visited schools, the headmasters shared story after story of families so affected by drought that they could barely eat, let alone pay school fees. I found it hard to reconcile their lives with mine. My heart was deeply troubled with the reality of an unequal world. But then I remembered that we can make a difference when we deny ourselves to help our neighbour. We don’t need yellow, red and blue buttons. We can be partners in mission by making small changes. For example, my husband and I decided to change the way we give Christmas gifts by increasing donations to mission projects. All of us can honour God by refusing to be consumed with the excess of materialism and releasing our hold on our financial resources. As we do so, we reflect our Creator’s likeness, for “from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor” (Psalm 68:10). Are there other ways we can embrace the spiritual discipline of self-denial in a way that honours God, shapes more of his likeness in our lives and contributes to the needs of others? Here are some suggestions: Make self-denial an individual decision. Consider one thing each week or month that you can give up to contribute to someone else’s wellbeing. It could be coffee, new clothes, technology or movies. Set the example
for people around you. Make self-denial a family decision. Take your family on a tour of your home and make an inventory of what is essential and what is excessive in each room. Consider what could be sold in a yard sale or online to raise funds for Partners in Mission. Start learning to “live simply so others can simply live.” Make self-denial part of your church mission. Ask each group in your church (youth, music, men, women, Bible studies, etc.) to create a strategy, with specific action plans, for living out Jesus’ command for the body of Christ to model the spiritual discipline of self-denial. Let’s not forget that while believers and unbelievers alike may follow this life principle, believers in Christ should lead the way. Start small. Be accountable. Resist the current culture of consumerism. Grow in Christ and make a difference. For Further Reading: • When Justice is the Measure, by M. Christine MacMillan, Don Posterski and James E. Read • 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker Major Wanda Vincent is the divisional director of women’s ministries and the divisional secretary for spiritual life development in the Ontario Great Lakes Division.
#TRENDING
Love Without Borders Responding to the refugee crisis with compassion
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ast November, terrorists claimed responsibility for attacks in Beirut and Paris that killed close to 200 people and injured hundreds more. Like many, I watched the news in horror, heartbroken at the senseless killings carried out by misguided members of an extremist group. Without minimizing these two tragic events or others like them, I was also disturbed by the response of many people, including Christians, to these acts of terror. Three days after the Paris attacks, evangelist Franklin Graham wrote on Facebook, “Islam has declared war on the world, and it’s high time we acknowledge it and respond decisively.” Some Christians in North America say we need to close our borders to people seeking refuge. There are many things that could be said, but let me share three. First, we are not at war against the religion of Islam itself. Terrorists who claim their Islamic faith as justification for their violent actions are perverting the religion of Islam. Consider these two passages from the Qur’an, the sacred text of the Islamic religion: “The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, ‘Peace!’ ” (The Qur’an 25:63). “Humanity is but one single Brotherhood: So make peace with your brethren” (The Qur’an 49:10). Skeptics reading these two passages will be able to find others they say terrorists use to justify their violent actions, but what is the true nature of Islam? Couldn’t we Christians be accused of selecting certain verses and passages of the Bible that suit our personal and political ends? And if we’re going to put terrorists and the Muslim family down the street in the same group, then we, as Christians,
need to be prepared to be blamed for the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the hate spread by the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. The men and women of Westboro Baptist do not represent the Christianity I try to practise; the terrorists who carry out violent actions around the world do not represent the Islam many Muslims try to practise. Second, we can’t turn our backs on refugees from Syria, or other parts of the world, as a result of these terrible attacks. What happened in Paris on that horrible night in November happens in Syria and elsewhere on a daily basis, perhaps on a smaller scale. This is the type of violence and horror these refugees are trying to flee. I have been so disappointed in high-profile Christian leaders, ordinary women and men in the church and politicians in North America who are making the case to completely close the border and accept no refugees. In the United States (a Christian nation?), there is a war of words raging about whether to accept or not accept refugees on the basis of national security. One Republican hopeful for the GOP nomination for president went as far as to say he would not accept an orphaned toddler as a refugee. In Canada, anti-refugee
rhetoric is not as pronounced, but there are pockets of the same spirit. The federal government is moving ahead with accepting refugees and The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda has written The Honourable John McCallum, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, to say that we are here to help. It was General John Gowans who said: “The Salvation Army exists to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity.” These refugees are children, women and men who are suffering. These refugees are human beings, as much made in the image of God as I am—a white Christian born in Canada. It may even be helpful and healthy to stop calling them refugees. Let’s call them people. They are “suffering humanity.” What are we going to do about it? Finally, I want to write about fear. Fear is a powerful motivator. There are many in politics and the media who use fear to shape the conversation. As Christians, though, our motivator should be love. The Apostle John reminds us: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Let’s not allow fear to shape this important conversation or our actions. Let’s choose love and compassion. Pray for these children, women and men seeking refuge. Contribute your time and resources if and when they arrive in your community. Consider Christ’s words: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:45). Captain Mark Braye is the corps officer at Sarnia Community Church, Ont. Salvationist February 2016 23
Image: © Jonathan Stutz/stock.Adobe.com
BY CAPTAIN MARK BRAYE
TIES THAT BIND
Photo: © ilona75/Depositphotos.com
Everybody Hurts Recognizing the difference between teen angst and depression BY MAJOR KATHIE CHIU
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knew something was wrong. After our move from Vancouver to London, Ont., we were all sad to leave family behind. Our youngest, Evan, has struggled with anxiety, but had been doing well. His counsellor thought he could handle the move using the coping mechanisms he had learned. We anticipated it would take time. But this was different. This was more than sadness. It was irritability, increased distractedness, agitation, panic, meltdowns, headaches and frequent illness. We were at a loss to deal with it and sought professional help. All of our children were affected by moving, but none quite so badly as this. Every child responds to change and stress differently. Our oldest daughters, twins, adjusted easily. Our oldest son was more affected, but always bounced back. During those early moves, though, our family remained together. The two youngest have not coped well with being separated from their older siblings. It’s impossible to know how your children will react to life’s stresses, but as a parent you always wonder what you could—or should—have done differently, asking, “What if?” But moving a lot isn’t the only kind of stress in a child’s life. Any major life event can have a deep impact or even bring them to a dark place—divorce, illness in the family, the death of a parent or sibling, failure in school, bullying, confusion over sexuality. Repeated or sustained stress can lead to a chemical imbalance in the brain, resulting in depression. We 24 February 2016 Salvationist
also know it’s hereditary—some families seem to be more prone to depression. As parents, our lives are busy and sometimes we’re dealing with our own stress. But what we think is run-of-themill teen angst and moodiness might be signs of a deeper problem. How do we know when something darker is developing? Here are some things to watch for: • Appearing sad, irritable or tearful • Changes in appetite or weight • Decreased interest in activities they once enjoyed • Decreased energy level • Difficulty concentrating • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness • Major changes in sleep habits • Frequent complaints about being bored • Withdrawing from friends or afterschool activities • Drop in school performance • Talk of suicide Most teenagers exhibit some of these things as part of their normal development. However, when it happens more often and doesn’t improve, or you see several of these signs all at once, it’s time to take it seriously. It’s better to be accused of being an over-protective parent than experiencing the worst that can happen. We’ve kept the lines of communication open and pray for strength and courage. I’m thankful that Evan is such a self-aware young man. Counselling and support from his siblings, youth leader
and corps officer helped him cope. He’s also creative and loves to express himself through words and music. Here’s what he wrote about the heartbreak of moving away from family, and then the overwhelming relief at finding out we were moving back to British Columbia: What can I say? I have everything a man needs Yet I still don’t feel complete I spend hours feeling so depressed As I think to myself, why is my mind so messed? Trying to find an answer to my question But the only thing that comes to mind is depression Feeling so upset with all this aggression So I decided it’s time for some confession Got my mom to call my counsellor and she booked me a session After the first meeting I still felt empty inside For months I was a mess all I did was cry Wishing this was all over why couldn’t I just die? I tried to feel like there was purpose there, Feeling like life is so unfair But how could it be, I have people who care for me And that’s all that should matter, don’t you agree? Trying to find something to make me smile But that’s hard when the people I love live 3,000 miles It’s been a year; I heard I’m moving back Everything around me goes black As a tear streams down my cheek I don’t think I could even speak Depression can affect anyone, even children and teens. But it is also treatable. If you are concerned about your child’s health, see your family doctor. They may refer you to counselling and community support programs. Self-care is also important—eating well, exercising, spending time with others and making time for fun activities. As the church, we can help by paying attention, reaching out and praying for the youth in our community. Major Kathie Chiu is the corps officer at Richmond Community Church, B.C.
CROSS CULTURE
True Colours A skeptic tries an adult colouring book BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN
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olouring books for adults? Really? I raised an eyebrow skeptically as I walked by a collection of adult colouring books on display at the bookstore at territorial headquarters. For me, colouring was something I associated with childhood— not something one would do after the age of 10. Yet adult colouring books have become a full-blown phenomenon in the past year. In fact, four of the top 10 Canadian bestsellers on Amazon.ca in 2015 were colouring books. So what’s the great appeal? I wondered as I picked up a copy of Color the Psalms and started leafing through. The introduction told me, “The are no rules except to have fun.” Each colouring page featured a verse, surrounded by intricate flowers and patterns. I decided to give it a try. I got out my pencil crayons and opened to the first page. Where to start? My eyes spotted a butterfly in the lower left corner and I pulled out a purple crayon. The first thing that struck me as I started colouring was the realization that I wanted to colour the picture “the right way.” If I started colouring one flower blue, then all the flowers on that
plant had to be blue. And I found myself fretting over colour combinations—Do orange and green really go together? It was like the book had me in mind when it instructed, “Let your worries go, relax in the moment and allow your creative spirit to lead the way!” As I made my way across the page, left to right out of habit, I noticed I started loosening up. I was
ON THE WEB
how many of the people on the site are really Christian? Stand-up comedian John Crist set off to “find out,” in a spoof video called Christian Mingle Inspector. In the video, he visits two new users of the site and asks them various questions to determine whether they are “Christian” enough to be on the site. For example, how many mission trips have they been on? Can they name Christian music equivalents of popular bands? With a sense of humour that can only come from the “inside”— Crist is a Christian himself, and the son of a pastor—the video has fun with Christian stereotypes and subculture.
Christian Mingle Inspector JOHN CRIST https://youtu.be/cayviqbhYgI Dating website Christian Mingle boasts more than 10 million members. But
Adult colouring books have become a full-blown phenomenon more interested in trying out different colour combinations than finding the perfect one. In a way, today’s adult colouring books remind me of my mother’s and grandmother’s cross-stitch. Both follow a set pattern, but leave room for creativity and skill. The Christian books I looked at encourage readers to use
the time for meditation, contemplation and prayer. Indeed, as my pencil crayons moved around the page, I found myself re-reading and meditating on the central verse: “You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11 NKJV). To some (and I would have included myself in this camp), colouring might seem like a waste of time. It’s not “productive,” exactly. But when I considered how much time I’ve spent browsing the Internet, or playing games on my phone, in an effort to relax, I had to wonder: Which activity was a more beneficial use of my time? Was it better to be a passive consumer or an engaged creator? Now that I’ve tried it, I wouldn’t say I’m a colouring convert. But I do appreciate what it has to offer. And I’ve decided to delete the games off my phone.
IN THE NEWS Guelph Man to Sponsor 50 Syrian Refugee Families A businessman from Guelph, Ont., has decided to personally foot the bill for bringing 50 Syrian refugee families to Canada, at a cost of more than $1 million. “It’s the right thing to do,” Jim Estill explained to CBC News. “I guess I didn’t even think 50 families was that big of a deal.” Estill, who is CEO of appliance company Danby, contacted a number of local religious organizations, including The Salvation Army, about partnering with him to help meet their needs. Salvationist February 2016 25
CROSS CULTURE
Political Gain Just Mission provides a practical guide to church involvement in justice issues REVIEW BY SHARON JONES-RYAN
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hat does it mean for the church to seek “justice”? Just Mission: Practical Politics for Local Churches is an exploration of the who, what, why and how answers to that question. Authored by Dr. Helen Cameron, head of public affairs for The Salvation Army’s United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland, Just Mission comes out of her deep conviction that the local church needs to engage in “small ‘p’ politics.” In straightforward prose, Cameron provides a practical and pragmatic approach to guide church involvement in justice issues. She works through a framework of analysis and action, ably illustrated with two
case studies that bracket each chapter. Grounded in the assertion that mission, as a work of God, must bear the marks of his character—compassion, righteousness and justice—she weaves these imperatives throughout the book as an integrated mission directive for the local church. There is generally no disagreement that people of faith need to be aware of and engage with social justice issues. How many sermons have been preached recently about the plight of refugees and displaced people? We should not ignore the global issues. But in Just Mission, Cameron makes it clear that we need to open our eyes and ears to issues that don’t make the news—places of injustice in our own communities and neighbourhoods.
We are in a unique position. Because of our pastoral relationships, we often have insight into injustices experienced at various levels—household, organizational and community. “Thinking about the pastoral as both multi-levelled and connected to the political paves the way for asking questions about justice,” writes Cameron. As a resource for Salvationists and the church more broadly in the United Kingdom, this book is fabulous. Outside the U.K., the reader will need to be familiar with or be willing to find the legislative and societal equivalencies. Canadian Salvationists and corps are fortunate to have a territorial office of public affairs to help with resources (contact jessica_ mckeachie@can.salvationarmy.org). As well, many divisions have personnel in their public relations and development departments who are familiar with federal, provincial and municipal bodies and processes. Regardless of where one is located, Cameron’s call is clear: justice-seeking needs to be an activity of the church. “It is about seeking the character of God in the stuff of everyday life and finding something priceless.” Sharon Jones-Ryan is consultant, management and organizational ethics, at The Salvation Army’s Ethics Centre in Winnipeg.
IN REVIEW Reclaiming Conversation
The power of talk in a digital age BY SHERRY TURKLE Thanks to significant advances in technology, we live in a world where we are always communicating. But a new book argues that we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection. Author and researcher Sherry Turkle (who wrote the bestseller, Alone Together) has been studying digital culture for more than 30 years. In Reclaiming Conversation, Turkle investigates the ways we avoid meaningful conversation, tempted away by the possibilities of a text or an e-mail in which we don’t have to look, listen or reveal ourselves. “We are being silenced by our technologies,” she writes. The case for conversation, Turkle suggests, begins with the necessary conversations of solitude and self-reflection—we see loneliness as a problem that technology should solve. Backed by a wide body of research, Turkle argues that constant connection is hurting our ability to be alone, as well as with others. Real, 26 February 2016 Salvationist
face-to-face conversation is the necessary cure. In the final chapters of the book, Turkle offers numerous suggestions for how conversation can be reclaimed. Though not a “Christian” book, Reclaiming Conversation has much to offer to individuals and churches who are looking to cultivate stronger relationships in their congregations and neighbourhoods.
I Will Follow Jesus Bible Storybook BY JUDAH AND CHELSEA SMITH Co-authored by Pastor Judah Smith (author of the bestseller, Jesus is _____) and his wife, Chelsea, the I Will Follow Jesus Bible Storybook aims to help parents lead their children into a growing relationship with Jesus. With beautiful illustrations, the book features various easy-to-understand Bible stories, spanning from Joshua defeating Jericho and Daniel in the lions’ den, to Jesus’ birth, life, death, Resurrection and John’s revelation. As Chelsea Smith notes, “Our desire is to translate the gospel for children in a way that they can grasp, to help them grow in their faith from a young age, and to inspire them to follow Jesus for the rest of their lives.”
PEOPLE & PLACES ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Do you know the difference between the CCM and the CSM? Who’s your CO? And what exactly is a DDWM? See below for a list of some common acronyms and abbreviations that appear in the pages of Salvationist.
CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L.—Five senior soldiers are enrolled at Conception Bay South Corps. From left, Mjrs Lorne and Barbara Pritchett, COs; Randy Voth, Nathan Reid, Danielle Tucker, Roxanne Tucker and Jim Skinner, senior soldiers; RS Nic Dobson; ACSM Claudette Hillier; and Ambrose Payne, colour sergeant.
BOTWOOD, N.L.—The senior band from Botwood Corps is recognized for 20 years of faithful ministry at the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Centre in Botwood. Doug Prince, executive director of the centre, hosted an appreciation dinner for the band that was also attended by representatives of the hospital’s auxiliary group and BM Paul Sceviour received a donation on behalf of the band.
BM/SL—bandmaster/songster leader CC—community church CCM/CCMS—community care ministries/ community care ministries secretary CO—corps officer CS—chief secretary CSM/YPSM—corps sergeant-major/young people’s sergeant-major IHQ/THQ/DHQ—International Headquarters/ territorial headquarters/divisional headquarters JSS—junior soldier sergeant RS—recruiting sergeant TC/DC/AC—territorial commander/divisional commander/area commander TPWM/TSWM/DDWM/DSWM—territorial president of women’s ministries/territorial secretary for women’s ministries/divisional director of women’s ministries/divisional secretary for women’s ministries Tty/Cmd/Rgn/Div—Territory/Command/ Region/Division TYS/DYS—territorial youth secretary/divisional youth secretary
ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—The Tanglers Group of the Rotary Club of St. John’s presents a cheque for $36,000 to The Salvation Army’s Wiseman Centre for upgrades to their kitchen equipment and dining facilities. The centre has 16 shelter beds for men, four shelter beds for women and 10 supportive housing units. Joining in the presentation are, from left, Jim Austin; Bernie Beckett, president of the Rotary Club of St. John’s; Frank Smith; Chris Gill, captain of Tanglers Group; Cpt Bradley Reid, DSBA, N.L. Div; Mjr Lloyd George, executive director, Wiseman Centre; Kay Haynes; Jim Darcy and Tom Hallett.
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PEOPLE & PLACES
MOUNT PEARL, N.L.—Two new cornets are dedicated at Mount Pearl Corps and will be used by Emily Hull and Aaron Dyke, the senior band’s youngest members. Supporting the young people are, from left, Mjr Pauline Randell, CO; BM Glenn Dyke; and Mjr Joshua Randell, CO.
GAZETTE TERRITORIAL Long service: 25 years—Mjr Vida Ryan; 30 years—Mjr Neil Evenden PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.—In addition to their participation in weekly discipleship classes and music and performing arts ministries at their corps, five young people have taken their commitments to Christ a step further by being enrolled as junior soldiers at Prince George CC. Celebrating with their corps officers, Cpts Neil and Crystal Wilkinson, are, front, from left, Hannah Law and Charlize Adolph, and, middle, from left, Summer-lynn Wanless, Winter-ann Wanless and Autumn-lee Wanless.
28 February 2016 Salvationist
CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Feb 16-19 divisional retreat, Ont. CE Div Colonels Mark and Sharon Tillsley: Feb 1-5 divisional retreat, Maritime Div; Feb 21-22 divisional review, Bermuda Div; Feb 23-26 divisional retreat, Bermuda Div General Bramwell Tillsley (Rtd): Feb 1-5 divisional retreat, Maritime Div
PEOPLE & PLACES
TRIBUTES TORONTO—Edith Eleanor Leach was born to Mervyn and Rose Leach in Lindsay, Ont., in 1921. Edith and her brother, Donald, attended school in Lindsay and later moved to Toronto. Through the years, Edith was involved in several corps—Lisgar Street, Riverdale, Bedford Park and later East Toronto. She was a kindergarten teacher for 30 years and ministered to young people through Sunday school, junior soldiers and in various groups with Girl Guides of Canada, including brownies, guides, sparks and later the Trefoil Guild. Edith often took the girls camping and motivated them to learn important life skills. The most obvious outcome of that ministry was in the life of Jean, Edith’s daughter, who was a girl guide at East Toronto. Jean was adopted by Edith in one of Canada’s first single-parent adoptions. Girl Guides of Canada recognized Edith’s faithfulness with a certificate indicating 65 years of guiding. She is remembered with love by her daughter, Jean Elizabeth Leach; nieces and nephews Sandra (Richard) Cooper, Douglas (JoAnne) Leach and Beverley Franco (Phillip); seven greatnieces and great-nephews; 14 great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. TORONTO—Lt-Colonel Hubert Tilley, APR, FCPRS (H), was born in 1931, and devoted his life to The Salvation Army as an officer in 1952. Hugh served in corps and public relations appointments in Montreal, Toronto, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Hamilton Ont., Victoria, Winnipeg and Vancouver. During his public relations career, he conducted 40 Red Shield campaigns, raising funds for Army programs and services. In 1982, he was appointed divisional secretary in the then Metro Toronto Division and returned to public relations in 1987. In 1992, Hugh was appointed as the federal government relations officer and director of overseas development in Ottawa. His work took him to more than 50 countries where the Army operated. Following retirement in 1996, Hugh became the Ontario government relations liaison officer, a position he held until 2008. He was a Rotarian for 38 years and as a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), served two terms as director of the Toronto society. Hugh was a role model for many public relations officers and received a honourary fellowship from CPRS in 2007. Predeceased by his brother, Ballington, Hugh leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Noreen; daughters Joanne and Elizabeth; grandson, Colin; and brother, Ian (Ann). BELLEVILLE, ONT.— Born in 1932, Captain Bill Patterson joyfully served The Salvation Army in Peterborough South, Cobourg and North Bay, Ont., in Red Shield Services in Lahr, West Germany, at Sunset Lodge in Edmonton, and the Catherine Booth Hospital and Montclair Residence in Montreal. Following retirement, he returned to his home corps in Belleville, but continued in ministry in Tweed, Picton, Trenton and Napanee, Ont., as he filled in for officers who were ill or on furlough. Bill served as chaplain to the Army Navy Air Force Association, Unit 201, in Belleville. Bill is missed by his loving wife, Sally; children Helen, Beverley (Steven), Carol and Michael; grandchildren Jeremy, Spencer and Jocelyn; family members in Ireland; officers and comrades of Belleville Citadel.
Guidelines for Tributes
Tributes should be received within two months of the promotion to glory and include: community where the person resided; conversion to Christ; corps involvement; Christian ministry; survivors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. High-resolution digital photos (300 ppi preferred) or clear, original photos are acceptable (original photos will be returned). E-mail: salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org.
TORONTO—Major Dirk Krommenhoek was born in Scheidam, Holland, in 1928. He entered the Dutch training college in the Intercessors Session in 1951, where he met his future wife, Ida Weergang. They were married in 1955 and appointed to the Gorinchem Corps. Dirk left the work due to health problems and they immigrated to Canada in 1959, where they lived in Ottawa and attended Ottawa Citadel. Dirk and Ida eventually became Canadian officers, recommencing their ministry as envoys, and served in corps appointments at Notre Dame West and Point St. Charles corps in Montreal, Toronto’s Lippincott Corps, in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and in Fenelon Falls and Listowel, Ont. From 1973 until retiring in 1993, Dirk served in the property and finance departments at territorial headquarters. He joined the Canadian Staff Band in 1973 and carried the flag at the front of the band with military precision. After retirement, they moved to Guelph, Ont., where they attended Guelph Citadel until they moved to the Army’s Meighen Manor in 2006. Ida was promoted to glory in 2010. Dirk is survived by his children, Cora, Joe and Julie; granddaughter, Julielynne Anderson; two sisters and two brothers-in-law who still live in Holland. NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.—Lifelong Salvationist Jack Horace Cockhead was promoted to glory at the age of 83 surrounded by his family. From a young age, Jack participated in the junior and then senior bands at Niagara Falls Citadel, Ont., a ministry he continued in other corps for more than 75 years. Jack was married to his loving wife, Doreen (nee Tovey), for almost 54 years, and together they raised their family with commitment to the Lord and each other. A euphonium player and soloist, Jack influenced many people through his life and music, especially as he taught young children at music camps. His career as a machinist prepared Jack to be a high-school machine shop teacher and night-school principal with the Lincoln County Board of Education, where he worked for more than 20 years. Jack was a devoted servant of God and a soldier of Winterberry Heights Church in Stoney Creek, Ont. Following the immense loss of Doreen in 2011, Jack became a member of the euphonium section of the Heritage Brass Band. Jack is remembered by his children, Shawna (Stephen) Hopkins, Garwin Cockhead and Leona (Stephen) Corr; grandchildren Caleb Hopkins, Braeden and Ashton Corr. ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—Pearl Oakley was born in Carbonear, N.L., in 1924, as the oldest of seven children. At the age of 15, she moved to St. John’s where she was a songster at Adelaide Street Corps, now St. John’s Citadel. Pearl met her soulmate, Frazer Oakley, at the corps in 1944, and they were married in 1947. For more than 20 years, Pearl served as a songster at Grand Bank Corps, N.L., where Frazer was the principal of the Salvation Army school. In 1969, they returned to St. John’s and attended St. John’s Citadel where she was a faithful member of the songsters for a number of years. Left with warm memories are her daughter, Doreen (Nick); son, Wayne (Myrna); four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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Salvationist February 2016 29
SALVATION STORIES
This Little Light of Mine Drawing closer to Christ through life’s ups and downs BY TAMARA ROBINSON
30 February 2016 Salvationist
Photo: Roxanne Kennedy
M
y name is Tamara Robinson, and I am the family services co-ordinator and outreach worker for The Salvation Army in Williams Lake, B.C. My mother is a 10th-generation Salvationist and serves as the corps sergeant-major and treasurer in Williams Lake. My father and brother also attend. As I reflect on my life, there is no doubt that The Salvation Army has played a huge role in shaping who I have become. I often hear people talk about the “big moment” when they first asked Jesus into their heart. I can’t recall one moment—I grew up listening to Bible stories and always knew that Jesus loved me, died for me and that only through him will I have eternal life. The Army has given me wonderful opportunities, everything from being junior soldier of the year, to travelling across Canada in the “World Famous” timbrel brigade, to a mission trip to South Africa. But I didn’t understand the true power of Christ until I was healed of intestinal polyps when I was 10 years old. Surgery is scary for anyone, but at 10, I was terrified! After nearly a year of excruciating pain, I was told I needed to have a portion of my small intestine removed. Major Stephen Court and Major Danielle Strickland were our corps officers at the time, then fresh out of training college. They started a prayer chain for me. The day before my surgery, I had another X-ray. The surgeon gave us the results with a puzzled look on his face—the polyps were gone. I told him that Jesus healed me. It was then I truly understood and believed in Christ’s power. I never experienced such pain again. Throughout my adolescent years, I volunteered countless hours with Army kids’ programs, social services
Tamara Robinson and her husband, Derek. “There are times when I know that I am completely lost without Christ’s mercy,” she says. “This is when I cry out the loudest, admitting I am powerless, and ask him to carry the burden for me”
I didn’t understand the true power of Christ until I was healed and community functions. Once out of high school, I decided to take a break to explore my career options and worked at a local retail company. My employers were a wonderful couple who have supported me for the past 10 years. In 2009, I married my high-school sweetheart, Derek. During this time, I started to live for myself and not for Christ. While I attended church every Sunday, was still involved and still believed with great conviction, my light wasn’t shining brightly. But Christ was with me, drawing me closer. Within the last 10 years, my family
suffered the loss of both of my grandmothers, an aunt and an uncle. My father was spared from two separate brain aneurisms over a span of five years, giving us more time to spend with him. Although I plan my life meticulously, there are times when I know that I am completely lost without Christ’s mercy. This is when I cry out the loudest, admitting I am powerless, and ask him to carry the burden for me. When I pray, he answers—even though it might not be the answer I was praying for. But he is always faithful. With support from my family and employers, I enrolled in university in 2013 to pursue my passion for social services. For my final practicum, I felt the pull to come back to the Army and work with people. After graduating, I got a job with Canadian Mental Health, but felt that the Army was where I needed to be. I applied for my current position and love every day of my job. Being at the Army gives me the opportunity to share the love, grace and promise of Christ.
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