Meet the Territory’s Local Officer Forum
The Joyful Project: How to Wear Faith on Your Sleeve
Job’s Lament: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
THE VOICE OF THE ARMY
August 2017
Salvationist.ca
S AND UP for justice
Annual Day of Prayer for
VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING Sunday 24 September 2017
Visit salvationist.ca/anti-human-trafficking for resources
Go and Do Something is a new resource from the International Social Justice Commission for people of all ages who want to make the world a better place. It is full of practical ideas for action, prayer points and facts on 17 topics, one for each of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Topics include poverty, hunger, health, education and the environment.
Human Sexuality and Christian Ethics Join us for an eight-part online small group study and discussion as we explore topics of sex, gender, culture, and faith.
Mondays, Sept. 11 - Nov. 6, 2017 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Central Discussion Facilitators: Dr. Aimee Patterson & Dr. James Read
Email to register: ethics@can.salvationarmy.org before August 28, 2017 Space is limited — $25 fee Internet, mic and camera required
“The Bible in one hand and a newsfeed in the other”
To learn more and to view, print or download the resource, visit sar.my/dosomething. 2 August 2017 Salvationist
CONTENTS
Salvationist August 2017 • Volume 12, Number 8
14
Departments 5 Inbox 6 Frontlines 13 Perspectives
Get more online
Giving Hope Today by Lt-Colonel Marsha-Jean Bowles
Visit salvationist.ca to add your comments and read web-exclusive articles
16 Calling the Courageous Three Generations, One Faith by Ken Ramstead
25 Cross Culture 26 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories Born With a Purpose by Jamie and Amanda Crann
Columns 4 Editorial A Foot in Both Camps by Geoff Moulton
10 Onward Leading the Way by Commissioner Susan McMillan
17
Features 9 Big Small Things After historic floods hit Quebec, a family of evacuees finds new hope. by Vanessa Pérugien
14 Ending Exploitation Led by Cadet Andrew Benson, The Joyful Project combats poverty and human trafficking with ethical fashion. Interview by Melissa Wallace
17 Bar None How The Salvation Army is removing barriers to access—for everyone. by Christine LeBlanc
18 Frame of Mind A retired Salvation Army officer deals with vascular dementia. by Doug Field
20 Fear and Trembling The Book of Job forces us to confront our deepest questions about God. by Donald E. Burke
@salvationistmagazine Follow us on Instagram for the latest and best Army photos. Tag your photos #salvationists /salvationistmagazine Like us on Facebook for photos and updates. Interact with our community of 33,000 fans @Salvationist Follow us on Twitter for the Army’s breaking news. Use hashtag #SalvationArmy for your own updates and photos Cover illustration: © Rawpixel. com/stock.Adobe.com
Read and share it! Life After Death?
FLATLINERS P.8
A Brother’s Run
MARATHON MAN P.28
Inside Edition Sportscaster
STAYING TRUE P.12
Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G
faithandfriends.ca
AUGUST 2017
22 Fresh Air and Faith Three stories of how kids found a second home at Salvation Army camp. by Captain Lisa Hillier
24 Wanted: More Music Open community choirs or bands can be an effective means of evangelism. by General John Larsson (Rtd)
“I
Was in Satan’s Choice” A BIBLE STARTED EX-BIKER MARK “THE HAMMER” CARLOS ON A NEW ROAD P.16
Salvationist August 2017 3
EDITORIAL
T
A Foot in Both Camps
he last couple of years I’ve dropped my kids off at Jackson’s Point junior music camp and been overjoyed to see some familiar faces—not the campers, but the counsellors. Many of the friends that I grew up with at camp are now teaching our kids in turn. Camp is a place where kids find encouragement and get a chance to be themselves. I’ll never forget my seven year old proudly proclaiming, “Dad, my instrumental teacher told me I played a note he’s never heard before!” God bless our camp counsellors for enduring the squeaks and squawks of burgeoning musicians. In this issue of Salvationist, you’ll read about kids whose lives have been enriched by Salvation Army “fresh air” camps (page 22). I was particularly moved by the second story of the children who lost their mother. Camp gave them a spiritual anchor and hope during a very dark time. Also in this issue, you’ll discover General John Larsson’s (Rtd) vision for music ministry. By expanding our reach with “open” bands and choirs, the General encourages us to have a transforming influence on our community. “If music is one of God’s gifts to the Army, we don’t want less of it—we want more!” he writes.
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 and Literary Secretary Giselle Randall Features Editor (416-467-3185) Pamela Richardson News Editor, Copy Editor and Production Co-ordinator (416-422-6112) Kristin Ostensen Associate Editor and Staff Writer 4 August 2017 Salvationist
In addition, you’ll be pleased to hear about the steps our territorial leaders have taken to connect with grassroots Salvationists. Commissioner Susan McMillan shares an extended Onward column this month in which she introduces the local officer forum, comprised of corps sergeant-majors from around the
Camp is a place where kids get a chance to be themselves.
the community and the church. That’s part of our integrated mission, and it’s the way we stay true to God’s calling. It’s how, as believers, we can remain “in, but not of, the world” (see John 17:15-18). Summer is a time for hosting barbecues, heading to the beach and enjoying the great outdoors. However you choose to spend your holiday, take time to connect with people in your community and share the love of Christ. GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
territory. One thing these local leaders have in common is that their corps are all engaged in vibrant outreach—from cafés to Sunday school van pick-ups to community ministries. Another great example of The Salvation Army in the community is Vanessa Pérugien’s article on our response to flooding in Quebec (page 9). Her personal touch with a family in need resulted in an outpouring of appreciation for the work of the emergency disaster services. The Salvation Army has always had a foot planted in both camps:
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 Seek Professional Help I’m writing in response to Lieutenant Ian Robinson’s article about the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. I have great respect for our officers and I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I don’t think an opinion piece is appropriate. This subject is very sensitive—we need to hear from people who work in the field of adolescent mental health. We need education about warning signs and how to help young people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Watching this series with an adolescent who is struggling could be harmful. The entire family needs support and intervention from professionals. Jenelle Durdle In my opinion, 13 Reasons Why is an exact portrayal of what many teens are facing. Thank you for this raw and real review, and an invitation to take it deeper by conversing with our community and those in our care—even when it’s ugly and hard. I can attest that it can be triggering, but so are 90 percent of other teen shows right now. It doesn’t glorify or romanticize suicide, self-harm or depression. Sarah-Kate Salmon
be accountable to maintain. Hopefully, it will be implemented as an assessment tool in more corps across the territory. Lorna Simard Refreshing Honesty I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you for the May 2017 issue of Salvationist. Overall, it was a great issue. I found it especially refreshing to hear the honest and forthcoming accounts of Majors Owen and Sandra Budden and Major Shirley King. Many people with mental In Sickness and in Health health issues don’t receive the respect and positive attention they need and deserve. Caregiving is not an easy role, especially in unpredictable circumstances. Having leaders who are willing to share in this way offers a helpful reminder that suffering is not reserved for the weakest among us. And that God’s grace remains with us through dark nights of the soul. Aimee Patterson Halo Project: Measuring Our Community Impact
Battling HIV-AIDS in Papua New Guinea
Daughter Finds Freedom From “Cutting”
THE VOICE OF THE ARMY
May 2017
Salvationist.ca
How our marriage endured the ups and downs of a mood disorder
Thank you for being brave and sharing this, Majors Owen and Sandra. I know how hard it is. I had tears in my eyes. You are both amazing, incredibly strong people! Alexis DeVito Thank you for sharing your story. I believe that the body of Christ needs to be more open and vulnerable. We need to be there for each other, to share in our weaknesses and our struggles. I believe that it is one of Satan’s goals to try to disconnect us as much as possible by using our own pride and fear against us. We need to be able to look each other in the eye and say “I’m not perfect,” “I need help,” “I am struggling.” Amanda Warren Williams
Slim Your Waste Thanks so much for “Getting to Zero” by Lieutenant Laura Van Schaick. I am also trying my best to eliminate all plastic packaging. Bulk Barn has been the main reason this is possible, as well as small, local stores where it is still possible to get meat and cheese wrapped in butcher paper, and fruit and vegetable stands where you can bring your own reusable bags. Anne Purvis A Valuable Tool Faith Doing Good I was interested to hear about the Halo Project (“Faith Doing Good,” May 2017). In recent years, I have welcomed the emphasis on integrating corps life and the Army’s R community programs, and bringing family services right into the corps building has been part of that. The connection between corps and surrounding community is essential to the Army’s mission. Several years ago, at Ottawa Citadel, my husband and I were asked to initiate a ministry to new Canadians. Our corps is in an area where the demographics indicated a need for such a program. This project has changed the face of the congregation considerably, in a way true to our mission and purpose as The Salvation Army. The Halo Project is an interesting tool for evaluating the connection between corps and community, which corps should Halo Project measures Salvation Army impact on communities. BY COLONEL GLEN SHEPHERD
ecently I drove past Concordia University in downtown Montreal on my way to a meeting. As I passed the Hall Building, I noticed it was ringed by police as they searched the building—a search, it turned out, prompted by a call that had threatened a terrorist attack on the university. My mind went back to 1969 when student radicals rioted and set fire to the university computer centre. The 1960s was a tumultuous decade as so many values and standards were challenged. The church did not escape the fire of criticism during that period. Pierre Berton, a respected journalist and writer, published a book entitled The Comfortable Pew. He was commissioned by the Anglican Church to write the book, which turned out to be a withering critique of the church. Part of a wave of criticism during the turbulent 1960s when I was in university, it blasted the faults of the church: • boring preaching • cultural irrelevance • remote institutionalism • out-of-touch leadership
18 May 2017 Salvationist
• inward-looking remoteness from the community.
In the intervening period, the church has changed. The Salvation Army corps I attend today in many ways does not resemble what it was in my university days. It has evolved, as has the church in its quest to become more missional and more directly involved in the community. And yet, the criticism of the church as insular and self-centred persists. One evening I was talking to Howard Bridger, the territorial stewardship resources consultant. He was in Montreal working on a corps stewardship program and he asked if I had ever heard of the Halo Project. He described it briefly and my curiosity was piqued. The Halo Project began when a
group of academics at the University of Pennsylvania asked, “What is the economic impact of a church in its community?” They looked for the answer by studying 12 churches in the Philadelphia area, asking what it would cost a community to replace the services a church provides to that community—its “halo” effect. The Philadelphia study concluded that the 12 congregations contributed $51,850,178 to their communities. A group of academics in Toronto brought the concept of the Halo Project to Canada with a study of 80 congregations in the Toronto area. That study also gave positive results. Churches are connected to their communities and offer services of great value. A church with 150 members and a budget of $150,000$200,000 typically has an economic
Halo Project: The Bottom Line
Corps
Halo Effect
Per Capita (# of worshippers)
Montreal Citadel
$1,040,047.52
$7,704.06
Cedarbrae Community Church
$1,707,742.98
$21,346.79
Kelowna Community Church
$5,619,467.02
$96,887.37
I just finished reading “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” by Majors Budden. You both did so well, letting the world know of God’s sustaining help in times of struggle. A very brave leap and a much-needed read for those who do not understand this illness, which is no different than any other part of the body needing help. Edna Kearley Stratton Start ’Em Young As Canadians serving in the U.S.A., we appreciate receiving Salvationist every month and keeping up with all the news in our home territory. As you can see, we are passing on the tradition. That’s our granddaughter, Lily (21 months), perusing the latest edition. Keep up the good work and may God continue to bless your ministry. Major Holly Patterson All letters must include your name and address, and a phone number or e-mail address where you can be contacted. Letters may be edited for space and clarity, and may be published in any medium. Salvationist August 2017 5
FRONTLINES
O
Territory Holds First Adult Music Camp
ver the May long weekend, the Canada and Bermuda Territory held its first ever territorial adult music camp at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ont., as delegates from six of the territory’s nine divisions gathered for a time of music-making, Bible study and fellowship. “Every year at music camp, as the kids are registered and dropped off, you are
sure to hear parents lament the fact that they are too old to go to music camp,” says Craig Lewis, territorial secretary for music and gospel arts. “That’s all changed now!” Leadership for the inaugural camp was provided by Judy and Bill Way, while William and Linda Himes were special guests. Bill Himes is a world-renowned composer and conductor who recently
The women’s chorus in rehearsal at the territorial adult music camp
retired after 38 years as the bandmaster of the Chicago Staff Band and territorial music secretary for the U.S.A. Central Territory. At the camp, he took turns conducting the band and the women’s chorus. Linda Himes specializes in teaching people how to study the Bible, and she skilfully walked delegates through the Book of Jude, giving them a template for personal Bible study. Rounding out the musical leadership were Marcus Venables and Bill Way (brass), and Heather Osmond and Rachel Ewing (women’s chorus). “The quality of presentations from both band and chorus was excellent, which belied the fact that the groups had only been together for five rehearsals,” notes Lewis. Along with rehearsals and Bible study, the camp included time for fun and fellowship, featuring a “murder mystery” dinner complete with costumes, as well as a talent night. “The response from those in attendance was overwhelmingly positive,” says Lewis. “We look forward to making the camp an annual event.”
Oshawa Temple Band Raises $5,000 for Camp
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Photo: Steve Nelson
he Oshawa Temple Band, Ont., with special guests, the Canadian Staff Songsters (CSS), ministered in music to a crowd of more than 400 in May and raised $5,000 to support kids going to music camp. “Music camp in The Salvation Army has always been a special time where campers grow musically and spiritually,” says Andrew Burditt, bandmaster. “We are thrilled that this
annual event ensures that so many youth from Oshawa Temple will continue to benefit from this experience.” “As a believer in camping and music camps when it comes to influencing young lives for the Lord, I was keen to support the Oshawa Temple Band’s initiative,” says Major Len Ballantine, CSS leader. “The CSS were delighted to prepare songs with a youth focus in mind.” One of the highlights of the program was a cornet trio, Keep in Step, which featured three senior band members, as well as three young people’s band members. The evening concluded with a massed vocal benediction, My Simple Prayer, featuring the CSS and the Oshawa Temple Songsters. “We are grateful to Major Ballantine and the Canadian Staff Songsters for their partnership in this endeavour,” concludes Burditt. “It was a wonderful, spirit-filled event that had a strong impact on people’s lives.” A full house supports a fundraising concert at Oshawa Temple, Ont.
6 August 2017 Salvationist
FRONTLINES
Indigenous Events at Cobourg Corps
U
nder the theme “All My Relations,” Cobourg Community Church, Ont., held an Indigenous weekend this spring, bringing together all age groups to learn about Indigenous history, teachings and practices. The weekend began with a Friday evening event for community children aged four to 12 with friends from the Alderville First Nation, Ont. Members of the Alderville drum circle and dancers came to teach the children about celebration through music, and invited everyone to join in. Women from Alderville taught the children to make musical shakers and sang a traditional song to them using their hand drums. The children learned to make bannock and enjoyed it for a snack at the end of the evening. As part of the event, Major Shari Russell, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant, read from The Lost Teachings, reminding the children about the importance of the seven grandfather teachings—wisdom, respect, love, honesty, humility, courage and truth—and how interconnected they are in achieving balance, harmony and peace for individuals and society as a whole. Saturday was devoted to adult learning. Major Shari Russell and Major Robert Russell, executive director, Hamilton Booth Centre, Ont., led a group of corps and community members in the blanket exercise, which illustrates the history of Indigenous peoples after the arrival of settlers. Following the exercise, the group participated in a sharing circle where each person had the opportunity to express their response to the experience. On Sunday morning, Major Shari Russell led an Indigenousfocused service. The congregation was encouraged to continue to seek opportunities to be relational, inclusive and open to others who live, celebrate, eat and worship differently than themselves. The morning concluded with the entire congregation joining together in a circle dance around the sanctuary.
Ottawa Salvationists Support Race Weekend
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he Ottawa Citadel Legacy Brass Band and Salvation Army mascot Shieldy participated in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend in May, the largest running weekend event in Canada. From the front lawn of the Army’s Grace Manor on Wellington Street, the 12-member band played more than 50 songs over a three-hour period to encourage runners who cheered on the band as they ran past. Shieldy waved and gave high fives to participants. “There was incredible energy and support for The Salvation Army from the community of runners who numbered more than 40,000,” says Caroline Franks, public relations specialist, Ontario Central-East Division.
Shieldy encourages marathon participants in Ottawa
NEWS IN BRIEF Thrift Stores Send Kids to Camp The Salvation Army National Recycling Operations’ annual Send a Kid to Camp fundraiser hit a new record this year. Taking place over six weeks at 109 thrift store locations, the campaign raised more than $170,000—enough to send 776 children to camp. This result exceeded the campaign’s goal of 600 children and surpassed the amount raised last year by more than 25 percent.
Children learn to make bannock during an Indigenous weekend at Cobourg CC, Ont.
Murdoch Mysteries Partnership Wins Award The Salvation Army has received recognition for its partnership with CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries television show. In December 2016, Murdoch Mysteries’ annual Christmas episode featured a plot involving a Salvation Army kettle worker, highlighting the Army’s long-standing Christmas campaign and its history of providing food and shelter to those in need. The partnership received a Silver for Best Brand Integration in the Atomic Awards, which recognize excellence in media collaborations and breakthrough technology and content. Salvationist August 2017 7
FRONTLINES
Salvation Army Responds to Floods Across Canada
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s spring rains hit communities across the country in May, causing widespread flooding, The Salvation Army mobilized an extensive response, assisting hundreds of people in British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.
British Columbia Severe thunderstorms, combined with heavy spring run-off, brought flooding to the Central Okanagan region of British Columbia, forcing hundreds of people from their homes. Emergency support services (ESS) opened a reception centre at the Army’s Kelowna Community Church, B.C., and Salvation Army personnel were brought in to support evacuees. Due to high tourism in the region, no hotel space was available, so the corps provided accommodations in the church sanctuary to 20 people for two nights. The reception centre stayed open into June, as the threat of flooding remained high. At the same time, Salvation Army volunteers went out in the community on several days to provide food and drinks to approximately 350 emergency personnel and people who were frantically sandbagging to protect properties. A support team from the Army in Salmon Arm, B.C., came to Kelowna to enhance the Army’s response. “The communit y really pulled together,” says Lieutenant Darryl Burry, corps officer. “To be able to provide comfort in the midst of the storm; to share hope in the midst of the fear and loss; to provide a shoulder to cry on—what an amazing gift that we, as The Salvation Army, have been given to journey Debbie Cholette, Margie Cox and Arianna Grimm prepare sandwiches at Kelowna CC, B.C. with people.” Quebec As severe floods created a state of emergency in the southern region of Quebec, The Salvation Army brought practical and spiritual care to those affected by the crisis. During the 25-day response, the Army deployed its emergency feeding services to support first responders and volunteers, including St. John Ambulance personnel and sandbagging volunteers. In Rigaud, Que., one of the hardest-hit communities, the Army served more than 600 meals, 450 cups of coffee and almost 150 bottles of water. Following the initial intervention phase, a team of Army personnel went door-to-door providing hundreds of clean-up kits to residents of Rigaud and Montreal who were affected by the floods. Along with the practical support, the Army provided emotional and spiritual care to dozens of people at an emergency shelter, a local hotel and to flood victims during the distribution of clean-up kits. 8 August 2017 Salvationist
As a thank you for its support, The Salvation Army received a “merci” decal from the firefighters of Rigaud, which has been placed on the Army’s canteen truck.
Lt Yves Bolduc, CO, The Salvation Army Ministries—Quebec City, provides support to St. John Ambulance personnel in Rigaud, Que.
Ontario As rivers in the Ottawa region swelled their banks, floodwaters overtook several communities. The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services (EDS) quickly mobilized in response, providing services at nine sites in Ottawa, Minden Hills, Clarington and Clarence-Rockland, Ont. The Army’s response lasted intermittently from May 4 to June 3. More than 70 EDS personnel provided over 5,500 meals from four canteen trucks, serving first responders, volunteers and flood victims. As well, more than 350 cases of bottled water were delivered to affected residents. Additionally, Salvation Army staff and volunteers issued vouchers for use at Army thrift stores, redeemable for clothing, furniture and household items. Emotional and spiritual care was offered at the request of the City of Ottawa, the Township of Clarence-Rockland and the Town of Clarington. Salvation Army personnel went doorto-door, checking on the well-being of residents and offering emotional support to people in the affected neighbourhoods.
Sarah Wilson and Bill van Gulik use a canoe to reach flood victims near Ottawa
Big Small Things After historic floods hit Quebec, a family of evacuees finds new hope. BY VANESSA PÉRUGIEN
W
hen heavy rainfall battered the southern region of Quebec this May, it caused the worst flooding the area had seen in two decades. As water washed over cities and towns, thousands of people were forced to leave their homes and now face the long process of rebuilding. The Salvation Army was called in by the city of Rigaud, Que., to provide support in the aftermath of the flood—an operation that continued for 25 days. It was the largest response I have coordinated as the manager of emergency disaster services in the Quebec Division. While providing emotional and spiritual support at the emergency shelter, I met a family of evacuees—a young woman named Josie, along with her parents, husband and son, who has a severe disability. I had many opportunities to talk with Josie, to listen with love and faith and share with her in this difficult time. I gave a Salvation Army teddy bear to her son, who happily received it and named it “Adi” because he couldn’t say Armée du Salut. I promised Josie that I would make inquiries regarding community groups in Rigaud and other avenues of assistance that might be available for her and her family. After a week at the emergency shelter, I was absent for two days to attend to other matters, but when I came back, Josie and her family were not there anymore. I couldn’t give her the information that I had promised, and I didn’t feel good about that. I was also sad that I didn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye before they left. We may have spent only a short time together, but the links we created were strong. On May 26, one week later, we were out in the community doing a second round of distributing clean-up kits. We came upon a street where most of the houses were not affected by the flooding. All were untouched, except three.
Vanessa Pérugien (centre) and her team deliver clean-up kits to people affected by flooding in Quebec
I told my team to go on to the next street—I would take care of these houses. I went to our supply truck, picked up three clean-up kits and approached the first house. A person came to the door. It was Josie. When she saw me she opened her arms, smiled widely and cried, “Hey!” I apologized for not having the chance to give her the information she needed on time and explained that when I came back they had already left. She told me that it was not a big deal, and said she was happy to see me again. They were grateful for the clean-up kits and thanked me for the support they received from The Salvation Army. I said I was so happy to see them in their home again, and Josie asked me if she could give me a hug. Of course, I said it was OK! But the best part of our reunion was seeing her mother again. When we talked while they were staying at the emergency shelter, she was distant and
upset. She was trying to face the situation with strength, but her face reflected the stress and worry she was feeling. When I saw her that day, she was transformed. Her face was full of light, she was smiling and she asked me for a hug, too. At the end of the day, when I logged on to Facebook, I had a new notification—Josie had commented on the photos I had shared of The Salvation Army receiving a thank-you decal from the city of Rigaud for our canteen truck. She wrote: “Notre collant de Rigaud est petit … mais notre MERCI est GÉANT” (“The decal from Rigaud is small … but our thank you is huge”). In times of crisis, our actions may seem small, but I thank God for these opportunities. If we can make a difference in the life of even one family, then we are giving hope today. Vanessa Pérugien is the manager of emergency disaster services in the Quebec Division and a soldier at Montreal Citadel. Salvationist August 2017 9
ONWARD
Leading the Way Meet the territory’s local officers forum. BY COMMISSIONER SUSAN McMILLAN
Photo: Timothy Cheng
A
few months after I returned to Canada and Bermuda as territorial commander, I came across an item in the “pending” section of the agenda of one of our territorial headquarters (THQ) boards: “Local Officers Forum.” What was that? Who was on it? When did it meet? I decided to inquire. As it turned out, it hadn’t been formed yet—it was just a thought that was recorded for another time. I felt the time was now. I thought it was important to understand our local officers, know the challenges they face, communicate with them and let them know how valuable they are to the organization. But finding a way to reach out to local officers from across the territory had been a stumbling block. Thankfully, we had the solution in our THQ boardroom: a stateof-the-art system for video conferencing. The forum started small and has now grown to nine local officers, along with the corps ministries secretary, secretary for program, chief secretary and myself. The local officers are corps sergeantmajors (CSMs) who love to minister alongside their corps officers. The CSM is the highest role of lay leadership in our churches—they are leaders who are committed to the Army’s mission in their community and are able to glean and share information from other corps members.
The forum meets every other month for about an hour and a half to discuss topics that are of interest to both the local officers and territorial leadership. Someday, we hope to meet face to face, but for now we are images on computer screens. For me as territorial commander, it has been a worthwhile addition to my intelligence gathering, as I hear directly from these CSMs what is working and what isn’t in terms of how we are resourcing the territory. Then I am able to share with them new developments in
Annette Hedges
St. John’s Citadel, Newfoundland and Labrador Division I am a fourth-generation Salvationist, a fourth-generation CSM and a proud member of the Fellowship of the Silver Star. I have done many “jobs” in the corps from teaching Sunday school and junior soldier preparation classes, to puppet ministry and songsters. My leadership in the corps is mainly “committee” focused these days, but I am trying to inspire people to step outside their comfort zone and get more involved. In this role, I am spending more time on my knees. I have always said that the best thing you can do is pray. Because of my role, I know more of the issues people are facing and I can’t help but pray for them individually, as opposed to a general “bless them” without having knowledge. I am able to pray intentionally and specifically. As CSM, Annette Hedges spends much time in prayer for and with corps members
10 August 2017 Salvationist
resources that may be helpful. So far, we have discussed soldiership and our territory’s new curriculum for the preparation of new soldiers. We have discussed how to interest corps in youth work and encourage candidates for officership, as well as special events such as Easter outreach and leadership development within the corps. We’ve also discussed evangelism—our main purpose as The Salvation Army! I am pleased to introduce the nine members of the local officers forum to the territory.
ONWARD
Kerri Cryderman
Saskatoon Temple, Prairie Division I have served as CSM for just over a year but have held many different positions within the corps over the last 20 years. I was youth ministries director for more than 10 years, and I continue to be involved with many aspects of our youth ministry. One girl who started attending our youth programs through our van ministry would have constant breakdowns week after week. We had been working with her to help her work through her outbursts and be successful at our programs. One day I was sitting with her at the supper table, talking about her week, when she asked me, “Kerri, why do people throw rocks at me?” I was shocked and heartbroken. My answer was, “I don’t know.” She went on to say, “Kerri, why are
you always so nice to me even if I don’t always act good?” This was my opportunity to share with her that because I love God, I want her to know that she
is loved, too, no matter what mistakes she makes. The transformation in this young woman from outbursts every week to none in three years is remarkable.
Youth ministry is a passion for Kerri Cryderman, here with the corps’ drum band
Susan Taylor
Kerry Guy
As CSM for three years, I continue to marvel at the ministry opportunities that come to me and feel privileged to be a leader in God’s church. This Easter, we held an EggStravaganza at the corps. Notices went out to the community, but mainly to our daycare and family services clients. More than 250 people attended, including over 150 children—many of whom had never come through the doors of our church before. It took 80 volunteers from the corps to make it happen. It was wonderful! At a recent corps council meeting, as we examined the reports submitted by various ministries, the one word we kept hearing and seeing was “outreach.” We acknowledged that we have to stay a healthy church spiritually in order to reach out to others. And we have plans in place to look at all the names on our rolls, break them down into categories and contact everyone in one way or another.
I’m originally from Corner Brook Citadel, N.L., but have worked as a petroleum engineer in Calgary since 1983. For 16 years, I have been the CSM at Glenmore Temple, where I sit on the mission board and am an active band and choir member. My corps is a large urban church with more than 120 years of history. Among the most compelling questions we ask ourselves are: “What does our future look like? Where should we be in 10 or 20 years?” We recently spent some time as a mission board and congregation laying out a strategic plan to provide us with the underpinning values that will help us build a more detailed plan for our future. This type of strategic work is important to help corps officers (current and future) continue a consistent “move forward” plan for the church. As the CSM, it was my job to lead this effort.
Mississauga Temple Community Church, Ontario Central-East Division
Glenmore Temple, Calgary, Alberta and Northern Territories Division
Nathan Downer
Mountain Citadel, Hamilton, Ontario Great Lakes Division I have been on the corps mission board for seven years and was commissioned as CSM in October 2016. I’m also involved with banding at the corps and with the corps’ public relations. As the CSM, I feel that I am accountable for the corps people. As officers come and go, it’s the CSM who keeps the vision moving forward. Not only are you serving the Lord, but you’re also providing support to the corps officers, the congregation and the community. As I’ve only been in the position a short time, I’m still learning the ins and outs. But it’s a great position—you get to know the people of your corps and learn about everything. I give a lot of time, but I know the final reward is worth it. It’s a calling—one that cannot be taken lightly.
Kettles are a special time for CSM and band member Kerry Guy
Salvationist August 2017 11
ONWARD
Ducer Kamgang
Centre Communautaire Chrétien de Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec Division I became a senior soldier in 2007 and was commissioned as CSM in 2012. Along with my involvement with various ministries at the corps—including leading a prayer group at my home on Thursdays—I work at the Montreal Booth Centre, where I lead morning devo- Ducer Kamgang is seeing lives tions every weekday. I am transformed in Montreal also a member of the pastoral committee of Le Phare—the corps at the Booth Centre. I gave a sermon on grace and forgiveness at a recent prayer meeting at Le Phare. One of our new clients, who was not a Christian, fell to the floor and publicly confessed his sins in tears. After that, we all prayed for him together. Something special happened to him that evening. He still attends various services at the Booth Centre and we keep praying for him, believing the best is yet to come.
Brent Hobden
Comox Valley Ministries, Courtenay, British Columbia Division It has been my privilege to offer leadership in the various corps and churches I have attended throughout my life—from Saint John, N.B., to Port Alberni, B.C., as well as overseas in Nagoya, Japan. Today, I am the CSM and community ministries director for The Salvation Army’s Comox Valley Ministries on Vancouver Island. As CSM, my role is to come alongside our corps officers as a support, confidant, friend and servant. A highlight of this is pastor appreciation Sunday in October. It can be a humbling experience for our officers and their family. It’s also a time of growth for our congregation, as we recognize the incredible expectations we place on our pastors. As we express our love and gratitude through words of encouragement, we are brought into a closer relationship with God and the shepherds he has chosen to care for us.
Jerry Porter
Fairview Citadel, Halifax, Maritime Division At my corps, where I have been CSM for 20 years, we are at a critical crossroad as we try to better understand where we can make the most impact in our community. Over the past two decades, Fairview has become a diverse, multicultural community with a high proportion of Middle Eastern and Asian immigrants. About half of our food bank clients are recent immigrants. Under the direction of our corps officers, we are networking with other churches, politicians and community support groups to define where we can best “meet the need.” I enjoy assisting with the new café at our corps, a free service for food bank clients. It is an honour to have coffee with them and hear their stories. I once met a young Christian family from Syria who left their homeland after their church was bombed during Sunday worship. We offered encouragement and practical help through the food bank and café.
Jerry Porter (second from right) meets many newcomers to Canada at the corps’ community café
12 August 2017 Salvationist
Brent Hobden serves up soup at Comox Valley Ministries
Brian Fubler
North Street Citadel, Hamilton, Bermuda Division I have been a local officer for 18 years and CSM for three. For just over a year, most of the leaders of our corps have been engaged in a leadership development process, which I have led with the assistance of the corps officers and two experienced coaches (both from the corps). The process has been transformational. It has reinforced the fact that we, as leaders, are directly responsible for the spiritual climate of our corps. Leadership training is a hot topic these days and has sadly been neglected in the church for too long. That’s why I am so pleased that it’s one of our territory’s seven strategic priorities as we mobilize our great Army. I believe that when we get our leaders equipped, motivated and passionate about removing silos and working together to reach our communities, we will see both qualitative and quantitative growth in our congregations. All of the dreams and aspirations for our ministries will remain unrealized if there’s no one to lead them.
Giving Hope Today Behind the food banks, shelters and addiction centres. BY LT-COLONEL MARSHA-JEAN BOWLES
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hope we can go camping this weekend. I hope Mom bought ice cream. I hope Dad will play catch with me tonight. We use the word hope, most commonly, to express our wish for something to happen or for a particular thing to be true. I grew up in Essex, Ont. My parents were not professionals, but they worked hard and provided for their family: a home, nutritious meals, family fun. I wore hand-me-downs, ate my share of potato corn soup (not my favourite) and stayed home for vacation. Although I do remember hoping that Dad had stopped in at the Dutch bakery on his way home from work, I had all I needed. This is not the case for many men, women and children in Canada today. In March 2016, more than 863,000 people received help from food banks in Canada. Of those, 36 percent were children and youth. In 2013, up to one million children and youth were growing up in economically deprived families. I hope we have breakfast today. I hope I can concentrate at school. I hope Mom doesn’t lose her job. I hope we can pay the rent.
Where can people turn when their hope is gone? Our culture values independence and self-reliance as markers of success. We hesitate to ask for help. We are also staying single longer, and living alone more than ever before. Social isolation is a serious problem in Canada. Most commonly, social isolation affects seniors, but this is not exclusive. Teens, immigrants, those living in poverty and those living in isolation due to geography, language or cultural expectations, may also be impacted. I hope someone calls me today. I hope my daughter comes for a visit. I hope they understand my English. How often are these hopes dashed? When is the supply of hope exhausted and replaced by hopelessness? The Bible says, “Hope postponed grieves the heart; but when a dream comes true, life is full and sweet”
(Proverbs 13:12 VOICE). The Message translation reads, “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick.” Hope postponed grieves the heart. Disappointment after disappointment causes broken dreams. Where can people turn when their hope is gone? Pastor and author Bill Hybels says, “When the local church stewards the message of Christ, it truly is the hope of the world.” It’s not because we have food banks, nor is it because we can supply affordable clothing through thrift stores. The designation “hope of the world” is not ours due to summer camps, music lessons or women’s groups. It is only when we convey our hope in Jesus that we can consider ourselves the “hope of the world.” Jesus Christ alone empowers his followers to give hope and lead people to life-change. When hope grows weary, the local church—you and me—faithfully living for Jesus in this world will renew hope. We who know the reality of Christ our Saviour, who transformed us and by whose Spirit we live, are the hope for those who have little hope left. We can hope for them, with them and, in serving Jesus, we can have a part in fulfilling their hope. The program services department is committed to supporting those who bring hope—not just any hope, but hope in Jesus Christ, the only One who can transform a man, woman or child. We know transformation is possible. We are inspired when we visit ministry units: the 10-year-old leading devotions at Kung Fu for Christ; the atheist singing in the community choir; the chaplain recounting the conversion of an inmate; the young woman who is mastering life in the Pathway of Hope ministry. Together, we will bring significant change to our communities as we connect with our neighbours—building relationships, sharing their concerns and happiness, showing there is a way of unending hope. Follower of Jesus, whatever your connection to The Salvation Army, Christ in you is the hope of the world. “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all” (Psalm 71:14-15). Lt-Colonel Marsha-Jean Bowles is the secretary for program in the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Salvationist August 2017 13
Photo: Joanna Inskip
PERSPECTIVES
Ending Exploitation Led by Cadet Andrew Benson, The Joyful Project combats poverty and human trafficking with ethical fashion. For two winters, Cadet Andrew Benson lived and served among the poor at a Salvation Army drop-in centre at Crossroads Community Church in Edmonton. While a candidate, he founded The Joyful Project, an initiative that provides ethically sourced products and organizes events to alleviate problems associated with poverty and human trafficking. The Whole World Mobilising content producer Melissa Wallace recently interviewed Cadet Benson about “well moments” and why we should change our perspective about people in need. Why did you start The Joyful Project? I became tired of pointing out the problems around me and not doing anything about it. As I saw poverty and human trafficking issues around the world, I knew I could do more than share a post on Facebook (which is still a good thing to do!). I also wondered what would happen if we put a modern spin on some older ministries of The Salvation Army, such as the match factory and the pub ministries. I had a vision for The Joyful Project, a solid community that was encouraging and supportive, and I knew it was time to take a step of faith and go for it. Jesus talks about the poor and the outsiders a lot and I wanted to follow his example of love, compassion and justice. How did you come up with the idea? What was your inspiration? Jesus. I strongly felt his call while I was working at the Army’s drop-in centre in Edmonton. As I walked the streets and listened to people tell their story, I quickly began to love them and was able to see them the way God does—as 14 August 2017 Salvationist
a beautiful masterpiece. I grew close to the people in this neighbourhood and I learned that people need more than food and clothing; they need genuine, meaningful relationships. Ministry to the poor is often onesided. If we want to restore dignity in people’s lives, we need to realize that the poor have something significant to offer the world. One individual, Sterling, stood out to me. He was an artist living on the streets and would visit our dropin to work on his paintings. His art was incredible and was enjoyed by many. I have a couple of his paintings on my wall at home. Giving people a helping hand in a time of need is important and we need to continue doing that. However, if we think there is nothing they can bring to the table as well, then we are fools. We need to share hope with one another and build each other up. As I shared my vision for The Joyful Project with others, it began to become reality as people came on board and helped out along the way. It is amazing what can happen when people come together in unity. This is not a solo mission; there is always room for one more. What do you hope to achieve with The Joyful Project? I want to provide an inclusive avenue where people can creatively share the love of God. In practice what that looks like is sharing joy and empowerment through ethically sourced products and organizing high-quality concerts in local music venues. One of our purposes is lived out in our partnership with Freeset Global in India. They provide meaningful employment to women who have escaped the sex trade. The workers are paid a fair wage, have safe working con-
ditions and enjoy many rights that we often take for granted, including health benefits. Freeset ethically sources all their materials, even the cotton used to make the clothes. We love that and are happy to partner with them. As a social enterprise, we hope to provide financial support to local ministries. Call it “tent making” if you will. And we hope to bring awareness to issues of human trafficking as it relates to the fashion industry. A quick Internet search into the cotton and fashion industry will quickly reveal an ugly reality. There are terrible injustices happening around the world and we need to shine more light on them. It’s not enough for us as consumers to say, “That’s a quality product.” What about the quality of the life of the person who made that product? People are being exploited. We need to do something. Why are social justice issues such as poverty and human trafficking important to you? They are important to me because they are important to God. I always try to remember that when we talk about poverty and human trafficking we are talking about real people, with names, stories and a hope for their life. There is something special about it all that makes me come alive. It is a deep-rooted passion for me. Jesus had me at “Follow me”— what else can I say? Personally, it doesn’t seem right to stand by holding a glass of water while someone goes thirsty. How is The Joyful Project doing so far? It has been incredible. We celebrated our first anniversary in May and had two great concerts at two different
Cdt Andrew Benson (left) with The Joyful Project team at an event in Alberta last year
music venues in Winnipeg. Those were incredible opportunities for us to build relationships with people in the city and form solid partnerships with other organizations, bands and bar staff. We also set up shop at two local night markets and met a lot of people there. The conversations were fantastic and some of the people we met are now involved with The Joyful Project. Our team is growing and I am inspired by their passion and energy. Sales have been steady, which is good news because it means we can continue to support the employment of women in India. We have a couple new designs coming out this fall and are hopeful those will be a hit. We have also been in contact with other companies around the world who share a similar vision for justice and freedom, and have partnered with The Salvation Army and 1 Just City here in Canada as well. One of our team gave a presentation at FUSE in Newfoundland and Labrador this spring. How are you mobilizing through The Joyful Project? I love the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. What strikes me is that their encounter would not have happened if Jesus wasn’t at the well that day. We con-
sider the concerts in the bars our “well moments.” My belief is that if there is a place of cultural influence in your town, a popular place where people gather, we as Christians should be there, too. We often meet with people at universities, coffee shops and bars, or on the streets. We regularly engage people in the community on issues of social justice and invite people to get involved in what we are doing. One of the things we love to do when we’re at markets is set up a random acts of kindness initiative. We have a huge sign and small cards with a random act of kindness written on them that we encourage people to try. It’s fun watching people get excited about it and participate. What would you say to people who feel as passionately about these issues as you do? The world needs you to be you. Let the Holy Spirit guide you and go for it! But don’t go alone—bring others along on the journey with you. Learn as much as you can on the topic you are passionate about and get involved where you can. Don’t be afraid to start small and don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers. Have some fun with it. And keep your
feet on the street. It is too easy for this to become about you or to lose sight of the people you want to help. That “homeless person” has a name and a story worth listening to. Engage people as human beings who are equal with you and have something to offer just as much as you have something to give. Let today be the day you get out and do something. Even if it is the simplest and smallest thing it still has meaning, and who knows where it could go from there? How can Salvationists and other friends of The Salvation Army support you? Please pray for us and for the women who make the clothing for us. Encouragement is always welcome. Let’s spur one another on to love and good deeds. Other practical ways our friends can help is by liking and sharing The Joyful Project on Instagram and Facebook. We are still very new and awareness is huge for us at the moment. Spread the word! Cadet Andrew Benson is the founder of The Joyful Project and will begin his second year at the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg in September. For more information, visit thejoyfulproject.com. Salvationist August 2017 15
CALLING THE COURAGEOUS
Three Generations, One Faith For Carrie-Ann Jones, her mother and daughters, soldiership meant embracing a new church family. BY KEN RAMSTEAD
something changing in my mind and heart,” she continues. “God’s presence was overwhelming.” The following week, Jones attended the church’s Bible study and brought her daughter Taylor along. “I didn’t want to go,” says Taylor. “We were going through such a difficult time and we needed to be strong. I felt that church was for the weak, a view I had absorbed from the negative influence of the people in our lives at that time.” As with Jones, the effect on her daughter was just as immediate. By the end of the evening, Taylor had accepted Christ. “We looked at each other in awe, in shock about what was going on,” says Taylor. They both went home to share their joy with Laurel. Curious, she attended church, too. Within a month, all four of Jones’ children had become Christians. “It was an amazing family transformation,” she says. On Their Own Unbeknownst to the family, Jones’ mother had been quietly playing a part in their story at Cascade Community Church. “While not going into specifics, Valerie shared with us that her daughter and granddaughters were having a difficult time,” says Captain Jodi Dunstan, corps officer. “I didn’t know Carrie-Ann or the kids, but we were praying for them.” Within a year of her conversion, Jones stopped drinking and smoking with the help of a Christian counsellor. But while trusting God kick-started huge changes in their lives, “it just didn’t fit us,” says Jones. “We kept growing in faith but we floundered around trying to find a church to worship at. We didn’t feel like we fit in at a couple of them, so we opted to worship at home. We’d survived as a family for this long, we thought we didn’t need anyone to be connected to God.”
Laurel, Taylor and Carrie-Ann Jones with Valerie Pilgrim
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ast February, a unique ceremony took place at The Salvation Army’s Cascade Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C., when eight soldiers were enrolled. What made the event extra special was that four of the soldiers were from one family representing three generations. Valerie Pilgrim, the grandmother, was enrolled along with her daughter, Carrie-Ann Jones, and granddaughters Taylor and Laurel. Family Transformation “I grew up believing God was ever-present in my life,” says Jones. But after the collapse of her marriage, she entered into another relationship that turned out to be abusive. “It was a rough time for me and my children,” she says. “We joke now that we were like the caveman family in The Croods. We looked at ourselves as a unit and mistrusted anyone outside the family circle.” Their difficult road ended five years ago when they escaped the abusive relationship, but it had taken a toll. “I drank a lot, which was my coping mechanism. I was very lost, very broken,” she says, “and my children were broken.” One day, a friend invited the family to attend a Bible study at a local church, and Jones felt pulled to go. The experience floored her. “I felt an immediate outpouring of love, and I could feel 16 August 2017 Salvationist
A Family Decision That changed when Pilgrim invited her daughter and granddaughters to visit Cascade. “It was the right time for us,” says Jones. “We were doing fine by ourselves but becoming part of this larger church family was just what we needed.” As the family became more involved with the congregation, and the church community got to know them and come alongside them, soldiership was the logical next step. “It felt as if this is what we were supposed to do,” says Taylor. “We knew that God was telling us that. We knew what The Salvation Army stood for and we knew we could stand behind them, knowing what it meant to live a life of purpose and mission, even in the tough times. It fit right into our hearts.” But the best was yet to come. When Pilgrim found out that her daughter and granddaughters had decided to become soldiers, she made a momentous decision of her own. “She wasn’t active in the church before the kids and I found Jesus, but once she saw the changes in us, she wanted what we had,” says Jones. “We attended church together and we became closer as a family. Cascade brought us together but it was all God’s work.” “I was emotional when I signed my Soldier’s Covenant alongside my family,” says Pilgrim. “It was without a doubt what we all wanted to do.” “By becoming soldiers, we were putting our beliefs into action by trying to portray in our everyday lives what God desires us to be,” concludes Laurel.
Photo: © Wavebreakmedia/iStock.com
Bar None How The Salvation Army is removing barriers to access— for everyone. BY CHRISTINE LeBLANC
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t’s not easy watching a loved one lose their ability to do everyday tasks, such as walking to the store or reading the newspaper, or gathering the courage to leave the house. But millions of Canadians—about 14 percent of the adult population—live with a disability that limits their daily activities, and face obstacles to meeting their basic needs and being treated with the respect they deserve. Medical advances allow people to survive disease, birth defects and accidents at higher rates than ever before, although they may be left with disabilities as a result. Combined with the fact that people are also living longer—and more than 40 percent of people over 65 have a disability—there is a growing need to provide barrier-free environments. At its core, accessibility is about ensuring that everyone has access to their environment—whether a building, product or service—regardless of age, physical ability or status in life. For many, the first thing that comes to mind when we think about accessibility is a wheelchair ramp, but it’s much broader than that. If we consider different types of disabilities—such as vision or hearing loss; intellectual, cognitive or learning disabilities; and neurological or psychiatric disabilities—it becomes apparent that the variety of hurdles faced by those who live with a disability are as varied and unique as the disabilities themselves. In 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was proclaimed. Other provinces, such as Manitoba, Nova
Scotia, Quebec and British Columbia, are also at various stages of legislative commitment to providing barrier-free environments for their citizens. The purpose of accessibility legislation is to identify, remove and ultimately prevent various barriers faced by people who live with a disability. The legislation enacted (or proposed) applies to governments, government agencies and, in the case of Ontario, all organizations that employ at least one person. Such organizations must work toward accessibility— but what does that mean, exactly? Does every building need to have an elevator? No, accessibility isn’t about retrofitting all buildings with completely barrier-free access (although that would be ideal). Certainly, newly constructed buildings and major renovation projects must uphold new building code standards, but accessibility is about so much more than just physical spaces. Accessibility comes in various forms, such as ensuring information is available to the public in alternative formats. For instance, a corps officer may have spent time preparing a sermon, choosing Scripture and creating slides to keep people engaged for the Sunday service, but can the congregants even see the screen? Are a few copies of the church bulletin available in large print? Is the order of service available online ahead of time, so someone can access the information with their preferred assistive technology? Can a person who is hearing impaired count on being seated in the front row so he can read lips?
Accessibility also means making feedback about The Salvation Army’s services user-friendly. Rather than responding to a written survey, can a visually impaired client provide responses verbally to a staff member? In order to meet its accessibility obligations, The Salvation Army has taken on several challenges. For instance, a multi-year plan details how various departments will strive to become more accessible in years to come. Ministry units are expected to prepare emergency plans for clients and staff, and provide up-to-date information if usual access routes are restricted. Job candidates must be given a fair chance to compete for positions, regardless of any barrier they face, and ministry units must make websites accessible by following certain design principles (for further information, visit ontario.ca/ page/how-make-websites-accessible). Staff and volunteers in Salvation Army operations should know how to decrease and eliminate barriers in their ministry unit, and training is required in areas such as customer service. Accessibility is important, and The Salvation Army is striving to make its services available and understandable to everyone. For more information about The Salvation Army’s territorial policy on accessibility, visit bit.ly/2rnvXbX. Christine LeBlanc is associate legal counsel for the Canada and Bermuda Territory. Salvationist August 2017 17
Frame of Mind
A retired Salvation Army officer deals with vascular dementia.
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y brain is freezing up! My brain isn’t wired right.” A cry of frustration from a man who has always been able to express himself and his thoughts with clarity. Many people sometimes have trouble recalling names, dates and places as they age, but this was much worse, with whole blocks of knowledge seemingly erased from memory. This was the first sign that something in Ralph’s brain wasn’t working as it should, and it was the beginning of a five-year quest to find out what was happening. Now, after many tests, an initial diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, a brain scan and a consultation with one of the leading specialists in the field, Major Ralph Hewlett, retired, has been diagnosed with vascular dementia, a disease that affects more than half a million Canadians. Ralph is my brother-in-law and I have known him for almost 60 years. A thoughtful and reflective man, a caring and conscientious Salvation Army officer, and a loving husband to Anne, he is now facing the most difficult challenge of his life. He has a disease for which there is no cure and which will, day by day, take away those abilities, personality traits and faculties that have made him who he is. But now that he knows what is wrong and has some idea of how the dementia will progress, he is accepting of the condition and has not succumbed to bitterness and recrimination because, he says, “That’s a dead-end street.” Something Was Wrong Anne says that both Ralph and those around him had an inkling that something was wrong because he couldn’t remember Scripture quotations he knew well, and he couldn’t find things in the Bible from memory. As time went by, other symptoms became apparent (see the sidebar on the following page for a summary of symptoms). When Ralph and Anne were given the 18 August 2017 Salvationist
BY DOUG FIELD
Mjr Ralph Hewlett, a retired Salvation Army officer, has been diagnosed with vascular dementia, but has not succumbed to bitterness or recrimination because, he says, “That’s a dead-end street”
diagnosis, the specialist described it in lay terms as follows: “The normal brain is like cheese curd. The Alzheimer’s brain has large holes like Swiss cheese, and the vascular dementia brain is like havarti, with lots of pinprick holes caused by multiple mini-strokes, which usually go unnoticed.” Ralph says that early in the process of diagnosing the disease, he asked, “Why is God allowing this to happen to me?” (This is typical of Ralph. Others would simply have screamed “God, why me?”) Sometime later, another sufferer said in answer to the question, “So you can help others who are going through this.” Ralph has seized on this notion and, as his ability to do those things that have been so much a part of his life—public prayer, the conducting of services and his chaplaincy of the local unit of the Korea Veterans Association—is leaving him, he is finding a new way to minister to others experiencing the same decline of mental capacity.
Memory Loss Ralph has never been a voluble man. I have never heard him raise his voice or speak hurriedly to make a point. Thoughtful and deliberate best describe his thought and speech patterns from a youth at the then-Windsor Citadel Corps to a mature officer who has served across the Canada and Bermuda Territory. But now, his speech comes in short and slow phrases, his sentences followed by long pauses. The listener quickly learns to be patient, because Ralph will complete the thought, which will make perfect sense—eventually. That said, his sly sense of humour (often at his own expense) is still alive and well, and funnier because it is always totally unexpected. For his family, this has become the new “normal” and they have adapted with love and patience as their husband and father operates mentally and verbally on an entirely different plane. For someone engaging with him only occasionally, the urge to interject in the silences has to be resisted to allow him to complete his thought. Vascular dementia shares causes and symptoms with other forms of Alzheimer’s disease—specifically changes in brain areas that play a key role in storing and retrieving information, causing memory loss. Hence the confusion and fear that surrounds patients, family and friends prior to a diagnosis. It also means that it can go undiagnosed for long periods, when earlier diagnosis could slow its progression. This is an area where there is lots of room for progress. Ralph is following the advice of physicians and therapists to maintain physical activity and engage in organized and informal social interaction and other programmed activities to maintain mental activity. He has consciously chosen not to sit and fade to black, and in this he has the support of his family and a circle of caring friends.
Ministry of Prayer Ralph was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in June 1966, a member of the Defenders of the Faith Session, and married Captain Anne Jackson in December 1967. They retired from active service in July 2001. In a career spanning 35 years, Majors Ralph and Anne Hewlett served in many parts of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, including Lethbridge, Alta., Goderich and Oakville, Ont., Hamilton, Bermuda, and Nanaimo, B.C. In the early days of his officership, Ralph sold hundreds of copies of The War Cry every week, not only to support the corps but as a ministry, knowing of at least one backslider who was restored and reinstated as a soldier as a result. One woman who attended their corps as a young girl contacted them years later, tracing the beginning of her spiritual journey to her time in Sunday school and becoming a junior soldier. She has served the Lord by teaching in Korea, Taiwan and now China. Before the Internet, The Salvation Army’s missing persons service was one of the most effective anywhere. Using its worldwide network of on-the-ground personnel, the Army often found people when nobody else, including the police, could. Ralph had numerous successes using nothing more than the phone book and city directory. His most notable case, while appointed to Oakville, was a woman from Yorkshire, England, who asked the Army if they could find her sister, thought to be living in Oakville. It took some time, but he did track down the missing woman and the two were
dramatically reunited the day before the requesting sister returned home at the end of a Canadian visit. Today, that would be the stuff of a reality TV show! Anne says that Ralph hated being stuck in the office “doing admin.” He felt it kept him from his ministry of visiting and supporting people and “preaching the Word.” Throughout his ministry, Ralph maintained a disciplined prayer life. He still prays for people from every corps in which he has ministered—a prayer list that now numbers in the hundreds. Ralph has always loved to learn, and has amassed a huge collection of books along the way. It is a family joke that with every change of appointment, the size of his library doubled the moving bill. Obedient Servant “Do not go gentle into that good night,” wrote the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Ralph is only partially following this advice, since he has not succumbed to the rage the poet speaks of later in the poem, though he does express frustration at not being able to preach or officiate at “sacramental” occasions—dedications, weddings, funerals. We cannot know why Ralph Hewlett, God’s obedient servant, was stricken with a disease that robs its victims of precious memory, as well as the ability to communicate and continue to perform tasks of which they are still physically capable. Many of us would be raging against such an apparent injustice after a life of service to others. But on reflection, we must remember other obedient servants who endured physical, mental and emotional turmoil without turning
Mjr Hewlett with his siblings and their spouses. From left, Tom and Judy Carey; Doug and Joy Attenborough; Marilyn and Doug Field; Mjr Ralph and his wife, Mjr Anne Hewlett
against God—Job comes to mind. Ralph’s medication seems to have arrested the progression of the disease, but he and his family know this is only a temporary reprieve. Eventually, he will continue to lose his mental capacity. Even so, Anne says emphatically, “He’s still the same person.” When asked what he prays for, Ralph’s answer was surprisingly quick: “Archeological evidence of the life of Christ, and that God will show healing—real miracles for myself and others.” The Ralph Hewlett I have known most of my adult life is still there. Doug Field is a retired broadcaster and performing arts manager. For a number of years, he wrote the “Hot Topics” column in Faith & Friends. He is now an occasional writer and videographer living in Oakville, Ont.
What is Dementia? Almost 40 percent of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss. When there is no underlying medical condition causing this memory loss, it is known as “ageassociated memory impairment,” which is considered part of the normal aging process. Brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and other dementias are different. Ageassociated memory impairment and dementia can be told apart in a number of ways.
Normal Aging
Dementia
Not being able to remember details of a conversation or event that took place a year ago
Not being able to recall details of recent events or conversations
Not being able to remember the name of an acquaintance
Not recognizing or knowing the names of family members
Occasionally forgetting things and events
Forgetting things and events more frequently
Occasionally having difficulty finding words
Frequent pauses and substitution when finding words
You are worried about your memory but your relatives are not
Your relatives are worried about your memory, but you are not aware of any problems
Source: Canadian Alzheimer’s Society Salvationist August 2017 19
Fear and Trembling
The Book of Job forces us to confront our deepest questions about God.
I
haven’t taught the Book of Job for many years. It’s not always an experience I embrace, because what the book demands of me is not so much that I “teach,” but that I journey with Job—that I share his tragedy, his abandonment, his outrage and his confrontation with God. Students who fully enter the text also find that they are laid bare, that the study of Job is not so much a spectator sport as it is an experience that engulfs us. In some mysterious way, Job has the power to put into words what we have always been afraid to think or say. Reading Job isn’t for the faint-hearted. Read at your own risk! Let me explain why. The Contest The Book of Job opens in the heavens, in the royal court of God. Surrounded by the heavenly host, God calls the assembly to order. All seems to go according to protocol until God spots the satan, an enigmatic figure whose role is to search throughout the earth to test God’s creatures. At the time Job was written, the satan was not yet understood as Satan, the incarnation of evil or the Evil One. In Job, satan is more of a title, a role, than it is a personal name. The satan was God’s private investigator, the crown prosecutor who would probe beneath the surface to expose the darkest secrets and foibles of God’s creatures. So, we have to set aside our thinking about Satan to let the satanic figure in Job play his role. Job’s troubles start when God points him out to the satan and claims that he is a person of unsurpassed moral quality, someone who fears God and shuns evil. There is no one else as virtuous, no one who can hold a candle to Job. But the satan is not prepared to accept this assertion. “Does Job fear God for nothing? Isn’t Job God-fearing and righteous simply because that’s what gives him all 20 August 2017 Salvationist
BY DONALD E. BURKE the good things in life? Take it all away and then we’ll see his true colours.” The satan wants to test Job. Shockingly, God accepts the challenge and grants the satan the authority to strip Job of his wealth and his family. A series of tragedies befalls Job in rapid succession. Just as Job’s uprightness seems almost unbelievable, so, too, is the series of disasters that takes from him his children, his flocks and herds, and all of his wealth. Job’s response seems a little too pious as well—he seems almost untouched by his losses. “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (see Job 1:21). It appears that God has won the wager with the satan—Job is indeed a God-fearing, righteous man, the likes of which the world has never seen.
God’s justice is far greater, far richer and perhaps even far darker than we can see. Suffering and Silence In a second round of trials, the satan ups the ante, this time afflicting Job within an inch of his life with oozing sores from head to toe. Observing her husband’s excruciating suffering, Job’s wife encourages him to curse God and die to end his torment. But Job rejects her advice, scolding his wife sharply. Deprived of his children, stripped of all his possessions and suffering unbearably, now he is alienated even from his wife. Friends gather around Job. They remain silent, as does Job in his suffering. Until Chapter 3, that is. After seven days
of silent vigil with his friends, Job finally speaks and a torrent of words spills out. What he says is an utter shock—the pious, tempered Job is gone. Exposed before us is a Job we have not seen before. He curses the day of his birth and the night of his conception. The darkness envelops him. He demands to know why this is happening to him. What wrong has he done to deserve this? Job comes to the brink of cursing God, as his wife had encouraged. Throughout the succeeding chapters, Job says outrageous—even blasphemous—things about God. This is not the patient Job we are so often taught about. This is Job’s darkest soul exposed. Outraged by the injustice of his losses, paralyzed by his unbearable pain, Job rants—even rages—against God, demanding a hearing. “Put me on trial! Give me my day in court and then we’ll see who is righteous!” he screams at God. Job accuses God of all manner of ill will and wrongdoing against him. Yet God is silent. It is the silence that is killing Job. It is the silence of God in his darkest hour that shocks Job the most and thrusts a knife into his heart. Yet, even in the midst of his rants and in the face of God’s silence, Job clings to God. He will not let God go; he hounds God, relentlessly pursuing justice, seeking a hearing with God. One word would suffice. But all he hears is a divine silence. On the other hand, Job’s friends can’t keep their mouths shut. They rush to God’s defence, forgetting that it is not God who needs a friend, a defender, an advocate, but rather Job. They accuse Job of being a secret sinner, someone whose piety is external, a show for others to see, but whose heart is darkened by every vice imaginable. The only explanation they have for Job’s situation is that he must have committed some grievous sin.
Photo: © Grafissimo/iStock.com
ness that give depth and texture to our lives would be missing. Love itself would likely be absent, since we rarely, if ever, deserve the love others bestow upon us. Do we really want to live in a world in which fairness trumps grace?
After all, according to their theology, the righteous prosper and the wicked suffer. For them, Job’s suffering is sufficient proof of his wickedness. Through several cycles of debate, Job and his friends spar with one another: Job accusing God (and them) of abandoning him and the friends accusing Job of having done something so heinous as to deserve his suffering. How easy it is for those who are piously comfortable to judge the rage of those who are suffering! Job is being pushed toward a God who is not bound by creeds and confessions, but who is nevertheless real. But Job’s friends are tied to their theology, their assessment of how God works in the world. The righteous will be rewarded and only the wicked suffer. None of them know about the contest between God and the satan that started this whole show. An Encounter With the Living God The astonishing thing about the Book of Job is that by the end, when God finally speaks, it is Job and not his friends who God vindicates and judges to have spoken truthfully. The friends are condemned by God, their defence of God apparently unneeded or unwarranted in the face of their friend’s suffering. By standing up for God, they have failed Job and now stand condemned. Job himself does not come out of his encounter with God unscathed. He is humbled. He learns that while his treatment seems unjust from his perspective, there is a much larger work underway
in the world and that God is very much involved in it. God’s justice is far greater, far richer and perhaps even far darker than we can see. Reading the Book of Job forces us to examine the depth of our love for God. Do we indeed love God simply for who he is? Is our love without strings, without the expectation that God will reward us for our faithfulness? Or do we love God because we expect a good return on our investment? Is ours a quid pro quo love? Reading Job forces these questions upon us. What about the friends? Job forces us to think deeply about friendship and solidarity with those who are suffering. In the face of unimaginable pain, is it really necessary to defend God against accusations of injustice? Or should we take the side of our suffering friend or family member—even for a few moments, weeks or months? Even silence would be greater wisdom in such circumstances than our rush to find words. What about justice? We unthinkingly affirm God’s justice, implying that people get what they deserve. But people often do not get what they deserve. Where is this God of justice in those circumstances? It simply is not fair, we say. Sometimes in response to the injustice of human suffering, we claim that we want to live in a world where we receive only what is fair. But what if we received only what we deserve? That would rule out grace. It would rule out gifts we do not deserve. The gratuitous acts of kind-
Not for the Faint of Heart As I think about it, it’s little wonder that I haven’t taught the Book of Job for many years. It demands so much of me. It calls me to question so many things, to think deeply about the unthinkable suffering of others, to face my own fears and disappointments. It raises questions about my theology, about how I think God is at work in the world. It forces me to step out beyond my theology to an encounter with the living God. Job prompts me to risk asking hard questions and forces me to examine my own motivations for loving God. I am left asking, “Do I really love God for who he is? Or is my love for God conditional upon God giving me all the good things I want, and saving me from all the hard things I wish to escape?” In other words, through the Book of Job God interrogates me and speaks to me bluntly. And, like Job, while I might long for the silence to end, I am not sure that I am ready to hear God’s voice and to stand before God naked and exposed. Reading the Book of Job—really reading the Book of Job—is not for the faint of heart. It requires a trusted guide, a safe place and a determination to hold on to God no matter what. As I think about it, that’s also what life is about. And just as I often try to escape from life to a safe place, I also try to avoid the questions posed by Job. But Job is there, waiting for that moment when I am pressed to read the book again, ready to push me further and deeper—and, I hope, closer to God. Dr. Donald E. Burke is a professor of biblical studies at Booth University College in Winnipeg. Salvationist August 2017 21
Fresh Air and Faith Three stories of how kids found a second home at Salvation Army camp.
very summer, thousands of children and youth from across the territory board buses to go to Salvation Army holiday camps for a week of fun, friends and food, along with a strong spiritual component. Some are anxious, but most are filled with excitement as they look forward to activities such as swimming, sports, hiking, drama, and arts and crafts. For many, canoeing, archery and rock climbing are first-time experiences. But it’s not only about the physical activities—a lot of personal growth and development takes place as they learn about self-respect, interpersonal skills, team building and getting along with others. Many come with low self-esteem and behavioural issues, and are welcomed into a loving and caring environment and accepted for who they are by staff that are committed to investing in their lives. Worship and Bible teaching are part of the daily routine and, for some, it’s the first time they have heard the gospel. They learn that Jesus loves them; that God is with them in the difficult moments of life; that they are never alone. They are taught to pray and to say grace before meals. Many are hearing things for the first time that we take for granted. At the end of the week, they are given an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ. Hundreds of children come to know Christ every year at camp—camping ministry impacts more children for Christ than any other ministry unit. The Salvation Army reaches out to children and youth in many ways, such as vacation Bible schools, the Red Cap anger 22 August 2017 Salvationist
management program, after-school programs and other children’s activities, but camp is special. For a week, we change a child’s world—we provide a safe, warm, caring environment where their needs are met. Many of the children who attend holiday camps are from low-income families, but no child goes without. If things are forgotten or unavailable, we provide them—from a toothbrush to soap to a bathing suit. There is always lots of food—meals with seconds (sometimes thirds) and snacks in between. Days are filled with activity from morning until bedtime, with no worries or concerns. Lifetime
Photos: Cora Lee Lewis
E
BY CAPTAIN LISA HILLIER
friendships are made and memories are created. Lives are transformed. We see evidence of this as campers return to camp years later to become staff members. Many want to give back to camp because of the positive impact it had on them. Others want to give children the great experiences they had. Camp has become an integral part of their lives and they want to share it with others. To them, camp is home. In a recent interview, I was asked, How do we measure success? How do we know if we are doing a good job at camp? It’s not about numbers. Our beds are usually full. There is no evaluation or survey at the end of a children’s camp. I pondered for a moment and then responded, “At the end of the week, when a child says, ‘I have had such a good time, I don’t want to go home’ or ‘I can’t wait to come back next year,’ then we know we have done our job successfully.” One of our returning campers was asked what she liked best about camp. She said, “I am happiest at camp. I love it here.” For at least one week of the summer, Salvation Army camps make many children’s lives happy. The mission of The Salvation Army is to share the love of Jesus, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. At camp, we fulfil this mission every day as we share the love of Jesus with children, meet many of their needs, both physically
Lifetime friendships are made at Salvation Army camps
Campers participate in a wide range of activities, such as swimming, sports, hiking, drama, and arts and crafts
and spiritually, and have a transforming influence on them that extends into their homes and communities. Camping ministry transforms children’s lives. Here are three stories from Natasha Burkett, director of community and family services in Moncton, N.B. 1. A Better Person At holiday camp, we got to know an 11-year-old boy who came to us through the Red Cap anger management program. His mother had died when he was eight, and he had been on a downward spiral since then, making friends with a rough crowd at school and getting into some serious trouble. His dad enrolled him in Red Cap to give him tools to help manage his anger, and thought a week at camp, away from the pressure of his “friends,” would be a positive experience. The boy didn’t really want to go, but his dad convinced him to give it a try. He had the time of his life. He came home on cloud nine, excited about everything he had learned, the swimming pool and making a new friend. He even admitted he now understood why some of his actions at home and school were out of control. When school began, the temptation to slip back into old patterns with his friends was strong, but feeling more confident than he did before, he stood up to them for the first time. His friends ridiculed and ousted him from the group. He had no other friends to turn to. After returning from Christmas break, there was a new kid in his class.
It was the boy he had met at camp. They picked up right where they left off and soon became inseparable. Today, they are still best friends. Our camper tells us that the lessons he learned at camp and making a good friend helped him stand up to his old crowd and become a better person. 2. The Power to Comfort When we told a single mom that her application for her two kids to go to holiday camp had been approved, she was very emotional. They lived in a trailer that was in dire need of repairs. She worked full-time at a minimum wage job and took extra shifts whenever possible to help make ends meet. Her 12-year-old daughter was often tasked with making supper and putting her brother to bed. The mom would get home just in time to tuck him in and care for an elderly grandparent. She shared that she tries her best, but worried her kids were losing out on their childhood. The kids were so excited about holiday camp. They had never been away before. On the day they left, they made their mom a card to wish her a happy week, because she would also be getting a break, knowing they were safe. They had a wonderful week at camp. I visited them two weeks after they got back, and they were still thrilled with the experience. Their mom was delighted to see her children “act like children.” A month later, we found out the mom had suffered a massive heart attack and
died. The children were devastated, their world turned upside down. At the funeral, the sister told us that even though they were sad, she had learned at holiday camp that God has the power to comfort. She had prayed to God for help and knew in her heart that he would take care of them. She also said she had told her mom about Jesus after coming home from camp. Relatives told us that camp came at just the right time. 3. The Coolest Girl One of our campers, who didn’t have a positive female role model in her life, came home from holiday camp and said she had met a counsellor who was “the coolest girl.” She told us the counsellor, who came from a similar background, spent a lot of time listening to her and giving her advice, and it meant a lot knowing she cared. The counsellor had prayed with her, and promised to continue praying for her. For the first time, the camper felt like she mattered to someone, that she was worth something. The counsellor made her feel special, and showed her there were things she did well. Now she wants to be a camp counsellor, too, when she gets older—so she can be an example to other girls. A counsellor can make a big impact on a child’s life in just one week. Captain Lisa Hillier served as the divisional youth secretary in the Maritime Division for four years before becoming the corps officer in Botwood, N.L., in June. Salvationist August 2017 23
Wanted: More Music Open community choirs or bands can be an effective means of evangelism. BY GENERAL JOHN LARSSON (RTD)
24 August 2017 Salvationist
Photo: Shairon Paterson
T
he Salvation Army needs more music. That simple truth was brought home to me some years ago through the inspired insight of a young Salvationist. I was with a group of teenagers and we were discussing the Army’s future. I ventured the suggestion that perhaps when church historians studied the first hundred and more years of the Army’s history, they would conclude that music had been given a disproportionate prominence in its activities. Should there be less emphasis on music in the Army? That was the question. “Less music?” asked this young man, as if he could not believe his ears. “Why on earth would we want to cut back on the greatest way of communicating that we have? Music is the thing that everyone has in common! “What do people do when they wake up in the morning?” he continued. “They reach out and switch on music. They listen to music over breakfast. They travel to work with music. Many listen to music all day as they work. And then in the evening, they return home to the sound of music, and as often as not spend the rest of the day with music—when watching TV or listening to recorded music, or when going out with friends. “God has given the Army an enormous advantage by entrusting it with the gift of music. It has been given a universal language—a ready-made road into everyone’s heart and mind. You’re not suggesting,” he added, “that we should give up all of that, are you?” The words tumbled out with passion and eloquence—and with irresistible logic. It was one of those moments of insight when the obvious suddenly becomes startlingly clear. If music is one of God’s gifts to the Army, we don’t want less of it—we want more! What we need is music that speaks to every heart. Music that speaks to the traditionalist and the non-traditionalist. Music that inspires the believer and
captures the non-believer. Music that appeals to the young and music that entrances the elderly. High-brow music, popular music, classical music, contemporary music. Music for voice and music for brass. Music for keyboard and for guitar. No heart must be left out of reach! But there is something else we need in addition to all of that, and it is this: We need to use music-making—and not only music-listening—for mission and outreach. As an Army we show admirable ingenuity in devising ways of reaching out to people and attracting them into our halls—one has only to look at the vast range of programs on offer in corps. But we have shown a strange reluctance to use one of the things we know most about, namely music-making, as a way of reaching out and attracting people. Our philosophy and structures have worked against us here. In traditional Army thinking, you have to be a signed-up, uniform-wearing soldier to participate in junior and senior musical sections. And there is no doubt that this has given the Army a remarkable body of musicians who have upheld, and still do, the most admirable standards of musicmaking and discipline. I admire them
greatly, and pray that they may go from strength to strength. But my hope is that, in parallel with these sections where they function, we may increasingly use open groups—open to those who have not yet come to faith—and let music-making become a means of evangelism. These open groups take many forms. In some corps, the established sections include non-uniformed and nonSalvationist members. Other corps offer music lessons to young people, or they form open youth or gospel or community choirs or bands. The fastest-growing section in the corps where I soldier in London, England—and the corps’ most effective means of outreach—is a recently launched community choir. “One way of disarming The Salvation Army,” wrote Bernard Watson in his 1965 history of the Army, “would be to remove its music!” One way of re-arming the Army, says I, is to add music-making to our evangelistic armoury. Reprinted from others magazine (Australia), April 2017. General John Larsson (Rtd) is a former international leader of The Salvation Army.
CROSS CULTURE
JESUS IS GOD WITH US, COME TO
IN REVIEW Movies Are Prayers
S HOW U S G O D ’S LOVE ,
SAV E US FROM SI N ,
SET UP GOD’S KINGDOM, AND
SHUT DOWN RELIGION,
SO WE C AN SHARE IN GOD’S LIFE. From Reunion by Bruxy Cavey (Herald Press, 2017). Used with permission.
How films voice our deepest longings BY JOSH LARSEN
Filmspotting PODCAST CO-HOSTED BY ADAM KEMPENAAR AND JOSH LARSEN filmspotting.net
The 30-Word Gospel Bruxy Cavey’s Reunion encourages readers to ditch the religious rituals and rediscover the good news. BY CAPTAIN MARK BRAYE
A
re Christians today still people of the good news? Or have we reduced the gospel message to include only those who look and think like us? These are questions the church needs to wrestle with, and in doing so, we can find a helpful guide in Bruxy Cavey’s new book, Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints and Sinners. Cavey is the author of the bestselling book The End of Religion and the teaching pastor at The Meeting House in Oakville, Ont., a church for people who aren’t into church. Similar to his church, Reunion could be described as a book about Jesus for people who aren’t normally into books about Jesus. Reunion is split into two sections, the first of which introduces readers to Jesus and the gospel message. It is aimed at people who may be hesitant or even hostile toward the gospel, but followers of Jesus would also benefit greatly from reading it, being reminded of important elements of our faith and seeing those elements in a new light. The book and Cavey’s philosophy are encapsulated in the story behind his tattoo, which reads “Leviticus 19:28”—the verse that says to not get a tattoo. Writing about it, Cavey states: “I wanted a Bible verse that summed up the good news message of Jesus in a tattoo, and Leviticus 19:28 seemed like the obvious choice.” For Cavey, it illustrates that people are not reconciled with God through religious formulas, theological frameworks or following biblical rules; they are reconciled through the salvific ministry of Jesus. The church and followers of Jesus have tried to distill the gospel message into easy to remember and explain formulas or outlines. Cavey touches on the “Four Spiritual Laws,” “The Bridge to Life,” “Steps to Peace with God” and “The Roman Road.” He writes about the pros and cons of each and then offers a fresh take on these frameworks with the gospel in one word, “Jesus”; the gospel in three words, “Jesus is Lord”; and the gospel in 30 words (see graphic above). The third framework is the focus of the second part of Reunion as the author unpacks each element of the 30-word gospel outline. The epilogue, titled “Now What?”, offers next steps to help readers turn their faith into action. I enjoyed this book immensely. Reunion is well written and thoroughly readable. Cavey’s scriptural and theological knowledge is clear to see, as is his pastoral compassion for people. Reunion would be a great read for a book club or small group and could be used as a framework for a Bible study series. As the subtitle suggests, Reunion is a book for anyone and everyone: seekers, saints and sinners. Captain Mark Braye is the corps officer at Sarnia Community Church, Ont.
Movies do more than tell a good story. While we often think of films in terms of entertainment, they have the capacity to function on a much deeper level, expressing raw emotions, embodying dreams and aspirations, and wrestling with the “messy” aspects of life. As film critic Josh Larsen writes, “Movies are our way of telling God what we think about this world and our place in it.” Larsen has been writing and speaking about movies for more than 20 years and is an editor with Think Christian, a culture commentary site that sums up its philosophy with the tag line “No such thing as secular.” That approach is evident in his new book, Movies Are Prayers, as Larsen draws on a wide range of films to illustrate how movies as diverse as The Muppets and The Tree of Life can mirror nine types of prayer—praise, joy, lament, anger and more. As he takes readers on a journey through the spiritual language of film, he provides insights, not only into cinema, but also into the nature of prayer itself. As a respected film critic, Larsen is best known for his work as co-host of the Filmspotting radio show and podcast. While not a “Christian” podcast, Larsen brings his unique perspective to the show. For example, a recent episode reviewing Wonder Woman includes a segment reviewing the “Top 5 Movie Religious Experiences.” Salvationist August 2017 25
PEOPLE & PLACES
THOMPSON, MAN.—Thompson Corps celebrates as seven junior soldiers are enrolled. Proudly displaying their Junior Soldier Promises are, from left, David Hynes, Michael Hynes, Teagan McDonald, Madison Compton, Austin Compton, Pesim Spence and Kash Linklater. Encouraging them are, from left, Dorenda Colbourne, junior soldier teacher; Roy Bladen, corps leader; Maggie Colbourne, holding the flag; Rose Bladen, corps leader; and YPSM Cavelle Smith.
WETASKIWIN, ALTA.—Three senior soldiers and two adherents are enrolled at Wetaskiwin Corps during a recent visit of Lt-Col Jamie Braund, secretary for personnel. Standing under the flag held by CSM Bruce Finkel are, from left, Lt-Col Braund; Lt Aejin Jeong, CO; Matt Cristall, Rose Post and William Tozer, senior soldiers; David Hofforth and Myron Kramer, adherents; Lt Dae-Gun Kim, CO; and Cpt Mark Stanley, DSPRD, Alta. & N.T. Div.
WINNIPEG—Jim Dunphy is enrolled as a senior soldier at Heritage Park Temple by Mjr Owen Budden, CO.
PENTICTON, B.C.—John Pettifer receives a plaque of appreciation and the new Song Book of The Salvation Army from Mjr Tim Leslie, CO, Penticton CC, as he retires following 30 years of service as a corps sergeant-major, in Smiths Falls, Ont., at Vancouver’s Southmount Citadel and at Penticton CC.
NEW LISKEARD, ONT.—Temiskaming CC rejoices as five senior soldiers are enrolled. From left, Lt Randy Holden, then CO; Victoria Payne; Richard Males; Gaetane Males; Oliver Jamieson; Cathy Fox; and Lt Anne Holden, then CO. PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.—The corps family at Prince George CC is growing as senior soldiers, junior soldiers and adherents are enrolled. Front, from left, Musa Van Dijk, Pamela Van Dijk, Siphesihle Van Dijk, Blake Bailey-Thomas, Rianna Thomas and Sierra Dunning, junior soldiers. Back, from left, Cpt Crystal Wilkinson, CO; Tyler Croome, Erin Croome and Mith Kidd, senior soldiers; Ted Orland, colour sergeant; Wayne Balcaen, Margaret Sarauer and Michael McMullen, adherents; and Cpt Neil Wilkinson, CO.
26 August 2017 Salvationist
PEOPLE & PLACES
WINGHAM, ONT.—Haylie Morrison is the newest junior soldier at Wingham Corps. Supporting her are, from left, Mjr Archie Simmonds, CO; Mike Ryan, holding the flag; Mjr Marie Simmonds, CO; Vangie Spears; and Mjr Glenda Davis, then AC, Ont. GL Div.
GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L.—Madison Braye is enrolled as a senior soldier at Park Street Citadel. From left, Alecia Barrow, youth director; CSM Lorraine White; Madison Braye; Jason Young, holding the flag; and Mjrs Judy and Larry Goudie, COs.
WINNIPEG—From left, Cpt Sonia Albert, then divisional adult ministries secretary, Prairie Div, and Mjr Shawn Critch, DC, Prairie Div, present certificates of appreciation for years of service through community care ministries to Ruth McKinney (20 years), Lou Lapointe (30 years) and Ken McKinney (15 years).
GUELPH, ONT.—The leadership team at Guelph Citadel is strengthened as three local officers are commissioned. From left, Mjr Claudette Pilgrim, CO; Joyce Parsons, corps secretary; Susanne Jones, community care ministries secretary; Paul Jones, colour sergeant; and Mjr Chris Pilgrim, CO.
BISHOP’S FALLS, N.L.—Three senior soldiers are enrolled at Bishop’s Falls Corps. From left, Mjr Rex Paddock, then CO; CSM Ruth Walsh; Marilyn Carey; Tom Carey; Shirley Tibbs; and Mjr Catherine Paddock, then CO. BRIDGEWATER, N.S.—Jean Emino is the newest senior soldier at Bridgewater Corps. With her are, from left, Mjrs Wilson and Darlene Sutton, COs, and Robert Aulenback, holding the flag.
NAPANEE, ONT.—Theresa Howes (left) and Nancy Clark increase the ranks at Napanee CC as they are enrolled as a senior soldier and adherent respectively. Celebrating with them are Mjr Craig Rowe, CO, and Paul Kelly, holding the flag.
TORONTO—Albert and Joy Miguel (front, left) dedicate their son, Joshua, back to God at North Toronto CC. Celebrating with them are Joshua’s big sister, Tricia (front, blue dress); Joshua’s godparents; CSM Rick Cameron; and Cpts Shannon and Jeff Howard, COs. Salvationist August 2017 27
PEOPLE & PLACES
GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L.—Four young people proudly hold their Junior Soldier Promises as they are enrolled at Park Street Citadel. From left, CSM Lorraine White; Alecia Barrow, youth director; Howard Budgell Jr.; Ethan Young; Jason Young, holding the flag; Nichola Pardy; Holly Froude; and Mjrs Judy and Larry Goudie, COs.
MILTON, ONT.—Mjrs Steve and Leslie Wiseman, COs, enrol Caleb Samuels (second from left) and Carl Summerfield as senior soldiers at KHi—A Community Church of The Salvation Army.
CALGARY—Following 68 years of faithful service in Salvation Army bands in six different corps, Ralph Steele retires from Glenmore Temple Band, where he played for 18 years. Making the presentation are BM Jeff Haskey and Mjr Guy Simms, CO.
MEADOW LAKE, SASK.—The community care ministries group at Meadow Lake Corps is strengthened as two new members are welcomed. From left, Leo Schwehr, holding the flag; Mjr Karen Eason, CO; Barbara Jansen; Patricia Gedison; and Mjr Peter Eason, CO.
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PEOPLE & PLACES
TRIBUTES DEER LAKE, N.L.—Jim Smith was born in 1922 in Gooseberry Cove, Trinity Bay, N.L., and promoted to glory in his 94th year. Jim moved to Deer Lake in 1940, where he was enrolled as a senior soldier at Deer Lake Corps in 1983. He was involved with the men’s fellowship group, community care ministries and the couples’ fellowship group. Jim was the first person to serve on the kettles in Deer Lake, and always wanted to be on the first shift every year, and was very proud to do so. Helpful and dependable, Jim and his wife, Sadie, served in the kitchen at the corps. He was a quiet man who loved to tell stories of his past and share God’s love with everyone. Jim was predeceased by his wife, Sadie (nee Tucker); son, Tony Smith; grandson, Brandon Smith; parents Rose and Isaac Smith; and brothers Mose and Levi Smith. Left to mourn with fond and loving memories are his children, Jerry (Caroline), Dennis and Judy (Keith Pike); grandchildren Sherri-Lynn (Lyall Cabot), Billy (Sarah), Toni-Lynn (Shannon LeRoux), Devon and Amy; great-grandchildren Jerry, Joshua, Billie, Brady, Benjamin, Xavier and Maximus; nieces, nephews; extended family; and friends. BURNABY, B.C.—Pauline Campbell was born to Ted and Zena Oystryk in Hamton, Sask., in 1922. Moving with the family 12 years later to Yorkton, Sask., a school friend invited her to the young people’s meeting taking place after school at The Salvation Army. Soon Pauline was actively involved in the corps. Eventually Pauline settled in Winnipeg where she met and married Bandsman Jack Campbell at Winnipeg Citadel. A move to Vancouver took place in 1960, where she and her husband attended Vancouver Citadel (later named Cariboo Hill Temple). Pauline was active in the league of mercy (community care ministries) and other corps activities. Predeceased by her parents; brothers Lt-Colonel George and Fred; and sister, Anne, Pauline was promoted to glory following several months of illness. She is survived by her daughter, Kimberley; brother, Larry; nieces and nephews. MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—George Howard Honcharsky was born in 1934 at The Salvation Army Grace Hospital in Toronto and grew up in Mimico, Ont. George was peacefully promoted to glory after a valiant fight with Parkinson’s disease. A lifelong Salvationist, he was involved with Scouts, taught a Sunday school class for teenagers and was corps sergeant-major at Mimico Corps. In 1975, the family transferred to Mississauga Temple where George volunteered with family services, served as assistant young people’s sergeant-major and corps secretary. Together with his wife, Ida, he volunteered with the Army’s emergency disaster services team. George was an employee of the Ford Motor Company of Canada for 35 years, and following retirement, he became the business manager at Mississauga Temple. George was willing to help those in need any time of day or night and was a selfless follower of Jesus Christ. He is dearly loved and missed by Ida, his wife of 59 years; daughter, Marion Robbins (Raymond); sons David, Captain Richard (Captain Elaine) and John; grandchildren Kevin Ketteringham (Jenna), Katie, Julia and Meghan Honcharsky; and great-granddaughter, Avaya Ketteringham.
WINNIPEG—Olive Pearl Sandgren (nee Marshall) was born in New Glasgow, N.S. She entered the training college and was commissioned in the Shepherd Session in 1954. Olive served in the Maritimes, Ontario, Winnipeg and North Vancouver for 15 years, primarily as the assistant to Major Ethel Moore, who became a dear friend. Following officership, Olive returned to Winnipeg, where she married Orval Sandgren in 1971. They attended Ellice Avenue Corps where Olive was the corps cadet guardian and primary sergeant. When the corps relocated to Hampton, Olive hosted a weekly ladies’ Bible study. The family transferred to Winnipeg’s Heritage Park Temple in 1986, where she led seniors’ meeting and hosted Bible studies at home for 14 years. Olive was very involved in working with youth, encouraging and supporting them, and they responded with hugs and conversation. She was a faithful supporter of the 55+ meetings and believed strongly in the importance of the Sunday meeting, which she never missed if possible. Olive’s friendly smile and welcoming spirit never wavered as she demonstrated a strong faith and encouraged others. She will be missed and fondly remembered by her husband, Orval; daughter, Heather; family members; and the corps family at Heritage Park Temple.
GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL Appointments: Mjr Erika Zimmermann, TSWM, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Tty; Oct 1—Comrs Oscar/Ana Sánchez, TC/TPWM, Mexico Tty; Cols Edward/Deborah Horwood, TC/TPWM, Brazil Tty; Mjrs Wayne/ Deborah Bungay, TC/TPWM, Tanzania Tty, with rank of col; Nov 1—Lt-Cols Gracia/Lydia Matondo, OC/CPWM, Angola Cmd; Cols Innocent/Norma Kwenda, CS/TSWM, Democratic Republic of Congo Tty TERRITORIAL Appointments: Mjrs Stephen Court/Danielle Strickland, evangelism consultants, THQ program services Reaccepted as captain: Kathryn Ritson Promoted to major: Cpts Rock Marcoux/Mélisa Tardif, Cpt Miguel Borgela Promoted to glory: Lt-Col Frank Watson, from Toronto, May 23; Mjr Clyde Osmond, from Lethbridge, N.L., May 26; Aux-Cpt Elizabeth Herran-Venables, from Burnaby, B.C., Jun 1; Mjr William Moores, from Simcoe, Ont., Jun 13
CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Aug 27 Territorial Music School, JPCC; Sep 2 final program, Territorial Music School, Scarborough Citadel, Toronto Canadian Staff Songsters: Aug 27 Territorial Music School, JPCC
DEER LAKE, N.L.—Alice Mary Reid (nee Parsons) was born in Deer Lake in 1940 and promoted to glory at the age of 76. She was enrolled as a Salvation Army soldier in 1997. Alice was a member of the home league and community care ministries at Deer Lake Corps. She was predeceased by her parents, Pearl (nee Kearly) and Robert Parsons; infant sister, Lilian Evelyn Lucy; and brother, Ralph. Left with fond and loving memories are her husband of 57 years, Arthur; children Donna, Sharon, Paul, Garry, Kirk and Tyrone, their spouses and families; siblings Wilson, Mazie, Lillian, Mildred, Henry, Chris, Linda, Loretta, Doreen and Rick, and their families; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews; extended family; and friends. Salvationist August 2017 29
SALVATION STORIES
Born With a Purpose A family lets their lives shine for God. BY JAMIE AND AMANDA CRANN
30 August 2017 Salvationist
like it would burst. From that moment on, our life changed. We always had a great marriage, but now it’s even better. I get emotional watching my husband grow in his Christian walk—when he prays, reads Scripture or gives his testimony. We love being involved at Botwood Corps, N.L., as a family. Each day brings something new, but we want to do whatever we can to glorify God. Jamie: Becoming a Christian has changed every aspect of my life. I’ve learned a lot about forgiveness and my relationships are better. The loss of a dear friend and my father, just months apart, would have been much more difficult to bear without the Lord to turn to—I take great comfort knowing they were followers of Christ. I want to learn as much as I can and have attended Christian retreats and seminars. I feel a strong calling to be more involved at our corps, and have become a greeter and the president of the men’s fellowship. I didn’t know much about God or attend church when I was growing up the way my wife did, but I will serve the Lord for the remainder of my days. I am very proud to be a Christian and a Salvation Army soldier. I love to wear my uniform, whether at church or standing next to a kettle, because of everything it represents. It’s my way of letting my light shine for God. Amanda: If you are reading this and are not in a relationship with God, there is no better life and no better time than now. We are all born with a purpose.
Photo: Jason Reid Photography
Amanda: I grew up in a small town in Newfoundland and Labrador. My grandmother was my role model—she was the most generous, kind-hearted and hard-working woman I’ve ever known. She made me feel loved and safe. She took me to church and taught me about God, but as I grew up, I turned away from him. I never stopped believing God loved me, but finding my way back to him was easier said than done. I was too worried about what others would think. When Jamie and I got married, we wanted to start a family, but were told our chances of having a child were slim. I was devastated. Even though I loved my stepson with all my heart, I longed to have a child of my own. I was overjoyed and thankful when we found out I was preg- Jamie and Amanda Crann with their daughter, Sammie nant—our prayers had been answered. Sammie was a gift from God. to stay home. Exactly two years later, I woke up Jamie: When our daughter was born, we thinking about Nan—and my soul. I got started taking her to church. Each time myself and Sammie ready, and off to we went, I felt a tug on my heart, but I church we went. I could barely stay in ignored it. I was scared to go forward my seat because God was knocking on to the mercy seat—I didn’t know what my heart harder than ever. Before the was expected of me. As time went on, I service ended, I gave my heart to the began to understand more as I listened Lord. I felt so much peace. to Amanda read Bible stories to Sammie. It was like Sunday school for me! Jamie: I was away when Amanda committed her life to Christ. Two weeks later, Amanda: On April 11, 2014, I held my we attended church as a family. This grandmother until she slipped away to time, I could no longer ignore the tug on be with the Lord in the wee hours of the my heart. I had no idea what to expect morning. I had such an empty feeling, I because this was all new to me, but I wasn’t sure I could go on. I struggled to went forward. cope, to accept that she was no longer with me. When I went to church, I felt Amanda: As I watched my husband such a strong conviction that it was easier give his life to Christ, my heart felt
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