Easter Present
GIFT OF GRACE P.5
Army’s Booth Centre
PLACE OF REFUGE P.11
Turning Red Movie
TEMPER, TEMPER? P.13
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CHERYL JONES’ POT OF SOUP LEADS TO MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEYAASHIINIGMIING RESIDENTS IN ONTARIO. P.16
PLANTING
SEEDS
—John 12:24 (English Standard Version)
But new life only happens in the ground, invisible at first, as roots take hold. Until the promised plant bursts through the soil, the beginning of something beautiful. At Easter, we remember that Jesus, too, died and was buried, only to rise again, escaping the ground and destroying the power of sin and death through His Resurrection. Death is no more and the promise of new life, eternal life, is given to all who follow Him. As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
To learn more about Easter, visit faithandfriends.ca or a Salvation Army church near you.
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Photo: encierro/stock.Adobe.com
“ Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
A seed may be small, but it contains multitudes. A seed holds the promise of new life.
April 2022
VOLUME 25 NUMBER 4
FAMILY TIME 5
The Gift of Grace Her granddaughter’s unselfish present reminded Jeanette Levellie of another made 2,000 years ago.
FAITH BUILDERS 8
FEATURES
13 Easter Present
GIFT OF GRACE P.5
Army’s Booth Centre
PLACE OF REFUGE P.11
Turning Red Movie
TEMPER, TEMPER? P.13
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COVER STORY
22
8
The Chosen Salvation Army plays role in recordbreaking series about the life of Christ.
COMMON GROUND 11 “A Place of Refuge”
Montreal’s Booth Centre helps Canadians in need succeed.
It Runs in the Family
In Turning Red, our hero must confront her newly discovered superpower.
Filling a Need
Cheryl Jones’ pot of soup leads to meaningful opportunities for Neyaashiinigmiing residents in Ontario.
Living Like We’re Forgiven
Her son’s actions reminded Diane Stark how God’s actions at Easter set them both free. SOMEONE CARES 26 Gifted With Love
Grandmother’s baskets and treat bags have brought joy for 20 years. LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin
Word Search, Sudoku.
26
NIFTY THRIFTY 30 Hoppy Easter!
A bunny-ear project in three easy steps. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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FROM THE EDITOR
Up in the Air
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hen Dr. Aisha Khatib answered a call for a “doctor on board,” she never thought she’d be called upon to deliver a baby at 35,000 feet. The physician was on a Qatar Airways flight from Toronto to Uganda this past December when she responded to the request and found a passenger in labour. “My adrenaline was certainly pumping,” she says. Dr. Aisha was afraid that she wouldn’t have the necessary equipment to assist with the birth, but staff and passengers stepped up with the tools she needed. Thankfully, the baby was delivered successfully and Dr. Aisha continued to monitor mother and baby for the duration of the flight. Once the news of the delivery was flashed to the rest of the jet, passengers and crew clapped and cheered. And to cap things off, the grateful mother named her newborn “Miracle Aisha.” As they departed the airplane upon arrival, passengers left little gifts for the family, and Dr. Aisha started a GoFundMe campaign to support them. “Let’s give her a chance of a better and beautiful life,” Dr. Aisha wrote, “so that she can surpass the clouds and someday reach the stars.” You don’t have to be 35,000 feet in the air to be a Good Samaritan. Cheryl Jones was safe on the ground when she noticed that many in her Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation community were going hungry. So she decided to do something about it. Read her story on page 16. Ken Ramstead 4 • APRIL 2022
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Mission Statement To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.
Faith & Friends is published monthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Floyd Tidd TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND LITERARY SECRETARY
Pamela Richardson ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR
Kristin Ostensen MANAGING EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST AND SALVATIONIST.CA
Lisa Suroso GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST
Rivonny Luchas DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR
Giselle Randall, Abbigail Oliver STAFF WRITERS Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@salvationarmy.ca All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131
Faith&Friends
FAMILY TIME
The Gift of Grace My granddaughter’s unselfish present reminded me of another made 2,000 years ago. by Jeanette Levellie
Certificate of Merit ”I felt as if she was giving me a piece of her soul,” says Jeanette Levellie (right), here with her granddaughter, Grace
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wasn’t happy about my birthday this year. Usually, I anticipated a cake-and-ice-cream party with my kids and grandkids, opening gifts and playing Uno or Catan together. This year, not so much. Too many candles on my cake. Too many aching joints. Too many COVID-19 concerns weighing on my heart. Between all that, caring for my mother who suffers with Alzheimer’s disease and worrying about
my daughter, Marie, a single mom, I just wanted to run away. I knew that wouldn’t solve my problems. But I was weary and overwhelmed. Then came Grace’s gift. Free Sprit Grace, our youngest granddaughter, is a creative child who’d rather read in her bedroom than play dodgeball with friends. My husband, Kevin, and I had stopped asking Grace,
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“What’s your favourite subject in school this year?” We knew she’d answer the same every time, in a tone that implied we didn’t know her: “Art. Of course.” Sculpture. Watercolours. Sketching. Murals. Any form of using her imagination put Grace in a happy place. A few weeks before my birthday, unbeknownst to us, Grace’s art teacher entered a mask Grace had designed in our local art centre’s student exhibition. The mask featured Starry Night, the famous painting by Vincent van Gogh. Dozens of bright yellow stars swirling in a midnight blue sky beautifully reflected Grace’s free spirit.
Over the Moon When I read the article in our newspaper including a list of art awards, my heart leapt. There in black print was Grace’s name accompanied by the words “Judge’s Award.” I immediately called our daughter, Marie. “Did you know Grace won this prestigious award at the art centre for her mask?” Marie rarely had time to read the paper. She was over the moon with delight. I texted my little artist and told her how proud Kevin and I were of her. “Will you bring the certificate you got from the art centre when you come over for my birthday party?” I asked her. “I’d love to see it.” I hoped sharing this proud moment with Grace would take a bit of the edge off my recent malaise. The Best Gift After rinsing cake crumbs off our plates, I sat down to open my gifts. My loved ones had been generous this year, each of the three grandkids bringing a gift of their own, rather than one large present from their whole family. Grace hugged hers tight, grinned and said, “Can
Award Winner Grace’s Starry Nightinspired mask
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“Sculpture. Watercolours. Sketching. Murals. Any form of using her imagination put Grace in a happy place.” JEANETTE LEVELLIE you open everyone else’s first and save mine for last?” “Of course, honey,” I smiled back. I wondered what she’d bought me that was so important that I save it until the end. Grace rounded the table and stood beside me while I pulled back the kitten-themed wrapping paper. And there it was. “What? You’re giving me your art award?” Tears moistened my eyes. “Are you sure, Gracie? You worked so hard on this.” Grace put both arms around my waist, hugging me tight. “I want you to have it, Grandma. I knew you would appreciate all the work I did on it.” “He Did It for Us” Grace had no idea how much I cherished that certificate. I felt as if she
was giving me a piece of her soul. My heart was lighter than it had been in weeks as I fastened it to our hallway wall—next to an art award her mom had won when she was a child. The following morning during our praise and prayer time at church, I told everyone about my favourite birthday gift. As I related Grace’s generosity, Jesus’ sacrificial gift to us on the first Easter impacted me in a fresh way. Just as Grace had done all the work to earn the honour of an award, and then offered it to me, Jesus earned our good standing with God. He didn’t achieve power over sin and death for Himself. He did it for us. He gave us part of His very heart. His best gift. The gift of grace.
(left) Author of five books and hundreds of published articles, Jeanette Levellie and her husband make their home in Paris, Illinois. Jeanette’s hobbies include spoiling her three grandchildren, pampering her cats and inventing new ways to avoid housework. Find her splashes of hope and humour at www.jeanettelevellie.com.
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FAITH BUILDERS
Jesus in a New Light The Salvation Army plays key role in The Chosen, a record-breaking series about the life of Christ. by Warren L. Maye
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oday, The Chosen is a global phenomenon that has been watched more than 150 million times and translated into 52 languages. Not only is it the firstever multi-season show about the life
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of Jesus as told through the eyes of those who met Him but The Chosen is the highest crowdfunded project of all time. In 2017, more than 19,000 people helped raise $10 million to launch Season 1.
Facts About The Chosen • First-ever worldwide launch of a streaming TV series via its own app • Downloaded and streaming in 142 countries • Being translated into 52 languages
Photo: Courtesy of The Chosen
It is available online, on apps and is completely free. Seasons 1 and 2 are available now. Funding is underway for Season 3. “This Is It!” “We couldn’t do it without The Salvation Army,” says Derral Eves, the executive producer of The Chosen, which is being produced on a Salvation Army campground. “The Salvation Army is allowing us to lease land in Texas to build a soundstage studio,” he states. “This is where we are filming Season 3. When we had no place to turn, God led us to The Salvation Army’s Hoblitzelle
Camp and Conference Centre.” In 2020, a production team searched for suitable locations to film The Chosen in and around the DallasFort Worth area in Texas. During a visit to the camp, creator Dallas Jenkins stopped Casey Bilbrey, director of operations for Camp Hoblitzelle, as they were driving and said, “This is it!” Dallas was excited about the site because the camp landscape and facilities were perfect for their needs. Makers of The Chosen, which will be a seven-season show, signed a fiveyear lease for 364 hectares (900 acres) of Salvation Army campground to use for its production, which is currently developing its third season, says Derral. Multinational, Multi-Ethnic Outreach The Chosen reaches across religious boundaries to give viewers from all walks of life a non-denominational, non-Hollywood and an ethnically authentic portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ and the people who encountered Him. “I think that the biggest thing is
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Photo: Lu Lu Rivera/The Salvation Army
FAITH BUILDERS
‘the why’—we want to ultimately reach a billion people through this series,” says Derral. “I think everybody is impressed with the success of the show, but the key is we have passionate people who are trying to help gather people to find the authentic Jesus. “So, when I say we’re trying to get to a bilWalkabout lion people, I mean it. Jesus and His followers as seen in The Chosen It’s our purpose, our call, to contribute to the cause to assist Sharing a Relevant Message Jesus with His work and really gather “I believe people need the powerpeople so that they can know and ful message of Jesus—the stories He find Him authentically and start on taught—as much now as they did in their transformation journey to be the first century because the times redeemed.” haven’t changed much. There still is Derral, who has helped 24 Youbigotry, racism, hatred, wars and conTube channels go from zero to more tention,” says Derral. than a million subscribers and has “So, our ‘why’ is really important to generated 54 billion views on Youus. It is the drive to stay authentic, to Tube with these various projects, push further, and give it long nights says the key to his success in market- and early mornings because the coning in general and in promoting tent can connect with people, we see The Chosen in particular is to take transformation in it, and we just want the show to where the people are, to have it at a higher scale.” rather than wait for them to find it Reprinted from SACONNECTS, The Salvation Army U.S.A. Eastern Territory. on their own.
(left) Warren L. Maye is the editor-in-chief of The Salvation Army’s SACONNECTS magazine and director of publications for the U.S.A. Eastern Territory.
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Photo: Courtesy of The Chosen
Faith&Friends
Faith&Friends
COMMON GROUND
Love in Any Language The Booth Centre offers temporary housing, three meals a day, private rooms and the support of intervention workers
“A Place of Refuge” The Salvation Army helps Canadians in need succeed. But the help goes both ways, as Richard and Fleurette can attest.
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by Ursula Leonowicz
oday, The Salvation Army provides 5,500 beds each night for men, women, youth and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Last year, 2.8 million free meals were served at the Army’s shelters and food service programs, including the Booth Centre in Montreal. The Booth Centre offers temporary housing, three meals a day, private rooms and the support of intervention workers for men 18 and over who are experiencing housing difficulties and problems such as alcoholism, substanceuse disorders or mental illness. It
serves as a valuable example of The Salvation Army’s work, supporting vulnerable communities across Canada, and their army of givers who make it possible. But while the Army provides hope for those in need, this is not limited to those entering its doors. Here are just two examples of how individuals with different life experiences have been helped: The Client Richard has been staying at The Salvation Army’s Booth Centre in Montreal for the past three months. With three more to go before mov-
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COMMON GROUND
ing on to transitional housing, the 47-year-old Indigenous man from Red Bank, N.B., can already speak to its impact on his life. “I found a place of refuge,” he says. “I feel really welcomed here. “What you put into it is what you get out of it,” Richard goes on to say about his days at the Booth Centre, which include chores, workshops and spiritual care. “Everyone has a different story and you can’t judge anyone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” Now surrounded by a supportive network at The Salvation Army, he’s saving money for an apartment, a better future, and to help his friends. The Volunteer Fleurette, who volunteers in the kitchen at the Booth Centre, knows it doesn’t take an abundance of time or money to help a person in need, simply the desire to spread hope and provide mutual aid, which is what The Salvation Army is founded on.
Coffee and Compassion Fleurette volunteers in the kitchen at The Salvation Army’s Booth Centre in Montreal
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Fleurette helps prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for those on their path to recovery. She encountered The Salvation Army in the early ’90s, when she moved to Montreal from Haiti. “I started volunteering with seniors while I was looking for a full-time job,” she says. “It was a good way for me to get to know the city and help other people.” She has continued to volunteer for various roles within the organization because she believes in being of service to others. Speaking with those at the Booth Centre, she can tell her work is making a difference. “They always stop me on my way in and out to chat and thank me for my help,” she says. “It warms my heart.” Through their compassionate care, volunteers like Fleurette help those who may need a little extra support, like Richard. The power of a helping hand, a healthy meal or even a warm smile on a challenging day cannot be underestimated. Such acts can make a real difference in someone’s life, and the foundation of The Salvation Army’s army of givers, which includes donors, sponsors and volunteers, help Canadians in need succeed. This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of The Salvation Army. Reprinted from National Post, November 19, 2021.
FEATURE
Illustration: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Faith&Friends
Red Alert It’s hard enough being a teen in Toronto, but Meilin “Mei” Lee has a special problem most don’t
It Runs in the Family IN TURNING RED, OUR HERO MUST LEARN TO CONFRONT HER NEWLY DISCOVERED SUPERPOWER. by Diane Stark
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treaming on Disney+, Turning Red is a computer-animated fantasy/comedy that tells the unusual coming-of-age story of Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian living in Toronto. Mei is a typical
teen who loves fashion, her friends and boy bands. When Mei wakes up one morning as a giant red panda, she is mortified, but her parents aren’t even surprised. “Our ancestors had a mystical connection with red pandas, so this faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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FEATURE
Illustration: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Her Secret Identity Will Mei embrace her alter ego or will she keep her emotions—and inner panda—in check?
Mei has always tried to be a perfect, obedient daughter, but thanks to the panda, her life has become a chaotic mess. Can Mei learn to control her emotions and keep the panda in check? Or will she decide to embrace this new version of herself? little quirk runs in our family,” her mother (Sandra Oh) matter-of-factly explains. As it turns out, this “quirk” causes Mei to poof into a giant red panda whenever she experiences any strong emotion. She changes back into herself only after she calms down, and the sole remnant of the panda is that her hair has permanently changed from black to bright red. Mei tries desperately to control her emotions to hide her secret and keep the panda at bay. But when the class bully teases her during dodge ball, Mei gets angry and poof, a cloud of pink smoke appears and Mei transforms into the panda. The same thing happens when Mei’s mother embarrasses her by showing up unexpectedly at school. 14 • APRIL 2022
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Flipping the Script Like Mei, we all have “quirks” in our family trees. We probably don’t poof into pandas, but nearly all of us have something we wish didn’t run in our family. It could be a physical or mental illness, addiction, or dysfunctional relationships. Since no family is perfect, we all have something we wish we could change in our family trees. We can’t change the past, but we can break negative patterns, even if they have run in our families for generations. We can make healthier choices and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Ending these destructive cycles depends at least partly on learning to manage our emotions. There’s nothing inherently wrong with having strong emotions. Feeling angry isn’t a sin. Even Jesus got
We can’t change the past, but we can break negative patterns, even if they have run in our families for generations. DIANE STARK
angry. Remember when He overturned the money changers’ tables in the temple (see Matthew 21:1213)? Anger doesn’t have to be a destructive emotion; it’s how we handle it that determines its impact on our lives and our relationships. If we’ve always witnessed anger handled in detrimental ways, like holding a grudge, shouting, or even physical or emotional abuse, it can be hard to find better ways to deal with it. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Challenges in our relationships can be like riding an emotional rollercoaster, but God will help us let go of anger and even offer forgiveness to those who’ve hurt us. Because none of us is perfect, having healthy relationships is impossible unless we learn to forgive.
God can even use our anger for good. How many non-profit organizations have been founded because somebody saw an injustice that made them angry, and they decided to do something to change it? When we get angry about a situation that breaks God’s heart, our anger is justified. If it spurs us to take action to change things, our anger was worthwhile. God gave us our emotions when He created us. Our thoughts and feelings make us who we are. Learning to manage them in healthy ways benefits everyone we encounter throughout the day. When we show love and forgiveness to someone who we think doesn’t deserve it, it points that person to God and reminds us of the love and forgiveness He’s offered us.
(left) Diane Stark is a wife, mother of five and freelance writer from rural Indiana. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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Photo: Washie Nadjiwan
Faith&Friends
COVER STORY
Full-Court Press Cheryl Jones (right) and her coworker, Marie Keeshig, work hard to provide care and support for the Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation
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Filling a Need
CHERYL JONES’ POT OF SOUP LEADS TO MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEYAASHIINIGMIING RESIDENTS IN ONTARIO. by Melissa Yue Wallace
EACH WEEK, CHERYL JONES and a small team of staff and volunteers diligently prepare customized food packages for community members who come to the Nawash Food Bank on Tuesday afternoons. In partnership with The Salvation Army Wiarton Community Church in Ontario, the food bank serves the Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation, a community located approximately 20-25 kilometres northeast of Wiarton with limited job opportunities and amenities such as a grocery store. “Each package typically provides for a family for one month, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, that didn’t always last and they would
need packages twice a month,” says Cheryl, who has worked as the Army’s senior program services worker (First Nations) for five years. Each package might include: canned goods, pasta, bread, bottled water, meat, vegetables, milk, eggs, toilet paper, tissue, cleaning supplies and even pet food. “We hope the packages bring life and energy to their lives and will be an encouragement and a blessing.” Hope From Hopelessness Cheryl, who lives on the Neyaashiinigmiing reserve, understands the needs of the community and the challenges of seclusion. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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Welcome Assistance Cheryl hands a gift card and voucher to Margaret Jones, a client who was grateful for the help
“There are a lot of tourists in the summer, so the camping park contributes funds but, aside from that, people fish for their livelihoods and hunt game that we survive on,” explains Cheryl. “The winter is the most difficult time for the community with bad weather, seasonal work and supply shortages. “The Salvation Army has been helping our community from the very beginning and we’re thankful for their support.” Before the Nawash Food Bank existed, Neyaashiinigmiing residents were travelling some distance to the Wiarton Food Bank to get food. “They would get somebody to drive them for $20—a lot of money in 1994—to get $20 worth of food,” says Major Mary Millar, who joined The Salvation Army in November 1994. “Seventy percent of people in the community live in 18 • APRIL 2022
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poverty, and the cost to get to a doctor’s appointment or other things was prohibitive.” After finding a space within the community and approaching the band, Major Mary helped launch the Nawash Food Bank in April 1995. “It’s been a joy for me to see lives changed,” she says. “There is spring to the step and hope where there was hopelessness. I see this every day.” Soup’s On Years before Cheryl became part of the staff at The Salvation Army, she was working part-time in a clerical position at her church and would occasionally visit the food bank with her elderly mother. “They would sometimes offer special services to seniors so I would take her there or pick something up for her.” On her visits to the food bank,
she noticed that many from the community would show up around lunch and that whenever staff opened a package of cookies or snacks, the snacks would disappear quickly because people were so hungry. “I offered to do a soup kitchen, you know, like a pot of soup each time they did the food bank, and the Army welcomed that idea,” she says. “I saw there was a need, and that this was a way I could give back to
my community.” Cheryl ended up joining The Salvation Army on staff and played a role in helping services expand to community meals, clothing and household items. “She’s a joy to work with,” says Marie Keeshig, who has worked with Cheryl at the Nawash Food Bank since March 2019. “She has dedicated years of commitment, has the heart and goes the extra mile to provide the best for the community.”
Photos: Washie Nadjiwan
Giving Hope Cheryl stands in front of Christmas packages at the Wiarton Salvation Army
“Prayer is such a huge part of my life.” CHERYL JONES
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United in Helping
Photo: Washie Nadjiwan
Cheryl and Major Mary Millar in front of the Chippewas of Nawash Community Centre where the Nawash Food Bank is located. Major Mary helped launch the Nawash Food Bank in April 1995
Cheryl’s dream, however, is to help the Army secure its own building for a food bank. Prior to the pandemic, the food bank was located in a small room. Given the demands during COVID-19, the food bank is now located in the community centre, the largest building in the area, which has meant other activities cannot share the same space. “During the pandemic, it’s been very difficult to do anything else other than provide food,” says Cheryl, who says they provided for 332 families in one month alone. “Once we start to downscale, we hope to work with the community on other programs such as the Pathway of Hope.” That program 20 • APRIL 2022
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provides individualized support for participants to achieve short- and long-term goals, thereby addressing the root causes of poverty. A New Purpose Co-ordinating volunteers, filing paperwork, preparing food items, continually seeking and applying for funding, and answering daily calls from the community can be tiring work, but Cheryl’s faith in God gives her strength. Growing up in her parents’ church, Cheryl followed the rituals of going to services, but didn’t accept their faith as her own. When she was 12 years old, her father died.
“It’s been a joy for me to see lives changed. There is a spring to the step and hope where there was hopelessness. I see this every day.” CHERYL JONES
“I was sexually abused as a child and had rough teenage years,” she recalls. “There wasn’t a lot of protection and that’s when I started to get in trouble.” At 21, she got pregnant and had a son. “I didn’t want to raise my son on my own in a life like I had, and I began to go back to church,” she continues. Cheryl attended several churches and finally found a home at a Pentecostal church. “I went to church my whole life, but it wasn’t until I started going to that church that I accepted the Lord as my Saviour. Then my life changed around.”
Cheryl finds purpose in her work, providing for and serving people with dignity. “When I came to The Salvation Army, I thought it was so perfect because we could pray at work, and prayer is such a huge part of my life.” Her 37-year-old son, Carmen, is also a believer and leads a community group called Nawash House of Prayer. “When I look back and think of all we’ve been through, I’m so thankful,” says Cheryl. “I just pray I can continue to do God’s work however long I’m here because I do it all for Him.”
(left) Melissa Yue Wallace is a journalism graduate and freelance writer who is passionate about helping people in need and encouraging the organizations that work tirelessly to care for them. Melissa lives in Richmond Hill, Ont., with her husband and twin children. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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FEATURE
Happy Family Nathan and Diane Stark. “If God doesn’t hold our past against us, we need to let go of it, too,” Diane told her son
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Living Like We’re Forgiven
MY SON’S ACTIONS REMINDED ME HOW GOD’S ACTIONS AT EASTER SET US BOTH FREE. by Diane Stark
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“
just went into your room to put away some laundry,” I said to my 12-year-old son, Nathan. His facial expression changed immediately. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was going to clean my room this morning, but I forgot.” “I understand that, but the problem is that I asked you to clean it yesterday. Last night, when I saw you playing your video game, I asked you about it and you said you were finished. You weren’t honest with me.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry. I started working on it, but I got bored and took a break to play my game. When you asked me if it was
done, I didn’t want to stop playing, so I just said yes. I thought I could finish it this morning before you found out.” “You lied to me, and that’s not acceptable,” I went on. “You need to finish your room right now. And as a punishment, you won’t be playing video games for the rest of the week.” Nathan nodded, his eyes filling with tears. “I’m really sorry, Mom. Will you forgive me?” I put my arm around him. He was such a good kid and rarely had behaviour problems. He was also very sensitive, and I needed to be careful with his feelings while correcting that behaviour. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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“Living l ike we’re forgiven means that we’re free from guilt.” DIANE STARK “Yes, of course, I forgive you,” I said. “I love you, and I always will. But lying to me for any reason is not OK.” “I know. I won’t do it again.” He gave me a hug, wiped his eyes, and then went to finish the job he should’ve done yesterday. Grateful for Forgiveness Later that day, I went into the kitchen and found Nathan sweeping the floor, a rare occurrence without being asked. “I unloaded the dishwasher, too,” he said earnestly. I thanked him for his help, grabbed a glass of water and then headed back to my computer to work. An hour later, Nathan brought me a sandwich and some potato chips. “I thought you might be hungry,” he said. I smiled and thanked him. “I’m going to take the dogs for a walk, and then dust the living room. What can I do for you after that?” I studied his face for a moment. “I’m glad you’re being so helpful, but I’m not mad at you for what happened earlier. I feel like you’re trying to make up with me, but you don’t need to. I meant it when I said I 24 • APRIL 2022
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forgave you.” “I know,” he said. “But at church, my youth leader said that we need to live like we’re forgiven. That means being thankful for it and showing love to others like Jesus would.” “So you aren’t doing these things because you feel guilty?” He shook his head. “They said at church that it’s not about guilt. It’s about gratitude.” Important Verse I mulled over his words, remembering the many times in my life that I’d held on to a past sin, reliving it in my mind and beating myself up over it. My guilty feelings had no power to change what I’d done, but I often gave them the power to weigh me down, as if they were a burden I’d always carry with me. I felt like they were a permanent stain on who I am today. It was a trap I didn’t want my son to fall into. “Tell me what else you learned about God’s forgiveness,” I said. “Jesus lived a perfect life, and He didn’t deserve to die,” Nathan replied. “But He loved us so much that He died to save us from our sins. When He died on the cross, Jesus paid the price for every bad thing we would ever do. When we
Award-Winner Nathan was one of three tenors chosen to be in his church’s choir. “He has a great voice— no idea where he got that from!” smiles his mother, Diane
accept Jesus’ sacrifice, it’s like God erases our sin—all of them, even the really bad ones, like lying to your mom.” He smiled and continued, “If our sin is gone, there’s no reason to feel guilty about it.” I nodded. “If God doesn’t hold our past against us, we need to let go of it, too.” Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, no sin can leave a permanent stain, I reminded myself. The Bible says that if you belong to Christ, you are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). “I know that verse,” Nathan said. “It says our old life is gone and a brand-new one is starting. God doesn’t want us to feel guilty for our old life. We should just be thankful for the new life we get because of God’s forgiveness.”
A New Life I smiled, amazed at his wisdom. “You’re right. Living like we’re forgiven means that we’re free from guilt. We should always be grateful for that, and our gratitude should show in the way we treat others.” He nodded. “My youth leader also said that after we’re forgiven, we need to try to do better. God knows that we’ll never be perfect, but we shouldn’t keep sinning on purpose just because we know He’ll forgive us.” He smiled. “I won’t lie anymore, even though I know you’d forgive me if I did.” I hugged him, grateful for God’s love and the forgiveness that set both of us free, erasing the stain of sin and granting us a new life in Christ. faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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SOMEONE CARES
Doing the Math Linda Pearce with just some of the more than 6,015 baskets she has made over the past seven years. Each basket takes her an hour to assemble
Gifted With Love Grandmother’s baskets and treat bags have brought joy for 20 years. by Melissa Yue Wallace
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eatly organized in Linda Pearce’s basement in Washago, Ont., are more than 300 plastic totes filled with toys, gifts and supplies, and cabinets stuffed with chocolate and candy. Weeks before special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas, she “shops” in her basement for goodies and creates gift baskets, stockings or gift bags for children in need, often customizing them based on age. “Linda’s Gifting Project” was born out of a desire to help women and children living in shelters or transitional housing, and has since
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expanded to any children in need. “Children are often left out in society, and are innocent victims of poverty and abuse,” says Linda. “I wanted to do something to brighten and cheer these children up.” Small Gifts, Big Joy Years ago, she noticed how people were putting large Christmas gifts and boxed items in donation bins. “I have a lot of grandchildren, and big presents are great, but the little things are what they will play with over and over again,” says Linda, a mother of four and grandmother of 12. “Kids like to get little things in
“I firmly believe we should all be doing something to help our communities.” LINDA PEARCE
stockings—it makes them happy.” Last Easter, she gave 233 gift baskets filled with toys and treats to the Salvation Army church in Orillia, Ont., and 250 to a local food bank. Each basket took her about an hour to assemble. “This past year, especially with COVID-19, many clients were excited and appreciative to give a surprise to their kids,” says Marilyn vanDeursen, the church’s family services worker. “There were several who said that money was tight right now, and they weren’t sure they could give anything for Easter this year.” While dropping off the items at the church, Linda bumped into a woman who was leaving with several bags of bread. After talking with her briefly, Linda found out she had eight children. “I asked if her kids would like Easter baskets and she freaked right out,” she laughs. “It really warmed my heart.” A Rock of Support Linda was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome in 1983, a chronic autoimmune disease that has left her unable to carry out physical work
without experiencing fatigue or pain. She finds purpose and joy in caring for other people through gifts, and is amply supported by her husband of 46 years, Rick. “He’s my rock,” she says. Not only does Rick help Linda seek out and purchase gift items but he also constructed the shelves in the basement and helps with physical tasks. The project is 90-percent funded by their savings and pension income. Prior to COVID-19, Linda was packaging and delivering more than 1,000 gift baskets or bags each year to people in need. That number has been reduced since the pandemic has resulted in restrictions on what organizations can safely accept. “I firmly believe we should all be doing something to help our communities,” says Linda. “I could never stand and ring the bells for The Salvation Army because it’d be too physically difficult, but there are so many needs. “If you give something of yourself, it brings so many blessings. I have tremendous faith in God, and I believe He’s guiding and helping me. He supplies what I need.”
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LITE STUFF
Eating Healthy With Erin HERBED BEEF SIRLOIN ROAST TIME 1 hr 45 min MAKES 5 servings
SERVE WITH salad and garlic bread
1.5 kg (3 lb) beef sirloin roast 15 ml (1 tbsp) coarse salt 15 ml (1 tbsp) paprika 5 ml (1 tsp) oregano 5 ml (1 tsp) garlic powder 5 ml (1 tsp) onion powder 5 ml (1 tsp) black pepper 5 ml (1 tsp) rosemary 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil 5 ml (1 tsp) Worcestershire sauce or apple cider vinegar 15 ml (1 tbsp) coconut oil or avocado oil 1 small onion, diced
1. Preheat oven to 205 C (400 F). 2. Mix salt, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and rosemary in bowl to create spice rub. 3. Rub olive oil and Worcestershire sauce evenly over roast. 4. Distribute spice rub all over roast until it’s worked in. 5. Preheat oven-safe pan to mediumhigh. Add coconut oil to pan and sear meat on both sides. 6. Add onion to pan. 7. Place uncovered pan in oven and cook for 90 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 71 C (160 F). 8. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
CRISPY MINI POTATOES TIME 15 min
MAKES 6 servings
SERVE WITH beef or chicken
Recipe photos: Erin Stanley
750 g (1½ lbs) yellow mini 1. Bring salted water to boil in pot and add potatoes. Cook until tender, creamer potatoes with about 8-10 minutes. skin on 5 ml (1 tsp) salt 2. Blend basil, parsley, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice until smooth. 125 ml (½ cup) fresh basil 125 ml (½ cup) fresh parsley 3. Heat pan over medium-high heat and add potatoes and herb-and-oil 2 garlic cloves, minced mixture. Cook until potato outsides 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil are crispy. 5 ml (1 tsp) lemon juice salt and pepper to taste
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© www.kevinfrank.net
HEAVEN’S LOVE THRIFT SHOP by Kevin Frank
Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Thames River; 2. Agatha Christie; 3. sodium.
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QUICK QUIZ 1. What river flows through the heart of London, Ont.? 2. Which mystery writer wrote novels featuring the detective Hercule Poirot? 3. What chemical element’s symbol is Na?
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NIFTY THRIFTY
Hoppy Easter! A bunny-ear project in three easy steps.
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his Easter DIY is a nice project to work on with the kids. Supplies Needed: scissors, hot-glue gun, felt, canvas or denim material (two different patterns), headband and pen.
Step 1 Visit your local Salvation Army thrift store to source felt, canvas or denim material and a base (headband). Material that will stand up on its own will work best.
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Step 2 Cut out your ear shapes. I used a long piece of material to cover the headband plus two large ears and two small ears.
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Step 3 Glue (or sew, if you have the skills) the long piece together lengthwise; slide over the headband. Glue the two ear pieces together then onto the headband. I also glued a small piece of material to each end of the headband to finish them.
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This is a fun and easy kid-friendly DIY! Make sure to take them thrifting so they can pick their own material. If you can’t find material you like, look for an affordable shirt with a great pattern or a tablecloth—anything will work to cut out shapes.
(left) Tijana McAllister is the frugalista behind A Plentiful Life, a lifestyle blog that shows readers how to live their best lives on a budget. She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores. Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.
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