Sal-2011-04

Asking the Tough Questions

Are Signs and Wonders Real?

Words From the Cross

Salvationist The Voice of the Army

Salute to General Linda Bond

Salvationist.ca I April 2011

• Meet our new international leader • The General’s Easter message • Why we need dreamers

LETTERS

Soldiers or Citizens?

poINT CoUNTERPoiNT

Marching as to War

Is the concept of soldiership outdated? Should we consider other forms of membership?

I appreciated Major Danielle Strickland’s contribution to the soldiership discussion (Marching as to War, March 2011).

Her argument is that every Christian is a soldier. It’s a solid argument. Scripture and experience confirm that evil is serious business, and everyone who follows Jesus should confront it seriously.

I would just add two points.

Firstly, every Christian is also a student (the meaning of “disciple”) for whom the Spirit has a custom-designed syllabus.

Similarly, every Christian is a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Every Christian is a member of the Body. Every Christian is a brother or sister of Jesus. Furthermore, since Jesus has already won the decisive battle over Satan, sin and death, every Christian should be a person at peace even more than a person at war.

Secondly, because of Scripture’s multi-faceted presentation of Christian identity, I think the question of whether everyone who belongs to the part of the Church that is The Salvation Army should wear the moniker of “soldier” is yet unsettled.

Jim Read YES. Not everyone is ready to sign up for this radical commitment.

By calling everyone to the same standard, we don’t make room for people who want to belong before they believe.

BY Major roN CarTMELL

FOR ME, GROWING up in The Salvation Army meant learning to play an instrument. My earliest childhood memories include sitting in the trombone section beside my father. This is not a testimony to my musical inclinations, but rather a practical child care solution for my mother who had three young children.

By the time I was seven, I was ready for the junior band. That seemed only natural to me. My father played in the band, my grandfather played in the band, my uncles played in the band, so I should play in the band. But first I had to sign my name to the junior soldier pledge. I’m sure there were preparation classes, I just don’t remember them.

In my teens, I was allowed to play in the senior band on Sundays. That was great! It sure made going to church easier, and I could still be with my friends. The only catch was that I had to become a senior soldier and put on the uniform. I didn’t see it as a problem. I wanted to play in the band, and to do that I needed to become a soldier.

Looking back, it’s obvious to me that life in the Army followed a certain pattern: when I affirmed that I believed the right things, and I stated that I would behave the right way, then I was given the privilege to officially belong.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to belong.

God himself longs for community. In fact, the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—demonstrates that community is part of God’s very nature. And because we are made in his image (see Genesis 1:26), God has stamped the desire for community deep within our being.

In our modern culture, however, the desire to belong is emerging much earlier than the decision to believe or behave. Allow me to illustrate with an example.

One day I received a phone call from a businessman who said, “Hello, my name is Bill. I belong to your church.” I told him I hadn’t met him yet, to which he responded, “That’s because I haven’t started coming yet!” Not long after, Bill and his family started to attend our church, inspired by one of his family members who attended The Salvation Army in a different community. Bill was unsure of what he believed and his conduct lacked Christlikeness. But he was responding to a God-given desire

to belong. And God was working in his life, even if he didn’t know it yet.

What does it mean to belong? None of us would restrict Bill from attending worship until he sorts out his beliefs and behaviour. But what if he wants to get involved in ministry? What if he wants to “test drive” this journey with Jesus? How far down the road do we let that go? Would we allow him to play in the band, participate in community care ministry or serve on the corps mission board? What about our rules on soldiership?

For many years The Salvation Army has followed the “believe, behave and belong” system. Today, however, many people are asking, “Will you let me belong while I sort out what I believe and how to behave?”

Most of us grew up with a Christian worldview. It was understood that Christians behaved in a certain way. you would hear people say, “I made the decision to become a Christian so I stopped smoking” or “I had to get married because Christian couples don’t live together before marriage.”

Today the Christian worldview is in competition with many other belief systems. This has made people much more skeptical.

When people approach Christianity they don’t want rational arguments. Instead, they want experiential evidence. “Show me the reality of Christ in your life,” they say.

Soldiership is the Army’s metaphor for belonging. But it’s

10 I March 2011 I Salvationist

of our Movement. But in 2011, we had nine candidates all from those very same regions. One other person was nominated (he declined) and he was an American, making the total 10! Where were the candidates from Asia, India or Africa? Curious.

Juan Burry

Life of a Cadet

College Out of the Box

meet for chapel services. While the chapel has all the amenities expected in a modern worship setting, there is a sense of simplicity and intimacy as we gather together.

On this day, Cadet Esther Lalrengpuii is sharing an inspiring personal testimony.

Along with Cadet Charles Chalrimawia, Cadet Lalrengpuii has come to train in Winnipeg from the India Eastern Territory.

Over the course of their training, every cadet will have the opportunity to share their faith story in chapel.

“The chapel services are a vital part of our community life,” says Cadet Peter Kim. “The services include intercessory prayer, advocacy, ‘my story’ testimonials and seasonal topics such as Advent and Lent. They draw us closer to God, to each other and to our mission in Christ.”

toring and everyday interaction. If I have something I need to talk about, I can confide in a staff member. Not only that, but they will pray with me and for me, and do their best to make sure I get the support and guidance that I need.”

Hands-On Training While the academic expectations are high, the field training is also rigorous. The goal is for cadets to get a broad exposure to a variety of ministries in The Salvation Army. This is done through placements at corps ministry units and parachurch organizations. As well, cadets are sent on extended summer and winter training assignments.

Cadet Kyla McKenzie’s field placements in Winnipeg were at Weston Community Church, Winnipeg East Community Church and Community Ventures South, a day program for people with developmental disabilities. She also travelled to New Westminster, B.C., in the winter, and Robert’s Arm, N.L., in the summer.

Through these placements, she’s experienced leading services, preaching, Bible studies and administration.

“I’ve been challenged by the importance of relationship,” says Cadet McKenzie.

“Without it, church doesn’t really happen.

This has pushed me to deepen my relationship with God and then to strengthen my relationship with others.”

As cadets enter training with different ministry backgrounds and abilities, the college works toward building on this base as well as expanding their comfort zones.

“We look at cadets’ prior experiences and also interview them to hear what their goals or interests are,” says Major Keith Pike, director of field education. “We try to give them experiences that will either broaden their exposure to the Army or to

The article on officer training I (College Out of the Box, January) reinforced my calling to become a Salvation Army officer. I became a soldier last November. It is great to hear that others have followed their calling to pursue full-time service in the Army.

Very inspiring.

Brett Reite The Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training was everything I didn’t expect

By JOhn McAlISTer,

’ve come to The Salvation Army’s College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Winnipeg to shadow the cadets in their training.

My plan is to get a feel for what life is like at CFOT so that I can share it with other Salvationists. Within minutes of arriving, I realize this isn’t the college atmosphere I had anticipated.

Perhaps I’m expecting something older or run-down, but the college immediately presents itself as being in touch with the outside world. The large gallery windows in the main foyer serve as a bright and visible link between the training of Salvation Army officers and the external community. But there are also important connections to the past, such as the stained-glass windows taken from the former college in St. John’s, N.L., which now feature in the main lobby. From classrooms to the cafeteria, the CFOT facility is both stylish and practical.

Academic Excellence “One of the biggest changes in today’s training model is the academic standard,” says Major Eric Bond, principal. “Not that the Army didn’t emphasize academic learning in the past, but classes taught today at CFOT are accredited university courses. By the time cadets finish their 22 months of training, they are three quarters of the way toward completing a bachelor’s degree.”

In addition to the accredited academic courses, cadets receive practical training in their field placements and summer and winter assignments. As well, spiritual formation is emphasized as an integral component to their training.

“Many of the cadets come with much life experience and have already completed academic degrees,” says Major Bond. “This means that the training program can look

different depending on the cadets’ needs.

As more people enter training with the academic standards already in place, we are looking at developing more intensive field-based training for them. We want to prepare, develop and inspire them in character and competency.”

When Cadet Darren Woods entered training last year, he already had significant academic qualifications, so the Army felt his time would be best spent in the field.

During his first year, he trained in London, Ont., and now he is in Charlottetown, N.L. He travels to the college for classes on occasion, and has even participated via a live video feed on the Internet.

“We want to see cadets experience growth in the field, academics and spiritual formation,” says Major Margaret McLeod, director of academic studies.

Where the Heart and Mind Meet As I attend class with some of the cadets, I sit near the back of the room to observe.

Some of them are typing away on laptops, while others write on notepads. All have their Bibles open and refer to them continually. The instructor seems relaxed but confident, and involves every cadet in the discussion about grace. All the cadets appear eager to reflect on how grace is seen at work in Scripture.

“I feel blessed to be able to study,” says Cadet Grace Kim. “Since coming to CFOT, I have learned much about the history of the Church and The Salvation Army. I’ve also grown in my capacity to read, study and understand passages in the Bible.

Some may argue that too much focus is placed on academics in our training, but I feel this is an essential and beneficial component as I prepare for officership.”

Three times a week, the staff and cadets

Community Life The college residence is a 20-minute drive from CFOT. The cadets don’t live in a dormitory-style setting, but rather in individual condominium suites. While living close to their peers can prove challenging at times, there is a strong sense of love and appreciation among the community. Within months, many of the cadets have already developed deep friendships that will continue throughout their officership.

“I particularly enjoy studying with the other cadets here at CFOT,” says Cadet Brian Bobolo, “each of whom brings a wealth of life experiences and a love for ministry that is infectious.”

College life is most challenging for cadets with young families. “For my husband and me, life is a balancing act,” says Cadet Kristen Dockeray. “We need to balance school, field placements, playing with our son, studying, having family meals, writing papers and all of the other things that go along with raising a three year old at CFOT. While this can feel overwhelming, we have been able to negotiate caring for our son and being students.”

“The community life at CFOT is important,” says Major McLeod. “It develops networks and deep-seated relationships.

There is also a good relationship between the staff and cadets. There is a definite respect for the role of the officer/teacher, but at the same time, there is an ease in the classes that allows cadets to comfortably express themselves. Right now, they are cadets and we are officers, but in a matter of months, we will all be peers.”

“The staff at CFOT are extremely supportive of the cadets,” says Cadet Bethany Howard. “They are open and encouraging through teaching, spiritual guidance, men-

reinforce pre-existing interests.”

“My summer appointment in Gander, N.L., gave me a hands-on approach to what officership is really like,” says Cadet Joyce Wilson. “The corps officers ensured that I had exposure to a wide variety of ministry experiences. I was involved in vacation Bible school, leading Sunday meetings and preaching, hospital and home visitation, assisting with baby dedications and wedding ceremonies, the administrative activities of the corps, and attended a Salvation Army music camp for the first time.”

Staff advisors help encourage and evaluate the cadets. As well, placement supervisors and cadet peers offer their feedback.

As I speak with cadets about their field training, they break into smiles as they offer excited and passionate explanations of their experiences. While they appreciate the importance of their academic classes, they relish every opportunity to engage in practical and relational ministry.

The field program is divided into five semesters, each with a different focus.

In the first semester, cadets explore the Winnipeg context and discuss how they see the city. The second looks at the Church’s response to what they’ve seen, which includes placements with a parachurch ministry. The third is their summer assignment. The fourth is a placement at a corps in the city to see how the Army responds. The final semester is a continuation of the fourth, with cadets seeing how

corps are structured and administered.

High Expectations While there is a definite need for officers in the territory, the training process is not easy. With challenging course assignments and demanding field work, the 22-month schedule will test the resolve of cadets. On occasion, cadets may realize that officership is not for them. On rare occasions, CFOT staff may determine this as well. No matter what, college life offers ample opportunities for cadets to confirm their calling to serve as Salvation Army officers.

“There are high standards here,” says Major McLeod. “As we evaluate cadets, we look at their academic performance as well as their experience with practical ministries in their field placements. Through the spiritual formation program, we can look at character. These three components help us evaluate whether the cadets will do well as officers.”

Although expectations are high, it’s clear that the CFOT staff want every cadet to achieve the academic, practical and spiritual experience necessary for exemplary leadership.

“We are all in this together,” says Major Bond. “We want to help our cadets become successful officers.”

For more information about officer training, visit Salvationist.ca/candidates and CFOT.ca.

Encounter the Lands of the Bible Greece, Turkey & Israel (including a 5-day cruise to the Greek Islands) With Majors Woody and Sharon Hale

October 15–30, 2011

Diversity in Leadership Even though the Army is in 123 countries, the geographical origins of the nine candidates for General were no different than what we have historically seen (see Salvationist.ca/HighCouncil2011).

All of our past Generals were either from northern Europe (particularly the United Kingdom), North America or Australia. That can be understood somewhat when one studies the early history

Visit www.creativeventures.ca, e-mail wshale@sympatico.ca, write 138 Huntington Cres, Courtice ON L1E 3C5 or phone 905-440-4378 “What an awesome trip! I will always remember this wonderful experience.

I will truly never be the same again, since I walked where Jesus walked.”

—A. Lewis-Stephenson, Wingham, Ont., Tour 2010

Commissioning Weekend

June 24-26, 2011 Metro Toronto Convention Centre Toronto, Ontario Conducted by Commissioners

William W. Fr ancis Territorial Commander

Marilyn D. Fr ancis

Territorial President of Women’s Ministries

June 26, 2011 3:00pm Retirement Service for

Commissioners William W. and Marilyn D. Fr ancis Conducted by Commissioners

Norman and Marian Howe Commissioning SA Half.indd 1

2 I April 2011 I Salvationist

2/1/2011 3:22:03 PM

19mm

than is required.

Inside This Issue Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX

April 2011 No. 60 www.salvationist.ca E-mail: salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org

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1

Departments 2 Letters 4 Editorial

23 Army Roots

A Passion for Souls4

3

by Lt-Colonel Maxwell Ryan

Do Miracles Never Cease?

by Major Jim Champ

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24 Prayer Guide 24 Media Reviews 25 Ministry in Action Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX

Features 8 The Gentle Invitation to Believe Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX

In times of doubt and distress, Jesus arrives quietly to renew our faith by General Linda Bond

9 To Serve the Present Age

Interview with General Linda Bond

5 Around the Territory Offering Faith 12 Global Vision, Decisive Action FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL 14 Gospel Arts PRODUCT LABELINGbyGUIDE Ken Ramstead General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton receive Army Centre Stage salute as they enter into retirement

by Julia Hosking 26 Celebrate Community

by Lt-Colonel Laurie Robertson Enrolments and recognition, 18 Point Counterpoint tributes, calendar, gazette 13 The Boy With the Bare Feet Everywhere a Sign A visit with my sponsor child changed me. But what more could

by Major (Dr.) Beverley 30 Clarion Call I do? by Captain Heather Matondo Smith and Captain Grant Dreamers Sandercock-Brown

by Major Fred Ash 16 Shopping With the Sally Ann Angela’s Dollars give 21 Social Issues 31 Rethinking Church clients choices at 20 Asking the Tough Questions

Church is a Verb

Mississauga shelter

by Major Cathie Harris

by Captain Deana Zelinsky

by Julia Hosking

22 Personal Reflections

17 Dependence or

by Commissioner William W. Francis

At the 2011 Urban Forum, Salvationists explore the impact our services have on communities

Dignity?

Not My Will, But Yours

12

by James Watson

20 I Thirst

Jesus’ final words from the cross remind us of his profound suffering

by Lt-Colonel David Hammond

Inside Faith & Friends

Faith &

frıends

April 2011

www.faithandfriends.ca

When you finish reading Faith & Friends in Star the centre On Ice of this issue, pull it out Was the An Easter Message Resurrection and give it from Max Lucado Faked? to someone who needs to hear about Christ’s life-changing power

Salvationist.ca

Inspiration for Living

Star On and Off Ice

Figure skater Scott Hamilton’s faith is as sharp as his blades

The Trial

All of us, like Pontius Pilate, have two choices this Easter

Was the Resurrection Faked?

Bob Hostetler was certain it was, and set out to prove it. But he soon discovered otherwise

Figure skater Scott Hamilton’s faith is as sharp as his blades

Find out on page 7

Easter Reflections

As we approach Holy Week, visit Salvationist.ca to read additional articles on the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Faith in Miniature

Share Your Faith

Share your faith electronically by forwarding articles from Salvationist and Faith & Friends by e-mail, Facebook or Twitter. Just click one of the appropriate icons found at the

bottom of every article posted on Salvationist.ca

Media Resources

Does your church make audio or video recordings of special events, Bible studies or sermons? If so, we’d like to include them in our collection of media resources at Salvationist.ca Salvationist I April 2011 I 3

Editorial

F

Do Miracles Never Cease?

ew things evoke stronger emotional responses within the Christian community than a discussion about signs and wonders. History is filled with controversy around the topic of miracles.

The Apostle Paul addresses the issue in his letters to the Early Church (see 1 Corinthians 12). Does God still perform miracles today? Note the question is not, Can God perform miracles today? Most, if not all, Christian believers would agree that God can do whatever he pleases.

However, we don’t all share the same thinking when it comes to the degree of divine intervention. The miracles outlined in Scripture reflect the character of God and the relationship he desires to have with his creation. Many scholars contend that healings and prophecies concluded at the end of the apostolic age and that man has all that is needed to live by faith in harmony with the Creator. Others believe that God continues to perform miracles and point to the day of Pentecost and the unleashing of the Holy Spirit. They argue, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

Both positions can be supported by Scripture but each must deal with difficult questions that challenge our thinking.

Salvationist

These are not easy matters. Who among us has not experienced heartache through personal sickness or the suffering of a family member or friend? How is it that so many prayers seemingly go unheeded?

What role does faith play in healing today?

Can all those who claim divine healing be wrong?

We are grateful to Major (Dr.) Beverley Smith and Captain Grant SandercockBrown for responding positively to our request to write on this issue (see pages 18-19). As always, one of the editorial department’s primary goals is to assist Salvationists in thinking through their faith.

Salvationist joins with the worldwide Salvation Army in expressing appreciation to General Shaw Clifton (Rtd) and Commissioner Helen Clifton as they retire (see page 12), while at the same time saluting General Linda Bond as she begins her term of office as international leader.

In an interview conducted shortly after her election as the Army’s 19th General, General Bond stated, “When I was elected I was humbled, but I had a real sense that this was the Lord’s doing. To me it was a miracle—it was a work of grace.” You can read the full interview on pages 9-11.

The heart of God is best revealed in the Easter story. Lt-Colonel David Hammond’s article, “I Thirst,” reminds us of the price of our salvation paid by God himself (see page 20). And General Bond writes about a post-Resurrection encounter and suggests that the story of “doubting” Thomas could readily be our own (see page 8). Perhaps the greatest miracle is that we can experience the power of Christ’s Resurrection through transformed lives.

Major Jim Champ Editor-in-Chief

is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory Linda Bond General Commissioner William W. Francis Territorial Commander Major Jim Champ Editor-in-Chief Geoff Moulton Assistant Editor-in-Chief John McAlister Senior Editor (416-467-3185) Major Max Sturge Associate Editor (416-422-6116) Timothy Cheng Art Director Pamela Richardson Production and Distribution Co-ordinator, Copy Editor Julia Hosking, Ken Ramstead, Captain Debbie Sinclair Contributors Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769.

Member, The Canadian Church Press. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, Today’s New International Version (TNIV) © 2001, 2005 International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

All rights reserved worldwide. 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 Salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org Facebook.com/salvationistmagazine Twitter.com/salvationist 4 I April 2011 I Salvationist

AROUND THE TERRITORY

Generously Supporting the “If It’s to Be, It’s Up to Me” Army’s Mission

Officers attending the leadership development initiative explore leadership concepts to enhance their skills and the Army’s mission

Mjrs Gary and Krista Brown receive a cheque from Andy Zimmerman, vice-president of radio station CHML/Y108 Children’s Fund

The CHML/Y108 Children’s Fund generously supports The Salvation Army’s mission to provide assistance to children in Hamilton, Ont., and surrounding communities. During their Christmas Tree of Hope campaign, CHML/Y108 made a $40,000 donation to bring hope to children during Christmas and throughout the year. “One in three children in Hamilton lives in poverty,” says Andy Zimmerman, vice-president of the CHML/Y108 Children’s Fund. “I see it every day on the news and the streets, so we do what we can to brighten their Christmas season.” The money will also support summer camp programs and the Army’s Grace Haven Young Parent Resource Centre that offers pre-natal and post-natal care to young parents.

“We are so grateful for CHML/Y108’s continued assistance over the years,” says Major Gary Brown, Hamilton/Kitchener area director for public relations and development, Ontario Great Lakes Division. “Their financial support truly makes an impact.”

Rooted in Faith Using the theme Rooted in Faith, Sussex Community Church, N.B., celebrated 125 years of ministry, led by Majors George and Holly Patterson, Canadian officers serving in Ocala, Florida.

Major Larry Martin, divisional commander, Maritime Division, Major Stan Folkins, area commander, Maritime Division, and Major Judy Folkins, corps officer, officiated at the dedication of a renovated church building, which includes new community and family services offices. MLA Bruce Northrup, Sussex Mayor Ralph Carr, Sussex Corner Mayor Eric Cunningham, Reverend Allen Tapley, who represented the local ministerial, and many friends of the Army were also present. The festivities concluded with a tour of the facilities and a reception.

Saturday evening’s celebration featured music by the Maritime Fellowship Band and pianist Murray Driscoll, and vocal selections by Wanda Moore, Anne Williams, Jean O’Donnell, Keith Young and David Armstrong. Major Holly Patterson concluded with a devotional message. Over 150 people attended the Sunday morning service in which Major Stan Folkins enrolled 13 members. “It is a tremendous honour to be part of such a beautiful

In January, 30 Salvation Army officers spent a week in leadership training at Pine Lake Camp, Alta. “We want to have Army officers contribute their gifts, energies and commitment in creating a new Army by building on the best of what has worked in the past, while embracing the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century,” says Carol McKinnon, instructor.

To enhance their leadership and management skills, delegates explored ways to assess their current situation, imagine a more desirable or effective ministry, and move towards their vision of a better future. Crucial to this leadership style is the principle of fair process, ensuring that people are involved in the decisions affecting them and know what is expected of them. McKinnon also emphasized the importance of being a leader coach who fosters highly engaged teams that will contribute to the growth of the Kingdom of God and the Army’s mission. According to McKinnon, the officers who took the course realized that “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

“The course has already impacted how I am working with our ministry team to redesign our governance board,” says Major Stephen Sears, corps officer, Berkshire Citadel Community Church, Calgary. community and family of God,” says Major Judy Folkins. “Rooted in faith, we anticipate a great future for the Army in Sussex. May we strive to live a life worthy of God’s calling.”

The Army’s new and renovated facilities are dedicated in Sussex, N.B. From left, Mjr Holly Patterson, Mayor Eric Cunningham, MLA Bruce Northrup, Mjr Larry Martin, Mayor Ralph Carr, Mjr Judy Folkins, Mjr Stan Folkins, Reverend Allen Tapley Salvationist I April 2011 I 5

AROUND THE TERRITORY

Kindness Created a Lasting Memory

Fredericton Celebrates 125 Years of Service FREDERICTON—On November 5-7, Fredericton Community Church celebrated 125 years of ministry. Colonels Floyd and Tracey Tidd, chief secretary and territorial secretary for women’s ministries, led the festivities, supported by divisional leaders, Majors Larry and Velma Martin, Maritime Division, Major Stan Folkins, area commander, Maritime Division, and musical guests, Halifax’s Fairview Citadel Band. Friday evening featured a Christian rock concert for young people with musician Dion Durdle. On Saturday, memorabilia from the past, corps history highlights and a DVD were viewed in several rooms set up for that purpose.

Saturday’s events concluded with a banquet and then a concert

by Fairview Citadel Band.

On Sunday morning, Colonel Floyd Tidd challenged Salvationists to seek God wholeheartedly and anticipate the best from him individually and for the church’s future. After worship, the anniversary cake was cut, followed by an afternoon service that included a presentation by corps members depicting the history of the corps with singing and mini-dramas.

Cpt Pamela Goodyear accepts a generous donation from Allan A. Kostanuick and John C. DeSanti of AGAT Laboratories, Calgary

AGAT Laboratories, a Canadian-based company that provides various analytical laboratory services worldwide, donated $100,000 to The Salvation Army. John DeSanti, president and CEO, chose the Army because of a first-hand experience. “During Christmas many years ago, the Army’s efforts left me with a lasting memory,” he says. “The Army’s work in the community I grew up in brought me to a function when I was seven, where many children from our community received gifts so we, too, could enjoy Christmas. Their kindness and outreach to people in need has stayed with me.” Through this generous gift, AGAT Laboratories and its employees across the country provide hope and assistance to Canadian families in need throughout the year.

Labrador City/Wabush Corps 50th Anniversary May 13-15, 2011 Special Guests: Majors Ed and Judy Mayo Special Youth Guest: Donnie Snook Join us for a corps reunion and celebration of God’s faithfulness

Reaching At-Risk Youth in Pembroke ­ Based in Pembroke, Ont., The Grind (taken from a skateboarding term) is a program that reaches out to youth in the community, offering them a place to listen to music, participate in activities and engage in fellowship. For the past three years, The Grind has operated without a permanent location, but on February 4, they moved into The Salvation Army’s corps building.

“Transforming a formal church into a centre for youth ministry is a unique occurrence for Pembroke, but it fits well with The Salvation Army’s tradition of helping the community,” says Major Doug Smith, area commander, Ontario CentralEast Division.

The Grind will also incorporate mentorship and leadership programs, with a 6 I April 2011 I Salvationist

particular emphasis on at-risk youth. say Captains Robert and Denise Spurrell, Since moving to its new location, huncorps officers, “and we believe that God dreds of youth have come through the will direct our paths to minister to the doors, says OPP Constable Jerry Novack, needs of our youth.”

The Grind co-ordinator.

This spring, a more prominent spiritual component will be introduced to the program, including Christian praise and worship evenings. In the summer, The Grind will travel with a portable skateboard park and evangelism team. As well, an online program is being developed to connect struggling youth with community resources.

“We are very excited about this new avenue of ministry,” The Grind youth facility officially opens in Pembroke, Ont.

AROUND THE TERRITORY

Learning Gratitude and Servanthood in Bolivia In January, Jonathan and Seritha Rowsell, Salvationists from St. John’s Temple, N.L., learned invaluable lessons during their leadership experience at a music camp in South America.

Located in Ororo, Bolivia, the camp was held at a Salvation Army school that serves 800 students, but was empty for their summer

During worship at the National Conservatory of Music in Bolivia, students turned the entire auditorium into a mercy seat

vacation. Invited as brass and vocal instructors, the Rowsells each had a translator to help them communicate with the 125 Spanish-speaking students from age 11 to adulthood. Thirty-one faculty members supported them.

Campers and staff brought their own dishes for meals and foam mattresses for sleeping on classroom floors. “What touched me the most was the wonderful spirit of the campers and staff,” acknowledges Seritha Rowsell. “Their thankfulness challenged me. Though their camp conditions are not as sophisticated as ours, they were more grateful than I have ever been at our music camps. Bolivia’s National Conservatory of Music 2011 inspired me to be a better servant for God.” The curriculum featured brass banding, timbrels and choral singing. Jonathan Rowsell led the faculty and A bands, and also taught a leadership elective for faculty and adult campers, dealing with effective teaching skills and practice techniques for brass.

Seritha Rowsell led the main chorus and a vocal elective. “The students were eager to practise their basic English and sang many pieces in English,” says Jonathan Rowsell. “They work very hard to improve their music knowledge and skills, and view brass instruments as the voice of God, their primary tool in evangelism.

This enriching experience revitalized my desire to multiply my talents for the Lord. I will never again take for granted my tuba, and our corps band and songsters.”

The Prince George Salvation Army Community Church

90th Anniversary June 3-5, 2011 Help us celebrate with Majors Robert and Shirley Ratcliff and the Gospel Brass Band Jonathan Rowsell leads the faculty band in Wonder Working Power during Sunday morning worship

Did you know … … The Salvation Army’s work in the Solomon Islands officially commenced on February 1?

The Army is now operating in 123 countries.

The Papua New Guinea Territory will have responsibility for the work, which is being funded by the Australia Eastern and Southern Territories … at Richmond Hill, Ont., a Salvation Army Christmas kettle became a pot of gold, thanks to someone dropping a one-ounce gold coin into a kettle during the campaign?

A local bank agreed to purchase it for approximately $1,400 and the money was treated as if it were cash dropped into a Christmas kettle. A note attached to the coin said: “I bought this coin for $500 in 2002 to save for my retirement. It is now worth about $1,400. I have more than I need. Please put

Greetings from former officers and friends can be sent to 777 Ospika Blvd, Prince George BC V2M 3R5; phone: 250-564-4000

the money to good use. God bless you for your effort” ... the Canadian Staff Band will tour the Netherlands and Germany from May 28 to June 2? The trip will precede the CSB’s involvement in the International Staff Band’s 120th anniversary celebrations in London, England, June 3-5, which will include the performance of eight staff bands from around the Army world at the Royal Albert Hall and a Sunday afternoon march onto the grounds of Buckingham Palace … after the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, Alberta philanthropist Frank Flaman donated $250,000 to The Salvation Army’s rebuilding efforts there? One year later, Flaman felt moved to donate another $250,000 to the Army

… the Brazilian government’s Civil Defence Authority (CDA) asked The Salvation Army to provide emergency relief to the victims of the floods and mudslides that killed more than 650 people in the state of Rio de Janeiro? Salvationists and volunteers provided physical, emotional and spiritual relief in areas designated by the CDA. Mjr William Barthau, a Canadian officer, travelled to Brazil to support the Army’s relief efforts … on January 26, more than 460,000 people, including personnel from five Salvation Army ministry units, participated in The Great British Columbia ShakeOut? The five-minute earthquake drill encourages people to think about emergency preparedness and what they would do if a catastrophic event, such as an earthquake, were to occur in the area Salvationist I April 2011 I 7

The Gentle Invitation to Believe In times of doubt and distress, Jesus arrives quietly to renew our faith

By General Linda Bond

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ime changes one’s perspective, does it not?

That is so for me and perhaps for many of you when you reflect on the Easter story.

Maybe it has to do with our life experiences, which make us see things differently. Or maybe the gracious way the Lord has dealt with us has taught us to read the Scriptures differently. Whatever the cause, the account of Thomas’ reaction on hearing that Jesus was risen illustrates this point for me.

Many of us perhaps think he deserved the name “Doubting Thomas.” The Bible tells us 8 I April 2011 I Salvationist

that he was not with the other disciples when Jesus came, but they were quick to tell him the good news: “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:25). Then comes his famous response: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (v 25). “Seeing is believing”―or at least Thomas felt so.

A week later, Jesus showed up again. This time Thomas was with the disciples. After greeting them all: “Peace be with you!” (v 26), Jesus initiated the conversation with

Thomas. He said to him: “Put your finger here; see my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (v 27). These words of Jesus are not written in our Bibles with exclamation marks, in bold print or in capital letters. Yet sometimes they are read as though they were a shout, a stern rebuke from the Lord to a stubborn disciple.

Have you considered that this was no shout but a gentle invitation to a struggling soul?

That day, Jesus showed up especially for Thomas.

The risen Lord knew his

disciple’s heart. Thomas truly wanted a personal encounter with Jesus as his friends had experienced. He had been honest enough to admit his struggle. He could not believe the impossible or comprehend the incredible. Having witnessed the miracles of Jesus, he should perhaps have seen this as yet another of those amazing moments. But for him, resurrection after crucifixion was beyond the realm of possibility.

Maybe this was no embarrassing moment for Thomas, no public shaming in front of his friends. Surely Jesus did not expose him before the others as a “doubting Thomas”? Rather, don’t you think that as Thomas was invited into Jesus’ wounds, the Lord whispered a word of faith into his ear?

It is true that we can’t go beyond what the Scriptures tell us. But we can read them with the knowledge of how Jesus deals with us. Knowing how understanding and gracious he is, the story of Thomas can be read as our story.

How often have we heard others share their joy about their experience with Jesus and somehow we just can’t relate to it? Rather than declare our doubts, we have kept silent or even tried to express a conviction that we did not hold.

But for those who truly want to know him, Jesus comes, doesn’t he? No rebuke, no word of condemnation, but a whisper. He gives us a moment so convincing that we know with absolute certainty: He is alive. He is real.

Thomas’ response may surely also be ours: “My Lord and my God” (v 28). What a wonderful Saviour! What a wonderful Lord!

General Linda Bond is the world leader of The Salvation Army.

To Serve the Present Age

Photo: Paul Harmer

Interview with General Linda Bond

General-Elect Commissioner Linda Bond salutes the world immediately following the public announcement of her election to be The Salvation Army’s 19th General

Following her election as the 19th international leader of The Salvation Army, General Linda Bond spoke with Lt-Colonel Laurie Robertson, communications secretary, editor-in-chief and literary secretary, International Headquarters, about the 17th High Council, spiritual leadership, the strengths of the Army and the challenges she will face as General.

Please tell us about your background.

I was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, as the youngest of 13 children. My mother was British, migrating to Canada with her parents when she was 17. My Canadian father was a coal miner. You can’t grow up in a large family, having a mother with a keen mind and a fiery spirit and a father as gentle as a lamb and selfless as Jesus, without being influenced. I am my

mother’s child by nature and my father’s child by desire.

The coal mining town and political environment in which I was raised also affected the way I view life and I thank the Lord for this. The marginalized, the poor and the addicted were part of the community landscape, and my parents were committed to seeing things change for the hurting. This was consistent with what I later learned to be the Lord’s mission— and the Army’s.

Describe your thoughts and feelings when you were nominated for and then elected as General.

When I was nominated I felt it was an affirmation from my peers. My overall feeling was that “this is of the Lord.” He

had been speaking to my heart through Scripture, and although I had not intended to, I accepted nomination in obedience to the Lord. I felt that I had to wait to see what he wanted to do. When I was elected I was humbled, but I had a real sense that this was the Lord’s doing. To me it was a miracle—it was a work of grace.

In what ways is the High Council a daunting experience?

It is daunting—and this was my third High Council—because the whole Salvation Army world is watching and wanting the leaders to get it right. I don’t mean that in terms of it being a human decision, but that Salvationists are wanting the leaders to be open to the Spirit of God. High Council members want to be sensitive not only Salvationist I April 2011 I 9

to God but also to Salvationists who are trusting them with this decision.

Please describe spiritual leadership in a Salvation Army context.

I have very deep convictions about spiritual leadership, and for many years I taught classes on spiritual authority. To me the first point of spiritual authority is that power belongs to God. The power that he delegates to us has to be a power of love, the power to die to self, the power to live for others, the power for people and not over people.

Also, whatever gifts he’s given you influence how you serve. So if he has given the gift of leadership, you serve best when you lead. If he has given the gift of preaching, you serve best when you preach. For everybody in spiritual leadership, we come under the authority of God. Ours is a delegated influence.

How do you connect with God? For many years now I have set aside an hour of devotional time in the morning, but I am aware of the presence of the Lord all through the day.

Because I live alone I have a lot of private time. I like to have day retreats.

When I have a Saturday free, I like to spend quality time in the Word and reading a good book. But mainly I love the Word.

I pray the Word.

Jesus said to go into the closet [to pray].

The closet to me is the Psalms. When I enter the Psalms I meet with Jesus. I guess I could say that of the whole Bible. The

Bible to me is where I enter into the presence of God and I hear his voice, and so I pray the Bible back to the Lord.

Outline the Army’s mission and explain how it is relevant and valid around the world today.

Everybody seems to quote General John Gowans (Rtd) and I, too, think he captured the mission of The Salvation Army in his phrase “Save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity.”

Salvationists seem to know instinctively that the Army was raised up by God to connect people to Jesus. They also know we believe that people can be holy now, that they can be Christlike. It’s in our DNA to serve. So that is the mission of the Army and those are the guideposts for us.

How is it relevant? The world needs Jesus—that’s pretty relevant, isn’t it? The ills of humankind are not going to be addressed by any other means, except through the cross of Christ. When we talk about the relevance of holiness, this world needs to see that the people of God make holiness believable. It needs to see authentic, deep Christians who live out the life of Jesus and do not just talk about it.

There is suffering humanity—all we have to do is watch television on any given night or look around our communities and say, “We need Christians with their sleeves rolled up.”

How is The Salvation Army distinctive from other Christian denominations, missions and movements?

General-Elect Commissioner Linda Bond with General Shaw Clifton at International Headquarters 10 I April 2011 I Salvationist

I have often felt that our name not only identifies us but also tells us what our mission is. I love the fact that our very name is “Salvation,” and for the Salvationist that salvation means everything. It means salvation from sin, it means a full salvation that invites us to holy living. It is salvation for the whole person. This salvation moves us to address human need and to do so in his name. We are known for serving suffering humanity.

We are also an “Army,” which reflects mobility, flexibility, discipline, active service. That’s distinctive.

Our symbols are distinctive and our worship is often very spontaneous—as it should be. I love the Salvation Army testimony period and where it has been lost it needs to be revived, because we are in a day and age that loves to share and hear stories.

I think our mercy seat is brilliant— and I don’t mean to be sacrilegious in saying that! There is something about being in worship and knowing that the Word of Christ, when proclaimed, can be responded to then and there. To me there’s always something special about kneeling before God in front of the community of faith. It’s not just coming to the Lord, believing he meets us there. You know you are surrounded by people who have seen your commitment, and that they also covenant to pray for you.

I truly believe in our stand on the sacraments. The Lord needs some part of the Church to prove that you don’t need ceremonies to be truly saved, committed and Christlike. That in no way is a negative comment about how other people view the sacraments, not at all. The Lord has brought us all up with different views of things, and I feel the Army’s teaching is sound. It’s a wonderful prophetic witness.

Is it important for people who worship at the Army to commit to junior soldiership, senior soldiership and local officership/leadership?

I am absolutely convinced we have to be asking people to step up and sign up. I often use that phrase. Jesus called people to radical discipleship and in The Salvation Army that is soldiership and officership.

We need to be asking people not just to be members of the Army. I don’t see soldiership as membership or officership as professional clergy. Our people must believe the Army was raised up by God to be at war against anything that limits the human spirit or keeps it in bondage.

We need a fighting force, and soldiership and officership are that for me.

Why are more officers needed?

Officers are not better than anybody else— we need to be clear about that. Officership by its nature is about availability and mobility. In a worldwide Salvation Army we need people who are prepared to serve anywhere and be of service to the cause of Christ, with all their gifts. We need people who are available.

So the more officers the better! We need officers who see this not as a profession in a secular sense but as sacrificial service. Officership needs to underscore sacrifice.

Are gift-oriented ministry appointments practical for all officers? If so, how can this be achieved? If not, what are the barriers?

I do believe in gift-oriented ministry appointments, but I have to be honest with you, I have been given appointments where I needed more than the gifts I had.

They were requiring of me something else that I didn’t feel gifted for.

I believe the Lord honours obedience.

When he called me to officership, I just had to say, “You have all there is of me.”

If he asks something of me, he will grace me for the task.

Earlier in my officership no one would have thought I had a gift of administration, but I kept getting administrative appointments. I never stopped preaching, I never stopped teaching and I never stopped relating to people. They were my gifts, but I had to rise up to the challenge of administration. The last gift test I took—lo and behold!—I had the gift of administration.

God has gifted us and we need to be available to use our gifts. I would never minimize that, but I sometimes wonder if we put more stress on gift-oriented ministry than we do on obedience.

Again, if we obey the Lord Jesus Christ and he asks us to rise to a challenge, we have to believe that there will be grace to rise to that challenge.

What are some of the strengths of the Army worldwide?

Our name, because we are known in most places and are found trustworthy.

Trustworthiness is a huge part of what makes us effective. People trust us and we never want to lose that.

Another strength of the Army is its mission, which is so clearly defined. You would

be hard pressed to find a Salvationist who did not know the mission. Being very clear about our purpose makes The Salvation Army as effective as it is.

Our visibility is also a strength. People recognize our uniforms and logos.

We have a long history yet we are known in society as an organization that is able to change its methods to relate to each generation while holding true to its essential principles. We must continue to do this, to be adaptable and flexible but principled.

Our people must believe the Army was raised up by God to be at war against anything that limits the human spirit or keeps it in bondage

one is the universal saviourhood of Jesus.

He is the only Saviour and we must never compromise our stand on the gospel.

What specific plans do you have in mind regarding the spiritual nurture of children?

This is a passion for me and it’s not just about spiritual nurture. I am passionate about bringing children to Jesus. I served in the years when we had the Sunday school movement, bus ministries and big Sunday schools—and they seem to have died out.

I am surprised at how many corps don’t have youth or children’s ministries. The Salvation Army needs to focus on reaching children for Jesus.

There are children in dysfunctional homes, there are children in violent neighbourhoods, there are children who will grow up without the gospel at all. The Salvation Army needs to make reaching children for Jesus and training them up in the faith one of its main priorities. This will be a major focus of my ministry.

What will be the main challenges facing you as General?

It is a challenge to serve in a very complex world without losing sight of our mission.

We must also serve in a secular world and never be ashamed of Jesus. Both will take courage, wisdom and grace.

What do you imagine or hope The Salvation Army will be like at the end of your term as General?

I don’t really have a good answer for that, as I haven’t even started yet! All I know is I am committed to uplift the name of Jesus. I am absolutely confident that when we do that, the Spirit of God blesses The Salvation Army.

I do believe in revival and pray for it on a regular basis. There has been revival in some places. We have certainly been an Army in renewal.

I have a sense deep in my spirit that God is wanting to do something in the Army, through the Army, that I can’t quite articulate. There is a sense of his Spirit moving me and saying, “Keep faith with who I am, keep faith with what I have given the Army to do.”

If at the end of my term this message has been communicated and the Army’s strong sense of identity and commitment to mission continues to impact society, then he will be pleased. And if he is pleased, that’s what matters most to me.

And for the Army, would they be the same sort of challenges?

Yes! We are all called to serve the present age. Sometimes we use the term “relevance,” and relevance is fine as long as we don’t mean compromise. While serving the present age, there are some things that we could never compromise. The primary

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have to thank The Salvation Army. I’ve had hundreds of messages from all over the world. I want to thank people who offered Scripture and prayer support. I am totally committed to what the Lord has called me to do.

How can the Army use these strengths to lovingly introduce people to Jesus Christ?

Because we are trustworthy, the Army does have an entrance point in people’s lives.

There is a graciousness about evangelism that the Army must have. We have so many open doors of opportunity through our service to suffering humanity. We can touch people’s lives, not just to help with their social needs, but to reach into the deep recesses of their hearts with the good news of Jesus. This means that we need to pray for such opportunities and then when they come, to take advantage of them with grace and clarity.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 11

General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton stand with their family

Global Vision, Decisive Action General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton receive Army salute as they enter into retirement

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he past, present and future were all featured during the welcome to the 2011 High Council and retirement salute to General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton at the Lancaster London Hotel, England, on January 22.

Periods of solemnity blended beautifully with times of vulnerability, transparency, reflection and celebration during this international event.

In his tribute to the General, the Chief of the Staff Commissioner Barry C. Swanson emphatically stated that, “Shaw Clifton has a strong love of family. He and Helen have a very close, loving relationship. They complement each other. The General also has a genuine concern for officers and their families.”

The Chief continued by saying that the General’s two most outstanding leadership characteristics are global vision and decisive action.

“He has a vision for a growing, holy, united Salvation Army and he put many steps in place to help this happen. During the past five years, the Army has commenced ministry in 13 countries—an amazing rate of growth.”

Commissioner Sue Swanson, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, specifically thanked Commissioner Clifton for her bold and unique cry for justice for 12 I April 2011 I Salvationist

by Lt-Colonel Laurie Robertson struggling women and children, especially through the While Women Weep (WWW) campaign.

“You led us to work and pray for the justice God loves. We also thank you for the example you gave us when you singlehandedly campaigned against commercial sex advertisements in your local paper and won, with the advertisements being removed.”

Two of Commissioner Clifton’s grandchildren, Hudson Collings and Hanna Clifton, then presented her with a basket of flowers prior to Commissioner Sue Swanson praying for the General and Commissioner Clifton.

In response, Commissioner Clifton thanked everyone “for your very gracious reception of us today. It hardly seems possible that we are rapidly approaching our retirement date.

“My heart is full of praise and thanksgiving this afternoon. God has been so generous to us through all the years since he called us into sacred service. He has granted us boundless grace, one day at a time. He has gone ahead of us into every appointment and situation. He has blessed us beyond measure.”

Commissioner Clifton made special mention of their children Matt, Jenny and John. “Their love and support have been such a blessing. So, too, has the love of

our precious children-in-law: Marcus and Lynne, soon to be joined by Naomi.”

In reflecting on his term as world leader, General Clifton said, “We have been the constant recipients of the prayers of the whole Army. It is a wonderful thing to know that you are prayed for all over the globe. Thank you for your prayers. I know you will pray, too, for my successor. Your prayers are the powerhouse of the Army.

“Always put the Kingdom first. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things will be added beyond measure. We love the Army but the Army is not God. God raised up the Army and he wants it to stay raised up, so put the Kingdom first.”

Regarding his wife, he said, “There are no words to encompass what Helen means to me. We have loved each other since she was only 14 years old. She married me when she was 19 and four years later we became cadets together. We were commissioned together, served on five continents together and now we retire together.

“We are in the hands of Almighty God whose hands are safe and loving in every circumstance.”

To read the full retirement report and other information from the 2011 High Council, visit Salvationist.ca/HighCouncil2011.

The Boy With the Bare Feet A visit with my sponsor child changed me. But what more could I do?

BY CAPTAIN HEATHER MATONDO

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t all started with a simple e-mail inquiry and ended in an encounter that I never dreamed would happen. Five years ago I contacted the world missions department at territorial headquarters and informed them that I was interested in sponsoring a child through The Salvation Army. A few weeks later I received a picture of Lingedzani. He was only nine years old at the time and lived in a small village in northern South Africa.

I remember sitting in my house just staring at the picture, noticing the old, ragged dirty pants that the young boy was wearing and his bare feet as he stood outside of his home. I felt really good about myself—I was going to help this young boy. I displayed his picture in a frame and placed it among my other family photos.

Five years later I found myself making plans to visit South Africa. But because Lingedzani lived six hours from Johannesburg where I would be staying, I didn’t think more of it. But the closer

Cpt Heather Matondo with Lingedzani

the date came, the more I realized that I wanted to meet this young man. After corresponding through the proper Army channels, I was given the go-ahead to visit Lingedzani in his village of Tshikanelo.

Five years before I never thought I’d have this chance. Now it was all becoming a reality.

As I prepared for South Africa, I packed a Canada T-shirt, hat and small Canada flag for Lingedzani. But then my mind went back to the picture of the boy standing barefoot—I had to buy him some new sneakers. After a little shopping, I was ready to meet Lingedzani with my bag full of goodies.

The day finally arrived and the excitement was building as I got closer to the village. As we pulled up to Lingedzani’s house, I soon learned the impact that my sponsorship had. His mother was a widow without a job and Lingedzani was one of four children. My sponsorship money was helping an entire family!

As I sat that afternoon with his family, observing the living conditions and comparing them to what I had in Canada, my life changed. I watched my daughter chase the chickens around the garden, sat back and gave thanks for everything I have.

But I started to feel guilty. How could I go back to Canada and sit comfortably in a warm house with running water, electricity, a comfortable bed and be content with that? I couldn’t!

After leaving Lingedzani’s house, we stopped at the church where the children had an hour-long program prepared for our arrival. I was overwhelmed—it was like a celebrity had come to town! At the church I learned more about this little village and the children that were gathered together. The young girl that had prepared and was leading the program was only in Grade 8 and yet she showed such leadership potential. However, she didn’t have a sponsor and they didn’t know if she would be able to finish school. There used to be a children’s program at the church every week where 400 children received a meal.

They had recently lost the funding and could no longer afford the food.

The stories I heard reinforced the fact that this is an area with no running water, where children without a sponsor often drop out of school because they can’t afford it and where children will walk miles to the church just to get a healthy meal. As I sat and talked with these people, their plight became personal for me—they became a part of my family.

That day as I drove away from the village of Tshikanelo, away from Lingedzani and his family and the children at the church, I was already thinking of everything I would do when I got back to Canada. I was determined to do more— there were so many more that could use my help. But what could I do for them? I didn’t want one child to be hungry or have to worry about not finishing school.

I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to do it all by myself. I started e-mailing friends and family, rallying everyone to help this small village. I also knew that I had to write my story. If others could hear about my experience then maybe they would want to become involved as well.

I often think of my visit to South Africa.

Although I have returned to Canada, part of my family still remains in the small village of Tshikanelo.

Captain Heather Matondo is the divisional children’s outreach ministries co-ordinator in the Ontario Central-East Division.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 13

GOSPEL ARTS

Centre Stage

As a professional performer, Kathryn Ballantine draws a clear line between performance and worship

Photo: Timothy Cheng

BY JULIA HOSKING, STAFF WRITER

Kathryn Ballantine uses creative movement to communicate Scripture 14 I April 2011 I Salvationist

A

ll of a sudden I realized God could be right here,” shares Kathryn Ballantine. She is describing the moment when she and husband, Kyle Higgins, dramatized Psalm 23 for the congregation at Yorkminster Citadel in Toronto.

“In The Message paraphrase, it says, ‘I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.’

I realized that God is not just out in the world, or in the heavens, or somewhere out there. God’s omnipresence became very real to me.”

As a dramatist, Ballantine sees beyond the biblical text. Putting physical movement to passages of Scripture was something the 22-year-old was used to doing, but her interest increased after American Salvationist Carol Jaudes ran a Scripture Alive! seminar in Toronto last year. For Ballantine, the co-ordination of dance and Scripture is “the most heightened of all the theatrical presentation styles.”

“In the theatre, they say that when there is nothing left to say, you sing. And when there is nothing left to sing and you feel you have to use your whole body, you dance,” she says.

“Putting a physical movement to something changes the way you see it. A simple look or gesture can make the human body vulnerable and the audience can put themselves in your position a lot easier than when reading words.”

After their presentations at Yorkminster, newlyweds Kathryn and Kyle received many positive comments.

“People told us the meaning of the words came alive for them,” she recalls.

“Dancing is the same as if you were singing to a congregation; you are bringing the text to life so that someone else can get something new from it. If putting words to movement makes people listen more carefully to Scripture, then Kyle and I have done our job.”

Dance is a powerful communicator, transcending language. “We have a lot of Spanish-speaking people at our corps,” notes Ballantine. “When Kyle reads Scripture in English and I give movement to it, they understand what we are doing.”

Finding the Distinction Ballantine’s resumé features roles in musical theatre, such as Anne of Green Gables and The Boys in the Photograph, an appearance in the Disney film, Camp Rock, clowning acts at Christmas with The Salvation Army and a solo album titled The Songs My Father Taught Me. She also teaches

GOSPEL ARTS ballet, musical theatre, and lyrical, jazz and contemporary dance, and recently established a company with her husband called The Role Players.

“I love the adrenaline that comes from being in front of people, on the same wavelength as them as they wait for you to give them something,” she shares.

But Ballantine has learned to distinguish a theatrical style of performance from creative worship. “I used to do a lot more dancing as worship—unprepared, spontaneous movement—but I realized that it was too easy. It felt more like a performance than a prayer or act of worship,” she confesses.

“It was easy for me to jump around but it wasn’t easy for me to simply listen. So I took a step toward introverted worship.

Now when I sing or dance in a worship setting, it’s prepared. It is hard work to keep it worshipful and pure. As someone who is trained in the arts, you have to draw a clear line between what is performance and what is a spiritual act.”

Ballantine is also a talented vocalist and sings with the Yorkminster Songsters.

“I cry every week in songster rehearsal.

There is something so powerful about giving words a melody.

7.25x4.75 copy.pdf 2/2/11 2:49:20 “I sing a lot of my dad’s songs,”

Ballantine continues, referring to Major an area of struggle. Find a passage of Len Ballantine, corps officer, Yorkminster Scripture that doesn’t come easily to you.

Citadel, who is an accomplished musician That is obviously a tender spot where you and composer. “A lot of his pieces come are going to be most vulnerable. Then, take from a personal point of view with lyrics that Scripture and create some movement such as ‘I will wait for you’ or ‘I will sing.’ around it, or write a song or a play. Let it In rehearsal, it becomes an expression of become your testimony. If you start with what I’m feeling.” what is true for you then it will speak to As someone who was raised in a an audience.

Christian family with officer parents, “Surrender the performance to God. Ballantine’s relationship with God emerged That’s when you allow his Spirit to take naturally, just like her urge to perform. centre stage.”

Both desires were always there. Nonetheless, Ballantine recalls turbulent teen years when her faith was tested as the only Christian at a performing arts school.

“When I started to question my faith, it felt horrible,” Ballantine shares. “But once I started asking those questions, the answers all pointed back to where I started. So I very quickly knew what I wanted in life.”

Now she offers encouragement to other creative people who want to worship PMGod through the arts.

“I tell them to start with Kathryn Ballantine (front) performs at Circo Della Vita

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Salvationist I April 2011 I 15

Shopping With the

Sally Ann

Angela’s Dollars give clients choices at Mississauga shelter

teer at Angela’s Place, sorts and prices products and processes customer purchases.

“I love working with the staff and clients,” says Lewis.

“The clients are grateful and I have a good rapport with them. We put a lot of work into making the closet look like a regular shop.”

The benefits afforded to the clients are numerous. “Because they have used the closet,” says D’Souza, “clients know how to save money when they go to a regular supermarket. They

have learned to budget by using their Angela’s Dollars.”

Over the past few months, there has been a significant increase in the number of people using the closet. Some days, there has even been a lineup before the closet has opened.

“A lot of clients don’t feel comfortable asking for help,” says D’Souza. “But with Angela’s Closet, they are proud to purchase something because of the work that they have done. It gives them dignity.”

BY JULIA HOSKING, STAFF WRITER

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magine purchasing five jars of tomato sauce simply by attending a resumé writing workshop. Or your child earning a box of granola bars just by going to breakfast club before school. That’s the concept behind Angela’s Dollars, a unique initiative offered by Angela’s Place, a Salvation Army transitional housing site in Mississauga, Ont. When an adult attends an Angela’s Place program with Rommel D’Souza, life skills program co-ordinator, they earn five Angela’s Dollars. And children who complete sessions with Megan Walter, child and youth worker, earn two Angela’s Dollars. The currency is then spent in Angela’s Closet, an on-site store stocked with non-perishable food, personal care items, art supplies and baby products.

After one year in operation, Janice Tansey, director of Angela’s Place, considers the program a big success.

“It’s a great incentive for our families to attend programming,” she says. “Once they start to attend regularly, they realize the programs are stimulating and helpful and they enjoy the interaction with other clients. The closet also gives our clients dignity by allowing them to earn the money they spend and giving 16 I April 2011 I Salvationist

them choices.”

The programs offered at Angela’s Place all qualify for Angela’s Dollars and include areas such as education, employment, parenting and healthy lifestyles.

Built with help from the Mississauga community, Angela’s Garden also became fully operational last spring.

As residents grow their plants, they also grow their Angela’s Dollars. The produce from Angela’s Garden is then used in another new program, Healthy Cooking, which shows clients how to create wholesome meals.

Resumé writing, effective interviewing and career planning are all taught in the new Angela’s Academy. Group classes enable D’Souza to be available when job search challenges arise.

Generous Donations and Volunteers T h e A r m y ’s R a i l s i d e Distribution and Ministry Support Services located in Toronto donates roughly 90 percent of the goods found in Angela’s Closet.

“Railside’s support allows us to keep operating the closet effectively,” says Tansey.

Angela’s Closet also thrives on the help of its volunteers.

Carl Lewis, full-time volun-

Carl Lewis, volunteer, processes a customer’s purchases in Angela’s Closet

Birmingham Citadel Band (England) TOUR of CANADA

Itinerary April 16-17 Mountain Citadel Hamilton April 18 - Cobourg

April 21 Barrie

(incl. Good Friday service)

April 19 - Simcoe

April 22 Sarnia

April 20 Owen Sound

April 23-24 London Citadel

www.birminghamcitadelband.com www.londoncitadelband.on.ca

Dependence or Dignity?

At the 2011 Urban Forum, Salvationists explore the impact our services have on communities

BY JAMES WATSON

W

ith its view of Toronto’s Jarvis and Shuter Streets, the Harbour Light Ministries auditorium was the ideal location for the 2011 Urban Forum held January 26-29.

Delegates could watch pedestrians and traffic pass by as they engaged in worship and biblical reflection and shared their experiences in urban ministry.

As with the two previous Urban Forums, the event provoked reflection and dialogue on challenging issues and provided a rallying point for people investing their lives in the heart of their cities.

Held every two years, this year’s gathering focused on the theme: Dependence or Dignity? From Service Provision to Community Development. The conference encouraged urban leaders to use discernment as they reflect on the effects of our services on the people in our communities, to ensure that the Army is “loving its neighbours” in ways that have the most significant benefit.

Bob Lupton, from Focused Community Strategies Urban Ministries of Atlanta, shared that through his many experiences of Christian service, he understands development as “enabling somebody to do for themselves rather than doing for them; doing things with people as opposed to for people; nurturing strength and capacity both in individuals and in community.”

Glenn Smith, from Christian Direction in Montreal, suggested that followers of Jesus must “partner with the city for its well-being.… That is what goes to the heart of community development.”

While the main sessions were held at Harbour Light, bus tours were organized for two afternoons. The first tour travelled to Hamilton, Ont., to listen to partners in the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction. All the shelters in that city are faith-based and work together to reduce the need for shelters through intentional partnership, supportive programs for clients and implementation of transitional housing.

Also discussed at the roundtable were neighbourhood community development

Delegates engage in dialogue about urban ministry

hubs in which local residents engage in the design and implementation of their own community programs.

The next day, delegates visited Salvation Army ministry sites in Toronto to meet with frontline practitioners. Dion Oxford, executive director of The Gateway, discussed the development of job training at the shelter. Major Sandra Ryan, corps officer at Corps 614 Regent Park, explained how the corps has transformed its Christmas gift distribution to a celebration centre where people can reconnect with the wonder of Christmas. She also envisioned the creation of a storefront where families could create entire meals to nurture a culture of “family mealtime.”

At Cedarbrae Community Church, Major Louise Wareham, corps officer, and Kerry Brown guided the tour bus through nearby neighbourhoods and shared how they had discerned ministry opportunities with various community partners.

The Urban Forum sparked ideas and possibilities for further exploration of Christian community development. The plenary speakers and bus tours provided a broad exposure to different ideas, stories and experiences. Citing Isaiah 61, Howard Olver of Kingsview Free Methodist Church in Toronto emphasized the importance of a clear sense of calling in urban ministry.

Frank Heinrich, a German Salvationist and member of parliament, explained how his own calling led to the planting of 614 Chemnitz and then opened doors in politics. Transparent discussion during the final session underlined the importance of integrity—a deep relationship with Jesus that allows for engagement in difficult issues and respectful relationships with community members and colleagues.

James Watson is the consultant for church planting and congregational revitalization, THQ corps ministries department.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 17

POINT COUNTERPOINT

Everywhere a Sign

Does God still perform miracles today? Do gifts such as prophecy and healing still have a place in the church?

NO. Or at least not as much as we think. We need to beware of testing God so that our prayers don’t lead to false hope. Miracles don’t always manifest themselves in physical ways.

BY MAJOR (DR.) BEVERLEY SMITH There have been a host of travesties, shipwrecked faith, and a trail of hurt and broken Christians left in the wake of churches who promote healing miracles within their ministry circle. I remember reading an author who had watched on television a well-known faith healer ostensibly cure someone’s husband of cancer. He followed up with the couple a week later, telephoning them at their home. The wife answered the phone with a sharp intake of breath as the author inquired how her husband was doing. She reported that he had died two days after the broadcast of his supposed healing. That was the end of the author’s trust in the television healer, and of his faith in Christ as well. Even renowned Christian author C. S. Lewis almost lost his faith when his mother did not recover in response to his childhood prayers begging God for her healing.

My own father, while welcoming the prayers of his friends and family, declined to be placed on a healing prayer chain when chemotherapy failed to alleviate his lymphoma. He thought that he would be just as happy to take what came from the Lord for good or ill, without dictating to God what that might look like.

He passed away months later. I will concede that the Holy Spirit periodically urges us to pray in particular ways for the healing of someone we know. Our fervent prayers influence God’s heart, and even change our own hearts on occasion. But sooner or later we just get it wrong, and that can be damaging.

The problem is not God, who is the same wonderful and wonder-working God as before. The problem is in the misplaced faith of his followers, who expect God to come through for them with every illness every time. We want to be shrink-wrapped in a cocoon of comfort, free from the trials of mere mortals. We not only want it, some North American Christians have come to expect it as their right. Noted theologian Dr. John Stott remarked 18 I April 2011 I Salvationist

that we often only want to be comforted by God, not challenged or disturbed. Yet illness and death are part of our fallen nature, and are our companions throughout life. The miracles that come are not always the physical healings, but the ways God helps us to cope with illness and death, and the ways he strengthens our faith to believe. Is it possible to come to a place of faith so strong that we can echo Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him….” (Job 13:15 KJV)? When we place our faith in Christ, our rebirth through resurrection ushers us into a new physical reality so wonderful we can’t even begin to imagine it.

I recently read a book called Being Well When We’re Ill: Wholeness and Hope In Spite of Infirmity by Marva J. Dawn. It emphasizes that there’s a lot more to being well than physical health. It deals in a practical way with some of the frictions to faith that come with chronic illness, the loss of meaning that comes when you can’t do what you used to, the frustrations of living in the interface between medical science and illness, and how God keeps faith with us through our pain and limitations.

I wish church congregations would talk more about these things rather than expecting God to always be doing cartwheels for them. I wish they could acknowledge the glimpses of God’s

POINT COUNTERPOINT grace we see through our hurts and illnesses instead of only focusing on the great gulps of grace we want with physical healing and miracles of other kinds. Marva Dawn makes the point that the way we bear our illness and infirmity is an aspect of our work for God, because people without Christ are watching.

Even the Apostle Paul agreed that bearing his thorn in the flesh was in God’s permitted will, after he had asked God to take it away three times. And this was from a man whose handkerchiefs were known to heal people (see Acts 19:12). There are great mysteries here.

One of the ways Jesus was tempted in the desert was to expect God to do miracles for him as he threw himself down from the Temple or experienced hunger. Jesus refused. He would not test God (see Luke 4:12). Instead, he pointed each time to the miracle of God’s Word, written and spoken. Ministering angels eventually came, but they didn’t come until later. In the meantime, Jesus prayed and waited. We, too, experience desert temptations, so we pray and we wait. Signs and wonders are not the only things we wait for (and sometimes mercifully receive). We wait for God. Major (Dr.) Beverley Smith is a medical practitioner at the Toronto Grace Health Centre.

YES. Who are we to limit God? Many people attest to his wonder-working power.

The proof is all around us. It may be hard to believe, but miracles still happen.

BY CAPTAIN GRANT SANDERCOCK-BROWN I believe in miracles. And not just because a song I learned in childhood commences with that line. I believe in miracles because I see absolutely no reason to disbelieve in them. In fact, the miraculous is an intrinsic part of the Christian faith. So when the editor asked me to give my answer to the question, “Does God still perform signs and wonders today?” I was happy to say yes. And I’m worried when any Christian believes that God has stopped doing so.

I can, however, understand why many Christians have become more timid about stating publicly their belief in miracles. Certainty in a God of signs and wonders has suffered enormously under the critique of rational empiricism. “Science disproves miracles and disproves God.” Or so we are told. Of course science has done no such thing and rational empiricists who say so are mightily exaggerating their case. Aside from the fact that proving a negative—“miracles don’t happen”—is notoriously difficult, not everything can be measured and replicated, observed and quantified. Sure, scientists are welcome to speculate on faith, love

and grace, and also God and his abilities, but they do so with no more expertise than me. If God is God—truly and properly God—he is able to do anything we can imagine and many things that we can’t imagine. If he cannot do so, he is not God. Indeed the core event of the Christian story, the Resurrection, the sign of signs and wonder of wonders, is beyond our imagining. But its effect is not. A dispirited and scattering bunch of Jesus followers were transformed when they encountered their miraculously risen Lord and the world has never been the same.

And so, we believe, and always have done, that Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, died and rose again and now sits at the right hand of God. However, signs and wonders are out of the ordinary. Hence the name. And the out of the ordinary is hard to believe. But it still happens. God’s power was not exhausted in the apostolic age nor has our need of a miracle-working God diminished. I have met many people who testify to God’s miraculous intervention in their lives. I know people who have been healed. I have heard people, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, speak prophetically to their communities. Have there been charlatans?

Yes. Have some been too quick to label their own thoughts as a prophecy of God? Absolutely. That does not mean that God has stopped working. It just means that we must be discerning. But that has always been the case for the Christian family. It’s why Paul mentions the gift in his correspondence with “signs and wonders central,” the Corinthian Church.

Questions about signs, wonders, prophecy and healing are really questions about the power and presence of the Spirit in our times. The church at Corinth seems to have experienced far more divine activity than many of us see and experience. But if it’s any comfort, that’s not a recent development. The roots of the difference between Corinth and us go back a long way. New Testament scholar Gordon Fee talks about “the general loss of the dynamic and experiential life of the Spirit” from the second generation of Christians onward. Very quickly in the Early Church spontaneity gave way to formality; the experience of the Spirit gave way to the rites of the Church. But it’s also why, throughout the history of God’s people, popular movements have risen time and time again where ordinary people, trusting and open to God, are touched and healed and prompted by the Spirit. Some of these movements have ended up being heretical. But not all.

Indeed The Salvation Army was born out of such a movement in the 19th century.

Often our doubting of signs and wonders comes from our own experience. Sometimes with all the faith we can muster (and only a mustard-seed-sized faith is required) we have prayed for healing, revelation and for the Spirit’s power. And nothing has happened, at least as far as we can tell. The reality seems to be that on most occasions we ask God for miracles and he asks us for endurance, suffering or hard work.

One day, when I see him face to face, I’ll share my view that a few spectacular signs and wonders in my own life would have been really helpful for me and my ministry; that some powerful, fulfilled prophecies and miraculous healings would have, in my opinion, bolstered his credibility. He’ll probably have a good answer for me. So until then I’ll trust God to be God. I’ll believe in signs and wonders and trust the evidence for them that I see around me and never cease praying that the Spirit, in a mighty way, will be at work among his people and in his world.

Captain Grant Sandercock-Brown is the corps officer at Chatswood, Australia Eastern Territory.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 19

Photo: istockphoto.com

Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, the beloved disciple, were at the cross to witness firsthand Jesus’ suffering. But everyone else—the disciples, the Sanhedrin, the chief priests, the Roman soldiers, the passing crowd—missed its significance.

As Jesus hung on the cross, only one person, a gentile Roman soldier, offered true insight into this mysterious, creationshaking event. “Surely this was a righteous man,” he cried (Luke 23:47).

Albert Orsborn penned, “That with the crowd we passed thee by and saw, but did not feel, thee die” (SASB 135).

I Thirst

Jesus’ final words from the cross remind us of his profound suffering

BY LT-COLONEL DAVID HAMMOND

We may not know, we cannot tell what pain he had to bear, But we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there. (SASB 133)

T

he Bible gives us seven “last words” of Jesus from the cross. But only the Gospel of John records the following: “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty’ ” (John 19:28).

What do we know about dying from thirst? It is difficult for Canadians, who live in a country with more fresh water than 20 I April 2011 I Salvationist

anywhere else on the planet, to identify with the pain of thirst.

Only days before, Jesus stood in the Temple and proclaimed, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38).

Now here was Jesus experiencing physical thirst on the cross for our sake.

Witness the Pain Crucifixion was a particularly cruel form of execution. I wonder how many people truly feel the agony of the Lamb of God.

A Great Mystery The death of Jesus is a profound mystery, but God has given us the privilege of probing this mystery in our daily lives.

To aid us in this, the Apostle Paul has given us the prayer language of Calvary: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). He articulates the saving effect of Jesus’ death: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). And from a prison awaiting his own execution, he recalls that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

(Philippians 2:8).

In what other ways can we explore the wonder of the Passion this Easter and feel Christ’s burden as he died for the sins of the world?

We can keep watch with him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples fell asleep when they were desperately needed by their Master. Jesus wants us to stand with him in prayer for the salvation of the world.

We can learn from those who are suffering. All around us are suffering people. We can visit them, pray with them and reach out to them to feel their pain. When we suffer with them, we suffer with Jesus.

We can die to sin. Paul wrote, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV). We, too, can die to sin and selfishness. We all can die at the cross with Jesus, and rise with him in the glory of his Resurrection.

This is the message of Good Friday.

May we remember the suffering of Jesus.

May we not pass him by. May we thirst for more of his grace in our lives.

Lt-Colonel David Hammond is a retired officer who does not believe in retirement. He soldiers at Toronto’s Bloor Central Corps, where his son, Douglas, is the corps officer. His daughter, Beth, is also a corps officer in Richmond Hill, Ont.

SOCIAL ISSUES

Asking the Tough Questions

The Social Issues Committee works behind the scenes to articulate the Army’s stance on everything from gay marriage to the environment

BY MAJOR CATHIE HARRIS

C

hristians are surrounded by issues that push us to think critically about our faith. These include gay marriage, abortion, climate change and the justness of war. Where and when do we consider these issues in a meaningful, constructive way? And once we’ve thought about them, how do we respond?

I am privileged to be part of the Social Issues Committee, a subcommittee of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre that engages with these questions regularly. You may not have heard of us, but if you’ve ever read one of the territory’s position statements (such as capital punishment, gambling or human diversity), then you’ve seen the results of our committee.

Our meetings are stimulating and push us to deeper thought and informed action.

This diverse group of 16 individuals from across the Canada and Bermuda Territory meets face to face twice a year and by monthly teleconference.

Our purpose is to identify, study and respond to relevant moral and social issues affecting the lives of people in Canada and Bermuda. Sometimes we choose the topic and other times it chooses us! We may recommend a position statement, a working paper, the development of resource materials or action by a particular Salvation Army department. One of our major goals is to support the education and engagement of Salvationists. How can we address the critical issues of our time together in an effective way?

In the past three years we have written or updated seven territorial position statements, including one on responsibility for the earth. A series of Bible studies on our position statements has been produced. And significant discussion (with input from experts) has taken place on topics such as: faith in the city; immigrant and refugee awareness; and homelessness and safe affordable housing. We have also assisted with the work of the International Morals and Social Issues Committee at International Headquarters.

The Social Issues Committee strongly

believes in its continuing relevance for The Salvation Army in this territory. We are indebted to those who have served on this committee before us and the good work that was accomplished when it was previously known as the Council on Morals and Ethics (COME) or the Commission on Moral and Social Standards and Issues. This commission was appointed as a permanent committee in 1968 because of the vision of the then territorial commander, Commissioner Clarence D. Wiseman. He had a conviction that a “corporate witness of the Army as a member of the body of Christ should be heard more often and more clearly on the major moral and social questions of our time.” (Amen, we say!)

We work in continuity with this vision.

Yet we continue to push ourselves further, and wonder how we can encourage Salvationists to deeper reflection. How can we move from social service to social action and social justice? In recent days, we’ve done this through an Ethics Centre survey of Salvationists on the issues they face. Dr. James Read, executive director of the Ethics Centre, regularly updates the committee on the work of the International Social Justice Commission. And Michael

Maidment, federal government relations officer, keeps us apprised of what’s going on in Ottawa.

In the coming months, Salvationist will publish the viewpoints of Social Issues Committee members on various topics.

Our desire is for these articles to push you to ask more questions and dig deeper, as individuals and in small groups, in ways that will ultimately lead to effective social action.

To Do:

• Visit the Ethics Centre website at salvationarmyethics.org. Read the position statements. Check out the Bible studies in the “Resources” box.

• Ask yourself or your group: What are the most pressing social issues facing society? How can the Army respond in a meaningful way?

• Let us know your views by e-mailing social_issues@can.salvationarmy.org.

Major Cathie Harris is a retired Salvation Army officer who likes to wrestle with challenging questions and is frustrated by easy, glib answers. She is currently the chair of the Social Issues Committee.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 21

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Not My Will, But Yours

How do we honestly and boldly pray for God’s will to be done?

BY COMMISSIONER WILLIAM W. FRANCIS

J

esus’ knew his Crucifixion was imminent. He walked with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to Gethsemane to pray, gain strength and be reassured that this was his Father’s will. Jesus agonized in prayer, anticipating not only the awful physical pain involved, but the even deeper anguish of bearing the sins of the whole world. No one can ever know the implications of this excruciating suffering. But Jesus endured it all in submitting to his Father’s will.

Prayer is a gift. We pray because we have an inherent desire to reach out to someone greater than ourselves. Yes, we pray for answers to the countless questions in our hearts, but we also pray for situations beyond our control. These are the times when we seek answers to the deepest groanings of our hearts. Our prayer is not due to selfishness—though there is a trace of this in all of us. It’s not because we think we know the way to resolve a difficult situation—even though most of us think we have some good solutions. Sometimes we pray because we feel crushed, broken and extremely vulnerable, desperately gasping for any hope.

It is difficult to pray with openness, sincerity and authenticity when we are desperate for a positive outcome and may be exposed to pain if our prayers aren’t answered in the way we’d hoped. It is hard to end our frantic pleas with the words of Jesus, “Not 22 I April 2011 I Salvationist

my will, Father, but yours be done.” Yet, it is important to submit to God as our Lord did.

Only God knows all things, the beginning to the end; only he can see the full picture; only he knows why certain things happen. He never wills bad things to take place, but he does allow difficult circumstances to occur that we will never understand this side of Heaven. So, how do we honestly and boldly pray for his will to be done, rather than pleading for our own will to be done?

It’s a matter of trust. Trust does not come easily. People have let us down in the past, friends whom we trusted.

How then can we trust God with things so important to

Illustration: Christ in Gethsemane painting by Michael D. O’Brien, www.studiobrien.com

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36).

Sometimes we pray because we feel crushed, broken and extremely vulnerable, desperately gasping for any hope us, such as our health or the well-being of someone close to us? If we do finally trust God enough to pray for healing and the person dies, how can we ever trust him again? Can we really count on God for the right outcome, even if it’s not according to our will? Does he really listen to our prayers? St. Augustine, the eminent church father and theologian, noted, “Crying to God is not done with the physical voice, but with the heart. If, then, you cry to God, cry out inwardly, where he hears you.”

God does hear our cries, for he knows us intimately. He created us; his Spirit dwells within

us. He desperately wants us to implicitly trust him and pray to him. He will always respond to our prayers with “yes,” “wait” or “no.” Jesus prayed, but his plea to the Father ultimately led him to intense flogging and scourging and the acute agony and suffering of the cross. This was according to God’s permissive will. But the final victory was Christ’s alone! The end result was all for God’s glory and our eternal benefit.

Henri Nouwen explains that the prayer, “ ‘Your will be done,’ slowly leads us to an experience of rest and opens us to God’s active presence.

The prayer can continue in

our heart and keep us aware of God’s ever-present guidance.” Trusting God completely imparts security and genuine peace. It provides the knowledge and assurance that he will be with us—from the beginning until the end.

Join me in praying, “O Lord, not my will, but yours be done in my life!” May this Easter celebration supply a new and profound meaning for your life!

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

Commissioner William W. Francis is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

ARMY ROOTS

A Passion for Souls

Preaching holiness and sanctification, American revivalists helped shape our Movement

Photo: The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre

BY LT-COLONEL MAXWELL RYAN

sionately inviting sinners to the penitents’ bench. His emphasis on the second work of grace or entire sanctification conserved the fruits of his evangelistic work.

William and Catherine’s preaching was modelled on Caughey’s, and they drew on his published work as well as his preaching style. After hearing Caughey preach, William wrote, “It had a powerful effect on my young heart.”

When the Booths had difficulties with the Methodist Conference in 1857, William consulted Caughey, in England on a revivalist tour at the time, about how best to proceed in the face of the conference’s limitations and regulations. Caughey advised him to wait until he was ordained before considering a move.

During the Booth’s ministry at Gateshead in the 1850s, Catherine first articulated her position on female ministry and commenced preaching. This step was as a result of an evangelistic mission by Walter and Phoebe Palmer, American holiness evangelists who toured the British Isles from 1859 to 1863. Their success brought them to the attention of the Booths, who preached the same Wesleyan holiness. The Booths read Phoebe Palmer’s writings and Catherine

William Booth preaches during an evangelistic tent meeting

T

he international Salvation Army is what it is today largely due to American evangelists who influenced William and Catherine Booth.

When William Booth preached on a disused Quaker burial ground at Mile End Waste in London, England, he was one of many ardent preachers who traced their evangelical roots to the American revivalists who took England by storm in the mid-1800s. Booth’s theology, revival meetings and preaching reflected the methods and message used successfully by these evangelists from the New World.

The early Salvation Army was part of a broad evangelical community, and shared much of its theology with revivalists such as Charles Finney, James Caughey, Phoebe Palmer and Dwight L. Moody. The revivalists’ emphasis on personal conversion and the need for holiness resonated with the Booths.

Speaking of the young William Booth, General Frederick Coutts wrote, “William Booth’s boyhood in Nottingham provided a harsh training for his adult calling.… [A] powerful influence upon the impressionable teenager was that of James Caughey of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the U.S.A., who visited Nottingham in 1846….

The lad was held spellbound by a master of words … dedicated to the service of the Christian gospel.”

Among the models for Booth’s ministry was the American Charles Finney (17921875), a Presbyterian evangelist who has been called “the father of modern revivalism.” Finney was known for his innovations, such as permitting women to pray in public meetings and the development of the “anxious seat,” the forerunner of the Army’s mercy seat or penitent form.

When Finney toured England in the 1850s, William and Catherine followed his ministry and studied his bestseller, Lectures on Revivals of Religion.

But the Booths were most powerfully influenced by James Caughey, an Irish-born emigrant to the United States who was converted during the revival of 1830-31, and later ordained to the Methodist ministry.

Caughey led compelling revivals in Canada but is best known for revival meetings in England where he earned the title King of Revivalist Preachers. William was converted under his preaching at Nottingham.

Using Finney’s tactics, Caughey effectively employed an altar call to bring people to a decision for Christ. When preaching, he would move around the hall, pas-

Finney’s “anxious seat” was the forerunner of the Army’s penitent form told her mother, “Her books have done me more good than anything else I have ever met with.” When a pamphlet attacking women preachers, and Phoebe Palmer in particular, was published, Catherine wrote a rebuttal: Female Ministry or Women’s Right to Preach the Gospel.

In pulling these strands together nearly 150 years later, we might ask: What is the legacy of Finney, Caughey, the Palmers and the Booths? Finney’s books are still being sold; Caughey and the Palmers are hardly known; while the Booths founded a worldwide Army that still preaches salvation and sanctification in 123 countries.

The seed from the American evangelists of long ago took root and is still bearing a bountiful harvest.

Lt-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is retired in Burlington, Ont., where he serves as a part-time hospital chaplain and amateur Army historian.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 23

MEDIA REVIEWS

Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married

Territorial Prayer Guide WEEK 1 - APRIL 1-9 Focus on Alberta and Northern Territories Division • Mjr Fred Waters, divisional commander, and the divisional team • Growth of the Spanish ministry at Calgary’s Glenmore Temple • Holiness and evangelism at Edmonton Crossroads Community Church • Youth ministries at Drumheller Community Church, Alta.

WEEK 2 - APRIL 10-16 Focus on the Property Department • Our ministry facilities will be filled with people coming to know Jesus as Saviour • Our premises will be a haven for those seeking comfort • Bricks and mortar will not take priority over people and ministry • Physical structures will enhance our impact in the community WEEK 3 - APRIL 17-23 Focus on the Call to Celebrate Christ’s Presence • Gratitude for Christ’s sacrificial, redemptive love shown on the cross • Thankfulness for Christ’s presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit • Gratitude for freedom to celebrate Christ’s presence at all our meals and meetings • God’s grace to live out “Christ in me,” in reflecting on Song 512 in the Army songbook WEEK 4 - APRIL 24-30 Focus on Church Planting • God’s guidance in the revitalization program at Calgary’s East Village Community • Wisdom for officers as they seek God’s direction in ministering to people • God to raise up creative leadership to build new faith communities • Spiritual clarity and focus for officers and their leadership teams

When God Intervenes, Let Him

Amy Simmons Alford From the lifesaving kidney that she gave to her stepfather, to the harrowing fire that nearly destroyed their family home in California, Amy Simmons Alford recounts circumstances when God miraculously intervened in her life. Her situations not only expand our appreciation for God’s faithfulness and unconditional love, but also reveal how a relationship with Jesus Christ can help us through the tough times of life, protecting us from danger and guiding us along the right path.

Thanks to Patch

A great big hole teaches us about loss, grief and change Ivy Joy Rose In taking their usual walk, Grandma and her dog, Patch, discover that, in one week, a house has been demolished with nothing left but a big hole. Grandma is shocked and begins to think about who lived there and why they moved away. The story introduces readers to the mourning process following change and loss. It also relates practical steps to express grief and experience grief recovery. Ivy Joy Smith, a retired Salvation Army officer certified by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), has produced this 34-page resource for helping children, teens and adults successfully navigate the grieving process. It is available by contacting the author at vanhrwrd@shaw.ca.

After Shock

Searching for honest faith when your world is shaken Kent Annan Kent Annan is co-director of Haiti Partners, a non-profit organization focused on education in Haiti. The devastating earthquake in Haiti not only crushed lives and buildings, but broke Annan’s heart.

His struggles to reconcile in-your-face pain and suffering with an all-powerful and loving God will resonate with those who have experienced similar heartaches and doubts. His brutal honesty is more than balanced, however, by glimpses of the beauty of God shining through inexplicable darkness.

VeggieTales: ’Twas the Night Before Easter (DVD)

’Twas the Night Before Easter examines the importance of serving those in need while exploring the real meaning of Easter. Reporter Marlee Meade is determined to save the old town theatre with a sensational Easter benefit. She already has a 20-foot robot rabbit for the show and now only needs a star. Will she steal singing sensation Cassie Cassava away from her hometown church’s Easter service? This new DVD features plenty of exciting music, including the voice of American Idol finalist, Melinda Doolittle.

To receive a copy of the monthly prayer guides by e-mail, contact Lt-Colonel Winsome Mason, territorial secretary for spiritual life development, at Winsome_ Mason@can.salvationarmy.org.

✃

24 I April 2011 I Salvationist

Gary Chapman Gary Chapman, acclaimed author of the No 1 New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages, wrote Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married to help couples achieve the goal of marital happiness. He wants you to know that just being in love is not an adequate foundation for building a successful marriage, apologizing is a sign of strength, sexual fulfilment is not automatic and couples need a plan for handling money and solving disagreements.

If you’re dating, this book will help you decide if and when you are ready to tie the knot. If you’re engaged, or recently married, you will learn skills necessary for a building a happy marriage.

MINISTRY IN ACTION

Offering FAITH

and she was struggling to deal with the ramifications of that,” explains Major Strickland. “I could relate. Having a daughter who had ended up in the correctional system for a short time, my heart went out to her.”

Based on Scaglione’s promise to volunteer, Major Strickland went ahead and launched the new program, funding or not.

“A Safe Place” The many calls to the office clearly demonstrate that there is a need for this type of support group.

“Nobody seems to care about the families of the incarcerated,” states Scaglione.

“They seem to be left out on their own, with nowhere to turn for help.

“When my son was first arrested, it was just like something from the movies,” she continues. “We couldn’t talk to anybody.

It was almost like we were infectious. We had nowhere to go, and we weren’t supported by our families.”

At least Scaglione had the relative anonymity of a larger town like Barrie, where not everybody knew her story. One woman from a nearby rural community was virtually ostracized when her husband was incarcerated.

“That was a very rough meeting,” Scaglione recalls. “We reminded her that it wasn’t something she had done as a spouse, that she couldn’t carry that guilt.”

“Knowing that other people are struggling like you, that you’re not alone, helps take the weight off of your shoulders,” affirms Major Strickland. “Families who stand alone lose hope. We want to stand with them.”

That even includes accompanying them to court appearances and helping them navigate the maze of government websites.

“FAITH is a safe place where you’re not going to be judged,” says Major Strickland.

“You can cry, you can talk—or not, if you just feel the need to listen—and you can be cared for and supported.”

Hope for the Hopeless FAITH (Families And friends of Inmates holding strong Together for Hope) provides a place where loved ones can find support.

“We try to help them keep the pieces of their lives together,” says Scaglione. “We focus on areas such as their workplace environment, family and relationships.

We want them to look to the future with optimism, to have expectations of a life after prison. Above all, we want to help them keep hope alive.”

The 90-minute meetings are held on the last Tuesday of every month and end with a devotional time.

“We remind them that when life is hard and heavy, there is hope because we have

Getting the Word Out FAITH does more than offer moral support. Major Strickland and Scaglione provide literature from Correctional Services of Canada. They’ve sent out flyers to prison chaplains in the area to distribute to inmates with families who might need such a support group. They’ve also established links with correctional and justice departments in the area as well the region’s police department.

“We believe that there is a need for this—Kelly is living proof—and we’re praying and believing and working,” says Major Strickland. “It takes that much more time and effort without adequate funding, but we’re trying to get the word out. We’re doing it all on faith.”

For the families of those incarcerated, Major Faye Strickland and Kelly Scaglione provide proof that they are not alone

BY KEN RAMSTEAD, EDITOR, FAITH & FRIENDS AND FOI & VIE

M

ajor Faye Strickland remembers visiting her daughter in prison as a dark time. “It was almost as if she had died,” she recalls now.

“While I had some support as an officer, I didn’t have anyone to talk to who would understand. It was a dark journey back to the light.

“Now, I don’t want anyone else to face that kind of experience alone, to go through what I went through. That’s what FAITH is all about.”

Birth of FAITH When Major Strickland was transferred to The Salvation Army’s Correctional and Justice Services in Barrie, Ont., three years ago, she still felt that need to help the families of those incarcerated. But her attempts to obtain government funding were unsuccessful.

A few months later, however, she was contacted by a woman looking for a support group for family members of those in prison. Though Major Strickland told her that no such group existed in the area, the woman still asked to meet Major Strickland.

“Kelly Scaglione has a son in prison

a faithful God who loves us and has a plan for every life,” says Major Strickland.

Kelly Scaglione with Mjr Faye Strickland

Salvationist I April 2011 I 25

Celebrate Community

Enrolments and Recognition ST. JOHN’S, N.L.— Two local officers receive their commissions at St. John’s Temple. From left, CSM Larry Purdy; Mjr Elaine Braye, CO; YPSM Lorraine Pope; DBM Mark Barter; Mjr David Braye, CO. RENFREW, ONT.—Baby Reina Ogborne is dedicated at Renfrew Community Church. Front row, from left, Noah, Caleb and Tayla Ogborne. Back row, from left, Mjr Glenn W i r a c h o w s k y, CO; Leanne and Nicholas Ogborne, parents; Reina Ogborne; Ed and Debbie Giles, grandparents; Mjr Jeananne Wirachowsky, CO.

REGINA—Robert Cameron, Troy Buchanan and Jaden Buchanan proudly accept new instruments purchased for the junior band of the Haven of Hope Ministries. On January 9, six cornets, two horns and two euphoniums were dedicated to the glory of God by Cpt Steven Cameron, CO, and Jason Houchen, YP bandmaster. The instruments were made possible by a legacy for musical instruments for outreach to children provided by the territorial music department.

TORONTO—West Hill Community Church is delighted at the enrolment of a junior soldier and the renewed commitment of two others.

Front row, from left, Mjr Derrick Barrow, CO; Nathan Shockley; Nathan Webb; Jacob Blake.

Back row, from left, Madeline Blake, leader; CSM Roland Blake; Mjr Judith Barrow, CO. 26 I April 2011 I Salvationist

FREDERICTON—Two soldiers are enrolled at Fredericton Community Church during anniversary celebrations. From left, Colonels Tracey and Floyd Tidd, TSWM and CS; Cody Russel; Joe Fisher; Cpts Jennifer and Bradley Reid, COs.

MOUNT PEARL, N.L.—An Eb horn is dedicated in memory of Seymour Dyke, who had been a member of the corps in Mount Pearl since its inception. Worship featured Dyke’s favourite songs and choruses. His grandson, Aaron Dyke, played a cornet solo, In His Time, accompanied by the senior band. Front row, from left, Mjr Vida Ryan, CO; Beverley Dyke; Aaron Dyke; BM Glenn Dyke; CSM George Wiseman; Cpt Leigh Ryan, CO. Back row, Dennis Dyke, Artie Dyke.

YARMOUTH, N.S.—Yarmouth Community Church’s newest member, Breasa Gabriel, became a follower of Christ and an adherent through the influence of her Salvationist friends. From left, Margaret Baggs, Amelia Rowe, Breasa Gabriel, Raghan Fougere.

REGINA—Haven of Hope Ministries celebrates three new soldiers. From left, Cpt Corinne Cameron, CO; Loretta Revet; Bruce Churchill; Brandi Churchill.

SWIFT CURRENT, SASK.—When Dusty and Laurie Sauder were enrolled as senior soldiers, they also dedicated their two children, Elaina and Ayrton, to the Lord. From left, Lloyd Sauder; Laurie Sauder; Ayrton Sauder; Dusty Sauder; Elaina Sauder; Cpt Michael Ramsay, CO; Elaine Sauder.

Celebrate Community

LONDON, ONT.—London Citadel rejoices at the enrolment of 17 junior soldiers. Standing with them, from left, are Mjrs Ann and Jamie Braund, COs; CSM Dan Jaremko. From left, Krissandra Edwards, Abbygale Shelley, Isabella Barnes, Hannah Gillingham, Shannon Palmer, Rachel Pye, Delaney FynRiley, Bradley Palmer, Andy Brooks, Clayton Thornburrow, Nicholas Jaremko, Ethan Woodland, Riley Stevenson, Benjamin Hawkins, Jacob Gower, Quinton Shelley, C. J. Riman.

DILDO, N.L.—Trinity Bay South Corps welcomes 90-year-old Ralph Williams as a senior soldier.

From left, Cpts Chris and Claudette Pilgrim, COs; Ralph Williams; CSM Glen Reid.

DILDO, N.L.—Trinity Bay South Corps enrols Lewis Higdon, Harold Pollett and Graham Williams as senior soldiers.

SUSSEX, N.B.—Sussex Community Church welcomes 13 new members during its 125th anniversary celebrations, including three senior soldiers, six adherents and four re-instated soldiers. From left, guests Mjrs George and Holly Patterson; Richard Fullarton; Mary Boyd; Carol Fullarton; Sharon Stronge; CSM Gisele McKnight, holding flag; Karen Ann Murphy; Wayne Murphy; Darlene McGraw; Donna Virtue; Geraldine Gowlett; Linda Stewart; Joanne Patterson; Walter Folkins; Shondra McLean; Mjr Judy Folkins, CO; Mjr Stan Folkins, AC, Maritime Div.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—St. John’s Temple celebrates the enrolment of 10 soldiers. Front row, from left, Mjr Elaine Braye, CO; Deborah Barrow, youth pastor; Samantha Howse; Morgan Hounsell; Angela Pope; Kathryn Bowers; Hannah Boone; April Sheppard; Megan Noble; RS Arlene Riche; Mjr David Braye, CO. Back row, from left, Caleb Pond, Robbie Lee, Christopher Howse.

VICTORIA—Cpt Lorraine Burry, assistant executive director, Victoria Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre, presents a certificate to Lyle Smith for 20 years of service as an employee and manager at the centre.

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L.—Happy ValleyGoose Bay Community Church enrols four junior soldiers during its 48th anniversary celebrations.

Front row, from left, Mjrs Stan and Debbie Higdon, COs; Marcus Best; Taylor Thompson; Rachael Andrews. Back row, from left, Wilson Baggs; Emily Andrews; Mjrs Elaine and Stephen Hibbs, ASWM and AC, N.L. Div.

TORONTO—West Hill Community Church celebrates five new senior soldiers during their corps anniversary Sunday. From left, CSM Roland Blake; Mjrs Everett and Violet Barrow, anniversary guests; Brian Richardson; Bond Blake, holding flag; Chantelle Lewis; Florence Cribb; Wallace Cribb; Edward Blake; Mjrs Derrick and Judith Barrow, COs. Salvationist I April 2011 I 27

Celebrate Community

Retired Officer’s Ministry of Love

Kingston Citadel Salvationist, Joshua Edwards, won the 2010 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award, an initiative sponsored by Kingston This Week and community newspapers across the province. Kingston This Week calls Joshua “a confident go-getter with a place in his heart for young children.” He teaches Sunday school, leads a weekly youth group and volunteers at day camps.

Joshua has also organized a Halloween party for underprivileged children where participating adults were invited to donate to the local food bank.

Joshua Edwards and his nomin“Josh genuinely cares for people,” ator, Joan Rose says Mjr Wilf Brown-Ratfcliffe, corps officer. “He is able to empathize with those who are disadvantaged.” Edwards plays in the corps brass ensemble, regularly visiting nursing homes and every Christmas morning goes with the band to play Christmas carols at Kingston General Hospital. An honour student at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Edwards is the Cave Radio student manager.

Through this radio broadcasting program, Edwards’ commitment, skills and talents have greatly contributed to building positive relationships with students, staff and the larger community.

SARNIA, ONT.—After 47 years of ministry in corps, public relations, suicide prevention and chaplaincy, Mjr Robert McKerracher’s passion for people has prompted him in the past 10 years of retirement to man the Christmas kettles in Sarnia, Ont., during the cold days of December. Surgery in May 2010 and a month recovering in hospital slowed him down, but did not diminish his sense of humour. “They had a tube down my throat and I couldn’t talk,” laughs Mjr McKerracher. “That’s not easy for an officer who spent 21 years in public relations!” Why does he volunteer?

Apart from helping the needy, “I love people, and being on the kettle gives me the chance to meet lots of people,” says the 84-year-old.

Ford Dealers Donate $36,000 for Children’s Toys MARKHAM, ONT.—J. David Nourse, vice-president of Kennedy Ford Sales, gives Tom Brown, CTV news weather anchor, and Cpt John Murray, DSPRD, Ont. CE Div, a cheque for $36,000 to purchase children’s toys. Toronto area Ford dealers partnered with The Salvation Army through the CTV Toy Mountain Campaign to give thousands of children in the Greater Toronto Area a Christmas full of smiles.

Salvationist Becomes All-Canadian Athlete Salvationist Jessica Pearo was selected as McMaster University’s female athlete of the year for 2009-2010. In 2010, she won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) individual cross-country championship and was a member of Team Canada, winning bronze at the World University Cross Country Championship. Her accomplishments also include four times being an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) all-star and an all-Canadian athlete, as well as cross-country most valuable player. Pearo has also maintained an all-Canadian academic standing for three years.

When not attending Richmond Hill Community Church, where her parents, Mjrs David and Beth Pearo, are the corps officers, Pearo is involved with McMaster Campus church on Sunday afternoons and assists with the welcoming committee. She also leads a weekly small group Bible study. Pearo says that being captain of the cross-country/track team for the past three years “has been a challenging opportunity to remain true to my faith while trying to be an example to and lead a team of high calibre athletes.”

28 I April 2011 I Salvationist

Photo: Lynn Rees Lambert, Kingston This Week

Salvationist Teen Wins Junior Citizen Award

Mjr Robert McKerracher takes a shift on the Christmas kettle in Sarnia, Ont.

Opening Hearts and Cupboards TORONTO—National Recycling Operations (NRO) utilized its 33 thrift stores in the Central Ontario and Niagara Regions for a special Christmas project: Open Your Hearts and Your Cupboards. Shoppers were invited to place non-perishable food items in large blue bins with eye-catching signs located in each store. Though the goal was to collect the equivalent of 300 full shopping carts for the socially marginalized, they filled 314.

“We have food bins in our stores all year, but this was our first campaign,” says Jana Rees, regional marketing co-ordinator, Central Ontario Region.

“The enthusiasm from our communities never ceases to amaze us, and we look forward to making this project an annual feature during the Christmas holidays.” During 2010, NRO’s Ontario Ontario Region also gave 60 tents to Haitian refugees, sent over 100 children to summer camp and raised $50,000 for the Christmas kettle campaign.

Ann Pobjoy places a non-perishable food item in a contribution bin

Record-Breaking Generosity in Nova Scotia HALIFAX—The Salvation Army and Shoppers Drug Mart partnered to raise funds for women’s health in the Halifax area through the ninth annual Tree of Life campaign. A record-breaking $30,000 was raised, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. This tremendous effort was recognized at the Beary Merry Christmas concerts with the presentation of an appreciation certificate to Todd Barhill, representative of Shoppers Drug Mart (Truro), by Mjr Ross Bungay, executive director, Halifax Centre of Hope, and Rhonda Harrington, DSPRD, Maritime Div. Those who attended the concert that featured Liz Rigney, Scott Boyd and the Stadacona Band were asked to bring a teddy bear to support the Army’s Christmas toy effort. A record number of bears were received and delivered through the efforts of such people as Marjorie Kirby of Bedford, N.S.

Celebrate Community

Tributes ROBERT’S ARM, N.L.—Ruth Collett (nee Burton Heath) was born in Beaumont, N.L., in 1913. She married Peter Heath, a widower with a young daughter, and they had nine children. They moved to Robert’s Arm, attended the Army and committed their lives to Christ. After 32 years of marriage, Peter died and Ruth later married Salvationist widower Lewellyn Collett and became stepmother to his daughter. After 16 years of marriage, Lewellyn was promoted to Glory. Home league secretary for 27 years, Ruth also taught Sunday school, served on corps council, faithfully attended Bible study and worship and generously supported the corps financially. Having “fought the good fight [and] finished the race,” she left a lasting spiritual legacy to her children and community.

Ruth is remembered by sons Chesley (Marion), Ambrose (Renate), Ford (Hazel), Bruce (Bonnie) and Harold (Sherry); daughters Francis (Roland) and Hilda (Murray); stepdaughters Margaret and Louise (Cyril); sisters Pearl and Francis; brother, Harold; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

SANDYS PARISH, BERMUDA—Frances Ismay White was born in Sandys Parish and accepted Christ as Saviour as a child. She was enrolled as a senior soldier in 1946 and became the longest serving soldier at White Hill Corps. After her mother died, Frances lived with her sister, Esther, and brother-in-law, Kenneth, and helped to raise their six children. Though never married, she looked after many children in the community. She took neighbourhood children to Sunday school and swimming, and people counted on her to run errands. Frances served as drummer for many years at White Hill Corps and enjoyed working with community care ministries and the home league. She shared her joy by visiting seniors’ homes and the hospital. In 2005, former Premier Alex Scott awarded her a certificate of appreciation during seniors’ week. One of her favourite Scripture verses was “I can do all [things] through him who gives me strength” EOI 4:13).

Salvationist Page.pdf joyful 3 1/20/2011 PM spirit touched the (Philippians HerQtrloving, and2:54:42 serving hearts of countless people.

The Salvation Army Historical Society The 97th Anniversary Memorial Service commemorating the sinking of the

BELLEVILLE, ONT.—Bert Hatfield was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to Canada as a four-year-old. He played in the junior and senior bands and was a Sunday school teacher at Belleville Corps. After retirement and up to the age of 91, Bert served coffee and refreshments following the Sunday morning service until shortly before his death.

Bert is remembered by wife, Muriel; sons Doug (Sandie) and Larry (Linda); grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends.

GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L.—Reginald Burt was born in Tizzard’s Harbour, N.L., in 1928. At age 22, he committed his life to Christ at Corner Brook Citadel, N.L., and influenced many people for Christ during his 59 years of serving God. Reg was young people’s sergeant major at the former Windsor Corps, N.L., for 15 years, and became the first divisional league of mercy secretary for the then Central Newfoundland Division, a position he held for 10 years. He was a member of the band, songsters, corps census board and corps council. Reg especially enjoyed being divisional envoy for over 20 years. He loved to witness to others, often asking people, “How’s your soul?” Reg is dearly missed by wife, Vera, of 60 years; daughter, Joan (Allan) Hawkins and son, Billy (Goldie) Burt.

TORONTO—Cyrus Wilfred (Fred) Creighton was born in 1927 in Oakland, Calif. In 1936, his family moved to Toronto where Fred eventually began working for International Business Machines (IBM). In 1954, Fred married June Owens. His grandparents, Major and Mrs. David Creighton, perished in the Empress of Ireland disaster in 1914, and Fred helped to raise funds to purchase artifacts from the sunken ship. In 1948, he became bandmaster at East Toronto Corps.

After the family transferred to Scarborough Citadel in 1961, he served as young people’s bandmaster and trained hundreds of band members.

He later became senior bandmaster, retiring in 1994. Through Salvation Army music ministry, Fred influenced many young people to serve God, always placing the gospel of Jesus Christ foremost. In retirement, he volunteered for the Army’s music department and archives at territorial headquarters in Toronto, spending countless hours researching and cataloguing Salvation Army brass and choral music. Left to celebrate Fred’s life are June, wife of 56 years; sons Paul (Jenny) and Bruce (Susan); daughter, Donna (James); five grandsons; three granddaughters; brother, David (Judy); and many friends.

GAZETTE

TERRITORIAL Appointments Mjrs Marvin/Vera Youden, Pilley’s Island, N.L. Div; Mjr Lorraine Hart, private secretary to General Linda Bond, IHQ; Mjr Erin Verhey-Johnson, chaplain, Bethany Hope Centre, Ottawa, Ont. CE Div* *Designation change Promotions to Glory Comr Arthur Pitcher, from Toronto, Jan 28; Mjr Janet Ferguson, from Abbotsford, B.C., Jan 31; Mjr Evelyn Cooper, from Botwood, N.L., Feb 7; Cpt Robert Habkirk, from Abbotsford, B.C. Feb 12; Brg Ruth Knowles, from Oshawa, Ont., Feb 13

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CALENDAR

CMY

K

and paying tribute to those officers and soldiers of The Salvation Army who have been promoted to glory since May 30, 2010.

Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Pritchett - Divisional Commander and the Ontario Central East Divisional Youth Band

Sunday, May 29th, 2011 at 3:00 pm - Rain or Shine

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto

Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis Apr 3 Laotian Corps, Hamilton, Ont.; Apr 8-9 Cambridge Corps, Boston; Apr 11-16 Cuba mission trip; Apr 26 advisory board, Saint John, N.B.; Apr 28 board of trustees and graduation, Booth University College, Winnipeg Colonels Floyd and Tracey Tidd Apr 28-30 board of trustees and graduation, Booth University College, Winnipeg General and Mrs. Bramwell Tillsley (Rtd) Apr 9 Mississauga Temple, Ont. Canadian Staff Band Apr 30-May 1 Listowel, Ont. Salvationist I April 2011 I 29

CLARION CALL

Dreamers

We need leaders who believe in greater things

By Major Fred Ash

A

pril is a significant month in The Salvation Army. It was in April that William Booth, the Founder of the Army, was born (April 10, 1829). It is in April that General Linda Bond takes leadership of this worldwide organization.

It is not hard to think of General Booth and General Bond in the same sentence.

General Booth was a dreamer.

By that I mean he was a visionary. He believed that God had given him a destiny to serve the poor and to make the marginalized of society aware of the gospel.

We Salvationists know the story well of how young Booth left home one night and trudged through that dismal part of Victorian London, 30 I April 2011 I Salvationist

England, known as Mile End Waste. Passing through the filthy streets lined with “shows, shooting-ranges, petty dealers and quack-doctors,” he came to the Blind Beggar pub where some street evangelists were holding a meeting. Recognizing the young preacher, they invited him to speak. Booth addressed the crowd of “lurching bravoes from the ditches, drabs from the alleyways and pale drug fiends with minds still passion-ridden and soulpowers frail.” He looked upon the “unwashed legions with the ways of death” and he fell in love with them. He preached to them the gospel in all its power and beauty because he saw them not as they were but dreamed of what they could become. At midnight

he returned home to his wife with the news, “Kate, I have found my destiny.”

I think that in a similar way General Bond has also found her destiny. In an interview following her election she said that “the marginalized, the poor and the addicted were part of the community landscape” where she grew up (see pages 9-11). Early in her life she recognized that her parents were committed to seeing things change for those who were hurting, and she caught that caring spirit. Upon being nominated for the Army’s highest position she said, “My overall feeling was that ‘this is of the Lord.’ ” There are two big differences between Booth and Bond. One is their ages and the other is the age in which they serve. Booth was in his 30s, a young man with decades of leadership ahead of him. He shaped the Army and steered its rapid growth around the world. Bond is already a senior citizen. She can give us only a few years of service and will then be replaced by another senior. The fact that she was not elected 10 years ago is our loss. I wonder why the best of our gifted leaders are made to wait until their senior years to take on the most demanding task in the entire Salvation Army world.

The other difference between the Founder and our present General is the age in which each was called to serve. General Booth served in the Victorian Age. This was a time when English culture, language and military dominated the globe. In that age it was said that the sun never set on the British Empire.

Wherever the British dominated, The Salvation Army had an open door to evangelism.

For the Army it was “natural church development” to grow with the empire.

This is a different age.

General Bond’s task, in some ways, is much more challen-

ging. Expansion cannot happen on the coattails of another political or social movement.

She can build upon that foundation which is already laid, but for expansion she must use creative methods other than the kind used by Booth.

Listening to General Bond is like listening to some of the old stalwarts like Generals Wiseman, Coutts and Orsborn.

She speaks the language of the pioneer Army―of calling, holiness, soldiership, officership, evangelism and commitment to Jesus. She talks about revival and prayer and she really believes that the best days of the Army are yet to come.

But one General does not an army make. No leader can accomplish anything by herself. She needs likeminded officers, soldiers and adherents.

She needs Salvationists who cherish the core values of the organization and who are as committed to the cause as were William and Catherine Booth and George Scott Railton.

Alas, in this territory there is a great dichotomy between this dream and the current reality. Officer ranks are thinning.

Many of our members do not see soldiership as being necessary. Our work with children and youth is proving ineffective. Evangelism takes second place to humanitarianism.

But in spite of that, the General’s words bring hope.

She said, “I have a sense deep in my spirit that God is wanting to do something in the Army, through the Army, that I can’t quite articulate.” Let us pray that her dream will become for her a clear vision that she will articulate plainly in the days ahead and that the Army will again rise up and “win the world for Jesus.”

Dream on, General, dream on. We need leaders who believe in greater things.

Major Fred Ash is the corps officer at Burlington Community Church, Ont.

RETHINKING CHURCH

Church is a Verb

Let’s define ourselves by our actions in the world, not by the places we gather

By Captain Deana Zelinsky

W

hen you hear the word “church,” what comes to mind? This was the lead question posed at a recent small group gathering at our church.

For the most part, the replies reinforced a negative perception of church as a gathering place for the religious elite.

There is a tendency to define church as “a person, place or thing” rather than “actions, events or states of being.” In other words, we interpret church as a noun rather than a verb. According to my Grade 7 teacher, Mr. Carpenter, the verb is the most important part of a sentence because it states something about the subject or object. Our small group defined church as a concrete form rather than describing who it is or what she does.

What if we began to understand church as a verb? And also defined its people by what they do? Would this help change the impressions of a small group like ours?

The idea of church as a verb isn’t new.

Some may recall a similar campaign in Western churches called “Love is a Verb.”

This initiative suggested that the essence of Christianity is responding to the outpoured love of God by actively loving others.

We can better understand this concept when we view it through the Wesleyan lens of Scripture, Salvation Army tradition, reason and experience.

Scripture—The whole of Scripture emphasizes an active faith. The prophet Micah reminds us “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (see Micah 6:8, italics added). Note the emphasis on the actions. As the Church, we are to do what is right and fair, show compassion by helping others and, with a meek spirit, seek to know God and let

We need to involve our people in the community and give them an outlet for the practical expression of their faith him know us. If the weight of this responsibility seems overwhelming, we can find encouragement in the words of the Apostle Paul: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). The Holy Spirit is the initiator of God’s work in our lives, and he will continue to work, convict, move and inspire us until Jesus returns. This means that God doesn’t leave us to our own devices to figure all this out. Rather, he works in and through us to fulfil his perfect will, and enable us to act out our faith.

Tradition—The idea of Church as active and mobile is embedded in the Army’s DNA. In Red Hot and Righteous, Diane Winston recounts the story of the Army’s founder, William Booth, coming across a group of homeless men sleeping under the London Bridge.

Booth ordered his son Bramwell to “do something.” The result was the opening of the Army’s first men’s shelter. Our tradition is rooted in the living out of the gospel— “Heart to God, hand to man.”

Reason—The rationale for our social and evangelistic activism attracts young people to The Salvation Army. We are the church with its sleeves rolled up. If we want to keep this generation in the Church, we need to involve them in the community and give them an outlet for the practical expression of their faith.

Experience—Authentic faith manifests itself in doing. I find my faith strengthened in preparing a meal for the hungry or visiting with people who are sick or lonely.

Just as Christ “gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering” (see Ephesians 5:2), so, too, we are called to give up ourselves. I do this through prayer, studying God’s Word and responding to the needs of others; these activities fuel me. As a pragmatist, it might come easier to me than others, yet Scripture is clear: “Faith without deeds is useless” (see James 2:20).

I am hopeful. If we focus on embodying the biblical meaning of the Church, perhaps we will better understand our mission and purpose in the world. It’s possible if we learn to live out church as a verb.

Captain Deana Zelinsky and her husband, Rick, are the corps officers at North Toronto Community Church.

Salvationist I April 2011 I 31

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