Army Helps in Malawi SOWING HOPE P.22
AHL‘s Ryan Carpenter CENTRE STAGE P.10
Faith & Friends
Special
FOR THREE DECADES, SALVATIONIST
LORI BARRY HAS TAUGHT THE CHILDREN NO ONE WANTED TO TEACH—AND THEY HAVE CHANGED HER LIFE. P.16
PHRASE BE is an ongoing series highlighting the dozens of everyday sayings that originate with biblical text. In this issue, we unpack:
TIMES SIGNS OF THE
PHRASE: Signs of the times.
DEFINITION: Something that underscores the current state of society.
EXAMPLE: Movie tickets are getting more expensive. Must be a sign of the times.
SOURCE: “[Jesus] replied, ‘When evening comes, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,” and in the morning, “Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.’ ” —Matthew 16:23 Photo:
Jesus often rebuked the Sadducees and the Pharisees—the Jewish religious elites of the time—for their inability to grasp the importance of His earthly ministry. They could predict the weather but not see God’s hand at work!
But are we as nearsighted as they were? It’s easy to chuckle at their spiritual blindness but do we often miss the good work being done today, every day? God is as active in the world today as He was then. Jesus’ work is as important today as it was 2,000 years ago. We just must be attentive to the times … and see the signs.
COMMON GROUND
5 A Simple Cut?
For this young hair stylist, volunteering means more than just helping others look good.
SOMEONE CARES
More Than Just Meals
In Goderich, Ont., The Salvation Army is serving up a world of flavours at the Kids’ Cooking Club.
CHANGER 10 Centre Stage
The AHL’s Ryan Carpenter wears his faith on his hockey stick, for others to see and share.
three decades, Lori Barry has taught the children no one wanted to teach—and they have changed her
Cover photo: Angela Hayden
Teachable Moment
Interviewing teacher Lori Barry for this month ’ s cover story brought to mind a long-ago experience from my own school days.
Ms. Fernandez’s Monday morning English class was my introduction to high school, a daunting experience for me coming from a small elementary school. No longer were we in one room all day; we had to scamper from class to class. Lockers?
Combination locks? It was all very overwhelming.
So that first period, I parked myself in the very back row and resolved to keep as silent as I could. After all, what could I contribute?
One gloomy Monday, we were discussing the contents of a poem I have long since forgotten but that involved a large paper bag the wind was whipping about, which refused to be ripped apart.
“What does that mean, Mr. Ramstead?” Ms. Fernandez pointed at me.
Uh oh. We had just started the class. No way could I wait her out until the end of the period.
“Uh, the indestructability of the human spirit?” I stammered.
“Very good, Mr. Ramstead!” she smiled. “Let ’ s hope we hear more from you going forward!”
From then on, I became more confident in my opinions, and that carried over to the rest of my courses, and the rest of my life, really.
All it took was one teacher to bring me out of my shell, and Lori Barry is an educator whose faith in God and spiritual dedication also accomplishes miracles. Her story is on page 16.
Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, we continue our series on the Beatitudes of Jesus, the greatest of all teachers, spotlight the good work The Salvation Army is doing in Malawi and showcase the world of flavours that the Army is cooking up in Goderich, Ont.
Mission Statement
To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.
Ken Ramstead
Faith & Friends is published bimonthly by:
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The Barber of Maple Ridge Ellie Ollenberger donates her services to The Salvation Army
A Simple Cut?
For this young hair stylist, volunteering at a Salvation Army shelter means more than just helping others look good.
by Jeanette Levellie
When Ellie Ollenberger, a 22-year-old hair stylist at Bromley Hair Lounge in Maple Ridge, B.C., volunteered to cut hair for a women’s day in downtown Vancouver, an idea came alive.
I grew up with the people in this community, she thought. I need to do something to make a difference in their lives.
God at Work
Ellie drove past The Salvation Army’s Ridge Meadows Ministries every day on her way to work. Although she’s never been homeless herself, she had a friend who was a client there.
“I decided this Salvation Army shelter was a good place to start volunteering.”
Photo: Giuliano Mendonca
A Little Off the Top Ellie grew up with the people in this community and needed to do something to make a difference in their lives
A Cut Above
“Giving back to my community is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,”
Ellie says
Amelia Norrie, the fundraising co-ordinator at Ridge Meadows, shares about the different ways they serve people.
“Our outreach has two main parts,” she explains, “our shelter ministry and our community and family services ministry.”
While the two ministries operate in tandem, they help two very different groups of people.
“At our shelter, we focus on providing our guests with the
basic needs of food, clothing and assistance,” Amelia explains. When Ellie volunteered to give free haircuts, the directors were grateful they could offer their clients more than basic physical needs.
Samantha Mann, the volunteer co-ordinator at Ridge Meadows Ministries, was the first person Ellie contacted.
“When she offered to give free haircuts to our shelter clients, I was genuinely grateful,” says Samantha.
Photos:
Giuliano Mendonca
“It was such a thoughtful and practical way to serve, and it met a need we often see but don’t always have the resources to fill.”
Samantha feels that Ellie’s generosity has made a real impact.
“For many of our clients, a haircut isn’t just about appearance—it’s about feeling confident and cared for. I do believe it was one of those moments where you can really see God working through someone.”
The Gift of Hope
Ellie takes her gift of cutting and styling hair a notch higher during the one day a month that she volunteers at the Maple Ridge shelter. Free haircuts are her way to lift people’s spirits and offer them a sense of dignity, which many marginalized people have lost.
“Giving back to my community is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” she says.
One recipient of Ellie’s service was Alan, a senior whose smile filled the mirror Ellie held up for him to look
into after his haircut.
“I haven’t felt this great about myself in a long time,” he says, adding that having his hair cut offered him dignity.
A female client, Tara, related how she’d cut her own hair because she simply can’t afford a professional styling job. Her beautiful grin after the cut told the story: her confidence had been recharged.
As a person who recently completed her first year of sobriety, Ellie understands what it’s like to need help, to feel alone. The compassion she gained for others during her own recovery compels her to give back the hope she was offered. Jesus referred to people like Ellie when He said, “Whenever you did it for any of My people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for Me” (Matthew 25:40 Contemporary English Version).
To some, a haircut might seem like a simple thing, but to Ellie and those she helps, it’s a gift of hope.
Author of six books and hundreds of published articles, Jeanette Levellie and her husband make their home in Paris, Illinois. Jeanette’s hobbies include spoiling her three grandchildren, pampering her cats and inventing new ways to avoid housework. Find her splashes of hope and humour at jeanettelevellie.com.
(left)
Food and Friends
More Than Just Meals
In Goderich, Ont., The Salvation Army is serving up a world of flavours at the Kids’ Cooking Club.
by Chris McGregor
Every Wednesday, 16-year-old
Jerzy Coburn joins a small group of young chefs at The Salvation Army Suncoast Citadel in Goderich, Ont., to sharpen their culinary and leadership skills in the Kids’ Cooking Club.
Jerzy first learned about the club from a friend and decided to check it out, and now, after a couple of years, she feels much more confident in the kitchen. Open to youth aged 12 to 17, the program provides hands-on experience in meal preparation while teaching essential food-handling knowledge and kitchen safety skills.
“I used to be nervous about cooking meat because I didn’t want to undercook it,” she shares. “But after being in the club, I’ve learned how to tell when it’s done properly.”
Jerzy Coburn (fourth from left) with her fellow chefs at the Kids' Cooking Club
“Students prepare and cook a meal and, at 5:30 p.m., parents are welcome to join their children for dinner.”
LISA WALKER
Nurturing Time
Each session, led by program co-ordinator Lisa Walker, features a new theme. Currently, participants are exploring foods of the world.
“Every week, we focus on a different country. Students prepare and cook a meal and, at 5:30 p.m., parents are welcome to join their children for dinner,” Lisa explains. By mealtime, anywhere between 12 and 18 people gather to enjoy the dishes. Recent menu items include tourtière with mashed potatoes, green bean almondine and cauliflower au gratin, as well as homemade perogies served with kielbasa and sauerkraut.
Beyond improving her cooking skills, Jerzy has gained patience and leadership experience. She even volunteers at a Suncoast Citadel cooking program for younger children, passing along what she’s learned.
“Naturally, they didn’t know how to do most things, so teaching them took a lot of patience,” she recalls. “But it was fun seeing them learn.”
One of Jerzy’s most memorable experiences in the club was making homemade Pop-Tarts.
“I’d never made anything like that before. Some turned out perfect, and others, not so much,” she says. “But I enjoyed trying something new.”
While she isn’t planning to become a professional chef, the skills Jerzy’s gained will stay with her as she moves toward independence and prepares for post-secondary schooling.
With each session, the Kids’ Cooking Club is serving up more than just meals—it’s nurturing learning, growth and connection.
(left) Chris McGregor is the national communications and engagement specialist at The Salvation Army Thrift Store, National Recycling Operations.
Photo: Lisa Walker
Focused on the Goal Ryan Carpenter takes his spiritual life as seriously as his hockey life
Centre Stage
The AHL’s Ryan Carpenter wears his faith on his hockey stick, for others to see and share.
by Jayne Thurber-Smith
Growing up near sunny Orlando, Florida, former San Jose Sharks centre Ryan Carpenter didn’t cling to any NHL aspirations, as many young Canadian boys do. But he had hockey in his blood, nonetheless. Ryan’s dad grew up in Staten Island, New York, and was a true New York Rangers fan.
“There weren’t too many kids from my school interested in hockey,” Ryan remembers. “I started out just playing in our driveway a lot. Sometimes my dad would get outside with me to play street hockey, and neighbourhood kids would join in. Then the owner of the Orlando Magic built a nice ice hockey facility in town, and I got to go play there.”
Different Routes
Ryan’s childhood dreams only went as far as college hockey.
“I knew if I got into a good junior league, that would help my chances,” he says. “A friend of mine moved to Ohio, and his dad helped me get a tryout with Victory Honda. I moved in with a host family to play Triple A hockey, and from there I got to play in the American Hockey League. I never really knew the path to keep advancing but I just kept going.”
Ryan enjoyed a good freshman season playing hockey for Bowling
Giving His All Ryan brings the same effort to the ice, whether it’s the NHL or the AHL
Green State University, earning the Rookie of the Year title.
“I couldn’t have an agent until I signed my pro contract, and I was told there was a good chance I could sign an NHL contract,” he says. “At the time, I was just focused on being the best student athlete I could be, and I also attended development camps. I knew if I kept working hard, it would pay off.”
Ryan is grateful that his time at Bowling Green allowed him to play a lot of high-level hockey.
“I kept asking coaches for feedback, and they helped me improve every year,” he comments. “Everyone develops at different times. I saw some kids get drafted at 18, but I also saw other guys who weren’t drafted get signed as free agents, and that’s the route I went.”
Photos: Courtesy of the San Diego Gulls
“My relationship with Jesus is the best thing in my life.”
RYAN CARPENTER
Dream Come True
Ryan was 23 when he signed with the Sharks in 2014, and joined their minor league club, the Worcester Sharks. He made the San Jose Sharks at the age of 26.
“My wife and I were newly married, living out here with a baby,” he recalls.
After a few years with the Sharks, Ryan went on to play with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, then the Chicago Blackhawks, the Calgary Flames and even a few months for the New York Rangers in 2022.
“My dad cheers for whatever team I’m on,” he says. “But he’s from New York and I wore a few Rangers jerseys as a kid. I remembered it was so fun to watch their games during those years with Gretzky and Messier playing. To play wearing a Rangers jersey in Madison Square Garden in front of my dad was a dream come true.”
“The Best Thing”
Ryan rejoined the San Jose Sharks in 2023 with a one-year contract. It was rewarding to see his career come full circle, landing back to San Jose where it all started. “A lot had changed: we
had two more kids, there were many new faces on the team, but thankfully we could attend the same church.”
Last summer he signed as a free agent to a two-year AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls. Throughout all his various hockey seasons, Ryan’s faith has triumphed over his uncertainty.
“There have been many times in my life that I have seen God provide,” he says. “I just take things one day at a time. I’m not in control of a lot of things, so I prepare as if it all depends on me, but I know in the end God has a plan that is best. Looking back at other free-agent periods of my life, I can see how He’s come through, and I was always in the place I needed to be.”
As a freshman at Bowling Green, a pastor friend helped Ryan see that he could go beyond religion and have a true relationship with Jesus.
“At that moment, I finally experienced real freedom, with no more shame or guilt,” he recalls. “My relationship with Jesus is the best thing in my life.”
Romans 5:8 Ryan is grateful that Hockey
Fun Family Outing
There’s nothing like bringing smiles to the faces of the fans!
Ministries International (HMI) supplies chaplains to many NHL locker rooms to help the players along in their life’s journey.
“Most teams I’ve played on have had a chaplain,” he says. “Their program is so cool! When I was with the Sharks they had Roger McCarty. He’s from a local church and served us at least once a week, sometimes via Zoom as necessary. Taking time to get into the Bible always encourages me. Applying the Bible to our lives and having proximity to other Christians is important. It puts life into perspective, helping us remember
what’s important in this life.”
Ryan welcomes the opportunity to share his testimony with others, and he writes “Romans 5:8” on every hockey stick he uses.
“When guys ask about what’s on my stick, I tell them the New Testament verse says, ‘God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,’ ” he says. “It’s a very simple way of sharing the gospel with others. I’m very thankful the love of God is always the same toward us, when we’re getting it right and even when we’re not.”
(left)
Jayne ThurberSmith is a wife, mother of four and freelance writer from Nova Scotia who presently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She enjoys tennis, horseback riding and reading.
Photo: Courtesy of the San Diego Gulls
Light of the World, in theatres now, is an animated film about the ministry of Jesus, told through the eyes of the Apostle John, who is widely believed to have been the youngest of Jesus’ 12 disciples.
In this fictional reimagining, John’s family owes a debt they can’t pay, and tax collectors are threatening to imprison John’s father because of it. John has heard about a man named Jesus, who has been performing miracles, so he takes his father to meet Him.
“I’ve brought someone who can help. This is Jesus,” John proudly proclaims.
John’s father isn’t impressed by the
Telling Tales
CAN ONE STORY CHANGE THE WORLD? NEW MOVIE, LIGHT OF THE WORLD, SAYS IT CAN.
by Diane Stark
man who claims to be the Messiah yet hangs out with fishermen and tax collectors.
“We’ve talked about this. It’s just a story,” he tells his son.
He thinks following Jesus is a waste of time. But John knows the right thing to do.
“He’s helping people,” he says. “I want to be a part of that. I want to show up.”
John follows Jesus, despite his father’s objections.
Over the next three years, John witnesses Jesus do many miraculous things: turning water into wine, healing people, walking on water. He celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry
For Christians, the gospel isn’t just a story. It’s a life-changing event in their lives.
DIANE STARK
into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Then days later, he permits Jesus to wash his feet at the Last Supper. At His Crucifixion, Jesus tells John and the other disciples, “This is not the end. It’s the beginning.”
Jesus was right. We know that John went on to write the Gospel of John, where he describes what he witnessed as a disciple of Jesus. He also wrote Revelation, the last book of the Bible, in his later years. The stories John wrote have had an eternal impact on billions of people. Biblical scholars believe John was just a teenager when he began to follow Jesus. The disciple whom Jesus loved, despite his young age, was a powerful force in the growing first-century church.
What’s in a Story?
In the movie, John’s father tells him that Jesus isn’t really the Messiah, and that “it’s just a story.” John follows Him anyway and he watches Jesus change the lives of countless people.
For Christians, the gospel isn’t just a story. It’s a life-changing event in
their lives because Christians have met Jesus—probably not in person, but that doesn’t lessen the impact. Encountering Jesus and accepting His sacrifice on the cross changes where eternity will be spent, but meeting Jesus also changes how life is lived on earth.
Every Christian has a different story of meeting Jesus. For some, encountering Jesus means they were an addict and now they’re in recovery. For others, it means they were filled with shame, but now, they are redeemed and set free from the past. There are as many stories as there are people who’ve been changed by meeting Jesus.
Stories have power. Some people might be unwilling to hear Bible quotes, but they might listen to stories, what Jesus has done in some lives and how they can find the same healing in their own lives.
In the movie, John says following Jesus is his chance to “show up.” Maybe “showing up” is sharing stories of what Jesus has done.
Do you have a story? If so, show up and share it!
A Special
FOR THREE DECADES, LORI BARRY HAS TAUGHT THE CHILDREN NO ONE WANTED TO TEACH—AND THEY HAVE CHANGED HER LIFE.
by Ken Ramstead
DURING HER SCHOOL YEARS, Lori Barry witnessed close friends who were not well treated because of their socioeconomic status, who were not pushed to their full potential because of who they were.
“That always bothered me,” she says now. “No one should feel that way. Every student should feel valued because of who they are. That was my driving force in becoming a teacher. I wanted to make a difference.”
Two Callings, One Choice
Lori grew up in Grand Falls-Windsor, a town in Newfoundland and Labrador. Both parents were very active Salvation Army members.
“We weren’t rich, but what we didn’t have in money, we made up for in love,” she says.
Lori had thought of becoming a Salvation Army pastor but, at the
age of 16, Lori met Mike (“It’s always a boy, right?” Lori smiles.), who was not a member of The Salvation Army.
“We started going out and became involved. We’re still together with two sons some 38 years later, but at that point, the whole pastor thing seemed unattainable to us, as Mike was not a member of The Salvation Army.”
However, the other career Lori had always thought about was teaching.
So, she completed her education degree the year before she married and then went back to university for a special education degree, after teaching in a regular classroom for 2½ years.
“I’d always gravitated toward children with special needs, children who are extremely vulnerable,” she explains. “These children need so much attention, but they often fall between the cracks.”
Smiling Through
“Every student should feel valued because of who they are,” says Lori Barry
Photo : Angela Hayden
The Place to Be
Even then, when she started her first job as a special education teacher, Lori was still unsure if that was where she was meant to be. Then she encountered Justin.
The 19-year-old had limited speech, a low cognitive level and was constantly running away from class.
This is going to be a challenge, thought Lori.
However, on her first day, Justin’s mother shared with Lori, “There’s something interesting you need to know about Justin.”
While he had never been inside a church, Justin was captivated by church music.
So, whenever he became especially agitated, Lori would sing to him all the songs in her Army repertoire, and she even purchased a VHS tape of Salvation Army songs for his birthday.
One afternoon when Justin was being particularly difficult, Lori sat him down and played the tape.
“I was singing and he was watching,” Lori recalls. “Then he looked at me and started to sing.”
“It’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer.”
“It was the first sentence I had ever heard him say, and it was from a Salvation Army hymn!” Lori says. “I started to cry.”
Justin gently wiped the tears from
Family Portrait Lori and her husband, Mike, with their sons, Thomas (left) and Aidan (right)
Photo
: Nikki Marie Photography
her face as he kept on singing.
“Lord,” Lori prayed, “I get it. This is where you want me to be.”
Milestones
Lori has been teaching now for 30 years, most of that time in special education.
“I’ve spent a career teaching the children that no one else wanted to teach, that no one wanted to commit to—and they’ve changed my life.
“Every one of them owns a piece of my heart.”
Some of these children are now in their 30s and 40s, and Lori still has relationships with them and their parents.
“They’re able to function in society in a way that they couldn’t before,” Lori says. “Those are the milestones I see in my students.”
Children of God
Lori’s faith background and religious grounding have helped her focus on her career.
“Teaching’s a job where it is easy to
Bermuda
“Having a faith has been my saving grace.”
LORI BARRY
Lori excitedly preaching and challenging the congregation at a united service of the four Salvation Army churches in Bermuda. She was on a sixday ministry tour with three other candidates who are considering pastorship
Photo: Major Louise Pond
get frustrated,” she explains. “There are times when I’m physically and mentally exhausted, and being able to look at people with compassion and see them for who they are is so important. Having a faith has been my saving grace.”
One colleague told Lori that she had more patience than anyone she knew.
“You have to meet the children where they are and understand who they are and where they come from,” Lori goes on to say. “And in my eyes, every one of these children is a child of God, and I am not going to treat them or their parents any differently than I would treat anyone else.”
From Teaching to Preaching
The call to become a Salvation Army pastor has never left Lori. She is eligible to retire as a teacher in November 2026, and her plan then is to give The Salvation Army the next few years of her life. That meets
Proud Teacher “I wanted to make a difference,” says Lori
with the wholehearted support of her husband, who is now an official member of the Army himself.
“Lori’s preached, participates in worship services, leads Bible study, teaches Sunday school, plays in the brass band, sings in the choir and participates in women’s ministries,” says Major Fred Pond, pastor at The Salvation Army’s Grand Falls Citadel, where Lori attends. “She’s a deeply committed Salvationist who understands the mission of the Army in her church as well as her community.”
“I used to think I’d be too old to be a pastor by the time I retire,” Lori says. “But there are different pathways to ministry, and growing up in the Army, having an English degree and an education background, was my own pathway.
“I believe with all my heart that this is where God called me to be. It’s just that God’s plan was for me to teach and then preach.”
Photo : Angela Hayden
Salvation Army Wins 14 Awards
The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory’s magazines, website (Salvationist.ca) and digital media won 14 awards at the annual Canadian Christian Communicators Association (CCCA) ceremony, held online this past spring. The CCCA (formerly the Canadian Church Press) has 60 members, including individual writers, musicians and representatives from publications of mainline, Catholic and evangelical churches. The awards are judged by accomplished secular journalists, writers and academics.
Faith & Friends took home four awards for articles published in 2024. “The Face Behind the Shield,” Ken Ramstead’s March/April article on thrift store manager Vernon Miike’s painting of Salvation Army co-Founder General William Booth, won second place in the Feature category. And Lisa Suroso, graphic design specialist, received a second-place award in Feature Layout and Design for May/ June’s “Faith On Air,” a profile of TV host Meisha Watson. As well, Ken’s “Taxi Driver” and “A Sweet Story” picked up third-place awards in the From the Editor, and Headline and Deck categories, respectively. Both the editorial and the cover story featured Tareq Hadhad, a Syrian refugee who has created a delectable chocolate business in Canada.
Our sister magazine Salvationist received 10 awards, with eight of them being well-deserved first-place wins. Kristin Ostensen, managing editor, won gold for “The Gift of Music” in January/February, her look at legendary Salvation Army composer and musician, Major Len Ballantine. First-place wins were also received in the Feature Series, Column, Photo, and Photo Essay—Magazine categories.
Salvationist.ca received two of the eight first-place awards for Blog and Video Production, and July/August’s “A Choral Convocation” secured a first-place nod in Front Cover— Magazine—Circulation Above 10,000.
Finally, Pamela Richardson, assistant editor-in-chief, also received a third place in News Story for “A Choral Convocation,” her coverage of an international Salvation Army musical event held in Toronto, and Rivonny Luchas, digital media specialist, won third in the Original Artwork category for September/October’s “You Always have the Poor With You.”
Check out our winning entries online at: salvationist.ca/cccaawards2025.
Sowing Hope
WITH THE HELP OF THE SALVATION ARMY, CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE BRINGS LASTING CHANGE IN MALAWI.
by Manjita Biswas
Food is a fundamental human right, yet an estimated 733 million people go hungry every day—and nearly half of all child deaths are linked to malnutrition. Hunger is especially severe in Africa, where one in five people faces food insecurity daily.
In Malawi, where a significant portion of the population experiences economic hardship, nearly 70 percent of the population live
on less than $2.15 a day, and most families depend on small-scale farming plots smaller than a hectare. Droughts, soil degradation, crop disease and lack of access to improved farming practices have long left many vulnerable to hunger and poverty.
In response, The Salvation Army, in partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB), is implementing a three-year sustainable
Leading From the Front
Manjita Biswas (top, left) and lead farmers standing in front of a Salvation Army church in Malawi
“My children are now not going to bed hungry.“
EDWARD MWALE
agriculture and food security (SAFS) project in Malawi’s Mangochi District. With a total budget of $1.2 million (supported by CFGB’s matching support), the project is helping more than 500 smallholder farmers gain practical training in conservation agriculture. These climate-smart techniques enhance soil fertility, increase yields, conserve water and help farmers adapt to climate challenges. The project also integrates livestock management, village savings and loans, and the training of 30 lead farmers to support and promote conservation agriculture within their communities.
A Reason to Smile
For farmers such as Edward Mwale, the results have been transformational.
A year ago, Edward’s family faced chronic food shortages, surviving on a meager six bags (50 kilograms per bag) of maize per season—barely enough to meet the needs of his family of six.
“We struggled to get enough food for the family,” he recalls.
After training, Edward harvested 18 bags of maize from the same land. He kept 12 for home use and sold six to support his children’s education. The increase has not only improved their nutrition and well-being but also renewed his sense of hope and dignity.
“My children are now not going to bed hungry,” Edward says. “Conservation agriculture has given me new hope and a reason for my children to smile. Thanks to The Salvation Army for this precious gift.”
Photos: Courtesy of The Salvation Army Malawi Territory
Proud Farmer
Edward Mwale (left) shares the joys of the harvest with the sustainable agriculture and food security (SAFS) project team
A Real G.O.A.T.
Sinia Matsitsa (right) with the farmer who received goats from her growing herd
Farmers Field Day
Ibrahim Thawani (standing, sixth from left), The Salvation Army’s Malawi SAFS project manager, and team with farmers who are being helped by conservation agriculture techniques
Edward’s success has inspired others, with more than 200 fellow farmers adopting conservation agriculture practices in neighbouring villages. The ripple effect of shared knowledge and local leadership is taking root.
Passing It On
This spirit of community is also embodied by Sinia Matsitsa, a mother of four and one of the project’s lead farmers. Sinia joined
the goat pass-on initiative, receiving four. Over time, her herd grew to 11. She passed four goats to another farmer, and with two more expecting, she’s planning to grow her herd again.
But her success doesn’t stop at livestock. Using conservation agriculture techniques, Sinia increased her maize harvest from five bags to 14. With income from surplus crops and the selling of two goats, she plans to improve her
home and expand her farming plot next season. She also dreams of purchasing land near a water source to begin irrigation farming—not only to grow food but to secure her independence and protect her family long-term.
Sinia’s story reflects the deeper impact of conservation agriculture when women have access to knowledge and income/financial resources. Her success is rooted in hard work, shared knowledge and her vision for a better future, both for her children and for her community.
When Farmers Thrive, Communities Thrive
As we mark World Food Day 2025 on October 16 with the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” we celebrate not only the right to food but the power of partnerships, sustainable farming and community-led change.
In my role as technical support in the Malawi Sustainable Agriculture project, I am blessed to walk alongside farmers and leaders, witnessing first-hand during field visits how
the gift of conservation agriculture is transforming lives and restoring hope among communities.
This project is cultivating more than just crops—it’s cultivating hope, resilience and lasting transformation. As The Salvation Army’s Colonel Samuel Baah, territorial commander for Malawi, says, “Walking through the thriving agriculture demonstration plots and meeting community members whose lives have been transformed is a reminder of The Salvation Army’s holistic mission: Heart to God, Hand to Man.”
Edward and Sinia’s journeys are just two among hundreds showing what’s possible when farmers, communities and partners walk hand in hand. Says Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray, director of international development for Canada and Bermuda, “The Salvation Army stands proudly with Malawi’s smallholder farmers, proving that with the right tools, knowledge and support, a better future isn’t just possible—it’s already growing.”
Because when farmers thrive, communities thrive.
(left)
Manjita Biswas is program director of overseas projects in the international development department of The Salvation Army’s Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
Jesus promises the comfort of God’s embrace.
by Jeanette Levellie
How can those who mourn possibly receive a blessing, or favour, from God?
Yet this is what Jesus promised in Matthew 5:4, which says: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Shared during His very first sermon on earth, known as the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7), this promise is one of eight blessings—the Beatitudes— that are available to those who love God and follow the ways of Jesus.
Far From Home
In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, the terms for “mourn” and
“comfort” have various shades of meaning. To mourn can mean a deep ache of sorrow for someone who’s no longer in our lives. And it can also mean a feeling of confusion and anxiety, such as we experience when we’re lost in an unfamiliar city or a new experience that makes us feel helpless.
There’s a third way to mourn that Jesus often emphasized, the attitude of grieving over our sin that leads us to repent. This kind of mourning goes deep. We don’t merely say, “Sorry,” like a child whose mother forces him or her to apologize after misbehaving. We feel a separation
God never runs out of hugs.
JEANETTE LEVELLIE
from God due to an ugly attitude or act of rebellion. That feeling leads us to make a change. To come back to the only One who can help us lead a blessed life: Jesus.
Of course, God is willing to love us and restore us before we repent. But we won’t receive the blessing of His comfort until we repent. And just as it’s not healthy to wallow in grief over a loved one who’s gone, it’s also unhealthy to mourn over past sins that we’ve repented of. God has promised to forgive and cleanse us. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We can lead free, happy lives when we receive that comfort from Him.
Hugs From Heaven
What other ways does God comfort us when we mourn?
The Lord sends caring people to show us His comfort in tangible ways. When my brother died suddenly, our friends invited my husband and me over for supper and a mini concert of praise songs. That food and music
lifted my soul more than trite words from dozens of friends or hundreds of sympathy cards. When we mourn for any reason, those who merely sit with us, help us with overwhelming tasks or ask helpful questions without giving unasked-for advice feel like hugs from heaven. We know God values and treasures us when we receive love from others.
God’s Word, the Bible, is also a powerful tool for comfort and strength when we experience loss. From Psalms of hope to Proverbs of guidance to the words of Jesus and His original followers, the Bible contains the life of God meant to bring light into our darkness.
Immediate forgiveness. Loving people. Words of life. God never runs out of hugs—the thousand ways He comforts those who mourn.
This is the second article in our series on the Beatitudes, key teachings from the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7), Jesus’ first sermon during His earthly ministry. Read the first article at salvationist.ca/blessedpoor.
Eating Healthy With Erin
EASY MILD CHILI WITH POTATOES
TIME 35 min MAKES 6 servings SERVE WITH rice, noodles or toast
30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
60 ml (¼ cup) onion, diced
60 ml (¼ cup) celery, diced
60 ml (¼ cup) carrots, diced
250 ml (1 cup) bell pepper (red, yellow or orange), diced
375 ml (1½ cups) potato, diced
250 ml (1 cup) cooked ground beef
625 ml (2½ cups) peeled canned tomatoes
30 ml (2 tbsp) tomato paste
5 ml (1 tsp) chili powder
2.5 ml (½ tsp) dried oregano
5 ml (1 tsp) sugar
2.5 ml (½ tsp) salt
1 ml (¼ tsp) black pepper
60 ml (¼ cup) canned corn, drained
500 ml (2 cups) canned pinto beans, drained
500 ml (2 cups) canned kidney beans, drained
250 ml (1 cup) shredded cheese (optional)
fresh curly parsley, diced, to garnish (optional)
1. In large pot over medium heat, add olive oil, garlic, onion and celery, and cook for 3 minutes.
2. Dice carrots, bell peppers and potato. Place into pot and add beef, tomatoes and tomato paste. Continue to cook and, once bubbling, reduce to simmer, about 5 minutes.
3. Add chili powder, oregano, sugar, salt and black pepper. Cover with a tight lid and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove lid, stir in corn, pinto beans and kidney beans, and cook together another 5-7 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.
4. Serve in bowls and garnish with cheese and fresh parsley if you wish.
PARMESAN PANKO ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH
TIME 55 min MAKES 4 servings SERVE WITH turkey or chicken
2 L (8 cups) butternut squash, cubed
60 ml (4 tbsp) butter
1 garlic clove, minced
125 ml (½ cup) plain panko crumbs
125 ml (½ cup) parmesan cheese, grated
1 ml (¼ tsp) salt
1 ml (¼ tsp) black pepper
60 ml (¼ cup) fresh parsley, chopped
1. Preheat oven to 190 C (375 F). Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Remove skin from squash using vegetable peeler. Trim the ends, halve and then scoop out seeds. Slice into 1 cm (½ in. thick) slices and then proceed to cut the squash into cubes.
3. Melt butter over medium-low heat, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute on low. Remove from heat. Place panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and black pepper in mixing bowl. Pour butter into mixing bowl and then add squash. Toss to coat.
4. Arrange on baking sheet and place in oven to cook for 35 minutes. Flip over squash and bake for another 10 minutes.
5. Serve hot and add fresh parsley.
Recipe photos: Erin Stanley
Word Search Happy 75th Birthday, Peanuts!
BASEBALL BAT
BEAGLE
BEETHOVEN
BLANKET
CHARLES M. SCHULZ
CHARLIE BROWN
COMIC STRIP
DOG HOUSE
EUDORA
FOOTBALL
FRANKLIN
FRIEDA
GOOD GRIEF
GREAT PUMPKIN
HOCKEY
JOE COOL
JOE SHLABOTNIK
KITE-EATING TREE
LINUS
LUCY
MARCIE
PEPPERMINT PATTY
PIANO
PIGPEN
RED BARON RED-HAIRED GIRL RERUN
SALLY
SCHROEDER
SHERMY SNOOPY
SOPWITH CAMEL SPIKE
VIOLET
WOODSTOCK
Tomorrow’s Leaders in Liberia
Students at John Gowans Junior and Senior High School in Salala, Bong County, Liberia, supported by The Salvation Army, celebrate the new school year with hope and enthusiasm. Established in 2004 with 57 students enrolled, the school provides education
for pupils in Grade 7 through to Grade 12. With 12 schools in operation in the country, The Salvation Army is dedicated to empowering Liberia’s future leaders through education, ensuring that more young people have access to quality learning opportunities.
