Salvationist - July 2016

Alberta Wildfires: On the Ground in Fort McMurray

Guitar Program in Tune With Community Need

Escaping the Sex Trade to Live for Christ

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

July 2016

Salvationist.ca

Ministers of Reconciliation

Major Shari Russell shares how the Army can embrace Indigenous people

Practising Spiritual Disciplines A Spiritual Life Development Focus, Canada and Bermuda Territory

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OUTWARD DISCIPLINES

ONWARD DISCIPLINES

Solitude

Prayer

Self-Denial

Evangelism

Confession

Scripture

Service

Tithing

Sabbath

Worship

Hospitality

Guidance

Slowing • Silence • Listening

Accountability • Self-Examination

Resting • Health • Trust • Community

2 July 2016 Salvationist

Submission • Obedience • Presence

Soul Food • Meditation • Convictions

Holiness • Set Apart • Priorities

Simplicity • Fasting • Missional

Servanthood • Others • Supportive

Sharing • Relationships • Thankfulness

Proclaiming • Witnessing • Testimony

Giving • Investing • Kingdom-Building

Mentors • Life Goals • Discipleship

CONTENTS

Salvationist July 2016 • Volume 11, Number 7

Departments

8

Spot

7 Differences

Hi kids!

The Salvation Army was founded in July 1865—that’s 151 years ago! This week, we’re going to look at some of the things that make the Army unique.

When William and Catherine Booth founded the Army, they wanted it to be welcoming for all people—especially people who were poor.

From the beginning, they were helping people who didn’t have food or a place to live.

5 Frontlines

ISSUE

31

The Salvation Army still does that today. We give food to people who are hungry. We help people when bad things happen, such as the recent fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The most important thing for us to do in life is to love God and other people. How can you do that this week?

Your friend, Kristin

11 Perspectives

Breaking Bread

Match the symbols to the words of Hebrews 13:16.

Get My Drift?

by Lt-Colonel Fred Waters

God

pleased

good

offerings

kinds

others

share

forget

Don’t ________ to do ________. Don’t ________ to ________ with ________. ________ is ________ with those ________ of ________.

Baker’s Bounty BISCUIT

COOKIE

ROLL

BREAD

PASTRY

SCONE

PIE

TART

CAKE

T Y W Y T Q V P

E I K O O C A S

B N U L R S V C

S R L C T F G O

D O E R S E O N

R W Y A B I U E

C A K E D P B Y

V L P F T A R T

Answer: Don’t forget to do good. Don’t forget to share with others.

God is pleased with those kinds of offerings.

16 Fresh Ideas

Just for Kids

Striking the Right Chord

by Ken Ramstead

Just for Kids is an exciting weekly activity page published by The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda for children ages five to 12. Packed with Bible stories, games, puzzles, colouring, jokes and more, Just for Kids can be used in a variety of children’s ministries and programs, and in community and family services offices, food banks or anywhere there is an opportunity to share the message of Jesus Christ with children.

21 Spiritual Life Fast Forward

by Kristin Ostensen

26 Cross Culture 27 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories Recipe for Success

by Micaela Nelson

Columns 4 Editorial Road to Healing

by Geoff Moulton

24 Herstory Our Porn Problem

by Lieutenant Kristen Jackson-Dockeray

25 #Trending Hijacking Culture

by Captain Mark Braye

30

Features 8 On the Ground in Fort McMurray The Salvation Army provides support and aid during Alberta wildfire

by Pamela Richardson

12 Ministers of Reconciliation How The Salvation Army can celebrate and integrate Indigenous people Interview with Major Shari Russell

17 Just Living

E-mail circulation@can. salvationarmy.org or phone 416-422-6119 to learn how you can receive Just for Kids in your ministry unit.

Cover photo: Timothy Cheng

Read and share it!

FAITH & Summer 2016

faithandfriends.ca

frıends Inspiration for Living

Standing up for justice is a strategic priority

by Jessica McKeachie

18 Indigenous Christianity Three Salvationists share how their heritage and faith work together

by Sylvia Thorburn, Damian Azak and Lieutenant Crystal Porter

22 Rising Strong A former survival sex worker becomes a warrior for Christ

by Giselle Randall

FINDING

DORY + Forgetful hero heads off on a journey of a lifetime

of  Confessions a Couch Surfer

Batman Returns to Salvation Army Summer Camp PIER 21 HONOURS SALVATION ARMY

Salvationist July 2016 3

EDITORIAL

Y

Road to Healing

oung people feel like nobody cares for them. Most of them feel unloved ... I don’t want to lose another loved one to suicide.”

These are the heartbreaking words of an Indigenous teen named Clarissa from Attawapiskat First Nation. Her 13-yearold cousin took her life last October.

We are facing a national crisis. It’s not terrorism, the economy or any government agenda. It’s the condition of our First Nations communities, which have suffered from years of neglect, underfunding and abuse.

A quick scan of the headlines confirms it. Last fall, Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency after 11 people attempted suicide in one day, including a 10-year-old child. Hundreds of Aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered in the past three decades, sparking calls for a government inquiry. A recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives showed that 60 percent of Indigenous children on reserves in Canada live in poverty.

The factors that lead to such inequity are complex, but the mere fact that it exists is nothing short of a national shame. Much more must be done to help.

One of the biggest problems is that our society has tried to silence Aboriginal voices for so long, that many feel stripped of their identity. We still live with the terrible legacy of church-run residenSalvationist

is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory André Cox General Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel Jim Champ Secretary for Communications Geoff Moulton Editor-in-Chief Giselle Randall Features Editor (416-467-3185) Pamela Richardson News Editor, Production Co-ordinator, Copy Editor (416-422-6112) Kristin Ostensen Associate Editor and Staff Writer 4 July 2016 Salvationist

tial schools, where more than 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to renounce their traditions, language and beliefs.

Many suffered years of horrible abuse.

But there are signs of hope. Canadians are waking up to the need for initiatives that eschew paternalism and empower Aboriginal communities. In this issue, we let Indigenous Salvationists tell their stories. They, too, are part of “The Voice of the Army.” We interview Major Shari Russell (page 12) who shares the positive ways The Salvation Army is recognizing and celebrating Indigenous people.

This includes engaging in Aboriginal roundtable discussions across the country. It means continuing to invest in Salvation Army corps and programs that celebrate Indigenous people, from Weetamah in Winnipeg to Gitwinksihlkw, B.C. It means keeping our promise to uphold the dignity of Indigenous people through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action. It means listening to how Indigenous Christians understand their culture and heritage (page 18).

The first step on the journey is increasing our awareness. In his opinion column this month, Captain Mark Braye examines the dangers of cultural appropriation (page 25). And Jennifer Allan shares

Timothy Cheng Senior Graphic Designer Brandon Laird Design and Media Specialist Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator Ken Ramstead Contributor Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769.

Member, The Canadian Church Press. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) © 2011.

All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory and can be reprinted only with written permission.

how she escaped a vicious cycle of addiction and prostitution, and began a new life with the help of The Salvation Army (page 22).

It’s time to take action. Let’s listen to people’s stories. Let’s forge a path to healing. Let’s work with Indigenous people to make Canada a place that everyone is proud to call home.

GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Subscriptions

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Phone: 416-422-6119; fax: 416-422-6120; e-mail: circulation@can.salvationarmy.org.

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News, Events and Submissions Editorial lead time is seven weeks prior to an issue’s publication date. No responsibility is assumed to publish, preserve or return unsolicited material. Write to salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org or Salvationist, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto ON M4H 1P4.

Mission

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. Salvationist informs readers about the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. salvationist.ca facebook.com/salvationistmagazine twitter.com/salvationist youtube.com/salvationistmagazine instagram.com/salvationistmagazine

FRONTLINES

Booth University College’s 2016 graduating class with, front, from left, Dr. Donald Burke; Colonel Mark Tillsley, chief secretary; Commissioner Susan McMillan; Col Glen Shepherd, chair, Board of Trustees; and Dr. Marjory Kerr, then vice-president academic and dean

Booth Celebrates Grads, Honours Outgoing President

B

ooth University College saw the largest crowd to date at its annual convocation ceremony at Knox United Church in Winnipeg in April. Approximately 800 people filled the church to celebrate Booth’s 54 new graduates.

This year’s convocation address was given by Professor Roy Jeal, who exhorted students to do good with humility.

“Doing good will lead you to what is right. Play your game forward, for the benefit of others,” said Jeal. “The greatest people are those who do a good job in an obscure place with unknown people, who influence the lives of ‘the little people’ for good things.”

This year’s valedictorian, bachelor of social work graduate Stephanie Titchkosky, spoke of her classmates’ shared passion, which is rooted in love, compassion, mercy and justice.

“Our graduating class represents an entire generation of people who have committed to go out into the world and make a difference,” she said. “Booth is

not just another university; it is a special place where strangers leave as friends, and where friends leave as family.”

As part of the ceremony, Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, presented the Chancellor’s Medal to bachelor of social work graduate Aaron Wayne Goodchild and the General’s Medal to bachelor of arts graduate Captain Bev Brushett, director of pastoral services, Ottawa Booth Centre.

In his final message to Booth students, outgoing president Dr. Donald Burke reminded them, “God remains with you, working in you, working through you. Discipline your mind until it is shaped by the Spirit of God; bend your will until it rests safely and firmly in the divine hand; and offer your hands to the Lord’s labour, until the world gives birth to perfect peace.”

Watch a recording of Booth’s convocation ceremony at youtube.com/ BoothUC.

During the convocation ceremony, Commissioner Susan McMillan presented Dr. Donald Burke with The Salvation Army’s Certificate in Recognition of Exceptional Service, the highest civilian award the territory can bestow. He has served as president since 2006 and has been with the institution since it opened in 1982.

“What a privilege it was for me to recognize the faithful service of Don Burke as an educator and administrator of Booth University College,” says Commissioner McMillan. “Don has dedicated his life to teaching the Word of God and imparting doctrinal clarity to his students. The Army is grateful for the way he built on the foundation of earlier presidents to bring Booth forward as a unique organization in the Army world.”

Salvationist July 2016 5

FRONTLINES

Booth Welcomes New President As of July 1, Dr. Marjory Kerr will become the fifth president of Booth University College. A lifelong Salvationist, Kerr holds a PhD in industrial/organizational psychology, and since August 2013, she has served as vicepresident academic and dean at Booth. With expertise stemming from 25 years of organizational experience, Kerr has facilitated the development of Booth’s current strategic plan.

Why did you put yourself forward for the position of president?

I believe that this is an exciting and unique time in Booth’s history and development. I see a vision for who we can be. I see opportunities to grow. I’m passionate about the mission of Booth, what we’re striving to achieve and the impact we’re having. So I decided that I wanted to be a part of that, leading the institution forward and building on all that is there already.

How does Booth serve the Army’s mission?

We do so in a number of ways. One is preparing students for service. That includes our role in the development and training of cadets, officers and staff within the Army, for service in the Army. We also have students who aren’t Salvationists and, in the spirit of the Army’s mission, we prepare them for service as well. We educate and develop students who will better the world through service and engagement in our communities. But equally important, and perhaps less well known, is that Booth itself is an educational expression of the Army’s mission. It’s unique. Although the Army has a history of education in many parts of the world, we’re the only degree-granting institution.

What is your vision for Booth? What do you hope to accomplish as president?

I see us moving from building and maintaining to expanding and sustaining. From steering to charting. From university college to university. As we look at that, it’s thinking about who we are and what we do. I want Booth to be known for its vibrant culture of learning, its emphasis on scholarship, academic rigour and excellence. That Booth would be recognized as an institution of academic excellence within The Salvation Army internationally, and it would be recognized as a place that is welcoming and inclusive of anyone who wants to study here. We have open enrolment and so we have students from a variety of backgrounds, interests and perspectives—and that adds to the quality of the experience here. Christian faith, rigorous scholarship and a passion for service—we are modelling it, living it and extending that to our students, as well as the Army. Booth has the capacity and opportunity, but also the responsibility, to become a transforming influence, providing education for a better world while being a growing Christian university college of choice.

6 July 2016 Salvationist

Oshawa Temple Band Marks 130 Years

O

ntario’s Oshawa Temple Band celebrated its 130th anniversary in April with a concert entitled Listen to the Music. The evening featured a variety of musical selections played by the band’s large complement of players, who number more than 40 and range in age from 14 to 80.

Musical support for the band came from guest soloists Derek Lance and Ryan McCrudden, members of the New York Staff Band, as well as the Oshawa Temple Songsters, led

by Dara-Lynn Gerard. McCrudden has a connection with the Toronto area, having spent some of his formative years at both Agincourt Community Church and Yorkminster Citadel.

In the second half of the concert, Major Donna Bond offered a short devotional thought, after which the band presented Steven Ponsford’s Let There be Light. Following the spoken benediction, the band finished off the concert with a musical benediction in the form of Paul Sharman’s arrangement of Nik and Emma Pears’ The Lord Bless You and Keep You.

Derek Lance, Oshawa Temple Band BM Andrew Burditt and Ryan McCrudden lead the band’s anniversary concert

S

St. John’s Women “Declutter”

t. John’s Citadel, N.L, hosted a Saturday morning women’s brunch in April around the theme of “a decluttered life.”

The purpose of the event was to help those attending to learn how to declutter their homes and spiritual lives.

Deanne Dawe, a professional organizer, shared some practical tips for decluttering homes and gave specific suggestions for improving “messy” spaces belonging to some of the women in attendance, who were brave enough to supply photos.

The devotional portion of the morning was led by Lt-Colonel Ann Braund, territorial secretary for spiritual life development, with musical support from Jennifer Riche. Lt-Colonel Braund shared from Isaiah, encouraging the women to “prepare the way of the Lord,” decluttering their lives to effectively welcome the King. This could be accomplished through the spiritual practices of hospitality, repentance and solitude, she said.

FRONTLINES

Army Publications Win 21 Church Press Awards

I

t was a banner year for the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s print and digital ministries, as the Army’s magazines and website (salvationist.ca) earned a record 21 awards at the annual Canadian Church Press ceremony in April. Salvationist won 10 awards, Faith & Friends six, Foi & Vie one and salvationist.ca four, including General Excellence. Member publications were invited to enter in 32 categories, and Army publications took home First Place awards in eight.

The Canadian Church Press includes representatives from 51 member publications, including mainline, Catholic and evangelical churches. The awards were judged by a panel of accomplished journalists and academics from the secular media.

Here are the winning entries, which can be read at salvationist.ca/?p=29138: Salvationist First Place: In-Depth Treatment of a News Event (Magazine)—Boundless 150, editor Pamela Richardson (September 2015) First Place: Feature Layout and Design (Magazine)—Boundless 150, designer Brandon Laird (September 2015) Second Place: Biblical Interpretation—

Faith & Friends First Place: Features (Non-Fiction,

Magazine)—A Recipe for Recovery, author Kristin Ostensen (February 2015) First Place: Display Writing—A Recipe for Recovery, designer Brandon Laird (February 2015) First Place: Original Artwork—Hidden Treasures, illustrator Dennis Jones (September 2015) Second Place: Media Review— Encounter in the Desert, author Kristin Ostensen (April 2015) Third Place: Biblical Interpretation— Stooping to Greatness, author Major Fred Ash (April 2015) Third Place: Biographical Profile— Jacob’s Journey, author Diane Stark (April 2015) Foi & Vie Second Place: Front Cover (Magazine)— Appelée a Danser (Mars 2015) Salvationist.ca First Place: General Excellence (Website Design), designers Carson Samson, Ryan Neudorf and Brandon Laird First Place: Best Blog, author Major Danielle Strickland First Place: Publication Website Third Place: Best Use of Multimedia

“Open House” Raises Awareness of Poverty

rom the outside, it looked like a typical open house—a sign out front invited passersby to come inside and view the home. But instead of finding a house for sale, visitors found a message from The Salvation Army.

The “open house” was an exhibit put on by the Army in Toronto in May to show how, in many instances, poverty remains hidden behind a seemingly fine exterior. Throughout the house were plaques with statistics about poverty in Canada, as well as information about how the Army is helping. The open house also had 15 hidden cameras to capture visitors’ reactions, which have been used to create videos highlighting the Army’s work and encouraging donations.

“Many of those who came through the house were really surprised,” says

John McAlister, national director of marketing and communications.

“Many people have this idea that we live in a rich, developed country and that poverty isn’t really a factor.”

He notes that some of the strongest reactions took place in the children’s rooms, where the message was, “The kids aren’t alright.”

“Faced with the reality of the challenges that low-income children can have, one woman said, ‘I had no idea,’ ” shares McAlister.

For those who were not able to experience the open house first-hand, an interactive virtual “walk through” is available at Salvationarmyopenhouse.com.

A video of the exhibit and visitors’ reactions can be viewed youtu.be/ Akymbmg-Epg

Photo: Giselle Randall

F

The Unlikely Disciples, authors Rob Jeffery, Major Wil Brown-Ratcliffe, Major Isobel Wagner, Jonathan Raymond and Colonel Eleanor Shepherd (April 2015) Second Place: Service Journalism— The Autism Puzzle, author Lieutenant Kristen Gray (April 2015) Second Place: News Photo (Magazine)—Kapa Haka Dancer, photographer Brent Forrest (September 2015) Second Place: Photo Essay (Magazine)— African Partners, photographer Matt Osmond, author Heather Osmond (February 2015) Second Place: Layout and Design of Entire Edition—A Worldwide Army, designers Timothy Cheng and Brandon Laird (September 2015) Third Place: Opinion Piece—Final Exit, authors Colonel Bob Ward and Major Amy Reardon (June 2015) Third Place: Theological Reflection— Expecting Miracles, author Aimee Patterson (August 2015) Third Place: News Story (Magazine)— Open to Question, author Kristin Ostensen (January 2015)

“Many people don’t recognize that people in their community are struggling to get by day to day,” says John McAlister

Salvationist July 2016 7

On the Ground in Fort McMurray The Salvation Army provides support and aid during Alberta wildfire

BY PAMELA RICHARDSON

W

hen a wildfire was discovered by patrolling fire crews on Sunday, May 1, in northern Alberta, no one could have known what devastating days and weeks would follow.

Within hours, the fire had grown exponentially due to high winds, extremely hot temperatures and dry conditions, and was burning a path toward the city of Fort McMurray. As firefighters and other first responders joined forces to battle the ever-expanding fire and ensure the safety of residents and 8 July 2016 Salvationist

properties, the local Salvation Army in Fort McMurray was there.

First Response The Army’s relief efforts began under the leadership of Majors Stephen and Elaine Hibbs, corps officers in Fort McMurray, and Majors Bond and Marina Jennings, associate corps officers. Local Salvationists offered practical and spiritual support to first responders and then evacuees when it became necessary for people to leave some communities within the municipality of Fort McMurray as the fire spread. By the evening of Tuesday,

May 3, the situation took a turn for the worse, and a mandatory evacuation order was issued for the entire city.

Over the next few hours, nearly 90,000 people fled their homes and made their way to evacuation centres and work camps associated with the oil industry north of Fort McMurray while fire crews continued their fight against the fire that came to be known as “The Beast.”

“We had been engaged heavily in relief efforts,” says Major Stephen Hibbs, “when we were told to evacuate. As The Salvation Army, we’re always the helpers, but we were in a position where we

Photo: Lieutenant Peter Kim

The Salvation Army and the Canadian Forces partner to bring much-needed supplies to the front lines

Encouragement in Edmonton On Friday, May 6, the RCMP began escorting convoys of 50 vehicles at a time southbound through the city of Fort McMurray to points of safety in other parts of the province. Early reports indicated that 2,400 buildings had been destroyed by the fire, many of them homes. “Coming back through the city, we saw what had been green hills, flowers

Photo: Lieutenant Peter Kim

The view from Fort McMurray Corps as the fire rages through city streets

Unloading supplies for Fort McMurray

and trees, burned black,” remembers Major Stephen Hibbs. “We got delayed twice because the smoke reduced the visibility. You take all that in stride until you are out of harm’s way. When you look back, that’s the emotional part.”

In the days that followed, Majors Stephen and Elaine Hibbs were able to offer pastoral care to members of their congregation who sought refuge in Edmonton. “On Sunday, May 8, Edmonton Temple graciously allowed us to use their facilities to bring 150 of our people together for a couple of hours, just to hug and encourage each other,” Major Stephen Hibbs says. “We also thought of the rest of our congregation who had been scattered all over the province. We are grateful to Albertans and our nation for stepping up to help.”

The Salvation Army’s community and family services programs outside

Photo: Major Bruce Mac Kenzie

Support and Spiritual Care As the fire continued to rage, officers and staff at the Alberta and Northern Territories Divisional Headquarters in Edmonton established an emergency disaster services incident command centre to co-ordinate the Army’s relief efforts. Community response units were dispatched to the area from across the province to provide immediate support to first responders, including serving 2,000 meals a day and distributing water and hygiene kits.

Major Brian Beveridge, then corps officer in Grande Prairie, Alta., was one of the first to assist in Fort McMurray.

Together with his wife, Major Edith Beveridge, he had provided relief and counselling during the 2011 fire in Slave Lake, Alta., but he says every situation is different so he didn’t know what to expect in Fort McMurray.

“When you go into a disaster, you go into chaos,” he says. “It’s a very fluid situation as you try to find the function that is the most valuable.” He found himself involved in preparing meals for hundreds of front-line workers, but meeting physical needs is only one component of the services provided by The Salvation Army in disaster situations. “We did a lot of emotional and spiritual care with the first responders,” he shares, noting that sometimes “they just don’t say anything.” A supportive presence is all that’s required.

Also on scene in Fort McMurray were Majors Ron and Toni Cartmell, divisional leaders in the Alberta and Northern Territories Division, who greeted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Fort McMurray. “We’re happy to partner with people across the country and do our part,” Major Ron Cartmell told the prime minister as Canada’s leader met with Salvation Army personnel and thanked them for their service.

Photo: Courtesy of Major Stephen Hibbs

couldn’t do anything. We followed the rules that were laid out for everybody. We left with what we were wearing, grabbed a few extras and hit the road.”

A community response unit makes it way through heavy smoke

Salvationist July 2016 9

Photo: Courtesy of Lieutenant Peter Kim

Photo: Captain Pam Goodyear

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets Mjr Ron Cartmell and thanks him for the Army’s service

Lt Peter Kim, then associate CO in Lethbridge, Alta., and Mary Simmons prepare a hearty meal for first responders

Mjr Brian Beveridge and Varity Russell lend a helping hand Photo: Larry Wong, staff photographer/photojournalist, Postmedia Network

Looking Ahead The Salvation Army has been serving in Fort McMurray since 1979, and when people return to rebuild their city in the weeks and months ahead, the Army will be there. As the Army’s mission statement says: “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.”

“With God’s help,” concludes Major Stephen Hibbs, “that’s what we will continue to do in Fort McMurray.”

Photo: Larry Wong, staff photographer/photojournalist, Postmedia Network

Fort McMurray were actively involved in supporting evacuees. Those requiring clothing were directed to any National Recycling Operations thrift store in Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer, Alta., and Salvation Army personnel were available for emotional and spiritual care.

The Salvation Army has been active in Fort McMurray, Alta., since 1979. In addition to a vibrant corps, the Army has offered a variety of services: • 32-bed men’s emergency shelter • 30-bed winter mat program • Soup kitchen • Thrift store • Community and family services • Emergency disaster services • START program for people with disabilities • Housing First program, to assist people experiencing homelessness to find accommodation Community response units from across the Alta. & N.T. Div converge on Fort McMurray

10 July 2016 Salvationist

PERSPECTIVES

Get My Drift?

Keeping the main thing, the main thing

BY LT-COLONEL FRED WATERS

Illustration: © mike_kiev/Depositphotos.com

W

hen I was growing up, I spent every summer at my grandmother’s cottage. I had an uncle almost my age, and we loved swimming in the sparkling lake under the blue Muskoka sky and fishing for perch, pike and big mouth bass.

We had a 14-foot open boat with a green Evinrude outboard motor. It was our fishing boat. One night, it was obviously not tethered to the dock well, and came untied during a storm. The next morning when we went down to the dock, we could see the boat about 150 metres offshore, floating on water as still as glass. It was slowly drifting with the current.

Most drifting happens slowly.

The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda has more than 300 corps and about 200 social service expressions.

They are led by officers, both active and retired, and dedicated employees, all of whom are charged with making our mission a reality through our programs and relationships.

Every corps and ministry unit begins with great intentions and motivation.

But, if we’re not careful, we start focusing on things that are important to us, on our likes and dislikes, instead of connecting to people with spiritual, emotional or physical needs. We become so consumed by looking inward that we forget what we’re really about. If we don’t pay attention to what we do and how we do it, we soon find ourselves caught up in things that matter little to the kingdom of God. We start to drift.

The writer to the Hebrews warns: “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).

The question is, how do you guard yourself from missional drift? How do you keep the leadership and programs of the corps focused on what is important

and essential to fulfilling the command of Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)?

We need to agree on what the mission is and what the mission is not.

Developing relationships with people who are exploring faith, serving the underprivileged and doing so in a manner that is sustainable are matters that cannot be left to chance. If we want to see a return on the investment of time, resources and energy, then we have to stay focused on the critical matters of the kingdom of God. Program services—including social services, integrated mission, corps ministries, music and gospel arts, and children and youth ministries departments—works tirelessly to provide resources to support the mission, and to keep the main thing, the main thing.

This includes the accreditation system,

corps reviews, leadership training, training weekends, content specialists and a host of online resources.

In their book Spiritual Leadership, Henry and Richard Blackaby claim: “The organizations that will truly excel in the future will be the organizations that discover how to tap people’s commitment and capacity to learn at all levels in an organization.” They underscore what we know by experience—when mission and people come together with a strategic focus under the guidance and blessing of the Holy Spirit, amazing things happen that bring glory to God and draw people into the kingdom of God. How can THQ program services help your corps or centre?

Lt-Colonel Fred Waters is the secretary for program services in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Salvationist July 2016 11

Ministers of Reconciliation

How The Salvation Army can celebrate and integrate Indigenous people Major Shari Russell, territorial Aboriginal ministries consultant, speaks to Kristin Ostensen about the Army’s plan for reconciliation with Indigenous Canadians—attitudes that need to change, ministries that are already succeeding and practical steps corps can take toward integration.

Stories about Indigenous issues are more common in the media today than they have been in the past—for example, the inquiry into missing and murdered women and the rash of suicide attempts at the Attiwapiskat reserve in northern Ontario. Why do you think that is?

These issues were there, but they weren’t something that the general public wanted to hear about, so they were often dismissed or presented in a negative light. In recent years, we’ve seen much more sensitivity and cultural awareness. And as Indigenous people, we’ve articulated our voice differently.

We have the resources and personnel in key leadership positions who can communicate our concerns in a way that the general public understands and responds more positively to.

Photo: Timothy Cheng

What are some of the most significant issues for Indigenous people in Canada today?

Mjr Shari Russell was born into the Saulteaux First Nation in Saskatchewan

12 July 2016 Salvationist

There are issues that are evident, such as alcoholism, poverty, abuse, broken relationships. We want to address those issues, but we also want to look at what’s behind those issues, which isn’t always visible. Underlying attitudes need to be addressed. The doctrine of discovery, for example, is not just an issue; it’s a way of thinking. It’s the idea that, before settlers came, Canada was terra nullius, which means “no man’s land,” and this gave settlers the right to claim the land for themselves. The doctrine of discovery still affects us. And that’s where education comes in, to create awareness and repudiate those attitudes.

Salvationists from across the territory participate in an Aboriginal roundtable at Beaver Creek Camp near Saskatoon in May

Canadians today look back with horror on what happened when the settlers came. Yet, among non-Indigenous Canadians, there can be a sense of, “That was a long time ago. I didn’t oppress the Indigenous peoples.”

One of the pieces I often talk about is, although that may not have been you, and you are not personally responsible, the systems that we have in place are a result of what happened. A lot of our systems—whether it’s education, the legal system, social services—continue with that type of thinking, and that’s how we get systemic injustice. We take our systems for granted—we work within them and don’t think about them. But for an Indigenous person, they are still huge barriers. When we perpetuate those systems, we allow them to continue to oppress.

In March, The Salvation Army, along with other church groups, responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 48 (see sidebar), which asked faith groups to issue a statement as to their implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. What does that mean for the Army?

It means we recognize that Indigenous people have the same dignity as all people. We recognize that there has been an inequity, and so we’re trying to

help and empower Indigenous people to a level of equity.

We have also developed a comprehensive plan for The Salvation Army, explaining how we’re going to implement the declaration in concrete ways. For example, in terms of ensuring equality, we’re looking at accessibility. Many Indigenous people are unaware of our services, or have encountered challenges to accessing our services. We need to identify and overcome those challenges.

We also want to build trust. One way to do that is to celebrate the Indigenous presence and expression. An example is honouring the traditional territories of the local Indigenous peoples when we have a public gathering, recognizing that we are on their traditional land and thanking them for their hospitality.

On National Aboriginal Day, it could mean having a celebration and asking an Indigenous group to come and share.

Within the Army, it’s asking, “How do

we allow Indigenous people to celebrate who they are? What gifts and abilities do they bring to the Army as followers of Jesus?”

Throughout the comprehensive plan, we emphasize communication and consultation with Indigenous people. Rather than assuming we know the answer and going ahead and doing something, we will go to Indigenous people and groups and ask, “How can we come alongside you and strengthen you in this area?

What are some things that would be helpful for you?” It’s developing partnerships so that it’s not “us helping them,” but there’s mutual giving and receiving.

According to a recent census, 60 percent of Aboriginal Canadians identify as Christian. Does this surprise you, given the church’s history with Indigenous peoples?

No. Among the last few generations, many Indigenous people went to church-

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): The TRC was founded in 2008 as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Its mandate was to inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools, and to help guide Aboriginal peoples and Canadians toward reconciliation and renewed relationships. It held its final hearings and delivered its report to the public and to the federal government in Ottawa in June 2015, marking the official end of its mandate. As part of that final report, the TRC delivered 94 Calls to Action in order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation.

Salvationist July 2016 13

Photo: Timothy Cheng

run residential schools (see sidebar) and out of that, there is a kind of love-hate relationship. Indigenous people have a strong connection with the Creator, with God—that is something we’ve always understood. The church’s purpose is to help people connect with God. Indigenous people understand that and connect with the Creator. But I think that if we in the church don’t take reconciliation seriously, we might lose a lot of Indigenous people. It’s important for us to be ministers of reconciliation so that we can continue to nourish and build those relationships.

The Salvation Army is holding two Aboriginal roundtables this year. What is the purpose of these gatherings?

We had our first one last year because we wanted to bring together Salvationists who self-identified as Indigenous. We want to develop Indigenous leaders— sadly, we don’t have many in the evangelical church. So what does it take to develop them? We’re working toward that.

Then we wanted to bring people together again because we realized that some Indigenous Salvationists felt alone in their local setting, trying to grapple with the history and the challenges on their own. Coming together provides encouragement and creates a collective voice. One of our main focuses has been addressing the question, “How do I express myself as an Indigenous Salvationist?” And then, “How can we reach out to our Indigenous brothers and sisters?”

Where is the Army doing Indigenous ministry well?

Mjr Shari Russell leads a round dance at a chapel service at territorial headquarters in April

part of that because they brought The Salvation Army back to their own communities themselves. They discovered Jesus through the Army, and thought, This would be good for our community.

They were missionaries to their own people. Over time, the Army has grown and there’s a real sense of pride in being Salvation Army.

Some areas don’t have a positive history, but new bridges are being built.

I think of Wiarton, Ont., Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ont., and Ottawa.

I’m hoping there will be more as we continue in this. At the end of May, we held an Indigenous awareness weekend in Liverpool, N.S. We had a concert with drummers, dancers and storytellers

from the local community. On Sunday morning, we had an ecumenical service where we worshipped together. That’s exciting for me.

As the Army works toward reconciliation and reaches out to Indigenous people, how can we ensure that our ministries—both corps and social services—don’t replicate old patterns of colonization?

Recognizing what colonization is and how it has impacted our organization is key. At the corps level, The Salvation Army has a very strong culture, and that culture came out of 19th-century England, out of the British Empire. It’s not said, but it’s often assumed, that

Some ministry units have good relationships with the nearby Indigenous communities. British Columbia north is a wonderful example. Their history is Residential schools: Over the course of 130 years, 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend church-run Indian Residential Schools (IRS). The purpose of the schools was assimilation: children were deprived of their community, language and culture, and many were physically and sexually abused.

At least 6,000 children died while attending these schools. The last IRS closed in 1996.

14 July 2016 Salvationist

Mjr Doug Binner, corps ministries secretary, and Colonel Mark Tillsley, chief secretary, participate in a smudging ceremony led by Eileen Thomas at an Aboriginal roundtable in May

when Indigenous people come, we’ll change to adapt to that culture. So how we get saved, the way we are discipled, the way we grow in our faith, is influenced by that colonial history in many ways.

It’s what we look like—the uniform, cutting our hair. But it’s also how we live. For example, for the general public, success is often seen as having a job, looking respectable, and so on. Indigenous people place a very strong value on community and family, and sometimes that comes into conflict with our success. Take, for example, an Indigenous person going to school—if school conflicts with their family values and focus, they might leave school, and some people may look at that as failing.

In the corps, these are things we don’t even think of. We don’t realize what a strong message is given to Indigenous people—that in order to be part of us, this is what is expected. It’s not intentional on our part, but it can create discomfort for Indigenous people. “I’ll never be able to be a part of that group, I don’t really belong here.”

How we set up our corps as a physical space also sends a message. When you come into a church, everybody is lined up in a pew, in rows, facing forward. If you go to a traditional powwow, there might be rows of chairs in a circle, facing the centre, but then there’s always movement—people moving around, talking to one another, and establishing relationships. There might be a speaker or dancing going on, but we’re not being disrespectful. It creates a real sense of community.

What about colonial patterns in social services?

It’s the assumption that we know what is best, we know how to help. For example, thinking, “These are the issues that you need to work on in your life,” rather than listening to the Indigenous person. They might say, “Rather than focusing on poverty, the issue we want to look at is our family, because when we look after and care for one another, that takes care of the poverty issue.”

Are there Salvation Army practices that overlap with Indigenous culture?

There are some rich traditions within the Army that Indigenous people love and appreciate. One would be testimony

Photo: KAIROS Canada

How so?

Mjr Shari Russell declares the Army’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 48 at a press conference on Parliament Hill in March

times because they’re about story, about people’s journeys. It puts everybody together in the same field, and creates a sense of community. It’s like an Indigenous sharing circle (see sidebar).

Another part of the Army that Indigenous people love is the colours.

If you go to a powwow, you’ll see lots of colours. And we love the flags. We have flag staffs that come in before every powwow. And the hallelujah windups.

We would call that a big round dance.

How can The Salvation Army work not just toward reconciliation, but integration?

By helping Indigenous people express themselves. Because of our history, most of us won’t stand up and say, “I can do this.” It takes a lot of encouragement.

There might be just one Indigenous person in your congregation; walk alongside them so they can begin to find their voice and integrate that.

There might be some hesitancy around doing that. If we have one Indigenous person in our corps, we don’t want to put them on display, and unintentionally fall into tokenism or cultural appropriation. How can we avoid that?

There’s a fine line that sometimes, even with our best intentions, we might cross over. Being aware of tokenism is helpful and God can use our efforts even when we make mistakes. It’s the motivation of the heart that’s more important than what it looks like at first. And keep in mind that some Indigenous people may prefer the existing culture. We don’t want to force anything on anybody or say,

Sharing circle: Participants gather in a circle to share stories and seek wisdom. A talking stick is used.

The person holding the talking stick has the opportunity to speak uninterrupted while the circle listens respectfully. Everyone in the circle has an opportunity to speak.

“This is what it means to be Indigenous,” but instead let them find their own expression and journey.

There might also be some hesitancy around incorporating Indigenous practices into the life and worship of the corps.

There is a fear on all sides. Because of colonization, Indigenous people have learned that our culture and spirituality are wrong or evil. Mainstream society has been taught that as well. And so teaching is needed on both sides.

As we move forward, it’s important for us as Indigenous people to figure out our theology and our culture, and what it looks like for us to embrace different elements of who we are. For somebody else to say, “You can’t do that,” is paternalistic and not helpful. We need to selftheologize, in a community. We need to ask, “Can we use this practice? Can we integrate it? If yes, how?” There will be things that we will not want to integrate.

But there are practices where we can say, “This is a beautiful expression and God is in this expression; this is a way that God can be honoured, worshipped and celebrated.”

Salvationist July 2016 15

FRESH IDEAS

Striking the Right Chord Guitar program helps The Salvation Army’s Medicine Hat Community Church reach out to their neighbours

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

T

he Salvation Army corps in Medicine Hat, Alta., was filled to overflowing in April, with more than 300 in attendance. People were clapping and stomping their feet to the music, as guitar group after guitar group debuted on the stage.

Though they played like seasoned pickers, many of the musicians had never played a guitar before attending Major Murray Jaster’s Guitar JAM (Jesus And Me) sessions—let alone stepped inside a church.

“Guitar JAM was created to help people craft their God-given talent,” Major Jaster says.

Tuning Up Before becoming a Salvation Army officer, Major Jaster had been a musician who’d headed up a successful band.

“I was travelling all over and playing in places that I should never have been in, but it was destroying my marriage and my life. Fortunately, I was saved and while I quit music for a while, it was always a part of me.”

Murray and his wife, Annetta, became Salvation Army officers. After they were transferred to Edmonton, he formed a Christian band called Risen From the Ashes and started getting back into music. “God drew people to our church,” Major Jaster says.

In 2004, he coached a group of young people to become a worship band. He brought the idea with him when he and his wife were transferred to Medicine Hat. Guitars were bought, refurbished and donated, and Guitar JAM began.

A Real Jam Guitar JAM operates twice a year and works on a six-to-10-week cycle.

Each week, the group meets for two one-hour sessions led by qualified guitarists who teach beginner, basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The 16 July 2016 Salvationist

listened to records and watched guitarists at concerts. Guitar JAM is not a substitute for private instruction. It’s better!

It’s learning by jamming with friends.”

Mjr Murray Jaster in concert

Guitar JAM musicians at April’s recital

courses cover guitar knowledge, music theory, melody and rhythm, with customized handouts after each lesson.

There is a 15-minute snack time in between that prompts fellowship and the building of relationships.

The age of the students ranges from seven to 78 and with many repeat participants. Some of the students have even become instructors.

“When I learned to play guitar as a youth, there were no websites or DVDs,” says Major Jaster. “I learned with friends,

Bigger and Better The highlight of each season is a recital, where the students showcase what they have learned.

Each year, Major Jaster lines up a bigname musician as a draw. Past years have included the likes of Caleb Quaye, a renowned studio musician best known for his work with Elton John, Mick Jagger and Hall & Oates. This year, Tommy Cash, the younger brother of music legend Johnny Cash, was the highlight of the evening.

But the crowd didn’t just get to hear music. Tommy Cash also gave his testimony, and people were listening.

“It was exciting to see people who had been in attendance at the recital seated in church the next morning,” Major Jaster says.

A Musical Tradition “Music is a common denominator, especially for the Army,” says Major Jaster.

“With Guitar JAM, we’re attracting people to church through music.

“Many of these people do not attend church on a regular basis, but they will come to this event. We’ve become their church family without them realizing it, and now they see it as their home.”

Medicine Hat Community Church’s congregation has shown an increase in attendance thanks to Guitar JAM. “I enjoy playing guitar because music is the language of the soul,” concludes Major Jaster. “I believe we all have the gift of music. It just needs to be tapped and explored.”

To see Major Murray Jaster’s Guitar JAM in action, watch the video at youtu.be/tlNqYSGbHJ4.

Just Living

Standing up for justice is a strategic priority

services secretary. In an upcoming issue, Eberlin will provide more insight into the Army’s response to homelessness.

My purpose is to offer an overview of this priority.

Social justice isn’t always easy to define. Words such as equality, fairness and dignity are often used. In Jesus and Justice, Don Posterski describes social justice as “a vision of the world where people are treated equally without prejudice and able to access a fair share of the world’s resources; while living with dignity, people are given opportunities to pursue and sustain their well-being as responsible citizens contributing to their community.”

The work of the Army is grounded in this vision of a socially just world.

In Canada and Bermuda, we are on the front lines of social justice work every day, whether it is combating and alleviating the impact of poverty, raising awareness and assisting those facing homelessness, or advocating on behalf of and supporting victims of human trafficking.

On a national level, we have spoken into issues around end-of-life care and recon-

ciliation with Indigenous peoples.

The goal of the social justice strategic priority is to promote the dignity of all people, with a focus on the marginalized and vulnerable. In order to achieve this, we will take the following actions: •D eliver services in a way that respect and value people •E ducate Salvationists, employees and others about living justly •D evelop resources and stand up against situations of injustice that oppress and marginalize people.

The measureable outcomes for the priority include creating an accessible network of social justice resources and research across the territory and, as Eberlin will explain further, implementing the seven principles for emergency shelters in all Salvation Army shelters by 2017.

Social justice starts with one person.

When individuals take responsibility for living justly, offering a new model of being human as citizens of God’s kingdom, injustice decreases. Although it may feel daunting—it’s easy to question how one person’s actions can make a difference—as the saying goes, a journey begins with one step.

Whether in ministry units, corps, schools or homes, when we live justly, we create an inclusive society in which everyone has a place and none are marginalized.

Jessica McKeachie is the public affairs director for the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

You can read more about the seven strategic priorities at salvationist.ca/ strategic-priorities.

Salvationist July 2016 17

Photo: © adl21/iStock.com

W

hen members of the Ilford Corps in London, England, noticed people in their neighbourhood sleeping on the streets, they responded by opening a wet weather shelter.

Although it kept people safe and warm for a few months of the year, they realized it didn’t solve the problem of homelessness.

So they went further, starting a bike repair social enterprise. A nearby college provided a teacher, who helped shelter clients learn how to fix bikes. The participants gained valuable skills and experience, and the bikes were sold to fund the program.

But the corps didn’t stop there. They began to speak to the local government about the need for change.

This is the movement of social justice—from meeting immediate needs to addressing the causes of poverty. It’s just one example of the Army’s work, around the world and in our territory.

In Jesus and Justice, Don Posterski writes, “More than feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, the spirit of justice distinguishes between help for the moment and building capacity for sustained living.”

The Salvation Army began when William and Catherine Booth saw the impact of poverty around them and put their faith into action, providing “soup, soap and salvation.” But along with practical assistance, they worked to transform society.

Today, 151 years later, the Army remains rooted in faith and characterized by action, particularly on behalf of the marginalized. Social justice is part of our ethos, from international administration to local corps.

That’s why it’s also one of our territorial strategic priorities. I have been appointed the champion for this priority, along with Mary Ellen Eberlin, social

BY JESSICA McKEACHIE

Three Salvationists share how their heritage and faith work together

Not Ashamed SYLVIA THORBURN, Swift Current Community Church, Sask.

I

grew up on a First Nations reserve about 500 kilometres northeast of Swift Current, Sask., with a family of nine sisters and five brothers. I was raised Roman Catholic, but I also grew up with First Nations cultural ceremonies and I participate in them when I go home to visit. It is normal for me to be a part of the ceremonies. I am not ashamed of my heritage; to turn my back on it would be to deny who Sylvia Thorburn has become. I embrace and accept it as part of who I am.

My grandparents prayed often, with both Christian and Indigenous practices—my grandmother would burn sweet grass in the mornings, and she would also say the rosary. My parents were devout and we attended church and prayed regularly.

In our culture, we are taught to respect our elders and follow their teaching. Still, my parents taught us to be independent thinkers. They didn’t impose their religious beliefs on us; we were allowed to find our own value system. This made becoming a Salvationist 18 July 2016 Salvationist

much easier. Nevertheless, it wasn’t an easy decision—I had to wrestle with my upbringing and my cultural background.

I was introduced to The Salvation Army in 1998 when I was hired as a clerk at a thrift store. The staff at the store prayed on a regular basis and I began to notice that often their prayers were answered. That caught my interest and I wanted to know more. The captains at the time invited me to events and encouraged me to volunteer, but I still wasn’t sure of the organization. It was a slow process. Over time, I decided that this was something I wanted to embrace and so, in 2002, I started attending the church and, in 2003, I became a soldier.

Even still, I had doubts—being a First Nations person in The Salvation Army was not the norm, but since then I have found myself placed in the path of my people many times. I believe that God opened a door for me and, under the leadership of former corps officer Captain Michael Ramsay, I grew into this new role. Captain Ramsay showed me that if I allowed God to guide and

help me, he would use my cultural background to help other First Nations people. God would show me how I could help other people who were trying to understand their value system, to help them find a path toward embracing both their cultural heritage and way of praying, and find peace in the direction they want to go. I don’t think rejecting your culture is the answer; rather, it’s identifying the parts that work for you. At the end of the day, it’s an individual choice.

I know that the Army is where I can be the most effective, being a First Nations person, and it’s an honour to work for the Army in Swift Current.

Photo: Timothy Cheng

Indigenous Christianity

Altogether One Heart DAMIAN AZAK, Corps Leader, Gitwinksihlkw, B.C.

I

am a Nisga’a from a small community, Gitwinksihlkw, B.C., in the K’alii Aksim Lisims. I was raised to take care of the people, the land and the animals. I was raised to honour my mother and father and to respect my elders and all people. I was raised to help those in need and to pray and read my Bible.

In 2002, I gave up alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana and became a soldier in The Salvation Army. My grandfather always said that God and our culture go hand in hand. They are both important.

What joins them together? The answer is Jesus Christ.

As a Nisga’a and a Christian, I believe that my culture and faith work together.

What other Christians call God, we know as K’amligiihahlhaahl (which translates, the Great Light that surrounds us, everywhere). K’amligiihahlhaahl has been here since the beginning of time. My ancestors knew of him long before the missionaries came to Nisga’a lands. They praised and thanked him for the sun rising each day. They praised and thanked him for every event that happened. Whenever we gather together—whether it’s a big gathering, such as a feast, or a Nisga’a The Creator’s Son

government meeting—we pray before we open the gathering and when we close it.

When The Salvation Army introduced the vision “One Army, One Mission, One Message,” I knew that I could serve under it because the Nisga’a are raised to live in the spirit of Sayt K’il’im Goot (which translates, Altogether One Heart). This was an easy vision for me to identify with.

About a year after signing the Soldier’s Covenant, I struggled with the contents of it and I told my grandmother. I was seeing it as a list of rules that I had to conform to. My grandmother showed me that it is about Christ and the Word. Since then, I have been living my life the way I interpret Mark 10:43-45—I am a servant.

As a leader, I believe that my greatest message should come from what I do and how I live my life. When I took an official title within the Gitwinksihlkw Youth Council, an elder in the community spoke to me and taught me that my life needs to be like a glass house.

I should never try to hide anything because it always surfaces.

I do my best to live out the Nisga’a

Ayuuk (Nisga’a laws) and the Word. I find I make the same decisions living according to both of these guides. The Nisga’a laws support Scripture. The Scripture calls us to love God and love our neighbours (see Matthew 22:37-39), and that is how I try to live. I do that in how I serve as a corps leader in Gitwinksihlkw, with my wife, Erica, in all that we do—whether it’s with the Food Share, Kids Club or everyday living.

Being a Nisga’a and a Salvationist is who I am. God created each culture and they work together because he is a good and perfect God.

The circle represents his creation

The Creator’s Path This image, on the cover of this month’s magazine, was made by Indigenous artist Don Monkman. It is called Choosing the Creator’s Path and tells the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus, using imagery and language that are familiar to Indigenous people.

Some people accepted his sacrifice Other people rejected his sacrifice

The Creator’s Son, Jesus, wears a crown of thorns, his nail-pierced hands outstretched. On either side are the men who were crucified with him. Below his arms on the right side are those who accepted the Creator’s Son; their hands are lifted in worship. On the left are those who rejected him; they are driving a spear into his side.

His blood flowed as a sacrifice Salvationist July 2016 19

A Place to Belong LIEUTENANT CRYSTAL PORTER, Corps Officer, Labrador City/Wabush, N.L.

I

f you have ever questioned where you belong, you’re not alone. For me, it has been a lingering issue, one that ultimately comes down to asking, Who am I? I am Crystal. I am a Salvation Army officer. I am a wife, daughter, sister and, most recently, a foster mom. For as long as I can remember I have been a part of a church family, which has reminded me that I am a child of God. I am also Aboriginal.

My grandmother was Mi’kmaq, but as a child I rarely heard her speak about it. For her, being Aboriginal was not something to be proud of and our family never embraced that part of our heritage. It would take a long journey, countless people and many prayers for me to come to a place of confidence and peace with my Aboriginal identity.

When I graduated from high school, I moved to Winnipeg to attend a discipleship and mission program at Booth University College.

I n W i n n ip e g , I learned more than I could have imagined.

At Weetamah Corps, I was immersed in Aboriginal culture and worshipped with people who were willing to be real before their Creator and others. Slowly, my thinking began to shift as I realized my worth in the Creator’s eyes.

Many years would pass and more learning moments would take place, preparing me for last year when I attended a Salvation Army Aboriginal roundtable and a symposium of the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies. Through those gatherings I realized my own hesitations. Like my grandmother, I was reluctant to embrace my Aboriginal identity. I knew the stereotypes, I heard the nasty remarks, and I worried that those same words would be directed at me. Yet as I listened to those around me share their stories, I realized I was not alone. God used those moments to reveal my insecurities, and he used beautiful Aboriginal Christians to bring healing.

After that, I committed to learn more

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about my heritage. I began to see God as an amazing Creator who speaks creativity and beauty into our world and my life. I began to realize that this learning was a gift from the Creator himself. God was working in the smallest details of my story.

I am thankful for my journey because I can see how each step has encouraged me to realize my identity as an Aboriginal Christian. At this point, I cannot imagine one without the other.

I just finished teaching a beading class at the local Aboriginal Service Centre. I reminded the women that as we bead, we thank the Creator. We take time to pray to the One who gives us the creativity and patience to finish our task.

I offer a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I remember the One who speaks purpose into my life.

My thinking began to shift as I realized my worth in the Creator’s eyes With each bead I string, I pray that God will keep me connected. I pray that our relationship will continue to grow into something beautiful.

With each beat of the drum, my soul praises the Creator. Its rhythm reminds me of who I am, and with quiet confidence I hear him whisper, You are mine.

The God who created me knew that it might take me a while to embrace who he created—but in the end, he knew I would find my place to belong.

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20 July 2016 Salvationist

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SPIRITUAL LIFE

Fast Forward The hunger that drives us to God

Photo: © vetre/stock.Adobe.com

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

F

or me, it’s cheese. It’s the one thing I miss most when I fast. I would go so far as to say that it’s my favourite food group. From Boursin to brie, gorgonzola to gouda—I love it all. So why would I give it up? What does cheese have to do with my spiritual life?

Fasting doesn’t come easily for me, and I doubt I’m alone in this. Perhaps that’s why it seems to be an under-practised spiritual discipline. Put simply, it’s hard. And without a firm grasp of its true purpose, it can be easy to see fasting as pharisaic legalism. Understanding both the why and the how is key.

Today, Christians choose to fast from a variety of things—from certain types of food such as meat, or activities such as watching movies. The most important thing to remember about fasting is that it’s not really about what you’re abstaining from. This needs to be kept in mind because it’s incredibly easy to get hung up on what you’re not doing and lose sight of what you are doing.

Fasting, then, is not really about food, but it is about hunger. Every time I say no to a burger or a slice of cake, my physical

Every time I say no to a burger or a slice of cake, my physical deprivation points to a spiritual one deprivation points to a spiritual one. I am reminded that, as Christ said in the desert, I do not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God (see Matthew 4:1-4).

I am reminded to set my mind on things above, rather than on earthly things (see Colossians 3:2). I need moments such as these to re-centre me, to bring me back to God. Life in the 21st century is endlessly distracting. At any given moment, my mind is flitting between a hundred different things—the work e-mail I forgot to send, the baby shower gift I need to buy. Fasting breaks my

routine. It puts me in the right frame of mind to approach God. Fasting is not just about what we give up, but what we pick up. It is always accompanied by prayer, as Jesus modelled in the desert, and it’s usually coupled with repentance. Calling the Israelites to repent through the prophet Joel, God implores them, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (Joel 2:12). Our hearts returned to God, we move from “giving up” to “picking up.” Our focus shifts outward and fasting periods become opportunities to serve others—whether it’s inviting a newcomer over for coffee, or using the time we would have spent watching movies to volunteer.

Regardless of what we give up and pick up, it’s important to remember that fasting is not about “pleasing” God. God doesn’t need us to fast. We don’t earn brownie points by fasting. The practice of fasting exists for our spiritual benefit.

And even though it teaches us discipline through self-denial, fasting is not about self-flagellation or “proving” something. In fact, fasting should be entirely doable. God doesn’t want us to fail. Choose a fast that you can do and build from there. This is especially important if you are new to fasting. Don’t give up all food for 40 days because that is what Jesus did; start by giving up meat for one day each week, for example. Be mindful of your physical, as well as your spiritual, limitations.

And don’t forget that it’s OK to fail; there’s more to fasting than keeping the fast. In fasting, and life generally, I am comforted by the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (see Luke 18:9-14).

The Pharisee uses prayer as a “humble brag,” thanking God that he’s not like all the terrible sinners in the world. “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get,” he boasts. And meanwhile, the tax collector beats his breast and prays, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” We can do fasting right, while completely missing the point. As David reminds us in Psalm 51, God is not so concerned with the outward sacrifices we make. A sacrifice that is acceptable to God is “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

What you give up—whether it’s cheese, chocolate or Facebook—does not really matter. When it comes to fasting, a broken and contrite heart is both the why and the how.

Salvationist July 2016 21

Rising Strong A former survival sex worker becomes a warrior for Christ

BY GISELLE RANDALL

Hour to Hour Born in Whitehorse, Yukon, Allan is of Tlingit descent and belongs to the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Her mother, a residential school survivor, was a heroin addict, and Allan was raised in foster care. At 18, she went to live with relatives in British Columbia.

“They lived a totally different life than I was used to,” she says. “There was a lot of domestic violence, a lot of drug use. I couldn’t handle it.”

At a party, she met a woman who offered her a job babysitting her kids.

Eventually, the woman and her drug dealer suggested the idea of prostitution.

“They said, ‘Men will use you for sex, you might as well get paid for it,’ ” she recalls.

Allan lived with them for a while, and then moved to Calgary. She stayed 22 July 2016 Salvationist

Photos: Kim Stallknecht

J

ennifer Allan came to Vancouver in September 2002, with five cents and the clothes on her back. An older sex worker took her in, made her a meal and told her the safer areas to work. She rented a room at a hostel on Main Street, sleeping with a knife under her pillow.

“You’re always scared, always on edge, she says. “There’s a constant fear of being sexually assaulted, because people don’t see sex workers as human beings.”

Allan could have been one of the 1,200 missing or murdered Aboriginal women across Canada, but instead, she met The Salvation Army.

“I’d had a lot of bad interactions with the church,” she says, “but 614 Corps in Vancouver was different. I’d be trying to pick up a john, and they’d come and talk to me, and call me by name.”

Jennifer Allan, the first Indigenous soldier at 614 Corps in Vancouver, stands beside the Astoria Hotel in the Downtown Eastside, where many survival sex workers went missing

out of the sex trade for a year, but, faced with poverty, started working for an escort agency. When two police officers roughed her up in an alley, Allan fought back. She was charged and convicted with assault, and given a suspended sentence. Having a criminal record began to have a huge impact on her life.

“No one would hire me,” she says. “I owed my landlord $300, and it was either get the money or go sit in a dumpster.

So I went to a bar and got drunk, and forced myself to stand on a street corner.”

A trip to the United States—forgetting her probation orders not to leave the province—led to another arrest. “It kept growing from there,” she says. “I was in and out of jail for failure to appear in

court, breach of probation. I couldn’t get a job, so I kept working the streets.”

It was a dangerous business, with the constant threat of violence. In May 2000, a friend was found dead under suspicious circumstances, but police ruled it accidental. “Her life was three little lines in the newspaper—‘prostitute found under car.’ That was it,” she says. “That’s what led me to becoming an advocate for sex workers.”

One night, while going to meet some friends, Allan saw a group of men surround a woman and cut her throat with a beer bottle. “In street code, you can’t go to the police and say, ‘I witnessed attempted murder,’ because then you’re a rat and people come after you,” she

says. “And so I drank two four-litres of alcohol a day, just to function.”

A month later, Allan was hospitalized after being sexually assaulted and severely beaten. She dealt with the trauma by going on a two-month crack binge.

“When I was on the streets, I lived from hour to hour,” she says. “Because you’re prepared that you might die—a john is going to pick you up and kill you, or you’re going to die from a drug overdose. It’s not like you want to die, but you accept that it’s a major possibility.”

Relationship, not Rules Things started to change when Allan moved to Vancouver. She was still working on the street, but was intrigued by the Christians she met in the neighbourhood. “They talked to me like a human being, which was totally new to me,” she says. “It made me want to be part of this group, to find out what they do.”

Aaron White, corps leader at 614 Corps, remembers this time. “At first, the relationship was turbulent,” he says.

“She was suspicious of all Christians.

It took a long time to show her that we weren’t going anywhere and that we could be trusted.”

In July 2003, the Army began partnering with Linwood House, a beautiful home in a rural setting on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, to offer retreats for women caught in the cycle of addiction and prostitution. Allan was one of the first two women to attend, but she was guarded.

“I remember asking then-Captain Danielle Strickland, ‘Is this one of those things where you hit us over the head with the Bible and tell us to leave the sex trade?’ ” Allan recalls. “She said, ‘Well, only if you want us to.’ At that point, I knew this was something different.”

Allan’s view of Christians and Christianity began to shift. “I thought it was a bunch of rules and regulations,” she says. “It was Danielle Strickland who taught me that it’s about having a relationship with Jesus.”

Exit Strategy In January 2004, Allan went into treatment and got clean. She left the sex trade after a pimp tried to force her to work for him, and beat her up when she refused.

“He said he could kill me and no one would care,” she says. “And I realized he was probably right.”

But she didn’t leave the women of the

Allan pauses to reflect at a memorial in Crabtree Park in Vancouver, dedicated to the 1,200 Aboriginal women who went missing or were murdered between 1980 and 2012. Although Aboriginal women are only four percent of Canada’s female population, they represent nearly 25 percent of female homicide victims

Downtown Eastside behind. In October 2004, Allan started an outreach to survival sex workers called Jen’s Kitchen, making and handing out sandwiches to 30 women a night. She went into alleys and brothels, often joined by people from The Salvation Army’s War College, to connect with women who are usually working during other free community meal times.

Over the next 10 years, Allan continued Jen’s Kitchen, worked for different social service organizations, got involved in community activism, spoke to university classes about the survival sex trade, did research on missing and murdered women across Canada, and advocated for changes in the law to protect sex workers.

“We can’t keep viewing sex workers as criminals. We need to start viewing them as victims of violence,” she says.

“Prostitution is a result of poverty, addiction, mental illness, lack of housing and job opportunities, and criminal records.

“We need to make sure women have safe and affordable housing, access to the education system, free long-term counselling, food in their fridge and access to childcare.”

Christ’s Support Worker Although she attended 614 Corps,

Allan was reluctant to become a soldier.

“I was fearful I was going to screw up,” she says.

But in 2013, when she was working at a shelter for people with addictions and mental illness, two of her clients committed suicide. Allan was devastated, wondering what direction her life should take. She felt God telling her it was time to commit. After completing a year of Battle School at the War College, Allan became a soldier in 2014.

“Being a soldier means I’m a warrior for Christ,” she says. “I’m an advocate, Christ’s support worker, to my community.”

Today, she helps to lead street and prison visitation ministries with 614 Corps. “She is passionate for justice, prayer and advocating for missing and murdered women,” says White. “She is generous and full of life.”

The history of the residential school system in Canada casts a long shadow over the relationship between the church and First Nations people, but Allan wants to be part of the rebuilding process.

“Satan wanted to destroy a culture,” she says. “He wanted to make sure that when we heard the name Jesus, we ran 100 miles in the opposite direction. I want to let him know he lost.”

Salvationist July 2016 23

HERSTORY

Our Porn Problem How easy access to explicit content is devastating our kids

BY LIEUTENANT KRISTEN JACKSON-DOCKERAY

24 July 2016 Salvationist

Photo: © Focus Pocus LTD/stock.Adobe com

T

he statistics are staggering.

A survey by men’s magazine GQ found that 53 percent of respondents developed a regular porn habit between the ages of 12 and 14.

Close to 20 percent said they started watching porn before they were 12. One in five people who regularly watch porn admitted to feeling controlled by their own sexual desires. And 42 percent of male college students reported visiting porn websites regularly.

The Internet has made pornography more accessible than ever before. Mobile devices put it directly in the hands of consumers. The result is a generation of young people whose minds have been marinated in explicit sexual content since adolescence, an age when their brains are still developing. It’s having an alarming effect on their understanding of human sexuality.

A recent study found that mainstream pornography is overwhelmingly centred on acts of violence and degradation toward women. Porn uses sex, but has very little to do with it. Instead, it’s about power and privilege, about upholding the social construction of patriarchy.

It uses sexuality as an instrument of active oppression, eroticizing humiliation and abuse. It makes abnormal sexual behaviour seem normal.

This is the message that young people are receiving, and it is dangerous and destructive.

We are beginning to see the effects of this distorted view of sexuality. In Australia, a recent survey of 600 girls aged 15-19 by Plan International found that online sexual harassment is disturbingly common. The report, titled “Don’t Send Me That Pic,” reveals that 51 percent believe girls are pressured into sending “sexy” pictures; 81.5 percent say it’s not OK for a boyfriend to ask for a naked picture; and seven out of 10 believe girls are bullied or harassed online.

Other stories are emerging of girls being asked to play out porn scenarios

Online sexual harassment is disturbingly common characterized by male dominance and female submission.

That’s why, as Christians, we need to be concerned not just with the sexual immorality of porn, but with the way it entrenches a distorted view of the sexes. The porn industry refuses to see men and women as created in the image of God. It turns people into objects. It stunts our ability to be fully human.

Abstaining from porn is not primarily about piety, it is about holiness.

Holiness is about being more and more

in love with God and with humanity.

If you are in love with God and in love with humanity, the commodification of people through pornography breaks your heart.

As the holy people of a holy God, a God who ordained and created sex, we need to yell out to the world—there is more! We need to speak out about the porn industry in a way that is thoughtful, aware, intentional and justice-oriented.

We need to love God and love our neighbours by moving away from that which is selfish, thoughtless or hurtful to others.

Let’s reclaim sex as the holy gift of a holy God. For a report on pornography by the International Social Justice Commission, visit issuu.com/isjc/ docs/_2806827.

Lieutenant Kristen Jackson-Dockeray is the divisional youth secretary in the British Columbia Division.

#TRENDING

Hijacking Culture The dangers of borrowing from other traditions

BY CAPTAIN MARK BRAYE

Photo: © CyberOnix/iStock.com

W

hen Justin Bieber attended the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles this past April, his appearance created quite a stir. Why? He was wearing his hair in dreadlocks. The question arose: was this cultural appreciation, or an offensive form of cultural appropriation?

In a multicultural society, where do we draw the line?

Cultural appropriation is the adoption or use of elements of one culture—ideas, symbols and artifacts—by members of a different culture. Some views distinguish between “appropriation” and “misappropriation”—when cultural elements are used outside their original context, in a disrespectful way. It’s a form of cultural theft.

Was it offensive for Justin Bieber to wear dreadlocks, or is it just hair? CBC reporter Lauren O’Neil outlined criticisms of Bieber’s choice: “It’s not just hair to those who wear dreadlocks for cultural, political or religious reasons. Rastafarians in Jamaica for many years faced discrimination based on their appearance, for example. It’s not ‘just hair’ for men and women who’ve been fired, sent home from school and even physically assaulted over what’s on their own heads, either.”

It’s not clear to me that wearing dreadlocks is outright (mis)appropriation. A clearer example would be when white people wear “black face.” The historical struggle faced by people of colour is diminished when their appearance is used for fun and amusement. For me, this is disrespectful and offensive and has no place in society.

Consider also the names of the following sports teams: Edmonton Eskimos (Canadian Football League); Cleveland Indians (Major League Baseball); Chicago Blackhawks (National Hockey League); Washington Redskins (National Football League). I believe these team names, and their logos, are belittling and offensive to our Indigenous neighbours and friends.

The last two, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Redskins, present an interesting case.

The Chicago Blackhawks take their name from an infantry division that fought in the First World War. The division was named for Chief Black Hawk, a Sauk leader and an important figure in the history of the state of Illinois. Some argue that this name is not offensive because it’s based on an individual, not an entire community. I’d like to know how the Sauk community feels about the name. If they are offended, I would side with them.

Washington Redskins is an offensive team name, period.

It dehumanizes an entire community of people. I’ve read that some sports magazines will not print the word “Redskins,” referring to the team as solely “Washington.” This past season, Phil Simms, a former NFL quarterback and current broadcaster with CBS, refused to use the word “Redskins” when working

a game featuring Washington. We would never accept a professional sports team called the Washington N-words or the Washington Whiteys. It’s time to change the name.

Cultural appropriation has theological, spiritual and practical implications. As Christians, we believe everyone is created in the image of God. We need to reflect carefully on how our attitudes and actions impact other people. We need to be aware of how cultural appropriation can creep into our lives in small ways, in the jokes we tell or laugh at, in the things we say or don’t say.

Perhaps there are positive ways to appreciate other cultures.

For example, singing a spiritual to commemorate Black History Month; celebrating a seder meal in solidarity with Jewish friends; or creating an Indigenous craft in Sunday school to learn about our First Nations. In each instance, it’s important to take our cues from others who “own” these traditions.

Even in writing this article, I’m aware that, as a white male, I’m coming from the perspective of the dominant culture, and I have much to learn.

As The Salvation Army, we need to ask ourselves if we are sensitive to other cultures and ethnicities in our church congregations and as an organization. Are there times when we belittle or offend other cultures without knowing it? How can we acknowledge, encourage and respect cultural differences without stereotyping people? How do we make room for people to express themselves in their own way? Where do we need to change?

Do you think the church is guilty of cultural appropriation?

Join the conversation online at salvationist.ca.

Captain Mark Braye is the corps officer at Sarnia Community Church, Ont. Salvationist July 2016 25

CROSS CULTURE

IN REVIEW Disability, Faith, and the Church

Inclusion and Accommodation in Contemporary Congregations

BY COURTNEY WILDER People with disabilities are often underserved by churches, even as many churches seek to change attitudes and practices.

Disability, Faith, and the Church includes both theological discussion and practical information on how churches can move forward. It draws from a wide range of theological traditions and writings on disability within the Christian tradition, and provides disability-focused readings of biblical texts. It also shares the experiences of successful ministries for people with disabilities, showing how churches can be welcoming to all people. The book puts emphasis on connecting theology and the experiences of ordinary people with disabilities to existing congregational practices, helping readers develop inclusion strategies that will be successful in their communities.

Alpha Film Series

Since it took the Christian world by storm in the 1990s, more than 29 million people have participated in the Alpha course—a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Now running in 169 countries and 112 languages, Alpha has developed a new program, Alpha Film Series, to communicate the gospel to a global and multicultural audience.

The series consists of 16, 30-minute documentary-style episodes with attractive cinematography, as well as visual illustrations and motion graphics. The episodes include interviews with people “on the street,” as well as public figures such as adventurer Bear Grylls, and are shot around the world, including Canada.

Along with Alpha pioneer Nicky

The Book of Revelation: A Non-Scary Approach Volume 1

BY MAJOR PHILIP W. DAVISSON “The Book of Revelation can be a confusing, scary thing,” writes Major Philip W. Davisson in the introduction to his new book. Most people avoid it, but thanks to pop-culture phenomena such as the Left Behind series, we are familiar with concepts such as the rapture and the antichrist that have been drawn from Revelation. How can we approach this book and make sense of it? In The Book of Revelation: A Non-Scary Approach,

ON THE WEB Bono and Eugene Peterson: The Psalms

This short film documents the friendship between Bono, lead singer of the band U2, and Eugene Peterson, author of The Message Bible translation. The 20-minute film is a collection of interviews and archival footage, beginning in 2002, when Bono sent Peterson a video message expressing his appreciation for The Message.

Most of the film takes place at Peterson’s home in rural Montana, where he and Bono have a conversation revolving around their common interest in the Psalms. The conversation is led by Fuller Seminary faculty member David Taylor, 26 July 2016 Salvationist

who also directed the film. The film is both personal and poignant, breathing new life into the Psalms by showing viewers how they are seen by two well-known, but very different, Christians.

Watch it at youtu.be/-l40S5e90KY.

Gumbel and his wife, Pippa, the series features two new younger hosts: Toby Flint, a curate at Holy Trinity Brompton church in London, England, and Gemma Hunt, an award-winning BBC children’s television host. While updating the look and feel, the film series covers the traditional Alpha content. Find out more about the program at www.alphacanada.org.

Major Davisson offers an accessible guide. Written for the non-scholar in a conversational style, the book uses non-technica l la ng uage a nd a ims to draw out Revelation’s relevance to our daily lives.

Volume 1 covers Revelation 1-8:5; Volume 2, Revelation 8:615:8; Volume 3, Revelation 16-22.

IN THE NEWS Noah’s Ark to Set Sail

Between 2008 and 2013, Dutch carpenter Johan Huibers devoted himself to building a life-size replica of Noah’s Ark. Currently docked in the Netherlands, the ark has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Now, the Ark of Noah Foundation wants to bring the famous boat to Brazil in time for the summer Olympics in August. The foundation says the ark will remain there for two to four years, during which it will visit various ports. Through ticket sales and sponsorship agreements, the foundation plans to build Ark of Hope Centers in the countries the ark visits. These centres would provide different kinds of practical assistance, such as education and health care, and serve as places of worship.

PEOPLE & PLACES

CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L.—Eight young people take a stand for Christ and are enrolled as junior soldiers at Conception Bay South Corps. Front, from left, Cyril Ivany, Noah Stokes, Camden Hynes, Rhianne Whittle, Meaghan Hart, Madison Lethbridge, Ryder Pardy and Nikita Pardy. Back, from left, CSM Mjr Lloyd George; Mjrs Barb and Lorne Pritchett, COs; Ambrose Payne, colour sergeant; Rosemarie Dobson and ACSM Claudette Hillier, junior soldier instructors.

WINNIPEG—Southlands CC rejoices in the growth taking place as three senior soldiers are enrolled. From left, Mjr Shawn Critch, DC, Prairie Div; Matt Schnaider; Colonel Mark Tillsley, chief secretary; Michael Howell; Cpt Peter van Duinen, CO; Jenny Hale; Mjr Brenda Critch, DDWM, Prairie Div; Comr John Nelson; and Cpt Lee-Ann van Duinen, CO.

GLOVER’S HARBOUR, N.L.—Jim and Carolyn Cooke are enrolled as senior soldiers at Glover’s Harbour Corps by Lt Jaclyn Wynne, then CO. CSM Hubert Ward holds the flag.

BRIDGEWATER, N.S.—Jennifer and Christopher Rideout dedicate their infant daughter, Grace, back to the Lord at Bridgewater Corps. From left, Mjrs Wilson and Darlene Sutton, COs; Sadie Rideout; Jennifer Rideout; Christopher Rideout, holding Grace; Christine Fancy, godmother; and Michael Lumley, godfather.

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.—Grant Janes proudly displays his Soldier’s Covenant as he is enrolled as a senior soldier at Charlottetown CC. Supporting him are, from left, Mjrs Glenda and Daniel Roode, COs, and Steffen Hood, welcome sergeant, holding the flag.

YARMOUTH, N.S.—Yarmouth CC commissions two new local officers to the position of prayer sergeant. From left, Cpt Melissa Mailman, CO; Brenda Robicheau; Candace Bain; and Cpt Mike Mailman, CO. Salvationist July 2016 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

HAMILTON, ONT.—Four senior soldiers have joined the ranks at Mountain Citadel. From left, Patricia Kostrich; Dan Wallace, retired CSM, holding the flag; Donna Miklos; Dez Miklos; Maya Wetlauffer; Mjrs Cathy and Darryl Simms, COs.

LONGUEUIL, QUE.—From left, Christopher Aguilar, Jorge Vargas, Stalyn Mojica, Laura Vargas, Lilia Rosa Pena, Angy Mojica, Rosmey Herrera and Raquel Dominguez are enrolled at The Salvation Army Light of Hope Family Church, a congregation planted by Montreal Citadel under the leadership of Lts Ricaurte Velasquez and Vilma Ramos, associate COs at Montreal Citadel.

Officer Retirements

BOTWOOD, N.L.—Austin Yates is recognized for 70 years of unbroken and ongoing faithful service as a bandsman at Botwood Corps. Celebrating the occasion during an old-fashioned Army night as part of the corps’ 121st anniversary events are, from left, Mjrs Peter and Janice Rowe, COs; Austin Yates; BM Paul Sceviour; and Wes Thompson, colour sergeant.

Accepted for Training Messengers of the Gospel Session (2016-2018) College for Officer Training, Winnipeg Adriane Cartmell Ottawa Citadel, Ontario Central-East Division I asked God to give me a big, neon sign if he wanted me to be an officer. I committed myself to prayer and realized I had been so busy looking for the miraculous that I almost missed God speaking in the everyday. I have been called to serve, and God has confirmed that through the ordinary things that surround me.

Thomas Marsh Sydney Community Church, N.S., Maritime Division Officership is a lot more than a career. It’s a way to love others and to share the love of Jesus. It’s a way to connect with others who are looking for help.

Kristina Marsh Sydney Community Church, N.S., Maritime Division I felt God calling me to officership in my first year of university. Since then, God has given me opportunities for ministry and service that have confirmed my calling and drawn me closer to him.

28 July 2016 Salvationist

Majors Dale and Jo Sobool retire July 1 following 23 years of service as Salvation Army officers. As a professional engineer working for the University of Saskatchewan, Dale realized that God could use him to minister to those in need through The Salvation Army. Growing up in Africa with her officer parents, Majors Len and Dorothy Millar, Jo has always enjoyed the ministry and outreach of the international Salvation Army. And so, together they entered the College for Officer Training in the Heralds of Jesus Session in 1991. They served in appointments in Alberta, Northwest Territories and British Columbia, where their ministry has offered many opportunities to share God’s love. They are thankful for all the blessings they have received through the years. In retirement, they look forward to enjoying time with their children and seven grandchildren.

A Heart for Others in Midland MIDLAND, ONT.—Eightyear-old Sadie Ball has a kind and caring heart. For the second year in a row, instead of receiving gifts for her birthday, she asked her friends and family to bring food items to be donated to a family in need. Sadie and her mother, Alison, stopped

by The Salvation Army in Midland to deliver the food and reported that she has challenged her classmates to do the same. Way to go, Sadie!

PEOPLE & PLACES

TRIBUTES

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Peterborough Temple celebrates as Doug Davison is enrolled as a senior soldier and Janet Davison is welcomed as an adherent.

From left, RS Doug Leach, ACSM Kelly Reid, Doug Davison, Janet Davison, CSM Claudia Davison, and Mjrs Kathie and Herbert Sharp, COs.

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—From left, Theresa Price and Simon Quackenbush are enrolled as junior soldiers at Peterborough Temple by Mjr Kathie Sharp, CO.

The Salvation Army Lewisporte Corps

Celebrates its 100th Anniversary October 14-16, 2016

Remembering the Past, Rejoicing in the Present, Ready for the Future With Commissioners Max and Lenora Feener Musical Guest: Darrin Martin Friday, October 14 7:30 p.m.—Youth Event Saturday, October 15 1 p.m.—Children’s Event 5 p.m.—Anniversary Banquet 7:30 p.m.—Celebrate with Music Sunday, October 16 10:30 a.m.—Holiness Meeting 6:30 p.m.—Salvation Meeting

�������������������������������������������������� 21 Centennial Dr., Lewisporte NL A0G 3A0 Visit us on Facebook: “The Salvation Army Lewisporte” E-mail: lewisportesalvationarmy@hotmail.com

CALGARY—Lois Lowry was born in Kincaid, Sask., in 1937, and was a lifelong member of The Salvation Army. She was commissioned as an officer in 1958 as a member of the Courageous Session. Lois left officership for health reasons after 14 years of faithful service. Since then she has been a soldier at Glenmore Temple in Calgary. A tragic accident in 1975 left her a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair. Her faith, witness and love of the Lord never left her right up to her promotion to glory. Lois was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Irene Lowry; sister, Donna; brother, David; and niece, Erin Lowry. She is survived and missed by her brother, Don (Jan) Lowry; nephew, Michael (Kathy) Lowry; numerous cousins and many close friends.

TORONTO—Major May Walter was born into a Salvationist family in Sarnia, Ont., the only sister of five brothers.

Commissioned in 1948 as a member of the King’s Messengers Session, she served in secretarial roles in divisional appointments, at the College for Officer Training in St. John’s, N.L., and at territorial headquarters in Toronto. Following a year at the Winnipeg Grace Hospital, May earned her diploma in hospital administration in 1971. She then spent 16 years in hospital administration, where she was appreciated for her excellent managerial skills and her caring, compassionate spirit. Appointments took her to three more Salvation Army hospitals, including three years as assistant administrator in Windsor, Ont., seven years as administrator in Halifax and six years as executive director in Ottawa. Retiring in 1991, May attended Yorkminster Citadel, Toronto, where she is missed by many friends. She is remembered fondly by her brother, Vince (Cherie); sister-in-law, Mrs. Commissioner Alison Walter; many nephews and nieces; and a large extended family.

Guidelines for Tributes

Tributes should be received within two months of the promotion to glory and include: community where the person resided; conversion to Christ; corps involvement; Christian ministry; survivors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. High-resolution digital photos (300 ppi preferred) or clear, original photos are acceptable (original photos will be returned).

E-mail: salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org.

GAZETTE TERRITORIAL Birth: Cpt Heather Matondo/Mr. Edi Matondo, daughter, Zola Masidivingi, Apr 21 Appointments: Mjrs Daniel/Sarah Lim, Queen’s (Flushing), New York, U.S.A. Eastern Tty Long service: 30 years—Mjr Glenys Pilgrim Promoted to glory: Cpt Joseph Mulwain, from Hazelton, B.C., Apr 17; Mjr Reimer Smith, from Edmonton, Apr 17; Mrs. Brg Lilian Greenwood, from London, Ont., Apr 24; Mjr Calvin Abbott, from Bonavista, N.L., May 6

CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Jul 7 Anglican Church of Canada General Synod’s opening service of worship, Richmond Hill, Ont.; Jul 10 installation of Mjrs Wade/Linda Budgell as divisional leaders, Fairview Citadel, Halifax, Maritime Div; July 17 installation of Mjrs Brian/Anne Venables as divisional leaders, Cascade CC, Abbotsford, B.C. Div Canadian Staff Band: Jul 6 Jackson’s Point Camp, Ont.

Salvationist July 2016 29

SALVATION STORIES

Recipe for Success God is faithful, even when life isn’t a piece of cake

BY MICAELA NELSON

30 July 2016 Salvationist

when life hands you lemons, God can make great lemonade.

God has always been part of my life, but I think his presence became real to me when my mom had a brain aneurism when I was 12. I remember being so scared as she went in for surgery. I thought I was going to lose her. While we sat in the cafeteria waiting, the sun came shining through the windows. It felt like God was telling us she was going to be OK—and she was.

Much has happened since then, but God has continued to remind me that he is there, like the sun through the window.

Last summer, I did an apprenticeship at Peller Estates Winery in St. Catharines, Ont. I didn’t know anyone and I was scared and nervous. On my first day, I pulled into a parking spot and said a quick prayer, asking for a sign that I was in the right place, that I was doing the right thing. Just then, a woman in another car with a Manitoba license plate pulled in

beside me. We got out and introduced ourselves, and have been friends ever since. I know God put her in my life.

My relationship with God hasn’t always been easy. I went through a tough time that made me angry with God. I didn’t know what to do. I pushed my friends away because I wanted to deal with it on my own. My Christian life was suffering because I wasn’t able to attend church. But when I started losing my passion for baking, when decorating a cake stopped making me smile, I knew I needed my friends and God back in my life. I turned back to God and he was there. I felt whole again.

After graduating from culinary school, I moved to Ontario for a job at Peller Estates. Although it was scary to move away from my family, and I was sad to leave Winnipeg, a city I love, I know that God is with me. I can’t wait to see how God is going to work in and through my life on this new adventure.

Photo: Carson Samson

I

’ve always loved cooking. My mom and grandma baked cookies, pies and fresh bread, and I was their sous chef—I wanted to be just like them. When I was accepted to culinary school at Red River College in Winnipeg, I was thrilled.

The kitchen is like a second home—there’s no place I’d rather be.

I enjoyed my training, but the long hours, often on weekends, meant sacrificing a lot of my church life. I grew up in a Christian home and have attended Heritage Park Temple in Winnipeg all my life, where I was part of Sunday school, youth group, Bible study and singing groups. There was always someone to help me along the way and answer my questions.

My grandparents, Commissioners John and Elizabeth Nelson, are wonderful examples of unwavering faith. They have shown me that no matter what is going on in my life, the good and the not so good, God will see me through—that

“I wake up every day with a smile on my face because I get to cook,” says Micaela Nelson, who hopes to open a café and bakeshop some day

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