Salvationist January 2019

The Bible Is Clear … Or Is It?

Fleeing Colombia’s Violence for a New Life in Canada

@theREADY Reimagines Youth Discipleship

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

January 2019

Ready for Adventure

Northridge Scout Group offers fun, friendship and service

Salvationist.ca

“O for a heart of compassion, Moved at the impulse of love.”

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle World President of Women’s Ministries

Supported by Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander

British Columbia Divisional Congress + Commissioning and Ordination June 21–23, 2019

UBC Campus, Vancouver The Messengers of Compassion

Learn More commissioningweekend.ca

CONTENTS

Salvationist January 2019 • Volume 14, Number 1

18

Departments 5 Frontlines

Moses is Born

Hi kids!

16 Cross Culture

But long before that, Moses was an ordinary baby whose mother gave him up for adoption. As you’ll see in this issue of Just for Kids, she did this to protect him.

Game On

by Ken Ramstead

27 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories The Wounded Healer

by Captain Scott Strissel

Columns 4 Editorial Be Prepared

by Geoff Moulton

17

F O U N E M O T V G L N

X N A A I F T H I Y D Y

W B R R Y L H G R P U Y

M S I Y A R E U I T R T

I A U E Z H R A K T A K

M O S E S Y P D I R X F

ry Verse

ISSUE

4

and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

Then Miriam asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Should I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

“Yes, go,” she answered.

And the girl got the baby’s mother. So the woman took the baby and nursed him.

When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter.

He became her son and she named him Moses.

The baby’s sister, Miriam, stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to take a bath. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant to get it. She opened the basket and saw the baby. He was crying

Moses grew up strong and tall in Egypt, and later became the leader of God’s people.

Do you ever wonder what God has planned for your life? Whatever you do, remember to love God and ask Him to guide you.

Just for Kids

Big Tech or Big Brother?

by Cadet Stephen Frank

Community of Shalom

by Lt-Colonel Brian Armstrong

H A Y S W L M E E E A Q

A

is “The Lord those all ready to help to Him. who call out mean it who really He helps thosecall out to Him.” when they

22 Ethically Speaking

25 Perspectives

T E K S A B I R R M Z S

Exodus 2

—Psalm 145:18

The World at Your Door

by Stacey Dlamini

B A B Y Y H F T O Q Q P

n Israelite woman gave birth to a son. She hid him for three months because the Egyptian Pharaoh did not allow Israelite boys to live. But when she couldn’t hide him any longer, she placed the child in a basket and put it among the reeds near the Nile River.

Your friend, Kristin

mo Me

S D E E R H S W E T Z P

Pharaoh's Daughter Finds Moses

Families come in all shapes and sizes. No matter what your family situation looks like, remember that we have one amazing Father who loves us very much. As Galatians 3:26 tells us, “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God by believing in Christ.”

17 Not Called?

24 Live Justly

BABY BASKET DAUGHTER EGYPT ISRAELITE MIRIAM MOSES MOTHER NILE PHARAOH REEDS RIVER WOMAN

Do you know the story of Moses?

He is one of the most important people in the Bible. He led the people of Israel to freedom when they were slaves in Egypt. He was close to God and shared God’s messages, including the Ten Commandments, with the Israelites.

Features 9 Ready for Adventure Fun, friendship and service at the 1st Northridge Salvation Army Scout Group.

by Giselle Randall

12 @theReady Help us reimagine youth and children’s discipleship for our territory.

by Major Terence Hale

14 Lost and Found Escaping the violence in Colombia, Captain Ricaurte Velasquez found a new future with The Salvation Army in Canada.

by Kristin Ostensen

18 A Fine Art For Salvationist Michelle Stoney, becoming an artist was a journey of self-discovery.

by Kristin Ostensen

20 The Bible Is Clear … Or Is It? Proof-texting is antithetical to the gospel.

by Donald E. Burke

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.

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

Photo: Homin Kwon Photography

Read and share it!

We All Need It

TRUE GRIT P.5

Army in Winnipeg

KIDS KLUB CARES P.8

Helping a Friend

BEHIND BARS P.10

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

JANUARY 2019

Fear Less

23 Safe in Your Presence Standing with our Jewish neighbours after anti-Semitic violence.

by Major Ray Harris

TIGHTROPE WALKER NIK WALLENDA FINDS THE RIGHT BALANCE THANKS TO HIS FAITH. P.16

Salvationist January 2019 3

EDITORIAL

G

Be Prepared

rowing up as a proud Scout, I spent my Wednesday evenings at The Salvation Army’s London Citadel, Ont., tying fancy knots, fashioning splints for first aid and shooting hoops in the gym. In the fall, I stood on the street corner selling crisp apples to raise funds for the troop. I also recall a frigid winter camping expedition where we put our survival skills to good use.

The motto of the Scouting movement is “Be prepared.” It’s a good rule for life.

Thankfully, kids are still learning these lessons and more. The 1st Northridge Salvation Army Scout Group at Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont., is just one example of the excellent programming for children and youth that happens across the territory.

Ray and Norma Varkki have faithfully led these units for years and offer exciting adventures that I never dreamed of in my Scouting days—high ropes courses, canoeing, cooking classes. It’s also a great connection point for community kids who benefit from the spiritual instruction and service opportunities, such as packing Sunshine Bags at Christmas or giving a family a goat through the Gifts of Hope program. Read the Scouts’ stories and be inspired by their enthusiasm (page 9).

This month, the territorial children and youth ministries department is

Salvationist

is a monthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory Brian Peddle General Commissioner Susan McMillan Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel John P. Murray Secretary for Communications Geoff Moulton Editor-in-Chief and Literary Secretary Giselle Randall Features Editor (416-467-3185) Pamela Richardson News Editor, Copy Editor and Production Co-ordinator (416-422-6112) Kristin Ostensen Associate Editor and Staff Writer 4 January 2019 Salvationist

announcing a new framework for discipleship for all children, from infancy to emerging adulthood (page 12). Entitled @theREADY, it incorporates many initiatives of recent years, such as the Ready to Serve program, and new elements, such as the ORANGE curriculum for Sunday school. Before this is rolled out in the spring, the youth department is inviting your feedback, so look for your @theREADY package in corps later this month.

Elsewhere in this issue, we profile Captain Ricaurte Velasquez who, together with his wife, Captain Vilma Ramos, fled the military and guerrilla violence of Colombia for a new life in Canada (page 14). Little did Captain Velasquez know, they would soon find themselves called to a different kind of Army—one that fights against poverty and oppression.

You’ll also enjoy our profile of Gitxsan artist Michelle Stoney (page 18). I have the pleasure of viewing one of her paintings every day, as it brings life to the lobby of territorial headquarters. Find out how she discovered her life’s calling and the amazing impact her grandfather, Camp Mountainview and The Salvation Army had on her development.

Lastly, I would encourage you to

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.

tune in to the livestream of the territorial commander’s New Year Address at Salvationist.ca on January 10 at 11 a.m.

EST. Commissioner Susan McMillan will give an overview of what’s happening in the territory as well as plans for 2019 and beyond. The New Year Address will also unveil new territorial values that will help guide our decision-making and conduct. It’s another way that we can “be prepared” for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Subscriptions

Annual: Canada $30 (includes GST/ HST); U.S. $36; foreign $41. Available from: The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto ON M4H 1P4.

Phone: 416-422-6119; fax: 416-422-6217; email: circulation@can.salvationarmy.org.

Advertising

Inquire by email for rates at salvationist@can.salvationarmy.org.

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

Colonels Edward and Shelley Hill Welcomed to Canada and Bermuda Territory

BY PAMELA RICHARDSON

Canada and Bermuda’s territorial leadership team: Colonel Edward Hill, Commissioner Susan McMillan and Colonel Shelley Hill

T

Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, introduced the Hills to the capacity crowd and the many livestream viewers. In her prayer of dedication, she thanked God that he is still calling men and women to serve him.

“As we receive these new leaders in this

Photos: Steve Nelson

he Canada and Bermuda Territory officially welcomed Colonels Edward and Shelley Hill, chief secretary and territorial secretary for women’s ministries, during a Sunday morning service at Oshawa Temple, Ont., in November.

territory,” she prayed, “we ask that you will be with them in everything they do.

Thank you for their willingness to serve anywhere, and that that willingness has brought them here.”

Salvationist Jory Hewson of Oshawa Temple offered words of welcome to the Hills on behalf of the territory. In her response, Colonel Shelley Hill expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome they had received since arriving from Singapore, where they had served as the chief secretary and territorial secretary for women’s ministries in the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory. She then read from the Book of Joshua before Colonel Edward Hill shared from God’s Word.

“Let’s choose faith over fear,” he challenged, encouraging those gathered to remember God’s provision for them in the past, to keep their focus on God’s presence with them now and to follow his instructions as they continue to walk in relationship with him. The chief secretary then led a time of reflection and rededication as he invited the congregation to sing, “In thee, oh Lord, do I put my trust.”

Lending support to the service were members of the Cabinet, representative divisional leaders and the musical sections of Oshawa Temple, including the band, songsters and worship team.

Colonel Edward Hill encourages the congregation to “choose faith over fear”

Members of the Ont. CE divisional youth chorus share a musical selection

Salvationist January 2019 5

FRONTLINES

Salvationists Hear the Call at CFOT Weekend

Photo: Matthew Osmond

T

he College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Winnipeg welcomed 60 delegates from across the Canada and Bermuda Territory for the annual Officership Information Weekend in October. The weekend gives individuals who are considering God’s call on their lives an opportunity to explore how that call can be fulfilled in The Salvation Army.

On the Friday evening, Colonel Lee Graves, then chief secretary, delivered the keynote message, drawing on Luke 14:25-35. “We’re looking for the called who will step out and become officers in The Salvation Army,” he said. “We’re looking for men and women who are willing to lead like Jesus … Is that you?”

Colonel Deborah Graves, then territorial secretary for women’s ministries, shared a testimony of her call to officership. At the end of the evening, many responded in prayer at the mercy seat, asking God to make his plan and purpose clear.

On Saturday, delegates toured the cadet residence and attended various information sessions about officership and life at CFOT. A cadet and officer panel was held on Saturday evening,

Delegates and Salvation Army leaders at the 2018 Officership Information Weekend

where delegates heard testimonies from the panel and were able to ask questions.

Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, spoke to the delegates at the Sunday holiness meeting. She reminded everyone of William Booth’s

statement that “the need is the call.”

“Many delegates left feeling affirmed in their calling, while others left with a commitment to work out God’s plan and purpose for them,” says Major Jennifer Hale, secretary for candidates.

Tiger-Cats Partnership Yields Positive Results

S

ince 2006, The Salvation Army has had a fruitful partnership with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team in Ontario. Over 12 seasons, the Army has raised $45,000 in donations.

The partnership began when Salvation Army volunteers started selling Tiger-Cats programs and collecting donations at home games. The TigerCats have also supported The Salvation Army by participating in food and coat drives and other special events.

In addition to regular volunteers, groups from the community often offer their time to The Salvation Army at Tiger-Cats games. One such group was the Hamilton Huskies Minor Peewee MD White Hockey Team, who volunteered in October. The 17 players and their parents gave away game-day lineups, thousands of tissue packages and

6 January 2019 Salvationist

collected donations alongside a group of faithful volunteers who are there throughout the season.

“Volunteering our time was a good experience for all of us,” says Amy Cripps, parent team manager. “I feel that our boys learned an important lesson from standing out in that cold, wet weather—our help is always needed and we have to put the needs of others before our own sometimes. We are grateful that we could help out The Salvation Army, since they do so much for our community.”

“The Salvation Army would like to thank the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the CFL for their partnership in helping those less fortunate in the community,” says Dan Millar, area director for public relations and development, Ontario Great Lakes Division. “We hope it will continue for many years.”

Courtney Pinson, Dan Millar and Emma Pinson collect donations at a Hamilton Tiger-Cats game

FRONTLINES

his month, the territorial music and gospel arts department officially launches a new initiative called Everybody Sings, which aims to encourage singing in a Salvation Army context.

“Scripture often instructs us to sing,” says Heather Osmond, assistant territorial music secretary. “We sing in praise to God, to learn Scripture, to build up others and to wage war against sin.”

The Everybody Sings initiative will focus on five areas: community, social services, songsters, congregation and youth.

As Osmond notes, “Everybody Sings can happen through community choirs, the positive influence they can have in

I

the community and the connection they build to the church. Connections can also be made in our social services centres, bringing songs of hope and joy beyond the church walls.”

In a corps context, “It can be congregations entering confidently into worship through singing,” she continues.

“Young people can be singing the gospel and learning truths that they will carry throughout their entire lives. Songster brigades or church choirs can support worship and outreach ministry through singing.”

In support of this initiative, the music and gospel arts department will release a number of resources including choral starter packs, accompaniment options,

Newfoundland and Labrador Division Cultivates Leaders

ntegrated mission was the focus of the Newfoundland and Labrador Division’s 2018 Cultivate Leadership Weekend, held at Twin Ponds Camp in the fall.

The weekend was led by Major Lorraine Abrahamse, the first divisional integrated mission secretary in the Canada and Bermuda Territory, and supported by Colonel Deborah Graves, then territorial secretary for integrated mission, Lt-Colonel David Bowles, assistant integrated mission secretary, and Lt-Colonel Sandra Rice, divisional commander, Ontario Central-East Division, who was guest speaker for the weekend.

There was an overall sense of celebration as integrated mission stories were shared through video clips and slide presentations. These stories included many exciting initiatives that are already happening across the division—stories of Salvation Army corps identifying various needs and opportunities and moving into the community to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the weekend, worship was provided by a team from St. John’s Citadel, N.L., led by Sheila Pike. The theme song for the weekend was God of the Poor (Beauty for Brokenness), the chorus of which summed up the united prayer of those in attendance. Many left with an appetite to learn more and were inspired to seek out and be open to new ministry opportunities in their neighbourhoods and communities.

V

where to find music, leadership development and worship team resources.

For more information, visit samagacb.com/everybody-sings or contact Heather Osmond at Heather_ Osmond@can.salvationarmy.org.

Resources, such as this community choir starter pack, will be available this month

Launch of Poppy Campaign

eterans and friends of the Royal Canadian Legion gathered at Sacred Place, Beechwood National Memorial Centre, in Ottawa, for the annual first poppy ceremony, marking the beginning of the 2018 National Poppy Campaign.

Thomas Irvine, dominion president of the Royal Canadian Legion, presented the first poppy to Governor General Julie Payette before she, in turn, presented a poppy to Irvine and the first row of guests.

Among the invited guests for this event were Majors Gary and Sharon Cooper, area commanders, Ontario Central-East Division, and Glenn van Gulik, divisional secretary for public relations, Ontario Central-East Division.

“The Salvation Army has a strong and lasting connection with our veterans and their families,” says Major Gary Cooper.

“It is with great respect and thankfulness that we attend this annual ceremony to remember, reflect and share.”

The new digital poppy was also unveiled at the ceremony.

At the reception that followed, Majors Cooper met with veterans and the Governor General, and shared about the work the Army is doing across the country.

Correction Notice Donny Melanson’s name was misspelled in the November and December issues. Salvationist regrets the error.

Mjrs Gary and Sharon Cooper and Glenn van Gulik meet Governor General Julie Payette at the launch of the National Poppy Campaign

Salvationist January 2019 7

Photo: Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2018

T

Territorial Initiative Encourages Singing

FRONTLINES

Salvationists Explore Booth University College During Open House Weekend

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

8 January 2019 Salvationist

Photos: Kristin Ostensen

Y

oung Salvationists from across Canada gathered at Booth University College in Winnipeg in October for the college’s Booth Bound weekend. First held in 2009, Booth Bound is an annual event that gives Salvationists who are in their senior high school years, or are considering a transfer from another institution, an opportunity to come to Booth and experience life as a student for a weekend.

This year, 16 Salvationists representing seven provinces attended Booth Bound.

The weekend began with urban service learning at Winnipeg’s Weetamah Corps where the young people participated in the corps’ monthly community café, serving dinner to 160 people and cleaning up afterward. The activity was followed by a time of reflection and discussion led by Captain Bethany and Lieutenant Brian Dueck, corps officers, and Meagan Morash, Daniel Valencia, Paul Morgan and Jonah Bulgin talk with Alexander Sawatsky, director, school of social work Booth’s director of library services.

“Urban service learning was an eyeopener,” says Sarah Campbell, 17, from Westville Corps, N.S. “Based on this weekend, I realized that I could see myself “I was talking to a mother and daughter and we connected attending some of these classes,” says Paul Morgan, 18, from really well.”

Winnipeg’s Heritage Park Temple. “It was interesting. There “It was amazing,” agrees Megan Diamond, 17, of St. John’s was time for questions and response between the students and Temple, N.L. “You won’t find many schools that will do somethe professors. They brought the conversation down to our level thing like that. Serving others is something that’s important and gave a response that was clear but also made you think.” to me.”

On Saturday, time was set aside for Booth Bound particiOver the next two days, the participants attended six classes pants to meet with faculty from each program Booth offers with various faculty, covering topics that included business and ask questions. administration, social work, religion, psychology, and English “A lot of schools say that their professors will look out for and film studies. you and have face-to-face conversations, but here is where I’ve actually seen it applied,” says Jonah Bulgin, 20, from Barrhaven Church in Ottawa. “At Booth, the professors know who you are, and if they see you struggling, they’ll come and help you succeed. I think that’s important in a school.”

Along with introducing young Salvationists to Booth, the weekend also showed them the city of Winnipeg with trips to a Blue Bombers football game, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Assiniboine Zoo, as well as a movie night and discussion time with Dr. Michael Boyce, film studies professor and vice-president academic and dean.

The weekend concluded on Sunday with a breakfast with Dr. Marjory Kerr, president of Booth University College, followed by a worship service and lunch at Heritage Park Temple.

“Right from the moment we greeted them on the ‘hug rug’ at the airport, these young Salvationists were engaged and integrated into the life of the Booth community,” says Chantel Burt, director of admissions. “We are getting ready to welcome the majority of this year’s Booth Bounders in September as, Miriam Hynes washes dishes as part of urban service learning at after experiencing campus life, they have Booth University Weetamah Corps College in their future plans.”

Ready for Adventure Fun, friendship and service at the 1st Northridge Salvation Army Scout Group.

Photo: Homin Kwon Photography

BY GISELLE RANDALL

“We love this stuff!” The Salvation Army Scout Group at Northridge CC in Aurora, Ont.

A

t the end of Grade 11, Avery Larsh went on a four-day canoe trip to Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario as part of her outdoor education class.

They paddled and portaged about 10 kilometres a day, camping at a different spot each night. On the third day, Larsh was with a smaller group trailing behind the others. Just as she was thinking they needed to catch up, she realized it was too late. The main group—with their leader, tents and most of their food—was nowhere in sight.

Her classmates started to worry, but Larsh stayed calm. She knew how to read a map, use a compass, start a fire and build a shelter—all skills she

had acquired as a Scout with the 1st Northridge Salvation Army Scout Group.

Using her orienteering knowledge, she guided the group to the meeting point, where their leader was relieved to see them.

“Scouting prepared me for life in a lot of ways,” says Larsh, now in her second year of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, Ont. “It gave me leadership skills, and taught me how to co-operate with people in groups. It showed me I could reach my goals—to see what I need to do and take steps to get there. It gave me confidence to realize, ‘I can do this.’ ” Larsh earned the Chief Scout’s Award, the highest achievement for Scouts, as well as The Salvation Army’s

top honour, the General’s Award. The Salvation Army has a long history with Scouts Canada, with a memorandum of agreement to work together reaching back more than 80 years.

“We function as one organization, with the same uniform and badges, but we are governed and accountable to the Army,” says Ray Varkki, Scout group leader and community capacity development co-ordinator at the Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont. “This is not just a Scouts Canada program; it’s very much the Army’s program—and it’s an incredible leadership development and community outreach tool.”

Salvationist January 2019 9

Duty to God The Northridge Scout group is one of a handful across the territory. Varkki—or Akela to the pack, after the wolf in The Jungle Book—has been involved with Salvation Army Scouting for more than 30 years.

“I believe in it as a ministry,” he says.

“Scouting is based on the principles of duty to God, duty to others and duty to self. Our goal is to help kids grow and learn about the outdoors and God, in an atmosphere of fun and friendship.

It’s a program with so much potential.”

About half of the 35 kids in the group attend Northridge, and half come from the community. “When it comes to outreach, parents might not know about the church, but they know about Scouts,” says Varkki. “They know the cliché about a Scout helping an elderly woman across the street—that these are youth who care for the community, who try to make a difference. There’s a level of trust.”

As a Christ-centred, church-based program, the leaders model a life of faith and service, and support the kids in their spiritual development. “We slowly introduce them to prayer,” says Varkki. “We have a couple of prayers we get the kids to say together, so they get used to speaking out, but then we encourage them to try and start using their own words.

We want them to realize they can talk to God any time.”

This was important in Larsh’s life.

“Scouting enhanced my faith,” she says.

“Learning about prayer, and that I can pray, really helped me. It definitely drew me closer to God.” 10 January 2019 Salvationist

On camping trips, they incorporate short devotionals called Scouters Five, and talk about God as they explore the natural world. “On a hike, we found evidence of humankind—footprints, trees cut down, a gum wrapper. Our next question was, where do we see evidence of God?” says Varkki. “We talked about the wind—we can’t see it, but we can see trees swaying. In the same way, creation points to God.” Scouts can earn a “Christian Religion in Life” badge, tailored to The Salvation Army, with different requirements for each age group. By stage four, they must know the Army’s 11 doctrines, serve in the community and know the requirements for senior soldiership, as well as the value and purpose in wearing a uniform.

“We are raising up youth to become leaders, not just in our community, but in the church,” says Varkki.

“We Love This Stuff!”

As the Scouts gather on Wednesday evening, they pay their dues—with money they’ve earned—then laugh and joke around until everyone has arrived.

“These kids are so busy, so programmed. Everything is competing for their attention—school, TV, social media,” says Varkki. “When they come to Scouts, it’s their friend time—the one solid thing in their week where they feel accepted and welcome, and they can let their hair down and be a kid.”

Larsh’s younger sister, Hannah, is now a Cub Scout. She loves art, camping and working toward achievement badges.

Learning to make a wilderness survival shelter

Photo: Ray Varkki

Photo: Ray Varkki

The Scouts rake debris from the beach at Jackson’s Point Camp, Ont., as part of a weekend service project

“I like Scouts because nobody bullies me or hurts my feelings,” she says.

“Her confidence gets better every time she goes,” says her mom, Crystal.

“It’s somewhere she feels comfortable, where she can be herself, and not have to worry about any kind of judgment or teasing. They embrace the individuality of each child. Their voices are always heard.”

Before they start the evening’s activity, Varkki asks what kind of week they had, reminding them to stand when they reply. “It’s a small thing, but it builds confidence, and helps them learn to speak up for themselves,” he says. Leaders try to say something positive and encouraging to each child every week.

Throughout the month, each week has a different focus—the outdoors, badge work, special guests, such as Zoo to You, and themes. This week, the theme is Remembrance Day. After watching and discussing a video, they make a poppy craft and write Christmas cards to Canadian soldiers, then play a game of Captain’s Cabin in the church gym, led by Peter Arbour.

“The floor is lava!” Varkki yells when the game is over. The kids scream and laugh, and run back to the meeting room.

“I love working with kids,” he says. “It’s fun. What’s not to like? You get to be messy, to explore and be creative. There’s no failure. It’s awesome.”

Cub Scouts Alana, Sophie and Estelle agree that Scouts is fun.

Cub Scout Hannah Larsh meets a rabbit during a visit from Zoo to You

“We play games,” says Alana.

“We make crafts,” adds Sophie.

“We’re all friends,” says Estelle. “We go camping and do community outreach.

I like that.”

As the evening winds down, Varkki calls out, “Energy check?”

The Scouts shout back, “We love this stuff!”

Outdoor Fun Outdoor adventure skills are a big part of Scouts, and the group goes camping several times a year. In March, the older youth pitch their tents in the snow and spend a night sleeping outside. In October, they learn how to build a wilderness survival shelter and start a fire using a bow drill. Younger kids learn how to identify trees based on their leaves and bark. And everyone takes a turn

preparing meals and cleaning up. They earn badges recognizing their progress.

“They’re developing life skills—things they don’t learn at school,” says Varkki.

In the summer, the older youth go on a week-long excursion to the Haliburton Scout Reserve on Kennibik Lake, Ont., and help to plan the trip.

“We use hundreds of Post-It Notes to plan out an entire program—everything from who’s cooking each meal to what happens if it rains,” says Varkki. “So if they’re working on a group project at school, they know how to bring a team of people together.”

The Scout camp offers a wide variety of activities, from canoeing and sailing, to rock climbing and high ropes, to archery and riflery.

“Rappelling down a cliff backward was really cool,” says Larsh. “I definitely wouldn’t have tried that on my own, if I wasn’t in Scouts!”

Service With a Smile But even more than outdoor skills, Scouts is about community service. Every June, they do a weekend service project, staying at a local Army corps. They have delivered water to First Nations reserves in Wiarton, Ont., raked flood debris from two kilometres of shoreline at Sandbanks Provincial Park in Picton, Ont., and cleaned the beach at the Army’s Jackson’s Point Camp, Ont. As a thank you for receiving accommodation, they lead the Sunday service, bringing the music and message. “We do everything—not just read a Scripture verse,” says Varkki. “Half of our kids don’t attend church, and it gets them involved.”

At Christmas, they help to pack 1,500

This Changes Everything Recently, Varkki got a call from a former Scout, now a dad with three kids, who grew up in Regent Park, an inner-city neighbourhood in Toronto. “He was constantly getting into trouble,” he says. “But then he got involved with Scouting, and started coming to Sunday school. He gave his life to Christ at a campfire at Jackson’s Point.

“His whole life took a different direction,” he continues. “Now, he’s modelling what he learned for his own kids. He told me that Scouts and The Salvation Army saved his life.

“The impact you can have on a child’s life is incredible. For anyone who works with youth, that’s the reward.”

Photo: Homin Kwon Photography

Photo: Ray Varkki Photo: Homin Kwon Photography

Building a fire on a winter camping trip

Sunshine Bags for the community care ministries team at Northridge to deliver to retirement homes. And instead of exchanging gifts at their own Christmas party, they contribute to the world missions department’s Gifts of Hope campaign.

“We consider all of the gifts in the catalogue, and talk about how they could benefit a family or village,” says Varkki.

“We’ve given chickens, goats and mosquito netting, and donated to water and sanitation projects.”

The Scouts at Northridge raise funds by selling flower bulbs in the spring and popcorn in the fall, generating enough income to support their own program and other ministries as well. They contributed to the youth group’s mission trip to California in 2017, to help rebuild The Salvation Army’s camp after a flood, and to downtown Toronto last spring.

Ray and Norma Varkki

Salvationist January 2019 11

Help us reimagine youth and children’s discipleship for our territory.

BY MAJOR TERENCE HALE

W

hen I was a teenager in the 1990s, the Blue Jays were winning the World Series (more than once!), the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan ruled the basketball world, and the Maple Leafs, well … they were the same old Maple Leafs.

My friends and I regularly compared the specs on our portable CD players, and the iconic sound of dial-up Internet modems opened a whole new world to us.

On the Christian front, Michael W. 12 January 2019 Salvationist

Photo: Ontario Camping Ministries

Young people gather at Jackson’s Point Camp, Ont.

Smith and Amy Grant sat at the top of the charts, DC Talk was breaking barriers both musically and culturally, and Hillsong Worship was gaining popularity outside of Australia. My home corps hosted a thriving youth group of 60 teens, a growing Sunday school, junior soldiers’ class, and two levels of corps cadets. It was in this environment that I was discipled as a Christian young person.

I was reminded of all this when my wife, Jennifer, and I returned to my home

division in Newfoundland and Labrador to be guest speakers at their FUSE youth event. It was held at Twin Ponds Camp, where I had attended youth councils as a young person. My mind was flooded with memories, particularly the spiritual milestones in my development as a Christian and a Salvationist.

What I realize now is that I am a product of intentional investment. I matured in my faith because God chose to use people, circumstances and programs to mould me in my faith. There

was a group of invested leaders that accompanied me on a journey toward something.

My point in recounting all of this is not to harken back to a time or place where we did things differently or better.

Rather, it’s to emphasize that discipleship was purposeful and employed faithful workers and resources.

Fast forward 20 years and the world is a very different place. We can’t do things the way we did in decades past. But what is clear, and what the Canada Bermuda Youth team has observed in our interactions across the territory, is that we need an effective culture of discipleship among our children and youth.

Fortunately, we have the building blocks to help raise up the next generation of disciples, servants and leaders. Across the territory we see vibrant Christian faith in our youth and hear stories of faithful leaders who invest in young people on a regular basis. In that way not much has changed. What will help us as we move forward, however, is a clear plan for the discipleship of our children and youth, and the resources to accomplish that plan.

Our vision for children and youth ministry in the Canada and Bermuda Territory is to create “CHRIST-centred, OTHERS-focused Disciples.” That is the end goal, the guiding standard, the measure. With that vision in mind, we have been on a journey of reimagining discipleship for our territory. As we begin this new year, we invite you to join us on the journey.

With Kevin Slous, territorial director of discipleship, leading the way, the Canada Bermuda Youth team has been actively developing a new Salvation Army framework of discipleship for all children, from infancy to emerging adulthood, in our territory. This new framework brings a clear plan and intentionality to our discipleship efforts. This new framework is called @theREADY. It represents years of research, ministry experience and collaboration, and brings the time-tested principles of Salvation Army discipleship into our present-day context.

Last September, the framework was presented to the Leaders’ Summit in Winnipeg, which included senior leaders from divisional and territorial headquarters. Their feedback was used to inform further development. Now we want to hear from you. What are your needs, concerns and dreams for youth

work in the territory? Let us know what you think of the proposed framework so that together we can make it as useful as possible.

At the end of this month we will be releasing an @theREADY engagement package that will share with you all the information about @theREADY and invite your feedback and contribution.

This package will give you an opportunity to interact with @theREADY in three ways: 1) P rint Media, including the details of the framework in printable information sheets and illustrations.

2) Digital Media, featuring a series of podcasts where you can listen to members of the Canada Bermuda Youth team explain different elements of the framework, along with a series of topical videos that will give brief introductions and overviews.

3) Conversations, facilitated through a series of online townhall Q&A sessions. All the information collected from this process will be used to inform and fine tune the framework.

Returning to my recollection from my youth, the questions of what, how and why seemed clearly defined for me in my discipleship journey. Those are the same questions we are endeavouring to answer for today’s context. I am convinced that the children and youth that God brings under our care and spiritual influence need to be a part of something when it comes to discipleship. They need to be a product of a journey marked by intentionality and practicality. It is our hope and responsibility to journey with them towards becoming CHRIST-centred, OTHERS-focused disciples. That is the goal. That is the “what.”

The @theREADY framework will serve as the “how” for our present day and into the future. @theREADY is a clear, adaptable guiding plan, supplemented with the necessary tools and resources, that integrates all of what we do for children and youth into one cohesive strategy.

Finally, the “why.” This, of course, is the unchanging backbone of all that we do as The Salvation Army. Growing up and being discipled in my home corps, I knew that those who journeyed with me were motivated by parallel goals: my salvation and growth as well as the overall growth of the kingdom of God beyond and through me.

As Salvationist leaders poured into my life, it became apparent to me that God had saved me from my sin and that my relationship with him was to be the first priority in my life. Also, I was saved for the purpose of introducing others to Jesus Christ and growing his kingdom here on earth. My discipleship as a young person infused these two mandates into my life. It became part of my spiritual DNA. So we invite you to join us in growing and developing the @theREADY framework. The days ahead promise to be exciting ones, and we hope that you will stand at the ready with us as we seek and follow God’s plan for the discipleship of children and youth.

Major Terence Hale is the territorial youth secretary.

@theREADY Key Elements ORANGE—A core curriculum strategy that leverages the combined influence of the church and family in discipleship.

Deeper ORANGE—An addition to the ORANGE material that will infuse Salvation Army DNA into discipleship for the Canada and Bermuda context.

Ready To Serve—A media-based curriculum developed by the Canada and Bermuda Territory for kids ages 7-10 that engages them in discipleship and service. It also serves as the junior soldier training program.

CC21c: Ready to Lead—Reimagining corps cadets for the 21st century in a uniquely Canada and Bermuda context.

For more information, ask your corps officer about the @theREADY engagement package.

Salvationist January 2019 13

Lost and Found

Escaping the violence in Colombia, Captain Ricaurte Velasquez found a new future with The Salvation Army in Canada.

“I fell in love with The Salvation Army the moment I joined,” says Cpt Ricaurte Velasquez

C

aptain Ricaurte Velasquez was only a child when he had his first encounter with the devastating effects of guerrilla warfare.

He was growing up in La Argelia, a small town in southwest Colombia, on a farm that belonged to his family— cousins, uncles and aunts all working together to make a living. Until that was no longer an option.

“Unfortunately, we had to leave because of the violence that erupted in Colombia in the 1960s,” he says. “We had to leave everything behind and start over in a new town.”

The ongoing violence in Colombia eventually forced Velasquez and his family to leave the country entirely and immigrate to Canada as refugees. But 14 January 2019 Salvationist

had they not made that move, they might never have met The Salvation Army.

Hard Times Captain Velasquez and his wife, Captain Vilma Ramos, are now corps officers at Sherbrooke Community Church, Que., a long way from the agrarian life he led as a child.

“I was up at five every morning, picking coffee or sugar cane, or doing my chores at the farm,” he recalls. “In the morning, we’d go to school and when we came back in the afternoon, we’d continue working at the farm.”

This way of life continued until Velasquez finished high school and joined the military, as Colombia has compulsory military service for all men at 18 years of age. While serving,

Velasquez confronted guerrilla warfare head on. He was sent on two missions to the jungles of Colombia to fight guerrillas—the first for three months, the second for two months—and spent six months as military police in the city of Neiva.

During that time, Velasquez says he often feared for his life. “I had many moments that were very hard for me, that stayed in my memory for years,” he says. “Even now, more than 30 years later, there are still many things that I recall. But I try not to be tormented by those things. Instead, I try to recall the good moments that I had.”

Refugees After he completed his military service, Velasquez went to university where he

Photos: © Michelle Boulay 2018

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

studied business administration, earning a master’s degree, and met and married Ramos. They had two sons and were living in Cali.

“We had a good life,” says Velasquez, “but unfortunately, violence is something that affects too much in Colombia. When you grow up in that environment, everything seems normal. You think it’s just the way it is. But when you live outside Colombia, you appreciate how different it is, the peace that we have here.”

By 1998, two of Velasquez’s brothers had moved to New York, and they suggested he immigrate as well. Velasquez took their advice and moved to Atlanta in November 1998. After settling in, the family applied for permanent residence, but were unsuccessful.

“When 9/11 happened, everything froze up—all documentation, everything that was pending at that time,” Velasquez says. “Even three years after, we still hadn’t received any response from the government.”

Their precarious situation in the United States was concerning for Velasquez. “Our oldest son, Bryan, was finishing high school and getting ready to go to university, but if we didn’t have the legal documents, he couldn’t go.”

In the meantime, Velasquez’s mother and two sisters had immigrated to Canada as refugees, settling in London, Ont. He followed their lead and applied, and the family came to Canada as refugees in November 2006.

A Miracle It was shortly before they arrived in Canada that Velasquez had his first

encounter with The Salvation Army.

“The Army had a transition home in Buffalo called Vive la Casa,” he says. “I went there because they were the liaison organization that would take your documents and present them to the Canadian border officers.”

His second encounter would come two weeks after they moved to Canada, in the waiting room at a doctor’s office in Mississauga, Ont. “We started chatting with a Colombian couple and they invited us to a place that they went every Friday night,” Velasquez recalls. “They said, ‘It’s totally for you. It’s a group of Spanish-speaking people who get together and have a good time.’ ” He and Ramos accepted the invitation gladly and went that Friday night.

“It was a nice group,” Velasquez says.

“The following Friday, I said to Vilma, ‘Are we coming back?’ And she said, ‘Yes, let’s go!’ And from that moment on, we started coming every Friday.”

This program, which took place at Mississauga Temple Community Church, was Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centred 12-step program that helps people overcome their “hurts, habits and hang-ups.” As it turned out, this program was exactly what Velasquez needed as he was struggling with alcoholism.

“When we lived in the States, I used to travel all the time,” he shares. “I was living in a hotel during the week and I was lonely—it was not good for me.

So I started drinking, and it became something I did every day.”

For the first month, Velasquez didn’t realize he was attending a recovery pro-

Cpt Velasquez and Marina Giron at the Salvation Army thrift store in Sherbrooke, Que.

gram. “But after I understood what it was, and understood about God, things started changing,” he says.

Though Velasquez grew up in a Catholic family, “it was more tradition than really faith,” he says. “For me, God was a person who was way up in the sky, looking down at what I was doing wrong in order to punish me. It was not a relationship with God.” That changed at Celebrate Recovery.

“One of the first things that the Holy Spirit did in our lives was bring us to repentance,” Velasquez says. “I started feeling the need to make amends and quit my life of sin.”

After several months of attending the program, Velasquez was ready to give his life to God. “I knelt down and prayed, ‘God, if you remove this addiction from me, I will follow you and do whatever you need me to do.’ ” The transformation was immediate. “The following day, after I had been struggling with alcohol addiction for many years, I felt a miracle,” Velasquez says. “From that moment on, it was like I had never drunk in my life. I didn’t even have withdrawal. People asked me what happened and I said, ‘I was lost and now I am saved.’ ” New Mission Having given his life to God, Velasquez got involved with various ministries at the corps and went on three mission trips to Cuba that would change his future.

“It was shortly after I came back from the second trip, in 2009, that I felt the call to officership,” he says.

“At the time, I was the leader of Celebrate Recovery, I was part of the mission board at Mississauga Temple and the multicultural ministry with Mario Tobon, and I was doing the Spanish Bible study. I think I was working more at the church than at my regular job!” he says with a laugh.

Looking back, Velasquez says this involvement, along with the mentorship he received from his corps officer at the time, Major David Allen, was good preparation for officership. “That was the assurance for me that this was what I would like to do with my life, and my wife felt the same,” he says. “I fell in love with The Salvation Army the moment I joined. I love everything the Army does.”

After Velasquez and Ramos were commissioned as lieutenants in 2013, their first appointment took them to Salvationist January 2019 15

CROSS CULTURE

Beyond Shelters

Look Up Child

Raise Your Voice

Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up

EDITED BY JAMES HUGHES Among the general public, homeless shelters are often viewed as places of sadness and sickness. But the days of shelters merely warehousing homeless people are being replaced by specialized approaches that are reducing homelessness in Canada.

Beyond Shelters is a book of essays by experienced shelter managers, examining the role that shelters can play in eliminating homelessness. Two essays are contributed by Salvation Army personnel: Major Karen Hoeft, corps officer, Edmonton Crossroads Community Church, and Dion Oxford, former director of mission integration, Toronto Housing and Homeless Supports. The collection also includes a chapter by Dr. Sam Tsemberis, the father of the Housing First model.

BY LAUREN DAIGLE In 2015, Lauren Daigle burst onto t he C h r i s t i a n music scene with How Can It Be— an album that has earned 1.2 million equivalent album units since its release. Daigle comes back just as strong with Look Up Child, and demonstrates why she has been dubbed the “Christian Adele.” It’s a deeply personal record that doesn’t shy away from addressing Daigle’s insecurities and anxieties, while conveying a message of hope. As she sings on the lead single, You Say, “You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing/You say I am strong when I think I am weak/You say I am held when I am falling short/ When I don’t belong, oh you say that I am yours.” As Daigle explains in an interview with Billboard, “I want this to be such a record of joy, such a record of hope, that people experience a childlikeness again.”

BY KATHY KHANG “ Yo u r k i n g d o m come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” It’s a familiar passage f rom t he L ord ’s Prayer. But how does that prayer become a reality?

In the view of journalist and church leader Kathy Khang, God’s kingdom is not going to come if we’re sitting around and waiting to go to heaven. In her new book, Raise Your Voice, Khang calls upon Christians to step up and speak out. The first part of her book looks at why we stay silent, while the second part looks at how to speak up. Khang offers insights from faithful heroes—biblical and contemporary—who raised their voices for the sake of God’s justice, and she shows how we can do the same today, in person, in social media, in organizations and in the public square.

Velasquez and Ramos have a busy ministry that includes the corps—with services, Bible studies, prayer meetings, a Spanish group and an afternoon meal program three days a week—family services and a thrift store.

“We open ourselves to God and let

the Holy Spirit guide what we do every day,” he says. “In my officership experience, God has always put the right people around me. He is showing me his love and compassion through the people I meet, and I try to be like a sponge, absorbing as much as I can.”

Solutions to Homelessness in Canada from the Front Lines

Montreal Citadel, where they were assistant corps officers to Colonels Glen and Eleanor Shepherd. “With the Shepherds, I had the opportunity to learn and get hands-on experience of being an officer,” Velasquez reflects. “We had many opportunities to grow, both spiritually and personally.”

While assisting the Shepherds, they were also planting a corps in south Montreal, which was a good fit for the Colombian couple. “In the secular world, I had experience developing businesses, in both the States and Colombia,” Velasquez says. “God used that—all that experience allowed me to put together the church.”

Their experience as refugees was also helpful when they served and counselled new immigrants. “Montreal is a place with many newcomers, especially the South Shore, so we started family services at the Army thrift store in Brossard,” Velasquez says. “Initially, they allowed us to be there one day, then two days, then three days. Eventually, we built an office within the thrift store, and five years later, we were serving 1,500 families.”

Now in Sherbrooke, Captains 16 January 2019 Salvationist

Cpt Velasquez and Cpt Vilma Ramos at Sherbrooke CC

NOT CALLED?

Game On Cadet Kathryn Dueck didn’t think she was officer material. God disagreed.

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

“I was convinced that my life wouldn’t amount to anything.”

Cdt Kathryn Dueck

I

have always had a firm conviction that our lives are living stories, lived out within God’s greater story,” says Cadet Kathryn Dueck.

The first of two children born to Salvation Army officer parents in Hamilton, Ont., she and her brother grew up in the church. “He’s now a Salvation Army lieutenant,” Cadet Dueck says. “He was my best friend and a stabilizing influence throughout my youth. To this day, he continues to support and inspire me.”

For much of her life, Cadet Dueck suffered from serious anxiety and depression, which was only diagnosed in her late teens.

“I thought my life wouldn’t amount to anything,” she says. “Some mornings I couldn’t even get out of bed. I was convinced that I would never be able to do the things I felt God had called me to do.”

And for a long time, Cadet Dueck struggled with what she wanted to do

with her life.

“My parents were officers and we spent three years in Kenya, when they were appointed to the training college there. I grew up knowing what it was like to serve God in the context of the Army, to help those on the fringes that society overlooked. It was a pivotal experience in my life.

“So I kept coming back to the question of officership, but the assumption was always the same: I could never do that. I’m an introvert who’s depressed and anxious. How could I ever be a Salvation Army officer?”

Challenge Accepted But one night, Cadet Dueck was reading her Bible and came across Matthew 14, where Jesus walks out to the disciples on the water.

“This story to me is very curious,” she explains, “because Peter sees Jesus

coming toward them, and he says, ‘Lord, if it’s you’—what a qualifier—‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ And for some reason, in his grace, Jesus says, ‘Come.’ And Peter walks on the water.

Not perfectly, but he walks.”

This seemed to be a metaphor for what Cadet Dueck wanted.

“I’d often thought that if I could die having been an officer, my life would have been well-spent. I would die in peace. I didn’t know how to make that happen but Paul walked on the water with all his imperfections—because God asked him to.”

So that night, she prayed what she believed to be an impossible prayer.

“Lord, call me to officership. Call me to serve you in this way, if it’s your will, because I can’t get away from this.

If you can make me an officer, I’ll know you can do miracles.”

God’s reply? “Game on.”

“God loves a challenge,” laughs Cadet Dueck. “And I sure was one!”

“It’s Not About Me” Nevertheless, it took some prompting for Cadet Dueck to take the step to apply to the College for Officer Training.

“I had to heal mentally, physically and emotionally first.”

One evening in particular, she was struggling with her decision. That same evening, her parents were in Newfoundland and Labrador attending a church service.

All of a sudden, her mother was compelled to stand up and ask the congregation to pray for her daughter, for the struggle she was going through. They stopped the church service right then and there, and they prayed for her.

“And that night, though I didn’t know what had happened, I finally found the courage to apply for officership,” Cadet Dueck says.

And this past September, she entered the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg.

“God has called me into his living story and out of a position I thought was insurmountable,” she says. “It’s not by my strength that I’m studying to become an officer. God told me, ‘This isn’t about you. It’s not about your weaknesses, about what you can or cannot do.

It’s about what I can do.’

“It’s not about me or my talents or accomplishments. It’s about God’s strength and power.”

Salvationist January 2019 17

A Fine Art

For Salvationist Michelle Stoney, becoming an artist was a journey of self-discovery.

Michelle Stoney holds a drum she painted

B

eing a professional artist was never the plan for Michelle Stoney.

“I was going to be a teacher because everybody in my family is a teacher,” she admits.

Yet by the time she was five years old, a different future was in the works, even though Stoney herself didn’t realize it.

“Growing up, I would always watch my ye’e [grandfather], carving or drawing traditional formline, while my cousins and siblings were running around outside playing,” Stoney recalls. “I was so mesmerized by it. I loved the flowing lines.

“I didn’t know it was tradition in our culture that when you’re apprenticing under somebody, you just sit there; you don’t ask questions, you just watch them do it,” she continues.

Now, with several awards and countless commissions behind her—including a painting at Canada and Bermuda’s ter18 January 2019 Salvationist

ritorial headquarters in Toronto—Stoney is an accomplished artist like her ye’e.

But it was a long road for her to get there.

Faith and Family Stoney’s journey begins in Gitanmaax, the Indigenous village in northern British Columbia where she grew up and still lives today. She is a member of the Gitxsan Nation, House of Delgamuukw, and is Cree on her father’s side.

Stoney’s ye’e, Victor Mowatt, was a master carver and continues to be the most important influence on her art.

But more than an artistic guide, Stoney’s ye’e and grandmother also played an important role in her journey of faith.

“My ye’e was a strong Christian,” Stoney says. “He always had a Bible with him, and we knew he prayed for every one of his grandkids. He was an alcoholic when he was younger and he always talked

about how being a Christian saved him.”

Stoney started attending the Salvation Army corps in Hazelton, B.C., with her family when she was a young child. “We went to church with my granny every Sunday,” she notes.

Along with regular church involvement, Stoney attended the Army’s Camp Mountainview in Houston, B.C., every summer, first as a camper and then a counsellor. It was there, during teen camp, that Stoney dedicated her life to God. “I had been thinking about it for a long time,” she recalls. “My counsellor asked me if I wanted to pray with her, so we did and I was crying and telling her that I wanted to give my life to God and serve him. Later, when I worked at camp, I wanted to be that person for somebody else. That’s why camp was such a big part of my life.”

Actually becoming a counsellor was a significant step for Stoney, who struggled with self-confidence. “I was super shy,” she says. “Once me and my twin sister, Tamara, were old enough, people started suggesting that we apply to work at camp.

But we felt like, no, we can’t do that.”

Looking back now, Stoney is glad they took the leap of faith and became staff.

“Once we started praying with kids, seeing the joy on their faces and planting the seed in their lives—that was the exciting part and that’s what got me into it.”

Motivated by those experiences, Stoney worked at Camp Mountainview and the Army’s Camp Walter Johnson in North Carolina for more than 10 years combined. “I still have many friends from across Canada, thanks to my time at camp,” says Stoney.

Change of Plans During her teen years, art was never far from Stoney’s mind, but a career in art couldn’t have been further.

“I knew I wanted to make art but nobody said I could go to art school—it

Photo: Kristin Ostensen

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

Photo: Alex Stoney

Inspiration Finally in a place where her artistic talents could be cultivated, Stoney began to develop her own style. “When I went to Emily Carr, I gave myself a guideline that, in every class I took, I was going to use formline,” she says.

Formline is the traditional artistic style of Indigenous peoples on the northwest coast of North America, which uses characteristic shapes (for example, ovoids, S-form, U-form) to create images.

Stoney says that using formline in

every class was difficult at times, but the end result was her own unique fusion of Indigenous artistry.

“I brought together many Canadian cultures to make my own style,” she explains. “I took formline from Gitxsan, bright colours from Cree, and black lines from Ojibwe, and combined them.”

Going to Emily Carr was an important step on Stoney’s path to becoming an artist, but leaving her family and community was a challenge.

“The first few years there were hard for me because I was by myself and I was so shy,” she remembers. “That was the time in my life when I was finding myself and becoming my own person.”

At a particularly low point, Stoney says she was doing the assignments, but was not really engaged with what she was doing. She worried that she might fail out of art school.

She finally had a breakthrough in 2009, when she applied for a YVR Art Foundation award and, to her surprise, won.

“That was the first award that I won and it was really important to me because it came at a time when I was struggling,” Stoney remembers. “I never thought that much about myself. I was always thinking, I’m not good enough. So I think that award saved me as an artist. I felt like, I can do this—they believe in me.”

In 2012, Stoney graduated from Emily Carr and won a contest to design new banners for the Vancouver International Airport. Her winning design, seen by thousands of travellers, depicted a raven transforming into an airplane.

Stoney brought her grandmother and

Stoney and Mjr Shari Russell, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant, at The Salvation Army’s Celebration of Culture pow wow in August 2018

Stoney specializes in making Indigenous jewelry

ye’e to the unveiling ceremony. “My ye’e was so happy—I’m almost crying just thinking about it,” she remembers. “He was so proud of me.”

Stoney’s ye’e passed away two years ago, but she says he is still very much present to her. “During the hard times when I feel I can’t do any work that day, I think about my ye’e,” she says. “He’s my biggest inspiration. Everything I made when he was alive, I couldn’t wait to show him and see what he thought. It’s the same now—whenever I think of him, I know he’s there watching over me.”

Right Direction Since graduating from Emily Carr, Stoney has taken on many projects— from paintings and sculptures, to murals, jewelry and more—including two works of art for The Salvation Army. One is a stylized painting of Canada, representing various Indigenous cultures, that hangs at territorial headquarters. The other is a Salvation Army eagle staff, which played an important role at the Army-hosted Celebration of Culture pow wows in 2017 and 2018. She has also done painting workshops at Camp Mountainview. “I feel like I’m The Salvation Army’s artist now,” she smiles.

Home again in Gitanmaax after recently finishing a program in jewelry arts at the Native Education College in Vancouver, Stoney is settling back into life in the community and at the corps, while focusing her artistic energy on making jewelry.

“Sometimes I can’t believe it—everything has just worked out for me,” she says. “I let God be in control of my life and I try not to worry too much about what’s going to happen next. I trust that he’ll guide me in the right direction.”

Salvationist January 2019 19

Photo: Kristin Ostensen

wasn’t even in my mind that it could happen,” she says.

After high school, Stoney went to college to earn a diploma in physical education, and took a First Nations class as an elective. “I made my first mask there, and my ye’e came all the way to Nanaimo, B.C., to help—he practically carved the whole thing for me!” she remembers with a smile.

Stoney didn’t start creating her own designs until she transferred to the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, continuing her plan to become a teacher. That changed when she took an art class.

“I spent all my time in that class, and almost failed my other classes,” Stoney remembers. “That’s when I realized that maybe I should apply to art schools.”

Stoney took a year off to work on her portfolio, applied to the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, and was accepted, starting classes in 2007. “It was a long path to get there, but I think I needed that life experience first,” she reflects.

The Bible Is Clear …

Or Is It?

Photo: © JannHuizenga/iStock.com

Proof-texting is antithetical to the gospel.

BY DONALD E. BURKE

W

hen I was in Grade 9, my E n g l i s h teacher guided my class through Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice. At a critical point in the play, one of Shakespeare’s characters says, “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.” I remember being surprised by this statement. It has haunted me ever since. But as I have reflected on this claim in the intervening years, I have concluded that Shakespeare actually got it right. The devil—or any one of us—can indeed cite Scripture to serve just about any purpose and support just about any position.

That’s the problem with the Bible.

Disputes over difficult theological and ethical issues are often fought by competing sides firing volleys of proof-texts at one another, trying to score cheap points and give their pet positions the appearance of scriptural authority. Even the devil, in Matthew 4:1-11, tests Jesus by quoting from Psalm 91. For his part, Jesus quotes a different verse back to the devil. Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness became a battle of biblical proof-texts.

The same battle continues to this day. A few months ago, a prominent 20 January 2019 Salvationist

American politician cited Romans 13 and Paul’s injunction to obey the laws of the Roman government to support the detention of refugees who enter the United States illegally, as well as the separation of children from their parents while in detention. On the other side of the controversy, there were those who cited the Old Testament prophets’ injunctions to care for the widow, orphan and alien (that is, the non-citizen who lived in Israel) to argue that such treatment of refugees is immoral and unchristian.

How is one to decide such a complex issue when different biblical passages can be deployed to support competing positions?

The problem is not limited to this one issue. In fact, we can find verses in the Bible to support almost any viewpoint on most contentious issues. On matters of economics, legal issues and sexuality, it is possible to cite biblical passages that seem to contradict one another and support incompatible perspectives. I can even find a verse in some translations of the Book of Job that supports my distaste for eggs!

So if Scripture is so easily deployed to support almost any viewpoint and even the purposes of the devil, how can we even begin to use the Bible to discern a Christian way forward? Or to assist our

discernment on matters of Christian faith and practice? I have several suggestions.

Check Your Motivation First, finding a verse in the Bible to support a particular position, viewpoint or action is not sufficient justification for that position, viewpoint or action.

In fact, because I believe that the Bible is God’s Word and not my word, my general stance is that finding a random verse or passage to support an opinion I already hold likely leads to the distortion of Scripture. The Bible is not a tool to support our viewpoints, but rather a means through which God shapes and corrects us.

That’s the point of the statement we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (NRSV). The purpose of Scripture in its entirety and in its smallest passages is the cultivation of our Christian faith.

Scripture—rightly interpreted—informs us, corrects us and trains us in the ways of God in the world. The goal of reading

Scripture is to prepare and equip us for service of God and our neighbour.

So when I find a verse that supports a viewpoint or attitude I already hold, I automatically suspect that I am hearing my voice rather than the Word of God. At the very least I have to consider the possibility that my own prejudice is muting God’s instruction. I tend to suspect my own motivations and take seriously their ability to distort my reading of Scripture.

Context is Everything Second, because the devil can cite Scripture for his own purpose, we have to move beyond citing individual prooftexts from the Bible. We can find helpful guidance from within our own tradition as Wesleyans and Salvationists.

Over his lifetime, John Wesley argued that any individual passage in the Bible should be interpreted within the context of what he called “the general tenor of Scripture.” What this means is that it is not individual proof-texts that have real authority; it is rather the general message, tone, instruction and purpose of Scripture that should guide our interpretation of individual passages. The meaning of individual passages is shaped by the overall message of Scripture, and an interpretation of any passage is compelling to the extent that it is consistent with that message.

Further, for Wesley, the purpose of Scripture was to stir Christians toward

greater love for God and greater love for neighbour. Think about that for a moment. Perhaps that’s a standard of interpretation that will help us. How does our interpretation and application of our favourite proof-text or passage of Scripture, whatever it is, cultivate in us greater love for God and for our neighbour? If it doesn’t, then we probably need

The Bible is not a tool to support our viewpoints, but rather a means through which God shapes and corrects us. to step back and take a deep breath. We need to reconsider our interpretation and entertain the possibility that we are hearing our own word rather than the Word of God. When I hear Christians citing individual verses of the Bible to support a position, I am skeptical. I ask whether this interpretation is consistent with the

general tenor of Scripture. Does it stir up the love of God and the love of our neighbour?

The Living Word Third, the interpretation of Scripture must always be done under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we affirm that God not only inspired the Bible as it was written, but also that God continues to inspire the Scriptures as we read and interpret them. If we are to hear the words of Scripture as the Word of God, then we must do our best to ensure that our ears and hearts are attuned to the Holy Spirit. This requires that we be shaped and formed in our faith and by the Spirit. The words on the page are lifeless until God breathes life into them as we listen to them. Good people read the Bible well when they are guided by the Holy Spirit.

Finally, while the devil may be able to cite Scripture, the real test is whether we can live it. The value of citing prooftexts pales in comparison with the value of actually living out what we are taught in the Bible. That, it seems to me, is the real test of the validity of our interpretation of the Scriptures. Do we cite proof-texts or do we live according to the Scriptures?

Dr. Donald E. Burke is a professor of biblical studies at Booth University College in Winnipeg.

Salvationist January 2019 21

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

Big Tech or Big Brother?

What are the consequences of a data-driven world?

L

ast summer, after moving to Winnipeg to attend the College for Officer Training, I finally caved in and bought a smartphone.

Although I had resisted until then, I wanted to keep in touch with my family in Toronto. I purchased an Android phone, and I have to admit I enjoy it. I can video chat with my parents in real time, instead of writing an email or letter and waiting days or weeks for a reply. Using the map on my phone is quicker and easier than a paper map—it even tells me the fastest route from point A to point B. However, soon my phone started sending me unsolicited notifications.

After several weeks of keeping track of my location, the time I went home and the route I took, it was “smart” enough to tell me that if I left at a certain time, my commute would take 15 minutes.

My phone told me to go home before I was even ready to go home.

Shortly after I purchased my phone— a Google-based product—the media reported that Google phones and apps were able to monitor a user’s movements, even with the GPS tracker turned off.

In 2016, former FBI director James Comey admitted that he puts tape over the cameras on his phone and computer to prevent hackers and companies from spying on him. It was also leaked that government agencies around the world were able to use phone apps and computer software to spy on people.

When the head of the FBI is concerned, shouldn’t we be?

Ask yourself why a website like Twitter requires access to your phone or computer’s microphone. And why would a website or app require your location, unless it is an actual GPS app? As consumers, we need to be aware that these platforms can be and have been hacked.

Some people don’t mind giving up their privacy for the sake of convenience.

Fair enough, but once given, it is nearly impossible to get back. Others are fine with having their privacy taken away because they “have nothing to hide.”

22 January 2019 Salvationist

Brother would be portrayed by a Big Tech company and not a totalitarian political leader.

Ultimately, we need to discuss and decide if it’s OK for tech companies to have access to our personal information or to control the information we receive. Are we OK with tech companies spying on us?

Cadet Stephen Frank is a member of the Messengers of the Kingdom Session at the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg.

Ethically Speaking is a series by The Salvation Army’s social issues committee.

Another fair point, but if this were about accountability, it should be to your family, friends, church family, coworkers and, most importantly, to God. In November 2018, President Donald Trump announced he was “looking into” potential violations of antitrust laws by tech industry giants Amazon, Facebook and Google, for the way they suppress search results and silence dissenting political opinions. Should “big tech” have the power to decide which political opinions are worthy and which ones are not?

In June, the Canadian federal government launched a countrywide consultation on how to deal with the digital transformation of work. With the fastpaced changes in how our data and personal information is collected, it will be an uphill battle to combat these issues.

The benefits that big tech offers are evident. God can and does use modern technology for his purposes. I can now fit multiple Bible translations and commentaries on my phone—that’s a true modern-day miracle!

However, when big tech has been caught spying on people, and using its power to promote or suppress political opinions, we need to ask ourselves what can be done about its role in our lives and society. I believe if George Orwell were to write his novel 1984 today, Big

The Salvation Army and Digital Privacy The Salvation Army has a significant number of donors, and takes their privacy very seriously. “As an organization, we do not share or sell any of our data,” says John McAlister, national director of marketing and communications.

“Any data that we collect—with permission—stays in our secure data centre, and the number of people who have access to it is limited. If an employee leaves the Army, their access is revoked within 24 hours. We dispose of information in a safe and timely manner when it is no longer required.

“We also keep abreast with all Canadian anti-spam legislation.

People must opt in to receive correspondence from us, and always have the option to unsubscribe.” For more information, visit bit.ly/2Byv1Ff. The Salvation Army is accredited by the Imagine Canada Standards Program, demonstrating excellence in five areas—board governance, financial accountability, fundraising, staff management and volunteer involvement—and reporting back each year to remain in good standing.

Photo: © SIphotography/iStock.com

CADET STEPHEN FRANK

Safe in Your Presence

Standing with our Jewish neighbours after anti-Semitic violence.

Photo: © Diy13/iStock.com

O

n Saturday morning, October 27, 2018, congregants met at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. During the service, a gunman entered the synagogue and opened fire with an assault rifle. The synagogue’s members had met to celebrate life; their synagogue became a scene of death.

In response to this horrific tragedy, vigils were held in many parts of Canada.

The following Tuesday, my wife, Cathie, and I joined more than 1,000 people at Winnipeg’s Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.

The service was simple and profoundly meaningful. Eleven candles were lit in honour of the victims. A children’s choir sang. Hebrew prayers were sung. The rabbis thanked those present for their support: “You have helped us to realize we are not alone.” As the service concluded, we stood to leave. A man turned to us and, with tears in his eyes, said: “Thank you for being here. I feel safe in your presence.” I stopped to consider his words. Jews have not always felt safe in the presence of Christians, nor of Canadians.

Recall some regretful moments in the history of the church, and of Canada.

It didn’t take long for the early church to speak disparagingly of Jews. In the fourth century, the Council of Nicaea met to create an important confession of Christian faith, the Nicene Creed.

Tragically, it also sought to disassociate the church from the Jewish community, calling Jews “this odious people.”

During the Middle Ages, Jews were expelled from both England and Spain.

In the 16th century, Martin Luther, to whom the church owes so much, also unleashed a written tirade against Jews late in his life called “On the Jews and Their Lies.” He argued that synagogues and Jewish schools should be burned, that Jewish sacred texts be destroyed, and that Jews live in separate areas of the city. On November 9-10, 1938, more than a thousand synagogues were burned to the ground in Germany; copies of Luther’s tract were found close at hand.

BY MAJOR RAY HARRIS

Sensing the approaching war in 1939, a ship called the St. Louis left Europe with close to 1,000 Jews seeking safety.

This refugee ship was refused port in the Caribbean, New York and finally in Canada. The St. Louis returned to Europe where at least 254 of its passengers lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Throughout much of western history, Jews have lived with suspicion, if not hostility, from their neighbours.

When we retired as Salvation Army officers, Cathie and I settled in Winnipeg, where I was invited to join the board of the Manitoba Multifaith Council. My years of service on this board have introduced me to the realities of anti-Semitism in our world. I have worked with the daughter of Holocaust survivors. It has also been my privilege as a Salvationist to pray at a bar mitzvah, and to be a reader at a Shoah service where the Holocaust is remembered. In recent years, I have joined with friends in Winnipeg’s Jewish community to privately sponsor Yazidi refugees. They realize their own story of genocide is being repeated with the Yazidis. My Salvationist colleagues in Winnipeg have also welcomed these refugees to our city; among other gestures they have provided beds and mattresses, and toques for Canadian winters.

There is a little-known story from our Salvation Army history. Colonel Stanley Preece was a British Salvation Army officer. When the Second World War ended, Colonel Preece went to Eastern Europe with his wife and daughter to help the thousands of homeless youth and reunite them with their families. On one occasion, he came across a young Jewish girl in Germany and sought to reconnect her with her uncle in Holland. The necessary documents could not be secured, so Colonel Preece dressed this young Jew in his daughter’s Salvation Army uniform.

They made it past the authorities and into Holland. After the war, Colonel Preece and his family moved to Canada.

Years later, he was awarded the Officer’s Cross of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany and the Order of Canada by the Canadian government.

We live at a moment when a wave of anti-Semitism is sweeping our globe.

Reasons for this are complex, but we engage this world as Salvationists. Let’s remember our history, and our core convictions. Let’s also imagine our Jewish neighbours shaking our hands with tears in their eyes: “Thank you for being here.

We feel safe in your presence.”

Major Ray Harris is a retired Salvation Army officer.

He attends Heritage Park Temple in Winnipeg.

Salvationist January 2019 23

LIVE JUSTLY

The World at Your Door Social justice across borders.

M

artin Luther King Jr., the American civil rights champion and Christian minister, once said, “Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” He saw a future in which human rights and equal access to opportunity were for everyone.

The term “social justice” is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges within a society.” This definition, however, becomes problematic in our increasingly global context. What if “society” is literally the whole world?

How does The Salvation Army seek fairness in the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges across international borders? Here are a few concepts to consider as we grapple with the implications of living justly in a global village.

1. Partners, not donors. Historically, the approach to addressing social issues across borders was to write a cheque or send a container of goods to developing countries. In our donor mentality, we believed our role was to give them some of our plenty. However, there is a power imbalance in this relationship that should concern people seeking social justice.

With time, and partly because the donor mentality failed to produce the development we hoped, we migrated to an approach of partnership. A partner is an equal, not a “beneficiary.” A partner can tell us what is needed to bring about change in their situation. A partner is someone we respect. Any relationship must be built on trust, and trust comes from knowing our partner. The difference between being a donor and being a partner is the depth of relationship, with a relatively equal balance of power where both partners can express themselves freely.

2. Work with, not for. We need to remember that the people we work with 24 January 2019 Salvationist

are active, not passive, agents in their own stories. They have strengths, skills, hopes and dreams. As we come alongside them in their desire to seek justice, some helpful questions are: What is your hope for this situation? How can we work together to see this vision realized?

3. Think globally, act locally. By their very nature, social justice issues are multi-faceted. As supply chains and markets cross international borders, so does injustice. Therefore, so must our response. One example is child labour.

Children in countries such as India and Bangladesh are co-opted to work long hours in sweatshops for little money, to produce clothing sold on our shelves for high profit margins. In the Ivory Coast, for example, chocolate producers employ children to pick cocoa beans.

The Salvation Army’s “Others” initiative (salvationist.ca/others) is one attempt to address social injustice such as poverty and child labour. Women from developing economies are paid a fair wage to produce goods that are sold in international markets. Because of this, these women can earn a decent wage, support their families and keep their children in school. It’s a wonderful example of partnership and working

“with,” not “for.”

However, we can take other actions right here at home that can also make a huge impact. As consumers, we can use our voices and our buying power to insist that clothing stores root out suppliers who use child labour.

We can insist that chocolate companies certify that they do not employ children, either directly or through their suppliers. We can spend our money on fairly traded products whenever possible. We can educate ourselves and create awareness of these issues in our corps and circles of influence about how our actions have a ripple effect that can be felt around the world.

Social justice is in our DNA as Salvationists—from Booth’s match factory to the Others dishcloths in my kitchen. Let’s mobilize here and abroad to partner with those seeking justice for themselves and their communities, to work with and not for and to be mindful of the effects of our actions.

Questions for Reflection: • What principles or policies guide the Army’s purchase of goods that are manufactured internationally? Do we seek the lowest prices or are we willing (or even encouraged) to pay more for fairly traded products?

• How do we work in partnership with our international communities (not only with Salvation Army project personnel, but with local community representatives who receive international funding)? Who gives voice to the vision and scope of these international projects?

• We live in one of the richest and most developed countries in the world. What further steps can our ministry units, divisions and territory take in order to facilitate fairness in the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges across international borders?

Stacey Dlamini is the worship leader at Westville Corps, N.S.

Photo: © woraput/iStock.com

BY STACEY DLAMINI

PERSPECTIVES

Community of Shalom A healthy organizational culture begins with reaching out and listening.

W

hen Jesus was teach i ng , he often began with “Listen” and ended with “If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4:3, 23).

In Mark 4:24, he adds further instruction: “Consider carefully what you hear.”

My early months in this appointment as the secretary for personnel have afforded me many opportunities to engage with officers, employees, soldiers and volunteers across much of the territory. I have listened to many stories, some of them joyful and some of them painful.

In Quebec, I listened as Québécois officers and employees respectfully shared their stories of how the church negatively impacted the life of the people in this province in the past. Generations of families were hurt by a distorted message. The wounds linger and hinder the presentation of the gospel even today.

We, as the church, have work to do.

In Alberta, as a participant at the 2018 Celebration of Culture, I listened as Indigenous people shared their experience of the church in the past and watched as Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, was presented with a second eagle feather to add to the eagle staff created for last year’s celebration—a high honour for The Salvation Army. But the final word by one of the First Nations leaders was one of exhortation: “We have been hurt. We don’t trust you. But we have given you another eagle feather to indicate that we are on a journey of reconciliation.” We have a lot of work to do.

In Winnipeg, I listened to divisional directors of employee relations from across the territory share their experiences of navigating the employee landscape.

These were encouraging conversations as we talked openly about concerns and challenges faced by employee relations.

We shared best practices and learned from one another in a spirit of co-operation. We have a great team of leaders across the territory who want to see a culture of excellence and to see employees do well in their ministry units. We acknowledged we have a lot of work to do.

Healthy Culture In an episode of The Leadercast Podcast, David Salyers, a retired Chick-fil-A marketing executive and co-author of Remarkable! Maximizing Results Through Value Creation, said that building a remarkable team is a direct result of establishing a culture “where people believe the best in each other, want the best for each other and expect the best from each other.”

Salyers has captured it for me. In the coming year, the initiatives undertaken in the personnel department will be framed by the primary goal of “creating a healthy culture” within The Salvation Army

Canada and Bermuda Territory. I want to hear employees from across the territory say, “This is a place of conviction and a great place to work.” I want to hear officers say, “Responding to God’s call on my life has taken me on an incredible journey of faith and dependence upon God.” I am convinced that a healthy culture begins with listening; listening to God and listening to one another. We want, as Salyers says, to establish a culture “where people believe the best in each other, want the best for each other and expect the best from each other.”

Vision of Shalom In a recent article in Salvationist, Dr. Donald Burke, professor of biblical studies at Booth University College in Winnipeg, encouraged us to be a “community of shalom”—a community that is a light to others; a community in which relationships are healthy, strong and based in goodwill; a community in which our love for God is expressed in our concern for the well-being of our neighbours (“Prophet of Doom,” Salvationist, July 2018).

Whether our neighbour is a family member, workplace colleague, client, next-door neighbour or fellow soldier, may we keep before us our personal and shared responsibility for their “shalom.”

It’s going to take time. We have a lot of work to do. It’s January, a new year, and a good time to start.

Lt-Colonel Brian Armstrong is the secretary for personnel in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Salvationist January 2019 25

Illustration: © VLADGRIN/iStock.com

BY LT-COLONEL BRIAN ARMSTRONG

Call & Commitment Sunday February 3rd, 2019

26 January 2019 Salvationist

SAcandidates.ca

PEOPLE & PLACES

GEORGINA, ONT.—These are exciting days at Georgina CC as two young people publicly declare their commitment to Christ by being enrolled as senior soldiers.

From left, RS Mjr Max Bulmer; Jacob Wells and Ciara Field, senior soldiers; Mjr Colleen Winter, CO; Ken Brash, colour sergeant; and CSM Harold Reid.

HAMILTON, BERMUDA—Taking a stand for Jesus, Jazmyn Smith-Trott is enrolled as a junior soldier at North Street Citadel. Celebrating with her are, from left, Andrea Cann, junior action teacher; Mjr Kent Hepditch, CO; Maxwell Assing, holding the flag; Mjr Dena Hepditch, CO; and YPSM Devona Simons.

VERNON, B.C.—Assisted by their corps officers, Lts Stefan and Tinisha Reid, Eden Thompson (left) and Rachel Reid recite their Junior Soldier Promise to the congregation at Vernon CC as they are enrolled as junior soldiers.

TORONTO—York CC celebrates as Sylvia Passley is enrolled as a senior soldier.

Supporting her are, from left, HLS Betty Matthews; ACSM Maxine Collins; CSM Joan Ash; CS Jim Paul, holding the flag; Cpt Royal Senter, CO; Shona Skerrett, Sylvia’s mentor as she participated in the Battle Ready soldiership preparation program for teens; Jeremy Hennessey, youth leader; and Cpt Donna Senter, CFS officer, York CC. SHERBROOKE, QUE.—Sherbrooke CC enrols Maryse Gaudet as a senior soldier and Luc Giard as an adherent, and commissions Johanne Roy as the corps sergeant-major. From left, Cpt Ricaurte Velasquez, CO; Maryse Gaudet; Luc Giard; Johanne Roy; and Cpt Vilma Ramos, CO.

RENFREW, ONT.—Standing under the flag held by Sandy Miller and supported by his corps officers, Lts Cathy and Randy Shears, James Miller is commissioned as the corps sergeant-major at Renfrew CC.

KENTVILLE, N.S.—The leadership team at Kentville CC is reinforced as three local officers are commissioned. From left, Mervin Miesner, holding the flag; John Burton, corps sergeant-major; Ella Fletcher, pastoral care; Lisa Burton Smith, corps secretary; and Cpts Kelly and Cory Fifield, COs. Salvationist January 2019 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

GAZETTE TERRITORIAL Appointments: Mjr Miguel Borgela, community ministries officer/ chaplain, CFS, Montreal, Que. Div (designation change); Cpts Glynden/ Diane Cross, Metro Vancouver community liaison officers, B.C. Div; Mjr Michael Hennessy, CFS co-ordinator, Belleville, Ont. CE Div; Mjr Valerie Hennessy, community program ministries supervisor, Napanee, Ont. CE Div; Cpt Anne Holden, assistant to executive director—guest services, JPCC; Cpt Randy Holden, assistant to executive director—operations, JPCC; Mjr Marie Hollett, director of spiritual and religious care, Toronto Grace Health Centre (designation change) Promoted to glory: Mjr Jacqueline Patrick, from Chilliwack, B.C., Oct 19; Mjr Doug Marshall, from Oshawa, Ont., Nov 2; Mjr Leonard Monk, from Burlington, Ont., Nov 7 CRANBROOK, B.C.—Lorna and Mato Felix are enrolled as adherents at Kootenay Valley CC. Supporting them are Mjrs Kirk and Linda Green, COs.

TRIBUTES OSHAWA, ONT.—Andrew Carr was born in 1971 in Orangeville, Ont., and promoted to glory after a year-long courageous battle with cancer. The son of Salvation Army officers, Andrew lived throughout Ontario, in Winnipeg, and in Saint John, N.B. Andrew studied in the International Baccalaureate program during high school and went on to graduate from Carleton University in Ottawa. While there, he attended Woodroffe Temple (now Barrhaven Church) where he met the love of his life, Sheri-Ann Payler. Married in 1994, they raised three children and worshipped at Woodroffe Temple, Richmond Hill Community Church, Ont., and Hope Community Church in Ajax, Ont. Andrew was an avid stamp collector and gifted percussionist, who played in various school, Army brass and contemporary worship bands. Andrew worked for The Salvation Army for 25 years in a variety of IT positions, beginning as a data processor in the public relations department in Ottawa, then as a computer tech person in the former Ontario East Division and, finally, as the assistant IT director at territorial headquarters.

Andrew is lovingly remembered by Sheri-Ann; daughter, Hannah; sons Philip and Daniel; parents Majors Weldon and Sally Carr; siblings Les (Melody), Susan and Elizabeth (Kevin); and extended family.

BRANTFORD, ONT.—Major Jean Brown was born in 1924 and promoted to glory from Brantford at the age of 94. Jean earned her registered nurse (RN) designation in 1945 and went on to receive a bachelor of science. She entered the College for Officer Training in the Intercessors Session and was commissioned as an officer in 1952. Jean’s ministry took her to many places where she served as a nurse and preached the Word of God. After getting her midwife designation and completing the World Health Organization’s “crash course,” Jean made her most impactful move to Bombay (now Mumbai), India, where she ran the King George V Memorial Infirmary for almost 25 years. Serving the homeless, destitute and infirm gave her life meaning and purpose. Jean was a recipient of the Order of the Founder for her work in India. She is survived by seven nieces.

Guidelines for Tributes

Salvationist will print tributes (maximum 200 words), at no cost, as space permits. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Tributes should be received within three months of the promotion to glory and include: community where the person resided, corps involvement, Christian ministry, conversion to Christ, survivors. A high-resolution digital photo or high-resolution scan of an original photo (TIFF, EPS or JPG; 300 ppi) should be emailed to salvationist@ can.salvationarmy.org; a clear, original photograph mailed to 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4 will be returned.

28 January 2019 Salvationist

CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Jan 10 territorial commander’s new year address, THQ (available by livestream); Jan 13-17 divisional retreat, Alta. & N.T. Div; Jan 28-31 divisional retreat, Que. Div Colonels Edward and Shelley Hill: Jan 8-11 divisional retreat, B.C. Div; Jan 20-21 CFOT; Jan 25 National Advisory Board, Toronto*; Jan 25-26 Booth UC board of trustees meeting, Toronto*; Jan 28-31 divisional retreat, N.L. Div (*Colonel Edward Hill only)

AURORA, ONT.—Colonel Kenneth J. Rawlins, the son of Salvation Army officers, was commissioned in 1939 by General Evangeline Booth as a member of the Dauntless Evangelists Session. After corps appointments, Kenneth was transferred to The Salvation Army War Services and, attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force, served for six years in Canada, England and Germany. Returning to Canada, he served for six years as the private secretary to the commissioner, with three territorial commanders. Kenneth served for many years as the music secretary and travelled extensively across Canada in this role. He was the divisional commander in Alberta and Metro Toronto, subsequently returning to territorial headquarters as field secretary. Prior to retiring in 1981, Kenneth served for four years as chief secretary for the Canada and Bermuda Territory. He remained active in retirement, working for the Ontario Parole Board, at territorial headquarters and Toronto’s North York Temple. Kenneth married Lieutenant Arlian Rawlins in 1952 and they had four sons. Living to celebrate his 102nd birthday and thankful to God for a useful, long and interesting life, Kenneth is remembered by his wife, Arlian; sons Kenneth (Lynne), Gordon (Kimberley), Ian (Catherine) and Brian (Michelle); 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—Kathleen (Kay) Nora Gilbert was born at the Toronto Grace Hospital in 1925 as the eldest child of Leonard Chapman and Pamela Gillard. While attending West Toronto Corps, she met Ronald Gilbert, the love of her life, and they married in 1945. Following Ron’s untimely passing in 1968, Kay never remarried and raised her five children, Ron, Pam, Steve (Judy), Sandi and Mike (Linda), while daily drawing strength and direction from her Lord. During her time at West Toronto and Mississauga Temple, where she was a faithful soldier until her promotion to glory, Kay was involved in many areas of the corps but will be most remembered for her years as a songster and vocal soloist. She was a prayer warrior and was knowledgeable about the Bible. Kay was passionate about The Salvation Army’s mission and worked in the public relations and education departments until her retirement in 1987. Kay enjoyed reading, knitting, baking and working in her garden, but most of all, she loved to spend time with her family, especially her 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Kay is remembered and missed by her family and many friends.

BETTER TOGETHER D.L. Deeks Insurance and The Salvation Army form a winning partnership.

Introducing the Group Auto & Property Insurance Program for officers & soldiers of The Salvation Army.

To receive a FREE no obligation quote on your AUTO-HOME-CONDO or TENANT Insurance through our Salvation Army partnership, please get in touch with one of our friendly customer service advisors.

Also, find out how you can earn AIR MILES® Reward Miles±.

Call 1-800-240-5283 or visit www.deeksinsurance.ca

D.L Deeks Insurance Services Inc. (“D.L. Deeks Insurance”) is a licensed insurance intermediary. Home and auto policies are underwritten by Unifund Assurance Company (“Unifund”).

Described coverage and benefits applicable only to policies underwritten by Unifund in Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Eligibility requirements, limitations, exclusions or additional costs may apply, and/or may vary by province. D.L. Deeks Insurance and Unifund share common ownership. D.L Deeks Insurance Services Inc. and logo is a registered trademark of D.L. Deeks Insurance. ±AIR MILES® Reward Miles awarded only on regular home and auto insurance policies underwritten by Unifund. At the time the premium is paid, one (1) Mile is awarded for each $20 in premium (including taxes). Miles are not available in SK or MB. ®TMTrademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and JI (for Unifund).

0229_0418

SALVATION STORIES

The Wounded Healer When I was weary and heartsick, a divine appointment brought hope.

T

he telephone rang in my office.

It was a dark, rainy afternoon.

Billowing clouds hung ominously in the sky. Inside, another tempest was brewing. The last couple of years in ministry had been difficult, and I was contemplating my resignation as an officer. I was frustrated, hurt and ready to call it quits. My heart was heavy as I answered that ringing telephone.

Little did I know that the prayer in my heart was about to be answered. A local pastor was calling to donate food to our soup kitchen. I politely said I would be right over. I pulled into the driveway of the church, a grey stone building with blue and red stained-glass windows and a traditional cross at the top. I parked at the adjacent gymnasium structure and knocked on the front door. The pastor ambled to the door and, upon seeing my uniform, welcomed me in. He led me to the kitchen where the food was all nicely wrapped and ready.

Pastor Steve began to talk about his ministry, and gave me a brief tour of the 30 January 2019 Salvationist

building. He described the basketball program and the youth ministry. We chatted for a few more minutes, but then something truly remarkable happened.

It felt like I was in a safe place, far away from judgment and ridicule, and so I shared with him my hurt. Everything I was feeling spilled out. I told him about the heartache I had experienced in ministry, and the wounds inflicted on the pastoral battlefield. It was like letting go of a burden I had been carrying for far too long.

He understood. He didn’t say, “You just need to try harder,” or “Perhaps you aren’t walking with the Lord enough,” or even “Maybe you’re just not cut out for ministry.”

Instead, he just listened.

He let me expose the festering wounds in my heart that refused to heal.

I had not been able to articulate them, let alone face them, before. But here, in a gym kitchen, I bared the wound and infection to the light. Leaning on a stainless steel island in a small kitchen,

he prayed for me, and the power of the Holy Spirit began working in my heart.

I can’t tell you that I was miraculously healed in a single instant, but the pain, bitterness and hurt started to mend. I was a broken vessel in need of repair, and the hands of God were more than willing to remould me. Dare I say that the pastor was only the conduit, while the Lord applied much-needed salve to a wounded life? Isn’t it funny how God has a tendency to do that—to use the faithful in the most unlikely of places, and at just the right times?

After the pastor prayed with me, he asked if it would be OK if he contacted a couple of other pastors that he knew, and if we could all meet over breakfast sometime soon. I accepted the invitation and left with the food in my hands. I had come to receive food for people in need, but the Lord had other ideas in mind.

I was also in need myself—in need of spiritual nourishment and hope. I walked away from that encounter a little lighter.

A short while later, Pastor Steve called and, true to his word, invited me to breakfast with a group of pastors. I had been in other pastor groups before, and sometimes the fellowship felt forced.

I went to the first breakfast with that thought in mind, but was extremely surprised to find a group of guys who loved being with each other. They laughed together over coffee and toast. I felt as if I was being welcomed into a fellowship I didn’t deserve, and yet here they were warming my heart.

Over the course of the next few months, I met with this group every couple of weeks. There wasn’t any agenda except to encourage and pray for one another. I’m forever grateful that Pastor Steve stopped on his journey to pick up another weary traveller. It was a divine appointment that stands as a turning point in my life, and helped to heal my wounded heart.

Captain Scott Strissel is the divisional youth secretary and divisional candidates’ secretary in the Midland Division, U.S.A. Central Territory.

Photo: © sdominick/iStock.com

BY CAPTAIN SCOTT STRISSEL

IF IT DOESN'T SIT RIGHT, STAND UP.

BOOTHUC.CA

EDUCATION FOR A Salvationist BETTERJanuary WORLD 2019 31

For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@can.salvationarmy.org. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes. PM 40064794