Salvationist March 2019

Learning to Trust God in the Midst of Anxiety

Pray the Hours: Refresh Your Soul During Lent

Kissing Shame Goodbye: How Should Christians Date?

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

March 2019

World-Class Celebrating 50 years of Brass the Canadian Staff Band

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CONTENTS

Salvationist March 2019 • Volume 14, Number 3

18 25 Territory Unveils New Core Values

Borrowing Trouble: Are Payday Loans Ethical?

“I Am Not a Proverbs 31 Woman”

The Bible Is Clear … Or Is It?

Fleeing Colombia’s Violence for a New Life in Canada

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

February 2019

Salvationist.ca

Cellmate to Candidate: One Salvationist’s Journey

@theREADY Reimagines Youth Discipleship

Army’s Tornado Response in Ottawa-Gatineau

Salvationist.ca

General Brian Peddle’s Christmas Message

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

January 2019

December 2018

Salvationist.ca

Ringing in the Christmas Season How The Salvation Army makes spirits bright

Ready for Adventure

Mission in Mozambique

Northridge Scout Group offers fun, friendship and service

Getting to know our new partner territory

Catch Up Online Departments 5 Frontlines 26 Cross Culture 27 People & Places 30 Salvation Stories In His Time

by Donna Lee Samson

Columns 4 Editorial Top Brass

by Geoff Moulton

13 Chief Priorities If Not Us, Who?

by Colonel Edward Hill

25 Grace Notes Kissing Shame Goodbye

by Captain Laura Van Schaick

13

Features 8 Marching On The Canadian Staff Band celebrates its 50th anniversary.

by Kristin Ostensen

14 Long-Distance Assistance The Canada and Bermuda Territory shares resources and expertise with the worldwide Army.

by Major Alison Cowling, Majors David and Brenda Allen, and Major Beverly Ivany

16 Praying the Hours Refresh your soul with the 2019 territorial prayer initiative.

by Major April McNeilly

18 Miracle on Inglis Street When the largest employer in Sydney, N.S., shut down before Christmas, The Salvation Army stepped in.

by Major Corey Vincent

Did you know that you can find free back issues of Salvationist and Faith & Friends magazines at the issuu.com/salvationist website? Catch up on all the Salvation Army news and features on your tablet or desktop.

Also available on the Territorial Archives section of Salvationist.ca is a searchable record of every War Cry dating back to 1884. Visit salvationist.ca/ archives-and-museum.

Cover photo: Steve Nelson

Read and share it!

A Pachyderm’s Problem

DUMBO MOVIE P.8

Trouble at Work

My Brother’s Keeper

HUGGING IT OUT P.10 JAMES & THE ARMY P.13

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

faithandfriends.ca

MARCH 2019

20 Pitching In Three ways Salvationists in the Canada and Bermuda Territory are supporting Partners in Mission.

by Captain Robert Burrell, Beverly Daniels and Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray

22 Finding Home The Salvation Army’s Belinda’s Place is the first shelter for women in York Region.

by Giselle Randall

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir

ICONIC FIGURE SKATERS TALK ABOUT WINNING OLYMPIC GOLD AND SUPPORTING THE SALVATION ARMY. P.16

Salvationist March 2019 3

EDITORIAL

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Top Brass

he Canadian Staff Band (CSB) turns 50 this year. This impressive milestone will be celebrated this month with a weekend of concerts, March 1-3, featuring five staff and territorial bands from across North America.

That’s a lot of brass! There will be a oncein-a-lifetime concert of praise at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, with spin-off events throughout the weekend at various corps in southern Ontario.

The connections to the CSB run deep in my family. My grandfather, Colonel Arthur Moulton, was the first executive officer of the modern incarnation of the band. My father, Major David Moulton, played euphonium in the band toward the end of the 1980s. And my brother, David Jr., also played baritone, trombone and euphonium at various times. Perhaps one day my children will follow in that musical tradition—if I can just get them to practise their scales.

One of the highlights for me growing up was when the Russian Red Army Choir came to sing with the CSB in Toronto shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union. The extraordinary connection was made through a Salvationist, Dr. Ross Wilcock, who together with my father had been one of a delegation sent to explore the reopening of The Salvation Army’s work in Russia. It was a euphoric time when barriers between

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 March 2019 Salvationist

nations seemed to be coming down and music was a uniting force.

I also remember attending the International Brass Spectacular, the band’s 25th anniversary event, featuring four staff bands. Many will recall the CSB’s performances at the International Millennial Congress in Atlanta and the International Staff Band’s ISB120 anniversary in London, England. These events have been high watermarks in Salvation Army music making.

The band has also made a huge impact internationally, with trips to Australia, Mexico and Brazil, among others. Even more amazing, away from the big concerts and fanfare, the CSB also takes the time to travel to smaller corps around the territory to nurture local musicians. When they came to North Toronto Community Church last year, our junior band was invited to play along with the CSB. What a thrill for those junior musicians!

In our Salvationist cover story (page 8), CSB Bandmaster John Lam says, “I wanted to appeal to the younger generation and prioritize diversity.… It has to be about the mission. It has to be about communicating the gospel, however we can. I want to connect more outside The Salvation Army,

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.

so we can be visible, way outside of our walls.”

In this golden jubilee year, we thank the Canadian Staff Band for setting a standard of musical excellence in the territory. But also for the years of music education, of inspiring young players and helping us worship God with the “sounding of the trumpet … with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:3-6).

GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Mission

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

The Territorial Youth Band at Tustin Ranch Corps, California

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Territorial Youth Band Joins Rose Parade

ew Year’s Day 2019 marked the 100th occasion of a Salvation Army band marching in the world-famous Pasadena Rose Parade.

This year’s event in the Southern Californian city saw record numbers of Salvation Army musicians taking part—the majority of them young people.

The Canada and Bermuda Territory received an invitation to participate, giving Craig Lewis, territorial secretary for music and gospel arts, the impetus to form a Territorial Youth Band (TYB) for the event. The call went out across the territory and a band of 28 players was created.

More than 350 instrumentalists participated in the parade, from bands across the United States, Canada and Bermuda, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as individual musicians from Brazil, South

Africa, Jamaica and India. The Salvation Army is the longest-serving band that has taken part in the parade, morphing from the small Pasadena Tabernacle Corps Band that first appeared in 1920 to the international gathering of musicians in 2019.

The Salvation Army Rose Parade Band is organized by the California South divisional music department, led

by Bandmaster Kevin Larsson, who has served in the post for 18 years. “It is the world’s biggest open-air,” he says. “That’s why we keep on investing in it … we’re playing Amazing Grace or Stand up for Jesus and often the name of the song is displayed on TV, so we can reach millions with that ministry.”

Along with the Rose Parade, massed performances at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest and a march through Disneyland gave many opportunities for

witness. “To hear people singing along to an upbeat version of Amazing Grace, or hear them yell words of gratitude to The Salvation Army as the band marched past, stirred the soul,” says Lewis.

On the Sunday ahead of the parade, the TYB served at Long Beach Corps, supported by Colonels Edward and Shelley Hill, chief secretary and territorial secretary for women’s ministries.

The band’s first official duty together was to lead worship. “Worship is the highest aim of all our music groups, and it was important for the TYB to put this ahead of a concert performance,” comments Lewis.

The TYB also took part in an international music camp. Members were dispersed into bands led by the various territorial youth bandmasters and a final festival was presented at Tustin Ranch Corps on January 2.

More than 350 Salvationists marched in the 2019 Rose Parade

Salvationist March 2019 5

Photo: Matthew Osmond

FRONTLINES

FRONTLINES

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Kettle Campaign Raises $23.1 Million

he Salvation Army’s Christmas kettle campaign raised $23.1 million this holiday season—well exceeding the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s $21-million goal. This total includes $304,786, which was raised by National Recycling Operations in thrift stores across Canada. These funds will be

Colonel Edward Hill, chief secretary, rings the kettle bells in Montreal

used by local ministry units to operate community and social service programs throughout the year.

This year, a small number of kettle locations featured Moneris hand-held terminals, which offered donors the opportunity to donate by credit or debit card. Preliminary results indicate that these terminals collected more than $200,000 for participating corps, so more ministry units are expected to utilize this technology in future campaigns.

The Salvation Army relies on its national corporate partners across the country, such as Walmart Canada, Loblaw Companies Limited, Costco, BC Liquor Stores, LCBO, Canadian Tire, Cadillac Fairview, Metro, Safeway, Save-on-Foods, Sobeys, Bass Pro Shops, Krispy Kreme and many more, who allow the Christmas kettles to be placed at their stores. In particular, the Army raised $7.8 million at Walmart stores and $1.3 million at Costco warehouses.

“We’re grateful to our generous donors, enthusiastic volunteers and wonderful corporate partners who have made our kettle campaign a success,” says Lt-Colonel John Murray, territorial secretary for communications. “These funds will help us feed, clothe, shelter and empower more than 1.7 million marginalized and vulnerable people in 2019. It’s heartwarming to witness the compassionate giving of Canadians to assist struggling people in their local communities.”

The General Issues Call to Mission

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eneral Brian Peddle has launched a campaign urging Salvationists to make mission a priority in their lives.

In his first new year address, released online in January, General Peddle states, “I believe we need to be ready for what God wants to do with us and through us.”

Introducing the Call to Mission campaign, the General notes, “This is a call to prayer, a call to holiness and a call to be ‘battle-ready’ now. There is an urgency to this call that cannot be ignored. Men, women and children need Jesus.”

Building on the legacy of The Whole World Mobilising campaign, which ran throughout 2017 and 2018, and the Accountability Movement, Call to Mission has three components: Be Ready, Be Engaged and Take Responsibility. Be Ready includes a call to prayer, a call to holiness and a call to be battle-ready. Be Engaged encompasses a call to serve, a call to worship and a call to confidence in the gospel. Finally, Take Responsibility features a call to raise and nurture every generation, a call to costly compassion and a call to inclusion.

“I want to lead an Army that has an invigorated zeal for our part in God’s mission,” General Peddle says. “We must believe, as the early-day Salvationists did, that we can win the world for Jesus, and we must spend our lives trying to accomplish that task.”

To learn more about Call to Mission and to watch the General’s new year address, visit sar.my/calltomission.

6 March 2019 Salvationist

A pamphlet outlines the General’s Call to Mission

FRONTLINES

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Queen’s Park Reception Focuses on Youth Initiatives

he Salvation Army Ontario Central-East Division hosted its annual reception at Queen’s Park in Toronto for members of Ontario’s provincial parliament in December.

Mjr Rick Zelinsky, executive director, OCM, and young leaders from OCM visit Queen’s Park

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With child poverty being a growing issue in the province, the reception focused on the many life-changing programs for youth offered by The Salvation Army. These programs bring a wide range of benefits to youth and families—keeping children active, improving academic performance, reducing risky behaviour and helping them build confidence.

This year’s reception looked at four key youth programs: Ontario Camping Ministries (OCM), anger management programs (Red Cap and TASK), music programs and sports programs. Along with Salvation Army officers and staff, young Salvationists representing these program areas attended the reception and shared their experiences with provincial representatives.

“This event is an important opportunity for The Salvation Army to connect with the members of provincial parliament and their staff,” says Glenn van Gulik, divisional secretary for public relations, Ontario Central-East Division. “It allows the Army to share the work being done in communities all across Ontario.”

New Shelter for Homeless Seniors

he Salvation Army opened a new shelter for seniors in the North Etobicoke region of Toronto in December.

The shelter opened with 45 shelter beds available for seniors experiencing homelessness, with renovations still underway. As roughly 20 to 22 per cent of people who access emergency shelters are 55 or older, this shelter will help to fill a significant gap.

In addition to the on-site clinic that will be available after renovations are complete, The Salvation Army will be partnering with community health centres, care providers and clinics in the community to meet individual health needs.

“While we are able to provide some level of care and programs according to their needs as seniors, our goal is to concentrate more on the population, to be able to provide better programs and better supports for seniors, specifically,” says

Bradley Harris, executive director, Toronto Housing and Homeless Supports.

“Our caseworkers will work with them on a case-by-case basis, so we make sure we’re meeting their needs,” says Harris.

While the shelter provides a warm bed, fresh meals, spiritual care and medical assistance, Harris explains that their focus will be on the clients’ needs beyond the shelter. Whether it is helping them find sustainable housing, securing long-term care or reconnecting them with their loved ones, The Salvation Army is there to journey with clients.

As of the first week of January, the shelter had reached its capacity of 45 residents. Once the shelter’s renovations are completed later in 2019, it will house a total of 90 beds.

Mauricio Urtecho, shelter director, offers a warm welcome

The Islington Seniors’ Shelter

Salvationist March 2019 7

Marching On The Canadian Staff Band celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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s far as Salvation Army banding is concerned, John Lam was a bit of a late bloomer. “I didn’t grow up in The Salvation Army, so the musical lights didn’t come on for me until my late teens,” he says.

“It was at the National Music School, and it was because of the Canadian staff bandsmen who were on faculty there,” he shares. “We were always amazed at how they played. But more than that, I was amazed at how relational they were.

When they saw you at different events, they’d remember what you had talked about before, and they genuinely cared.”

That formative experience with the Canadian Staff Band (CSB) still guides Lam, who has been a member of the CSB for 24 years and bandmaster since 2008.

“Many people see the staff band in some of our larger engagements—red tunics, big hall,” he says. “But we’re not just about the big stage stuff. We’re about meeting the people. We have to be just as effective, or more, when we engage 8 March 2019 Salvationist

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN with people in smaller places.”

That desire to bring music to the people is evident in the plans for the CSB’s 50th anniversary weekend, which takes place March 1-3 and features five bands: the CSB, Chicago Staff Band, New York Staff Band, U.S.A. Southern Territorial Band and U.S.A. Western Territory Staff

On tour in Sydney, Australia, in 1985

Band. Along with a massed concert at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall featuring trumpet virtoso Jens Lindemann, the weekend includes concerts and worship services at 10 corps in southern Ontario—a fitting celebration for a band that has touched countless lives since its reformation in 1969.

The Canadian Staff Band with BM John Lam and Commissioner Susan McMillan

“Over these 50 years, the CSB has travelled across this territory several times over, and visited other continents, always with the same purpose: to share the message of redemption through the powerful medium of music,” says Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander and CSB executive officer. “By their music and testimony, they have shown people that there is hope and life in Christ.”

From Generation to Generation While the CSB has existed in its current form since 1969, its roots go back to the 1880s when a staff band was formed at the direction of Commissioner Thomas Coombs, territorial commander. Initially, the band existed sporadically, becoming a permanent endeavour in 1906.

But tragedy struck in 1914 with the sinking of the Empress of Ireland. The band was on its way to the international congress in London, England, when the ship went down and most of the band members perished. An attempt was made to re-establish the band in 1917 but it did not last.

More than 50 years passed before the CSB was reformed under Major Norman Bearcroft. The band’s inaugural concert in 1969 paid tribute to the members lost in the Empress of Ireland disaster, while signalling a new beginning for banding in the territory.

Since its reformation, the CSB has had five bandmasters. “Every bandmaster brought something unique,” says Lam.

Eight bandmasters gather at the International Brass Spectacular celebrating the Canadian Staff Band’s 25th anniversary

A Stout-Hearted Company Major Norman Bearcroft, founding bandmaster, describes the CSB marching into Toronto Temple on the Sunday morning immediately following their inaugural festival in January 1969.

Following the command, “Quick march!”

by Bill Burditt (who became our official command giver) the band began to play the Bramwell Coles march, The Flag of Freedom. Hardly had the music started when the trombone sound was missing.

I thought it best not to look round in case they were trying to tell me something, but to just keep marching. Soon the basses faded out followed by the horns and baritones and finally the cornets … the drums were all that was left! I had not reckoned with the icy temperatures of the Canadian winters and all the instruments had frozen up! Looking round, I saw the trombone slides were all in an extended position, unable to be moved, and thought, Now what do we do? However, the problem was resolved as the bandsmen all began to whistle a well-known tune, which carried on until the band had completed the whole plan of the march.

On arrival at the hall, Deryck Diffey grabbed a handful of snow and placed it in the bell of his cornet and then sought out the commissioner to prove what a stouthearted company formed the new Canadian Staff Band.

Excerpt from In His Time by Stephen Pavey.

Salvationist March 2019 9

Steve Brown

Solo cornet Scarborough Citadel, Toronto Member since 1983 Are you the longest-serving member of the CSB? I’m the longest currently serving member. I think [former bandmaster] Brian Burditt still has a few months on me at this point.

How did you get involved with the CSB? I’ve been a fan of the staff band since it started.

One of the band’s early weekends was at my corps in Guelph, Ont. My mom’s cousin was in the band, so that was a connection for me. I saw the band a number of times growing up, and like a lot of Salvation Army families in those days, we came home from church to Sunday dinner and a band record was put on—more often than not, it was a Canadian Staff Band record, so I grew up listening to that and idolizing Deryck Diffey.

Eventually I got to join the band and sit in the section beside him, and eventually sit in his chair.

Looking back, what are some of your most meaningful experiences with the CSB? There are big things like our 25th anniversary, which was an International Brass Spectacular, similar to the event we’re doing this month. That was one of Brian Burditt’s genius moments, because it was the first thing of its kind, bringing together four staff bands—us, Chicago, New York and the International Staff Band. It was a brilliant weekend. But the Sunday mornings at a corps are also meaningful to us. Even the smallest corps, when you see the wonder in their eyes because they’ve never heard a band like this before, or when young people are encouraged and inspired. That’s how I see our role—we’re tasked to be role models and encouragers.

Early Beginnings

In the 1880s, Commissioner Thomas Coombs, territorial commander, establishes the first staff band, which participates in territorial events, including visits from General William Booth in 1898 and 1907. In 1914, the band suffers a great tragedy while travelling to the Army’s international congress in London, England. Their ship, the Empress of Ireland, sinks, taking most of the band with it.

10 March 2019 Salvationist

The Bearcroft Years (1969-1976)

Major Norman Bearcroft is appointed territorial music secretary. After leading a band retreat in Corner Brook, N.L., Major Bearcroft approaches the territorial commander about starting another staff band. The CSB holds its inaugural concert at Toronto’s Bramwell Booth Temple on January 18, 1969. The band embarks on tours of Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, and produces several records.

“There was something to learn from everybody. It can be intimidating to find your own voice in that, but really, you’re a product of everybody who came before you.

“Coming in, I wanted to appeal to the younger generation and prioritize diversity so that the Salvation Army band wasn’t perceived as this archaic thing that belongs in a heritage display,” Lam continues, “because you’re always a generation away from extinction.”

With that in mind, under Lam’s leadership, the CSB has emphasized training opportunities with young people, promoted youth banding and added a healthy number of young Salvationists to its roster, with members as young as 17.

“The CSB is so much more than a performance band,” says Commissioner McMillan. “They have trained up young musicians and leaders, and encouraged musicians across the territory to use their God-given talents to praise God and make him known in the world.”

Time of Renewal Looking ahead, Lam sees the CSB being even more outreach focused. “It has to be about the mission,” he says. “It has to be about communicating the gospel, however we can. I want to connect more outside The Salvation Army, so we can be visible, way outside of our walls.”

Lam points to the band’s recent

The Redhead Years (1976-1985)

Captain Robert Redhead takes over as bandmaster. In 1978, the band participates in the first Toronto Star Christmas concert. The CSB ministers at the territory’s centenary congress in 1982, and tours Europe, Australia and New Zealand. “It was a great privilege for me to be bandmaster,” Colonel Redhead says now. “They were always willing to travel the extra mile—literally and metaphorically—to reach audiences with the sound of the gospel.”

concert with Doc Severinsen, a famous jazz trumpeter, as an example of this. “We made a big splash with that and attracted people who wouldn’t normally come to a Salvation Army concert,” he says.

Lam hopes the 50th anniversary weekend will have a similar impact, appealing to Salvationists and non-Salvationists alike. “My prayer is that the event will be unabashedly fun,” he says, “but the ripple effects, weeks, months, years down the line, will be somebody saying, ‘That 50th anniversary weekend was when I turned my life around.’ ” A special highlight of the weekend will take place at the massed concert.

“We have a time of renewal planned,” explains Darrin Tilley, special efforts secretary for the CSB and head organizer of the weekend. “It will be a time of prayer and commitment for each band member, of why we do this, conducted

by Commissioner McMillan and General Brian Peddle.”

“God is not finished with the CSB!” says the General. “There is more music to be played, more people to bring into the kingdom of God and more glorious ministry to share in the years ahead.”

And while the weekend is a celebration of the CSB, Lam emphasizes its higher purpose. “I want it to be an event that does not glorify us, but glorifies God,” he concludes, “and has a longlasting effect as a significant event in our territory.”

The Burditt Years: Part I (1985-2002)

Brian Burditt becomes the first non-officer to lead the CSB, as well as the first Canadian.

Melody Watson, a 19-year-old cornet player, becomes the first woman to play in the modern CSB. In 1989, as the Cold War draws to a close, the CSB holds a concert with the Russian Red Army Choir. A 25th anniversary festival unites four staff bands.

Jennifer Vos

1st horn London Citadel, Ont. Member since 2012 What drew you to banding?

My dad [Rick Allington]. He’s a horn player and he was always playing at home, so I joined the band because I wanted to be like him.

How did you get involved with the CSB? I first sat in for a rehearsal with the band when I was in high school, but my dad has been in the band for 29 years. I’m the third generation in my family to join—my grandpa, Bram Allington, was also a horn player in the CSB—so it is exciting for me to be the next person to come in.

How has the CSB helped you grow personally?

Musically, you’re surrounded by so many great players, so it’s easier to grow because you’re able to learn from everybody around you. Spiritually, you get to fellowship with people of all ages and walks of life. If you were a 20-something outside the Army, you wouldn’t necessarily get that. The band is a huge support system. Whatever anybody’s going through, there’s always somebody there to pray with or to share your concerns with and that’s good. You push each other to grow stronger.

What do you enjoy most about the CSB’s ministry?

Any time we go away, especially to smaller corps that don’t necessarily have a band or a music program. We were in Thunder Bay, Ont., last fall, where they didn’t have any music program. We held a concert and shared in the Sunday morning meeting with them, and they started a band afterward. That’s really neat. In general, it’s nice to be an example to younger people—being that person in your corps who people look up to and say, “I want to be in the band because of that person.”

The Hayward Years (2002-2006)

Bermuda-born Kevin Hayward becomes bandmaster. The CSB records a CD with trumpet player Jens Lindemann, the first time the band recorded a project under another person’s label. A 35th anniversary concert brings together past and present members of the CSB.

The Burditt Years: Part II (2006-2008)

Then director of world missions for the Canada and Bermuda Territory, Brian Burditt steps in as interim bandmaster.

In addition to regular travels, the band visits Mexico and leads a music camp for more than 100 people. Burditt spearheads Windows of the World, a compilation recording from the Army’s various premiere music groups.

Salvationist March 2019 11

In His Time

by Stephen Pavey A 300-page history of the Canadian Staff Band, featuring photos, news clippings, reflections from bandmasters and members, and more.

The title comes from the Maranatha chorus, He Makes All Things Beautiful in His Time, and from Ecclesiastes 3:11. The book lays out the band’s evolution, from the early staff bands to the reformed band to the present day, highlighting its role in key events in the Canada and Bermuda Territory and beyond. The book shows how the band has adapted to changing times while maintaining its original mandate to reach souls for Jesus. In His Time is available for purchase from CSB members, at CSB concerts and through Trade North.

Noel Samuels

Eb Bass Khi—A Community Church of The Salvation Army, Milton, Ont. Member since 1996 What was your first experience with the CSB? I remember going to Toronto Temple when I was a young kid, hearing the staff band and thinking, Wow, what a sound! I never thought that I would actually be in it at some point.

How do you see the CSB’s role in our territory?

Primarily, it’s encouragement, motivation, inspiration. It’s bringing those little glimpses of the kingdom of God. Whether it’s a small corps or Roy Thomson Hall—every situation is unique. But no matter where you are, you get notes back from people later saying, “I was really moved by this experience.” Those are great opportunities—when you meet someone who needed that at just the right time. Those experiences are God moments that are beyond any of us. It’s amazing to be a part of that.

What would you like to see the CSB do in the future?

I’d like to do more mentoring. We’re a big territory, so we don’t often get to certain areas. Once in a while, we fly in for a weekend, but it would be wonderful if we could connect with people on a regular basis and be a resource to the territory.

For example, I met a guy when I was musical director at a junior music camp.

He was one of the faculty helpers and was learning to play an instrument as an adult. He told me, “Sometimes, I can’t figure out how a rhythm or a pitch goes,” and I said, “Well, don’t struggle at home with it. Send me your music, I’ll play it for you, and send it back.” So I’ll make a recording for him, send him an MP3 and he’ll practise with that, and it’s making a difference to the way he plays.

The Lam Years (2008- )

Under the leadership of John Lam, the CSB takes part in ISB120, a massive event celebrating the International Staff Band’s 120th anniversary. On the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, the band participates in memorial events in Toronto and Rimouski, Que., the site of the disaster. In 2016, the CSB joins staff bands in California for a celebration of the U.S.A. Western Territory Staff Band’s 10th anniversary. Corps visits extend the reach of the CSB across the territory.

12 March 2019 Salvationist

50th Anniversary (2019)

CSB bandsman Stephen Pavey releases In His Time, a book on the history of the CSB. The band hosts a weekend of anniversary celebrations, featuring five North American staff and territorial bands. Along with mini-concerts and worship services, a massed concert features new works by contemporary and Salvation Army composers commissioned for this celebration.

Adapted from In His Time by Stephen Pavey.

If Not Us, Who? We are called to share the good news.

BY COLONEL EDWARD HILL

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ome, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19).

Once there was a group of people who lived in a village by the ocean.

They called themselves fishermen, but strangely enough, they only seemed to talk about fishing. They studied the art and philosophy of fishing; they searched for new and better fishing techniques; they sponsored gatherings—some quite expensive—to discuss and promote fishing. But very few of these fishermen ever placed their hooks in the water.

This story illustrates the current state of evangelism. While many Christians talk about it, too few are actually sharing the salvation story. Believers must be, as Jesus declared, “fishers of people.” We are called to be soul winners—it’s one of our territorial strategic priorities. So how do we accomplish this?

Salvationists must tell about God. The Bible teaches that God is the holy and loving Creator (see Genesis 1:1; Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 89:5-15). He has made provision for our needs and has a perfect plan for every life on earth. In response to all that God has provided,

Salvationists are obligated to share the message that God, as the “Creator, Preserver and Governor” of creation, as the Army’s second doctrine states, has an absolute claim on all of us. God’s longing for humanity is good news to be passionately shared.

Salvationists must tell about humanity. The Bible declares in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned” and in Romans 6:23 that the “wages of sin is death.” Salvationists must share those hard truths plainly and with respect.

We must also tell the marvelous message that God stands ready to bridge the gap caused by sin through the ultimate expression of sacrificial love, the gift of God the Son. The reality is that no one can cross the chasm caused by our sin— not even the greatest of saints—without the magnificent work of God’s grace. We are all sinners incapable, on our own, of being saved.

Salvationists must tell about Jesus.

The shed blood of Jesus is the way to salvation. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The Australian evangelist Alan Walker told the story of driving through the countryside and seeing a hawk circling above. As he turned a bend, he saw a herd of sheep—and one little sheep standing alone. The hawk swooped to attack this sheep. Walker parked his car and ran onto the field, and the hawk flew away. When he reached down to help the injured sheep, it fell over, dead. It was then Walker noticed that the sheep had been protecting a newborn lamb.

The lamb was alive, but stained by its mother’s blood.

This story illustrates the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. He shielded us from the consequences of our sin, at the cost of his shed blood. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Salvationists must tell about the necessity of a response. John 1:12 reminds the listener that the gospel message, once heard, requires a response. It is not enough to hear, or even to acknowledge, the beauty of the offered gift; it must be received by the individual heart. In sharing the gospel, Salvationists must challenge hearers to respond, through a repentant heart, expressed faith in Christ and submission to the work of the Holy Spirit, leading to a transformed life.

During his inaugural address in 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy challenged a complacent nation to build a better world with these questions, “If not us, who? If not now, when?” When it comes to sharing the gospel, Salvationists can’t always wait for the perfect opportunity. If believers don’t take up the challenge to be soul winners, countless millions won’t be saved.

Salvationists have a sacred calling to share with family, friends and neighbours the love of God, the sinfulness of humanity, the shed blood of Jesus and the necessity for a personal response to his offer of amazing grace. These are powerful messages filled with hope and purpose. The challenge and responsibility is greater now than ever before. Let’s do our part in being “fishers of people.”

Let’s commit to living out and sharing the value of evangelism wherever God takes us in the coming days.

If not us, who? If not now, when?

Colonel Edward Hill is the chief secretary in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

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Photo: © ollinka/iStock.com

CHIEF PRIORITIES

Long-Distance Assistance

The Canada and Bermuda Territory shares resources and expertise with the worldwide Army.

In addition to the Partners in Mission fundraising campaign, the world missions department co-ordinates opportunities for sharing resources and expertise to support the international work of The Salvation Army. Here we

Zambia Territory

BY MAJOR ALISON COWLING

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s part of the General’s Accountability Movement, International Headquarters established a partnership with the Canada and Bermuda Territory to develop and resource the internal audit function in mission-supported territories.

In my capacity as the assistant chief secretary, in January 2018, I journeyed to Zambia with Astra Williamson, director of internal audit, to assess the effectiveness of the local Salvation Army’s internal audit function, help develop a robust internal audit department and provide risk-management training. We quickly became aware that the internal auditor, Major Wilson Chiwoya, is well qualified for his assignment, but that he was

highlight three recent initiatives—internal audit support in Zambia, a holiness seminar in Kenya and a College for Officer Training course in Zimbabwe—as recounted by officers from the Canada and Bermuda Territory. in desperate need of a computer and other basic equipment for the audit office. Thanks to the financial assistance of Canada and Bermuda’s world missions department, we were able to support him with new equipment, including a computer and printer.

Moving throughout the country, we were surprised by the poverty, the lack of resources, long distances that separate corps and social centres from divisional and territorial headquarters, and the isolation endured because of roads that are almost impassable. Yet in the midst of these realities, we found the joy of the Lord.

As part of our territory’s commitment to provide ongoing mentoring, monitoring and support to the Zambia Territory, we were able to bring Major Chiwoya to Canada this past January to continue his training.

“It was a shock arriving at the airport!” he says. “It was very cold, but the people were so friendly.”

Major Chiwoya is quick to point out that he is not the only one who will benefit from his time in Canada. “My coming here means I am being imparted with knowledge, which is a wonderful thing,” he says.

“What I learn will be shared with the people back home, such as how I can best carry out the audit process and reach an internationally acceptable standard of auditing.”

The relationship established between Major Chiwoya and our audit team is proving to be invaluable now that he has returned home. He has a network of people that he can reach out to at a moment’s notice for guidance and answers to any questions he may have.

We are encouraged and blessed by the resilience and commitment of both officers and soldiers who work with so little to achieve the best outcomes possible. We pray that as we work together, we will continue to learn from each other and be good stewards of God’s resources.

“The computer equipment we received from the Canada and Bermuda Tty will have a great impact on our ministry in Zambia,” says Mjr Wilson Chiwoya, shown here with Mjr Alison Cowling

14 March 2019 Salvationist

Major Alison Cowling is the assistant chief secretary in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

“Heart of Holiness” are now included as a personal resource, for which we give thanks. We have been reminded that God’s Word is alive and, while helpful, many books are not required to shape the life, testimony and walk of a believer.

Majors David and Brenda Allen are the corps officers at North York Temple in Toronto.

Kenya East Territory

BY MAJOR BEVERLY IVANY

Mjrs David and Brenda Allen with cadets in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory

BY MAJORS DAVID AND BRENDA ALLEN

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e had the privilege of going to Zimbabwe in February 2018 at the request of the territorial commander and the College for Officer Training in the Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory to teach a course on the doctrine of holiness for their 35 cadets. Then the training principal (David) and director of spiritual formation (Brenda) at the training college in Winnipeg, we were delighted to teach a subject about which we are both so passionate.

The objective of our visit was to provide life-bringing teaching on holiness to the cadets in the early stages of training, an opportunity not easily provided even for the experienced officers in their territory. The course offered a combination of lessons from our Wesleyan heritage and Salvation Army traditions with a practical application of how holiness is lived through the context of community. The week of teaching was received with great enthusiasm and thankfulness. At the end of our time together, the cadets relayed to the training principal, Major Julius Omukonyi, that the teaching had not only changed them, but will, through their ministry, touch thousands.

We, too, were challenged and inspired through our time together. A particular highlight was when we invited the cadets to share short “magnify moments” which reflected a characteristic of God. Many times we were overwhelmed by the powerful word of truth they shared with clarity and confidence. The cadets love God and know the Word. Their beautiful singing reminded us that the gift of song is good for the soul and that we are told in Isaiah 61:3 to put on “a garment of praise.” The cadets’ singing reminded us to do this daily.

We rejoice in the dedication and discipline of cadets from this beautiful territory. Many come to the training college with Bibles that have been borrowed or passed down from family members. In visiting their modest cadet quarters, we noted that book collections were limited most often to their Bibles and notepads, yet their wisdom, insights and dedication to God’s Word is admirable. Booklets we provided on a

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was privileged to be invited as the guest speaker to the very first holiness seminar for soldiers in Africa, held in February 2018. My husband, David, also came, which added flavour and a different perspective on the meaning of holiness.

At that time, I was the writer of The Salvation Army’s daily devotional book, Words of Life. It was a great honour to meet and quickly get to know delegates from all over the African continent.

I shared with them how we can live out holiness in our daily lives, as God’s people, and how we can help others to do likewise.

When delegates were given insight as to what holiness is all about and how it relates to their spiritual walk, they suddenly became on fire for the Lord. By the end of the week, they were anxious to go back and share all they had learned with others in their cities and communities.

Most of the Salvationists we met came from humble backgrounds. Many were poor according to our standard of living.

But the joy in their hearts was infectious! It was so enriching to be part of this beautiful experience.

I pray on a regular basis for my new friends in Africa. God has opened my eyes to see how blessed I am. I long to have a giving, open and joyous heart—now and always.

Major Beverly Ivany is a pastoral services officer in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Mjrs David and Beverly Ivany share a moment with Comrs Benjamin and Grace Mnyampi, international secretary and zonal secretary for women’s ministries, Africa, during their visit to Kenya

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Praying the Hours Refresh your soul with the 2019 territorial prayer initiative.

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ather John Vianney, a 19thcentury parish priest and Catholic saint, said “Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.” Close your eyes and picture that phrase. Allow God’s Spirit to move your heart, even now whispering to you of our great need for this baptism of love. As we experience more of him, we will operate less out of insecurity and fear, and more out of genuine love, taking us to places we could never imagine.

In his new year message, General Brian Peddle outlined his vision for The Salvation Army in the coming years, challenging Salvationists to be ready, be engaged and take responsibility for mission—beginning with a call to prayer.

That’s why we’re calling The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda to try something new in this season before Easter. Traditionally, Lent has been a time to give something up—to deny oneself. Let’s change things up a bit this year: while also choosing one day a week to fast, let’s add something to our everyday life.

Prayer is one of the primary ways that 16 March 2019 Salvationist

God gets our attention. I love Eugene Peterson’s take on Romans 12: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering” (Romans 12:1-2 The Message).

In addition to our regular devotions during Lent, why don’t we, as a territory, structure our entire day around prayer?

Ancient Paths Lent is the 40-day period before Easter, a time of prayer and fasting that echoes Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness (see Matthew 4:1-2). While it has always been part of the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, it is not as familiar in Protestant circles. In recent years, however, evangelicals have joined in observing this season as a time to enter into Christ’s sufferings, reflect on our own vulnerability to sin and deny ourselves as we take up our cross and follow our Lord to Calvary. The imagery is powerful.

In The Salvation Army, we have focused on self-denial during the preEaster season. Whether we call this

Photo: © ALLEKO/iStock.com

BY MAJOR APRIL McNEILLY

season Lent, or choose another term or phrase, we are all invited to set aside 40 days with Christ-followers around the world as we enter into Jesus’ final weeks here on earth. This is a time to reflect on our inner heart condition, perhaps even deny ourselves something specific, as we call out to the Lord for a fresh touch from him.

As we pray and fast, we enter a discipline that Jews and Christians have benefitted from for thousands of years. Who are we to dismiss these ancient paths?

This brings us to the main point of this article: a call to Salvationists across Canada and Bermuda to “pray the hours” during Lent 2019. Let’s be an Army on our knees!

Fixed Prayer A friend of mine recently said: “I’m bored with my prayers—I can’t imagine how bored Jesus must be with them!” Our prayer life can be dry and uninspired. Yet prayer is as vital as the air we breathe.

The Psalmist said, “Seven times a day I praise you” (Psalm 119:164). One of the most ancient methods of prayer is to pray at fixed hours each day, structuring

our day around an awareness of God’s presence.

For the 2019 season of Lent, we’re inviting Salvationists to join together and structure our days around prayer.

Daily devotions are wonderful, but imagine structuring our entire day around prayer! Imagine being at the office, travelling, eating a meal, watching Netflix, or hanging out with family and friends, when your cellphone alarm rings, reminding you to stop everything and talk to the God of the universe.

Imagine Salvationists across Canada and Bermuda—as many of us as we can get—taking these specific times to talk to God. Incredible picture, isn’t it?

Including Holy Week and Easter Sunday, there are a total of 47 days during Lent. (You may choose to take Sundays off, as special stand-alone days). Our call to the territory is: pray specific hours for 47 days, from March 6 to April 21, plus observe every Wednesday as a territorial day of fasting.

There are two basic components to our territorial plan for praying the hours: 1. Set an alarm (cellphone alarms are the most obvious choice) at the following intervals: 6 a.m.

9 a.m.

12 p.m.

3 p.m.

6 p.m.

9 p.m.

12 a.m. (if you’re still awake!)

• Pray during these times, for 10 seconds, 10 minutes or as long as you wish. It’s that simple!

2. Set aside each Wednesday (March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 10, 17) as a day of fasting. Fasting ideas include: a full day without food, eating only one meal on Wednesdays, fasting from social media, coffee, pop, music or TV. On these days, each time we deny ourselves that coffee or favourite TV show, we collectively say, “God, we need you to be our all-in-all.”

Connect w ith our territor y ’s spiritual life website (saspirituallife. ca) or Facebook page (Spiritual Life Development, Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda) for daily prayers. Share this plan on social media—talk it up!

Know that somewhere across Canada and Bermuda, seven times a day, other Salvationists are praying the same prayer, calling out to God with one loud, passionate voice.

William Booth said, “God loves with

Scripture suggests fixed times of prayer: • “In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3).

• “At midnight I rise to give you thanks” (Psalm 119:62).

• “Evening, morning and noon I cry out … and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).

• “Seven times a day I praise you” (Psalm 119:164).

a great love the man [or woman] whose heart is bursting with a passion for the impossible.” Being an Army on our knees, unified and seeking the Father’s heart, is not impossible, but some would suggest it is farfetched. Let’s increase our faith! Let’s see what God wants to say to his Army in the 21st century. Let’s continue to be part of the great move of God that is currently happening all around the world.

Major April McNeilly is the territorial secretary for spiritual life development.

Deny thyself.

Help Build the Kingdom of God

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Mjr Corey Vincent and members of the Red Cross distribute food for Christmas

Miracle on Inglis Street When the largest employer in Sydney, N.S., shut down before Christmas, The Salvation Army stepped in.

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n December 5, 2018, our staff was breathing a huge sigh of relief. With less than a month to go before Christmas, our holiday assistance preparations were nearly complete, our toy room was looking great and our Christmas hamper food orders were about to be placed. Little did we know that the next day we would find ourselves in the middle of a community crisis.

On December 6, while browsing social media, I saw a post that said ServiCom, the largest employer in Sydney, N.S., was closing its doors for good and 600 people would be without work. Not believing the post, I asked my staff if they had heard anything, and then we saw another post saying that there were police cars in the ServiCom parking lot, escorting people from the building. I looked out the window at the ServiCom building, located across the road from Sydney Community Church on Inglis Street—the social media rumours were true.

Eighteen days before Christmas, hun18 March 2019 Salvationist

BY MAJOR COREY VINCENT dreds of people were jobless, without any notice. Many of them had not been paid since November 18 and were now being told that they had been working for free—all the promises that they would get their wages were empty.

Leap of Faith Seeing this scene unfold from my office, Nicole Maclean, our community ministries co-ordinator, and I decided that we would do whatever it took to love these employees and help ease the pain of this devastating blow. We didn’t have a plan or the resources to deal with this crisis, but we are a community church, so we stepped out in faith and immediately devised a plan.

Our first priority was to ensure that everyone had food to see them through this rough patch. Despite closing our food bank for the Christmas season, we decided to reopen our doors the next day for all ServiCom employees. Our food bank shelves were bare, but we believed that God would bless our efforts.

We posted a statement on social

media, notifying the community of The Salvation Army’s plan to respond. Not only would we open our food bank, but we would also reopen our Christmas assistance program and toy room.

We never expected that our post would go viral within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). That evening, our social media page exploded with comments, likes and shares, confirming that our response to this crisis was desperately needed.

Call for Help The next day, we officially began our efforts to assist the ServiCom employees, kicking off one of the busiest and most rewarding Christmas seasons on record for our church. We were already providing Christmas assistance for 300 families across Cape Breton—that number quickly grew to 900 families.

On the morning of December 7, I still didn’t know where we would get the resources to fill our food bank, provide Christmas dinner for 600 additional families and toys for an extra 250 chil-

dren. But God was in control. Phone calls began to pour in from citizens who wanted to donate food, money and toys.

At 1 p.m., we opened our food bank and more than 200 people showed up for emergency assistance. Many of them had never been to a food bank.

We stayed open until 10 p.m. that day to serve everyone. I have never seen such gratitude, patience and camaraderie.

Generous Community The first phone call I received on December 7 was from Seaside Communications, informing me that their staff decided to take the funds that had been allocated for their Christmas party and make a donation to The Salvation Army’s ServiCom response. To my amazement, they gave $10,000.

This donation was the catalyst for many more. Upon hearing the news of Seaside’s generosity, the media began to report that The Salvation Army was front and centre in dealing with the ServiCom crisis, and all donations were to be directed to us. As the story made headlines in the Maritimes and nationally, we began to receive donations from across Canada and the United States.

While we were registering the hundreds of people who came through our doors for Christmas assistance, I was told that there were some executives from Sobeys in the church building who needed to speak with me. I had no idea what to expect. But after talking with them about our plan and the huge need, they told me that Sobeys would donate 600 Christmas dinners. I became very emotional and hugged them both. I then invited them into our church where

hundreds of ServiCom employees were waiting to be registered. When we gave them the good news about the generous donation, the crowd erupted in applause and stood on their feet in appreciation.

Because of this donation, we could reallocate some of the funds we had received to meet other more pressing needs, such as heating, utilities, prescriptions, rent and so on. All needs would be assessed on an individual basis.

Service With a Smile Every Christmas, we have one hamper packing night and one distribution day.

This year, we needed two days of each.

After placing some calls, we had two large shipping containers donated and placed on our parking lot and one large freezer trailer to store the 900 turkeys.

There were so many moving parts, but with all of our volunteers and partners, everything ran smoothly.

On the ServiCom Christmas dinner distribution day, our parking lot became a drive-through. For many hours, our volunteers manned their stations, despite the cold, and ensured that everyone was served with a smile. On the second distribution day, we opened the church to our regular clients and ServiCom employees with children. The church filled quickly, and despite the long waits, people were grateful and patient.

Along with the Christmas assistance, we began to allocate the funds we received for the ServiCom crisis to respond to the ever-growing list of emergencies faced by the laid-off employees. We heard heart-wrenching stories of eviction notices, electricity cut-off notices, heating oil tanks running dry,

repossession notices for vehicles, and people running out of medications. We had $150,000 to work with, and while that may seem like a large amount, when it is divided among 600 individuals, it does not seem like so much. We knew that we had to be wise with the money entrusted to us, while being fair to everyone in assisting with their individual needs.

Answered Prayers On January 3, 2019, many ex-employees of ServiCom went back to work—the renamed Sydney Call Centre reopened under new ownership. This was the Christmas miracle that we had been praying for.

Indeed, there were many miracles this season. The biggest one was how, despite being unprepared and having limited resources, God used our community church to make a difference. He used our corps to help bring hope and relief to the broken of our community.

Major Corey Vincent is the corps officer at Sydney Community Church, N.S.

Letter of Gratitude Excerpts from a letter sent to Sydney Community Church from a former ServiCom employee: Greetings from a real fan and an admirer of your church and institution! Please accept my sincere thanks for taking care of the former ServiCom employees who lost their jobs.

Like my colleagues and supervisors, along with the administration, I, too, am going through financial, emotional and social impacts.

But had you not stepped up to help us, the loss would have been immeasurable. Through the rough times, you have consistently, continuously and compassionately helped us all. Irrespective of our religion, colour and origin, you all have provided us much-needed and appreciated help.

You make Cape Breton and Canada a better place to live in and definitely enrich our lives by your service and presence.

Sincerely yours, Dr. Pushpa Rathor

Employees of Sobeys, pictured here with Mjr Corey Vincent, packed and donated 600 Christmas dinners

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Pitching In Three ways Salvationists in the Canada and Bermuda Territory are supporting Partners in Mission.

In the Loop

BY CAPTAIN ROBERT BURRELL

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s I went for an evening walk last year, my mind was on the Partners in Mission (PIM) campaign. Earlier that day, Fran Kane, the executive director of Peel Shelter and Housing Services (PSHS) in Peel Region, Ont., had reminded me of our goal to raise $3,000 for the campaign. I was familiar with raising funds in a corps setting, but as a chaplain, those ideas weren’t helping much now. As I walked along, the thought came to me—What if I did a fundraising walk, following a route that would take me to each of our four shelters?

All of a sudden my mind jumped into overdrive. How far was it? What was my average walking speed? Could I do it in a day? Before I reached home, I began to measure my speed using an app on my smartphone. Once home, I checked Google Maps to determine the distance, and calculated that the roughly 50-kilometre roundtrip was possible in about 10 hours.

I invited my wife, Captain Laura, also a chaplain with PSHS, to join me, and then we challenged each of our four shelters to see who could raise the most money. The Chaplain’s Challenge was born.

May 17 finally arrived, bright and sunny, with a forecast of August-like temperatures—so much for walking early in the year to beat the heat. We set out from Peel Family Shelter shortly before 7 a.m., heading west on Dundas, and made it to our first stop, Cawthra Road Shelter, about 40 minutes later. Attilah Williams, a front-line worker at the shelter, joined us for the next few kilometres, and we greatly enjoyed her company.

We arrived at Wilkinson Road Shelter in Brampton around 11:30 a.m., where 20 March 2019 Salvationist

From left, Attilah Williams and Atul Upadhyay from Cawthra Road Shelter accept the Chaplain’s Challenge award from Cpt Robert Burrell

the staff welcomed us so boisterously that the security guard came running out to see what the matter was! After a quick lunch, we headed east toward the Brampton Queen Street Youth Shelter.

Weariness began to set in as we entered the hottest part of the day.

Our stay at the youth shelter was brief as we still had just over 20 kilometres left to make it back to Peel Family Shelter.

At the 31-kilometre mark, my wife hit her wall and called for a drive home.

I trudged on alone, with some of my own doubts creeping in. The last 10 kilometres were challenging, indeed. I will never forget the feeling of excitement and accomplishment as Peel Family Shelter came into view, after spending 13 hours

and 40 minutes on the road.

Despite much effort on the part of shelter staff, we fell short of our goal— but we surpassed it at our annual staff picnic, when we added a dunk tank to the festivities. Our executive director, Laura and I, and other staff all agreed to get soaked for the cause.

The picnic also gave us the perfect opportunity to present the Chaplain’s Challenge award to Cawthra Road Shelter for raising the most funds.

We are considering making this walk an annual event. Since last year, the Peel Region has expanded to six ministry units. A loop joining all six locations would increase the distance by 3.8 kilometres—sounds like a challenge to me!

Let’s Go Fly a Kite

BY BEVERLY DANIELS

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n Bermuda, where I am the executive director of the Army’s Bermuda Community Services, it’s an Easter tradition to fly kites on Good Friday—a symbol of the cross and Christ’s Resurrection. At the Harbour Light addiction rehabilitation centre, we have been making and selling kites for the past 18 years, with the funds raised helping clients on their journeys to recovery. Last year, we decided to support PIM. For six weeks before Easter, the chapel is transformed into a busy workshop, as residents design and build colourful works of art. The joy of creating something beautiful is clear—many residents say it’s one of their favourite and most memorable activities.

Production costs are kept to a minimum because supplies such as paper, glue and string are donated, for the most part by former clients who are looking for an opportunity to give back. The kite sticks are also donated, through a partnership with local prisons, where the wood is cut.

Teamwork is evident as those with more experience help others who are new to kite making, but the personality of each individual is reflected in their choice of colours and design.

Custom kites are available, and there’s always the satisfaction of making a special kite for a child or family member.

Just before the sale, we hold a friendly competition in several categories—for example, “most beautiful,” “most creative,”

When a Door Closes

BY LT-COLONEL BRENDA MURRAY

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t’s always sad when a corps closes, but when I heard that Forest Lawn Corps in Calgary wanted to donate their remaining funds to support the international Salvation Army, I was delighted. As the director of world missions, I wrote to one of our partners in mission, the Malawi Territory, to let them know of a possible donation to build a new corps.

From left, Cols Moses and Sarah Wandulu, TC and TPWM, Malawi Tty, and Mjrs Ron and Toni Cartmell, then DC and DDWM, Alta. & N.T. Div, cut the ribbon for the new corps in Monkey Bay, Malawi

“smallest or largest”—and clients always receive their certificates with great pride. The outcome of the competition has been known to reach the hallowed halls of court!

Although it’s a time-consuming project, requiring great attention to detail, it provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. The community has come to expect these beautiful kites from us, and every year we have to turn away disappointed customers when we run out of kites. In March 2018, we made and sold 100 kites, raising $640 for PIM.

Mjr Frank Pittman, then DC, Bermuda Div, and Lt-Col John Murray, territorial secretary for communications, display some of the kites made by residents at The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light addiction rehabilitation centre in Bermuda

Within minutes, they wrote back to say they had just the place: Monkey Bay. “Our soldiers were excited to hear the news,” Lieutenant Granger Phiri, corps officer at Monkey Bay Corps, told me.

“We had been meeting and praying for our own building for more than seven years.”

When we travelled to Malawi to prepare for the 2019 PIM campaign, we made sure to visit Monkey Bay. I was also at the grand opening of the new building last July, and it was a wonderful time of joy and celebration, as the band and soldiers marched toward their new corps home. People were quick to tell us how happy they were and what it would mean for them to have their own place of worship in the community.

“Now that we have our own hall, evangelism is easier, because we have the space to plan events and programs,” says Lieutenant Phiri. “The hall gives us the house-honour we lacked before. People respect us, and we are able to attract them.”

Collingwood Community Church, Ont., also contributed to this endeavour, providing funds to furnish the hall with benches, a holiness table and a pulpit.

Soon after the official opening, the corps hosted a women’s rally. More than 100 people now meet regularly at the corps, including 11 new members.

“In many ways, Monkey Bay is in a strategic location,” says Lieutenant Phiri. “The new building has allowed us to attain divisional status. We have every reason to be grateful.”

Although a door closed in Canada, it allowed another to open in Malawi. A video of the new Monkey Bay Corps is available as part of the PIM resources (visit saworldmissions.ca).

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Finding Home

The Salvation Army’s Belinda’s Place is the first shelter for women in York Region.

BY GISELLE RANDALL

Hidden Homelessness In 2008, the York Region Alliance to End Homelessness began a documentary project, handing out cameras to people who identified as being homeless or at risk. The result was a visual exhibit called Hidden in Plain Sight: Living Homeless in York Region. The photos revealed that homelessness is not just an urban problem.

22 March 2019 Salvationist

Photos: Giselle Randall

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hen Filomena was evicted from her apartment, she had nowhere to go. She spent the night at a Tim Hortons, too afraid to let herself fall asleep. In the morning, she called The Salvation Army’s Belinda’s Place, an emergency shelter for women in Newmarket, Ont. Although it was full, she was told to come in anyway.

“I had something to eat and was able to sleep for a few hours,” she says. “They offered me space in an overflow area for a week, until a room became available.

It meant the world to me. I was safe. I’m 57. I’ve never had to worry about where I was going to sleep. It was scary.”

Filomena had been paying $1,100 for a basement apartment. “By the time I paid my rent, I had maybe $250 to live on for the whole month,” she says. “You’re either paying rent or buying food—and either way, you’re going to be short. It’s tough.”

Belinda’s Place is the first emergency housing facility in York Region for unaccompanied women who aren’t fleeing violence. “We’re meeting a significant need in the community,” says Theresa McLeod-Treadwell, program services director. “We want to see every woman connected to the supports she needs to find and keep permanent housing.”

Since opening at the end of 2015, Belinda’s Place has helped close to 300 women find housing—well over 50 per cent of those who have needed emergency shelter.

Filomena is staying at Belinda’s Place, the first shelter for women in York Region, Ont., while she gets back on her feet

“It also exposed hidden homelessness,” says McLeod-Treadwell. “Some people don’t show up in statistics because they are couch surfing—staying with others temporarily. Or they may have to trade sex for a place to sleep at night. It’s a precarious position.” The only shelters for women in the region were for those fleeing violence.

When the community approached

Belinda Stronach, a well-known businesswoman and philanthropist, she agreed to form a foundation and raise funds for a women’s shelter. The first clients arrived at Belinda’s Place in November 2015.

“We knew the shelter system just wasn’t working—it was more warehousing than anything,” says McLeodTreadwell. “With Belinda’s Place, we

had the opportunity to do things differently. We created a program plan that the region not only approved, but they asked us to share it with all the other service providers. It’s now the standard in this region.”

Transitions Along with 28 single-occupancy rooms in the emergency shelter, there are nine self-contained transitional housing units, where women can stay for up to a year while they work on their goals.

“It’s designed as an employment program,” says McLeod-Treadwell.

“Whether they’re going to school, getting trades training, or going from no work to part-time work, or part-time to full-time work—they should have a higher earning capacity by the end.”

A shelter was the last place Evelyn thought she’d end up. “I’ve always supported myself. I had my own business for 22 years,” she says. When circumstances changed, she found herself at Belinda’s Place. “I feared it—I pictured a big room of beds, people stealing. But it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”

After spending some time in the shelter, Evelyn moved into a transition unit, where she lived for 10 months. “My case worker saw what I was made of and encouraged me. She got me involved in workshops and introduced me to services I didn’t even know existed,” she says. “I’m in the driver’s seat now. And I wouldn’t have known about any of it if I hadn’t

walked through the front door.”

Evelyn is now sharing a home with two other women in second-stage housing—one of the ways that Belinda’s Place is doing things differently.

Second-Stage Housing York Region is an affluent area, and affordable housing is hard to come by.

“For the women we work with, a onebedroom apartment is just not within the realm of possibility,” says McLeodTreadwell. “At $700, even renting a room in someone’s house is out of range.”

Subsidized housing has a 10-year wait list. And although there are two Housing First programs in the region, they are limited to those with high needs around mental health and addiction.

“We knew we had to think outside the box, to be innovative,” says McLeodTreadwell. “We partner with landlords in the community—especially those with three-bedroom homes, to keep costs down—who want to work with our clients, to help them have a better life.”

Belinda’s Place then matches women together to share a home, and stays in touch to provide practical support for the next year.

“We make sure there are roommate agreements in place. We talk about how to distribute housework equitably. We facilitate mediation, if necessary,” says McLeod-Treadwell. “We help people learn how to be a good roommate, a good tenant, a good neighbour.” Slowly, they introduce women to other community

Evelyn now lives in second-stage housing in the community, one of the ways Belinda’s Place is “thinking outside the box”

supports and services.

At the same time, they maintain a relationship with the landlord. “We make sure we’re there for them, too,” says McLeod-Treadwell. “They need to know they have someone they can trust—someone they can call if they have a concern.”

Of those they follow in the community through the after-care program, the housing retention rate is 85 per cent.

“It’s not that people didn’t see the need for this before, but we never had the funding,” says McLeod-Treadwell.

“With Belinda’s Place, we pitched it from the beginning—that when people moved into the community, we wanted to walk alongside them for a year, to make sure they were stabilized.

“And what we’re experiencing is that it works. This model really works.”

Prevention Along with providing emergency shelter, transitional housing and after care, Belinda’s Place also offers a drop-in program seven days a week.

“Everything we do as staff has to relate to housing, but homelessness is a large issue,” says McLeod-Treadwell.

“We recognize that we can’t do this work alone—it takes a community. So we partner with other agencies and provide space for them to deliver services.”

As a community hub, close to 50 programs run at Belinda’s Place, from a tax clinic once a year to daily resource development workshops, from medical

Jaime has found community at Belinda’s Place

Salvationist March 2019 23

services to addiction and mental health resources.

The number of women receiving support through the drop-in program has been steadily growing. “We’re trying to get the word out, so women know they can come to us before it becomes an emergency,” says McLeod-Treadwell. “If they know their housing is in jeopardy, then we can try to prevent an eviction, or get them rapidly rehoused.”

In 2018, Belinda’s Place was able to prevent 200 evictions. “I don’t see a future where we won’t need emergency housing, because there are situations you can never predict,” says McLeodTreadwell. “But it shouldn’t be the first step. We want the bulk of our work to be in the community, preventing homelessness.”

Building Bridges As the chaplain at Belinda’s Place, Captain Sandra Ross is intentional about building bridges with the nearest corps, The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont. “That’s always my main goal, to connect people to the church,” Captain Ross says. Every Sunday, she takes women with her, and some have started to go on their own. She also takes them to special events, a seniors’ group and the Alpha course. “The church is so welcoming—they always come over to chat and encourage them.”

Last September, Captain Ross took 25 women to a retreat at Fair Havens Conference and Retreat Centre in Beaverton, Ont. The theme of the retreat was Guard Your Heart.

“At the end of the weekend, they were given a little lock and key,” says Captain Ross. “Seven women threw their key into a little bowl at the front, to symbolize that they were locking their heart for Christ.” Twelve women took Bibles provided by Northridge.

When they got back, Captain Ross began meeting with the women, using a Salvation Army discipleship resource.

“The main message I try to get across to those who come to me is that they’re never alone,” says Captain Ross. “We’re here for them, but God is always there for them. I want them to understand that they are a child of God, and he loves them.”

A Good Place When Jaime moved from New Brunswick to Ontario, he didn’t know anyone. He 24 March 2019 Salvationist

Cpt Sandra Ross, chaplain at Belinda’s Place, and Theresa McLeod-Treadwell, program services director

had trouble finding a place to live, and was struggling with his mental health.

After staying at Belinda’s Place a few times, he moved into second-stage housing, and then out on his own.

Last year, Jaime came out as transgender. He was worried about how the staff would respond, but “they treated me the same,” he says. “They’re very caring.”

Even though he now has stable housing, he still comes to Belinda’s Place as a drop-in client.

“Being from the East Coast, I don’t have anybody here. So this is kind of like my little family,” Jaime says. “To be honest, if it wasn’t for Belinda’s Place, and all the help they’ve given me, I wouldn’t be in a very good place.”

It Can Happen to Anyone I grew up in Detroit. My family was abusive. I left home at 17 and couch surfed, until the mom of one of my friends took me in. It was still a couch, but at least it was somewhere to lay my head.

We lived in the projects. She was very poor, but she relied on God for everything. I used to think, You’re nuts! But every single time, no matter what it was she needed, it always came.

Her patience and love were never-ending, and she never lost faith in people.

She was a pivotal person in my life. Something ignited—I knew I wanted to help people, to serve.

I joined the U.S. Army to get out of Detroit, and to get the money for college.

I have family in Canada, so I came here to study. In my last year of university, I started working for a Violence Against Women shelter. I moved to The Salvation Army in 2007.

I’ve never seen outcomes like this, in any other organization. There’s something different when you have faith, when you can be a vessel for God to work through.

As I work with women, I have only one prayer—I don’t know what God’s plan is for you, but I do know that it’s perfect. I know you’re exactly where you need to be, no matter what’s happening. It might be really sad and hard right now, but you’re in front of me for a reason. And I ask God to speak through me.

Seeing women move forward in their lives, seeing the changes that happen, is just so beautiful. It’s like a garden. And we have the Miracle-Gro! There is so much suffering, but if you focus on the suffering, that’s all you’ll see. So we have to celebrate the successes, wherever we find them. I’m always talking about outcomes, so that people remember that what we do is making a difference.

I know that it can happen to anyone. You have no idea what a person’s going through, has lived through. You have no idea how much suffering or pain they’re in.

Even though they can’t see them yet, my job is to help them see other options.

–Theresa McLeod-Treadwell

GRACE NOTES

Kissing Shame Goodbye When it comes to dating, let’s recover true purity.

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hen the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye was released in 1997—written when the author, Joshua Harris, was 21— it revolutionized attitudes toward dating for a generation of young Christians.

Now, more than 20 years later, Harris has re-evaluated his perspective: “While I stand by my book’s call to sincerely love others … I no longer agree with its central idea that dating should be avoided.”

He has issued a public apology for the harm the book may have caused, and discontinued it—along with subsequent books and resources—from publication.

A documentary about his journey is available for free at joshharris.com.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye was part of the purity movement that emerged out of evangelical Christian culture in the early ’90s, which stressed the importance of waiting for sex until marriage.

Young people were often asked to make a public commitment, symbolized by a purity ring or purity pledge.

While the central message of the purity movement isn’t wrong, it came loaded with other, dangerous messages— that girls are potential sexual stumbling blocks for others; that any expression of a girl’s sexuality reflected (or could result in) the corruption of her character; that girls are property to be passed from father to husband.

It suggested that anyone who engaged in sexual activity outside of marriage was damaged or not worthy of love. Object lessons, such as a rose with the petals removed, or a piece of chewed gum, were

used to show young people the results of not maintaining sexual purity.

Linda Kay Klein, author of Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, says, “The purity message is not about sex. Rather, it is about us: who we are, who we are expected to be, and who it is said we will become if we fail to meet those expectations. This is the language of shame.”

Klein is not alone in rejecting this message. When Harris first suggested he was reconsidering his views, the hashtag #KissShameBye began trending. The purity movement made many young Christian men and women feel ashamed of their normal teenage emotions and desires. For some, it even made them question their faith and pushed them away from church.

Like Klein, I, too, grew up in a purity culture. At camp, I was asked to cover my modest one-piece swimsuit with a baggy T-shirt, and had to measure the inseam of my shorts to ensure they met with the dress code. I was taught that if I didn’t comply, I would be a “stumbling block” for those around me, causing others to sin (see Matthew 5:27-30). What I didn’t realize at the time is that this passage refers to the lust of the onlooker, not a woman’s wardrobe.

Although I Kissed Dating Goodbye wasn’t on my bookshelf as a teen, when I started dating my husband, we purchased a copy of Harris’ follow-up, Boy

Meets Girl, hoping for a guide to healthy Christian dating. But instead, the impact was devastating.

It left me ashamed of my desire to kiss, and seemed to belittle the intellectual and emotional strengths I had to offer the relationship. It also caused me to question whether he was tainted and no longer marriage material. The result nearly destroyed our blossoming romance.

Thankfully, I was able to see past these messages and discover the truth of how God sees me, thanks to some godly men and women who came alongside our relationship. I am forever thankful for them. And my heart breaks for those who heard this message and didn’t have wise guidance.

While Harris, and many evangelical Christians, still hold the belief that it is best to wait for sex until marriage, it’s important that this message is shared without the shaming language that often accompanies it. If you are looking for a different approach, Harris suggests Boundaries in Dating by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. They argue that not dating to avoid suffering or temptation means we will miss out on opportunities to mature, especially through learning how to create healthy boundaries in relationships.

Captain Laura Van Schaick is the corps officer at The Salvation Army, A Community Church in Prince Albert, Sask.

Salvationist March 2019 25

Photo: ©SIphotography/iStock.com

BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK

CROSS CULTURE

IN THE NEWS Spider-Man Supports The Salvation Army

When the trailer for the new Spider-Man film hit the Internet in January, it immediately got the world’s attention, racking up millions of views. While fans were thrilled to learn more about the upcoming movie, eagle-eyed viewers spotted a familiar Red Shield near the beginning of the video.

In the film, the web-slinging superhero is lending a hand at a Salvation Army fundraising event hosted by his Aunt May, in support of people who are homeless.

It seems that this Spider-Man is not just fighting crime, but also social injustice.

Tweeting a screencap of the fundraiser scene from the trailer, the U.S.A. Salvation Army quipped: “ ‘Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does … ’ a charity dinner for The #SalvationArmy in #SpiderManFarFromHome!

Be your neighbourhood’s superhero: http://give.salva tionarmyusa.org.”

Spider-Man: Far From Home hits theatres in May. Watch the trailer at youtu. be/DYYtuKyMtY8.

World Watch List Tracks Persecution of Christians

In January, Open Doors published its annual World Watch List (WWL), which measures the persecution of Christians. The 2019 WWL reports that North Korea and Afghanistan scored highest in the persecution of Christians, while persecution of Christians in China is at an unprecedented high.

“The reality is, wherever the gospel is being shared, persecution exists,” says Gary Stagg, executive director, Open Doors Canada. “The WWL shows us where persecution is on the rise, how God is at work and where the gospel is advancing.”

This year’s data reveals 30 million more Christians are experiencing high levels of persecution the world over and there is a 25 per cent increase in the number of countries with an extreme, very high or high level of persecution, since 2017.

The top 11 countries that have an “extreme” level of persecution are, in order of severity, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, Iran, India and Syria.

Greenland Introduces Salvation Army Stamp

A new charity postage stamp released

by Post Greenland in January will raise awareness and funds for The Salvation Army’s work with homeless people in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city.

Post Greenland ’s Allan Pertti Frandsen explains, “Every year since 1990, Post Greenland selects an organization which is a worthy recipient of the added value. Because The Salvation Army contributes such important social work in Greenland, it was an easy choice.”

The stamp portrays a group of people sharing a meal around a table together— an everyday occurrence at the Army’s William’s Café in Nuuk. The design also incorporates the red “sun” element of the national flag and the Red Shield of Frelsens Hæri, The Salvation Army’s name in Greenlandic.

Each stamp, which sells for 16 krone ($3.25), will generate 1 krone of income for The Salvation Army.

IN REVIEW Skeleton Army

A new original musical has been developed by The Salvation Army U.S.A. Eastern Territory’s Arts Ministries Bureau.

Skeleton Army will be performed for the first time this month at the territory’s Worship Arts Convocation in New York City.

The musical has a strong Canadian connection as it was originally conceived by Neil W. Leduke, an employee of the Ontario Central-East Division, while the music and lyrics are by Major Len Ballantine, leader of the Canadian Staff Songsters. The title of the musical refers to a group that opposed The Salvation Army in England in the late 19th century, disrupting the Army’s activities and physically assaulting Salvationists. Set on the poverty-stricken streets of East London, the plot of the musical centres on a Salvation Army officer, tortured by the demons of his past, and a charismatic young leader of the Skeleton Army who must decide what side he’s really on.

26 March 2019 Salvationist

Tidying Up With Marie Kondo

When Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was released in 2014, it became a New York Times bestseller, introducing readers, and the wider culture, to a new method of decluttering Kondo calls KonMari. In her new eight-episode Netflix reality series, Kondo guides clients through a stepby-step process of simplifying and organizing their homes by determining which items in their homes “spark joy” and which don’t. Kondo is completely non-judgmental in her approach, while providing an example of how her clients can move beyond their bad habits, beyond unthinking consumerism to joyful ownership.

Tidying Up With Marie Kondo provides a timely reminder to be grateful stewards of all that is entrusted to us—and perhaps another reason to make a donation to a Salvation Army thrift store.

PEOPLE & PLACES

TORONTO—As people gathered at Etobicoke Temple for Christmas assistance, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stopped by to greet them and the many Salvation Army workers onsite lending a hand. From left, Neil Leduke, divisional director of marketing and communications, Ont. CE Div; Lt-Col David Bowles, CO, Etobicoke Temple; Jeff Robertson, area director for PRD, Ont. CE Div; Premier Doug Ford; Rosemarie Bryan, CFS co-ordinator, Etobicoke Temple; and Mjr Christopher Rideout, AC, Ont. CE Div.

TORONTO—East Toronto Citadel celebrates the enrolment of one adherent and two senior soldiers. From left, Susan Patterson, holding the flag; Cynthia Bunsie, adherent; Deborah Fedorchuk and Viola Wilson, senior soldiers; and Cpt Heather Matondo, CO.

TORONTO—The debut performance of Yorkminster Citadel’s junior timbrels group took place in December under the leadership of Ardyth Percy-Robb.

The all-boys group was a hit with the congregation as they played along to Jingle Bells. Front, Xavier. Middle, from left, Noah Colley, Lucas Colley, Ardyth Percy-Robb, Nathan Colley and Willem van der Horden. Back, from left, Moses Court, Raymond Fremeau and Iain Neve.

DRUMHELLER, ALTA.—The Salvation Army in Drumheller is grateful for the support of the local CIBC which celebrated its 100 years of service in Drumheller by holding a toy drive and presenting 100 toys to Cpt Isobel Lippers, CO, for the Army’s Christmas effort.

PENTICTON, B.C.—Approximately 2,000 teddy bears, soft rag dolls, stuffed animals, packages of diapers and more showered the ice surface during the Penticton Vees Junior A Hockey Club’s “Teddy Bear Toss.” The items were quickly gathered up by Salvation Army volunteers and staff and used as part of the Army’s Christmas effort in the community, which included the preparation and distribution of 900 hampers in the Penticton area. Community care ministries workers at Penticton CC also distributed teddy bears and other soft toys to residents at five local nursing homes and seniors residential facilities. “The bears make such a difference to our residents,” commented the recreational directors of the homes. Many of the residents carry their bear or doll throughout the year. Donna Talley, CFS team member, holds a large bear while discussing the merits of the toys with a client.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—Salvationist Tom Benson retires following 55 years of faithful service in various leadership roles on the corps council at St. John’s Temple.

From left, Ivan Hynes, holding the flag; Mjr Janice Rowe, CO; Tom Benson; Mjr Peter Rowe, CO; and CSM Rick Hynes.

Salvationist March 2019 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

TRIBUTES

TORONTO—Four senior soldiers and one adherent are enrolled at Scarborough Citadel. From left, Lt Johnny Valencia, CO; Joseph Masuda, Jamie Brown and Victoria Snelgrove, senior soldiers; Don Halsey, holding the flag; Juna Shields, senior soldier; Colin Shields, adherent; and Lt Carolina Valencia, CO.

WETASKIWIN, ALTA.—These are exciting days at Wetaskiwin Corps as two junior soldiers and one senior soldier are enrolled. From left, Lt Dae-Gun Kim, CO; Logan Forth, junior soldier; Terry Walker, senior soldier; Lane Forth, junior soldier; and Mjr Al Hoeft, AC, Alta. & N.T. Div, and CO, Edmonton Crossroads CC.

GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL Appointments: Lt-Col Evie Diaz, CS, IHQ, with the rank of col; Mjrs Tony/ Patricia Kennedy, regional leaders, Georgia, Eastern Europe Tty TERRITORIAL Appointments: Mjrs Ron/Donna Millar, directors, The Salvation Army Archives, Canada and Bermuda Tty; Cdt Matthew Reid, chaplain, Downtown Social Service Ministry, Wiseman Centre and New Hope Community Centre, St. John’s, N.L. Div; Cdt Whitney Reid, chaplain, St. John’s Glenbrook Lodge for Senior Citizens and St. John’s Glenbrook Villa, St. John’s, N.L. Div Retirement: Mar 1—Mjr David Carey Promoted to glory: Col Marion Ratcliffe, from Linden, Alta., Dec 13; Mrs. Mjr Ingeborg Allan, from Toronto, Dec 14; Mjr Calvin Hillyard, from Corner Brook, N.L., Dec 15; Aux-Cpt Barbara Wraight, from Windsor, Ont., Dec 28; Mjr Max Bulmer, from Hanover, Ont., Jan 1

CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: Mar 1-3 Canadian Staff Band 50th anniversary celebrations, Toronto; Mar 9-11 CFOT; Mar 15-22 Partners in Mission resource visit, Haiti; Mar 23-24 135th anniversary, Cambridge Citadel, Ont. Colonels Edward and Shelley Hill: Mar 2 Canadian Staff Band 50th anniversary concert, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto; Mar 10-12 divisional review, Prairie Div; Mar 29-31 125th anniversary, New-Wes-Valley Corps, Wesleyville, N.L. Canadian Staff Band: Mar 1 concert, Barrie Citadel, Ont.; Mar 2 Canadian Staff Band 50th anniversary concert with Chicago Staff Band, New York Staff Band, U.S.A. Southern Territorial Band and U.S.A. Western Tty Staff Band, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto; Mar 3 Yorkwoods CC, Toronto

28 March 2019 Salvationist

TRITON, N.L.—Joan Budgell was born in Triton in 1937 and gave her heart to the Lord at the age of eight. Joan married her husband in December 1954, and they shared almost 64 years together. She was a hard worker and put others first all of her life. Joan was a faithful member of the Triton-Brighton Corps, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for 25 years, young people’s treasurer for six years, home league secretary for 13 years and welcome sergeant for 26 years until her promotion to glory. Known for her smile, hugs and warm welcome she extended to everyone who came through the church doors, Joan is lovingly remembered by her husband, two sons, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, extended family, friends and corps family.

LEWISPORTE, N.L.—Elsie Lacey was born in 1924 and promoted to glory at the age of 94. Elsie was very involved at Lewisporte Corps as a senior soldier, youth worker for 40 years, home league member, community care ministries member, Red Shield canvasser, Christmas kettle worker, Bible study member, prayer partner, lunch co-ordinator for those bereaved, War Cry boomer, usher/greeter co-ordinator, as well as other volunteer activities. Many people were the beneficiaries of her personal phone and card ministry, which she maintained to the very end. Elsie was well known and highly respected in her town for her tireless volunteer hours in various activities that promoted the well-being of the community.

Elsie lived in and maintained the family home following the passing of her husband, Gordon, in 1995, until her own promotion to glory. The mother of eight sons, including officers Major Harry and Major Gerald, Elsie is remembered by a large circle of family and friends.

CORNWALL, ONT.—Alison Joy Young was born in Flin Flon, Man., in 1965 to Captains Al and Eileen King. Alison accepted Christ as a young child and followed him faithfully throughout her life as a junior soldier, senior soldier, graduate corps cadet, candidate, children’s ministry leader, band member, songster and member of the worship team. An accomplished puppeteer and ventriloquist, Alison enjoyed ministering through the medium of black light, and is remembered for sharing biblical messages through Scene-O-Felt presentations. A teacher at Northumberland Christian School, she had a heart for Indigenous ministries and a desire to serve in full-time ministry with The Salvation Army. At the time of her promotion to glory at the age of 53, Alison, out of Cobourg Community Church, Ont., was serving as the corps leader at Cornwall Community Church and, as a candidate, was anticipating her entrance into the Messengers of Reconciliation Session of cadets at the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg. The beloved wife of Fred, loving mother of Cameron, Lieutenant Kaitlyn Young and Cadet Drew Young, and cherished daughter of Al and Eileen King, Alison will be dearly missed by her family, friends and the many communities where she served.

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.

Salvationist March 2019 29

In His Time Learning to trust God in the midst of anxiety.

BY DONNA LEE SAMSON

Donna Lee Samson with her children, Claire and Caleb, and husband, Carson

W

hen I went to the doctor that day, I had to take my 10-year-old daughter, Claire, with me. Plans fell through and my husband, Carson, couldn’t make it home. I couldn’t leave her in the waiting room, so I had to admit in front of her that I was struggling with depression and anxiety and needed help. It was an admission that changed my life.

I grew up in a Christian home. My parents were officers, and many of my childhood memories revolve around church—being in the timbrel brigade, singing company and junior band. I vividly remember committing my life to Christ at a corps cadet camp when I was 16. I had wonderful mentors who came alongside me and demonstrated God’s love.

Even though I was blessed to have such an upbringing, I’ve still had times of questioning and discouragement.

After 12 years as a cardiac ultrasound technologist at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, I was encouraged to apply for a management position. I didn’t feel 30 March 2019 Salvationist

qualified, and never thought I’d be the successful candidate. On the way to the interview, I heard God say, “I have a plan for your life. Trust me.” But what I hadn’t yet shared with anyone was that I felt called to full-time ministry.

When I was offered the job, I knew it would be a good experience, yet I didn’t know if it was what I wanted, what others wanted, or what God had planned for me. I accepted the position, while feeling pulled in a different direction.

Eventually, I took a step of faith and talked to Carson about my feelings, believing God would confirm his plan and help make the way clear. Instead, it only led to more questions, arguments and distance. What did full-time ministry mean for me? What did it mean for him? How would we support our family?

The answers never came.

I was so confused. If God wanted me to follow him, why did doors keep closing instead of opening? It felt like he had led me down a path, and then left me high and dry. This created such doubt and frustration that it began to affect

my health and relationships. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it, and began to feel more and more isolated.

Looking back, I think I’ve always suffered a little with anxiety and depression. But over the next few years, it grew worse. Simple tasks became extremely difficult. Conversations and social situations were challenging.

At church, I just tried to make it through the service without breaking down or having a panic attack. At work, I went through the motions, but I was so tired and wanted to run away. When I came home, I avoided spending time with my family. At times, it felt like Carson and I were moving in different directions.

My mother faced many difficulties in her life with strength and courage, and I think I absorbed the idea that no matter how hard things get, you never let others see how much you are hurting.

I was trying to be the perfect manager, the perfect wife, the perfect employee.

I had to keep going, because that was what was expected of me, but deep down inside I was falling apart.

I opened up to Major Sandra Budden, then my corps officer at Heritage Park Temple in Winnipeg, about my fears for my marriage and my questions about discerning God’s will for my life.

She reaffirmed that God loved me and was using me, and prayed earnestly for me and my family. Carson’s work colleagues at the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches also reached out and supported us.

After starting on medication and seeing a counsellor, I became aware of how anxiety and depression were clouding my thoughts. And as I studied God’s Word and drew on the resources of the Christian community through sermons, worship music and spiritual formation practices, I began to realize I was trying to control the plan for my life, rather than trusting God. This began my path of discernment and living in God’s time.

I’m so grateful for this path, as it has brought me into a much closer and deeper relationship with Jesus, and it has strengthened my relationship with my children, Caleb and Claire, and especially with Carson.

I’m still seeking, but I’ve learned to let go and let God lead. I strive every day to be an example of Christ—to have a compassionate and servant heart. Wherever I find myself, whatever job I hold, I can minister for him.

Photo: Carson Samson

SALVATION STORIES

WHEN OTHERS TURN THEIR BACKS, LEAN IN.

BOOTHUC.CA

EDUCAT ION FOR A BET TER WORLD Salvationist March 2019 31

“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

With the Messengers of Compassion and the Canadian Staff Band

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

UBC Campus, Vancouver

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