Salvationist May 2019

Church Revitalization in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Canadian Staff Band’s 50th Anniversary

Freedom After Six Decades of Addiction

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

May 2019

Salvationist.ca

Spreading the Word

A thriving Mandarin ministry shares the gospel in South Vancouver

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CONTENTS

Salvationist May 2019 • Volume 14, Number 5

10

Departments 5 Inbox

Hi kids!

On the Road to Emmaus

Last week at church, we celebrated Easter, when Jesus rose from the dead after dying on the cross. What an exciting event!

ISSUE

17

The Bible tells us that, after Jesus died, everyone was talking about it. Some people were confused. They didn’t understand why He died. In this issue of Just for Kids, you’ll read about two men who were walking to a town called Emmaus when Jesus suddenly appeared to them. Read the story to find out what He told them.

6 Frontlines 9 Perspectives

Your friend, Kristin

Showers of Blessing

by Lt-Colonel Fred Waters Reprinted from Kids Alive!

Just for Kids

16 Not Called?

2020 Vision

by Ken Ramstead

Just for Kids is an exciting weekly activity page published by The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda for children ages five to 12, packed with Bible stories, games, puzzles, colouring, jokes and more.

18

17 Ethically Speaking Is It in You to Give?

by Aimee Patterson

26 Cross Culture 27 People & Places

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

30 Salvation Stories A New Heart

by Ainslee Searle

Columns 4 Editorial Love in Any Language

by Geoff Moulton

25 Grace Notes Loved and Chosen

by Captain Laura Van Schaick

30

Features 10 Brass Band Spectacular

On the cover: From left, Edison Shieh and Aux-Cpt Parker Shieh; photo by Kristin Ostensen

Canadian Staff Band celebrates 50 years with a weekend of praise and worship.

by Geoff Moulton

Read and share it!

14 Out of the Box

Faith&Friends

Putting mission first revitalizes corps in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L.

by Captain Brent Haas

Moms & Music

New J.R.R. Tolkien Movie

Thrift Stores in Action

TURN IT UP P.8 BEFORE THE HOBBIT P.13 BREAKING BARRIERS P.26

I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

MAY 2019

18 Learning to Live Again Leaving decades of addiction behind, Glen Mattinson found a new path at Cedarbrae Community Church.

by Kristin Ostensen

20 Spreading the Word A thriving Mandarin ministry shares the gospel in South Vancouver.

by Kristin Ostensen

Full Circle

ONCE HOMELESS, TYLER WEATHERUP NOW WORKS AT THE SALVATION ARMY SHELTER THAT SAVED HIM FROM ADDICTION. P.16

Salvationist May 2019 3

EDITORIAL

A

Love in Any Language

ccording to the latest Pew Research poll, Canada has the most favourable view of immigrants of any of the world’s top migrant destinations. I always knew we were a country that celebrated diversity, but it’s heartening to know that statistics bear that out.

Released in March, the study concludes that Canadians are least likely to blame immigrants for an increased risk of crime or terrorism. Of course, we are not immune from intolerance and bigotry. We must continue to “stand on guard” against hatred in all its forms.

On the positive side, 68 per cent of Canadians believe that “immigrants make our country stronger.” We’re in good company. Australia sits at 64 per cent, the United Kingdom at 62 per cent and the United States at 59 per cent—all above the 18-country median of 56 per cent.

What’s more, these views are shared across the political spectrum—we are less polarized than other countries in this regard. It makes me proud to be a Canadian.

In our Salvation Army publications, we have always strived for diversity. Not for its own sake, but because our corps congregations, social services clients and society at large increasingly reflect a broad cultural mosaic. A recent review

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 May 2019 Salvationist

of Salvationist showed that 52 per cent of our feature stories highlighted visible minorities.

In this month’s cover story, we showcase a thriving Chinese ministry, New Life Church, out of Southmount Citadel in Vancouver. It’s filling a tremendous need for those who are finding their way in a new country.

“When people immigrate here, they feel insecure,” says Aux-Captain Parker Shieh, corps officer. “They find it hard to fit into this community, this new culture. So we ask, ‘What can we do to help them?’ ” Once they discover that place to belong, many of them are embracing faith, getting involved in church and giving back to the social ministries of The Salvation Army. Check out our photo essay on page 20.

Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll read about the revitalization of Happy Valley-Goose Bay Corps, N.L., where the congregation has caught the vision to become financially self-sufficient, focus on mission and reach out to their community. And you’ll be moved by the remarkable story of Glen Mattinson, who left decades of addiction behind to find a new home at Cedarbrae Community Church in Toronto.

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.

With a presence in 131 countries and counting, The Salvation Army is incredibly diverse—but here in Canada, the mission field is at our doorstep. We can continue to capitalize on this by making our ministries welcoming and attractive to newcomers. Let’s extend the warmth of God’s love to people from all backgrounds. It’s a language we can all speak.

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

INBOX Journey of Learning Who We Are I attended The Salvation Army’s second Celebration of Culture: A M Journey of Reconciliation. It was a meaningful and important celebration. It was especially helpful to have Indigenous symbols, rituals and words explained in ways that indicated their compatibility and integration with Christian theology, worship and practice. I appreciated hearing the stories of Indigenous followers of Christ who are integrating their faith and culture. For The Salvation Army, this is one good step along the journey of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in making the Celebration of Culture possible.

Aimee Patterson The Salvation Army builds relationship with Indigenous community through celebration.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY GISELLE RANDALL

ore than 200 people from across Canada a nd t he Un ited States attended The Salvation Army’s second Celebration of Culture: A Journey of Reconciliation, held in partnership with Indigenous Pathways, at the Army’s Pine Lake Camp in Alberta from August 24-26.

The event was an expression of the Army’s desire to listen, learn and build relationships with Indigenous

people, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #48.

“The history of many churches with Indigenous peoples has been one of oppression and colonization, and the impact of residential schools has been devastating,” says Major Shari Russell (Yellow Quill First Nation), territorial Indigenous ministries consultant.

“For many generations, we were taught that we had to put aside our

culture in order to accept Christ. But as we have learned about the gospel, we have discovered that we don’t need to leave behind our culture, that God has created us within culture.

“So this is a weekend where we can come and celebrate who we are as Indigenous people. We invite the community to join us as we share our gifts and strengths, our joys and challenges.

Together we dance, we sing, we feast.

We share our journeys.”

The weekend began with a welcome ceremony on Friday evening. Jacob Nyce (Nisga’a Nation) performs with the Four Crest Dancers, a group from Gitwinksihlkw, B.C., as they sing “Gitwinksihlkw Wil Bugum” (“Gitwinksihlkw is Who We Are”).

On Saturday morning, delegates chose from a variety of workshops, including the importance of language and an Indigenous interpretation of repentance. Dr. Terry LeBlanc (Mi’kmaq-Acadian), executive director of Indigenous Pathways, holds an eagle feather during his session, “Beyond the Culture Wars.”

14 November 2018

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

BY GISELLE RANDALL

Photo: Homin Kwon Photography

Fun and Games It was encouraging to read about the Scout Group at The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont. (“Ready for Adventure,” January 2019). I have a long association with Scouting in the United States, including Army-sponsored troops in Los Angeles and Pasadena, California. Keep up the great work!

Colonel Edward Hill

Salvationist

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

A

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salvationist

January 2019 9

Thank You I am one of the many that lost my job when ServiCom [the largest employer in Sydney, N.S.] shut down before Christmas (“Miracle on Inglis Miracle on Inglis Street Street,” March 2019). I speak for all of us when I say how appreciative we all O are. The Salvation Army went above and beyond for us. They opened up rooms for us to have group calls and were there for us when no one else was. It started with The Salvation Army, then it spread to the whole community. Donations were given by so many generous companies and amazing people. It was a huge hardship and we were all terrified of what our next move was, but everyone was so helpful, and so many people went out of their way for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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

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

BY MAJOR COREY VINCENT

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

50/50 I’m writing in response to General Brian Peddle’s call to gender equity (“Stronger Together,” Salvationist.ca). I appreciate this sentiment and his obviously earnest intent to wrestle with the structural inequality facing women

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-

within the international Salvation Army. Too often, we make marriage and masculinity into idols, and see pragmatism, impartiality and decision-making tactics as the purview of men.

I do wonder, though—last year, the Ethiopian government undertook a massive overhaul of its cabinet ministers and crucial appointments, bringing them to 50/50 gender equality.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed the first-ever female president, chief justice and press secretary known for her activism. In the last six months, their prison systems have been completely overhauled, the UN was invited to take stock of their human rights, political captives were freed and war criminals were prosecuted.

Sentiment is good, but action is better. What would it cost us to make sure women make up half of decision-making roles?

We can pussyfoot around about training women up and positive short-term discrimination, but what if we just appointed women to half of all divisional and territorial leadership roles overnight?

The Army wouldn’t crash and burn. In fact, a bold new flag would fly in the face of years of stagnancy and centuries of unchecked patriarchy and hierarchy. I would be so excited to see an Army prepared to get weird for the sake of Jesus and the sake of the voiceless.

Rosy Keane 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

No Other Name There have been times I have read through an edition of Salvationist and had great difficulty finding the name of Jesus on any of its pages.

The subjects are well written and interesting, yet if we are only meeting human needs and being a transforming human influence, and failing World-Class Brass to present Jesus as the Saviour, then we are missing the mark.

Are we so involved in social programs, feeding the hungry, teaching music, operating schools abroad, assisting prisoners and drug addicts or alcoholics that we have become known for our good works, but the public fails to recognize us as part of the church of Jesus Christ? God forbid! The aforementioned programs are all good and part of our mandate as a Christian church, but let’s talk and sing and write and witness more about Jesus.

We understand when individuals express gratitude to The Salvation Army for changing their lives, but unless they can testify to an experience of receiving Jesus and allowing him to make a change that can last throughout eternity, we have fallen short. We, as an Army of salvation, cannot save anyone.

We can only point them to Jesus, the only Saviour—this is a divine imperative for us. Let’s make it easier for people to find Jesus and understand who he is. Reaching souls of all ages and winning them for the kingdom by many means and methods is the business of all Salvationists.

Major Ivan McNeilly March 2019

Salvationist.ca

Celebrating 50 years of the Canadian Staff Band

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Salvationist May 2019 5

FRONTLINES

T

Prince George Youth Bless Community

he young people at Prince George Community Church, B.C., are making community outreach a priority. During the winter, the church’s pre-teen corps cadet group was challenged to come up with an idea that would bless people in Prince George.

In response, the youth decided to put together and distribute Blessing

Bags to the people who come to The Salvation Army’s Operation Hunger Relief, a weekly feeding program in the parking lot of the Prince George Child Development Centre. The Blessing Bags would contain items that the feeding program patrons may not always have on hand, such as toiletries, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, socks, gloves, tissues,

Two youth from Prince George CC distribute Blessing Bags

granola bars and Gatorade.

The youth purchased items for the bags with their own money, acquiring enough supplies to make 30 Blessing Bags. They then challenged their congregation to match their donations and were pleasantly surprised with the outcome— with all supplies combined, the corps cadets put together a total of 110 Blessing Bags. Adding a personal touch, the youth created individual, hand-written notes for each bag, telling the recipients that they are loved and valued.

The Blessing Bags were distributed on two Saturdays in January and February.

With temperatures as low as -28 C, the youth bundled up and took turns handing out the bags while another group warmed up in a chaperone’s vehicle.

As Erin Croome, youth and young adults co-ordinator, observes, the Blessing Bags initiative had an impact on both the youth and those who received the bags. “Our guests left feeling valued and loved because we met more than just their need for food,” she says. “And because they were directly involved with the distribution, the youth were able to see the impact first-hand.”

Nepean Thrift Store Celebrates Grand Re-Opening

H

undreds of shoppers turned out for the grand re-opening of the Salvation Army thrift store in the Nepean neighbourhood of Ottawa at the end of February.

Despite the freezing cold, the store had a long lineup outside when it opened, with more than 150 guests coming through the door within the first 10 minutes and a steady stream throughout the day.

The thrift store closed its doors at its former location last November when the plaza was demolished. The new, larger location provides almost 7,000 square feet of retail space, as well as a larger donor welcome centre where people can drop off their gently used items.

“We’re starting a new chapter after more than 30 years in this community and are overjoyed to be back serving residents who are like family to us,” says Michele Walker, director of retail operations, National Recycling Operations (NRO).

The thrift store, one of seven in the city, has played a vital 6 May 2019 Salvationist

Cutting the ribbon at the grand re-opening are, from left, Michele Walker; Ted Troughton, managing director, NRO; Carmen Bejancu, retail district manager for Ottawa, NRO; and Mjrs Sharon and Gary Cooper, ACs, Ont. CE Div

role in the community, providing funds annually to support neighbours in need through Salvation Army programs, services and emergency relief efforts.

The new location was opened by Chandra Arya, member of Parliament for Nepean, local city councillor Rick Chiarelli and Salvation Army representatives, including a brass band.

FRONTLINES

S

N.L. Salvationists Make Kingdom Choices

alvationists across the Newfoundland and Labrador Division were invited to discover their place in the kingdom of God during a weekend of events in February. Under the theme “Kingdom Choices,” the weekend provided an opportunity for local leaders and those searching for God’s will for their lives to experience spiritual development, teaching and guidance as they listen for God’s voice.

Events were held at three corps in the division—Deer Lake Corps, Park Street Citadel in Grand Falls-Windsor and St. John’s Citadel—with 90 people in attendance. The weekend was supported by staff and six cadets from the College for Officer Training in Winnipeg, as well as members of the divisional candidates board.

Events on Friday night focused on youth and family ministry, while Saturday was spent learning about calling and officership. “It was a great day of teaching, worship and reflection,” says Lt-Colonel Eddie Vincent, divisional commander, Newfoundland and Labrador Division. “Delegates had the opportunity to interact with officers and cadets, and ask questions about officership. While many who attended are

I

Cdt Alecia Barrow (left) returns to her home corps, Park Street Citadel, for the Kingdom Choices weekend, where she shares a moment with Madison Braye, Shirleah Pardy and Katie Green

already involved in local ministry, they were able to dig deeper to discover their place in the kingdom and what choices they need to make.”

The events concluded with a full day of worship on Sunday. “This weekend facilitated deeper conversations about

God’s purpose for our lives,” says Major Jennifer Hale, secretary for candidates.

“It was encouraging to see people of various ages and backgrounds exploring important questions about how their lives could be most useful for the kingdom of God.”

Army Assists Human Trafficking Victims in Ontario

n February, 43 foreign workers were rescued from a human trafficking operation in Barrie and Wasaga Beach, Ont., making headlines across the country. These men and women, most of whom were Mexican, had been brought to Canada under false pretences, kept in deplorable living conditions and hired to work as cleaners in area hotels and resorts.

Along with other agencies, The Salvation Army played an important role in providing assistance to the victims. In the immediate aftermath of the rescue, the workers were brought to a temporary assistance centre, where the Orillia Salvation Army provided food and clothing.

Shortly after the rescue, Major Neil

Evenden, corps officer at Collingwood Community Church, Ont., was contacted

by Larry Law, owner of Living Waters Resorts, which had employed some of the foreign workers.

“When Mr. Law was informed of what had transpired, he asked one of his chaplains to contact me to say that they had 15-20 people who would be returning to Collingwood after they were processed,” explains Major Evenden, noting that Law offered to provide housing for the victims.

Major Evenden agreed to provide assistance when the workers arrived.

“We called in some extra staff and began preparing hampers with food and other essentials such as socks and underwear.”

As it turned out, all 43 victims came

to the Army’s Collingwood location, which houses the church, thrift store and family services. “We closed the thrift store that day so they could shop freely and get whatever they needed,” Major Evenden says. “Afterward, we let Mr. Law know that if there was anything else they needed, all they had to do was call.”

Major Evenden estimates that the value of the services the Army provided was around $4,000. “It was a great opportunity to serve a group of people who, at that particular moment, didn’t know what the next days would look like,” he says.

“The workers were so grateful,” adds Major Merrilee Evenden, corps officer.

“They were thanking us left, right and centre.”

Salvationist May 2019 7

FRONTLINES

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Poverty Forum in Scarborough

ore than 40 people gathered at Toronto’s Scarborough Citadel in February for a Pathway of Hope community forum on poverty. The forum—the first of its kind hosted by The Salvation Army—featured a diverse panel of speakers (see box), each of whom was given an opportunity to answer two questions: How is your agency addressing poverty?

What strategies can be used in the fight against poverty?

“The aim of the forum was to create a platform for interagency connections and start a dialogue on how we can address the issue of poverty and share resources in the community,” explains Lemoy Whilby, Pathway of Hope regional co-ordinator, who organized the forum.

The forum opened with an introduction to the Army’s Pathway of Hope initiative, which involves a one-on-one approach to case management that helps participants set and achieve goals. Rooted in integrated mission, it combines practical and spiritual care, social services and corps resources.

As the panel of speakers was given the opportunity to answer the two questions, several themes emerged, including the growing gap between rich and poor; the affordable housing crisis; the stigma around poverty; difficulties newcomers face in Canada; the importance of education in combating poverty; the need for all three levels of government to work together to create systemic change; and the Leena Sultan (right), a former Pathway of Hope participant, shares her experiences at the poverty forum, while Anne MacLennan listens

Donation Transforms Waterston Centre

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esidents of The Salvation Army’s Waterston Centre in Regina are enjoying a refreshed living space, thanks to a gift from the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation (SSCF). The gift allowed the Army to acquire new furniture for the centre’s supportive residential program (SRP), which provides an alternative residential service option for men with diagnosed psychiatric illness, behavioural problems and substance abuse.

The new furniture was installed in the SRP’s lounge, which residents refer to as their “living room.” This lounge is available day or night to relax, watch TV or read. Most importantly, it is the place where connection and togetherness are fostered.

Prior to the gift from the SSCF, the room had become less livable—its furniture was dated, worn and needed to be replaced.

The Lynn and Jim Tomkins Foundation Fund at the SSCF granted funds for the initial purchase of chairs, while the 8 May 2019 Salvationist

importance of partnerships among agencies that are working to assist those in poverty.

Former Pathway of Hope participant Leena Sultan provided a much-needed perspective on the issue of poverty, having experienced it first-hand. She shared how, after her husband left her and their children, she had no financial resources and came to the Army for food assistance. “When I went to The Salvation Army, I met wonderful ladies who’d been through the same thing as me,” she said, adding that Pathway of Hope helped her reach most of her goals.

Whilby plans to hold more forums like this one in the future. “Being one of the largest providers of social services in Canada, The Salvation Army has a responsibility to raise awareness of issues that are affecting our community and the strategies that we are implementing in the fight,” she concludes.

Poverty Panel •• Anne MacLennan, chair, department of communication studies, York University •• Christine Hewitt, community engagement manager, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities •• Joy Boatswain, chair of workforce development, employment services and academic upgrading, Centennial College •• Lee Soda, executive director, Agincourt Community Services Association •• Leena Sultan, participant, Pathway of Hope •• Nestor Arellano, representing Salma Zahid, member of Parliament—Scarborough Centre •• Sultana Jahangir, executive director, South Asian Women’s Rights Organization •• Wayne Chu, manager, Poverty Reduction Strategy Office, City of Toronto

remainder of the funds came from the Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation (administered in conjunction with SSCF).

“These gifts have transformed the living space for our SRP residents,” says Suzanne Rue-Peter, SRP residential program manager. “Our residents have commented a lot, saying how much cleaner, more organized and homey the place is now. It is nice to see the increased presence in the lounge.”

Donna Ziegler (right), executive director, South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, presents a cheque to, from left, Adolphe, SRP resident; Mjr Wayne McDonough, executive director, Waterston Centre; and Suzanne Rue-Peter

PERSPECTIVES

Showers of Blessing Join me in praying for a time of refreshing.

BY LT-COLONEL FRED WATERS

Photo: © ipopba/iStock.com

I

n July 2000, our family—two adults, two kids, one dog and one hamster— drove from Ottawa to Calgary to arrive at our new appointment. As we drove across the wide-open prairies, we were surprised to see that, at certain points, the fields on one side of the highway were dry and brown, while on the other side they were green and lush.

The difference, of course, was irrigation.

Sometimes our souls feel like that.

They become dry and hard. They need a refreshing that can only come through watering by the Holy Spirit. If we are honest with ourselves, we are acutely aware that we need a refreshing by God. In the spring of 1998, we were the corps officers at Ottawa Citadel. One Sunday morning, I heard the Lord clearly tell me to ask if anyone had “a word from God” for us. I’m not a charismatic person.

As I scanned the room, I was concerned that if I asked such a question, we would hear from someone in a way that would only derail the service. So I didn’t obey God and kept the service moving forward, without saying anything.

After the service, a man approached me who was visiting that day. He was alone in the city for some corporate training, and wondered if he might buy someone lunch so he didn’t have to eat alone. We had been invited to join a family for lunch that day so we couldn’t accommodate him, but our host invited him to come along as well.

At lunch, this man ended up sitting across from me. As we ate, he leaned over and began to apologize. He said God had awakened him that morning and told him to attend The Salvation Army because the Lord had a message for us. He said he had wanted to stand and give us “this word from the Lord,” but was nervous and remained silent.

I was suddenly overwhelmed at what I was hearing. God was trying to tell us something and we were acting out of fear, not faith. I asked him to give us the message, and I will never forget how my heart jumped at his words: “Continue to

While God is still active in our midst and lives are being changed, for many of us the dryness of our souls is often too evident. do what you are doing in faithfulness, and a time of refreshing is coming.”

You would need to have been in that corps in those days to fully understand the message, because it had been a difficult, divisive time. The next Sunday, I relayed what had happened to the congregation.

And a time of refreshing did come.

It was not entirely what I expected—I suppose we all have different images or expectations—but refreshing it was.

I thought of this story recently as

2018 was ending and 2019 began unfolding. I was moved to begin to pray, to ask God that a time of refreshing might come again—for myself, my family, our corps, our Army across this great territory, and for the church in Canada.

I sense we need this. While God is still active in our midst and lives are being changed, for many of us the dryness of our souls is often too evident.

Would you agree? Would you join me in prayer for refreshing—a great rain of blessing that pours conviction, conversion and commission upon us all?

Would you seek God to give us more than “mercy drops,” as the old song says, but rather a deep refreshing of his Spirit?

Scripture says, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8 NLT).

Lt-Colonel Fred Waters is the secretary for business administration in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Salvationist May 2019 9

Brass Band Spectacular Canadian Staff Band celebrates 50 years with a weekend of praise and worship.

BY GEOFF MOULTON

O

n March 1-3, the Canadian Staff Band (CSB), under the baton of Bandmaster John Lam, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of concerts and worship services in and around Toronto. Four visiting bands from the United States—Chicago Staff Band (BM Harold Burgmayer), New York Staff Band (BM Derek Lance), U.S.A. Southern Territorial Band (BM Nick Simmons-Smith) and U.S.A. Western Territory Staff Band (BM Neil Smith)— made this one of the largest banding events in Salvation Army history.

10 May 2019 Salvationist

General Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, together with five territorial commanders from Canada and Bermuda, and the United States (Commissioner Susan McMillan, Commissioner Brad Bailey, Commissioner William Bamford, Commissioner Ken Hodder and Commissioner Willis Howell), were on hand to provide leadership.

The bands kicked off the weekend on Friday night with a series of concerts in five Ontario corps a short drive from Toronto. The CSB regaled

crowds in Barrie with newly commissioned works Legacy of Faith by Captain Nicholas Samuel and There Is a Fountain

by Noel Brooks, while the other bands visited Oshawa Temple, Meadowlands Corps in Hamilton, Guelph Citadel and Peterborough Temple.

On Saturday, March 2, the bands converged on Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto for an all-day music event that included afternoon performances by each band and an evening concert with the massed band.

The evening concert got off to a rousing start with In Awesome Wonder,

Photos: Steve Nelson and Joel Johnson

A triumphant end to the Saturday evening concert

CSB alumni Clarence White, Andrew Burditt and Deryck Diffey are featured in Just Like John

CSB bandsman Cameron Rawlins shares So Will I

composed by Marcus Venables. After Commissioner Susan McMillan acknowledged the concerts were taking place on traditional Indigenous land, the massed band appropriately played Nisga’a Lullaby by Major Len Ballantine.

Selections also included the premiere of former CSB Bandmaster Colonel Robert Redhead’s O Church Arise and Symphony of Thanksgiving by Dean Goffin, which was played at the inaugural CSB concert at Toronto Temple in 1969.

Another newly commissioned work from composer William Pitts, Boundless, made good use of the percussion sec-

Commissioner Susan McMillan with the bass section of the CSB

tion and featured the tunes Joy in The Salvation Army and O Boundless Salvation. CSB alumni Deryck Diffey, Andrew Burditt (standing in for his late father and former CSB Bandmaster Brian Burditt), Clarence White (in honour of the late Robert Merritt) and percussionists Stan Ewing and Ron Reid performed the Lt-Colonel Norman Bearcroft piece Just Like John. Lt-Colonel Bearcroft, the first bandmaster of the CSB, was present at the concert and featured in a historical video mid-program to the delight of the audience.

Trumpet virtuoso and guest soloist

Jens Lindemann made an impressive entrance late in the second half, using a plunger mute to humorous effect in Kevin Larsson’s rendition of When the Saints. He then picked up the flugelhorn for Larsson’s more subdued Going Home, which commemorated former CSB members as their names scrolled on screen.

Lindemann credited Deryck Diffey for providing him with musical inspiration through the years.

In her message, Commissioner McMillan, executive officer of the CSB, shared from Hebrews 12, noting the “great cloud of witnesses” in the hall Salvationist May 2019 11

CSB Bandmaster John Lam gives the Army salute

Photo: Lt-Col John P. Murray

Front, from left, General Brian Peddle; Commissioner Rosalie Peddle; Commissioner Susan McMillan; Mjr David Williamson, private secretary to the General. Back, Colonel Edward Hill, chief secretary

Inaugural CSB Bandmaster Lt-Col Norman Bearcroft (right) and CSB alumnus Deryck Diffey

The massed band in performance

and encouraging them to continually “fix their eyes on Jesus.” She invited the massed band members and other musicians in the audience to stand symbolically around a bass drum—“the portable mercy seat and a place of prayer and covenant”—as General Brian Peddle shared in prayer.

“An anniversary like this,” noted the General, “gives us pause to look back and declare God’s faithfulness to us. But we are also pushing forward to share his message so that the world may receive the love of God through music, witness 12 May 2019 Salvationist

and service.”

The evening concluded with a surprise appearance by William Himes, retired bandmaster of the Chicago Staff Band, who wrote a new piece for the 50th anniversary entitled The Psalmist, which featured five of Major Len Ballantine’s unique works. As an encore, the massed band performed The Canadian, a march

by James Merritt, which had the audience on their feet in tribute.

On Sunday morning, the bands were on the road again to enhance worship at Mississauga Temple Community Church

and Toronto’s Yorkwoods Community Church, North York Temple, Yorkminster Citadel and Scarborough Citadel.

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle shared her testimony at Mississauga Temple, remarking how she has been changed by her new role as an international leader and the vibrant Salvationists she has encountered around the world: “My calling, my commitment and my passion are stronger than ever before.”

General Peddle referenced his Call to Mission, noting, “Our purpose is to find God’s place for us in the world. We

William Himes conducts The Psalmist

General Brian Peddle prays as bandmasters gather at the front of the stage

Jens Lindemann in performance

are to infiltrate and transform the secular spaces. I want a people of prayer, a people that are prepared and a people that are battle-ready. Salvationists provide a visible expression of a holy life.”

In response, many knelt at the mercy seat to rededicate their lives.

On Sunday afternoon, the bands met for a final reception that included CSB alumni and a performance by the Canadian Staff Songsters. CSB bandsman Cameron Rawlins gave a moving tribute to his musical mentors, particularly his late grandfather, Art Dean.

Of the weekend, Bandmaster John Lam noted, “The camaraderie of the bands and the sacrifice of many musicians giving of their time to glorify God—that’s what has made this event so special.”

The CSB is also crisscrossing the Canada and Bermuda Territory in celebration of its 50th year, performing at various locations. Their tour will culminate at the June congress and commissioning events in Vancouver, with the international leaders again in attendance.

Empress of Ireland Though the CSB’s roots go back to the 1880s, the original band was lost in the tragic sinking of the Empress of Ireland while travelling to London, England, for an international congress. The band reformed in 1969 and has since performed under the batons of Lt-Colonel Norman Bearcroft, Colonel Robert Redhead, Brian Burditt, Kevin Hayward and John Lam. Salvationist May 2019 13

Out of the Box

Putting mission first revitalizes corps in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L.

From A to B The first key factor was strategic planning, using the resources of the corps review process. We asked the congregation to identify strengths and weaknesses—Where are we? Then we started casting vision—Where do we want to be?

Three immediate goals were clear: financial stability, children and youth, and community outreach. We wanted to be a church where people not only came on Sunday, but were sent out to make a 14 May 2019 Salvationist

Photos: Evan Careen

M

y wife and I arrived in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L., in July 2013.

We had been told, and it did not take long to confirm, that things at the corps were not going well.

Attendance was low, leaders were in short supply and the finances were in rough shape. There didn’t seem to be a sense of mission or vision for the future.

Fast forward six years, and what a difference! Attendance at our Sunday services and programs has almost tripled; we have more people in leadership roles, and more ministries and programs than ever before; and we have been financially self-sufficient for more than four years.

There’s a real sense of living out mission and great anticipation about what God will continue to do in the future.

When people hear of this transformation, we are asked time and time again, how? How did a dying congregation come to life? How did a congregation so inward-focused become so engaged in their community? How did a congregation with very few children come to a point where about 25 per cent of the congregation is made up of children on a Sunday morning?

First and foremost, we must acknowledge and give praise to God for the work he is doing among us. We played our part by being faithful and obedient to how God was leading us as a congregation. It started with addressing past conflict and healing wounds. As we moved forward together, here are some of the major tools God used to bring about renewal.

BY CAPTAIN BRENT HAAS

“We have experienced and continue to experience a move of God,” says Cpt Brent Haas, corps officer, Happy-Valley Goose Bay Corps, N.L., with his wife, Cpt Melissa (centre), and Jenny Seaward, community and youth ministries co-ordinator

difference from Monday to Saturday.

We reviewed our goals at every board meeting, before any other business. Then we started to take action—How are we going to get there?

For our first goal, we distributed a letter to make sure everyone in the corps was aware of our financial reality. We did a sermon series on stewardship. We delivered church envelopes, rather than leaving them in the foyer in hopes that they would be picked up. And we kept the congregation informed of our expenses and giving through monthly updates.

After two years, we were completely self-sufficient—and even able to hire a janitor and full-time community and youth ministries co-ordinator.

Our next goal was to focus on children and youth, keeping in mind advice from a church revitalization conference: “Act like the church you want to be.”

Even though we only had one or two kids, we started a nursery program and held family-friendly activities. We got kids involved in the service by taking up the offering, and we began a singing company that participated every other

Sunday. Now, we have 15 to 20 children under the age of 12 on a Sunday morning.

Our third goal was outreach, so we looked for the gaps in our community and found ways that we could fill them.

With a hydroelectric megaproject in our backyard, rent is steep and homelessness is an issue. We were one of the community partners that worked together to make a homeless shelter a reality. And we started a monthly community meal on Saturdays, which has grown from 15-20 people to more than 200 at our Christmas dinner last December. We are also responding to the need for mental health supports and services.

As we began to see results after the first cycle of strategic planning, the board and congregation realized the value of this process, and we have set three new goals every year.

Changeless Mission Another key factor was the mindset that mission matters most. While I’ve always wanted to see people come to Jesus, attending a conference with Dr. Paul Borden, a well-known church revitaliza-

tion speaker, lit a fire in my heart and soul for mission. I came back a different person—and this transformation in my own life was contagious, spilling over to our leadership team and congregation.

Now, all my decisions as an officer are around souls. Sometimes I refer to mission as our “strainer,” like a spaghetti strainer. Everything we do, every cent that we spend, every decision we make as a church, has to be filtered through this strainer. And if it doesn’t stick—if something doesn’t fulfil our mission—we don’t do it.

Our mission is to make disciples, to share the good news of the gospel. As a church, we exist for our non-members, for the people who do not yet know Jesus.

A book that was deeply influential on this journey, for both my wife and me, was Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend, by pastor and author Andy Stanley.

In our growth and learning as officers through conferences and seminars, what has stuck with me is that the message and the mission of the church don’t change, but our methods to reach people must.

Changing Methods This idea—changeless mission, everchanging methods—is one of the founding principles of The Salvation Army.

General William Booth had no desire to change the mission of the church, but he used cutting-edge methods, adapting the bar tunes of the day and bringing the gospel to the streets.

So we are always trying new methods of living out our changeless mission, and this must continue to be the case if we are to be most effective for the kingdom.

Some of the changes we have made include starting an ushering ministry to greet people as they come in; moving our traditional start time from 11 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to accommodate young families with busy schedules; starting a coffee and fellowship time before the service begins; becoming more engaged in our community through social media; embracing the cultures around us; and trying new styles of worship.

On Sunday evenings, instead of a typical service in our sanctuary, we have Café Worship. We set up our multipurpose room like a café, with small tables and icicle lights, coffee and finger food. It’s a relaxed atmosphere, and many people come who would not be comfortable sitting in a pew on Sunday.

We still sing the same kind of songs;

we still have a devotional; we’re still calling people to Jesus—it’s just a different method. And it’s working. One man who hadn’t been to church in years came to Café Worship, and now he and his family are members of the corps and attend almost every Sunday.

A Powerful Tool Another tool God has used to bring transformation is personal testimony. As with many congregations, this practice had fallen by the wayside—it can easily turn into a health or weather report. But

In September, the corps hosted a block party to bring the community together, with rides and games, music and food, all for free

when we prepare by asking someone ahead of time, and give them a few minutes to share what God has been doing in their life, it is incredibly powerful.

When we ask new converts what gave them the courage to make this decision, one of the top answers is hearing the difference God has made in someone else’s life. We’ve seen a clear connection between bringing back personal testimony and an increase in the number of people coming to faith.

Year of Harvest In many ways, 2018 was a year of harvest for us as a congregation, when it comes to seeing lives transformed—more than 30 people came to Christ—and being a

transforming influence in our community. We wanted to connect with people outside the walls of our church building, so we kicked off the fall with the theme “Out of the Box: I Love My Community.”

In September, we hosted a huge block party to bring everyone together. We got permission to shut down a street right in the middle of town, and had games and rides, music and food, all for free.

More than 2,200 people—about a quarter of the population—came through that afternoon.

That December, we had more than 50 new kettle volunteers, who told us they wanted to help because they’d been to the block party. When we first arrived in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, our kettle goal was $18,000. This past Christmas, we raised $85,000, which was the second highest in our division.

Another way we got “out of the box” was by reaching out to Indigenous communities on the north coast of Labrador, where the cost of living is high and resources are few. We asked what they needed, then filled two sea containers with children’s clothes and bikes, furniture and household supplies, sending one to Nain and one to Hopedale.

It was a beautiful symbol for us that this fall, as we opened up our “box,” we also needed to open up our overflow space on Sunday mornings to fit everyone in. We are growing out of our building.

Long Road This transformation didn’t happen overnight, but that’s a good thing. It means that genuine growth has taken place—it’s not about people being attracted to new officers. The whole congregation is working together. And this is reflected in our new leadership model, where people in the corps take responsibility for different areas, such as business administration and pastoral care, so the leadership will live beyond us.

When I reflect on the last six years, it was when we became intentional about putting mission first that we began to see change. I hope our story can encourage other corps that might be in the same position we were six years ago. Maybe someone out there is thinking, We have no people, we have no money—this is hopeless. We are a testimony that when you put mission first, nothing is impossible with God. Captain Brent Haas is the corps officer at Happy Valley-Goose Bay Corps, N.L. Salvationist May 2019 15

NOT CALLED?

2020 Vision Photo: Cdt Joel Torrens

Bill and Renee Mailman resisted officership, but God had other plans.

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

B

ill and Renee Mailman were sitting in their pew at Berkshire Citadel Community Church in Calgary as the corps officer, Captain Peter Robinson, preached the first of a five-part series on accepting God’s call.

During the sermon, he asked the congregation, “What’s the scariest thing God could call you to do?”

Renee and Bill looked at each other and said in unison, “Officership,” chuckling as they did so.

But the question wouldn’t go away.

Two Lives, One Lifestyle Both Renee and Bill are children of Salvation Army officers.

“I was born into The Salvation Army,” Renee says. “It’s what I know.”

When she was 16, she worked at The Salvation Army’s Pine Lake Camp in Alberta, where she accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour.

“It occurred at staff devotionals the week before the camp officially opened for the summer,” she says. “I’d wondered if my beliefs were my own or belonged to others. But that night, I knew they were mine.”

As for Bill—“It was the life I grew up with”—he committed his life to God at 14 and become a senior soldier at 16.

“I was already living the lifestyle, so it was putting to paper something that was already part of my life.”

While Bill was a soldier before he and Renee were married, she did not feel any urgency.

“When I turned 14, there weren’t any other kids in the corps my age, so the matter of becoming a senior soldier never came up.”

16 May 2019 Salvationist

Cdts Renee and Bill Mailman with their children, Lydia and Benjamin

It was only after the couple had been married for a while that their corps officers approached her about making the commitment official.

“And that was just fine with me,” Renee says.

Still Not Called?

Officership was another story.

Though well-meaning acquaintances occasionally raised the idea, “Officership was not something we aspired to—not that we were against it by any means,” Renee says.

She was happy working as a registered nurse in an adolescent psychiatry unit, while Bill was content as a FedEx package handler.

“Being officers’ kids, we’d periodically check in with each other—‘Do you feel called?’ ‘No. Do you feel called?’ ‘No. OK, I guess we’re not called’—and that was that,” says Bill.

“I Think So, Too” So matters stood in the summer of 2017, when Bill and Renee’s corps officer delivered that series of sermons.

“It was a difficult summer for me. I loved my job but I kept feeling that God was telling me I wasn’t supposed to be there anymore,” Renee says.

One night before work, she broke down crying because she dreaded going to work the next day.

“I looked at Bill and said, ‘I think we’re supposed to be officers.’ And for the first time in all those check-in sessions, Bill responded, ‘I think so, too.’ ” Avoiding the Obvious It turned out that Bill had been trying

to deny the call to officership, but was failing.

“It was uncomfortable for me knowing what I needed to do and actively resisting it,” he says.

Bill vividly remembers Captain Peter’s last sermon in the series.

“I remember him saying, ‘If God is calling you to do something, just do it.’

That’s when I knew—but I didn’t want to raise it with Renee.

“So that evening when Renee broke down, I realized we’d been avoiding the obvious. Less than a year later, we were at the College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Winnipeg.”

“Just Do It” Now in their first year at CFOT, the Mailmans will become officers next year.

“I guess you could say we have 2020 vision!” Bill laughs.

In retrospect, the Mailmans realized that they had put off something they knew they had to do for quite a while.

“We asked many officers for advice and they wisely deferred,” says Bill. “We wanted someone—anyone—to give us a yes or no answer. They all knew it was a decision no one else could make for us.”

“If you are asking the questions about officership,” says Renee, “then it’s worth sitting down and taking the time to pray to God and ask him what he wants for you.”

“The fact that you are even asking the question means something right there,” agrees Bill. “And if you are feeling this way, if that’s what you feel God is calling you to, it’s simply being open to the fact that you’re being called. So go on and do it!”

Is It in You to Give?

Organ donation raises difficult questions.

BY AIMEE PATTERSON

I

n Canada, the demand for organ transplantation far outpaces the number of donations, whether the donor is living or deceased. In 2016, more than 4,500 Canadians were on the waiting list, but only 2,835 received transplants, 544 of which were from living donors.

These numbers have led to calls for systemic change when it comes to organ donation after death. Currently, Canada’s donation system is based on explicit consent, commonly called an “opt-in” system. In Manitoba, for instance, individuals indicate donor consent by signing up through an online registry.

The alternative is the “opt-out” system. To opt out, a person must make an explicit statement of refusal. Otherwise, their consent to donate is presumed.

Countries that have adopted this system report higher numbers of organ transplants. A 2018 report from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health recommended that the federal government consider an opt-out organ donation system.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to meet the needs of as many people as possible, but the opt-out system raises ethical questions to which Christians

should pay attention.

Let’s begin with a practical challenge present in both opt-in and opt-out systems. When a person dies, their next of kin is responsible for issuing consent on behalf of their loved one. If I want my organs donated after death, I need to inform my family and trust that they will follow through. For nations with optout systems, the high donation levels are due not only to presumed consent, but also to public campaigns that encourage people to talk to their loved ones about final wishes.

As followers of Christ, we have reason to engage in these conversations, and to keep certain ideas prominent when we do. First, it’s a miracle that we can heal others with our own bodies. I have a friend who is a living donor. Throughout the lengthy process of determining eligibility and compatibility, she kept her body in excellent condition, ensuring her family was able to care for her in recovery. Her readiness and enthusiasm to give are reasons I look up to her. I respect her decision because she wasn’t giving in to someone else’s expectations; she considered the idea, took account of her resources and made the decision out of a generous spirit.

At the same time, I believe Christians are called to pair this generous spirit with the understanding that our bodies are not just containers for our souls. I need my body to think, to pray, to hug my children, to make eye contact with the stranger asking for change. Throughout my life, my body means something to me and others.

Bodies matter even after death. The Christian view of what lives on is not disembodied souls, but immortal souls in resurrected, transformed bodies. If bodies matter to God, they must matter to us, too. Consider how we treat human remains. We care for them, as Jesus’ body was cared for by those who loved him.

Whether scattered somewhere meaningful or kept in a place of remembrance, we continue to honour human remains because they were once part of a person.

Organ donation doesn’t prevent honouring remains. But because our bodies matter, organs shouldn’t be deemed public property, spare parts to be claimed by the living. Among my concerns about legislating an opt-out system is that it will lead us to believe that a living person has the right to receive the organs of the dead.

So, what’s the alternative?

The earliest Christians chose to give of themselves until no one among them was in need. This arrangement was not imposed or presumed. It was a decision freely made by people who were inspired

by God’s Spirit. I have a feeling they must have had a conversation or two about how to best go about meeting needs.

Conversations about important matters can be difficult, but comfort levels increase only with practice. With an aging population and new possibilities for healing the bodies of others with our own, we need to make talking about the choices that come with death more important and more routine.

As we consider together what it means to honour God, ourselves and others through our bodies, let’s ask if we are the kind of people who choose to be generous and know the value of the body. And let’s make sure we give for the right reasons.

Dr. Aimee Patterson is a Christian ethics consultant at The Salvation Army Ethics Centre in Winnipeg.

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

Salvationist May 2019 17

Photo: © simarik/iStock.com

ETHICALLY SPEAKING

Learning to Live Again Leaving decades of addiction behind, Glen Mattinson found a new path at Cedarbrae Community Church.

Photos: Kristin Ostensen

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

Glen Mattinson assists Crystal at the food bank at Cedarbrae CC

A

fter 62 years of doing drugs and alcohol, it’s hard to turn your life around,” says Glen Mattinson. “It’s because of this church that I’m staying on the straight and narrow.”

Sharing his story in the sanctuary at Toronto’s Cedarbrae Community Church, Mattinson is perfectly at home, at peace. He’s been going to the church for about a year and a half now and volunteers at the food bank three or four days a week. It’s a life Mattinson couldn’t 18 May 2019 Salvationist

have imagined just a few years ago.

Harmful Habits Born in Nova Scotia, Mattinson grew up in an environment of addiction—his father was an alcoholic and he quickly followed in his footsteps.

“When I was nine years old, my family split up and all the boys went to training school—a jail for juveniles—and the girls got foster homes,” he shares.

“Growing up in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto, I saw a lot of drugs,”

Mattinson continues. “I started doing methamphetamines when I was 14 years old.”

As drugs and alcohol took over his life, Mattinson turned to crime to support his habits.

“I’ve done about 30 years in jail,” he says. “When you’re in there, you get the opportunity to indulge in drugs, so my addiction got worse and worse. Every time I got out, the first thing I wanted was drugs.”

Mattinson emerged from jail for the

“Glen has been a real blessing to us,” says Mjr Cecil Mitchell, with Mattinson and Mjr Tina Mitchell

last time in July 2017. Still struggling with addiction to heroin, cocaine and alcohol, Mattinson needed a support group. His probation officer gave him two options, one of which was Homestead Addiction Services’ day treatment program at Cedarbrae.

“I chose this one because it was closer to home and because it was The Salvation Army,” he says. “Every Christmas that I was in jail, they used to bring around a little Sunshine Bag and a brass band.

I appreciated that. You don’t know how much that meant. It carried me along the way.”

No Question Mattinson started attending Homestead—a satellite program of the Army’s Harbour Light addiction treatment facility in downtown Toronto—twice a week and met Major Cecil Mitchell, corps officer at Cedarbrae, shortly after. Major Cecil makes a habit of popping by the Homestead group and building relationships with those involved.

“On this particular morning, Glen was there alone, sitting in a rocking chair, so I went in and greeted him,” Major Cecil recalls. “We had a conversation and he shared a bit of his story.”

“I thought he was a nice guy right away,” Mattinson remembers. “Major Cecil is different. He’s friendly and outgoing. I just took to him and his wife, Major Tina.”

After more conversations with Major Cecil, Mattinson decided to attend a Sunday meeting at Cedarbrae.

“I was nervous, but it’s a very friendly environment,” he says. “They’re all excellent people and I appreciate that.”

Though Mattinson did not grow up in a Christian home, he came to faith years ago while in jail. “Sometimes when you’re in the hole, all you can get is the Bible,” he says. “So I read it from cover to cover and did all these Bible courses.”

Mattinson’s faith faltered after he left jail and found himself returning to his previous life, but he has had a spiritual reawakening at Cedarbrae.

“I’m reading the Bible again now and trying to better myself—to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk,” he says.

“I believe in Jesus Christ now, whereas I questioned it before. I don’t question it anymore. I believe that he died for our sins and that’s it.”

Team Player Along with his involvement at the Cedarbrae church, Mattinson is also a dedicated volunteer.

“I asked him about getting involved at the food bank and with the kettles, and he said he’d like that because he needed that in his life at the time,” Major Cecil says.

“With all the years the Army has been helping me, I wanted to do something for them,” Mattinson explains.

During his first year on the kettle campaign, Mattinson did four or five shifts a week; this past year, he often did six.

“I put in quite a few hours,” he acknowledges. “Sometimes people

wouldn’t show up so I’d stay there until they did. I didn’t mind.”

Mattinson also enjoys volunteering at the food bank.

“He’s the type of person who if you ask him to be here at 8 a.m., he’s probably here at 7:30,” Major Cecil comments.

“He is very caring and compassionate with those in the food bank—it seems to come naturally with Glen,” adds Major Tina, community ministries officer. “He takes initiative to help, but he doesn’t impose himself. He’s great at working with a team.”

“Volunteering has been good,” Mattinson says. “When I help somebody else, I feel better about myself. It’s keeping me out of prison, too, so that’s a bonus. I’m learning how to live the straight life.”

Not Alone Between Homestead, volunteering and attending the church, Mattinson has found the community he needed to grow spiritually and leave the life of addiction behind.

“The slogan for our ministry here is ‘a place to call home,’ ” explains Major Tina. “There are a lot of single people here who don’t have a nuclear family.

Now that Glen is attending here, he feels a part of something bigger than himself, and he knows that when he struggles, when he comes to pray, he’s not praying alone. Someone will come and support him.”

Mattinson’s relationship with the Mitchells has been particularly important as he’s integrated with the Cedarbrae community. He even spent his first Christmas with them after he got out of jail. “They made up a nice Christmas dinner and we had a good time,” he says.

“I enjoy the company of Major Cecil and Major Tina.”

“I keep in touch with Glen at least a couple of times a week,” Major Cecil says. “I’ll send him a note to see how he’s doing.”

As Mattinson admits, turning his life around after decades of addiction has not been easy, but Cedarbrae has made it possible.

“Being a part of the church and volunteering means a lot to me,” Mattinson says. “I’m enjoying life better. I’m finally realizing that you can have a life without drugs and you can still have fun.

The people here helped me turn my life around and I’m happy about it.”

Salvationist May 2019 19

Spreading the Word

A thriving Mandarin ministry shares the gospel in South Vancouver.

Photos: Ray Shum

BY KRISTIN OSTENSEN

Aux-Cpt Parker Shieh leads an interactive children’s time during a Sunday morning meeting at New Life Church.

S

outh Vancouver is one of the most diverse communities in Canada. It’s a place where minorities are the majority, with Chinese people making up almost 40 per cent of the population.

In other words, it’s the perfect location for a Chinese Salvation Army corps.

Led by Aux-Captain Parker Shieh, New Life Church is a ministry within Southmount Citadel, where Aux-Captain Parker is assistant ministry director.

The Chinese ministry began in 2012 with a Bible study of seven people; the church has since grown to more than 150 members.

“Praise the Lord!” Aux-Captain Parker smiles.

His vision from the outset has always been clear: “I want to do evangelism with the immigrants from China because most of them only know atheism—they 20 May 2019 Salvationist

don’t know anything about God,” he explains. All of the programs at New Life support this vision of bringing people into the church and introducing them to the gospel.

Since starting the Chinese Bible study, Aux-Captain Parker, together with his wife, A sign in front of the corps identifies The Salvation Ling-Li, have launched various Army in both English and Mandarin. community ministries, including ESL classes, seniors’ ministry, tutoring them, ‘If you need help, go to church!’ ” for children, Chinese school, a choir, a Aux-Captain Parker laughs. youth group and more. “When people For Lily Ng, a New Life member for immigrate here, they feel insecure—they more than five years, this focus on servfind it hard to fit into this communing others is what she appreciates most ity, this new culture,” says Aux-Captain about the church. “Parker and Ling-Li Parker. “So we ask, ‘What can we do to carry out the doctrine of practical help them?’ ” Christianity—soup, soap and salvation, Most of the church’s clients come on a shoestring budget—with unselfish, through word of mouth. “When they heartfelt dedication and divine faith,” arrive from China, the people here tell she says.

Lillian Lee, Sunday school principal, reads a picture Bible with a young church member.

The church’s youth group, which meets on Friday nights, is led by AuxCaptain Parker’s son, Edison. The Southmount building is within walking distance of one high school and is a short drive from another, making it easy to access for local youth.

As with the church generally, Edison hopes the group will help young people develop a relationship with God, but the church offers various activities to bring them in. Along with time for worship and Bible study, the Friday night gathering includes games and snacks. “It’s exciting for them to be able to meet new friends, and discover more about themselves and where they fit into society,” says Edison.

The youth group also volunteers with other Army ministries—in December, for example, they made chili for 1,000 people participating in the Santa Shuffle.

And while atheism can pose a challenge when ministering to Chinese adults, Edison says this is not the case with the youth. “Many of them don’t know much about Christianity so there aren’t any preconceived ideas,” he says.

“They come in with a very open mind.”

These photos show just some of the ways God is working through this ministry.

Aux-Cpt Parker greets church members during a Sunday meeting. “When I came to The Salvation Army in 2012, I had been the pastor of a Presbyterian church for three years and had just concluded my ministry there. One day, I was driving by the church and had an urge in my heart to pull into the parking lot. I didn’t know why, but I listened to the voice inside me saying, ‘Go in there.’ I got out of my car and saw a person working in the garden. I asked him, ‘May I see your pastor? It seems like this is a church.’ And he said, ‘That’s me!’ It was Mjr Gordon Armstrong. So we sat at a picnic table outside the building and talked about our ministries, and he said, ‘We have a lot of Mandarin-speaking people in this community. Would you like to come here to do some ministry?’ I accepted his offer and started a Bible study; about three months later, we had our first service. Before Mjr Gordon was transferred to Toronto, he told me that they had been praying for a Mandarin ministry to begin at the corps for five or six years, before God led me there that day.”

Once a month, the church celebrates the birthdays of members during the meal and fellowship time that follows the Sunday meeting.

Salvationist May 2019 21

Jennifer Chiao (second from left) is a member of the choir, which meets on Sunday afternoons, as well as the worship team, and she helps plan events for the youth group. “By being involved in all these things, I feel that I can use my talents, which God has given me,” she says. “I have been in this church since the beginning and I have seen how much the church and God are working on me and my children.

At New Life, we are a big family.”

Leng-Ya Peng teaches a level 1 ESL class.

About 500 people have been through the ESL program since it began in 2013. “As director of the ESL program,” says Ling-Li Shieh, “what I enjoy most is getting to know the new students, helping them settle in Canada and helping them to know more about Christianity and become Christians.”

Linda Nian is a student in the fundamental level ESL class. Along with regular curriculum, instructors use the Bible to teach students English. “In this way, they also learn about our faith,” says Aux-Cpt Parker. “This program has been very successful—quite a few people have become Christians through it, and some of the workers now also attend the church.”

22 May 2019 Salvationist

The Mandarin youth group, which has about 20 to 25 members, meets at the church on Friday evenings. Aux-Cpt Parker and Ling-Li (right) offer support.

Edward Hu is vice-president of the youth group and sings with the worship team on Friday nights. “Being part of the youth group has allowed me to become more mature and a better leader,” he says. “I appreciate the people who I have befriended here, and I appreciate volunteering when needed, especially at Camp Sunrise—seeing fellow Salvation Army volunteers help the children grow both spiritually and physically.”

Edison Shieh (centre) leads a small group discussion with members of the youth group. “Within the Chinese families, many of the young people are single kids,” he notes, “so when they come here and we do activities together, they have an opportunity to learn how to work as a team, to plan and organize things as a group working toward a common goal.”

Salvationist May 2019 23

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0229_0418

Loved and Chosen Who does God say we are?

BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK

W

hen I met Bonnie, she was in the midst of an identity crisis. Born and raised in Prince Albert, Sask., she had recently separated from her husband, didn’t have many close friends and felt adrift in a community that, while familiar, did not feel welcoming. “I don’t have children.

I’m not a mother or a grandmother,” Bonnie shared. “I’m not a Mrs. anymore.

Where do I fit?” She was struggling to answer the question, “Who am I?” and yearning for a place to belong.

My suspicion is that Bonnie is not alone.

I am currently enrolled in Arrow, a Christian leadership development program. During my first residential experience, I was asked to answer this seemingly simple question—Who am I?—in three minutes. I started with my name and quickly added my profession.

Then things got interesting. There were two minutes and 50 seconds on the clock, and I was stuck. My name and profes-

sional title had become all-encompassing.

After several seconds of awkward silence, I continued: I am a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend—I am defined by my relationships. I am a musician, a writer—hobbies and skills came next.

The problem with identifying ourselves in these ways is that each of these things is conditional. What if I lose my job, or my spouse dies, or I’m no longer able to play the violin due to injury or illness? If we allow these things to define us, we run the risk of losing our identities, purpose and sense of worth.

I think it’s more than a catchy melody that launched Lauren Daigle’s song You Say to the top of both Christian and secular music charts. The chorus reminds us that we are loved, strong, held and have a place to belong. We are hungry for the truth that we find our identity in Jesus.

As followers of Christ, there is a better way to define our identity than a resumé or Facebook profile. The answer

to the continual search for identity is always Jesus. What does he say about us?

The Bible is full of descriptions of who God says we are—and they are messages we need to hear: I am wonderfully made (see Psalm 139:14). All too often, we feel that we don’t measure up to the standards of the world. We apply filters to our photos before posting them to Instagram. We pad our resumés. We count our Facebook likes. Psalm 139 affirms that we are wonderfully made and need not compare ourselves to others to know that we are beautiful in God’s sight.

I am a child of God (see Galatians 3:26) and a friend of Christ (see John 15:15). Relationships are gifts from God, but they are fragile. If relationships are broken, we can question our identity and worth. Perhaps you are estranged from your parents, have a prodigal child or were abandoned by a friend. Find comfort in trusting that God is a good Father, and that Jesus calls you his friend.

I am a citizen of heaven (see Philippians 3:20). As people increasingly move from place to place, citizenship becomes fluid. Sometimes it can become offensive—many were ashamed to say that they were German after the Second World War. In many ways, being a citizen of heaven is not a future concept, but a present reality, for “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). As good citizens, we are called to care for those around us and fight for justice on earth, giving our lives purpose.

As you read your Bible, you will find many more descriptions that will give you hope and assurance as you discover your true identity.

When we understand who we are in Jesus, everything changes. Our attitude toward ourselves changes: our confidence increases and we see value and purpose in our lives. Our attitude toward others changes: we no longer feel the need to compare ourselves to others or define ourselves by what others think of us. And our attitude toward God changes: we celebrate our relationship with him through the Holy Spirit, we are drawn to heartfelt worship and we long to live our lives in a way that pleases him.

God knows exactly who we are. Do you believe him?

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

Salvationist May 2019 25

Photo: © Eziutka/iStock.com

GRACE NOTES

CROSS CULTURE

IN REVIEW The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

This new film, available on Netf lix, tells the true story of William Kamkwamba, a schoolboy i n Ma law i.

Having a curious mind and being mechanically inclined, William fixes radios and spends his free time at the local junkyard looking for salvageable electronics. Unfortunately, William is forced to leave school because his parents cannot pay his tuition fees, but he continues to access the school’s library where he learns about electrical engineering and energy production. When drought strikes his village, causing crops to fail and resulting in famine, William uses his knowledge to build a windmill and save his community.

Jesus Christ!

The Man in the Arena

BY PETER BROOKSHAW AND STEPHEN COURT Au s t r a l i a n of f icer Captain Peter Brookshaw teams up with Major Stephen Court, evangelism consultant, Canada and Bermuda Territory, to engage with the question, Who is Jesus? The book aims to tackle head-on nine roadblocks that keep many people from believing that Jesus was who he said he was. Written with ordinary people in mind, the book approaches its subject matter with energy and wit.

A conversation-starter and a resource for discipleship, Jesus Christ! includes challenging questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate individual reflection or group discussion.

BY ROGER SIMMONS In this memoir, Roger Simmons shares his life story in his own words, beginning with his childhood in Bishop’s Falls, N.L., to his time as a Salvation Army officer, his teaching career, his many years as a provincial and federal politician, and his time in the foreign service. Of particular interest to readers from Newfoundland and Labrador, The Man in the Arena will also be appreciated by Salvationists, as Simmons shares Salvation Army stories throughout the book. In his review, General Brian Peddle writes, “As a Newfoundlander who tries to keep connected with a place that has shaped my life, this book provides rich and intriguing insights into life in Newfoundland during an era all but lost on many.”

Nine Lies, Half-Truths and Outrageous Misconceptions About the Most Revolutionary Person Who Ever Lived

From Railway Brat to Diplomat

IN THE NEWS Nearly 60 per cent of food produced in Canada is lost and wasted annually, according to a new study commissioned

by Second Harvest. That amounts to 35.5 million metric tonnes of wasted food with a value of $49.5 billion. Worse still, the study suggests that 32 per cent of that waste is avoidable.

The study, conducted by Value Chain Management International, concedes that some food loss and waste (FLW) is unavoidable—for example, animal bones.

Avoidable FLW, which can be prevented, includes, for example, apples that reach a grocery store but are not purchased by consumers due to having been bruised in transit.

The report suggests that a root cause of FLW in Canada is “a culture of accepting waste.” It lists several reasons why both industry and consumers are accepting of FLW, and how government policies enable—or discourage—FLW. The report also highlights the role that food rescues and community food programs play in reducing waste.

26 May 2019 Salvationist

More Canadians Living Alone

If you come home to an empty house at night, you’re not alone. Using data from the most recent census and the General Social Survey on Family, Statistics Canada released a report showing that in 2016, for the first time, one-person households became the most common type of household in Canada, surpassing couples with children. One-person households now account for 28 per cent of all households; nearly four million Canadians aged 15 and older live alone, compared to just 1.7 million in 1981.

The majority of those who live alone have been in a cohabiting relationship before. Almost three-quarters had previously lived as part of a married or common-law couple. Among young adults (aged 20 to 34) who were living alone and not in a couple relationship, most stated that they were open to living in a common-law union (72 per cent) or that they intended to marry in the future (60 per cent).

Statistics Canada also found that living alone has a measurable impact on well-being. Individuals living alone reported lower levels of self-rated health and mental health, and 61 per cent of people living alone said that they were satisfied with their lives, compared to 72 per cent of those living with others.

Photo: © Ljupco/iStock.com

The Food Waste Epidemic

PEOPLE & PLACES

KING’S POINT, N.L.—King’s Point Corps acknowledges the contributions of two women’s ministries leaders as they retire. Standing under the flag held by CS Ernest Hollet are, from left, Mjr Brian Thomas, CO; Sandra Burt, who served as home league treasurer for 10 years; Lena Hollett, who served as home league secretary for three years; and Mjr Betty Thomas, CO.

MOUNT PEARL, N.L.—Mount Pearl Corps celebrates junior soldier day of renewal.

A performance by Amazed, the corps’ junior worship team comprised of junior soldiers, delighted the congregation. From left, Calvin Smith, CROSStraining leader; Kay Brett, cradle roll sergeant and CROSSzone leader; junior soldiers; and JSS Kent Brett, Ready to Serve leader.

BOTWOOD, N.L.—The home league is alive and well at Botwood Corps. Each week, 40-50 women ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s come together for fun, fellowship and refreshments. Under the leadership of HLS Kay Thompson and HLT Alma Cranford, the group of women from the corps and community also engage in activities outside the corps, such as helping shut-ins, visiting nursing homes and supporting those bereaved.

TORONTO—Sridhar Annapareddy proudly holds his Soldier’s Covenant as he is enrolled as a senior soldier at Yorkwoods CC. Supporting him are, from left, CSM Joseph Eloge and Cpts Keesom and Tina Phanthaamath, COs.

Salvationist May 2019 27

PEOPLE & PLACES

TORONTO—Yorkwoods CC enrols eight senior soldiers during a visit of Commissioner Susan McMillan, territorial commander, and Mjr Alison Cowling, assistant chief secretary. From left, Cpts Tina and Keesom Phanthaamath, COs; Commissioner Susan McMillan; Folake Akinneye; Paulina Aghedo; Monica Mendoza; Joyce Jacob; Gladys Thompson; Patience Ileogben; Marion Duddi; Gracious Ileogben; and Mjr Alison Cowling.

GAZETTE

TORONTO—Members of Heritage Brass celebrate with their fellow band member Cliff Cummings on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Cummings, who plays solo cornet, has been a member of Heritage Brass (formerly the Metro Toronto Reservist Band) for close to 25 years. For the past 73 years, he has been a faithful band member at his home corps, Toronto’s Agincourt Temple CC (formerly Danforth Citadel), where he has also served as deputy bandmaster and taught young people to play brass instruments. From left, Mjr Ron Millar, executive officer of Heritage Brass; Lt-Col Sandra Rice, DC, Ont. CE Div; Cliff Cummings; and Alan Speed, band sergeant of Heritage Brass.

TRIBUTE KINGSTON, ONT.—Born in Kingston in 1926, Donald Gordon McBride served in the Royal Canadian Navy on the HMCS Haida during the Second World War. Married to Joan (nee Dark) in 1946, together they welcomed five children, 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Don established his own construction company for custom homes which he expanded to include the merchandising, construction and maintenance of swimming pools. Don and Joan attended Kingston Citadel, where he served faithfully as the corps-sergeant major. From 1975 to 2001, Don and Joan volunteered in 11 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Africa, to complete 23 construction projects, including homes, schools and clinics for The Salvation Army, in response to natural disasters. Don and Joan were eventually supported by teams of volunteer Salvationists and other Christians who joined their efforts. Although he spoke only English, Don had an uncanny ability for communicating with adults and children, and inspired love and hope in all he met. In 1988, Don and Joan both received the Order of the Founder and were made companions of the Order of Canada in recognition of their overseas service. Don is survived by his wife, Joan, and his large and loving family.

28 May 2019 Salvationist

INTERNATIONAL Appointments: May 1—Mjr Tamotsu Nishimura, CS, Japan Tty, with the rank of lt-col; Cpt Kazue Nishimura, TSWM, Japan Tty; Jul 1—Comrs Robert/Janine Donaldson, TC/TPWM, Australia Tty; Lt-Cols Hervé/ Deborah Cachelin, TC/TPWM, Germany, Lithuania and Poland Tty, with the rank of col; Mjr Hartmut Leisinger, CS, Germany, Lithuania and Poland Tty, with the rank of lt-col; Lt-Cols Yusak/Widiawati Tampai, TC/TPWM, Indonesia Tty, with the rank of col; Lt-Cols Cedric/Lyn Hills, CS/TSWM, Indonesia Tty; Cpt Saga Lippo, CS, Finland and Estonia Tty TERRITORIAL Appointments: Mjr Byron Kean, Saskatoon Temple, Prairie Div; Cpt Kathryn Ritson, officer resources and records administrator, THQ (designation change); Candidates Jeff/Miya Robertson, Fenelon Falls, Ont. Reaccepted as major: Byron Kean Promoted to glory: Mjr Donald Snook, from Carbonear, N.L., Feb 24; Mjr Daphne Cole, from Halifax, Mar 6

CALENDAR Commissioner Susan McMillan: May 2-3 National Advisory Board, Toronto; May 4-5 with the Canadian Staff Band, Montreal Citadel; May 5-8 Territorial Executive Conference/Territorial Leaders’ Conference, JPCC; May 16-17 Holiness Institute, JPCC; May 20-22 U.S.A. Commissioners’ Conference, Alexandria, Va., U.S.A.; May 26 memorial service, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto; May 31-Jun 2 women’s camp, Twin Ponds Camp, N.L. Div Colonels Edward and Shelley Hill: May 2 National Advisory Board, Toronto; May 3 National Advisory Board, Toronto*; May 5-8 Territorial Executive Conference/Territorial Leaders’ Conference, JPCC; May 11-13 Holiness Institute, JPCC; May 18-23 General’s Consultative Council, Meeting 53, London Heathrow Renaissance Hotel, England**; May 26 memorial service, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto (*Colonel Edward Hill only; **Colonel Shelley Hill only) Canadian Staff Band: May 4-5 Montreal Citadel Canadian Staff Songsters: May 4-5 Cobourg CC, Ont.

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 highresolution 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.

Socially, Emotionally and Spiritually Secure saworldmissions.ca

Salvationist May 2019 29

SALVATION STORIES

A New Heart

Photo: Timothy Cheng

After years of abuse, God filled my life with love.

BY AINSLEE SEARLE

I

’m from a small village in Muskoka, Ont., called Hekkla. I was baptized in the United Church, but we didn’t attend regularly. Still, I’ve prayed to God for as long as I can remember.

I left home when I was 16. My father was an alcoholic and abusive and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

My first husband was also abusive. I endured black eyes and a broken nose.

I was afraid to leave, but I had to protect my two children—twins, a boy and girl.

I took them to my parents’ house, then went back to pack a suitcase. When I heard my husband come into the apartment looking for me, I hid in the closet, terrified of what he might do. God was watching over me that night—my husband came into the room, stopped, then turned around and left.

When I met my second husband, a military police officer, I thought things would be different. He was funny and kind, and showed a genuine interest in my children. We got married and I had another set of twins. Then his drinking started, and my heart broke.

After he returned from a peacekeeping tour in Syria, it got even worse. I begged him to quit. In the middle of this, our youngest daughter was born.

Finally, I took the kids back to Hekkla.

My parents gave me a piece of land to build a house, with the understanding that they would live with us. My husband later joined us, but when he became physically abusive, he was removed from our home.

I started to rebuild my life, going back to school and finding a job to support 30 May 2019 Salvationist

my family. I have good memories of the next five years—my mother was wonderful and I enjoyed being able to see her every day.

After she died, I continued to care for my father, who lived with me for another 20 years. It was a difficult relationship.

Although he could no longer physically abuse me, there was emotional and psychological abuse. I struggled with what it meant to “honour your father.”

For a long time, with everything that had happened in my life, it felt like my heart had turned to stone.

Then, in the spring of 2016, I met some women from the Salvation Army corps in Huntsville, Ont., when they came to visit a neighbour who was sick.

When she felt better, I started taking her to the women’s tea time at the corps, and began making friends.

Later that year, I started driving her to church on Sundays as well. I’ll never forget the first time I walked in.

Everybody was so welcoming—I felt like I was home. Slowly, I started attending even if my neighbour couldn’t come.

It wasn’t long before I found myself at the mercy seat. I asked God to forgive me, to come back into my life and be my strength. I felt God saying I didn’t need to worry anymore, that he would be with me.

In the end, I couldn’t take care of my father on my own anymore, and moved him to a long-term care facility. While visiting him one day, I bumped into a few members of the congregation. They asked if I was there to help with com-

munity care ministries. That’s when I started volunteering, and haven’t missed a month yet.

One time, the strangest thing happened at the service. I had just been to visit my dad. He had been pretty grumpy with me.

During the closing prayer, I had a vision of Jesus. I remember the colour of his robe and the light emanating from him. I was kneeling at his feet, and he put his hand on top of my head and blessed me. He made me feel like I was worth something—that I was worthy of love.

I couldn’t get this moment out of my head. Every time I thought about it, I cried.

When my father passed away last year, I was able to forgive him. It’s sad that I never felt loved by my earthly father, but I have felt love from my heavenly Father.

I feel his presence with me every day.

I became a senior soldier on February 18, 2018. It was one of the proudest days of my life. Majors Suzann and Darren Wiseman, my corps officers, have been excellent mentors, and the congregation has become like family.

I love to be at the church and volunteer—helping out in the food bank, helping cook for the seniors’ luncheon once a month, standing on a kettle and handing out Christmas hampers. I’m even learning to play the baritone in junior band!

My life is full now. I don’t know what God has in store for me, but I look forward to every day. God has filled my heart with love.

WHEN THE WORLD O P E N CLOSES ITS EYES, THEM.

BOOTHUC.CA

ED UC ATI ON FOR A BETTER WO RLD

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, JUNE 21 2 pm • Officers’ Councils 5 pm • Welcome Banquet 7:30 pm • Welcome Meeting 10 pm • Youth Event SATURDAY, JUNE 22 8 am • Prayer Breakfast 10 am • Workshops 12 pm • Indoor/Outdoor Fellowship & Celebration Event 4:30 pm • Candidates’ Reception 6:30 pm • Commissioning & Ordination SUNDAY, JUNE 23 8:45 am • Prayer Walk 10 am • Worship Service 1 pm • Silver Star Luncheon

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

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

UBC Campus, Vancouver

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