Salvationist + Faith & Friends January/February 2026

THE VOICE OF THE ARMY

SALVATIONIST JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

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SALVATIONIST.CA

OPEN HANDS,

OPEN HEARTS Salvation Army lives out God’s love in Costa Rica and Panama

WELCOME TO THE ROCK

Spotlight on Newfoundland and Labrador

HEALTH AND WEALTH?

Rethinking the Pursuit of Happiness

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 Volume 21, Number 1

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FEATURES 9 / What Love Looks Like

Lunch program in Colón, Panama, is a place of refuge.

by Major Elaine Locke

10 / Open Hands, Open Hearts

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In Costa Rica and Panama, The Salvation Army nurtures hope where it’s needed most.

by Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray and Mark Yan, Photographer

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14 / Vibrant Faith

Reflecting on service and self-denial in the Tanzania Territory.

Interview with Major Kelly Rideout

18 / For God’s Global Work

Partners in Mission initiatives raise funds—and excitement—across the territory.

by Abbigail Oliver and Kyle Mangio

20 / The Pursuit of Happiness

Is it about health and wealth, or something more?

by Aimee Patterson

DEPARTMENTS 5 / Frontlines

22 / Handmade Hope

A crafty card-making group in Penticton, B.C., is a source of connection and encouragement.

by Abbigail Oliver

16 / The Home Front

Welcome to the Rock

by Giselle Randall, with Abbigail Oliver

24 / Knowing Christ

The Bread of Life

by Major Corinne Cameron

26 / What’s Your Story?

Ambassador at Large

by Ken Ramstead

“

We need spiritual breakthrough which will see our faith communities in every place living into health and growth and a flourishing that will continue long into the future.

”

—GENERAL LYNDON BUCKINGHAM, PAGE 7

27 / Living History

A Firm Foundation

28 / People & Places 30 / Q&A

Real Religion Interview with Stephen Moorgen

COLUMNS

CONNECT ONLINE

4 / Editorial 8 / Onward

@salvationistmagazine Subscribe to our YouTube channel and get notified when new videos are posted

A Global Family Interview by Commissioner Lee Graves with Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray

25 / Grace Notes

A Toxic Take

by Captain Laura Van Schaick

Chess Rocks!

@salvationistmagazine Follow us on Instagram for the latest and best Army photos and Reels /salvationistmagazine Like us on Facebook for photos, live streams and updates. Interact with our community of 44,000+ followers

Jesus, Take the Wheel

by Geoff Moulton

READ AND SHARE IT!

Visit Salvationist.ca to add your comments and read web-exclusive articles

issuu.com/salvationist Read current and past issues of Salvationist, Faith & Friends and Just for Kids on your tablet, desktop or smartphone

IT’S THEIR MOVE P.5

Hospital Chaplain

ARMY IN ACTION P.12

Helping Others

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F

A CUT ABOVE P.8

OR LIVING

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2026

faithandfriends.ca

HOCKEY PLAYER MATTH EW ALLEN REFLECTS THE LIGHT OF JESUS— ON AND OFF THE ICE. P.16

SALVATIONIST

Cover photo: Mark Yan JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

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EDITORIAL

SALVATIONIST

is a bimonthly publication of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory Lyndon Buckingham General Commissioner Lee Graves Territorial Commander Lt-Colonel John P. Murray Secretary for Communications Geoff Moulton Director of Communications, Editor-in-Chief and Literary Secretary Pamela Richardson Assistant Editor-in-Chief Kristin Ostensen Managing Editor of Salvationist and Salvationist.ca Giselle Randall Senior Editor of Salvationist Abbigail Oliver Editor of Just for Kids and Staff Writer Ken Ramstead Editor of Faith & Friends Lisa Suroso Graphic Design Specialist Rivonny Luchas Digital Media Specialist Emily Pedlar Junior Graphic Designer Logan Graves Circulation Co-ordinator Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769.

Member, The Canadian Christian Communicators Association. 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.

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Phone: 416-422-6153; fax: 416-422-6217; email: circulation@salvationarmy.ca.

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News, Events and Submissions

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

Mission

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world. Salvationist informs readers about the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL

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here are few things more humbling than sitting in the passenger seat of your own car—white-knuckled, trying to look relaxed—while a newly licensed teen attempts to execute a left turn into oncoming traffic. Now multiply that by two. Yes, in the Moulton household, we have not one but two fledgling drivers.

I find myself reminiscing about the days when the biggest transportation challenge in our family was updating the kids’ public transit pass. These days, I do my best to offer calm encouragement while quietly pressing my invisible brake pedal into the floorboards and praying that my insurance rates don’t skyrocket.

Teaching teens to drive is an exercise in patience, trust and, occasionally, survival. There are non-existent shoulder checks, crooked parking attempts and panicked searches for speed cameras. My kids will balk at a request to drive to the corner store for milk but are quick to ask for the keys when they want to see their friends on the weekend.

Of course, our family’s motoring adventure comes with new benefits. Cars now come equipped with more screens than a movie theatre and more bells than a Christmas kettle. Some vehicles even claim to drive themselves—though I’m not yet comfortable testing that innovation! These days my dashboard speaks to me, my mirrors beep when I change lanes, and my GPS can almost predict my arrival time in Toronto traffic.

We’re told that technology will make life simpler. But sometimes it seems the more gadgets we acquire, the more complicated and distracted we become. We can follow the glowing blue path on a screen and still end up lost. We can have a vehicle that alerts us to everything—except the fact that we’re heading in the wrong direction.

As we ring in 2026, Salvationists may find ourselves in a similar position. We have maps, data, strategies, mission statements and beautifully articulated priorities.

We can plan our route with precision—and still miss the point if we forget who is meant to be in the driver’s seat.

The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda is called to ministry that moves, responds and arrives where God sends us. We serve in a world that is hurting, constantly changing and often uncertain of its direction. Just like a nervous parent coaching a young driver, we may feel the urge to seize control, steer from the sidelines or anxiously brace for what might go wrong.

Fortunately, the Christian journey is not a selfdriving mode. While we are thankful for our best gadgets, clear strategies and well-marked maps, we remember who is in the driver’s seat. Thankfully, Jesus not only charts the course but travels with us. Our task, as Salvationists, is to keep alert, be faithful and stay the course.

As we turn the ignition on a new year, let’s loosen our grip, look ahead with confidence and trust the One who knows the road better than we ever could. Jesus remains in control.

With him, we will always arrive exactly where we are called to be.

GEOFF MOULTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

FRONTLINES

ONTARIO

Celebration of Culture Shifts to Ontario (Below) Joining in celebration through dance.

From left, Mjr David Ivany; Comr Susan McMillan; Claire Dunmore, territorial community mission secretary; and Cpt Joyce Downer

The seventh-annual Celebration of Culture, a partnership between The Salvation Army and Indigenous Pathways, was held at Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont., in September.

“We wanted to expand our reach and offer a reconciliation learning day for people who weren’t able to travel to Pine Lake Camp in Alberta,” says Captain Crystal Porter (Euro Canadian and Mi’kmaq), territorial Indigenous ministries consultant. “It’s important to create spaces across the territory where people feel welcome to learn what reconciliation means in their context, and to laugh, celebrate and walk together in new ways.”

The learning began as participants formed a circle outside, and Captain Porter shared a land acknowledgment, recognizing that participants were gathered on Anishinaabe lands, and the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island—the closest First Nation community to Aurora.

Then Major Shari Russell (Saulteaux), who has been seconded to NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, led a smudging ceremony—a prayer of cleansing—to start the day.

The morning continued with teaching from Adrian Jacobs (Haudenosaunee) on wampum belts. Woven in intricate patterns from beads made of seashells, wampum belts record history and mark agreements between peoples.

At lunch, participants were treated to new flavours—Three Sisters soup, bison chili, bannock with maple butter, and cedar tea—catered by Indigenous entrepreneur

Candace Esquimaux (Anishinaabe). They also had the chance to view and purchase beaded jewelry by guest Kenneth Wallace (African American Choctaw Pawnee).

In the afternoon, Jacobs led a second teaching session on incarnational missiology, exploring the intersection of faith and culture, and how Indigenous theologians have needed to disentangle the gospel from its cultural package.

“That’s the Jesus that came to us— European Jesus. A blonde-haired, blueeyed white man. That’s what came with the churches,” says Jacobs. “We should be able to share the message of the gospel in such a way that everybody in the world can receive and take in Jesus as one of them.”

Theresa Treadwell, knowledge mobilization and implementation specialist in the social mission department, lives close to the Chippewa people of Georgina Island, where she has attended many educational and cultural events. But the Celebration of Culture has added a new layer of meaning.

“Hearing how Indigenous creation stories prepared people for the gospel really moved me,” says Treadwell. “It’s wonderful to see God at work in ways you might not have understood before.”

Listening and learning is a lifelong journey, says Captain Joyce Downer, divisional youth secretary, Ontario Division.

“I think Indigenous teaching is reframing my understanding of who God is, my relationship with the rest of creation, the created and the Creator.”

In the evening, Jonathan Maracle (Mohawk), founder and lead singer of the music group Broken Walls, performed a

Photos: Jerimi Jones

(Above) From left, Kenneth Wallace (African American Choctaw Pawnee); Adrian Jacobs (Haudenosaunee); Comr Susan McMillan; Mjr Shari Russell (Saulteaux); Jonathan Maracle (Mohawk); Cpt Crystal Porter (Euro Canadian and Mi’kmaq); Lt-Col Brian Armstrong, DC, Ont. Div.; and Lt-Col Lynn Armstrong, divisional officer personnel secretary and divisional secretary for spiritual life development, Ont. Div., at the Celebration of Culture

concert and shared some of his own journey to reclaim his Indigenous identity as a follower of Christ. He was accompanied

by Kenneth Wallace on the drum, who also joyfully led the audience to leave their seats and join in a dance around the room.

For Joel Gordon, director of ministry partnership and innovation for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Celebration of Culture offered a chance to deepen relationships after meeting Maracle through other reconciliation efforts.

“Indigenous teaching is reframing my understanding of who God is, my relationship with the rest of creation, the created and the Creator.”

—CAPTAIN JOYCE DOWNER

“Learning more about wampum belts from Adrian had a deep and personal connection for me, because I was gifted a wampum bead bracelet by Jonathan Maracle a few months ago, as a symbol of our friendship,” he says. “Now I’m able to connect 800 years of history with a person I’m on a journey of sharing and learning with. For me, reconciliation is being sparked one friendship at a time.”

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FRONTLINES

TERRITORIAL NEWS

ONTARIO

New Thrift Store Partnership Makes Donating Easier Delegates, faculty, officers and territorial leaders gather at THQ for Explore Your Call 2025

Explore Your Call 2025 Inspires Transformation In October, 64 delegates from across the Canada and Bermuda Territory gathered in Toronto to participate in the annual Explore Your Call weekend.

This marked the first time the event was hosted at the College for Officer Training (CFOT) at territorial headquarters, which provided a unique opportunity for those exploring full-time vocational ministry within The Salvation Army to get a glimpse into CFOT. The gathering began on a Friday with a thought-provoking opening session by Dr. Rob Fringer, president and vice-chancellor of Booth University College, who highlighted God’s continuous calling of people to vocational ministry. His message concluded with uplifting scriptural examples of how answering that call leads to transformation and joy.

Various self-selected topic tracks enabled delegates to explore their call, with sessions that included hearing God’s voice and listening for sacred next steps; identifying spiritual gifts, cultivating spiritual life, and healthy spiritual leadership; character and leadership development; spiritual calling to local leadership; single and single-spouse officership; ministry myths and facts; CFOT life; and living out calling and covenant as a Salvation Army officer.

Time for fellowship and connection was built into the weekend to foster community-building during what can be both an exciting and daunting season of discernment. Inspiring testimonies were shared by first-year cadets.

A highlight was the Saturday evening ice cream social, following a lively interview panel with new, seasoned and retired officers.

Each day, delegates gathered to participate in worship. Encouraging— and challenging—messages based upon God’s Word were also shared daily.

On Friday, Colonel Margaret McLeod, chief secretary, invited delegates to listen attentively as they are all called to be messengers for God, and she encouraged delegates to respond faithfully to the messages God gives, even if they are unexpected.

On Saturday, Major Carson Decker, territorial candidates secretary, referencing how Jesus called some of his disciples, challenged delegates to identify and let go of their “nets”—whatever might be getting in the way of pursuing God’s greater purpose for their lives (see Matthew 4:18-20).

Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander, sent the delegates out on Sunday morning with a message of encouragement based on the weekend’s Scripture theme, Isaiah 6:1-8, reminding them that while they may feel unqualified and ill equipped to enter into vocational ministry, it is God himself who qualifies them. Commissioner Graves noted that when they respond to God’s invitation into a relationship with Jesus, and when they accept his sanctifying grace, they are then qualified to go out and participate with the Lord in whatever transformational work he is calling them to do.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

The Salvation Army’s National Recycling Operations (NRO) is making it simpler than ever for Ontarians to give back. Through a partnership with PUDO Inc., one of North America’s largest e-commerce pickup and drop-off networks, donors across the province can now conveniently ship gently used clothing, shoes and accessories to the Army’s thrift stores, completely free of charge.

This innovative program, currently piloting in Ontario, expands NRO’s reach, offering more people the opportunity to give their pre-loved items a second life while contributing to a more sustainable future. Donors can even reuse boxes from their online shopping deliveries, making it both environmentally friendly and easy to participate.

“Our partnership with PUDO removes barriers for donors who might not live near one of our thrift stores,” says Tonny Colyn, national director—development and sustainability (administration) at NRO. “By offering a free shipping service, we’re making it even easier for people to support their community while extending the lifecycle of usable items.”

To participate, donors can visit the thrift store website to generate a free shipping label, pack their items and drop them off at any of more than 500 PUDOpoint Counters across Ontario, located in participating convenience stores, dry cleaners and drug stores.

“Donations are truly at the heart of what we do,” adds Colyn. “Each bag of clothing or pair of shoes dropped off through this program helps fund local Salvation Army programs and services that provide food, shelter and hope to those who need it most.”

This partnership reflects NRO’s ongoing commitment to innovation, accessibility and environmental responsibility—making it easier than ever for Ontarians to give with purpose, protect the planet and support neighbours in need.

FRONTLINES

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

General Calls Salvationists to Action A key theme in the General’s message is the emergence of a “Quiet Revival” led by young people across churches in England and Wales. Citing a recent report from the Bible Society, General Buckingham notes a dramatic growth in faith communities, challenging long-held predictions about the decline of Christianity. “We must let go of the desire to control, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead,” he says, urging Salvation Army communities to empower young people and embrace innovation and courage.

Commissioners Graves agree: “We must make space for them to lead, trusting the Spirit to guide us into new expressions of mission. Their creativity, courage and faith are vital to the future of our movement.”

The Call to Action is anchored in the launch of Compass, The Salvation Army’s Global Strategic Framework, unveiled in September 2024. Compass is designed to revitalize the Army’s spiritual and missional life through three core focus areas: Empowering People, Enhancing Mission Impact and Establishing an Enduring Legacy.

General Buckingham shares a vision for a growing, sustainable Salvation Army— one that is deeply engaged in mission and ministry, reaching people in everyday life and leading them into the kingdom of God. “Let us nurture a powerful life of prayer and win these battles in the spiritual realm, breaking through to new life and vibrant expression of our faith in the world,” he urges.

Compass people l mission l legacy

The General’s Global Call to Action

TO SALVATIONISTS, EMPLOYEES AND SUPPORTERS WORLDWIDE

I

APPEAL TO YOU, in this universal call upon The Salvation Army, that we pray for the Holy Spirit to inject us with a divine sense of urgency about our missional and spiritual life.

We must take hold afresh of who we are as The Salvation Army and apply, with great intentionality, the calling of God upon us all to transform the world through the love of Christ flowing out from our lives. If ever the world needed a Holy Spirit-driven, Jesus-centred, hope-filled Salvation Army, it is now.

We face challenges, but I see the greatest challenge being the level of our own enthusiasm for the mission that God has given us; how much we are open to the Holy Spirit reshaping our mission methodology for the very different world of the 2020s; how much we are shaped by the prevailing cultures and ideologies of the world instead of being shaped by Jesus and the values of the Kingdom of God. I believe our faith in Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, can eclipse culture and ideology!

The Salvation Army still has credibility in the world, principally because of the vast range of social services we offer communities. They still see us as people who will help in times of need and crisis, people who will help without bias or judgement. Of course, that is part of who we are and we thank God for it.

people But Bronwyn* and I know and sense with every fibre of our beings that we need spiritual breakthrough which will see our faith communities in every place leaving behind the experience and the language of declining numbers, and living into health and growth and a flourishing that will continue long into the future.

We must not only hope for this but consciously come before God, confessing our lethargy and/or complacency, our tiredness of heart and mind, our personal sins, our low-level reliance on the Holy Spirit, any fatigue in our love for God, and our grief over people dear to us who appear to have been lost to the movement.

Let us now nurture a powerful life of prayer and win these battles in the spiritual realm, breaking through to new life and vibrant expression of our faith in the world, no longer curtailed by our own heaviness of heart.

*Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World President of Women’s Ministries

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY September 2024

‘Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenw ards in Christ Jesus’ (PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14).

The Call to Action is available to read in English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil and Indonesian at salvationarmy.org/ resources/generals-global-call-action.

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Photos: IHQ Communications

General Lyndon Buckingham issued a powerful Global Call to Action to Salvationists, employees and supporters around the world this fall. In a stirring appeal, the General urges the international movement to embrace a renewed spiritual vitality and missional focus, driven by the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ.

In his message, General Buckingham calls for a divine sense of God’s calling to reinvigorate The Salvation Army’s identity and purpose. “If ever the world needed a Holy Spirit-driven, Jesus-centred, hope-filled Salvation Army, it is now,” he declares.

“Bronwyn [Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World President of Women’s Ministries] and I know that we need spiritual breakthrough which will see our faith communities in every place living into health and growth and a flourishing that will continue long into the future.”

In the Call to Action, the General highlights challenges facing the church today, particularly the need for spiritual breakthrough and a revitalized enthusiasm for mission. He emphasizes the importance of prayer, confession and reliance on the Holy Spirit to overcome complacency and spiritual fatigue.

Commissioners Lee and Debbie Graves, territorial leaders for Canada and Bermuda, wholeheartedly endorse this call. “The General’s words remind us that spiritual vitality must always precede and empower our social action.”

The commissioners urge Salvationists in Canada and Bermuda: “Let us unite in prayer, align our efforts with this vision, and move forward with faith and courage. Together, as a territory and a global Army, we affirm our calling to bring the transforming love of Jesus Christ to the world.”

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ONWARD

THE SALVATION ARMY

A GLOBAL FAMILY How the Self-Denial Campaign brings The Salvation Army together.

Lt-Col Brenda Murray shares a moment with children at a daycare centre in Costa Rica

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ommissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander, spoke with Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray, director of the international development department, about the Self-Denial Campaign for the Salvationist podcast. Here is an excerpt from their conversation. Listen to the full interview at Salvationist.ca/podcast.

Commissioner Lee Graves: When we think

back to the beginning of The Salvation Army, one of our Founders, General William Booth, had an innovative, creative idea. He invited people to give something up for a time so they could contribute to the Army’s work. It became known as the Self-Denial Appeal, linked to the Lenten season. At International Headquarters (IHQ), they look to every territory around the Salvation Army world to participate— whether it’s a territory that is receiving funds or giving funds.

Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray: Yes, it’s so impor-

tant to realize that everybody does participate. I remember being on a mission trip to Cuba, and at the corps on Sunday, one of our team members was moved to tears to see a woman put money in the offering plate for Self-Denial—to see the need, and yet they’re still giving. That’s what makes the Self-Denial Campaign so rich, that every Salvationist is called to support the campaign around the Army world, and it unifies us in mission and purpose.

Photo: Mark Yan

LG: This is one of the wonderful ways

that we truly are a global family, a global Salvation Army. The international goal for the Self-Denial Campaign is in the range of $25 million (US) annually, and those funds are allocated as territories 8

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

have need, to operational budgets to keep Salvation Army ministry going. What is our territorial goal?

and bun lunch, or a walkathon—lots of fun things.

BM: Our goal is $2.4 million, and I’m happy

to say that last year we were just a little short of our goal, which is incredible when we consider the impact that the global pandemic had on international and local initiatives.

ment is also part of projects around the world that are making an incredible difference. What is the difference between the Self-Denial Campaign and the work you do every day in international development?

LG: The Canada and Bermuda Territory

BM: As well as developing resources

also uses the term Partners in Mission.

What is the difference between the SelfDenial Campaign and Partners in Mission?

BM: We adopted the Partners in Mission

terminology a number of years ago, and I think it very much aligns with the ethos of Self-Denial. It’s really about faith in action.

Jesus said, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 NRSVUE). So, to me, it’s about spiritual obedience and sacrifice, setting aside our own personal comfort and convenience to prioritize God’s mission. And when every Salvationist participates in Self-Denial, the worldwide Army stands together in solidarity. We are one Army, with one mission and one message. And I think this speaks to unity in global mission. We are partners in mission.

LG: How can Salvationists and all ministry

units be part of our Self-Denial efforts this year?

BM: It’s always encouraging and fun to

hear about the different ways corps and ministry units raise funds. It might be a cake auction at a corps, or a Sunday soup

LG: The international development depart-

for the Self-Denial Campaign, we also oversee approximately 94 humanitarian relief and development projects across 34 countries. We have focus areas of mother and child health projects, agriculture and food security, education, disaster relief and other areas. There are many ways that the funds can come into the department to support our projects—for example, through direct mail appeals, legacies and endowments.

LG: Our goal for the Self-Denial Campaign

again this year is $2.4 million. And we can do it. We’re reminded of the words of Jesus, “ ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ ” (Matthew 25:40).

BM: Thank you, Commissioner. I just want

to say it’s a real privilege. When I’ve had the opportunity to travel internationally, you really do see the difference that it makes to our global Salvation Army.

So often, people say thank you. So, on behalf of all the people around the world who have said that to me, I would love to express my thanks to everyone who supports The Salvation Army internationally.

Photo: Mark Yan

A joyful time of worship at a lunch program for children in Colón, Panama

WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE

Lunch program in Colón, Panama, is a place of refuge.

BY MAJOR ELAINE LOCKE

C

olón, Panama, often called the northern gateway to the Panama Canal, is a city of contrasts, rich in history, culture and resilience. As one of Panama’s major port cities, Colón has long served as a vital hub for global trade and travel. Yet beyond its bustling harbour lies a deeper story, one of community, faith and hope.

As our Partners in Mission team journeyed toward Colón, the scenery was breathtaking. The road was lined with lush greenery, palm trees swaying in the warm breeze and sunlight shimmering across the water. It was the kind of day that lifts your eyes upward and your heart toward gratitude. But as we neared the city, the landscape began to change. Grand buildings that once reflected Colón’s prosperity now showed the wear of time; faded paint and cracked walls and windows whispered stories of endurance.

Though the surroundings appeared tired, life and colour were everywhere.

People gathered in doorways, music played from open windows and children laughed in the streets. Colón had seen much yet continued to stand strong.

When our vehicle pulled up to The Salvation Army Colón Corps, Lieutenant Manfred Ortiz Alaniz was waiting for us.

Even from a distance, it was clear he was exactly where God intended him to be.

There was a quiet strength in his presence, a deep faith and dedication that anchored the ministry. He greeted us warmly and explained that in about 30 minutes, 40 children from nearby schools would arrive, eager for lunch and even more excited for worship.

Inside, volunteers prepared tables and arranged supplies. Lieutenant Alaniz shared that the program was about more than serving meals; it was about offering physical and spiritual nourishment, food for the body and hope for the soul.

The children are taught Bible lessons, Christian values and songs that remind them of God’s love and care.

Before long, the children arrived, their energy filling the room. When worship began, their voices rose together in Spanish as they sang Goodness of God: “I love you, Lord, for your mercy never fails me. All my days, I’ve been held in your hands.”

Hearing those young voices sing so sincerely was a moment none of us will ever forget. Children who face hardship and uncertainty each day were proclaiming the goodness of God with their whole hearts.

Colón Corps has become a refuge, a place of safety, comfort and belonging. No matter the challenges they face at home or in their neighbourhoods, the children know this is a place where they are loved, can speak freely and are safe.

The corps is in one of Colón’s most difficult neighbourhoods, locally known as a “red zone.” Rival gangs, poverty and violence pose daily challenges. Yet even amid hardship, The Salvation Army stands firm, determined to bring a message of hope and peace.

Lieutenant Alaniz shared that his greatest reward is seeing the children’s faces, the trust in their eyes, the joy in their smiles and the warmth of their embrace. They look up to him and the volunteers not just as leaders, but as people who care deeply

and show them what love looks like. A verse that holds special meaning for him, and one he often shares with the children, is: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NRSVUE). It reminds them that they are valued, capable and deeply loved by God, a truth that inspires them to overcome challenges and believe that God holds their future.

The feeding program relies heavily on donations and community partnerships. Some days the future feels uncertain, yet God always provides. The Panama Canal Authority has sponsored the program over the years, and local restaurants often donate food. The generosity of others ensures that this ministry continues to make a lasting difference. Each meal served, lesson taught and prayer offered stands as a testament to faith in action.

As our time in Colón came to an end, the children’s song lingered in our hearts: “And all my life you have been faithful, and all my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.” Those words echoed long after we left, a reminder of what we had witnessed: God’s goodness shining brightly in a place the world might overlook. In Colón, that song isn’t just a melody, it’s a message. It’s the heartbeat of the children and those who serve alongside them, believing in hope, grace and the steadfast goodness of God. MAJOR ELAINE LOCKE is the project campaign manager in the international development department.

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OPEN HANDS,

OPEN HEARTS In Costa Rica and Panama, The Salvation Army nurtures hope where it’s needed most.

BY LT-COLONEL BRENDA MURRAY AND MARK YAN, PHOTOGRAPHER Whether through music at the School for the Blind in Panama, laughter at the Nicoya seniors’ day program in Costa Rica or a warm welcome at the immigration shelter in San José, Costa Rica, The Salvation Army nurtures hope where it’s needed most.

These images are more than snapshots; they reveal a movement of grace and transformation. More than programs or places, this is a story of people living out the gospel with open hands and open hearts, bringing glory to God in everyday moments of joy, dedication and love.

LT-COLONEL BRENDA MURRAY

is the director of international development.

Every tradition is nurtured with care at the Salvation Army daycare centre in Santa Cruz, Costa Rica. Teachers not only guide learning but also pass on the richness of culture, helping children grow with confidence and pride. Love, guidance and tradition, passed down through dedicated teachers, create a foundation where joy and belonging flourish.

(Opposite page) Children from the daycare centre welcomed us with music, dance and vibrant tradition. Their joy shone through every twirl, every smile and every word about what they love most at school. Meeting the dedicated staff revealed a community rooted in care, culture and compassion—a celebration of togetherness we won’t forget. u

he Salvation Army’s ministry in the Latin America North Territory—spanning 10 Spanish-speaking countries—is a vibrant expression of faith, culture and compassion. This photo essay focuses on Costa Rica and Panama, where God’s love is lived out in classrooms, corps halls, seniors’ homes, migrant shelters and a training college.

From children dancing in Santa Cruz, Costa Rica, to youth praying in Chilibre, Panama, lives are being shaped through fellowship and service. Cadets in San Rafael de Heredia, Costa Rica, prepare for prepare for a lifetime of ministry, while leaders such as Lt-Colonel Juan Mercado, chief secretary, Latin America North Territory, call the church to generosity through selfdenial. Officers, staff and volunteers walk alongside seniors, children and migrants, creating spaces of belonging and dignity.

u

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(Top middle) Huddled together in small u groups, children of the Salvation Army youth program in Chilibre, Panama, gather in heartfelt prayer. This church-based ministry nurtures young lives through worship, learning and service, planting seeds of faith that will grow into lifelong discipleship.

Surrounded by the love and dedication of volunteers, these moments reflect a generation growing strong in God’s love.

Amidst the rugged beauty of San u Rafael de Heredia, Costa Rica, is The Salvation Army College for Officer Training, where cadets prepare for a lifetime of ministry and service. Steven Arias Silva, a second-year cadet, shared his heart for the mission with conviction: “I believe that God has called me to go out and seek lost souls. We are called to bless one another. No one can remain silent; we must be the voice that proclaims the good news.” His dedication reflects the passion and purpose at the heart of the training program, where learning, fellowship and faith shape leaders for the future.

Joy takes many forms at The Salvation u Army School for the Blind in Panama, including the steady rhythm of a drumbeat.

This program provides a safe and supportive space where adults from the community gather for fellowship, learning and growth. In this moment, Eduardo Muñoz expresses his joy through music, reminding us that creativity and community know no barriers.

With hands lifted in worship, Melissa Scotland de Henry, young people’s sergeant-major at the Rio Abajo Corps in Panama, reflects a heart fully surrendered to God. This moment echoes the truth of worship musician Matt Redman’s Heart of Worship—that worship is not about performance or music, but about returning to the centre of faith. Melissa shares: “I enjoy everything about my church, but most of all, working with the young people, helping them know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.” u

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u

Disability rights advocate Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart.” In this image, one of the residents of the Hogar Jackson Senior Centre in Panama, who is visually impaired, connects with Lieutenant Kassleen Velásquez Gutiérrez, a corps officer in the Panama Division.

The moment of joy shared between the women is beautifully captured in their smiles—an encounter felt deeply with the heart.

Laughter and joy fill the room at the Nicoya seniors’ day program in Costa Rica. Lieutenant Ricardo Antonio Letona de Natfa’s warm smile brightens the table. Around him, seniors from this Blue Zone region—an area known for its remarkable number of centenarians—come together to share stories, crafts and fellowship. Their longevity is often attributed to strong social bonds, daily activity, plant-based diets and a deep sense of purpose, all of which are celebrated and nurtured in this weekly gathering, creating a family-like atmosphere of warmth and belonging. u

Costa Rica is a key transit point for thousands of migrants travelling north, a movement known as the “South-North Flow” by the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM). In partnership with organizations such as UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), The Salvation Army supports the immigration shelter in San José, providing meals, temporary housing and emotional care.

Captain Ricaurte Velasquez, now serving as a corps officer at Light of Hope Family Church in Montreal, shares a casual moment with social worker Yoiling Porras Muñoz, who is dedicated to helping families navigate the challenges of migration. u

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(Above centre) In the Latin America North territorial headquarters in San José, Costa Rica, Lt-Colonel Juan Mercado shares his heart for ministry and mission. Reflecting on the impact of the Self-Denial Campaign, he says: “SelfDenial is the commitment, the sacrifice and the service that we can provide to others in need, giving and providing what we have without thinking of getting anything in return.” His words capture the spirit of generosity and hope that guides the territory’s leadership and inspires those who give.

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VIBRANT

FAITH

Reflecting on service and self-denial in the Tanzania Territory.

F

or more than 90 years, the Salvation Army flag has waved in Tanzania, an East African country known for its natural beauty and warm-hearted people.

In 2024, Majors Kelly and Paul Rideout were appointed to the Tanzania Territory where they serve as theological formation co-ordinator and training principal, respectively, at the Officers’ Training College (OTC) in Dar es Salaam. In this interview with Kristin Ostensen, Salvationist managing editor, Major Kelly reflects on the diversity and vibrancy of the Army in Tanzania, what self-denial means to her, and how God is speaking to her in this time of international service.

You were appointed to Tanzania in 2024. How have you adjusted to serving overseas?

Major Kelly Rideout: I think we’ve adjusted

fairly well. We’ve not lived outside of Canada before or travelled very much.

But when Commissioner Lee Graves, our territorial commander, called us in and asked us if we would consider serving in Africa, there was no question. It’s been more than 30 years since we had our first conversation with our divisional commander about international service.

It didn’t happen at that time, so we let it go. But there was a peace about this appointment, right from the moment the territorial commander asked us, and I think we’ve landed in a country that fits very well for us. The people here are kind-hearted and helpful, and we needed their support. We felt at home among the Tanzanian people very quickly.

How would you describe The Salvation Army in Tanzania?

KR: The people here are vibrant, deeply

committed and generous beyond their 14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

(Inset) Mjrs Kelly and Paul Rideout

Mjr Kelly Rideout (front, third from right) visits the Kanisa la Jeshi la Wokovu Chamazi Corps, Dar es Salaam

means, having a deep faith and trusting the provision of God. They are serious about their faith, and they love being together—you can see it through the support that they give each other. The Salvation Army in Tanzania is a strong community.

Your last appointment in Canada and Bermuda was also at the training college. How does the OTC in Tanzania compare?

KR: One difference is that Canada and

Bermuda has changed to a field-based training model, whereas here we still have the residential model, so the cadets live at the OTC and go to class five days a week.

For the most part, their courses are the same because there is an international standard that all training colleges adhere to. There are some courses that are unique, however. For example, there is a course on Christianity in the African context, and a course on world religions. One thing that is similar here is our emphasis on calling and covenant, and on servant leadership.

We also have a strong emphasis on biblical interpretation and spiritual disciplines, making sure that personal spirituality is the foundation.

Tanzania is incredibly diverse—it has around 125 ethnic groups and 100 languages. How does that impact the Army’s ministry?

KR: Language is something that is taken

into consideration when we’re sending cadets out. Some of them are used to speaking in their native tribal language and so we encourage them to speak, read and write in Swahili because it is the primary language of Tanzania, as well as English as they are able. There are many subcultures within the broader Tanzanian culture, so some of our cadets are going to be facing new cultural experiences even within their own country.

What does self-denial mean to you?

KR: As a child in The Salvation Army,

I remember thinking that self-denial was about competing to raise the most money for children in other parts of the world. As I got older, I could see that the Self-Denial Campaign was not just a corporate effort; it became personal. It was putting my needs behind the needs of others, denying myself and putting other people first.

I think self-denial should be something that actually comes at a cost. Rather than, “I have $100 so I’ll just throw that into

the pot,” it becomes, “I was going to do something with that $100, but I don’t need it as much as others who have more immediate needs. Because of self-denial giving, Salvation Army ministry around the world is made possible, and people are able to access medicine, physical rehabilitation, education. I will do without in order for someone to have something that’s essential for enriching their life.”

How has your perspective on self-denial changed since moving to Tanzania?

KR: In terms of the corporate Salvation

Army Self-Denial Campaign, I’ve now seen up close and personal all the good done through the donated funds, in territories that just don't have the resources needed.

So, the giving that comes from the campaign helps to alleviate some of the stress these territories are experiencing in helping those who need the support The Salvation Army is known for. Coming from the West, you might be shocked to see the challenges but would also see how much joy they have when they receive support.

They feel so blessed and grateful.

How do Tanzanian Salvationists participate in the Self-Denial Campaign?

KR: In a big way. They set goals for ministry

units, as we do in Canada and Bermuda.

But one difference is the people go out and collect funds from the community and encourage everyone to get involved in collecting for Self-Denial.

I’ll admit that before we moved here, I was not aware that receiving countries— those that are struggling with resources— would also do Self-Denial fundraising to this degree. But the people here are very proud to be a part of supporting SelfDenial.

Reflecting on your spiritual journey, how has God been working in your life since you started this appointment?

KR: As a Christian, there’s always a desire

to know God more, a constant seeking of him and a confidence of living in his will.

Through journeying with our cadets, I feel that God has helped me get back to the basics. It’s important to learn and educate yourself in many ways. But the basics are the Bible and prayer—and how impactful they are when you have them as the true priority.

I think we can get so caught up in the business and busyness of ministry, and being here, in Tanzania, has provided the opportunity to reflect and ensure that the foundational pieces of my relationship with Christ are at the very forefront. I think God has given me this time as a gift. We’re very busy, but it’s fulfilling, and through the reflective time that I’ve had here, God is reminding me of my calling and of why he has done what he has in my life. I can see the truth of Romans 8:28 (NLT): “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

A cake to celebrate the top three Self-Denial collectors among the cadets. From left, Cdts Grace Mwita, Joyce Nyamhanga and Eva Mnadi

“I’VE NOW SEEN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL ALL THE GOOD DONE THROUGH THE DONATED FUNDS, IN TERRITORIES THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED.” —MAJOR KELLY RIDEOUT What message of encouragement would you like to share with Salvationists in your home territory in this self-denial season?

KR: Canada and Bermuda is a blessed

territory in many ways, we are a giving people, and self-denial is a sacred opportunity that we all can be a part of. Self-denial is a way that everyone can impact the life of another, denying ourselves so that someone else’s life can be positively affected in their immediate needs and their future.

In thinking of the Self-Denial Campaign, I would encourage officers, soldiers and friends to allow God to guide you in generosity as you reflect on how God has blessed us, and consider the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” My encouragement is to support the Self-Denial Campaign prayerfully and joyfully as we are a part of the global Salvation Army, fulfilling our calling in building the kingdom of God.

(Below) Mjrs Rideout visit the Matumaini School in Dar es Salaam, which has been supported by the Canada and Bermuda Tty for a number of years

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THE HOME FRONT

The Home Front is an ongoing series where we highlight the mission and ministry taking place around our territory. We will visit each Canadian province and territory, as well as Bermuda, and celebrate the innovation and impact the Army is having in corps, social services and youth ministry.

WELCOME TO THE ROCK Making connections for Christ in Newfoundland and Labrador.

BY GISELLE RANDALL, WITH ABBIGAIL OLIVER Kids enjoy cookies at Café Connect

Photo: Courtesy of Major Jennifer Reid

AT A GLANCE LT-COLONEL SCOTT RIDEOUT

Divisional commander

LT-COLONEL MICHELLE RIDEOUT

Divisional officer personnel secretary and divisional spiritual life development secretary

64

CORPS

2

SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRY UNITS

13

CORPS THRIFT STORES

1

NATIONAL RECYCLING OPERATIONS STORE

5

EMERGENCY DISASTER SERVICES UNITS

1

CAMP

16 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

CAFÉ CONNECT IN ST. JOHN’S With connection at the forefront of their ministry focus, and with the support of the mission board, Majors Bradley and Jennifer Reid, corps officers at St. John’s Temple, N.L., wanted to create a space within the church that would foster a sense of community. This idea inspired Café Connect, a multi-purpose space for corps and community members to gather throughout the week.

According to Major Jennifer, the space was already there, fit with a kitchenette and kids’ area, but needed a refresh. “God has placed on our hearts this focus on connection, and so we wanted to build on the connections that already exist here,” says Major Jennifer.

The corps applied for home missions funding to refresh the space with new couches, café-style tables and chairs, new toy bins for the kids’ play area, and a kitchen and coffee station filled with a variety of coffee pods, creamers and syrups.

On Wednesdays, Café Connect is used for the Grow With Me program for babies, toddlers, parents, grandparents and caregivers. Later in the week, the Craft and Chat group gathers to make prayer shawls and other crafts. On Sunday mornings, the space invites congregants to share in coffee, snacks and fellowship together. It’s also used by the youth group and for leadership board meetings.

In the fall, St. John’s Temple launched its Alpha program, which also runs in the café, as well as Tuesday morning Connect4Prayer meetings.

“The people at our corps have really taken ownership of this café,” explains Major Jennifer. “Someone took care of the decor, another person was in charge of creating the kids’ corner. We even had a poll where people voted on the paint colour for the walls.

We really wanted the church to continue to love the space.”

One corps member designed a new Café Connect logo, featured on custom coffee mugs, and another made unique custom paintings for the walls that tell her own story of belonging.

“We’ve welcomed a lot of newcomers from Ukraine and other countries in the last couple of years. One of them is a Ukrainian artist, and she started painting using coffee, and donated two of her paintings. The story behind them is beautiful,” says Major Jennifer.

When Tim Hortons runs their smile cookie campaign, Majors Reid invite people to stay after church for a smile—a cookie— and that’s one of the ways the artist and her husband first found connection within the church family. So, one of the paintings is a smile cookie. The other painting is a Red Shield chocolate, which was handed out during a volunteer appreciation day.

“Sometimes you don’t realize the little things that speak to someone else and make them feel welcomed,” says Major Jennifer.

“These paintings have become conversation pieces for people.”

After an official grand opening in September, Café Connect welcomes people for weekly programming, continuing to be the most used—and loved—space in the church.

“We see Café Connect as a way to build the connections that are already taking root in our corps, but we are keeping our eyes and ears to God for new opportunities to invite more people in.”

—by Abbigail Oliver

THE HOME FRONT

Newfoundland and L abrador

Photos: Major Valerie Wheeler

Every Wednesday morning, the aroma of coffee and baked goods fills the air at Corner Brook Community Church, N.L., greeting participants of the FRESH— focused, relevant, empowering, supportive and hopeful—program for moms.

“I bake something every week so that when they come in, there’s always something fresh,” says Jane Ash, community and family services worker. “We’re a listening ear and a cup of coffee or tea— and a place to learn new skills.”

Ash started FRESH in 2015, after hearing from women through her role in community ministries. Many felt isolated and alone.

“I found a lot of the moms saying, ‘I spend all of my time parenting my children. I do nothing for me,’ ” she says.

“They also said, ‘I don’t really know how to cook or bake’—but they often got flour and yeast at the food bank. So, I thought, let’s teach them how to make homemade bread.”

Since then, FRESH has grown into an eight-week program, two to three times a year, for eight moms at a time. Each week begins with a devotional and then moves into an activity, such as a fun craft or cooking a meal to take home. Ash also brings in guest speakers to present on topics suggested by the women, including anxiety and depression, mindfulness and how to keep children safe online.

In the last session, three of the moms were widowed, and so Ash invited a social worker to share resources on grief, as well as how to help children navigate loss. For one of these moms, the group’s weekly practice of journaling became a helpful way to express and process her feelings.

“I say to them at the beginning, ‘I’m not a counsellor, but I can listen,’ ” says Ash. “The friendship piece means a lot to them—the fact that they have a place to go, where they can contribute and receive something. Emotionally, it’s very important for moms to have that.”

Where she can, Ash connects the women to other resources at the corps or in the community. The corps has also become a place of friendship and support for some of the kids of the FRESH moms—two girls go to the youth group, and one boy has joined the junior band.

“We want to empower these moms to be who they are and encourage them,” says Ash. “Not everyone has the same supports in place. It’s about saying, ‘You’re doing a good job. You’re a great mom.’ ”

FRESH is a place for moms to have fun, learn new skills and build relationships

Photo: Corinna Burton

FRESH PROGRAM FOR MOMS IN CORNER BROOK

Youth attend a workshop on fly tying

“LET’S DO THIS THING” IN BISHOP’S FALLS In Bishop’s Falls, N.L., where a river runs through the town, salmon fishing is popular—so a workshop on fly tying was a fun way for the Salvation Army corps to reach out to youth in the community. After trying their hands at some basic flies, they went outside to practise casting in the parking lot. The fly-tying workshops were part of a series of events, supported by a territorial innovation grant, called “Let’s Do This Thing.”

“Our goal was to develop meaningful relationships with youth and young adults,” says Major Judy Goudie, corps officer at Bishop’s Falls Citadel. “We wanted them to acquire life skills that will help them along the way.”

They promoted the initiative with fliers around town, and about 40 young people in total have attended the events, which are held every three or four months. The first, in January 2024, was a painting night. They have also offered baking lessons, a St. John’s Ambulance first-aid class and a babysitting preparedness course. Still on the agenda are sewing, cooking a simple meal and minor car maintenance and repairs.

The young people have been grateful for the opportunities and Major Goudie is hopeful it will lead to spiritual conversations.

“Everything we do, whether it’s just in the way we act toward them, represents Jesus and promotes Jesus-centred living,” says Major Goudie. “One day, they may start asking questions. That’s our goal as a church—to make a difference in somebody’s life and to win people for the Lord.”

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FOR GOD’S

GLOBAL WORK Partners in Mission initiatives raise funds —and excitement—across the territory.

BY ABBIGAIL OLIVER AND KYLE MANGIO

E

very year, ministry units in Canada and Bermuda collectively rally to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s international work through the Partners in Mission SelfDenial Campaign. For some, this means—as the campaign name implies—denying oneself a cup of coffee so the money can be given to the campaign. For others, it means putting their heads together to come up with a fundraising initiative that will get everyone at church talking and reaching into their pockets.

Here is a selection of corps from each division who raised funds for the Self-Denial Campaign in 2025, and enjoyed some food, fellowship and fun along the way.

BRITISH COLUMBIA BRITISH COLUMBIA

NOTHING LIKE AN ARMY CUP OF TEA The Willows Church and Family Life Centre, Langley, B.C. From teacups to trivia battles to beard trimmers, The Willows offered a range of exciting initiatives in 2025 to raise money for Partners in Mission.

In May, the church hosted a Victorian tea party, transforming itself into a charming tearoom complete with thrifted teacups and vintage-inspired decor.

Women and girls of all ages attended, dressed in elegant clothes and fascinators.

Attendees enjoyed a spread of cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon, curried chicken and egg salad sandwiches, along with traditional scones, clotted cream and a variety of desserts. With tickets set at $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and children, the tea party brought in more than $400.

The Willows’ main fundraising event, an annual trivia night and auction, invited teams to battle through eight rounds of trivia spanning pop culture, geography, movies and more, over a gourmet hot dog dinner.

Donated gift baskets were put up for auction, offering exciting prizes, such as handcrafted goods, beauty sets, gift cards and even a guided fishing trip. To further motivate bidders, Captain Dave McFadden, corps officer, pledged to shave his head and Brian Campbell, next generation ministries co-ordinator, agreed to shave his beard if fundraising surpassed $2,000. To the congregation’s delight, the final total reached $2,410.

Additionally, members of the corps pitched in throughout the year through weekly bake sales, teacher appreciation gift basket sales, direct donations and offerings, to help bring the corps’ fundraising total to $8,322.98 for the year.

“It’s a blessing to see our church come together with such joy, knowing every contribution helps strengthen God’s work globally,” says Captain Renee McFadden, corps officer.

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(Top) From left, Cpt Renee McFadden and Carly Butler enjoy a spread of delicious sandwiches, desserts, tea and scones at The Willows’ Victorian tea party (Above) A full house participates in a roast beef dinner at Lethbridge CC in April 2025, while many more enjoy take-out meals

PRAIRIES AND NORTHERN TERRITORIES PRAIRIES AND NORTHERN TERRITORIES

GOOD FOOD FOR A GOOD CAUSE Community Church of Lethbridge, Alta.

At The Salvation Army in Lethbridge, the annual roast beef dinner fundraiser brought together Salvationists and supporters for a delicious meal and a good cause.

Faithfully co-ordinated each year by a devoted team of retired officers, the fundraiser offered both dine-in and take-out options, at $25 each, so that everyone could participate. More than 80 hearty meals were served, complete with three courses: salad; roast beef with vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy and Yorkshire pudding; and dessert. Volunteers served the food and packed to-go meals with care, and guests enjoyed plenty of laughter and fellowship time.

ONTARIO ONTARIO (Below) Members of the corps perform at Cambridge Citadel’s talent show (Bottom) Kids at St. John’s Citadel watch as the gumball machine fills up, with each gumball equalling $50 toward their goal

urning eep B re K

Let Yo ur F i

TALENT TAKES THE STAGE Cambridge Citadel, Ont. In 2025, the children and youth at Cambridge Citadel took the lead on fundraising, hosting a dinner and talent show that showcased the many skills and hidden abilities within the corps. It was attended by 60 people, including kids and families, corps members and the wider community. By the end of the event, they had raised more than $500 toward the corps’ $13,000 Partners in Mission goal.

The talent show was open to the rest of the corps as well, not just the kids.

Youth leaders, older congregants and mother-daughter duos performed. The beginner and junior bands gave well-practised performances, and other acts sang or played instruments, such as the piano and even ukuleles.

One memorable act came from a grandmother and grandson who had recently come back from a cruise together. “They showed us how to fold towels into the shapes of animals, which they learned on their cruise ship,” says Major Danette Woods, corps officer. “It was really unique.”

For Major Woods, it was meaningful to see the kids take charge and get involved in the fundraising effort. “Our kids’ club is mostly community kids, not necessarily from the church, so for them to come in, hear about what Partners in Mission is and why we support it, and then be part of such a joyful evening—it was wonderful,” she says.

Major Woods notes that the people at Cambridge Citadel are always excited to do what they can to support fundraising initiatives such as these.

“When there’s something fun happening like this, the energy is up and people are eager to attend and support the cause,” she says. “Everybody enjoyed themselves, and we were able to put that money toward the work that God has called the Army to around the world.”

ATLANTIC ATLANTIC

2 0 2 5

Thanks to the generosity of the congregation and wider community, the roast beef dinner raised more than $2,000 for Partners in Mission, contributing to the corps’ total of more than $15,000, and far exceeding its original $10,000 goal.

All the ingredients and supplies for the dinner were donated so that every dollar raised could go directly to supporting The Salvation Army’s work internationally.

“There was a real sense of service throughout the evening,” says Lieutenant Zach Marshall, corps officer and community services officer. “All of our volunteers worked hard to make this happen.”

MAY THE BEST GUMBALLS WIN St. John’s Citadel, N.L. “The youth at our corps are very passionate,” says Kayla Marsh, children and youth ministries director at St. John’s Citadel, who for the past few years has hosted a friendly competition to incentivize kids and teens to give to Partners in Mission.

As part of the corps’ overall target of $41,000, the youth department set out to raise $2,000 through fun and interactive activities. Marsh makes a large gumball machine out of poster board and as money is raised toward the Partners in Mission goal, it slowly fills up with blue and pink gumballs—a boys-versus-girls race to the top.

One initiative that helps fill the gumball machine is a weekly bake sale, held every Thursday from February to April after youth music programs wrap up. The bake sale offers treats by donation—any amount welcome, whether one dollar or five—and two jars are set out for the boys and girls’ teams.

Marsh says that each year, the youth really get into the competition, and the bake sale treats are just a bonus for them. “We had people coming in weekly with bags of quarters and handfuls of loonies to put in their jars,” she says.

Additionally, once a month the youth department ran a Sunday morning toonie drive in the church foyer. The same boys and girls’ jars were put out, and members of the congregation were encouraged to drop in a toonie, though they often gave more.

“One boy would shout out, ‘Raise money for Self-Denial!’ and it brought smiles to everyone’s faces and helped raise even more awareness,” says Marsh.

In total, the youth department filled their gumball machine to overflowing, surpassing their initial fundraising goal at $2,200, with $850 coming from the weekly bake sales.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 19

THE PURSUIT

OF HAPPINESS

Is it about health and wealth, or something more?

BY AIMEE PATTERSON

M

any of us hold a Bible in one hand and a newspaper (newsfeed?) in the other, as theologian Karl Barth recommended. Unfortunately, we tend to hear more bad news than good. Stories about indignities against human life and a broad indifference to the state of creation have become commonplace. Sometimes I feel like the disciples on the lake during a squall. Finding Jesus asleep, they cry, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (see Matthew 8:25). Or, as the worship group The Porter’s Gate sings it, “Jesus, when you gonna wake up and calm this raging sea?”

CALCULATING HAPPINESS Every now and then, a good news story breaks through. One such story comes from a recent study that declares happiness still exists in the world.

The World Happiness Report, published annually by the Wellbeing

20 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

Research Centre at the University of Oxford, surveys people in more than 140 countries. The 2025 report claims the happiest nations are Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, with Finland taking first place for the eighth consecutive year. Canada ranks much lower at 18.

The United States wanders in at 24.

Although Bermuda is not included, I certainly remember being happy when I lived there as a child.

The survey appraises happiness by asking participants to rate their lives along the Cantril ladder. The rungs of the Cantril ladder are numbered from zero, signalling the “worst possible life,” to 10, signalling the “best possible life.” Beside the ladder are other descriptive words.

Toward the top rung is “thriving.” Midway down, “struggling” appears. At the bottom, we find “suffering.” Issues such as suicide, substance abuse and political populism are named here. In contrast, living the

best possible life—being happy—is tied to good health, low stress and prosperity.

By this measure, a person cannot be happy in low times nor miserable in good times. This makes me suspicious about how happiness is calculated. Suffering caused by mental illness can happen in countries where wealth and publicly funded health care are present. And I’ve received genuine grins from people living in tent camps.

So, what makes Nordic citizens so much happier?

According to the survey, Nordic cultures encourage strong kinship. It’s not that individual autonomy is unimportant.

It’s that benevolent relationships are normative. They are so common, in fact, that the remainder of the report outlines how happiness is shaped by values such as trust, kindness and generosity. These values are demonstrated through practical actions: eating and living together,

WHAT IS HAPPINESS, ANYWAY? The Christian faith upholds the truth that relationships are a crucial part of human identity. In Scripture, we find the first human being isolated and lonely until God creates a second person (see Genesis 2:18-25). Yet not all relationships—even those shaped by benevolence—guarantee happiness. Perhaps we need to ask, what is happiness, anyway?

There’s no shortage of answers to this question. Some say happiness is an emotional response to a positive experience or memory. Accordingly, happiness is not consistent or reliable. It comes and goes. Others say happiness is not about immediate gratification but is achieved through living a virtuous life. Doing and being good, though, is challenging and not always satisfying. And then there’s the theory that happiness isn’t happiness without a violin-playing goat.

THE BODY OF CHRIST UNDERSTANDS THAT THE HAPPINESS OF ONE MEMBER STRENGTHENS THE WHOLE BODY, AND THAT THE SUFFERING OF ONE MEMBER IS BORNE COLLECTIVELY THROUGH THAT STRENGTH.

That’s a joke I share with my husband, borrowed from the movie Notting Hill.

An actor-cum-asylum seeker, Anna Scott, makes the comment when she sees La Mariée, a painting by Marc Chagall, hanging in bookstore owner Will Thacker’s blue-doored sanctuary. The jest leads the couple to a happily-ever-after ending. But maybe this idea of happiness is more than a whimsical notion.

Animals playing stringed instruments were a common trope for Chagall. Some interpret it as his way of observing how joy pops up in the strangest places—even the darkest places found in the deep blue background of La Mariée. After all, Chagall’s life wasn’t without tragedy.

Originally from Belarus, he sought art education and inspiration in Russia only to leave for France in 1923 due to poverty and political unease. Later, in 1941, he escaped to the United States after being stripped of his French citizenship and arrested by the Vichy government.

A violin is light enough for travel. Its strings, capable of fiddling out sorrow and delight, sing the human condition the world over.

WHO IS BLESSED? The 2025 report wraps happiness up in a quote from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice: The quality of mercy “blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” Do unto others, we might chime in.

What else does Scripture say about happiness?

In the New Testament, the Greek word for happiness is makarios. Appearing 50 times, its definition is more complex than striving to live a virtuous life or appreciating something positive. Most often, our English Bibles translate makarios as “blessed.” Makarios is that blessed assurance we have when we know, no matter what we are going through, that God is with us. We may feel alone, but we are not alone.

Who are the blessed? Here, the Bible differs from the World Happiness Report.

They are not people in good health, experiencing low stress and prosperity. Jesus says they are poor, hungry, downtrodden, grieving and persecuted (see Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:20-26). They want to be righteous and merciful. They want to make peace. But it’s hard to do these things when excluded from society. When Jesus walks their way, they learn that the devilish temptations of wealth, power and prestige run contrary to God’s kingdom

(see Matthew 4:1-11). In Jesus, they see that God is with them.

Like Jesus, the Apostle Paul does not separate happiness from suffering. Paul knows that living on earth as in heaven is something we do best together as the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12).

The body of Christ is not just a gathering of people with similar beliefs who like each other. It’s a community that includes diverse membership—feet, hands, eyes, ears—living in solidarity. The body of Christ understands that the happiness of one member strengthens the whole body, and that the suffering of one member is borne collectively through that strength.

Yet throughout the Acts of the Apostles and in his own writing, we see Paul undergo oppressive persecution and isolation in prison. How does Paul know he is blessed? How does he know he is not alone?

Paul embraces the kind of weakness his culture despises. In the deepest way, he is convinced that happiness and suffering can exist side by side only because of God’s presence. Perhaps the Corinthian Christians, proud and prone to disobedience, would have been surprised to hear Paul say he boasts “all the more gladly” (hēdeōs, or undergoing something “with pleasure” or “willingly”) when he suffers for Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 12:910). Perhaps the Philippian Christians, humble and subject to persecution, were comforted to hear Paul say it is possible to find joy (chara) when isolated from community (see Philippians 1:8, 25 and 3:1).

So, what is happiness? What I know is that it’s not something that happens merely because we nurture kinship, though we should, or something that feels positive, though it can. It comes from Jesus: God’s good news of great joy for all people (see Luke 2:10).

The World Happiness Survey shares practical ways to be happy together. And we are better human beings when we are concerned with the needs of others.

But solidarity doesn’t prevent squalls from appearing on the horizon. When we batten down the hatches, let’s not forget that a violin-playing goat—God’s joyful surprise—can pop up when we least expect it.

DR. AIMEE PATTERSON

(AimeePatterson.com) is a Christian ethics consultant at The Salvation Army Ethics Centre in Winnipeg.

SALVATIONIST

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 21

Photo: Sabrina/stock.Adobe.com

caring for strangers and volunteering in communities of faith.

A vivid example of this benevolence comes from a New York Times writer, who compares her experiences of visiting libraries, one in Brooklyn and another in Helsinki, Finland (see http://bit. ly/3JQW9oI). Libraries are meant to be quiet places, but how silence is encouraged influences why we keep quiet. In the Brooklyn library, signs read, “Please keep your voice down.” The library signs in Helsinki read, “Please let others work in peace.” Both request silence but for markedly different reasons. Brooklyn patrons are asked to control themselves.

Helsinki patrons are asked to consider the needs of others.

andmade HHOPE Carl’s Flowers, a local florist shop, partnered with The Salvation Army Penticton CC to sell the handmade cards, with proceeds going toward Army ministries.

Here, Janna Fownes and Sheryn Krywolt present Mjr Lisa Trickett with a large cheque

A crafty card-making group in Penticton, B.C., is a source of connection and encouragement. would have thought making “Who greeting cards could raise more

than $12,000 in four years?” says Major Lisa Trickett, corps officer at Penticton Community Church, B.C., and an avid crafter.

For 23 years, Major Trickett has collected die cuts, stamps and other crafting materials for her hobby. Today, she runs a popular card-making class at the church where her personal collection has become a library for others to enjoy as they create something special together.

A CREATIVE CONNECTION The class is open to everybody in the church and community, and has grown to 37 regular attendees. For just four dollars, participants can create a card using all the materials provided.

“Not everybody has the money to buy all these supplies,” says Major Trickett. “So, we

22 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

provide everything. And if they don’t know how, we’ll show them card-making 101.”

With a large senior population in Penticton, many participants are looking for companionship in a safe, welcoming space. “Some have lost a loved one or are experiencing health concerns, and some just feel lonely and want company,” says Major Trickett. “Creating is so healing, and when they leave, they feel accomplished because they’ve made something.”

One participant, Evelyn, proudly sends photos to her adult children each time she finishes a new card, and they’re always impressed. Another member of the group, Elaine, has been involved for three years.

Having just moved to Penticton, she was looking for a scrapbooking or crafting group to connect with and was thrilled to find one offered by The Salvation Army. “The rest is history,” says Elaine.

Photos: Courtesy of Major Lisa Trickett

BY ABBIGAIL OLIVER

“It’s a safe spot for all who attend. The group is varied—one time there were ladies from five different churches,” she says. “It is an atmosphere of fun and fellowship, and now I have friends with similar interests who have also been there to support me emotionally and spiritually.”

Each of the participants—mostly women—comes into the class carrying a range of emotions: joy, sadness, grief, loneliness. But the card-making class has given them a place to work through their feelings with creativity and fellowship.

The class also attracts interest from a lot of youth at the corps who are seeking a creative outlet. “I’ve watched some of them go from middle school to high school, and to my surprise, they keep coming around. They even bring friends,” says Major Trickett. “We’re planting seeds. Even people who aren’t of faith are connecting with us.”

FINDING ENCOURAGEMENT The card-making group also builds a bridge between the community and the church.

“A lot of people come to me and say, ‘I’m not a Christian,’ or ‘I don’t believe in

God,’ and I say, ‘You don’t have to be,’ ” says Major Trickett. “We do everything in the foyer, so it’s a non-threatening space. When you come through the doors, everybody knows your name and greets you. It’s a beautiful community.”

Each class comes with time for coffee, tea and friendly conversation, and everyone takes turns baking and bringing in treats to share.

In 2025, the group chose to focus on a guiding theme of “encouragement.”

“We felt God was telling us that through these cards, we are helping people feel special and not forgotten,” says Major Trickett. “Our community needs to hear ‘I see you. I believe in you. I appreciate your time, your energy and your efforts.’ ” Participants are encouraged to give a card to someone in their community who needs to hear something positive.

“There’s a lot of negativity out there,” says Major Trickett. “What if we’re able to be a source of light in that negativity?”

FOR A GREATER CAUSE At Christmas, the group assembles about 300 card-making kits, each sold for four dollars, with three dollars going

toward The Salvation Army’s Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program. Over the past four years, they have raised more than $2,500 for villages in the Caribbean, supporting needs such as infrastructure, clothing and schooling.

Another key partnership is with Carl’s Flowers, a local florist that sells the handmade cards in their shop.

Proceeds support Salvation Army women’s ministries in Penticton. Since 2021, this partnership has helped raise more than $12,000.

TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL Some participants come to the class for the crafts, and others come to laugh, cry or simply find peace in the church. One woman begins each session by sitting in the sanctuary and playing the piano for half an hour before joining the group to make her card.

“The Lord really knew what he was doing when he created everything around us—it’s all so beautiful,” says Major Trickett. “Like him, we want to create beautiful things for others.”

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Contact us at Salvationist.ca/EDS

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 23

KNOWING CHRIST

THE BREAD OF LIFE

Exploring the “I am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Jesus offers transformation, not transaction.

P

PRAYER PRACTICE: AN EXAMEN Sit quietly and look back over this last week.

Ask God to show you the times you reached for a quick fix or a quick fill and confess these. Then look back again and, with gratitude, name the times you encountered Jesus’ transformational relationship.

icture a bakery. Smell the rich aroma of freshly baked bread. Feel the warmth, in stark contrast to the grey, cold day outside.

Enjoy being enveloped in these sensory comforts.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). He promises a relationship that will enfold us in love and care. This is a beautiful promise, especially for those who have just wrapped up a season in which we have cared for so many. Even though this name brings images of wonderful comfort, the depth of this name promises transformation.

Before we dive into this delicious name, let’s put the name into context. The New Testament opens with four Gospels, each revealing a different layer of Jesus. Many people have a favourite Gospel. For instance, some enjoy Mark (the first to be written) with its direct, action-oriented plot. Others are drawn to the majesty of Matthew, still others to the social justice of Luke. Then we arrive at John, which unfolds the Incarnation through beautiful imagery and a unique language of love.

The “I am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John are one way this loving imagery is portrayed. Jesus provides seven names of relationship that teach us how we may be in relationship with him. Over this next year, we are going to visit each one of these names.

“I am the bread of life” is the first name Jesus provides his followers. This name echoes Exodus 3:13, when Moses asked Yahweh whom he should say is sending him. The name “Bread of Life” also reminds us of the provision of God through the years of wilderness wandering.

When we read this name, we embrace these memories and the comfort it offers. However, many people who first heard this name turned away from Jesus in disappointment. They did not embrace this relational revelation.

Before we judge those first hearers too harshly, it might be helpful to pause and consider how we personally respond to Jesus, our Bread of Life. A little more context will shine some light on this consideration. The Gospel of John records seven signs, or miracles, to show that Jesus was the Messiah. John 6 opens with the fourth sign, the feeding of the 5,000.

Crowds had gathered, amazed by the signs and healings of Jesus, and there was no food.

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Gathering five barley loaves and two fish, Jesus gave thanks and fed this huge crowd. He did not just meet their basic need—he poured out gracious abundance.

The crowd gathered again, but rather than wanting a relationship, they wanted a quick fix. Jesus turned this gathering into a teaching moment. He did not call down manna (see John 6:30-31), but he invited them into a relationship. Sadly, this invitation was rejected.

The crowds wanted a transaction; they did not want transformation. While we may not demand Jesus send us manna from heaven, we sometimes do approach our relationship with Jesus as a transaction. We close our eyes, rattle off a list of needs, and say “Amen.” This teaching of Jesus calls each of us to pay attention to the times we want spiritual enlightenment without investing in spiritual discipline to deepen our relationship.

The crowd also wanted a quick fill, manna from heaven. While this miraculous food sustained a nation for 40 years, when Jesus was tempted, he said that we “shall not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4). It is easy to be physically full without being physically nourished. We enjoy popcorn while watching a movie and are full when the movie is over, but we are not nourished. The crowd’s desire for a quick fill of manna revealed they were not seeking spiritual nourishment. We, too, can be like the crowd, happy to remain in the surface clutter of our lives, grabbing a quick snack (at best), rather than setting aside time to deepen and truly be nourished by the Bread of Life.

Quick fixes and quick fills do not need to define our relationship with Jesus. The name the Bread of Life invites lasting transformation, just as yeast slowly transforms cold dough into a risen, warm, loaf of bread. Our relationship with Jesus is based on love, not a transaction.

It will nourish us at the core of our being and transform our scarcity into abundance.

This is the first article in a new seven-part series.

MAJOR CORINNE CAMERON is the corps officer at Yorkminster Citadel in Toronto.

Photo: Artem Shadrin/stock.Adobe.com

BY MAJOR CORINNE CAMERON

GR ACE NOTES

Photo: AsiaVision/E+ via Getty Images

E

mpathy has been getting a bad rap lately. The book Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion by Allie Beth Stuckey, which became a New York Times bestseller in late 2024, argues that “empathy has become a tool of manipulation.”

Josh McPherson, lead pastor of Grace City Church in Wenatchee, Washington, shared in a March 2025 podcast that “empathy almost needs to be struck from the Christian vocabulary.”

Even PBS News published an article in August 2025 posing the question, “Is empathy a sin?”

Obviously, the word empathy has become contentious, particularly in some Christian circles.

Historian Susan Lanzoni, who explored empathy’s uses and definitions in her 2018 book Empathy: A History, shared with PBS that “she has never seen the aspirational term so derided as it is now.”

Granted, the word hasn’t been around all that long. Empathy appeared in an English publication for the first time in 1908, taken from a German word, meaning “in-feeling.” Today’s common definition, “the ability to understand and appreciate another person’s feelings,” comes from a 1946 professional psychology journal.

However, despite being relatively new to the English language, the idea behind the word empathy is much older.

In fact, it forms a core teaching across many religions, including Christianity.

Nijay Gupta, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Illinois, suggests on his blog that “the Bible is, in fact, a story of empathy, God’s compassion for us who are sinners (which is all of us), and his desperate and relentless pursuit of redemption.”

Throughout the Old Testament, God is repeatedly described as being compassionate. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the term eusplanchnos, which literally means “good-guts”—significant for a culture that

A TOXIC TAKE Empathy is not a bad word.

BY CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK

associated guts with feelings and human depth of emotion.

Jesus also repeatedly demonstrated this during his ministry on earth. When Jesus saw the crowds around him, we read that he often felt compassion for them (see Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32).

Jesus recognized and responded to the emotions and pain of others. As Gupta points out, “He did not talk about why they were poor or struggling or lost. He just wanted to help them.”

The Apostle Paul also seems to teach about the importance of empathy in his letter to the Romans when he urges the early Christians to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). He is encouraging people to understand, appreciate and even enter into another’s emotional experience, to embrace the feelings of those around them. This is the definition of empathy.

WHEN JESUS TOOK ON HUMAN FORM, HE EMBODIED EMPATHY. And then, of course, there is the Incarnation of Jesus. When Jesus took on human form, he embodied empathy, experiencing the full range of human emotions, limitations and suffering.

Empathy is not a New Age concept, nor is it dangerous. It is deeply biblical.

Our ability to experience empathy is something that sets us apart as those

made in the image of God, and when we show empathy, we are living as Jesus modelled.

So why are so many Christians apparently threatened by it?

The main concern seems to be the perception that, by embracing empathy, contemporary Western society is making decisions based on feelings rather than facts, moving us away from objectivity and blurring moral clarity. Some even fear that it makes us vulnerable to manipulation and affirms sinful actions.

I find this type of thinking very black and white, when there needs to be a both/and approach. While I agree that we shouldn’t make decisions based solely on feelings, we should allow our capacity to recognize and respond to suffering to shape our decisions and help us form and inform policy to create a healthy society.

God gave us the ability to think rationally and respond emotionally to the pain of others. The two are not mutually exclusive.

A quote attributed to philosopher Hannah Arendt, who wrote extensively in the 1950s on totalitarianism and the human condition, hits a bit too close to home: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”

The heart of the gospel has always been a radical, countercultural call to love extravagantly and without limitations.

What if, rather than fearing empathy, we stayed focused on what Jesus taught was important? Welcoming the stranger, showing hospitality to the foreigner, extending compassion to the marginalized, caring for the widow and the orphan.

May we imitate our empathetic God, not fearing our feelings, but embracing them as we seek to live out the command to love our neighbours as ourselves.

CAPTAIN LAURA VAN SCHAICK is the corps officer at Barrhaven Church in Ottawa, and the territorial gender equity officer.

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W H AT ’ S Y O U R S T O R Y ?

AMBASSADOR AT LARGE In a division spanning five provinces, two nations and two languages, Major Louise Pond is asking the ultimate question: Are you called?

BY KEN RAMSTEAD

my new position, I almost feel like “Ina salesperson,” smiles Major Louise Pond, divisional candidates secretary for the Atlantic Division. “I go out and share my story, and I hope I inspire others.”

AN ARMY GIRL Major Pond was born into The Salvation Army and raised in Carbonear, N.L. Her father was a member of the local corps and attended occasionally, and while her mother came from a different faith, when they married, she started attending as well, along with Major Louise and her three siblings.

“Before I went to training college, my mother gave her life to Christ and became a senior soldier.”

Major Pond grew up surrounded by a loving family and caring corps officers, Sunday school teachers and banding leaders.

“They all had a really large impact on me,” she recalls. “I remember one officer, who told me when I was 10 years old, ‘You’re going to be an Army girl.’

Even at that age, I knew what he meant: I was going to be a Salvation Army officer one day.”

AMBASSADOR FOR OFFICERSHIP As a young teen, Major Pond felt called toward full-time vocational ministry.

“I always chuckle at this because, unlike a lot of people who sincerely struggled and wrestled with that call, I was like, ‘Sure, yes, I’d love to!’

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“That calling is very significant in my life,” Major Pond says. “It’s something that I consider a sacred privilege, to be invited to step into that type of responsibility, to step into spiritual leadership.”

A year after graduating from high school, she went off to the College for Officer Training in St. John’s, N.L. Fast forward 31 years, and Major Pond and her husband, Major Fred Pond, were at an officer’s retreat when the secretary for personnel, Lt-Colonel Roxanne Jennings, asked to meet with her.

“Louise,” she said, “we have a need in your division for a candidates secretary.”

From Major Pond’s understanding, the territory strongly desired that this appointment become a priority in the newly formed divisions and that this appointment would not be combined with another. In Major Pond’s case, she and her husband were willing to have separate appointments.

“Louise, you’re positive, you’re joyful,” said Lt-Colonel Jennings. “I think you would fit in that role because you really are an ambassador for officership.”

Major Pond took on her new role in March 2024.

ON THE JOURNEY Major Pond’s area of responsibility is large and diverse: five provinces, two nations, in two languages.

While she is based in Newfoundland and Labrador, she can’t possibly be in every province as well as Bermuda every month.

“I do my share of travelling—I try to connect with people in person where

possible—but I do a lot of virtual connection,” Major Pond says. “I lean into the divisional team. When they identify a potential candidate or an individual that offers potential, they pass that name to me through the corps officer, and I make the connections.”

Perhaps this individual is on the camp staff, perhaps it’s a young adult in the division, or it might be an older couple who are feeling the call and thinking of changing careers to step into full-time vocational ministry.

“I journey with them, encourage them and hear their story. I do a lot of listening and praying as I mentor them through that journey.

“Again, it’s a privilege and an honour to be able to be with people who are exploring God’s specific purpose for their life, a particular calling to ministry, whether that’s officership, a youth ministry capacity or a social mission.

There are various forms of ministry within The Salvation Army.”

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Major Pond realizes that this is a critical time for The Salvation Army, territorially and even globally, in terms of the number of people who are willing to consider that calling.

“We need to have the right people in the right roles. We need people to join.

And the need is great. It’s bigger now than it’s ever been. But when someone does accept the call, it’s just such a joy,” she smiles. “Wow, I think, somebody else is going to join me in that journey.

“We should all ask: Is this what God is asking of me? Am I willing to serve in this capacity within The Salvation Army?

Am I called?”

LIVING HISTORY

A FIRM FOUNDATION

Living History is an ongoing series showcasing just a small assortment of the more than 350,000 items housed at The Salvation Army Heritage Centre in Toronto. This month, we spotlight four trowels in the centre’s collection.

The Heritage Centre’s trowel collection commemorates some of The Salvation Army’s most significant buildings.

T

he Heritage Centre currently has approximately 30 trowels in its archives. More than just simple hand shovels, these trowels provide a fascinating glimpse into some of the most historic, significant and impactful buildings belonging to The Salvation Army in Canada throughout its history. Indeed, some of these structures were considered state of the art at the time of their creation, and many important figures in The Salvation Army and in Canada were integral to their development. While some of these buildings have been forgotten or no longer exist, their legacy lives on through these trowels.

1885

In 1885, construction began on territorial headquarters, which was located on Albert Street in Toronto, opposite City Hall. Also housing Toronto Temple, a trade store and a printing press, the new headquarters cost $27,000 and was made possible, in part, by the generosity of a local businessman, William G. Gooderham, who laid the cornerstone. Known as one of the greatest benefactors Toronto ever knew, Gooderham was regarded by Salvationists at the time as “the best friend the Army ever had.” The structure served as headquarters for the territory until 1956.

1916

Photos: Camilo Mejia; inset photos: courtesy of The Salvation Army Heritage Centre

The cornerstone for Toronto’s William Booth Memorial Training College was laid in 1916 by Commissioner W.J. Richards, territorial commander, and the building opened the following year. However, the need for the accommodation of returning wounded soldiers from the First World War became so pressing that the new building was taken over by the Military Hospitals Commission.

After serving as a military hospital for hundreds of wounded soldiers, it was handed back to The Salvation Army in 1922. The building was remodelled and redecorated for its original purpose, and the first session of cadets entered the new college in September 1922.

1919

The cornerstones of the new Salvation Army maternity hospital in Halifax were laid in 1919 by Nova Scotia Lt.-Gov. MacCallum Grant and Commissioner William Richards in the presence of a large group of citizens who had assembled at the site of this institution on the old campus of Dalhousie University. As planned, the hospital would provide accommodation for 81 persons: 44 in private rooms and 37 in the dormitories. When the facility opened in 1922, a letter from Nova Scotia Premier George Murray commended the Army on its completion: “It will always be a monument to the courageous zeal of your organization for the betterment of humanity.”

1954

In January 1954, with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees below zero, Commissioner William Dalziel, territorial commander, laid the cornerstone of the men’s social centre in Edmonton. The commissioner placed in the cornerstone a set of coins, a copy of The War Cry, a copy of the Edmonton Journal and a men’s social service bulletin. The centre officially opened later that year with a well-equipped recreation room and rehabilitation ward, along with other modern conveniences.

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PEOPLE & PL ACES

GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL Appointments: Commissioner Debbie Graves, territorial leader for spiritual life development, Canada and Bermuda Tty; Jan 1—Cols James/Sue-Ellen Betts, TC/TPWM, U.S.A. Western Tty, with rank of comr; Cols Eddie/Genevera Vincent, international secretaries, Americas and Caribbean Zone, IHQ, with rank of comr; Cols Christine/Ivan Rock, national secretary for personnel/ national chief secretary, U.S.A. NHQ; Lt-Cols Stephen/Theresa Malins, TC/ TPWM, Southern Africa Tty, with rank of col; Lt-Cols Ivan/Jennifer Wild, CS/ TSWM, U.S.A. Western Tty, with rank of col; Mjrs Crista/Stewart Dalrymple, territorial secretary for spiritual life development/CS, U.S.A. Eastern Tty, with rank of col; Mjrs Ana/Sergio Nsumbu, TPWM/TC, Angola Tty, with rank of lt-col; Mjrs Francisca/Maruilson de Souza, TSWM/CS, Angola Tty TERRITORIAL Appointments: Lt-Col Keith Pike, executive officer, CSB, THQ (additional responsibility); Mjr Ed Dean, EDS specialist—Saskatchewan (THQ) (designation change); Mjr Christine Johnston, chaplain, Broadview Village, Toronto; Mjr Ben Lippers, director of EDS—Prairies and Northern Territories Div (THQ) (designation change); Cpt Gina Haggett, DSPR, Ont. Div (THQ); Cpt Crystal Porter, executive director, Ethics Centre, THQ (additional responsibility—pro tem) Promoted to glory: Mjr Winston Dodge, Sep 2; Mjr Kenneth Bonnar, Sep 17; Mjr Marion Abbott, Sep 28; Mjr Catherine Paddock, Oct 22; Mjr Laurence Wilson, Oct 27

MUSGRAVETOWN, N.L.—St. John’s Temple, N.L., celebrates its annual corps retreat at Camp Starrigan. “This year we saw the largest group in many years, with multiple generations gathering for a time of spiritual retreat and fun,” says Mjr Jennifer Reid, CO. “There were many who attended for the first time, including new members to our church family. It was a beautiful opportunity for them to connect and get to know new friends.”

CALENDAR Commissioners Lee and Debbie Graves: Jan 19-23 Prairies and Northern Territories divisional retreat; Jan 26-30 Atlantic divisional retreat; Feb 4-6 Executive Leaders Conference, Toronto; Feb 8-9 CFOT; Feb 20 National Advisory Board, Toronto Colonel Margaret McLeod: Jan 12-16 British Columbia divisional retreat; Feb 4-6 Executive Leaders Conference, Toronto; Feb 9-13 Ontario divisional retreat; Feb 20 National Advisory Board, Toronto Canadian Staff Band: Jan 31-Feb 1 CSB retreat, JPRCC; Feb 28-Mar 1 Brockville CC, Ont. Canadian Staff Songsters: Jan 31-Feb 1 CSS retreat, THQ; Feb 28-Mar 1 Belleville Citadel, Ont. NEON: Jan 31 Mississauga CC, Ont.

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CARBONEAR, N.L.—During a western-themed rally day at Carbonear Citadel, certificates of appreciation are presented to volunteers who participated in the Newfoundland and Labrador wildfire response in August 2025. Volunteers generously helped prepare and serve breakfast every day throughout the month.

Do you know the difference between the CCM and the CSM? What about the YPSM and JSS? And what exactly is a TPWM? See below for a list of some common acronyms that appear in the pages of Salvationist.

BM/SL—bandmaster/songster leader CC—community church CCM/CCMS—community care ministries/community care ministries secretary CFOT—College for Officer Training CO—corps officer CS—chief secretary CSM/YPSM—corps sergeant-major/ young people’s sergeant-major EDS—emergency disaster services IHQ/THQ/NHQ/DHQ— International Headquarters/ territorial headquarters/ national headquarters/divisional headquarters

JPRCC—Jackson's Point Retreat and Conference Centre JSS—junior soldier sergeant NRO—National Recycling Operations RS—recruiting sergeant TC/DC/AC—territorial commander/ divisional commander/area commander TPWM/TSWM/DDWM/DSWM— territorial president of women’s ministries/territorial secretary for women’s ministries/divisional director of women’s ministries/ divisional secretary for women’s ministries Tty/Cmd/Rgn/Div—Territory/ Command/Region/Division

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TORONTO—At Etobicoke Temple, Lekan Ogunlalu receives his Candidates Connect pin from Mjr Dana Reid, CO. “We pray for Lekan and his family as they follow God’s leading in this way,” says Mjr Reid.

From left, Mjrs Dana and Robert Reid, COs, and Ogunlalu.

PEOPLE & PL ACES

RETIREMENT Commissioners Deborah and Wayne Bungay were commissioned in 1984 as part of the Servants of God Session. They spent their first eight years of officership in corps ministry in their home territory of Canada and Bermuda, receiving the rank of captain in June 1989. In September 1992, they transferred to the Caribbean Territory, serving six years at the corps and children’s home in Freeport, the Bahamas.

TORONTO—Comrs Kenneth and Cheryl Maynor, then international secretaries for the Americas and Caribbean Zone, visit THQ to meet with Cabinet secretaries and divisional leaders, and share a devotional and fellowship with officers and employees. From left, Commissioners Lee and Debbie Graves, TC and territorial leader for spiritual life development; Colonel Margaret McLeod, CS; and Comrs Maynor.

Returning to Canada and Bermuda in 1998, they resumed corps ministry before becoming personnel officers for two years. Promoted to major in May 2001, they served in divisional appointments in Ontario until 2007, with Major Wayne as divisional secretary for program and Major Deborah as divisional secretary for women’s ministries and later director of spiritual and religious care and volunteer services. After three years in corps leadership, they moved to the Prairie Division, with Major Wayne serving as divisional commander and Major Deborah as divisional director of women’s ministries and area commander of Prairie East.

In 2014, they transferred to the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory to serve as divisional commander and divisional director of women’s ministries in the East Midlands Division. In 2016, Major Deborah’s designation changed to divisional leader for leader development. In 2017, now colonels, they were appointed to Tanzania as territorial commander and territorial president of women’s ministries. Three years later, they took up similar appointments in the Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory, receiving the rank of commissioner. Returning to Canada in April 2024, they served as area commanders until retirement.

BISHOP’S FALLS, N.L.—The Salvation Army in Bishop’s Falls celebrates 110 years of ministry with an anniversary weekend, featuring special guests Comr Wayne Bungay and members of the territorial music and arts ministries department. The festivities include an enrolment of six senior soldiers. From left, CSM Corinna Burton; Herb Prowse and Ruth Prowse, senior soldiers; Kevin Burton, holding the flag; Marlene Stanley, Gail Benson, Herma Young and Doug Young, senior soldiers; Comr Bungay; and Mjrs Judy and Larry Goudie, COs. LONDON, ONT.—After a year of discernment, prayer and discussions, London Citadel launches a new corps ministry board model, which includes its central leadership team—the ministry board—and three committees: pastoral care, congregational life and business administration. The ministry board is made up of the corps officers, corps sergeant-major and chairs of the three committees.

MONTREAL—Seven senior soldiers proudly display their Soldier's Covenants as they are enrolled at Église Communautaire Nouveaux départs. From left, Lt Wilder Jean-Charles, CO; Col Eleanor Shepherd; Adline Joseph Séraphin, soldiership teacher; Merdelise Bacourt; Francoise Nzinga Engebele; Robert Forget; Aubin Romeo Gouentoueu Kape; Kevin Landu Mfuna; Elvira Chantal Mbouko; Kerlain Jean, soldiership teacher; Ysmane Ornezime; Col Glen Shepherd; and Lt Josette Joseph, CO.

SASKATOON—Sarah Ward is commissioned as the new bandmaster at Saskatoon Temple by Cpts Angela and Derek Kerr, COs. From left, Cpt Derek Kerr, Ward and Cpt Angela Kerr.

SALVATIONIST

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 29

REAL RELIGION Restoring people affected by modern slavery and human trafficking.

“The Salvation Army is ‘boots on the ground’ responding to people where they are and endeavouring to demonstrate hope in those difficult situations,” says Stephen Moorgen

Q A &

Stephen Moorgen is the modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) response facilitator in the Prairies and Northern Territories Division.

Tell us about the origins of your faith.

I am a first-generation Canadian with Black West Indian and East Indian heritage. I grew up in the Christian community and was a youth and young adult pastor for four years.

I love working with and empowering the voices of youth and marginalized people. I have seen God move in so many miraculous ways and love to share those stories about the goodness of God. There are also some areas where I have been hurt by “religion” in the past. I went through a divorce four years ago, and my feelings of shame and embarrassment were only exacerbated by religious organizations. I felt alone and isolated.

When I started working for The Salvation Army, I felt seen and loved. They helped restore my faith about what it means to love and meet people where they are. I’m a single parent with seven kids, three biological kids and four foster kids, and they have supported and walked alongside me.

Through all these struggles, Isaiah 43:18 (NLT) has become my life verse: “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”

Tell us about your family.

I feel called to model healthy and godly masculinity in my community. Deciding

30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 SALVATIONIST

to foster children as a single dad has better showed me the heart of God. Being a foster parent has provided the grounds for God to show up and do the miraculous. There have been so many small and large expressions of God’s faithfulness. Recently, after sudden growth in our family, I needed a vehicle large enough to accommodate all eight of us and shared this need during a time of corporate prayer with my co-workers at The Salvation Army. That prayer was answered within the hour!

What is your role with The Salvation Army?

I believe my past professional experiences— in law enforcement, labour investigations and pastoring—have all led me here, to the fight against MSHT, and the restoration of people affected by it.

I work with an incredible team in the Prairies and Northern Territories Division. An important part of what we do is providing solution-based practices when we identify gaps— connecting people to each other and supporting people in trafficking situations, as well as awareness, education and prevention. I believe The Salvation Army should continue to expand its MSHT response because it intersects with every area the Army works in.

One thing people don’t often realize about human trafficking is that the church has a role to play in education, prevention and awareness. We should be a place of safety and refuge for all those affected by it: “Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil” (James 1:27 CEV). One way the church can respond is how we engage men and boys about pornography, even though those conversations are hard and awkward.

What inspires you about the Army?

The Salvation Army is “boots on the ground” responding to people where they are and endeavouring to demonstrate hope in those difficult situations. It inspires me how the Army is out in the world, being the hands and feet of Jesus, but not of the world.

What piece of art has made the most impact on you and why?

Watching The Chosen. When Jesus says to Mary in the first episode, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine,” it makes me ugly cry. To know that Jesus sees me, in the midst of life, uncertainty, pain, embarrassment and hurt, has changed me, broken my heart and given me hope.

“I graduated from Booth University College

in April 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. My time at Booth UC was marked by a supportive environment, with dedicated faculty and staff who went above and beyond to help me succeed. Booth UC became more than just a place of study — it became a home.

“When I think of Booth UC, I think of community, support, inclusiveness, and an institution that truly lives out its motto: Hope, Mercy, and Social Justice.

”

Start Here

“Idid.”

Kimone Philip School of Business Alum

Visit: boothuc.ca

SELF-DENIAL Give from the heart.

Transform the world.

LATIN AMERICA NORTH TERRITORY Costa Rica and Panama

TARGET: $2.4 MILLION

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Salvationist.ca/PIM

For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6153 or circulation@salvationarmy.ca. Allow 6-8 weeks for changes. PM 40064794

Chess Rocks!

IT’S THEIR MOVE P.5

Hospital Chaplain

ARMY IN ACTION P.12

Helping Others

A CUT ABOVE P.8

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

faithandfriends.ca

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY

2026

HOCKEY PLAYER MATTHEW ALLEN REFLECTS THE LIGHT OF JESUS— ON AND OFF THE ICE. P.16

BEAT

SWORDS

INTO PHRASE BE

is an ongoing series highlighting the dozens of everyday sayings that originate with biblical text.

PLOWSHARES

In this issue, we unpack:

Illustration: koyash07/stock.Adobe.com

PHRASE: Beat swords into plowshares.

DEFINITION: Refraining from destructive conflict and putting energy and resources into peaceful endeavours.

EXAMPLE: Every pacifist movement aims to beat swords into plowshares.

SOURCE: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

—Isaiah 2:4

As a new year starts, this Bible verse seems almost ironic, as warfare grips parts of Europe and Africa, while the threat of war looms over the Pacific. The world may not be teetering on the brink of all-out nuclear conflict as it was in the late 20th century, but it might seem that we are still far from the days when brandished swords can be transformed into tools of peace and productivity.

Is the phrase so pie-in-the-sky, however?

Though danger lurks with every exchange of gunfire at every disputed border, the world has indeed turned away from the world wars and cold wars of the last century, and enough people of good will exist that a future where trust replaces hostility does not seem so far-fetched.

We all need to do our part, however, and work and pray for the type of peace that Jesus promised will come.

January/February 2026 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 1 SOMEONE CARES 5

It’s Their Move The Salvation Army’s Georgina Community Church in Jackson’s Point, Ont., is connecting kids through chess.

BEYOND BORDERS I 8

A Cut Above A selfless youth raises thousands of dollars for The Salvation Army’s work overseas.

BE BLESSED

8

10 Blessed Are Those Who Hunger

and Thirst In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised to fill us with His wisdom, love and power.

FEATURES Chess Rocks!

IT’S THEIR MOVE P.5

Hospital Chaplain

ARMY IN ACTION P.12

Helping Others

A CUT ABOVE P.8

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

faithandfriends.ca

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2026

HOCKEY PLAYER MATTHEW ALLEN REFLECTS THE LIGHT OF JESUS— ON AND OFF THE ICE. P.16

COVER STORY

12 “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” As the Salvation Army hospital chaplain in St. John’s, N.L., retired Major Barb Pritchett is busier than ever.

16 Shining On Hockey player Matthew Allen reflects the light of Jesus—on and off the ice.

22 Where There’s a Will …

In the animated movie Goat, a kid’s dream to play a brutal version of basketball finally comes true.

BEYOND BORDERS II

Cover photo: wanmoephotography.com

24 “Faith in Action”

When a Salvation Army congregation in Toronto learned a sister church in Angola needed help, they knew that prayers were not enough.

LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Word Search, Sudoku, Quick Quiz.

22

A GLOBAL LENS 31 Nourishing Futures

The Salvation Army gives children the tools to grow with dignity. faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 3

Faith&Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Catchy Title!

R

eading Abbigail Oliver’s article on hockey player and Salvation Army member Matthew Allen brought me back in time to my youth.

Growing up, I had not been much interested in team sports, but in my teens, at my first summer job, I encountered a group of friends who are still a part of my life almost 50 years later. I was fortunate-none of them were into drugs or other harmful habits that could have derailed my life.

But what they were into was organized sportsbig-time-and, with them, I became part of many softball, football and ball hockey teams over the years. Like Matthew, I learned the benefits of structured play, co-operation and team building at its finest.

My friends, my sports and my faith were formative elements that made me who I am today, and I am grateful, especially for my friends and my faith.

Friends and faith. That sounds so catchy! And familiar. I feel as if I have seen this somewhere....

Read Matthew Allen’s inspirational story on page 16.

Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, you’ll read many more stories about friends and faith. At the East Toronto Salvation Army church, some friends, expatriates from Angola, volunteered their time to raise funds for a sister church in need. At another church, a selfless youth raised thousands of dollars to help with the Army’s work overseas.

And in Newfoundland and Labrador, a pastor who should have long retired is busier than ever ministering to the patients and staff at area hospitals in St. John’s. She could quit tomorrow, but she “can’t stop, won’t stop.”

Ken Ramstead

4 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 I faithandfriends.ca

Mission Statement

To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.

Faith & Friends is published bimonthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England Lyndon Buckingham, GENERAL Commissioner Lee Graves TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND LITERARY SECRETARY

Pamela Richardson ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR

Kristin Ostensen MANAGING EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST AND SALVATIONIST.CA

Lisa Suroso GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST

Emily Pedlar JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rivonny Luchas DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Giselle Randall SENIOR EDITOR OF SALVATIONIST

Abbigail Oliver EDITOR OF JUST FOR KIDS AND STAFF WRITER

Logan Graves CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6153 circulation@salvationarmy.ca All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131

Faith&Friends

SOMEONE CARES

Game On John and Alice Burrows (centre) with Lieutenant Jenny Rideout (right) and members of the Georgina Chess Academy, as well student and adult volunteers who help out

It’s Their Move The Salvation Army’s Georgina Community Church in Jackson’s Point, Ont., is connecting kids through chess.

Photo: Courtesy of the Georgina Chess Academy

by Nathan Reid-Welford

I

t all started with a question.

“How can we get more kids into the building?” asked Lieutenant David Hipperson, the former Salvation Army pastor at Georgina Community Church in Jackson’s Point, Ont. John Burrows, who has been attending the church with his wife, Alice, for 18 years, had a slightly surprising answer.

“I could start a chess club.”

Opening Moves The suggestion was born out of a personal hobby of John’s, and a skill he had honed as a boy. The knowledge he gained was particularly useful later in life while working as a schoolteacher.

“As a teacher, you have to do extra-curriculars,” he explains. “The kids didn’t want to go outside in the winter. So, I ran a chess club. The kids would have their lunch and then play chess.”

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Faith&Friends

SOMEONE CARES

Photos: Courtesy of the Georgina Chess Academy

Proud Players Students and adult volunteers pose proudly with the academy banner

Checkmate The chess club teaches kids new skills and helps them make friends

Seeing this as a great opportunity to get young people into the church, Lieutenant David called John that week, explaining that he had secured a $1,000 grant from local charity sources.

Over the next few months, John, with Alice’s help, filled out forms, received the grant and set up the infrastructure for what would become the Georgina Chess Academy.

With John as the teacher and Alice handling administration, the academy officially kicked off in January 2023, running its first session out of Georgina Community Church. The eight-week program, consisting of lessons and a final tournament, saw a turnout of around 15 students, aged seven to 16.

Honing Skills The academy now offers two sessions a year—one in the spring and one in the fall.

It has assembled a small group of volunteer helpers, expanded its capacity to accommodate 35 students in each program and has even accumulated a waiting list. The Burrows have also experimented with senior drop-in sessions.

Additionally, its tiered system— operating a beginner group and an experienced group—has not only helped students learn about chess but hone their competition skills. Since its conception, six students from the Georgina Chess Academy have qualified for and competed in provincial tournaments hosted by the Chess and Math Association, with half their entry fees subsidized by the club.

Not Just a Game But beyond technical chess skill, the Burrows have been blessed by the opportunity to help kids grow.

“We have a very high retention rate. Five kids have been with us since the beginning,” Alice notes.

6 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 I faithandfriends.ca

Whether it be young people with

ADHD and other attention disorders

slowly becoming focused, or quiet and timid teenagers becoming more confident, social and outgoing, the couple have seen how the club offers benefits that far exceed knowledge of chess.

Such individual growth has created a positive culture.

“They are very respectful,” John says. “As some students get older and better, they develop leadership and volunteer opportunities. They teach the younger kids, learning patience and self-confidence that way.”

The participants also help with cleanup, adding to their responsibilities.

As well, friendships have blossomed along the way. This was made particularly evident by a student who noted in an end-of-session feedback card: “Chess isn’t just a game. You can make friends.”

Answering the Call Though the academy is strictly about providing an opportunity for students to learn chess, without exorbitant tutor fees, and offering an alternative and possibly new point of interest—not all kids play hockey, for example—John believes it answered the call of his former pastor to get more children into the church.

For an evening a week, over the course of each session, Georgina Community Church’s fellowship hall

is filled with young people. Community members have also become more aware of the church’s location and the building’s openness as they know the church, now with Lieutenants Jenny and Matthew Rideout serving as pastors, is donating the space and time to the free club.

It has also provided an opportunity to connect youth to other elements of church life. Some participants have attended the nearby Jackson’s Point Camp, while others have obtained high school volunteer hours.

“Some have volunteered to be Santa’s elves for church Christmas photos, some have done kettles or manned a booth at our community carnival,” Alice states. “They have also helped John and me to do outreach at town events.”

Endgame Having completed seven sessions, the Burrows believe the club has reached the ideal level.

“We could probably run a whole separate club, but then it becomes work,” John admits. “That would become less joyous.”

More importantly, it would detract from the genesis of the idea.

“We could build it bigger,” says John. “The town has told us they can provide us with a bigger space; they’ve been most helpful. But the whole idea was the church. We don’t want to go beyond that.”

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 7

Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS I

A Cut Above Photos: Courtesy of Captains Cathy and Scott Allen

A selfless youth raises thousands of dollars for The Salvation Army’s work overseas.

by Ken Ramstead

Before Now You See It ...

Tayo Oyerinde saw getting his hair cut as “just another way for him to give back and help others,” says his mother, Lieutenant Bobbi Oyerinde

After

L

ast April, a special event occurred at The Salvation Army’s Agincourt Temple Community Church in Toronto. After the Palm Sunday service, the congregation gathered in the gym to watch Tayo Oyerinde get a haircut.

This was no ordinary clip job.

Tayo had not had a haircut since the summer of 2023, in anticipation of this day. And it was not going to be a trim, either.

The 12-year-old was getting his head shaved.

8 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 I faithandfriends.ca

“Tayo saw a need.”

CAPTAIN SCOTT ALLEN

“Helping Others” Captains Cathy and Scott Allen, then the pastors at Agincourt Temple Community Church, had suggested in the fall of 2024 that Tayo get his hair cut for a Partners in Mission fundraiser, part of an annual self-denial campaign that provides the necessary money to carry out the ministry of The Salvation Army worldwide.

He readily agreed.

“Tayo is a junior soldier, an official young member of The Salvation Army, and has been helping out at church since he was young,” says his mother, Lieutenant Bobbi Oyerinde, who was training to become a pastor at the Army’s College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Toronto at that time. “He volunteered at the food bank and at the kettles at Christmastime. This was just another way for him to give back and help others.”

In fact, Tayo let his hair grow for an extra six months, so that it would be that much longer when the time came.

Seeing a Need That time came after the Palm Sunday service. Word had gone out

before the event through church announcements, social media, and family and friends, so there were dozens of well-wishers in attendance.

Tayo was placed on a chair in the centre of the church’s gymnasium.

The Allens provided scissors and hair clippers and many of those assembled took turns cutting and shaving his head, including his brother.

“He enjoyed that,” says Tayo.

“We were proud of him,” says Captain Scott. “We told Tayo that he was brave, and that what he had done was selfless.”

It had been hoped that the event would raise $1,000 but more than $3,000 was collected.

Tayo is planning to grow out his hair again for this year’s Partners in Mission fundraiser at the Salvation Army church in Maple Creek, Sask., where his mother is now the pastor.

“He saw a need,” says Captain Scott. “Tayo was willing to sacrifice all of his hair to help raise funds to enable The Salvation Army to continue its work as a beacon of hope, providing support and transformation in more than 130 countries around the world.”

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Faith&Friends

BE BLESSED

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

MATTHEW 5:6

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised to fill us with His wisdom, love and power.

by Jeanette Levellie

J

esus’ fourth statement in His famous Beatitudes sermon resonated with nearly everyone in the crowd that day.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Jesus’ statement meant far more to people in ancient Israel than it does to us today.

If we miss a meal or two, we may say, “I’m starving!” Of course, we don’t

believe that. Few of us have really known hunger that threatens our health or our lives. As to water, it’s accessible by a simple turn of the tap.

Not so during Jesus’ day.

Working men in Palestine earned barely enough to sustain life. The average person who listened to Jesus that day ate meat only once a week. The women of that time walked a minimum of 1.6 kilometres to fetch water.

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Righteousness has as much to do with treating others with kindness and compassion as it does with how we worship God. JEANETTE LEVELLIE

Photo: Maria Marganingsih/stock.Adobe.com

Hunger and thirst presented real threats to everyone in the crowd listening to Jesus preach. So, they didn’t hear, “If you want a snack and a soft drink,” they heard, “If you haven’t eaten in several days and are faint from hunger and thirst.”

Straighten Up! The word Jesus used in this statement for “righteousness” means “upright.” Those of us who follow Jesus deeply desire to live the way God wants us to live. Because He’s not only our God but also our Father, we want to please Him by acting in an upright manner—obeying His instructions given to us in the Bible, honouring Him with our actions and thoughts, and treating others in ways that mirror His love.

We want to reflect the heart of God so others will crave what we have: a relationship with a loving, caring Father. So, righteousness has as much to do with treating others with kindness and compassion as it does with worshipping God. In fact, showing respect to our neighbours is a form of worshiping the God who created them in His image.

As the Deer We often sing a song at our church called As the Deer. It’s a quote from Psalm 42:1. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” The Psalmist didn’t ask God for fame or riches or even peace of mind. More than anything, this person craved fellowship with God. To the point of desperation, like a deer might need water during a drought.

Jesus told His listeners that day and us today, “If you crave a relationship with God, He will fill you to overflowing with Himself.” Imagine!

I want to be one of those people who says, “God, I long to know You like someone dying of hunger and thirst!” I want the Lord to fill me up with more of His wisdom, love and power. I want to live in the centre of God’s heart.

This is the fourth article in our series on the Beatitudes, key teachings from the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7), Jesus’ first sermon during His earthly ministry.

Read the third article at salvationist.ca/blessedmeek.

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 11

Photo: Courtesy of Major Barb Pritchett

Steps to Help Major Barb Pritchett at the Janeway Children’s Health Faith&Friends and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John’s, N.L.

“Can’t Stop,

Won’t Stop”

AS THE SALVATION ARMY HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN IN ST. JOHN’S, N.L., RETIRED MAJOR BARB PRITCHETT IS BUSIER THAN EVER.

by Janice Keats 12 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 I faithandfriends.ca

Faith&Friends

FEATURE

“The opportunity for ministry with very vulnerable patients, families and the medical professionals is so needed.”

BARB PRITCHETT

H

ow does one prepare for the duties of a hospital chaplain?

A typical day could involve supporting families as they make the decision to end life support, standing by patients and families as major surgeries occur or supporting families as their loved ones die.

But all this and more might be the lot of Salvation Army Major Barb Pritchett, who is responsible for chaplaincy duties at the hospitals in St. John’s, N.L. A Call to Serve While Major Barb’s role as a chaplain is in post-retirement, she had been a Salvation Army pastor all her adult life. As a youth at The Salvation Army’s Corner Brook Temple, N.L., Major Barb had grown into a strong person of faith and was active in her church.

At the age of 17, she sensed God calling her to full-time ministry as a Salvation Army officer, and together with her husband, Major Lorne Pritchett, spent a total of 34 years in various appointments in Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Major Barb was living happily in retirement when she was approached to fill a vacancy that had come about due to a transfer.

At first, she was told that it would only be a short-term contract position because, at that time, pastors would no longer be involved in hospital chaplaincy. But after prayer and discussion, The Salvation Army decided to keep this vital ministry going.

“I am extremely grateful for that decision because I know how important it is,” Major Barb recalls, as she had worked there in a part-time capacity several years before. “The opportunity for ministry with very vulnerable patients, families and the medical professionals is so needed.”

Major Barb accepted the posting in October 2023.

Large Responsibilities This hospital chaplaincy is ecumenical in nature, with fulltime chaplains from all the major denominations and part-time chaplains representing other faith groups. They all work together and support each other with chapel services and other activities.

Major Barb covers the Eastern Health’s Health Sciences Centre, which is the only trauma hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador.

St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, Janeway

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Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre, and Dr. Leonard A. Miller Centre are also her responsibility.

“My typical day is spent in prayer with patients. I’m aware of my own insufficiency, but I’m always aware that my help comes from the Lord,” says Major Barb.

She enjoys working with the health-care professionals as they have a respect for ministry as part of the holistic approach to healing.

“They see us as part of the team,” she says. “My Salvation Army uniform attracts so many people who are in need, so I must always be ready to listen to everyone, staff and patients alike.”

“Lord, Bless Barb Today” There are many heartfelt stories that Major Barb can share, some of them intense and strongly felt.

She visited a man recently in the cardiovascular intensive care unit following major heart surgery.

“As we talked,” Major Barb says, “we were so thankful for his successful surgery. I asked, as I always

do, if I could pray with him, and he responded positively. Immediately following my prayer, he opened his eyes and said, ‘What did you say your name was?’ I told him, he closed his eyes once more and said, ‘Lord, bless Barb today.’

“Oh, the blessing that flooded my soul at that moment. It reiterated for me what I have already experienced in my entire ministry. My appointments have done way more for me than I have ever done for them,” she concludes.

Peace Amidst the Pain Major Barb recalls another memory of the faith of a patient. One day, she walked into the room of a man who was due to have brain surgery for a cancerous tumour. They had talked before, and he told her he was not a man of faith.

“That morning as I walked into his room, I knew I needed to gently address his standing with God,” Major Barb says. “I was conflicted as to how to do this, so I put myself in his shoes. Calling him by name,

Dutiful Duo Major Barb and her husband, Major Lorne Pritchett, spent a total of 34 years in various appointments in Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador

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Photos: Courtesy of Major Barb Pritchett

Family Matters Majors Barb and Lorne with their son and daughter and their families

I said, ‘You know, I would not want to go through surgery of this magnitude without having made peace with God.’ “He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Neither do I.’ “I offered to pray and the gentleman agreed. I bowed my head and when I looked, he was out of his bed and on his knees. I fell to my knees also and we prayed together asking God for peace.”

These are stories of uplifting faith and good news, but sometimes there are encounters with the hurting and the broken.

“I have spent many hours at the bedside with families who are making decisions regarding the withdrawal of life support,” she says.

“I so often don’t have any answers to give to so many hurting parents, children and families. I just validate

their confusion, anger and fear, but somehow God’s Spirit ministers and they find a measure of strength and peace amidst their pain,” she says.

Privileged Position “These present days in retirement have offered me a wonderful ministry that uses every pastoral experience I have ever had in the past,” says Major Barb.

Now 70, she struggles to lay down the mantle of ministry that she took up so many years ago. “It’s been a wonderful life,” she recalls. “I recently purchased a pillow that reads true for me: ‘Can’t stop, won’t stop.’

“I am always very mindful of the fact that I represent God in these situations,” she says. “There isn’t a lot I can say but my presence and prayer seem to comfort and support these families. It is indeed a privilege.”

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Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

HOCKEY PLAYER MATTHEW ALLEN REFLECTS THE LIGHT OF JESUS —ON AND OFF THE ICE.

by Abbigail Oliver

hockey player and Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He’s a volunteer, a good friend, a team player and is often the face behind The Salvation Army’s mascot, Shieldy.

On Sundays, he can be found at the Army’s Agincourt Temple Community Church in Toronto, greeting people as they come in the door and collecting the offering.

On Saturdays, he’s on the ice.

Though Matthew has an intellectual disability, that isn’t what defines him. Instead, his life is defined by his faith and the pursuit of being like Jesus in all that he does.

“I am made perfect in God’s image and I trust in His plan always,” says Matthew.

A Place of Belonging Matthew’s passion for hockey started at an early age when he joined a pond hockey league run by The Salvation Army Kitchener Community Church in Ontario and coached by his father, Captain Scott Allen. He played in the league from 2004 until 2011, when he aged out.

“The pond hockey league opened me up to a lot of faith,” says Matthew. Each practice began with drills before the team would break for a devotional, talking and learning about the Bible. Then it ended with a scrimmage.

“Those lessons have stuck with me,” he says.

As a child of Salvation Army pastors, his family moved around a lot, from Winnipeg to Parry Sound, Ont., to Toronto. faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 17

Photo: wanmoephotography.com

MATTHEW ALLEN IS A 28-YEAR-OLD

Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Suited Up “I am grateful that I can live my life in a way that reflects my faith both on and off the ice,” says Matthew Allen

There, Matthew hoped to find a team where he could belong. He did some research on the internet and found the Donaldson’s Diamonds Hockey Club, a hockey program for people with special needs in the Greater Toronto Area, where all are welcome between the ages of five and 65.

“It’s for people with intellectual disabilities to have fun, create friendships and have lots of physical activity,” says Matthew.

When he first joined the Donaldson’s Diamonds in 2023, Matthew was shy, but he knew that God was with him.

“My dad and I prayed before going into the arena that first day,” says Matthew. “From that day on, I have made many friends.”

Like a Diamond The Donaldson’s Diamonds slogan is “Shine on like a diamond.”

“To me, that means that all hockey players are precious gems no matter their skill, who try their best at everything that they do,” says Matthew.

It also means being a team player and supporting others. There are varying levels of disability on the Donaldson’s Diamonds and, for Matthew, it is important that every teammate feels valued and celebrated. One of Matthew’s favourite ways to support is to pass the puck to teammates waiting by the opposing team’s net so they have a chance to score.

“This makes going to the hockey arena worthwhile,” he says.

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Setting an Example For Matthew, shining bright like a diamond also means shining the light of Jesus Christ both on and off the ice. Matthew plays hockey with integrity, but he also shares the love of Jesus whenever and wherever he can. He asks teammates if they need prayer and often sends them encouraging messages on Facebook.

“As Christians, the light of Jesus that shines in us and through us must be shared,” Matthew says.

“We can’t keep that light to ourselves. I continually check myself to make sure that others can see that light through me.”

Matthew’s parents, Captains Cathy and Scott Allen, are proud that their son has grown in his faith and follows

Photos: Captain Scott Allen

Welcome Greeter On Sundays, Matthew can be found at the Army’s Agincourt Temple Community Church in Toronto

“My faith and relationship with God comes before hockey.”

MATTHEW ALLEN

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 19

Faith&Friends

COVER STORY

Jesus. Even though they are Salvation Army pastors, they find Matthew often sets an example for them.

“We see him on the hockey team praying for his teammates,” says Captain Scott. “He really shines the light of Jesus wherever he goes.”

A Serving Heart “My faith and relationship with God come before hockey,” says Matthew, who seeks opportunities to serve others in his church and community.

He volunteers in various capacities, including at The Salvation Army’s food bank and distribution centre. For the last five Christmases, he has been the face behind Shieldy and has even participated in many Toy Mountain events broadcasted on CTV News.

Matthew’s parents, who are now serving in St. Thomas, Ont., have helped give him every available opportunity to get involved, from taking up the offering to standing as a greeter at the front door of

20 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 I faithandfriends.ca

Photos: Captain Scott Allen

Merry Christmas!

For the last five Christmases, Matthew has been the face behind The Salvation Army’s mascot, Shieldy

the church. “As parents and church leaders, it’s important to advocate for people who have disabilities, and give them opportunities so that they can blossom and come out of their shell,” says Captain Cathy.

“In the past five years, I have learned a lot about volunteering, especially during the pandemic where my routine never stopped.

I just kept going,” says Matthew.

“I felt like I needed to be there, because who else is going to do the job when you’re in such a dark time?”

Polished Diamond “I am made perfect in God’s image and I trust in His plan always,” says Matthew

In His Image Matthew is not afraid of telling anybody that he loves Jesus.

He often relates hockey to Scripture, and one verse that he leans on is Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“I am grateful that I can live my life in a way that reflects my faith both on and off the ice,” he says.

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 21

Faith&Friends

FEATURE

Who? Me? Does Will have what it takes to become a roarball warrior?

Where There’s a Will …

IN THE ANIMATED MOVIE GOAT, A KID’S DREAM TO PLAY A BRUTAL VERSION OF BASKETBALL FINALLY COMES TRUE.

by Jeanette Levellie

W

hen Will Harris, a kid who’s short on brutality but long on dreams, gets a chance to play “roarball,” a cutthroat basketball game, he jumps at it. But his fellow team members and coach soon discover that jumping is the only talent Will possesses. He can’t roar loud enough to scare a common loon. And his heart is softer than a marshmallow.

Will’s coach and teammates try to train the new player with their best strategies on the roarball court. But is Will too short and sympathetic to help his team win games?

Goat is Sony Pictures’ new animated sports adventure-comedy

about an unlikely small person chasing his huge, impossible dreams.

The family-friendly film releases in theatres February 13, and features the voices of Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things) as Will and Gabrielle Union (City of Angels) as Jett, the enormous panther and team captain with the daunting task of training Will.

Not just another “underdog rises to become top dog” film, Goat is full of surprises and a major story twist that will have viewers on the edge of their theatre seats cheering. Because nothing is more inspiring than watching someone face danger and persevere to become a hero.

22 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 I faithandfriends.ca

Illustrations: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

Nothing is more inspiring than watching someone face danger and persevere to become a hero. JEANETTE LEVELLIE Will Power “Will is a little goat in a sport dominated by big animals,” says NBA superstar and Goat executive producer Stephen Curry, in an interview for International Business Times.

The film is also Curry’s debut as an animated movie character.

The athlete voices the character of Lenny, a giraffe on Will’s team who encourages him to never give up. Curry relates well to Will’s story of adversity, since he often felt overlooked during his early pro basketball career. Despite those doubtful beginnings, the star player’s grit and determination finally earned him a career filled with accolades, including 11 all-star games and two MVP awards.

“Believing in yourself-that’s how heroes get it done,” Curry says.

Sounds moving. But is sheer willpower enough?

The same is true for the game of life, which often gets brutal. We need Jesus to empower us and other believers to teach us how to fight.

To cheer us on. To help us reach our God-inspired goals. God loves to use unlikely people like Will to show the world how strong He is. He also likes to use the family of God to surround the weak ones and help them win.

Our faith may be kid-sized, but with God on our side and a team to encourage us, we will overcome.

Total Team Effort Will discovers that he needs a team around him to achieve his personal goals. Lessons on how to roar like a warrior. Encouragement to keep fighting when he faces danger.

Cheers for him when he gets it right.

Goat Trivia • Caleb McLaughlin, who voices Will, is himself only 5’8” tall.

• Gabrielle Union, the voice of Jett, played basketball in high school.

• Goat releases the same weekend as the NBA all-star games.

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 23

Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS II

Photo: Courtesy of Major Heather Matondo

Praise Be Happy worshippers at the Damba church in Angola

“Faith in Action” When a Salvation Army congregation in Toronto learned a sister church in Angola needed help, they knew that prayers were not enough.

by Ken Ramstead

I

t started with a conversation.

When Lieutenant Patrick Penton was appointed to The Salvation Army’s East Toronto Citadel in June 2024, the enthusiastic pastor wanted to learn all about his new church.

“As soon as I arrived,” he says, “I talked to everyone I could about

what made our church tick. Very quickly, I was made aware that our church enthusiastically supports The Salvation Army’s overseas efforts in general and Partners in Mission in particular, which is the annual SelfDenial Campaign that provides the funds to carry out the much-needed work.”

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Starting every September, the church launches several fundraisers and raises about $20,000 for Partners in Mission.

But Lieutenant Patrick was truly taken aback during one conversation, when he learned that some of the congregation, expatriates and Salvationists from Angola, between themselves and without fanfare, had raised more than $30,000 to build essential facilities at The Salvation Army Damba Corps back home.

“They Did It!” Lieutenant Patrick was stunned, to say the least.

“I couldn’t believe they did this over and above the rest of the church activities they contributed to, without the rest of the corps being aware,” says Lieutenant Patrick.

“They had also reached out to the Angolan community in the Greater Toronto Area in their quest to raise the funds.”

“Almost every member of the Angolan community of East Toronto is a recent immigrant, having been in Canada for barely a year when they took on this challenge,” says Edi Matondo, one of the leading participants. “Despite adjusting to a new country, language and culture, they united to contribute what little they had toward a cause much greater than themselves. Their collective effort reflected both their gratitude for new beginnings in Canada and

their unwavering commitment to help their community in Angola.”

“They saw a need, they went for it and came up with the money,” concurs Lieutenant Patrick. “Despite everything, they sent the necessary funds home, through The Salvation Army, to build a centre of Christian worship. They did it!”

Birth of a Notion During more chats, Lieutenant Patrick learned that there were no attached living quarters at the church for the pastor.

“He lives kilometres away from the newly erected church building,” Lieutenant Patrick explains, “and has to walk back and forth every day. But his tremendous faith and passion for ministry keeps him going.”

There must be something we can do, Lieutenant Patrick thought to himself.

In talks with Major Heather Matondo and Lt-Colonel Brenda Murray of The Salvation Army’s international development department, who had both attended a Sunday service at the new Damba Corps in September 2024 and had seen where the pastor was living, the three reasoned that if a few determined individuals could raise enough money to rebuild a church, the entire East Toronto Salvationist community could rally to construct a pastor’s quarters with running water and electricity.

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 25

Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS II

Bottom two photos: Courtesy of Major Heather Matondo

Evening of Worship The Canadian Staff Band participates in a special evening of music ministry at The Salvation Army’s East Toronto Citadel (Inset) Strike Up the Band Bandmaster Andrew Burditt addresses the crowd gathered at East Toronto Citadel

Top two photos: Courtesy of The Salvation Army's East Toronto Citadel

(Above) Praise the Lord Lieutenant Antonio Aristote delivers a sermon at Damba Corps (Left) Selfie Time Major Heather Matondo of The Salvation Army’s international development department with some of the children at Damba Corps

“People Buying Bricks” In December 2024, East Toronto started a fundraiser, over and above the Self-Denial Campaign, to raise money for Damba Corps.

“We had LEGO bricks,” smiles Lieutenant Patrick, “and the children would say, ‘We’re going to buy bricks for Damba!’ Each brick was $25. And so people just kept purchasing bricks every Sunday.”

By this past September, East Toronto had raised $11,000, “just people buying bricks,” he says.

Evening of Praise Last summer, Lieutenant Patrick conceived of a way to highlight the campaign. He invited The Salvation Army’s Canadian Staff Band, the world-renowned group of musicians and composers, to perform at the

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“We often hear about the needs in different places. But we’re a part of one big Christian family and we can’t just sit back and rely on good thoughts, because faith without works is dead.”

LIEUTENANT PATRICK PENTON

church, with all proceeds going to fund the pastor’s quarters in Damba.

“It was a spectacular evening,” says Lieutenant Patrick. “There were a lot of special moments.”

Lieutenant Patrick started the evening off by pointing out why everyone was there. Then Major Heather showed a video she had produced of the church at Damba.

The Canadian Staff Band was out in full force, playing a rousing selection of upbeat pieces. East Toronto Angolan members—many of whom had been members of The Salvation Army’s Angolan national band—also took to the stage.

“They are part of a choir called Nzitusu, which means praise,” says Lieutenant Patrick.

“The people, the band, everyone was up moving and dancing, it was a great time but, throughout, people were aware of the need. Many of the participants generously donated over and above their $15 tickets, and the fundraiser collected more than $5,000.”

A Deepening Commitment The fundraising is still ongoing but Lieutenant Patrick and his flock hope to have their building goal of $50,000 collected by this year.

“We often hear about the needs in different places,” says Lieutenant Patrick. “But we’re a part of one big Christian family and we can’t just sit back and rely on good thoughts, because faith without works is dead.

“The evening epitomized that we need to do more than prayer,” he believes. “We need to put faith into action, and that is what we did at East Toronto for our brothers and sisters in Angola.”

“This new building project represents not only a continuation of the mission but a deepening of the commitment to strengthen The Salvation Army’s presence in northern Angola,” says Edi. “With the enduring faith of East Toronto Citadel and the Angolan community of East Toronto, the Damba Project stands as a living example of what it means to serve God through love, sacrifice and community action.”

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin BLACK BEAN AND QUESO DIP TIME 25 min MAKES 4 servings

GARNISHED WITH diced tomatoes, black olives

and fresh cilantro

1 red pepper, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 sweet onion, chopped 7.5 ml (1/2 tbsp) coconut oil 5 ml (1 tsp) chili powder 2 ml (1/2 tsp) cumin 250 ml (1 cup) cooked black beans 15 ml (1 tbsp) tahini 1/2 fresh lime, juiced pinch of salt 1. Heat frying pan over medium-high heat. Add pepper, garlic and onion to pan with oil.

2. Fry for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add chili powder, cumin and black beans and continue to cook for 5 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and add tahini, lime juice and salt.

Mix in blender or food processor.

QUESO CHEESE SAUCE 125 ml (1/2 cup) milk 75 ml (1/3 cup) cheddar cheese, grated 10 ml (2 tsp) corn starch For queso cheese sauce: 1. Add milk to small saucepan over mediumhigh heat, stirring frequently.

2. Dissolve corn starch in a few drops of water and add to milk.

3. Add cheese to pan.

4. Lower heat to simmer and continue to stir until it begins to thicken—about 5 minutes. Add to dip.

OVERNIGHT OATS AND CHIA PUDDING MAKES 2 servings

SERVE WITH waffles or pancakes

125 ml (1/2 cup) oats 125 ml (1/2 cup) milk 2 ml (1/2 tsp) cinnamon 5 ml (1 tsp) maple syrup 125 ml (1/2 cup) berries, fresh or frozen

1. Add oats, milk and cinnamon to large mason jar. Cover. Place in fridge overnight.

2. In a separate mason jar, add chia pudding ingredients, cover and CHIA PUDDING place in fridge overnight.

60 ml (1/4 cup) chia seeds 3. Next day, remove from 250 ml (1 cup) milk fridge and layer overnight 2 ml (1/2 tsp) vanilla extract oats with chia pudding.

Top with berries and drizzle of maple syrup.

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Recipe photos: Erin Stanley

TIME overnight

Sudoku Puzzle

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1. muskeg; 2. The Northern Star Award; 3. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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OH, MY WORD! by John Sanko

Quick Quiz Answers:

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HOCKEY PLAYER MATTHEW ALLEN REFLECTS THE LIGHT OF JESUS— ON AND OFF THE ICE. P.16

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Helping Others

A CUT ABOVE P.8

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Hospital Chaplain

ARMY IN ACTION P.12

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

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IT’S THEIR MOVE P.5

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1. What landscape and vegetation term comes from the Cree word that means “low-lying marsh”?

2. Formerly called the Lou Marsh Award, what is the name of the presentation given each year to Canada’s top athlete?

3. Who created the literary character of Sherlock Holmes?

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QUICK QUIZ

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Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Word Search A Whiter Shade of Pale C G

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ALABASTER ANTIQUE BABY POWDER BEIGE BONE CHAMPAGNE CHIFFON COCONUT CORN SILK COTTON CREAM DAISY

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DUTCH EGGSHELL FLAX FLORAL FROST GHOST IVORY LINEN LINK NAVAJO OFF OLD LACE

PARCHMENT PEPPERMINT PEARL PORCELAIN RICE ROSE SALT SEASHELL SNOWDRIFT SPRING VANILLA VISTA

Faith&Friends

A GLOBAL LENS

Photo: The Salvation Army International Development Department

Nourishing Futures

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ajor Heather Matondo, assistant director for The Salvation Army’s international development department at territorial headquarters in Toronto, alongside fellow pastors, helps serve lunch to children at The Salvation Army Boys’ Home in India—the Army’s oldest mission field.

The home has the capacity to care for approximately 55 boys, many of whom come from impoverished rural villages where access to food and education is limited.

Through the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program, the boys receive nutritious meals, education and moral guidance, giving them the tools to grow with dignity and build brighter futures. During her recent visit, Major Heather witnessed first-hand the transformational changes taking place in the lives of these children, whose opportunities are being reshaped through care and hope.

faithandfriends.ca I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 • 31

Help Provide Food and Shelter to Those in Need People across Canada continue to struggle to meet basic needs. More than half of food bank users are accessing services for the first time. Parents are especially affected, often cutting back on food to ensure their children are fed.

The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in Canada. With your support, neighbours in need can have reliable access to food and safe shelter.

Make a life-changing difference today.

Visit SalvationArmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY to donate.

PM 40064794

For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6153 or circulation@salvationarmy.ca. Allow 6-8 weeks for changes.