salvationist march 2013

1 I April 2012 I Salvationist

SalvationistThe Voice of the Army March 2013

Never the Same AgainThe Easter story changes us in profound ways

Disgraceful Reactions to Sandy HookShootings

Officer FlexTraining: Many Paths,One Goal

Salvationist Surgeon Motivated by Faith

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Keynote SpeakerCommissioner William Roberts, National Commander.

Patricia HickmanAward winning fiction and nonfictionwriter, including her acclaimed novel,Painted Dresses.

Bob HostetlerBest selling author of thirty books, including his latest, How to Survive theEnd of the World.

James WatkinsWriter, editor, humorist, professor andminister of communications.

Contest Categories: Fiction and Nonfiction

2013

Salvation ArmyWriters Conference

eatured Speakers and PresentersFF ATTENTION SALVATIONISTS in the USA

Deadline March 31, 2013. (Must be 18 years old or older)Visit http://publications.salvationarmyusa.org/writers-conference-scholarship/ for details.

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Salvationist I March 2013 I 3


Inside Faith & FriendsHigher GroundCraig DeMartino is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for disabled athletes

Kate’s PlaceA Salvation Army facility in Regina gives moms and kids a place to call home

Help! It’s Raining (Relatives)!A rain-drenched trip to an Easter Passion Play in Drumheller, Alta.,

changed Phil Callaway’s perspec-tive on hope

Features8 Never the Same AgainAt its heart, the Easter story is about life, with its tragedies and triumphs. Despair need never be an option by General Linda Bond

11 It’s Playtime!A Salvationist article sparks a new program for moms and their childrenby Melissa Walter

12 Flexible Training: Many Paths, One GoalFive cadets tell Salvationist about their experiences in field-based training by Kristin Fryer

15 Mr. Snow Goes to SpringhillAs mayor of this Nova Scotia town, retired Salvation Army Major Max Snow is determined to make a difference by Ken Ramstead

16 The Causeway InitiativeForming unlikely friendships in the heart of Toronto An interview with Dion Oxford

18 Healing HandsA surgeon and Salvation Army bandsman, Dr. Eric Shepherd’s faith provides a firm foundation by Kristin Fryer

19 Second LifeA devastating kidney disease taught Major Keith Pike how to rely on Godby Kristin Fryer

20 Chaos and CompassionContrasting scenes in Jesus’ final moments at the cross by Major Cathie Harris

Inside This Issue March 2013 No. 82www.salvationist.ca E-mail: [email protected]

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Share Your Faith When you finish reading Faith & Friends in the centre of this

issue, pull it out and give it to someone who needs to hear about Christ’s life-changing power

FAITH &frıends

Inspiration for Living

March 2013 faithandfriends.ca

HIGHER GROUNDCraig DeMartino is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for disabled athletes

SALVATION ARMY HELPS

Regina facility gives mothers and kids a place to call home

+PHIL CALLAWAY’S

EASTER ADVENTURE

TV Series Provides a New Look at the Bible

New Staff EditorWe welcome Mel iss a Yue Wallace as fea-tures editor and staff writer for S a l va ti o n is t . After complet-ing a bachelor’s degree in jour-

nalism and sociology at Carleton University, Melissa worked as a story producer at CTV and online editor at Reuters news agency.

While walking in downtown Toronto, Melissa often felt disheart-

ened by the homeless individuals sleeping on grates to keep warm. She decided to use her writing skills for God’s purposes, caring for those in need through non-profit organizations and sharing stories of individuals—no matter their place in life.

Melissa worked at The Scott Mission, World Vision Canada and Christian Children’s Fund of Canada in public relations and communi-cations. She was the managing editor for ChildVoice magazine and freelances for various Christian newspapers. Welcome, Melissa!

Departments4 EditorialIt Causes Me to Trembleby Major Jim Champ

5 Around the Territory

10 Mission MattersFrom Bethlehem to Calvaryby Commissioner Brian Peddle

22 Cross Culture

24 Celebrate CommunityEnrolments and recognition, tributes, gazette, calendar

29 Faith Works The Humble Leaderby Major Kathie Chiu

30 Talking Points Suffer the Childrenby Major Juan Burry

Cover photo: © iStockphoto.com/eyecrave

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We sat along the perimeter of the small darkened room. The air felt heavy and oppres-

sive as we gingerly made our way down a spiral staircase fashioned out of roughly hewn stone. And then we sat on narrow ledges that were anything but comfort-able. There were 39 officers on a pilgrim-age to the Holy Land and yet, in these moments, there was a real sense of being alone with one’s thoughts. Our guide was a Jewess named Hanna who could trace her family ancestry back to the house of Levi. The Scriptures were read and then Hanna began to sing, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?...”

We had been inching our way down the Via Dolorosa, otherwise known as the Way of Suffering. It was the path that Jesus trod in the final hours that led to his Crucifixion. The day our group travelled the 600 metres or 2,000 feet from Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the weather was sunny and hot. The streets were crowded and the narrow, winding road demanded that the traveller proceed with caution due to the uneven surface. I suspect little had changed in the old city in 2,000 years. From the intense sunlight, we

were guided through a small passage-way. The overhead sign simply stated, “Prison of Christ.” The guide explained that we were in the place where Jesus would have been held while awaiting his execution. The only betrayal of modern-ity were dim, electric lights strategically placed to guide visiting pilgrims, a rod iron railing down the staircase and a wooden sign that declared “No Photos!”

This month we remember the pas-sion of the suffering Saviour leading to the time of rejoicing at his Resurrection from the dead. General Linda Bond’s Easter message stems from her personal encounter with the living Christ through the words of a seasoned Salvation Army preacher. The outcome of Easter is that Christ is our constant companion and we are “never the same again” (see page 8).

The words of the Negro spiritual reverberated through the room and beyond. “Were you there when they nailed him to a tree?” We sang all of the verses and I understood again that there are some things that readily cause one to tremble. As soon as the final verse ended, a loud voice called down to us, “There are others waiting for their turn!” Our moment of reflection ended abruptly. And we begrudgingly made our way back into the sunlight, the heat and the madding crowds.

Not many of us will have the priv-ilege to visit the Holy Lands where Jesus walked. Yet, the impact of his Crucifixion and Resurrection continues to draw us to him wherever we find our-selves. To realize that he died for us and invites us to share in the power of his Resurrection is enough to cause us to tremble.

MAJOR JIM CHAMP Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL

4 I March 2013 I Salvationist

It Causes Me to Tremble

Salvationist is a monthly publication of The Salvation

Army Canada and Bermuda Territory

Linda Bond General

Commissioner Brian Peddle Territorial Commander

Major Jim Champ Editor-in-Chief

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Pamela Richardson News Editor, Production Co-ordinator,

Copy Editor (416-422-6112)

Timothy Cheng Art Director

Ada Leung Circulation Co-ordinator

Kristin Fryer, Ken Ramstead Contributors

Agreement No. 40064794, ISSN 1718-5769. Member, The Canadian Church Press. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible,

Today’s New International Version (TNIV) © 2001, 2005 International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide. All articles are

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AROUND THE TERRITORY

Did you know …… the cities of Ottawa and Toronto declared a Salvation Army Week in December in support of the kettle campaign?… AGAT Laboratories and its employees donated more than $108,000 to The Salvation Army in Alberta in December?… a recent Hope in the City breakfast in Montreal was attended by 350 people and raised $65,000 for families in need?… Salvation Army work has been officially established in the Kingdom of Cambodia, taking the total number of countries in which the Army has officially recognized work to 126?… Salvation Army thrift stores across Canada collected 1,223 shopping carts full of food for their 2012 Open Your Hearts and Your Cupboard campaign? The food was collected between October and December 2012… the Sporting Christmas fund, which is operated by The StarPhoenix in Saskatoon, raised $123,490 for The Salvation Army this past Christmas, setting a new record for the fund? Sporting Christmas has collected money for the Army for 36 consecutive years and, in that time, the fund has raised more than $1.4 million… a National Recycling Operations shipment of clothing to Jamaica is having a major impact on the Army’s ministries in the country? After the shipment arrived in the fall, monthly thrift store sales increased from $60,000-$100,000 to $560,000-$650,000 (Jamaican dollars). The shipment also benefited victims of hurricane Sandy and children at Christmastime… the Army in Prince Rupert, B.C., raised $900 for Gifts of Hope during their Christmas hamper program—enough to purchase 30 gifts of water? The money was raised under the banner of “change for a change,” as hamper recipients were given the opportunity to donate loose change to the effort

THE SALVATION ARMY thrift store located in the south end of Halifax reopened its doors in January after being closed for nearly three months due to smoke and water damage caused by a fire at the restaurant adjacent to the store.

The store is still undergoing some renovations but has cordoned off a tem-porary space where customers can shop.

“We are ecstatic to finally be open for business and to have our staff back at work,” says Barbara Warren, retail district manager for Nova Scotia thrift stores.

“Since the closure we’ve received countless calls and e-mails from resi-dents asking when the store would reopen so we know folks will be very happy to hear the good news. There’s still more work to do to get the store back to normal but we’re very close to having full use of our space once again.”

Warren said the support received from residents and nearby businesses to help the thrift store recover product

damaged in the fire has been amazing.“In December, the Sobeys in our plaza

hosted a donation drive on our behalf and collected enough donations to fill a transport truck. As well, many residents

have dropped off donations on-site,” says Warren. “Those donations helped us to restock the shelves and clothing racks so we’re very grateful to the residents of Halifax for their support.”

Shawl Ministry Shares WarmthTHE PENTICTON, B.C., Salvation Army recently started a prayer shawl ministry. A group of dedicated volunteers meets on a weekly basis to knit and crochet shawls, which are then given away to people to help them feel warm and loved.

“Our hope is that everyone who is wrapped in a prayer shawl will know that God and The Salvation Army have cov-ered them and the shawls in prayer,” says Major Jo Sobool, corps officer.

Each shawl comes with a number of prayers which the recipient can read and reflect on while wearing their shawl.

“The shawls are ‘made in prayer, for prayer,’ ” says Major Sobool. “We hope that everyone who receives one will feel the love, concern and prayer support of those who have taken the time to make them.”

Halifax Thrift Store Reopens After Fire

Dorothy Tibert, manager of Halifax South Thrift Store, prepares for customers

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From left, Fran Knypstra, Betty Wilkison, Marg Pederson, Bev van Dale, Mjr Jo Sobool and Jean Cardno make prayer shawls



THE SALVATION ARMY in the Bermuda Division received a $10,000 donation from HSBC Bermuda’s directors, manage-ment and staff in lieu of gifts and various other Christmas initiatives. A cheque was presented to Major Shawn Critch, divisional commander, in December.

“I am grateful for the social consciousness and commun-ity commitment of partners like HSBC Bermuda,” says Major Critch. “Such financial partnerships represent a critical com-ponent of our sustainable funding in support of the mission. There will be many individuals and families who will benefit from this donation.”

“The Salvation Army touches the lives of so many people in Bermuda,” says Richard Moseley, chief executive officer, HSBC Bermuda. “We recognize the importance and under-stand the challenges charities and organizations like The Salvation Army face when it comes to funding. We hope this gift brings some relief to the Army’s Christmas program and fundraising appeal.”

From left, Judy Doidge, HSBC Bermuda corporate secretary; Philip Butterfield, board chairman; Mjr Shawn Critch; Richard Moseley

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Donation Matching Benefits Army in Stratford

The Salvation Army in Stratford, Ont., recently received a cheque for $15,000 from Scotiabank, raised over two “match-a-donation” week-ends held during the 2012 Christmas kettle campaign. From left, Gary Wreford; Helen Quinlan-Hainse; Sharon Schwantz; Janice Munro; Cpt Jason Sabourin, CO; Bert McMillan

Kettle Campaign Raises $20.6 million

DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS and partners across the Canada and Bermuda Territory helped The Salvation Army’s 2012 Christmas kettle campaign collect $20.6 million, just short of the Army’s $21 million goal. With nearly 2,000 kettles nationwide, economic conditions played a factor in the public’s overall giving.

“We’ve felt the effects of increased need over the last few years now,” says Graham Moore, public relations and develop-ment secretary. “We’re incredibly grateful for the continued generosity Canadians showed us this Christmas season. Monies raised will help provide Canada’s most vulnerable with not only food, shelter and clothing, but also dignity and hope.”

Army in Prince George Wins Environmental Award

PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITY Church, B.C., has won the local Chamber of Commerce’s environmental leadership award for 2012. This is the first time The Salvation Army has received this award—one of 10 business excellence awards that the chamber gives to local businesses every year—con-firming that the Army is now a major player in the green movement in the city.

This award reflects a number of “greening” efforts made by The Salvation Army in Prince George this year, under the leadership of Captains Neil and Crystal Wilkinson, corps officers. Most significantly, the corps opened a new recycling warehouse in April 2012. While the previous two thrift store locations had been recycling on a smaller scale for many years, the new warehouse allowed the corps to expand and improve their recycling operations to better meet the needs of the community.

While the warehouse continues to accept donations of gently used items that can be sold in the local thrift store, it also accepts all end-of-life items. This includes textiles, footwear, electronics, mixed paper and metals. Since April, the new recycling centre has diverted more than 1.5 million pounds

of textiles from the landfill. The revenue generated provides financial support to the corps’ com-munity ministries, which include the city’s primary food bank, bread line and more.

Cpts Neil and Crystal Wilkinson receive an environmental leader-ship award on behalf of Prince George CC

$10,000 Donated to Bermuda Salvation Army



EDS Director Honoured by Town of Slave Lake

MAJOR ROY LANGER, divisional director of emergency and disaster services for the Alberta and Northern Territories Division, was presented with a medal of honour from the town of Slave Lake, Alta., by Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee in December. He was nominated by the RCMP for his efforts and services after the devastating wildfires that swept through the town in May 2011.

“ M a j o r R o y Langer attended the Slave Lake wild-fires in support of the Slave Lake Fire Department, RCMP, the mayor and coun-cil of Slave Lake, the municipal dis-trict and other first responders where he conducted CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) debriefings with the various groups, as well as many one-on-one interven-tions,” says Bob Harper, chaplain for the RCMP “K” Division. “Major Langer continued to help others long after the citizens of Slave Lake returned home. In addition, Major Langer co-ordinated the Salvation Army divisional emergency and dis-aster services who were immediately present after the Sunday of the fires.

“The Salvation Army gave great support and comfort to the first responders and the people of Slave Lake,” Harper continues. “Their presence was invaluable. Major Langer provided the presence and resources that enabled people to survive and thrive.”

Mjr Roy Langer receives a medal of honour from Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee

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Territorial Commander Launches Mission Fund

COMMISSIONER BRIAN PEDDLE, territorial commander, has established a Mission Focus Fund to provide resources for projects or initiatives aimed at furthering General Linda Bond’s vision of One Army, One Mission, One Message. Projects supported by the fund will concentrate on one of the seven identified territorial priorities: spiritual renewal, leadership development, social justice, children and youth, integrated mission and ministry, the gospel and transformation, and discipleship.

A sum of $1.2 million has been set aside for the fund, which is reserved for one-time projects. Any ministry unit in the territory can apply for a grant from the fund, given the support of their divisional commander.

Oshawa Temple Holds Corps Retreat

TERRITORIAL LEADERS COMMISSIONERS Brian and Rosalie Peddle led the recent corps retreat at Oshawa Temple, Ont. The theme for the retreat was: “Renewal—It begins with me.” Highlights included a large response to the commissioners’ call for renewal and commitment during the morning worship. Many people went to the mercy seat to pray and sign com-mitment cards. The response was so great that people stood in the aisles and waited as others knelt. A second highlight was the commissioners’ report on the international Salvation Army and the Army in Canada and Bermuda, which covered both blessings received and challenges faced as the Army moves forward.

Campaign Educates Youth about Hunger

THE SALVATION ARMY and its advertising agency, Grey Canada, have embarked on a unique venture to educate young people about hunger in Canada. A vending machine packed with food items that people living on the street are forced to eat was placed in Toronto’s Centennial College. A bold cap-tion on the machine said: “No one chooses to eat garbage.”

“While there are helpful resources for those who call the streets home,” says Andrew Burditt, marketing and communi-cations director for Canada and Bermuda, “a lot of people source out whatever food and shelter they can find.”

A video camera captured students’ reactions when they realized that the items in the machine were anything from half-eaten hamburgers to left-over pizza slices to stale bread. Many students took photos in disbelief.

A video explaining the campaign and showing the students’ reactions can be viewed at http://bit.ly/YcemLr.

Commissioners Brian and Rosalie Peddle with Mjrs Dana and Robert Reid, COs


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Never the Same Again

At its heart, the Easter story is about life, with its tragedies and triumphs. Despair need never be an option

BY GENERAL LINDA BOND

Several years ago, when attending a Sunday morning worship ser-vice at a Salvation Army corps (church), I heard one of our

leaders preach. It was not a typical sermon; in fact it seemed too simple, especially for this seasoned preacher. But his first language was not English so I suppose for this English-speaking congregation, he had to play it safe and not try to be too theological, using words that he was unfamiliar with. He simply told stories about Jesus. It may not have been a sermon that won a best preacher’s award but it was one that moved me to tears and remains an unforgettable experience.

Fact, Not FictionSuch stories not only make for powerful sermon material but are at the heart of Christian music. The Salvation Army, like most of the Christian churches, loves to sing what it believes. Stories about Jesus, put to music, are forever etched in our memories. As we sing them we are called again and again to reflect on him, his life, death, Resurrection and what this all means to us today.

One line of an Easter song keeps play-ing in my mind: “Alone on the road, oppressed by my load, Jesus himself drew near and walked with me.” This line captures the event recorded in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 24) and it also speaks powerfully to us today. The story is of two followers of Jesus returning home after his Crucifixion, with their hopes dashed. The horror of the Crucifixion was enough to shatter anyone, but when

it happened to one you loved, one who was innocent, not only innocent but absolutely perfect in your eyes, then how could you put it all together? Their grief was compounded by the fact that they had believed Jesus was their Messiah, the hope for their world. The light for which they had waited for so long was now snuffed out. Everything was darkness and despair. They were overcome and overwhelmed, blinded by this ghastly and unexpected reversal.

Perhaps for many reading this article, this Christian story does not make sense: God loved us so much that he sent his Son to earth. Jesus comes in flesh as the babe in the manger, lives an exemplary life, healing, preaching, performing mir-acles. Then he dies the criminal’s death, takes our sin upon him and breaks its power by his sacrifice. Through him a relationship is restored with God and through him we can know forgiveness, freedom and life to the full. And maybe the biggest stretch is this belief that he rose to life again and appeared bodily, to his followers. No ghost or apparition but a real live Jesus! Please don’t dismiss these facts as either fanciful or irrelevant. Just for this moment, hold on to them as truth, real Truth. Not fiction but facts.

Forever Drawing NearNow here in Luke’s story is the Lord, the Saviour of the world, the resurrected Jesus, taking time to walk down a lonely road with two shattered people, to open their eyes, to give them cause to hope again. This same living Jesus spans the ages. He walks your path today, hoping

only that you will open your eyes to see him, your ears to hear him and your heart to receive him.

That song’s phrase “alone on the road, oppressed by my load” may be describing you today. “Aloneness” is not numerical. If I am by myself, then I am alone. No, you and I know of times when we were surrounded by people and felt an “alone-ness,” an emptiness that all the human bodies in the world could not fill. The weight on our shoulders, the burdens we were carrying seemed to separate us from the smiles and light-hearted fellow-ship experienced by others. Perhaps ill-ness, financial worries, family concerns, addictions, failure or even limitations imposed by others contributed to dreams unfulfilled. Maybe we have felt deluded by life and by people.

Friend, Easter is about life, life with its tragedies and triumphs. Despair need never be an option. You don’t need to be a theologian to understand Jesus. Let his story be your story, Jesus himself is with you. He draws near, as the song says. Not at a distance, shaming you for your depression or your limited expecta-tions. Not at all! He died for you, and believes in you. He wants you to believe in him, to see him as the Constant

Companion, your Saviour. Don’t take my word for it. Take his—and life will never be the same again.

General Linda Bond is the international leader of The Salvation Army.


The cross is a wide-open door. It allows me to enter God’s spiritual

realm where anything is pos-sible. This is a place where mercy, love and forgiveness translate into gifts for the undeserving. A place where my mess is exposed to the creator, God, who views me as his treasured possession, and where the darkest cloud of life’s circumstances gives way to the prospect of a silver lining. It’s a place where the phrase “just as I am” brings a response of unreserved, limitless grace.

It amazes me that the cross, such a dark symbol and emblem of cruel tor-ture, grotesque death and

the ultimate punishment, has become a symbol of hope. A cross may be held in the hand of a dying person or adorned with diamonds and worn on a gold chain. One even emerged from the ashes of Ground Zero after 9/11 as two steel beams crossed in the rubble.

I have several crosses in my home office, collected along the way, that hold sentimental value. There’s a wooden cross given to me by a Roman Catholic woman who billeted me as a cadet, another made from a cluster of nails held together by a wire received during Easter 1980, and still another from Liberia that was fashioned

from a bullet casing into a symbol of hope in the midst of war.

In these realities and more there is the offer of grace.

A visit to one of our men’s shelters this past Christmas impressed upon me the con-nection between Bethlehem and Calvary. It came through an image used in a slide presentation, a painting by Bjorn Thorkelson. At first glance, it appeared to me to be a Christmas image sim-ply because the focal point was a lone manger in the middle of a stable. A closer look revealed something else. Light shining through an opening captured the beams of the stable structure and cast the shadow of a cross over the feeding trough. I stared for a moment, captiv-ated. As I reflected, I sensed a nudge from the Holy Spirit and was filled with thanks-giving that God so loved the world that he gave his Son to die. His grace was sufficient for me!

The good news is that this amazing grace was not mine alone but extended to all who were in the chapel that day—to the men whose lives were broken and rav-aged by addiction, to their families who had joined in the special chapel service—and it extends to you.

In his book Grace—More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, Max Lucado says, “The second redemp-tion upstaged the first. God sent not Moses, but Jesus. He smote not Pharaoh but Satan. Not with 10 plagues

but a single cross. The Red Sea didn’t open, the grave did.”

This Easter, look past the symbol of the cross, whether it is rugged, stained, wooden or polished gold and experi-ence the grace of God that the cross makes possible. This reflection on the cross and our engagement will enable us to: • say no to sin and yes to the fullness of life in Christ.

• embrace that which is righteous and holy and renounce the mediocrity of religion.

• rest from striving and human effort, and sur-render to his will.

• step out of the shadows of salvation and stand in the fullness of his light.

• acknowledge how little we deserve God’s grace and thank him that it is freely given.Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) says,

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

God’s ult imate plan of transformation for you includes his smile of grace. It should never be about what we deserve but rather what he has provided.

Commissioner Brian Peddle is the territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

From Bethlehem to CalvaryA surprise encounter with a painting reminded me to look beyond the

manger to the grace of EasterBY COMMISSIONER BRIAN PEDDLE

MISSION MATTERS

Bjorn Thorkelson, Shadow of the Cross Over Manger

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An article published in the May 2012 issue of Salvationist described the Baby Song program at Georgetown

Community Church in Ontario, an initiative that allows parents to connect with each other while their young chil-dren play and learn. One young mother read this article and was inspired: why not start a similar program at her own church?

Katie Awalt, the mother of two young children, attends Westminster Park in London, Ont. “I wanted to make connec-tions with the community,” she explains, “and I wanted to offer a program to the mothers because there aren’t a lot of programs like that in the community.” Westminster Park’s neighbourhood is particularly in need of programs for families and especially for young moth-ers: the church is located across from London’s largest housing complex, which houses 197 families.

Many of those families are single mothers and their children. “The single moms find it really difficult,” observes Lieutenant Tracy Savage, corps officer of Westminster Park. “They just don’t have a lot of support. Katie wanted to offer that support system—that’s what her passion is.”

After reading the article in Salvationist, Awalt first approached Lieutenant Savage with the idea and then spoke with mothers in the community about what kinds of programs they’d want to see. From this initial idea, Westminster Park’s playgroup has developed into a weekly breathing space for both parents and their children to enjoy themselves. Playtime gives the parents an opportun-ity to relax and talk over coffee before the children enjoy a snack and short program that includes a Bible lesson, sing-along and crafts.

The program has had a huge impact on the church. “It’s been a really neat thing to see,” Lieutenant Savage says. “We have one mom of two young boys who felt she didn’t have anybody; now

she has a church family that supports her.” The group is primarily an out-reach ministry, and the majority of its members have joined from outside the church. Westminster Park also offers programs for older children, such as a vacation Bible school, so that families who become involved can bring their older children to church activities.

In response to its popularity, the playgroup has expanded, with par-ents signing up in advance for six- to eight-week sessions that include more structured activities, such as Bible time. Children up to the age of four are divided into different groups that then circu-late between activities. Awalt has also branched out to create other activities for young moms, including a clothing swap and a mommies’ night out.

Since starting the playgroup, Awalt has returned to college to study medical administration and so has stepped down from a leadership role, but she remains enthusiastic about it: “I feel great with

the way the group is going and I can’t wait to see what happens.”

As these programs continue to develop and grow, they provide new kinds of support and encouragement for the families—and especially the single mothers—in the area. At the same time, Westminster Park’s playgroup gives fam-ilies with no connection to the church an opportunity to come into contact with the Christian faith. “One of the young moms said to me, ‘I’m so glad to finally have found you because I want some-thing more for my kids—I want a better influence in their lives,’ ” Lieutenant Savage remembers.

All this has grown from Awalt’s eager-ness to reach out to the young families around her, and her initial work post-ing flyers and talking to local families has paid off for Westminster Park. “I wanted to do my part and try and build the congregation,” she says, “and show them that if you have faith, you can do anything.”

It’s Playtime!A Salvationist article sparks a new program for moms and their children

BY MELISSA WALTER

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Flexible Training: Many Paths, One GoalFive cadets tell Salvationist about their experiences in field-based training

BY KRISTIN FRYER, STAFF WRITER

In the Canada and Bermuda Territory, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to training officers. In addition to the standard two-year

program at the College for Officer Training (CFOT) in Winnipeg, the Army offers Field-Based Tailored Training (FBTT), which embraces the unique situation of different candidates, offering

an alternative path to officership for people who meet certain criteria. FBTT takes into account a candidate’s education, experience in ministry and life circumstances, and creates an individualized program that is flexible in content, training methods, length and location. In this article, current cadets share their experience in FBTT.


An Amazing GiftCadet Sharon Tidd, New Westminster, B.C.

CADET SHARON TIDD has only been stationed at New Westminster Citadel, B.C., since November, but she already feels right at home.

“I’m loving it,” she says. “It’s a vibrant ministry and the congrega-tion is very involved in outreach. We run a shelter, feed-ing program, day-care—as well as the usual family servi-ces—and there’s a lot of visionary thinking on the part of the soldiers.”

The daughter of officers, Cadet Tidd is a lifelong Salvationist. Over the past 26 years, she has worked for the Army in various capacities. Most of that work was administrative, until about five and a half years ago.

“I was working at divisional headquarters in British Columbia when I finally realized that pastoral ministry was what God intended for me to do,” she says, noting that she felt called to ministry in her 20s, but didn’t feel ready to pursue that calling at the time.

Before entering the FBTT program last fall, Cadet Tidd was the associate pastor at Kelowna Community Church, B.C.

“I was enjoying the work I was doing but I felt that God was saying, ‘It’s time to move on,’ yet I had no idea what that was going to look like,” she remembers. “I told my corps officers, Majors Ron and Toni Cartmell, that I felt like God wanted me to move into a position that involved more preaching and teaching, and they suggested I consider officership.”

Given Cadet Tidd’s background, field-based training was the obvious next step. She not only has experience with pastoral ministry, but also has several years of theological training, including a bachelor of arts in music and biblical studies and a master of divinity.

“I don’t think I could have gone back to school full time,” she says. “I’m so glad I didn’t have to—the field-based training program is an amazing gift to people like me.”

Bridging the GapCadets Leonard Heng and Peck-Ee Wong, Toronto

AFTER IMMIGRATING TO Canada from Singapore seven years ago, Cadet Leonard Heng came to Toronto’s Scarborough Citadel looking for opportunities to volunteer. What he and his wife, Cadet Peck-Ee Wong, found there was a new, and unexpected, life path: officership with The Salvation Army.

Cadets Heng and Wong met at a Baptist seminary in Singapore where they trained to be pastors. After gradua-tion, they spent the next decade in various ministry positions, including four years in China where they served as missionaries in the Hainan province.

They came to Canada seeking better educational possi-bilities for their children, while also praying for new oppor-tunities to serve God.

In September 2006, Cadet Heng became the multicultural ministries co-ordinator at Scarborough Citadel and, a year later, Cadet Wong took on the position of family services worker. With the encouragement of Major Everett Barrow, then the corps officer there, the couple prayed about the pos-sibility of becoming officers and decided to enter the FBTT program in September 2011. Since then, they have ministered at North Toronto Community Church and Toronto’s Agincourt Community Church.

“Being able to stay in Toronto made it much easier to transition into life as cadets in training,” says Cadet Wong. “Our children are teenagers now, so it helps that we didn’t have to uproot ourselves.”

“And being in the field means that whatever we learn in class can be applied right away in our ministry,” adds Cadet Heng. “Then we will know whether something will work or not and can make adjustments.”

Outside of their daily ministry, Cadets Heng and Wong

appreciate the opportunities they have had to go to CFOT for training and events.

“We have been able to get to know the training staff, under-stand some of the struggles that our fellow cadets have and be of encouragement to them,” says Cadet Wong. “Even in Toronto, we sometimes have opportunities to take courses with the auxiliary-captains, and we have made good friends there as well.”

Their current ministry is focused on the Chinese popula-tion in Agincourt.

“When we came here, I had no idea that our second lan-guage, Chinese, would be so useful,” says Cadet Wong. “I’m finding it very meaningful that I am able to help and serve as a bridge between the Chinese people and the corps, because there is definitely a cultural gap—not just a language gap. So I feel like God has placed us here at a very strategic time and I’m really thankful for that.”


Spiritual Formation Cadet Mark Young, Winnipeg

WHEN CADET MARK Young came to Winnipeg in 1987 to at tend Catherine Booth Bible College (now Booth University College), he intended to train to become a Salvation Army officer once he finished his degree. But after he graduated, a position opened up at the local Harbour Light (now Weetamah Corps) and he embraced the oppor-tunity to enter ministry right away.

Four years ago, when Cadet Young became the ministry leader there, he started earnestly considering officership again. He entered the FBTT program in September 2012.

For Cadet Young, the ability to continue in ministry while completing training requirements has been an important

advantage of the program.“Attending classes has been a wonderful blessing,” he says,

adding that the spiritual formation class has been particularly meaningful.

“In one of our first classes, we went on a prayer walk and I ended up in a place where I could just sit, pray and read Scripture,” he shares. “Being in a busy ministry, I sometimes forget to be still with God. So I’m very thankful for that class—it took me back to a place where I needed to be.”

Living in Winnipeg, Cadet Young has also benefited from his proximity to CFOT and his fellow cadets.

“It’s a privilege to be able to attend classes and chapels,” he says, “and it’s encouraging to know that you’re not alone—to have that sense of community. I know not everyone in field-based training has that, so I don’t take it for granted.”

In addition to support from CFOT and his fellow cadets, Cadet Young has his family, who are also involved in Salvation Army ministry: his wife, Denise, works at Booth University College while his son is involved in gang outreach and street ministry at Weetamah. This support is crucial for Cadet Young as he meets the challenges of ministry and training.

“It has taken time for me to adjust to having a large ministry while completing my training requirements,” he says. “I can’t always attend events at CFOT because I’m involved with my own ministry. But overall, my experience in the field-based training program has been really good.”

God’s Divine TimingCadets Darryl and Kimberley Burry, Comox Valley, B.C.

WHEN CADET DARRYL Burry entered the FBTT program in September 2011, he knew it was “God’s divine timing.” At that point, he and his wife, Cadet Kimberley Burry, had been serving as corps leaders at Comox Valley Community Church, B.C., for more than three years, following a five-year term as associate pastors at Kelowna Community Church, B.C.

“God has always very clearly laid out where he wanted us to be, when he wanted us to be there,” he says. “When our divisional commander asked us to consider field-based train-ing, we recognized that this was the next step.”

A graduate of Booth University College, Cadet Burry has worked for The Salvation Army for the past 15 years, and both he and his wife are the children of officers.

He says being in the training program has been both a blessing and a challenge.

“It’s a blessing in that we’ve been able to continue in full-time ministry,” he explains. “That has been very helpful—not only for the ministry unit, to have that continuity, but also for our family, to be able to stay here.

“It’s a challenge in that there has been significant travel involved to Winnipeg and Toronto for training,” he continues, “but we have been absolutely blessed to have people around us who have supported us. We would not have been able to do it without them.”

Cadet Burry says he is also grateful for the various ways in which the program has been tailored to his background, education and experience.

“The training college staff do a wonderful job of develop-ing a clear picture of what each person needs to ensure that we have the right qualifications to be able to serve in The

Salvation Army as an officer,” he says.For Cadet Burry, this means that his program has focused

less on administrative training, and more on Salvation Army theology and pastoral care.

“These are things that we know and have put into practice in our ministry,” he says, “but going back and walking through why we do what we do has reaffirmed that strong foundation.”

Grateful for the doors God has opened for ministry so far, Cadet Burry is looking forward to what comes next after he and his wife are commissioned this spring.

“What’s most important is having the understanding that when God does call, there needs to be a surrender,” he says. “And when we do surrender to his will, everything falls into place.

“As challenging as it is sometimes, my wife and I know that what we are doing is in God’s will,” he adds, “and he has met every one of our needs throughout this entire journey.”

For more information about the Field-Based Tailored Training program, visit cfot.ca or talk to your corps officer.


Major Max Snow vividly remembers that night in 1958. Curled up next to his little transistor radio,

he was listening fearfully to the after-math of the infamous “bump”—an underground upheaval—in Springhill, N.S., when a mine accident killed 74 miners.

“As a young Salvat ionist in Newfoundland,” says Major Snow, “I prayed for the families, rejoiced at each rescue and mourned each loss.”

Little could he have realized, not only would he become the corps officer at Springhill, but he would eventually become the town’s mayor.

Journey to Springhill“I was born and rocked in a Salva-tion Army cradle, as they say in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Major Snow.

Though his parents were soldiers at the corps in Lewisporte, N.L., a life in The Salvation Army was not top-of-mind for Major Snow, though he did marry a woman with a Salvation Army background.

Instead, he worked as a branch man-ager for an auto-parts company, managed a gasoline service station and even rented snowmobiles in northern Manitoba.

The idea of responding to God’s call was never far from mind, but when he broached the idea with his wife, Doris demurred, even though her brother was a former officer and her sister was one.

“I left it at that,” says Major Snow, “but I knew God, in his wisdom, would work things out.”

One day, out of the blue, Doris sug-gested they attend an upcoming infor-mation seminar on becoming Salvation Army officers.

“I knew then God had been speaking to her as well,” says Major Snow. “So we did, the decision was made and we headed off to the college in Toronto.”

Commissioned in the early 1980s, the Snows were appointed to Fredericton,

then Springhill, N.S. “We had six lovely years at

Springhill,” he says. “It was a great town to live in, with great people.”

When it was time to move to Westville, N.S., the Snow children, by then young adults, decided to stay. They married and eventually had children of their own.

After Westville, further assign-ments led the Snows to Saint John, N.B., Toronto and New Waterford, N.S., which was their last corps before retiring in 2002.

They decided to live in Springhill to be near their children and grandchildren.

“Poppy and Nan were needed,” Major Snow smiles.

Running the RaceToo restless to simply “retire,” Major Snow served as a commissioner with Springhill’s Police Services for two years. Running for office was a natural transition.

“As a pastor, I was used to reaching out to people one on one so running for mayor wasn’t that much of a stretch,” he says. “I’d also taken leadership courses over the years at The Salvation Army and I felt that I had something to offer to Springhill, though I would be very

much reliant on God to lead me in the way he would have me go.”

Major Snow declared his candidacy in February 2012, nine months before the October election. He started early, took university and government seminars on running an effective campaign, and assembled a hard-working team.

“I prepared well,” says Major Snow. “It’s like you learn in The Salvation Army: if you don’t prepare, prepare for failure. And I’ve always kept that in my mind.”

Election night had Major Snow anx-iously watching the results at the town hall, but by 9:00, it became clear that he had won a tight race against the incum-bent, by a narrow but hard-fought-for 44 votes.

Full CircleThe newly elected mayor and his coun-cil now face the challenge of running the city.

“We live and serve in a complex soci-ety,” says Major Snow. “My mission is to be worthy of my calling as a Salvation Army officer, lead my town and live up to the fullness of Christ.”

Major Snow never forgot his first encounter with the citizens of Springhill, however. He found out that many of the survivors of the “bump” were still alive, and resolved to contact them.

“I’ve had the privilege of praying with them, and I’ve stood by their gravesides and took part in their funeral services,” says Major Snow.

As mayor, Major Snow makes a habit of leaving his office every morning to walk down the main street and talk to the people he leads. Springhill is a town with an aging population and attracting new industry to the town is an ongoing concern, but he is determined to do what is right for his new hometown.

“I’m looking forward to serving Springhill and serving God well, and I know that he’s going to help me to overcome whatever difficulties and chal-lenges come my way.”

Mr. Snow Goes to SpringhillAs mayor of this Nova Scotia town, retired Salvation Army Major Max Snow is

determined to make a diferenceBY KEN RAMSTEAD, EDITOR, FAITH & FRIENDS AND FOI & VIE

Major Mayor: Max Snow


Finding affordable housing in major urban cities like Toronto is no easy feat. And for those who stay at the Gateway, a Salvation Army 108-

bed shelter and drop-in centre for men and women in Toronto, the hurdles can seem insurmountable.

Director Dion Oxford has seen first-hand how individuals who transition from shelter life to a place of their own often wind up back where they started—living on the streets due to loneliness and bad habits. That’s why he started the Causeway initiative: to create a solid support net-work of Christ-followers and recently housed individuals. Oxford spent time with Salvationist to update us on his ministry.

Tell us about the Gateway.The Gateway is a 13-year-old ministry and one of five shelters run by The Salvation Army in Toronto. Between us we operate 615 beds per night for men and women who are experiencing home-lessness. We called ourselves “Gateway” because we wanted to provide a place where, when people come through our doors, other doors would open to them.

We didn’t simply want to be a ware-house for humanity. We believe that all people have been created in the image of God and, therefore, all people have gifts and skills and something to teach us. At Gateway, we do all we can to tap into those gifts and skills with the hope of seeing people regain their self-worth and identity as God’s people.

What’s currently happening in your ministry?One of the most difficult tasks we have at hand is helping people find and maintain affordable and appropriate housing. We believe that when someone finds the stability of appropriate housing, they can then go about focusing on other issues they might need to address. So we do all that we can to help people find such housing with the hope that they would get started on the right track toward healing and wholeness.

How long does it take to find appro-priate housing for the people you are serving?It often takes months, and sometimes years, of waiting. The problem is finding housing that works for the individual. Affordability is a major issue. Many of our people are receiving government assistance, but the amount isn’t enough to pay the rent in most single-dwelling apartments in Toronto, let alone pay for groceries and other living expenses. So we’re often looking for rent-geared-to-income apartments that are subsidized by other funding sources. Or we find places that aren’t well kept and are not ideal to live in.

When you can adequately house indi-viduals, are they able to adjust to liv-ing on their own? Usually they aren’t able to. In fact, many of the men and women who leave shelters and find housing end up feeling iso-lated and alone in their new apartments. Ultimately, many lose their housing for

one reason or another stemming from that loneliness. They then end up back in the shelter system because it’s the closest thing to “home” that they know. This is mostly due to the fact that while they live in shelters, they have commun-ity, but when they move into their own apartments, they are all alone and have no idea how to begin finding community in their neighbourhood.

How have you been able to develop community through the Causeway initiative?We know that many committed Christians are regularly asking, “How do we get involved?” Many Christ-followers really want to do something more than sit in the pew each Sunday. There is a stirring in people’s souls that compels them to act on injustice and poverty, but they don’t know what form that action will take when they have jobs and fam-ilial responsibilities. Or they want to roll up their sleeves and help, but don’t know where to start.

Causeway addresses both of these

The Causeway Initiative

Forming unlikely friendships in the heart of Toronto

“We didn’t simply want to be a warehouse for humanity. ... We want

to encourage people of Christlike compassion

to develop ‘unlikely friendships’ by providing

presence, guidance and support”

Dion Oxford


realities. In fact, the word “causeway” comes from this concept of bridging a gap. A causeway is a person-made bridge between two previously separated bod-ies. The bridge that the Causeway initia-tive is trying to create is between: the rich and poor; corps and social; those with material resources and those who lack them; and those who have com-munity and those who desire it.

So how does it work?Each of our five shelters have housing specialists on staff whose job is to find appropriate housing for the residents of the shelter who are looking for their own place to live and then provide follow-up support once an individual has been housed. Approximately 1,000 men and women each year are housed through Salvation Army shelters in Toronto.

However, due to the volume of people being housed each month and the small number of housing specialists on staff, the follow-up support can be difficult. The numbers are simply too great for our staff to manage. As a result, we often see people that we house eventually lose their housing and come back to us.

The Causeway initiative believes that while there are not enough “profession-als” to provide follow-up support to these individuals, there are more than enough committed Christians in churches all across Toronto that could. We believe that part of the Christian imperative is to befriend people on the margins of soci-ety (see Micah 6:8, James 1:27, Matthew 25:31-46). Causeway is providing an avenue for Christians to respond to the gospel in very practical and vital ways.

What are you doing to ensure this initiative has the support it needs?We are approaching local pastors and congregations and asking for volunteers. Families, friends and groups can volun-teer together. We will then train them on topics such as cultivating a biblical and theological understanding of the poor, boundaries, risks, social determin-ants of health and well-being, poten-tial outcomes and measuring success. After the training, we will match them with individuals who have expressed an interest in having Causeway volun-teers walk alongside them after they have been housed.

What is the purpose of this initiative?This initiative is developed to encour-age people of Christlike compassion to

develop “unlikely friendships” by pro-viding presence, guidance and support. The help of compassionate Christian community members is needed to ensure a positive and successful journey for the individuals who are beginning their walk toward wholeness.

What has been the most interesting result of this initiative?When these two groups come together, they are often surprised to realize they both have something to offer each other. People who are poor receive a friend as well as help with connecting to the community and its resources. For people who appear to have everything they need and want on the outside, they learn that their seemingly “poor” friend has many riches to offer despite—and often because of—their poverty. These riches include valuable insights into life, love, relationships, community and God that are profoundly rich due to their various experiences. Stereotypes are broken down for both parties through the context of friendship.

Did you also share those stereotypes of the poor when you first began your ministry?Yes, when I began this work 23 years ago as the cook in an old Salvation Army

drop-in centre called The Friendship Room, I came with a very one-sided view of my job. I thought I was the one who could “fix” or “save” people. But the relationships I formed then with the men and women who came to our drop-in actually began to “fix” or “save” me. And along my journey with folks on the streets, who many in our society have written off as outcasts, I can still say that I am the one who is receiving the benefits and the blessings of being in these unlikely friendships.

What life lesson do you hope those involved in the Causeway initiative will learn? Ultimately, our hope is that we all will learn that we need each other. We invite members of the church to join together to “walk the walk” with individuals who have recently experienced homelessness. The road to healing is often frustrating and those beginning the journey need a friend to guide and encourage them through the obstacles they will face.

Causeway is a ministry of The Salvation Army, supported prayerfully and financially by the Ontario Central-East Division. If you’d like to learn more, visit thecauseway.ca or e-mail [email protected].

A view of the Gateway shelter. Many recently housed individuals wind up back at the shelter because it’s the closest thing to “home” that they know


Officially, Dr. Eric Shepherd is retired, but you wouldn’t know it. At 73, Shepherd still spends two days a week

in the operating room, assisting with surgery at Victoria Hospital in London, Ont., and he considers it a privilege.

“It’s technically interesting, it’s useful and I’m with my friends doing what I love,” he says.

Shepherd has been in the medical profession since 1963. Originally drawn to medicine by his interest in living things, he was fascinated by the surgical techniques involved in urology, which focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and the male reproductive system.

“Urology is a forerunner in endo-scopic, or minimally invasive, surgery,” he explains. “With these techniques, we could remove a gall bladder, for example, through a scope instead of making an eight-inch incision.”

Shepherd was part of a team of doc-tors who established a dialysis program and a kidney transplantation program in London. Over the course of his career, he estimates that he has performed hun-dreds of transplants and thousands of other surgeries. But he’s quick to insist that he’s no hero.

“The world is made up primarily of people who get up in the morning and go and do the jobs they were trained to do,” he says. “I’m happy to have been able to do that.”

Still, Shepherd has had to go beyond his training from time to time and make difficult decisions.

“One of my happiest moments as a doctor was when I made a decision not to operate on a young man who had been hit by a truck and clearly had a damaged kidney,” he remembers. “The rule at the time said that the kidney should have been operated on, but it was my feeling that to do so would mean that the kidney would simply be lost.

“In the end, the young man remained stable and the kidney was able to heal

itself and then func-tion,” he continues. “That came to be the accepted way of managing that sort of injury, but it was contrary to the current way of thinking.”

Looking back on his experiences, Shepherd empha-sizes the value of a team effort when it comes to a patient’s health.

“It’s very import-ant to respect what other people bring to the table,” he says. “When I was finishing my intern-ship, I was asked by a family doctor to take over his practice, and I told him that I would be terrified to sit in that office, wondering what was going to come through the door next. A family doctor is supposed to pick up on early cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, a stroke that’s about to hap-pen—in the middle of treating coughs and colds. In medicine, each contribu-tion is just one brick in the building.”

Outside of work, Shepherd applies the same principles to life at London Citadel, where he has been an active member for most of his life. Involvement at The Salvation Army has been cen-tral to his life and family—his father was bandmaster at the corps for many years and his brother is now a retired officer.

“I had a very firm grounding from my parents,” says Shepherd, who still plays trombone in the London Citadel Band and has served on corps council in the past.

As his faith has matured from childhood, he says that interactions with patients—particularly fellow Christians—have played a significant

role, being at times encouraging and other times corrective.

“Those who were steadfast in their faith were a comfort,” he says, “and those who, despite their faith, were unpleasant made me look at myself to be sure that I wasn’t that kind of example.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned is that the image is far less important than the substance of an individual.”

Become an Organ DonorKidney disease can affect anyone. As March is Kidney Health Month, “I would encourage everyone to become an organ donor,” says Dr. Eric Shepherd, “because renal replace-ment therapy, or kidney transplanta-tion, is critical for people who are suffering from kidney disease.”

Potential donors can register their wishes with the health ministry for their province or territory. Shepherd notes that it is also important for people to communicate their wishes to their family.

Healing HandsA surgeon and Salvation Army bandsman, Dr. Eric Shepherd’s

faith provides a firm foundationBY KRISTIN FRYER, STAFF WRITER

Dr. Eric Shepherd plays trombone in the London Citadel Band


Major Keith Pike entered the college for officer training in St. John’s, N.L., in the fall of 1987, eager to learn

and serve God and The Salvation Army through full-time ministry.

But his dream of officership almost died just a few months later when Major Pike was diagnosed with kidney disease. He picked up a sore throat in his first semester at the college, which seemed harmless enough. Major Pike did not know that he had actually caught the strep throat virus, and so it went untreated and spread to his kidneys, impairing his body’s ability to filter tox-ins out of his blood.

Suddenly, at just 22 years old, he was facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life on dialysis—or even death.

Sitting in his hospital bed the day he received the diagnosis, Major Pike opened his Bible to do his devotions.

“The reading that day was Psalm 62: ‘The Lord is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I will not be shaken,’ ” he remembers. “Reading that verse, I knew that he was going to take care of me, and so I thought, ‘I’ll just take it one day at a time.’ ”

For the first few months after his diagnosis, Major Pike was on hemodi-alysis at the hospital three times a week for four hours, before switching to peri-toneal dialysis, an at-home treatment.

Undeterred by his illness, he went off to his summer appointments, taking his medical supplies with him, but every day was a challenge.

“One of the side effects of kidney disease is that—as the level of toxins in your blood goes up—your energy goes down,” he explains. “It was really difficult, trying to balance the demands of work and school with my deteriorat-ing health.”

In response to the crisis, his immedi-ate family underwent testing to see if any of them could be a suitable donor. Coming from a family of eight, there was an increased possibility that Major Pike would have a match, but he never

expected to have four—two of his younger brothers were identical matches, while his mother and a sister were half matches.

One of his brothers was too young to donate, but the other, John, was more than willing to help.

The surgery was scheduled for October 1988 and took place in Toronto as kidney transplant surgery was not available in Newfoundland and Labrador at the time.

Major Pike was ready for relief. By the time he went in for surgery, the periton-eal dialysis was no longer as effective, and the level of toxins in his blood was 18 times what it should have been.

The surgery was very successful. Just eight hours afterward, the toxins in his blood had dropped to four times normal levels. Major Pike spent two weeks in the hospital, and another two weeks in Toronto recuperating and going to follow-up appointments, to reduce the risk that his body would reject the new kidney.

When he finally returned to training college, he felt transformed.

“It was amazing,” says Major Pike, “to go from having no energy, to the point where you just want to sleep all day, to being wide awake.

“You don’t necessarily recognize it as it’s happening—the incremental regres-sion of your kidney function,” he adds. “You just get a little more tired every day. But after the transplant took place, it was as if this slow death was suddenly stopped and transformed into life.”

Major Pike was commissioned the following spring and now serves as ter-ritorial youth secretary. In the past 25 years, he has had appointments across the territory and been on several mis-sion trips—activities that would not have been possible without the kidney transplant. “The reality,” he says, “is that if I didn’t have the transplant, I wouldn’t be here today.”

And when he’s facing difficult cir-cumstances now, Major Pike returns to the comforting words of Psalm 62.

“My experience with kidney disease taught me how to rely on God,” he says. “I don’t get too worried about things. When issues come up, I’m strengthened by remembering that these are momen-tary issues in time, and God works on a different schedule than we do.

“Looking back on the last 25 years, I can see that God’s hand has been dir-ecting all along,” he adds. “There’s no reason to think he’s not going to do that for whatever lies ahead.”

Second LifeA devastating kidney disease taught Major Keith Pike how to rely on God

BY KRISTIN FRYER, STAFF WRITER

Now: Mjr Keith Pike is the territorial youth secretary

Then: Mjr Keith Pike’s brother, John, visits him in the hospital following his kidney transplant surgery


Death scenes intrigue us. Some draw us in, stirring our hearts as we watch a family support

each other and share words of comfort and release. Other death scenes repulse us with their utter violence and sense-lessness. The death of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Gospel of John does both: repulse and attract.

First, a brief word about the Gospel of John, which is one of four accounts in the New Testament that narrates the life of Jesus. It is noticeably differ-ent from Matthew, Mark and Luke. It was assumed that people already knew the basic outline of the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus. So when John writes about the Crucifixion of Jesus, he omits many of the details found in the other gospel accounts. As commentator Raymond Brown observes, “There is no Simon of Cyrene, no wailing women along the road to Calvary, no taunting onlookers, no darkness descending at the moment of death and no admiring centurion declaring him to be ‘Son of God.’ ” Many of the “last words” of Jesus are not recorded in John. In this Gospel, there is little detail offered unless it has theological significance. So as we read John’s account of the Crucifixion, we pay close attention to the detail he does offer. Read these words of Scripture sev-eral times before you continue reading. Let them sink deep into your mind and heart.

... So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the

Jews.”… it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ’The King of the Jews,’ but ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in

one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.”… And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to

Chaos and Compassion

Contrasting scenes in Jesus’ final moments at the cross

BY MAJOR CATHIE HARRIS

James Tissot (1836-1902), What Our Saviour Saw From the Cross


his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said … “I am thirsty.”… When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:16-30 NRSV).

While Jesus dies, two very different pictures play out. First, there is a strong disagreement between the chief priests of the Jews and Pilate over the inscrip-tion placed on the cross of Jesus. Unlike an earlier scene when Pilate changes his mind because of the force of the crowd, Pilate now sticks to his conviction. While this is happening, four soldiers are dividing up Jesus’ clothes among them, gambling for the one-piece tunic. Arguing and gambling at the place and time of death seem unthinkable. As we imagine these events, we see confusion and we hear noise. The enemies of Jesus are at work. We are repulsed.

In the second picture, we see four women and a beloved disciple. They do not speak. Their only action is to stand near the cross of Jesus. Most of his dis-ciples and followers have fled, but these few offer the ministry of presence. Their presence is not unnoticed by Jesus. In fact, he speaks to them. Words spoken at the point of death have added signifi-cance for us, the power of “last words.” We draw closer to the cross.

Jesus sees his mother and says, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the beloved disciple, “Here is your mother.” Jesus’ words are spoken to two unnamed individuals. John never names the mother of Jesus or this dis-ciple whom he loved. This is the only Gospel to record these words. So why

does John include them?Some have suggested that Jesus, as

a dutiful son, is making arrangements for the care of his mother. This is an interesting suggestion. As an itinerant preacher, Jesus himself had not been around much to offer care to his mother and she had other sons. So why entrust her to the care of a disciple? There must be more at work.

The mother of Jesus appears only twice in the Gospel of John. Here at the end of his earthly ministry, as he is dying, but also at the beginning of his ministry at the wedding at Cana. There, for reasons unknown to us, she lets Jesus know that the wine has run out. His response can seem harsh: “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4 NRSV). Yet he turns the water into wine, provid-ing the first “sign” in John’s Gospel that revealed his glory. Later, as his death approaches, Jesus declares that “his hour had come to depart from the world and go to the Father” (John 13:1). So from the cross, at the most critical time of his earthly life, “his hour” as he calls it, he entrusts his mother and a disciple to each other.

Some scholars have suggested that this is the formation of Christian com-munity, setting in motion his words from John 15:12 (NRSV): “This is my com-mandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” If Jesus’ mission was to continue, he needed a community on earth who would take the gospel out into the world. And he began with those standing near the cross to intention-ally begin this community. Once these words were spoken by Jesus, he declared his thirst, had a drink and uttered his last words: “It is finished, complete.” Jesus’ separation from his earthly life was complete, his earthly possessions

were gone and his earthly relationships were entrusted to others.

So how does this scene connect with us today? What difference does it make that Jesus spoke these words to his mother and disciple?

Jesus deeply values relationships. As a loving son, he is attentive to his mother and needs to entrust her to others. That is the personal experience of many of us who live distant from family members. We rely on others to visit, to shop and to care for those we love. Conversely, we, as Salvationists, are often the ones entrusted to care: to visit and provide the ministry of presence to seniors, the lonely and the vulnerable. Jesus relies on us to fulfil this trust with dignity and faithfulness. Loving—as Jesus loved—is a privileged calling.

Jesus also creates community. His mission was not limited to the work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit alone. He draws a community to himself. He has made us part of his salvation plan: to be transformative influences in our world. We are certainly called as individ-uals, but individuals who will commit ourselves to working with each other in unity, as Jesus prayed in John 17. Many of our community care ministries express this faithful service through visits to seniors’ homes or hospitals. Our social services units create a team of people to work among those with addictions, economic challenges or mental illness. Through these actions, The Salvation Army fulfills the deep desire of Jesus, expressed in those final words on the cross. We are helping to bring his work to completion.

So let us once again draw near to the cross of Jesus to watch, listen and act.

Major Cathie Harris is a retired Salvation Army officer who loves living in Winnipeg.

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CROSS CULTURE

IN THE NEWS

Losing Our ReligionSurvey shows that only half of Canadians

see themselves as “religious”

Spiritual, but not reli-gious. That’s how most Canadians see them-selves, according to a new Forum Research poll commissioned by the National Post, which asked Canadians about their religious beliefs. Two thirds of Canadians said that they were spiritual, while one half identified themselves as religious.

However, these numbers change significantly when age is taken into account. Whereas 66 percent of people over 65 considered themselves to be religious, only 33 percent of people aged 18-34 years said they were. In keeping with this trend, 76 percent of seniors said they believe in God, compared to 58 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds.

Meanwhile, the number of Canadians claiming “no reli-gion” is on the rise. The Post reports that four decades ago, less than one percent of Canadians said they had no religion, but according to the most recent census, taken in 2001, that number has risen to 16 percent.

Faith on DisplayThe Sisterhood documents the lives of five

pastors’ wives

TLC drew fire from Christian groups and viewers this winter with its latest reality show, The Sisterhood. The show follows five pastors’ wives, known as “first ladies,” as they go about their daily lives in Atlanta. According to TLC, “The Sisterhood provides an honest, behind-the-scenes look into the struggles, triumphs and unique experiences that shape these bold women as they ditch their Sunday hats and morph into the dynamic and influential figures they have become and aim to be.”

Critics say The Sisterhood gives Christians a bad name because it shows the women talking about sex and drugs, getting tattoos and arguing about all sorts of things. As one of the first ladies says, “The only thing we agree on is that we all love God.” And some of the women have less-than-godly pasts. Early in the eight-part series, Domonique tells the women that she grew up in an abusive foster home, and after she ran away at 13, lived on the streets and turned to prostitution.

Given where she is now, Domonique’s story is, ultimately, one of hope—an example of how the show could bear witness. DeLana, one of the first ladies, says she decided to do the show because she thinks the world needs “some real women of God to be real and transparent.” A noble goal, but it may not be enough to redeem the show for viewers who feel it makes a mockery of their faith.

Two thirds of Canadian seniors consider themselves to be religious, compared to one third of 18- to 34-year-olds

ON THE WEB

Social Networking for KidsGrom Social offers a fun, safe place to

hang out onlineAt 11 years old, Zach Marks was too young for Facebook, which requires users to be at least 13. That didn’t stop him from pretending he was of age and creating an account, but when his parents found out that he was behaving inappro-priately, they pulled the plug.

Not wanting to give up the benefits of social media, Marks took a page from Mark Zuckerberg’s book and created his own social network: Grom Social. At first, he looked at joining some of the existing networks for kids but soon gave up. “I did not find any that looked interesting to me,” he writes on the About page for gromsocial.com. “They were all childish.”

With the help of his parents and five siblings, Marks, now 12, has created a fun and full-featured social networking

site that allows kids 16 and younger to chat, share photos and videos, and create events, as well as play games and join discussion groups about topics such as entertainment and sports. The site also has a section called Grom Tutor, which offers videos that explain important concepts for students in Grades 1 to 10.

Unlike “adult” social networks, Grom Social has a number of measures in place to keep it safe for kids. First, it enables parental monitoring: parents must approve each of their child’s “friends” and they can see what activities the child has been participating in. Second, the site does not tolerate bullying and it promotes an anti-bullying, anti-drugs and anti-smoking message throughout the site. To further protect kids, Grom Social makes it difficult for undesirables to join by requiring new members to be approved by a current adult member and child member.

Other Sites for Kids:Club Penguin: A Disney-owned gaming community and virtual world designed for kids aged six to 14. Most games include a chat forum, which has safeguards that prevent children from using profanity and giving out personal information such as their e-mail address. Visit clubpenguin.com.Yoursphere: A social network and virtual world for kids aged 17 and younger. Users can start their own blog, play games and explore their interests through common “spheres.” A special portal allows parents to monitor everything their child posts. Visit yoursphere.com.

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CROSS CULTURE

IN REVIEW

Behind the BandmasterHistory, Harmony and Humanity offers insight into the life and work of one of

the Army’s best musiciansREVIEW BY MAJOR KEN SMITH

C.S. Lewis–A Lifeby Alister McGrathFifty years after his death, C.S. Lewis remains a highly respected author and apologist for the Christian faith. Famous for fiction such as the Narnia series, Lewis also wrote many non-fiction books, including Surprised by Joy, which docu-ments his conversion from atheism to Christianity, and Mere Christianity, a clas-sic explanation of the fundamentals of the faith. C.S. Lewis–A Life, a new biography by Professor Alister McGrath, is a portrait of the man who became a “reluctant prophet,” and his ideas as expressed through his writings (including published works and personal letters). In provid-ing a detailed account of his life from his early childhood in Ireland to his final illness and death, C.S. Lewis–A Life also offers a fascinating look at his friendship with fellow author, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the influence they had on each other’s work. The biography covers the writing and publication of each of Lewis’ books, but Narnia fans will particularly appreciate the two chapters devoted to its creation and development. The book concludes with a look at Lewis’ legacy and his influence on evangelicals to the present day.

Growing up in The Salvation Army, I cannot recall a time when I did not know the name

of Ray Steadman-Allen. From my early days of learning to play a brass instru-ment to the time when I first showed an interest in composing, RSA (as he is affectionately known worldwide) was an influence in my life as a young Army musician.

History, Harmony and Humanity: A Suite of Articles about Ray Steadman-Allen (edited by daughter Barbara Steadman-Allen) bears witness to RSA’s enduring legacy. As Dr. Ronald Holz writes in the foreword, “No other person, whether composer, musician, editor or administrative clergy, has had a greater impact on the development of Salvation Army music and musical culture of the past 60 years than Ray Steadman-Allen.” Holz describes him as “the most gifted, prolific and forward-looking talent” of this period who has also enriched the entire brass band world with “significant and challenging works.”

The book is a collection of articles divided into three sec-tions. The first is an autobiography that reveals much about the man behind the music. The author describes growing

up in the Army, his wartime service in the Royal Navy, his Salvation Army officership, marriage, family life and long period of service at the helm of the Army’s international music editorial department, where he was responsible for the creation and publication of brass band and choral music that was disseminated throughout the Army world.

The second section offers personal reflections and observa-tions from RSA’s friends and colleagues, including analyses of his music as a composer, an area in which he was constantly pushing the envelope to expand the Army’s musical horizons. The book concludes with a glimpse at RSA’s humour and humanity in a chapter entitled RSA: The Lighter Side.

One of the most insightful chapters in the book is the transcription of an interview in which RSA gives advice to aspiring composers based on his many years of experience. He also shares his views on Salvation Army music today and where he sees it going in the future.

History, Harmony and Humanity is a unique compilation of articles about an exceptionally gifted man who has con-tributed so much to our Movement. It is well worth reading, particularly by Salvation Army musicians who have grown up under his influence.

Major Ken Smith is the assistant territorial music secretary.

Reunitedby Peter WillmottIn the late 19th century in England, young country dwellers flocked to the city looking for opportunity. For thousands, however, a horrendous lifestyle awaited as many young women, in particular, were drawn into the world of prostitution and effectively dis-appeared. Worried parents began to contact The Salvation Army, asking for assistance with finding their missing children, and the Family Tracing Service was born.

In Reunited, Peter Willmott traces the history of the service from its inception to the present and includes many success stories—including his own. In January 2006, the Family Tracing Service reconnected him and his brother with their long-lost father, whom they had not seen in nearly 60 years.

This experience was the inspiration for Reunited: “I wanted the book to highlight the wonderful work of the Family Tracing Service,” he writes, “and put this into the wider context of the other important services The Salvation Army gives in 126 countries around the world.” Given that aim, the book also includes a chapter outlining the broader history of the Army, but Reunited focuses primarily on telling the joyful stories of people who have been helped by the tracing service.


CELEBRATE COMMUNITY

ENROLMENTS AND RECOGNITION

ORILLIA, ONT.—Salvationists in Orillia are celebrating the growth of the junior band and Pioneer Club. The two groups are pictured together during a special Pioneer Sunday that was held at the corps.

STONEY CREEK, ONT.—Harland Marshall is reinstated as a soldier at Winterberry Heights Church. With him is Mjr Paul Rideout, CO.

BURLINGTON, ONT.—Burlington CC recognizes Beverley Greenwood for her 25 years of music ministry with the songsters. With her are Cpts Kristian and Lesley Simms, COs.

ORILLIA, ONT.—The enrolment of seven junior soldiers has caused great excitement at Orillia Corps. Proudly displaying their certificates are, from left, Kaelan Mercer, Jackson Dettman, Edmund Smith, Cadewyn Keeting, Cadance Keeting, Charlene Keeting, Caelan Keeting. Supporting them are Cpts Michelle and Jim Mercer, COs, and Alison Dettman, junior soldier leader.

HALIFAX—Heather Colbers, receptionist/secretary at Maritime Divisional Headquarters, is recognized by fellow staff members as she celebrates 15 years of service as an employee of The Salvation Army. From left, Maryann Doyle, divisional director for human resources; Mjr Winnie Perrin, divisional secretary for adult ministries; Heather Colbers; Mjr Wilson Perrin, DSBA; Mjr Jean Hefford, DDWM; Mjr Doug Hefford, DC.

JACKSON’S POINT, ONT.—Mjrs William and Barbara Pearce, COs, welcome Tom Duncan as a senior soldier at Georgina CC.

YARMOUTH, N.S.—Yarmouth CC swells its ranks with the enrolment of five senior soldiers. From left, CSM Hayward Baggs; Prudence Muise, soldiership class instructor; Jesse Byers; Amanda Levy-Pye; Gerald Pye; Betty Deveau; Amelia Rowe; Mjrs Peter and Janice Rowe, COs.

For more Army news, visit us online at

salvationist.ca


CELEBRATE COMMUNITY

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Spencer Weddell is proud to be the newest junior soldier at Peterborough Temple. From left, Mjr Alan Price, then CO; Spencer Weddell; Bob Quackenbush, colour sergeant; Mjr Colleen Price, then CO; JSS Lori McKee.

OSHAWA, ONT.—Four junior soldiers are enrolled at Oshawa Temple. From left, JSS Wendy Westcott; Euan Burditt; Hayden Williams; RS Kevin Thompson; Jordyn Williams; Morgan Westcott; Charlie Ball, junior soldier preparation co-ordinator; Shona Burditt, director of youth and children’s ministries; Mjr Robert Reid, CO.

YARMOUTH, N.S.—Ross Whitman, Ruby Whitman, Judith Nickerson, Norman Nickerson, Judy Nickerson, Michael Hagen, David Nickerson, Danny Dauphinee and Sherrill Arey are welcomed as adherents at Yarmouth CC. With them are Mjrs Janice and Peter Rowe, COs, and Hugh Nickerson, colour sergeant.

SARNIA, ONT.—Cynthia Thibert proudly displays her Soldier’s Covenant following her enrolment. Supporting her are Mjrs Rick and Drucella Pollard, COs.

CELEBRATE THE SEASONS OF OUR ANNIVERSARY

NORTH TORONTOCOMMUNITY CHURCH

For more information, visit ntcommunitychurch.com or call 416-488-7954

REFLECTINGCELEBRATINGANTICIPATING

SPRING & SUMMER

BLUE JAY GAME Saturday, May 4th

Rogers Centre 1:00 p.m.

TORONTO HARBOUR CRUISE

Saturday, June 8th 6:00 p.m.

DIVISIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

& CORPS PICNIC Saturday, June 29th

Jackson's Point Camp


CELEBRATE COMMUNITY

Newfoundland Teens on Fire for God

TRITON, N.L.—Triton-Brighton Corps is privileged to enrol five excited teenagers as senior soldiers. “These aren’t your typical teen Salvationists,” says Heidi Adams, youth director at the corps. “In our small town of 1,000 people, our youth Bible study group has been known to march the streets with the corps flag, knocking on doors and offering prayer as they go.” In a further act of witnessing, each week the teens participate in Tunic Tuesday, when they wear their Salvation Army uniform tunics to school. “They have raised the eyebrows of both students and teachers alike!” smiles Adams. Celebrating the enrolment are, from left, Mjr William Keane, CO; CSM Howard Bridger; Victoria Roberts; Carlie Mayo; Brianna Roberts; Kendra Budgell; Zachary Simms; Heidi Adams; Mjr Trixie Keane, CO.

GAZETTEINTERNATIONALAppointmentsApr: Comr William Cochrane, secretary for international ecumen-ical relations*. May: Mjrs Petter/Eija Kornilow, CS/TSWM, Finland and Estonia Tty, with the rank of col. Jun: Comrs Raymond/Aylene Finger, international secretary for the South Pacific and East Asia/zonal secretary for women’s ministries—South Pacific and East Asia; Cols Floyd/Tracey Tidd, TC/TPWM, Australia Southern Tty, with the rank of comr; Lt-Cols Mark/Sharon Tillsley, CS/TSWM, Canada and Bermuda Tty, with the rank of col; Comrs Alistair/Astrid Herring, TC/TPWM, Pakistan Tty*Additional responsibilityTERRITORIALAppointmentsMjr Leslie Burrows, AC, Lower Mainland, B.C. Div; Lt Lori Anne Butler, East Village Mission, Calgary, Alta. and Northern Ttys Div; Mjrs Roy/Sandra Langer, Castledowns Church, Edmonton, Alta. and Northern Ttys Div (Mjr Roy Langer maintaining additional responsibility of divisional emergency disaster services director); Mjr Tanya Payette, chaplain, children and youth ministries, community services, Calgary, Alta. and Northern Ttys Div; Mjr Judy Regamey, executive director, Vancouver Harbour Light, B.C. Div; Mjr Beverley Woodland, secretary for business administration, Philippines Tty, with the rank of lt-col. Jul: Mjr Beverly Ivany, writer—Words of Life, program resources department, IHQ (second term); Mjrs John/Brenda Murray, com-munications secretary/Revive editor, IHQPromoted to gloryMrs Brg Margaret Carey, from Leamington, Ont., Dec 9; Lt-Col Ethel Slous, from White Rock, B.C., Dec 23; Mjr Lewis Ashwell, from Calgary, Jan 15; Mjr Kenneth Hopkins, from Abbotsford, B.C., Jan 15; Brg Ruth Woolcott, from Toronto, Jan 20

CALENDARCommissioners Brian and Rosalie PeddleMar 22-25 125th anniversary, St. John’s Citadel, N.L.; Mar 29 Good Friday service, Scarborough Citadel, TorontoColonels Floyd and Tracey TiddMar 1-3 125th anniversary, New Westminster, B.C.; Mar 24-25 CFOT, WinnipegGeneral and Mrs Bramwell Tillsley (Rtd)Mar 29-31 St. Thomas, Ont.

Celebrate Your Faith in the LANDS of the BIBLEhosted by Majors Woody and Sharon Hale

Israel and Petra, Jordan May 5-16, 2013

Enjoy your 12-day visit and join members of North Toronto Community Church as they celebrate their 100th Anniversary

Brochures now availableE-mail: [email protected]; phone: 905-440-4378

“This pilgrimage was like no other trip I have taken. Feelings ran very deep—to think I walked where Jesus walked, knelt where he was born, died and rose again. It was a glorious experience.” —M. Howcroft, Oshawa, Ont.

P E T E R B O R O U G H , ONT.—Evelyn Robertson and Skaai Davison are happy to be enrolled as senior soldiers at Peterborough Temple.

CARMANVILLE, N.L.—Joy Wheaton accepted Christ approximately one year ago and is thrilled to become a soldier in The Salvation Army. From left, Mjrs Barry and Donna Anstey, COs; Joy Wheaton; Comrs Lenora and Max Feener, who participated in the enrolment ceremony.

BAYVIEW, N.L.— The corps in Bay-view commissions Ivy White as home league secretary and Bud Blake as corps treasurer. With them are Lts Rose and Larry Campbell, COs.


CELEBRATE COMMUNITY

TORONTO—Mjr Kang, Jeong-gil, CO, Korean CC, is pleased to appoint three new leaders for cell groups: Sarah Park (Faith cell group), Ranhee Kim (Hope cell group) and Gui-sook Kim (Love cell group).

Accepted for Training

Stefan ReidFort McMurray, Alta., Alberta and Northern Territories DivisionProverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I have relied on this verse many times throughout my Christian walk and it hasn’t led me astray. From my days as a child growing up in my home corps in Trinity Bay South, N.L., to the present, God has been calling me to be an officer. He has shown me that helping others to understand how much he loves them is what I need to do. Together with my family I embrace this new challenge and I know that God will never lead us astray.

Tinisha Reid Fort McMurray, Alta., Alberta and Northern Territories DivisionGrowing up in The Salvation Army and being active in my home corps in LaScie, N.L., and now in Fort McMurray, Alta., I have always felt the call of God on my life. After meeting my husband and starting a family we realized that we had a calling upon us and we could no longer ignore it. God has placed a deep desire in me to give my life and family to him and serve him through officership. I look forward to entering the training college and the ministry to which God has called me. In the words of Catherine Booth, “I know not what he is about to do with me, but I have given myself entirely into his hands.”

Stefan and Tinisha Reid with their daughter, Rachel

Officer Retirements

Majors Wayne and Sharleen McTaggart retired following 19 years of service, all of which were spent as corps officers. Originally from Ontario, Wayne and Sharleen were living in Mississauga, Ont., when they felt called to be Salvation Army officers. They have always been grateful for how God drew close to them while they attended Mississauga Temple and spent three years in preparation for the wonderful journey of officership. Wayne and Sharleen feel blessed to have been appointed to Winnipeg’s Hampton Citadel with the rank of auxiliary-captain. Serving faithfully in Winnipeg for seven years, they were commissioned as captains in January 1999. Corps appointments in Somerset, Bermuda, and Orillia, Ont., preceded their final appointment in Kamloops, B.C. God’s promise as recorded in Romans 8:28, that “ … in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” has sustained and encouraged them in every appointment. They are thankful for the people God brought into their lives who have blessed them abundantly throughout their years of officership.

Majors Martin and Joan McCarter retired in December following 98 years of combined service as officers. Born in England, Joan immigrated to South Africa at the age of 11. As a teenager she made contact with the Army, accepted Christ and entered the training college in South Africa in the Soldiers of Christ Session in 1960. As a single officer she served in corps, as training college educa-tion officer and divisional youth secretary. Born in South Africa, Martin accepted Christ as a teenager and entered training college in the Witnesses to the Faith Session in 1965. Following commissioning, he held two corps appointments before marry-ing Joan in December 1968. The McCarters ministered in South Africa in a variety of appointments, including as corps officers, training principal and assistant principal, and in the editorial and public relations depart-ments. In 1979, Martin attended the International College for Officers in London, England, followed by Joan in 1991. Appointed to the Canada and Bermuda Territory from 1993 to 1999, they ministered at divisional headquarters in the then Saskatchewan and Manitoba and Northwest Ontario divisions. Returning to South Africa, they served as divisional leaders in the Eastern Cape and Mid Kwa Zulu Natal divisions before Martin was appointed as territorial secretary for program and Joan as assistant territorial secretary for program and director for curriculum at the training college. In 2005 they returned to Canada as corps officers in Nanaimo, B.C., where they served for six years. They retired from divisional work in the Alberta and Northern Territories Division.

Salvationists Receive Jubilee Medal

Two Salvationists have been honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal which commemorates the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne and recognizes achievements made by Canadians.

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Deryck Robertson, bandsman, songster and Sunday school teacher at Peterborough Temple, received the medal in honour of his more than 20 years of leadership as a scouter at Agincourt CC and Peterborough Temple. Currently heading up the 15th Peterborough Salvation Army Scout Troop and Cub Pack, Robertson also gives oversight to Langley Park, a local scout camp, co-ordinates the Little Lake (Peterborough) Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and has assisted with numerous Kawartha Waterways Area scouting events. Shown with Robertson are the presenters of the medal, MP Dean Del Mastro and MPP Jeff Leal.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—Mjr (Dr) Dawn Howse, currently serv-ing the medical community in Newfoundland, was given the award in recognition of her 20 years of dedicated service to the people of Zimbabwe as an officer and medical doctor. From left, the Honourable John Crosbie, lieutenant-governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, who presented the award; Mjr Howse; Mjr Wade Budgell, DSPRD, N.L. Div.


CELEBRATE COMMUNITY

TRIBUTES

BURLINGTON, ONT.—Born in Calgary in 1930 to Salvationist parents, Robert (Bob) Hackett early found Jesus as his Saviour. His father, a bandmaster and songster leader at Calgary Temple, taught Bob to play a brass instrument and he consequently went on to serve as a bandsman and songster for more than 50 years at Simcoe, Oakville and Hamilton’s Argyle Citadel, Ont. Bob bore witness of his Christian faith to fellow workers at a factory from which he retired following 35 years of service. Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joy; daughters Deborah and Laura; grandchildren Kathleen, Patricia, Jacob and Emma.

ACTON, ONT.—Ian Lewis Watkinson was born into Redhill Corps, England, in 1937. After leaving school at 16, he joined the Royal Artillery Ordinance Corps Band and graduated from the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. Ian joined the Tottenham Citadel Band on soprano cornet and participated in their famed 1964 tour of Canada. Following the tour, he immigrated to Canada and attended Toronto’s Earlscourt Citadel, becoming the band’s soprano cornet player. He was commissioned as bandmaster of Toronto’s Dovercourt Citadel Band in 1967, a position he held for 12 years, before assuming leadership of Earlscourt Citadel Band. In the late 1970s, Ian moved to British Columbia and joined the Vancouver Temple Band. Returning to Ontario, he played in Toronto’s Etobicoke Temple, Mississauga Temple and Hamilton’s Mountain Citadel bands over the next three decades. In 2010, he was appointed bandmaster of Heritage Brass. In 1969, Ian was a founding member of the Canadian Staff Band and completed more than 18 years of service, culminating with his recall to the band for the 2010-11 season, enabling him to participate in the ISB120 celebrations. He is missed by Isobel (nee Skinner), his wife of 30 years; children Niven (Debbie), Helen (Craig Lewis) and Douglas (Morgan); grandchildren Katherine, Elizabeth, Benjamin and Jack.

CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L.—Geneva (Wells) Bowering was born in 1920 in the historic section of St. John’s, N.L., commonly referred to as the Battery. Just a year later, she and her family miraculously survived a devastating avalanche that moved their home a considerable distance while they were sleeping. Following her marriage to Nathan, they lived on Signal Hill and attended church regularly. They were blessed to share 63 years together. They became members of Duckworth Street Corps in St. John’s, which was affectionately known as The Glory Shop. Moving from St. John’s, they were associated with Conception Bay South Corps for more than 30 years. Geneva became a senior soldier in 1986, was a life member of the home league and endeared herself to everyone with her pleasant ways and encouraging words. A dedicated Christian, she served her Lord well as a faithful Salvationist. For the past few years she was a resident at a seniors’ nursing home and delighted in attending the Salvation Army services, proudly wearing her uniform. Her family and friends will greatly miss her kind words and ready smile. Left with fond memories are daughter, Shirley; son, Nathan (Patsy); six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Alfred; many extended family members and friends.

DEER LAKE, N.L.—Gladys Leah Janes (nee Moores) was a dedicated soldier with Deer Lake Corps for many years. Enrolled as a soldier in 1975, she was an active member of the home league and Bible study and, in the Sunday night services, frequently testified to God’s faithfulness. Gladys supported many of the groups within the church and her community, and loved to work in her garden. She enjoyed sewing and was an active member in the Quilter’s Guild where she produced many beautiful items. Promoted to glory at the age of 88, Gladys leaves to mourn, with fond and loving memories, daughters Delphine Ball, Gloria (John Piercey) and Joan (Keith Bishop); sons John (Diane) and Derek (Karen); brother, John Moores; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; a large circle of relatives and friends.

WINDSOR, ONT.—Mrs. Brigadier Margaret Carey (nee Pepin) was promoted to glory at the age of 83. Born in New Dayton, Alta., in 1929 as the daughter of a Baptist minister, she started attending the Salvation Army Sunday school to help her cousin win a Bible for bringing someone new. This began Margaret’s lifelong commitment to God and The Salvation Army. She trained as a maternity nurse at the Vancouver Grace Hospital before entering the training college in Toronto in the Peacemakers Session. Commissioned in 1949, Margaret served her Lord faithfully in many capacities during her 41 years of active officership. She married Captain William (Bill) Carey in 1951 and began their long ministry together as officers, serving mostly in Western Canada. Their most memorable appointment was the years spent in northern British Columbia serving the First Nations whom they loved dearly. Following retirement in 1990, they settled in Tecumseh, Ont., where Margaret continued to serve her Lord as a good soldier and was active in women’s ministries, Bible study, seniors’ group and songsters. Margaret is lovingly remembered by her husband, Bill; three children and their spouses; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

SPRINGDALE, N.L.—Laurence Lodge Oxford was born in Springdale in 1946 and lived life to the fullest. At an early age Laurence gave his life to the Lord and was an active bandsman, songster, member of the men’s fellow-ship and cub scout leader. He gave countless volunteer hours to The Salvation Army, his life a living testimony to his strong faith. Music was a huge part of Laurence’s life and it was his love for music that brought him to literally sing his way into heaven, accompanied by his loving family. Laurence will be sadly missed and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who love him. He is survived by his wife, Glenys Thompson-Oxford; daughters Dawn (Bennett) Wellman and Celeste (Nevin) Robinson; son, Tilden; six grand-children; eight brothers; two sisters.

The Salvation Army St. John’s Citadel

125th AnniversaryMarch 22-24, 2013

Special Guests:Commissioners Brian and

Rosalie PeddleFriday, March 22

Corps Celebration DinnerTickets: Purchase or reserve by March 8Contact: [email protected] or 709-579-5235

Sunday, March 24 Worship Services11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Greetings from former officers and friends can be sent to: [email protected] or St. John’s Citadel,

25 Adams Avenue, St. John’s NL A1C 4Z1


A colleague recently sent me an invitation to join LinkedIn, a website for professional networking. I began to fill out my profile and answer the ques-

tions: “Where have you worked? What do you do? What are some of your skills and expertise?” People you connect with then have an opportunity to “endorse” you for certain skills, lending credibility to your claims. As I began to fill in the information it occurred to me that I was fine with answering questions about where I worked and what I did, but when it came to listing what I was good at and the skills I had gained, I felt a little uncomfortable. Why was I putting this out there for the world to see?

As Christians we are taught that we shouldn’t think more highly of ourselves than we ought. The Apostle Paul tells the Philippians, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain con-ceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

How much clearer can this be? And yet, in order to get ahead in the workplace, you have to take a seat at the table,

offer your input and let them know that you know what you’re talking about. Even a job interview is an exercise in shameless self-promotion. This all flies in the face of how a Christian is supposed to behave. Our goal is to be like Christ, “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant …” (Philippians 2:6-7).

In recent years, however, there seems to be growing inter-est in the idea and study of the humble leader. Could Paul have been on to something? Jim Collins, in his pioneering article on effective leaders in the January 2001 edition of the Harvard Business Review, proposed that the “most powerfully transformative executives” surveyed in his study all possessed the virtue of personal humility. Recent studies conclude that people want to follow a humble leader. According to a study in the Academy of Management Journal, humble lead-ers are more effective and better liked. The study, by Bradley Owens of the University of Buffalo School of Management and David Hekman of the Lubar School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, looked into how humble leaders operated in the workplace and if they behaved differently than a non-humble leader.

The study also claimed that humility made some people more effective than others. If you were a white male, it worked. If you were a non-white or a woman, the study showed that you constantly had to prove your competence, making you appear less humble. When women, in particular, showed more humility, their competence was called into question. It’s called a double bind—which accounts for why it’s so difficult for me to list the things I’m good at or have accomplished. Instinctively I know what people might say about me that they might not say about my male colleagues.

Perhaps the definition of humility will help us better under-stand how we can embrace this concept. Humility is freedom from pride or arrogance; a modest estimate of one’s own worth; meekness. From the Latin humilis meaning earth, a humble person is down-to-earth. It is not about self-abasement; rather, it’s about not using your position of power for personal gain. Consider Jesus’ example of selflessness when he offered to wash his disciples’ feet, then knelt before them to do it. A leader who is humble: • acknowledges the efforts of others and prioritizes the team’s interests ahead of her own.

• is willing to be vulnerable by admitting mistakes. • is driven to achieve for the company, not personal acclaim.

If you work for a humble leader, chances are you work with a happy and productive team. There is likely little turnover in your workplace and you celebrate each other’s accomplish-ments. Your leader is also easy to approach and you often share your concerns with her. You have a good relationship with your leader because you know that she only wants what is best for you and for the team. Humble leaders want indi-vidual employees to thrive in their role, because when they are successful, everyone wins.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) wrote, “Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.”

Major Kathie Chiu is the corps officer of Victoria’s High Point Community Church.

The Humble LeaderHaving a modest view of your

own importance can win respectBY MAJOR KATHIE CHIU

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FAITH WORKS


TALKING POINTS

On December 14, 2012, 20 children and six adults were

shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It was a tragedy of such mam-moth proportions, in terms of the number of people killed and the ages of the victims, that it caught the attention of most everyone in North America. Everywhere I went for the next few days, people wanted to weigh in on what had happened south of the border. I understand the need

to talk about it. How do we go about our usual mundane business and trivial conver-sations as if nothing has happened?

The most important thing that Christians can do is to act in love. There will be time for talking and speculating later, but the priority should be to bring care and solace to those affected. That is why I was so pleased to hear that The Salvation Army in New England sent emergency response units to Newtown to provide food and support.

This news was like a balm for my heavy heart. Not only was I aggrieved by what happened in Newtown, but the aching in my heart was exacerbated by the words coming from the lips of religious leaders.

First there was Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, who made the point that God was a “gentleman” who could not protect the kids in the school because he had not been invited in. He said that this type of violence didn’t occur when the Ten Commandments and prayer were allowed in schools. The insinuation was that it would not have happened this time if the school was open to Christian rituals.

Then along came Mike Huckabee, the Baptist min-ister and former presidential hopeful, who said something along the same lines. He later posted a video to correct the public’s understanding of what he said. The video did nothing but reinforce Fischer’s belief that turn-ing God away from schools and other facets of society contributed to these deaths. In my opinion, Huckabee’s comments came across as sarcastic and disingenuous.

Finally, there was Focus on the Family founder James Dobson giving his “Christian view” that the massacre was God’s judgment for, among other things, gay marriage.

My first reaction on hear-ing these remarks was dis-belief. While I understand the need for evangelicals and preachers to maintain the connection between sin and judgment, I had to ask if anyone truly believed that if the Newtown stu-dents started each day with prayer and reciting the Ten Commandments then this could have been averted.

Let’s assume for a moment that the proposition of these leaders is true. Let’s assume that God could have

intervened at Sandy Hook but didn’t because he had been excluded from the classroom. What does that say about God? It would tell me, per-haps, that God is somewhat malevolent and spiteful. Many of us struggle to under-stand why evil is allowed to exist in our world and why God doesn’t intervene when the innocent suffer. But to suggest that an omnipresent, omnipotent God would have been ready to help if only the school board hadn’t estab-lished a policy that somehow limited him is just too much for me to swallow.

Also, what do these statements by the religious leaders say about those at Sandy Hook (or in society in general) who follow Christ and their ability to represent God? At what point does God look at Sandy Hook and say, “Yes, it is Christian enough now. Now I can step in”? Finally, what does it say about the shooter? While I do not presume to know his situation, many people are pointing to the fact that he had a mental illness. If that is true, does it benefit those in our communities who may have psychological disorders and who may have a propensity for such crim-inal activity to simply label Sandy Hook as societal sin and judgment?

It’s too bad really. It’s not often that members of the media want to know what Christians think about something. This time they did. But instead of showing kindness, sympathy and love, some of our representatives opportunistically pounced on this issue to portray God as a petty deity who would see 20 children die to prove a point. Thank God The Salvation Army just sent food trucks and counsellors.

Major Juan Burry is the executive director of Victoria’s Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre.

Suffer the Children

Did God allow school children to die in Connecticut to make a point? Some

misguided Christians think soBY MAJOR JUAN BURRY

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We Have Faith In Your Teen’s Future

“The best thing about Booth is that you feel a sense of community;

your professors and fellow students are so accessible.”

Lucy Kemp, Alumna 2012, Bachelor of Arts (Religion)

As parents, we all want the best for our children. At Booth university college, students experience an education dedicated to faith, learning and service. They are provided the opportunity to grow, excel and develop their potential in an environment that encourages the values you taught them.

And at Booth uc - Salvationist students can attend for as little as $5,800 a year* (tuition and room & board)

If your daughter or son is considering pursuing a degree in Social Work, Arts or Business Administration - explore what the future can hold at Booth uc.

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