God has been stretching Grace and I as we do ministry together.  Finding the balance with ministry and family is always a challenge.  We have been able to share with those at Golden West Centennial Lodge and that has been a new experience for me.  I believe that our presence there is very significant to all those who attend the chapel services.  As I see tears of joy roll down the face of some people there I know that God is there.  I feel that God is using us to reach both young and old alike. 

 What I did not expect was for there to be a flood in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  I was called to be a part of the (EDS) Emergency Disaster Service team.  We jumped into a CFOT van on Sunday afternoon, right after I preached that morning and headed out to help those in need.  I spent four days there with the team and we were able to minister to those who had lost everything.  We provided much needed clean water, cleaning supplies, set up a food bank and clothing distribution centers to help the victims of the flood.  We were in the community providing pastoral and spiritual care for those in crisis. It was an experience I will never forget.  We even had a chance to meet the Premiere of Saskatchewan and even wave to the Prime Minister of Canada as they arrived to survey the damage. 

 The summer has been great so far and there is more to experience.  We still have “National Music and Gospel Arts Camp” at the end of the summer.  God is using us and we are learning about God, ourselves, and our mission to the world.  This has been a great summer so far and I anticipate that it will continue to be an even greater summer in the days ahead.  It is truly about “heart to God and hands to mankind.”  We pray that in our lives the Lord will be glorified.

 Cadet Peter Kim and his wife Cadet Grace Kim are appointed to the Heritage Park Temple Corps in the Prairie Division for their summer assignment. They entered training out of the Korean Corps in Toronto, Ontario Central East Division.

Meet Auxiliary Captain Micheline Hardy who, along with her husband Rob, is appointed to Hope Acres Corps and Rehabilitation Center in Glencairn, Ontario. 

“I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, in a French Canadian home, the eldest of three children. I attended Catholic school and church until my early teens. My husband and I have two sons, James and Andrew, a daughter, Amanda, a son-in-law, Sunil, and our pride and joy, our grandsons, Emmanuel and Noah.

I have learned that when we are called by God He never gives up on us.  Even if we ignore his calling and walk away, He continues to prepare us and waits patiently and calls on us again. The Lord has called me three times to full time ministry and I finally surrendered my all to His will.

The Lord spoke to my heart at the age of eight and I knew the path He wanted me to take was one of full time ministry. I ignored His calling and walked away not only from His calling but from Him completely. Even though I walked away from God I never lost my faith or stopped praying but I had lost that personal relationship with Jesus so I was not living by His will but by mine.

The second time I felt God’s calling to full time ministry was a few years ago when I was 45. He was calling me to become a Salvation Army Officer and my husband Rob and I started the process but did not continue.

In the summer of 2008 we discovered that the age limit for becoming an officer had been extended. Rob asked me if I was ready to go into full time ministry and become an Officer.  I laughed and brushed it off because I believed that the door had closed for us to enter into full time ministry as officers but I felt an excitement in my heart, like my heart had skipped a beat. I prayed and began to realize that God was calling me for the third time but this time I was ready. God has given me a clear picture of how He has been preparing me all of my life for full time ministry.  He has been waiting for me to say “Yes, I will follow”.

There are no words to describe how you feel when you answer God’s calling. I often remind myself when William Booth was asked what his secret was for his success he answered “God has had all there was of me” . So I have finally, and will continue, to give Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour all there is of me. I will continue to remind myself to be thankful and to pray about everything.  Also that God gives me the eternal peace that guards my heart and mind (Philippians 4:4-7). I am excited about my  first appointment at Hope Acres and the next few years of learning ahead.”

 I was born in Seoul, Korea and grew up in a Catholic Christian family.  I immigrated to Canada in 1986 because I wanted to live in a big country with greater opportunities and freedom for my future.  But God had other plans. Looking back on my journey, I now believe that God sent me to Canada to meet Jesus Christ and start a new life.

I met a Salvation Army Korean Officer in Toronto in 1988 and he witnessed Jesus Christ to me, who I received as my Saviour. I met Tina (my wife) at the Korean Corps and we married on Easter Day in 1989. We both enrolled as Senior Soldiers on Easter Sunday in 1990.

I worked at the GM dealership as a salesman and opened a buffet restaurant, but in 1992, I had to shut down my restaurant business due to the economic recession. Consequently, I lost everything and was totally broke. This was the most challenging time for me physically, financially and emotionally. But by God’s grace, my wife and I were able to hold on to the scriptures and slowly overcome our hardships. I kept working at GM & Toyota dealerships. I continuously studied the Bible and involved myself in various church ministries at Agincourt Corps since 2000. By doing so, my spiritual growth developed day by day.

During Bible study in 2005, I felt God’s calling for me to work for Him for the rest of my life. There were many difficulties including age and language barriers, however God opened the door step by step for us. Thanks to the grace of God, Tina and I were accepted as Auxiliary Captains and appointed as Intercultural Community Ministries & Family Service Officers at Ottawa Citadel in July of 2009.

Tina and I were nervous and afraid of our first appointment. But we discovered that God had already prepared the way. His wonderful people in Ottawa have been working with us as a team since we arrived.

Since July, we have had the privilege of encouraging 15 new members, from 8 different ethnicities, to the congregation. We also held our first training seminar called “Preparing Leaders for Intercultural Ministries” at the corps with 40 participants. What an awesome God! We have experienced that the Lord will provide.

Serving the Lord as an Auxiliary Captain and studying at the same time is challenging.  But we want to use this training as a valuable opportunity. We were thrilled to go to Winnipeg this spring for intensive training at CFOT.  It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet our new friends who have joined us in training for the next few years. Praise the Lord!

 Meet Auxiliary Captain Tina Yoo who, along with her husband Thomas Yoo, is appointed to Ottawa Citadel – Intercultural Community Ministries.  

Cadet Tonia Street has prepared an update on how their summer is progressing so far.  Click here to read what she has to say.

Cadets Chris and Tonia Street are appointed to the Moncton Citadel Community Church in the Maritime Division.  Christ and Tonia entered training out of the Green’s Harbour Corps, Newfoundland and Labrador Division.

The opportunity to form relationships has been very rich.  While the town is a good size and in close proximity to St. John’s, the people have retained the hospitality and openness that I know smaller, more isolated communities to be famous for.  Through visits in people’s homes, coffee times at Tim Horton’s, and a Bible study BBQ I have been given the opportunity to enter into people’s lives and hear about their lives and spiritual journeys.

A huge highlight of my summer so far was the week of VBS ministry.  I was able to join the team that led the week and was given responsibility for the Bible time and working with the summer student to facilitate the technical end of things.  Working within the team was a real blessing, as I was able to learn from members of the corps who have been involved in this ministry for many years, as well as catch a glimpse of the enthusiasm of new Christians for their new found ministry.  It was a real joy to watch the children learn and have fun throughout the week, culminating in a closing event on Sunday morning with the church filled with corps members as well as families who do not normally attend.

I am very excited to see what new blessings God has in store for the remaining weeks!

Cadet Jason Waters the Bay Roberts Corps in the Newfoundland and Labrador Division for his summer assignment.  Jason entered training out of the Edmonton Temple Corps in Edmonton, Alberta & Northern Territories Division.

To begin our summer we had the privilege of interviewing, hiring, and training staff for the Kid’s Kamp at HPT.  We have gone into the surrounding neighbourhoods and hosted barbeques and games.  Although HPT is located in a beautiful area surrounded by beautiful houses, there are also those struggling with the challenges life brings them.  In the Thursday after school program and Friday drop in night at the corps I have had the privilege of meeting precious children who were so willing to get to know me.  Now that the camp has started I get to see them every day and I am getting to know them a little more each day.

Major Julie Slous, Corps Officer at Heritage Park Temple adds some additional comments about the Kids Kamp:  Heritage Park is a buzz with busy campers! We have welcomed 39 campers into our midst this past week (which puts us at 99.9% capacity) and HPT is alive with energy and enthusiasm!  We are thrilled to see the contacts that are being made through this program and we continue to believe that God is using our camp to make a difference in our neighborhood.  As the kids worship together in the morning, what a blessing it is to hear their young voices lifting their songs to the Lord.  Under the skilled leadership of the camp team, later this week the children will be given the opportunity to think about how they will “live out” all they are learning about Christian faith.  Pray for our team as they strategically invite the children into a deeper experience of Christ.

This summer Peter and I look  forward to working together in ministry.  I’m learning very quickly that working together is more than doing the same things together all the time.  Peter delivered his first sermon this past Sunday and left for Yorkton Saskatchewan to minister through the flood relief.  These days I hold the Lord’s words even closer to my heart and believe that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13) while I take care of my three children and engage in this wonderful ministry.

It’s hard to believe how fast each day is going by lately.  As we are all working for His Kingdom I’m reminded that “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

Cadet Grace Kim and her husband, Cadet Peter Kim are appointed to the Heritage Park Temple Corps in the Prairie Division for their summer assignment. They entered training out of the Korean Corps in Toronto, Ontario Central East Division.

Since my first day in Robert’s Arm I have been able to see how The Salvation Army works as an important part of the community through its church and thrift store. It is a very active community with lots on the go and it’s exciting to see the ways that God is working here. I have visited with many wonderful members of the community and congregation and have been blessed by their welcoming spirit. I enjoyed my first Sunday services and was thrilled to participate in my first wedding. I know that there are good things in store for me here and am excited to continue.

Cadet Kyla McKenzie is appointed to the Robert’s Arm Corps in the Newfoundland and Labrador Division for her summer assignment.  Kyla entered training out of the Glenmore Temple Corps in Calgary,  Alberta & Northern Territories Division.