The Salvation Army Spryfield Community Church and Family Resource Centre

Major Larry Martin, Divisional Commander, receives a cheque from Mr. Galen Weston

Luke 17:18-30 is a story about a rich young ruler, eager to follow Jesus, yet unable to give up his wealth. In this tragic tale, the love of money is seen as an obstacle to true discipleship. As Christians we must see this story as a lesson to not let our love of money and ‘the good life’ prevent us from truly giving our all to Christ.

How refreshing it is then to have met a gentleman like Mr. Galen Weston, of the Weston foundation. Mr. Weston, a businessman, a titan of industry, a mover-and-shaker on the Canadian business scene knows how important it is for people blessed with abundant resources to give their resources away in an equally abundant manner.

On November 2nd, Mr. Weston and his sister, Ms. Rebanks, on behalf of The Weston Foundation, presented The Salvation Army with a cheque for $50,000.  What prompted such a generous outpouring of philanthropy? When they heard of our church’s “New Country Cafe” program – a program that teaches new immigrants, refugees (and anyone else who’s interested) how to cook, they were so moved by this initiative that they had to support it. And so that money will go towards the cost of our new facilities which enable us to run such ministries like “New Country Cafe” and others.

Thank you Mr. Weston and Ms. Rebanks for your generosity! Perhaps their gift makes us consider how we use the resources God gives us. While our resources may seem meagre compared to that of the Westons, are we faithful with the bountiful provision God gives us? Is money a help or hindrance to us in our discipleship walk?

Left to Right: Diane van der Horden (PR Secretary), Lieut. Rob Jeffery, Ms. Rebanks, Mr. Galen Weston

On September 27, The Salvation Army held a nationwide weekend of prayer and fasting to remember the victims of sexual human trafficking. Here in Spryfield, people were invited to a Friday and Saturday night prayer vigil.  On Saturday morning, the men of the corps took part in a Men’s  Breakfast entitled, “Men of Honour”, where we learned how best to combat the horrors of human trafficking both locally and nationally.  Sunday morning I spoke on Rahab the Prostitute from Joshua 2, and how God used Rahab to save the Israelite people and to save us: from the ancestry of Rahab – a gentile prostitute, comes our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This shows how everyone has a part to play in God’s design. Let’s find ways to combat the great evil that is human trafficking while being careful not to villify those who play a part in this illicit industry. All God’s children are worthy of our love and respect.

I have just recently discovered I have stage iv cancer and am undergoing extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This chapter in my life is one I have dreaded and feared for many,many years. I feared that this could happen to me and I saw so much and so many people suffer and affected by this disease over the years, that I didn’t want to deal with this in my home territory.

Seeing as I was not exempt from this situation, I feel I must explain how it has changed my life and expectations, and whole perspective on things. My emotionaland spiritual outlook has been greatly influenced by this turn of events. Instead of clinging to material things that seemed to matter, I find I am now greatly influenced by my “spirit awakening”

My first realization of my needs, was prompted by my sister, who gave me some periodicals and reference materials to help me deal with my situation.Of course,I always make sure I keep an open mind, allowing myself lots of absorption power.

The first step tp attempt my revival, was recognizing that I was a sinner and sin separates me from the Holy Spirit. This can be found by reading, Romans 3:10,23 and Romans 6:23. Secondly, I must understand that Christ loved and died for sinners, like mmyself in Romans 5:8. Then, I believed that if I trust in Him as Lord and Saviour as in Romans 10:9 & 10, that I will be saved. In Romans 10:13,6:23, I find you can call on Him to save you and give you everlasting life. Then for final assurance, I found myself in IJohn 5:13. I consider all the above quotes as Romans Road to Redemption.

These above passages got me to really thinking about my destiny, and that I must do something constructive to build out of my situation, so that I may go on with a positive attitude.  At this point, I came across another passage from somewhere in my readings and came up with this little philosophy.`The right question is never; Why Lord? It is always; What Lord?What do You want to teach me through this dissruptive moment? Take me around and through the bend in the road as my teacher. Don’t let me miss anything that you want me to see and learn.

Dear friend, if you face a disrruptive moment with any other perspective than this, it will just be a bump in the road that bounces you all over the highway. When it is over, you will just be sore, and you won’t be any better.  Our  highest good may come from our deepest suffering. The pathway to Heaven begins at the foot of the Cross.

Written by Lawrence (Larry) Sinclair

Napoleon and his Grand Army at the Battle of Austerlitz, by Francois Gerard

Welcome to the official web page of The Salvation Army Spryfield Community Church and Family Resource Centre. Not only are we a Salvation Army, we are The Grand Army of Spryfield. Considering that we’re not the largest church in Spryfield, or the largest church within The Salvation Army itself, how do we get off calling ourselves the ‘Grand Army’?

When the Emperor Napoleon wanted to inspire courage in his army – an army that was on the verge of disintegration, he called his ragtag group of soldiers the ”Grand Army”. This new mark of honour gave the troops an image to fight for – they were the Grand Army of France, the soldiers of the Emperor. And so with cries of “Vive l’emperor!” Napoleon’s soldiers fought for their leader, almost gaining all of Europe in the process.

As soldiers of King Jesus, how much more should we then fight for our King? Fighting, as in to ’win souls for the kingdom’? And so we call ourselves the ‘Grand Army’ of Jesus Christ, not because we’re mighty in number, but because we’re mighty in spirit. With the passion of our Founders, William and Catherine Booth, the salvationists at Spryfield Community Church (sometimes called the ‘corps’) are committed to take up arms in the salvation war by preaching the gospel to the whosoever. We will also show the love of Jesus by serving our community.

We hope that this website will be used to challenge, convict, and inspire you to take up arms in the salvation battle. Will you join the Grand Army in making Spryfield and the wider community of HRM a better place? If we go in Christ’s strength, we will be victorious.

“Forward march! With Blood and Fire, and win the world for Jesus!”