The Salvation Army Spryfield Community Church and Family Resource Centre

“We the People” is a new feature on spryfieldarmy.ca that introduces the soldiers and adherents (members) of Spryfield Community Church.  In our first segment we’re going to introduce to you Richard Bernard.  Richard is a well known figure around the town of Spryfield and around the Salvation Army Maritime Division.  Many people know Richard, but few know his story.  I think you’ll find after reading his testimony that Richard embodies true servanthood and that his life is a compelling testimony of God’s love, grace, and compassion poured out for us all.  I’m pleased to introduce to you, one of my finest soldiers, Mr. Richard Bernard…

“Before people really get to know me they think I am, as the old saying goes, ‘out to lunch’.  For sometimes I do and say some crazy things, but when I think of my early life and how rough it was and how good it is now, I can’t help but be happy for now I see that God in His love and mercy was always watching over me, protecting me, and keeping me from all harm even though I was not always walking the path he had laid out for me.  Sometimes it is good for us to think of our past so we can see God’s goodness to us even when we were not so good to him.

I was born in the south end of Halifax on a street called Waverley Terrace.  The houses on that street were all old, run-down homes.  In the winter, the first thing my Dad did when he got up in the morning was to unthaw the frozen pipes.  I can remember Mom hollering at me for drawing pictures on the inside window which was covered with frost.  It was some cold in that house!  I told my mother that when I grow up I would buy  her a home and we would move out of the slums.  At the time, I was two years old: I wonder if she believed me or not.

At age 16, my father said I was only wasting my time in school: I was in grade six.  I got a job and saved all my money.  At the age of 18 I bought my mother a new home in Spryfield.  She loved her new home.  I was glad I made her happy.  She lived only four years in that house and at the age of 55 she died of breast cancer.  When a mother leaves a home the place is not the same anymore.

Me and a friend of mine started meeting every Saturday.  We would drink beer and smoke marijuana; then we would go for a drive in his car, the radio blasting, speeding through the streets of Halifax.  We were lucky we were not killed or did not kill some innocent person.  The nights were long with nothing to do, so I decided to join the YMCA.  I was a weight lifter.  I trained three hours, three times a week.  But then I met some old school friends and they suggested we all train together.  So instead of training three days we started training 6 days a week.  After awhile, we started to go to the Lord Nelson Tavern.  So here we were, training 3 hours, lifting weights, drinking beer, and smoking marijuana.  At the time, I loved it!  After four years of living this lifestyle however, I knew something was missing.

When I went to church I was not told about the important act of reading the Bible or saying morning and evening prayers – so I did not do them.  Instead, I went through the motions, thinking everything was okay.  When I was thirty, I ran into many personal problems.  When you don’t know God you try to fix your life yourself, and that never works – things get worse!  My nerves were shot.  I remember crying a lot.  Life had no meaning anymore.  On two separate occasions I contemplated suicide.  I don’t know what stopped me; I guess it was the hand of God.

One day I went into a church and cried out to God, ‘I can’t take it anymore.  I need your help!  Please help me!  Show me in the Bible that your heard me.’  I opened the Bible and my eyes focused on the followng words: ‘I have heard what you said.’  After awhile I joined The Salvation Army.  Now I know how important prayer is and through reading the Bible, I am more aware of how much God loved me.  Now I have peace in my life, knowing he is in control.  We must never take our eyes off God.”

An amazing testimony, from an amazing guy. Richard in his professional life coached many boxers, some of whom have gone on to win many honours and awards.  Richard also worked for many years as a groundskeeper in Point Pleasant Park.  In his retirement years, Richard is heavily involved in many of the ministries here at our church and is our official greeter.  So come on by some Sunday morning, and you’ll meet Richard – one of our many soldiers who embodies service, love, and a passion for the Gospel.

At Spryfield Community Church we recently began our soldiership/adherence preparation class.  A dozen brave souls signed up for a two-month class that will teach them the fundamentals of what life in The Salvation Army truly entails.

Fundamentally different from a typical catechism class that stresses doctrinal obedience, our ‘basic training’ course will teach salvationists how to fight in the great ‘Salvation War’. Knowledge of our 11 doctrines is still an integral part of the course, but we stress that the essence of salvationism is found in Salvation Army experience rather than mere acceptance of the doctrines.  When people feel compelled to join great movements like The Salvation Army or any other such revolutionary groups, it’s not typically the doctrines of the movement that people find themselves attracted to.  People are attracted to The Salvation Army because of their work and witness in a hurting world.

In our class we are stressing salvationism as a way of life rather than a mere Sunday morning activity. We believe that life in The Salvation Army requires a warrior’s spirit, a commitment to serve God, and a deep love for suffering humanity.  We’d ask that you pray for our 12 recruits who have each committed to discerning God’s call on their lives.