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OUR FAITH

(see Photos below)

I couldn’t possibly do justice to this section “About Us” without including a brief description of Our Faith, because our Spiritual Journey plays such a major role in who we are. I was sent to Sunday School almost as soon as I could walk there. Our Church home was the Fairbank Corps of The Salvation Army, which used to be located at 666 Vaughan Road, between Dufferin Street and Oakwood Avenue, in Toronto. As a shy little girl, the youngest of six children, there wasn’t often much time for the adults in my life to give me one-on-one attention. But when I went to Sunday School, I felt so special. My first Sunday School Teacher, Kay Ashley, was my friend and mentor for many years. It was at this tiny little church that I learned about God and Jesus Christ. I became a Christian at the age of 8, and after more than 50 years, I can look back and say with all honesty that God has never, ever failed me.

John, on the other hand, was raised as an Anglican. He often tells the story of singing in the Anglican choir as a young boy, where they would distribute various coloured ribbons to wear with their gowns, with the colour being determined by the wearer’s commitment and talent in the choir. He says he never got good enough to move up the colour code, and always had the “lowest” colour handed out. That was the extent of his church attendance, until he met me. Within just a few days of meeting, John and I were often into very deep conversation about many things, including our individual belief in God. I was extremely pleased to find out that he was quite willing to start going to Church with me. How exciting it was for me to realize that God had worked that all out ahead of time, and this was confirmation that our “chance” meeting was not by chance at all, but was evidence of the hand of God working in our lives. We continue to serve our God together, as Christians, within the context of The Salvation Army Church.

To learn more about The Salvation Army, I recommend: www1.salvationarmy.org

Linda Austin, Salvation Army Soldier, cir 1963	Monkman family photo, cir 1980
Salvation Army Band cir 1980 Linda standing 2^nd from right – John behind her	Salvation Army Band cir 1985 Linda 2^nd from left & John 3^rd from right (front row)
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