Josh Draheim is the community partnerships co-ordinator for The Salvation Army in Chilliwack, B.C., where he was part of a team that developed “Plant a Row For Us,” a gardening program that has brought in more than 18,144 kilograms of produce for the Army’s community food bank since last June. 

Tell us a little about yourself. 

I was born in Saskatoon, but my family moved to Chilliwack when I was two years old. My mom and younger brother are both teachers, and my wife, Brianna, is an ICU nurse. We got married at the beginning of October, so I am still getting used to calling her “my wife,” but it is also so fun! 

What’s your favourite family tradition? 

Every Christmas, my family, along with my oma and opa, would go to Stanley Park in Vancouver to see the Christmas lights display and ride the train. My oma would pack sandwiches to eat for dinner in the parking lot before we went in, and I remember it was bitterly cold whenever we went. But it rung in the holiday season for me for many years, and while I always treasured that time with my grandparents, it means even more to me since my opa passed away in 2021. 

Tell us a little about your spiritual journey. 

My family started attending The Salvation Army a few years after we moved to Chilliwack. It made a profound impact on me to be at a church that encouraged me to put my faith into action. I have such fond memories of volunteering at kids’ camps, with emergency disaster services, and on the worship team. I was even the summer-student worker at the thrift store as a teenager. I was surrounded by people I consider heroes of the faith, people who made me feel valuable and loved, people who modelled a Christ-centred life so well, and these spiritual role models were a big part of my life. 

What disciplines or practices have helped you grow on your spiritual journey? 

In a time when a lot of people are disillusioned with the church as an institution, I have found it so important to remember how vital community is to the Christian life. The church is not just an organization, it’s a body of believers first and foremost, and Christ calls the church his bride. That means that while we may fall out of love with the church and become jaded by leaders who fail us and church people who hurt us, Christ has never stopped loving the church, and he calls us to do the same. This hasn’t been easy in the last few years, but I have found the pursuit of Christian community the most impactful and fruitful spiritual practice in my life over the last two or three years. 

Who has had a significant influence on your life, and why? 

My opa was and is very special to me. Though he has passed away, his impact on my life and my values will carry on for the rest of my life. He was not the most affectionate person, but he showed love with his time. He and Oma lived more than an hour away from me, yet no matter what, they always showed up whenever I asked them to attend a soccer game or a school concert. The gift of his time is such a profound lesson for me as I start my marriage. My opa taught me many things about leadership, godliness and life, but the way he used time and attention to show love beyond words is something I will never forget. 

What is your role with The Salvation Army? What does that look like on a day-to-day basis? 

As the community partnerships co-ordinator, my job is to build friendships with people in the community and educate them on what The Salvation Army is doing and how they can help us in our mission. 

What inspires you about the Army’s history and heritage, or mission and vision? 

I just love that The Salvation Army has always been there to remind the invisible and left behind that there is a God who loves them, and that because he hasn’t forgotten about them, neither have we. It’s a privilege to carry on this legacy. 

What song always puts you in a good mood? 

There are so many songs that can boost my mood (shout out to my childhood musical hero TobyMac), but a more recent pick would be Paper Rings by Taylor Swift. That song played as we were pronounced husband and wife at our wedding, so, every time I hear it, I can’t help but smile. 

What are you most passionate about? 

Am I allowed to say everything? Formula 1 drama, the Canucks, vacation planning, whatever happened during my day, a juicy story, everything! 

Photo: TJ Galmut 

This story is from: