Last March, a memorial service was held in the gymnasium of The Salvation Army’s Shaganappi Community Church in Calgary, with more than 120 family members and friends in attendance.

A couple of the participants inquired why the funeral service was being held there.

“Don’t you know?” was the answer. “This is Mackenzie’s church.”

A New Home

For the first nine years of her life, Mackenzie lived in 19 different places.

Throughout her childhood, her home life had been unstable. Mackenzie had never consistently attended the same school, which affected her academics and ability to make friends. She was falling behind.

Her mother, who had custody and was living in Drumheller, Alta., was facing her own struggles and was unpredictable. Mackenzie’s father, Mitchell, and grandmother, Karen, lived in Calgary, an hour and a half away.

“Mackenzie’s mom called and asked for help because she was experiencing domestic abuse,” recalls Karen. “When we heard that, we knew we had to go and get Mackenzie and bring he rsomewhere safe.”

They eventually gained full custody and Mackenzie moved to Calgary to live with her father and grandmother. It was yet another new city to her, in an unfamiliar school with people she didn’t know, and she had to face the transition while navigating trauma from her past.

But one summer, while searching for summer camps that would help Mackenzie break out of her shell, Karen came across The Salvation Army’s Pine Lake Camp in Alberta. She already knew about the Army because she had gone to one of its churches as a child, so she thought it would be a good fit.

“I went every Sunday as a kid,” says Karen. “My mom and dad had four kids, they’d get us ready, and off we went to The Salvation Army.”

“It means everything to be able to support Mackenzie.” KASSANDRA CRISTALL

Support System

Karen connected Mackenzie with Kassandra Cristall, children and  youth worker at Shaganappi, who welcomed her warmly. At the time, the camps were already full for the year, but Kassandra told her about all the other programs offered at the church, such as movie nights, kid’s cooking classes and art groups. Mackenzie lit up at the idea of joining the programs.

“They came to our Calgary Stampede breakfast in the summer of 2021,” says Kassandra. “Karen told me Mackenzie didn’t have any friends, her mom wasn’t in the picture, she’d been through a lot and could really use a mentor. So, I told her to come and join us.”

Karen signed Mackenzie up for everything the church offered, and she began attending movie nights and meeting new people.

“Now, she comes to church on her own—her grandma drops her off—and she’s learning more about God and who Jesus is,” says Kassandra. “It’s really helped build her confidence.”

Since then, Mackenzie has become a regular at church activities and events, and she’s attended Pine Lake Camp for three summers in a row.

“It means everything to be able to support Mackenzie,” says Kassandra. “I feel like God put me in her life path to help her with things that He knows I understand, because I’ve been through very similar things. It’s been an honour to mentor her.”

Support in a Time of Loss

Shaganappi Community Church has quickly become Mackenzie’s safe place, where she feels welcomed and loved, and where she has positive role models and spiritual leaders. She’s more confident, brave and independent, and has even started making a core group of friends through church programs.

Karen recalls one Sunday when Mackenzie forgot that the church service was cancelled. “I dropped her off and went shopping for a few things she needed for camp,” she says. “When I came back, she said, ‘Grandma, church was cancelled today!’ When I asked what she did ,she said they let her into the art room to paint. She feels so comfortable there and everyone knows her and takes good care of her.”

When Mackenzie’s grandfather passed away, the church was a critical support system for her and her family.

“Everyone is very kind and compassionate,” says Karen. “We’re just an average family. We don’t have much money. But when my husband passed away, the church helped so much, including hosting the memorial service held in the gym.”

According to Karen, Mackenzie had never experienced loss like that before. She was very close with her grandfather, and the loss was hard on her. “We were so thankful that Mackenzie had been going to church because she understood death a bit more,” says Karen. “She knew that her grandpa went to heaven.”

A World of Opportunity

Kassandra has seen Mackenzie’s growth, too. When they first met, Mackenzie struggled to make eye contact, but now she is able to stand up for herself and others. She has a greater understanding of kindness, generosity and leadership.

“At the beginning, these concepts were new to her,” says Kassandra. “But she’s grown so much. Sometimes at the end of our art programs, she’ll volunteer to help sort paints or clean paint brushes. She and her friends will take that initiative, and it really shows her leadership skills.”

With so many negative influences in the world for a young person, Karen is glad that The Salvation Army Shaganappi Community Church and the people who work there have been able to help teach Mackenzie right from wrong.

She’s found a place where she belongs, a safe space with trusted mentors, new friends and a world of exciting opportunities.

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