Rosalie Byers attends Bridgetown Community Church, N.S., where she is part of the ministry board and worship team. She recently served as the community and family services worker for the Christmas season.

Where are you from? Tell us a little about your family and early years.

I grew up on a farm in rural Nova Scotia, the youngest of six kids. After graduating from high school, I trained to be a registered nurse and navigated the next few years through work, a difficult first marriage and challenging divorce, and being a single mom.

When my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and died shortly after, I was broken-hearted. As a child, my dad was my hero. He was a hardworking family man who ran a farm and worked a full-time job. He made sure that we were brought up in the church, was a good steward of the land and treated others with a sense of justice and fairness. He had a large heart and a generous nature.

But soon after, I met Rod, who was a gift at a time when I needed someone to help me find joy again. We had both wandered away from the church but together we recommitted our lives to God.

Tell us a little about your spiritual journey.

My family attended the United Church, and I was involved in Sunday school, youth group, choir and even church council. I remember signing the decision page at the back of the Gideon New Testament that I received in Grade 5.

Through my young adult years, I attended church sporadically, searching and exploring. When Rod and I were married, I joined his church and we continued to explore our faith together.

After we moved to the Annapolis Valley here in Nova Scotia, we felt we were being led out of the church we were attending. Following an invitation by the corps officer to come for an Easter breakfast, we started attending The Salvation Army and have made it our church home ever since.

What inspires you about The Salvation Army?

My main reason for choosing nursing as a profession was my desire to help others, so William Booth’s philosophy of “soup, soap and salvation” is a good fit with my own core beliefs. Even though I had known Jesus for many years, it has been while attending the Army that I have finally understood I am a loved child of God.

The Salvation Army has a history of bringing a message of hope through the gospel. Often this looks like the provision of food, help setting up an apartment or providing toys to a child at Christmas. My involvement with The Salvation Army has helped to develop my understanding of what “loving your neighbour” really means.

How have you experienced God’s faithfulness?

God has been faithful, especially during the challenges of life—divorce, child raising, family crisis, lost jobs and broken relationships. He has shown me that I can find strength and peace in him.

In August 2021, I began an unexpected health journey that had a profound effect on many areas of my life. Some days, even the basic activities of daily living seemed beyond my grasp. I often felt helpless and, knowing that depression was knocking loudly at the door of my mind, I prayed for God to sustain me. Even though there are some remaining health issues to deal with, he has.

The last couple of years have been a difficult season of loss and grief as I work through some of the things that I am no longer able to do. Being unable to return to my work as a nurse and retiring earlier than planned were not what I would have chosen, but I have learned that not all blessings come beautifully dressed. Sometimes there are new beginnings that arise from unexpected endings.

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

In the past, I often struggled to do daily devotions, but spending quiet time with God has become an important part of my day. I have a renewed thirst to learn, usually in the morning, with a cup of coffee and my little dog curled up on my lap. One of the spiritual disciplines I discovered during my illness and continue to practise is lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”). Recently, at a women’s retreat, I learned another spiritual discipline, visio divina (“sacred seeing”) to help me meditate on God’s Word. Journalling is a practice that helps me to process my thoughts. 

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

I enjoy camping and geocaching with my husband, both of which allow us to spend time outdoors enjoying the splendour of nature. In the winter, I have been learning to embrace some of the things that I always said I would do when I retire—quilting, knitting and hopefully soon learning to hook rugs.