Friday, September 12, 2014

CMHA Address 13 September 2014 by Captain Michael Ramsay

Address to the Canadian Mental Health Association's 2014 Jimmy Richardson Walk For Wellness

Hello, today is a great day. I am so happy to be here. I can tell you that events with Canadian Mental Health are some of my favourite. How many people here were at the corn roast the other week? I am glad the weather today is a little better than that Wednesday. One thing that I like about the annual corn roasts and when I am invited for lunch at the Centre is seeing all of my friends. It is amazing how many friends Ruth and everyone at Canadian Mental Health and we at The Salvation Army have in common. Sometimes when I look around I wonder whether an event is a CMHA event or an Army church service or event.

I wonder if everyone around here knows just how much our friends at Mental Health do in the community and even alongside The Salvation Army. I have so much thanks to offer to everyone who is a part of CMHA: Staff, clients, friends…

CMHA contributes so much to our community. On behalf of The Salvation Army I thank you. Did you know that CMHA works alongside, partners with, and helps the community in many ways?
Did you know that there have been volunteers coming from CMHA to help out with our food bank and other activities around the community since long before I came to Swift Current? To all of you who work so hard, thank you.

Did you know that both our agencies are part of the bread program where we help distribute unsold bread free of charge from stores in town to those in real need? To all of you who work along side us in this, thank you.

Did you know that our CMHA friends help in the community gardens at the Army hall?

And did you know that our CMHA friends have helped with our community kitchens? To all of you who help out, thank you.

Did you know that Ruth from CMHA has even chaired food security meetings on behalf of Canadian Mental Health? Thank you.

Did you know that our friends at CMHA help out with the community Christmas dinner at The Salvation Army? Really, to all of you who work so hard, thank you.

Also did you know that – if I’m not mistaken - Ruth was even the very first Master of Ceremonies at the community Christmas dinners when we started them up again just a few years ago? To Ruth and to all of you who work along side us and help out our community, thank you.

All of the staff, volunteers, and participants have done so much for the community. CMHA is such an integral part of the very being of Swift Current itself and I am so thankful for all the ways I personally have been blessed by the great amount of work everyone there continues to do. Thank you so much.

I can tell you that I honestly look forward to the Mayor’s Lunch and other CMHA events every year. And whenever I go to a committee or an agency meeting in town, Ruth Smith is one of the first people I look for because she is likely to be there because she and everyone at Canadian Mental Health do so much for everyone in Swift Current here.

The Salvation Army and I have been incredibly blessed by the people and the work of CMHA. I am so thankful for all of the people and ministries that we have in common. And there is one more thing that we have in common as well: the building where CMHA meets. Did you know that once upon a time it housed Swift Current’s Salvation Army corps? Our 2 organizations – The Salvation Army and CMHA - share passions, people, and buildings alike. I cannot possibly tell you how grateful I am for all of my friends at Canadian Mental Health. On behalf of The Salvation Army and all of our friends in common, from the bottom of my heart, for all the work that you do, thank you.

As I have been blessed by you and as a minister of the gospel let me bless you now. Heavenly Father, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I ask your blessings upon CMHA and all of their members and friends and all that they do for now and evermore in Jesus Name. Amen.