Have you ever wanted to do something really amazing, but thought, “It’s too big, too impossible or too much to ask?” Gwyn and Bonnie Evans are Salvationists from North Toronto Community Church who saw God do something far beyond their imagining.

More than two decades ago, Gwyn and Bonnie responded to the need for child sponsors and began financially supporting Gertha, a five-year-old Haitian girl living at a Salvation Army home. As she matured, their connection grew stronger and when her official sponsorship ended at the age of 18, they accepted responsibility for Gertha’s further education.

Normally, sponsors and sponsored children only correspond through official channels and rarely meet in person. But Bonnie and Gwyn travelled to Jamaica earlier this year to witness Gertha be commissioned as a Salvation Army officer, along with her husband, Eddie.

Gertha, now 27, frequently wrote to Bonnie and Gwyn over the years, affectionately referring to them as “Mom” and “Dad.” In one letter she shared her belief that, “What you did for me, you did with your heart, not because you had to, or will gain something, but because you really care for others.”

When they met for the first time, there were no reservations or handshakes. They were with family, and shared many hugs and tears. Bonnie gave Gertha copies of all of the letters they had received from her over the 22 years. Incredulous that the Evans felt the letters important enough to keep, Gertha read once again her words to Gwyn and Bonnie: “You have played your part in reflecting God’s character.” Seeing the Evans as her spiritual parents, Gertha speaks of her joy at being able to imitate the leper in Luke 17:15-19 who was the only one who remembered to come back to Jesus and thank him for his healing.

For Gwyn and Bonnie, God had a surprise in store for them. Gertha wanted them to be at her commissioning so they could receive the Silver Star. The Fellowship of the Silver Star is a special honour given in The Salvation Army to parents and spiritual mentors of individuals who become officers. It is given “in recognition of the influence that parents and others have had on their children during the formative years of their life and for the support the children have been given in following their calling as Salvation Army officers.”

Even more than this part of their story, the Evans want to clearly communicate the passion they have for child sponsorship, and the delight they would feel in knowing that others were moved by their experience to sponsor one or more children themselves.

If you were to visit their home, you would be treated to photo albums and scrapbooks filled with the evidence of more than 20 years of connection with sponsored children from around the world—17 of them altogether, and always four at a time. It’s inspiring to see their joy in being involved in these children’s lives.

“There’s so much excitement when you get mail,” says Bonnie, “and there is news and photographs and pictures from your child.” The experience has been rewarding, and the Evans have never considered dropping out of the program. They are careful to say they haven’t done it for the thanks they get, because there’s no guarantee of that. What they do subscribe to is written on a plaque in their home: “Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed.”

For more information on child sponsorship or to sponsor a child, visit Salvationist.ca/Sponsorship. 

Top photo: Bonnie and Gwyn travel to Jamaica to visit Gertha and Eddie; bottom: receiving Silver Star pins in recognition of their role in Gertha’s life