More Than Miracles. Ben Volman

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      More Than Miracles: Elaine Zeidman Markovic and the Story of The Scott Mission

      Copyright © 2015 Scott Mission

      All rights reserved

      Printed in Canada

      International Standard Book Number 978-1-927355-74-9

      ISBN 978-1-927355-75-6 EPUB

      Published by:

      Castle Quay Books

      19-24 Laguna Pkwy, Lagoon City, Brechin, Ontario, L0K 1B0

      Tel: [phone]

      E-mail: [email protected] www.castlequaybooks.com

      Edited by Marina Hofman Willard, and Lori Mackay

      Cover design by Burst Impressions

      Printed at Essence Printing, Belleville, Ontario

      All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publishers.

      All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Copyright © 1977, 1984, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers. All rights reserved. • Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. • Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982. Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers. • Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission.

      Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

      Volman, Ben, author

      More than miracles : Elaine Zeidman Markovic and the story of Scott Mission / Elaine Markovic, Ben Volman.

      Issued in print and electronic formats.

      ISBN 978-1-927355-74-9 (paperback).--ISBN 978-1-927355-75-6 (epub)

      1. Scott Mission--History. 2. Zeidman, Morris, 1894-1964. 3. Zeidman, Annie. 4. Homeless persons--Services for--Ontario--Toronto. 5. Poor--Services for--Ontario--Toronto. 6. Jewish Christians--Ontario--Toronto--Biography. I. Volman, Ben, author II. Title.

      BV2820.T67M37 2015 266'.0220922713541 C2015-905572-5

      C2015-905573-3

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      Introduction: Meeting Elaine

      1. Finding Laine

      2. An Interesting Wedding

      3. Holy Chutzpah—The Challenge of a Call

      4. The Soup Kitchen Years

      5. That Jewish Gentleman

      6. The Scott—and the Zeidmans—Carry On

      7. The Lord Will Provide

      8. Confronting the Holocaust

      9. The Good Samaritan of “Czenstochova”

      10. Growing Pains

      11. Elaine Begins Her Mission Career

      12. Public Choices—Private Struggles, Part 1

      13. Public Choices—Private Struggles, Part 2

      14. “The Miracle on Spadina Avenue”

      Photo Section

      15. One More Vision

      16. “See You in the Morning”

      17. The Good Samaritan Wears Horn-Rimmed Glasses

      18. “As For God, His Way Is Perfect”

      19. Alex in the Pulpit and in Print

      20. Losing Alex

      21. An Unexpected Turn

      22. Praying Through

      23. The Gracious Hand of the Lord

      24. Elaine’s People

      25. A New Generation: Jae, Lois, Sera and Andrew

      26. Learning to Pray for Herself

      27. Reflections on a Life in Ministry

      28. “Let Me Hear Your Voice in the Morning”

      29. Afterwards: A Final Task

      Acknowledgements

      Endnotes

      Index of Poetry Selections

      Works Cited

      Foreword

      If you asked the average Torontonian what they knew of the Scott Mission, the vast and overwhelming majority, young or old, long-time resident or new to the city, would have positive words to say about “a place that helps the poor and homeless.”

      And that is true. In fact, founded in 1941, the Mission has for 75 years developed and maintained the same core ministries that have served the poor and neediest of our city.

      But what Ben Volman has achieved in this inspiring new book, More Than Miracles: Elaine Zeidman Markovic and the Story of The Scott Mission, goes well beyond an historic overview. It is a celebration of the achievements of the remarkable Zeidman family, a testimony of service and of generosity of supporters and, moreover, the unique story of Elaine Zeidman Markovic.

      What emerges is a tapestry of overcoming adversity, of faith and love, and a clear message that one woman, through long-term ministry, has made a difference in the Scott Mission and in Toronto itself.

      That great theologian and evangelist Andrew Murray wrote in his 1885 classic With Christ in the School of Prayer:

      It is when we give ourselves to be a blessing that we can specially count on the blessing of God. It is when we draw near to God as the friend of the poor and the perishing that we may count on his friendliness; the righteous person who is the friend of the poor, is very specially the friend of God.

      In that spirit, may you be blessed by this book as you meet friends of the poor and very special friends of God.

      David C. Onley

      Ontario Lieutenant Governor, 2007–2014

      Introduction

      Meeting Elaine

      As Elaine Zeidman Markovic came downstairs from her second-floor office to the foyer of the Scott Mission, her steps were deliberate, unhurried. Each time we met, I’d experience that ethereal aura of serenity that permeated the air around her. It seemed as much a part of Elaine as her thin, elegant appearance.

      In contrast, activity at “The Scott” can seem overwhelming, especially on a first visit. A dozen things are going on at once. Counsellors are directing people to different parts of the building depending on their needs. In the dining room, transient men are being fed, while colourfully dressed immigrant families go by with their arms full of groceries and bags of clothes. A women’s Bible study is about to start—it’s not in English. Mothers speaking some unfamiliar dialect are dropping off babies and toddlers for an hour’s respite. In a time when everyone has a cellphone or an e-mail address, a homeless man is asking for mail. This is the only place where his family can reach him.

      Elaine moved calmly through all of this. She’d been serving here through six decades. Many of those years were spent at the front desk, receiving people while they coped with every conceivable personal crisis. She would take the first steps: offering a meal, groceries, clothing or a handout. If the Mission couldn’t help, she’d have a referral, making sure the