>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: (416) 573-3249
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
