Bishop Cynthia G. Halmarson took office as bishop in Saskatchewan Synad, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada on October 1st, 2002. She is married to Rev. Jim Halmarson and mother to Sarah and Danny. Bishop Halmarson studied theology at Lutheran Theoligical Seminary, Saskatoon, served parishes in Saskatoon area, and served as assistant to the ELCIC. National Bishop prior to her election. Bishop G. Halmarson is a noted preacher and communicator of the gospel.

"The Holy Bible is noted a book for Sunday reading only. It is not the sole possession of scholars with theological degrees. Nor is it reserved for preachers who are called to proclaim the living Word in the context of our daily lives. It is a book for all, the written Word that is more than black letters on a white page. Christians believe that the Holy Bible is God's inspired Word communicated to the world in Jesus Christ. It is a living Word through which God engages us in conversation about life, meaning, purpose and worth."

"In this book of words and artwork, John shares some of his conversation with the living Word, john reflects on a lifetime of experiences, his own and others, in dialogue with his reading of the Bible. He calls his reading of the Bible "The Simple Truth", and for John it is exactly that. For John all of life can be illuminated by reflecting on God's Word - from political and social concerns to the life and death of his own son, James. The words come from John's many relationships and observations about life. The artwork comes from his long involvent with visual arts and his appreciative eye for how art can communicate where words fail."