THE EFC UPDATE - 2016.01.26
Uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus
Sign up to receive the EFC Update via email every Tuesday to keep up with current news from The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
SIGN UP FOR EFC WEBINAR ON ASSISTED SUICIDE, FEB. 17
Registration is now open. Sign up to hear what every Canadian Christian needs to know about euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Also, what we and our congregations can be doing to protect life. Contribute your questions to our live online discussion and hear the latest updates and developments straight from Parliament Hill. Our featured experts will include Bruce J. Clemenger, EFC President, and Julia Beazley, EFC Director of Public Policy. Get details and register today at theEFC.ca/webinars.
OPPOSE ASSISTED SUICIDE BEFORE FEB. 6
Have you added your name to the 6,500+ Canadians calling our government to protect vulnerable Canadians and improve palliative care? You can do so at euthanasiadeclaration.ca. Help us reach 10,000 signatories by Feb. 6 to demonstrate cross-Canada support for limits to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. This 900-word declaration was developed in October by the EFC and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (aussi disponible en français).
EFC LETTER ABOUT REV. HYEON SOO LIM
The EFC wrote today to Canada’s minister of foreign affairs regarding Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim, pastor of Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, a man in his early 60s who was sentenced to hard labour for life and accused of subversion or “crimes against the state” by the North Korean Supreme Court in December. “We will continue to pray for Canadian government officials as they work diligently to negotiate Rev. Lim’s release, and for Rev. Lim and the Lim family during this difficult time,” says part of the letter.
WIN A FREE RETREAT FOR YOUR PASTOR
Nominate your pastor before the end of February for a rejuvenating retreat. One winner in each province! Details on this Faith Today contest in English at FaithToday.ca/contest or en français à FaithToday.ca/concours.
EFC WEBINAR RECORDING: CLERGY WELLNESS
Our webinar on clergy wellness, held Jan. 20, is now available online at www.theEFC.ca/WebinarArchive. Learn about the state of mental and emotional health of Canada’s clergy. Consider what wellbeing might look like in a busy pastoral life that is often full of demands and ripe for burn-out. Hear how churches can care better for our ministry leaders. Two experts from Shalem Mental Health Network and Wycliffe College made presentations and answered audience questions.
NEED A SPEAKER? WANT INFORMATION TO IMPROVE YOUR MINISTRY?
The EFC’s Rick Hiemstra will be speaking about church and faith trends in Canada at Jubilee Christian Fellowship in Stratford, Ont., this Sunday. Consider inviting an EFC speaker for your group or church at theEFC.ca/speakers.
COMING EVENTS AT THEEFC.CA/CALENDAR
→ Cotton Patch Gospel Musical, Hamilton, Jan. 26-30
→ Churches and the Housing Crisis, Vancouver, Jan. 27
→ Missions Fest Vancouver, Jan. 29-31
→ Breakforth Canada, Edmonton, Jan. 29-31
→ Pentecostal Preaching and Ministry in Multicultural and Post-Christian Canada, Hamilton, Ont., Jan. 29
BETTER EQUIPPED
Do you want to be better connected, informed and equipped this year? Subscribe to Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine, published by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Subscriptions now also include our free new youth magazine, Love Is Moving. Our risk-free trial gives you two issues at no cost before deciding on a subscription. Details at FaithToday.ca/RiskFree or toll-free 1-866-302-3362.
LATEST POSTS AT BLOG.FAITHTODAY.CA
→ How music tends and heals in palliative care, by Sarah Pearson
→ What I learned visiting churches in Moncton: Lessons for everyone! by Sara Appleby
IS YOUR CONGREGATION AN EFC AFFILIATE?
Congregations that affiliate with the EFC take a public stand for religious freedom, collaboration for ministry effectiveness, and the importance of bringing biblical principles to issues of Canadian law and public policy. Join hundreds of other congregations from more than 40 denominations at work in “uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus” at theEFC.ca/affiliate.
SUPPORT OUR YOUTH
Have you seen the new magazine Love Is Moving, published by the EFC’s new youth initiative? It’s written by youth to encourage each other to put faith into action. You can add your encouragement (whatever your age) by uploading a photo of yourself to any public social media channel using the hashtag #loveismoving. We’ll uses these photos in an animated Love Is Moving mosaic we are building to highlight the collaborative character of this movement (see a one-minute video). Pass along this invitation – and the link to our latest issue – to the Christian youth and young adults in your church.