Condolences and Prayers for Humboldt
The EFC expresses its deepest sympathies to the families of the 15 people related to the Humboldt Broncos hockey team in Saskatchewan who died in a tragic bus accident this weekend. Our prayers and condolences go out to the families, staff and supporters of the team, and to the citizens of Humboldt and surrounding communities. We pray God will strengthen you in this time of deep need and pain.
Why Did Tragedy Strike the Humboldt Broncos?
“When faced with such a tragedy, we often feel compelled to ask why. Why did this happen? Those of us who believe in God often add, Why did God let this happen?” David Guretzki reflects on the Humboldt Broncos tragedy in a new blog.
Send Your Pastor to Dinner Contest Winners
We drew the names last week for the winners of our Faith Today Send Your Pastor to Dinner contest – one winner for each province, as well as one territory. We had nearly 75 nominees from almost every province and territory across Canada. Congratulations to everyone who won, and thanks to everyone who nominated pastors! If you know you were nominated for this contest, we can send you the text that went along with your nomination (those who nominated you will remain anonymous). Just send us an email and we will pass along the encouraging message people sent when asked to say why they were nominating their pastor.
Human Trafficking in Canada: Sign up for Our April Webinar
What is the latest on human trafficking in Canada? Who are the victims? What can individuals and Canadian churches do to help with this overwhelming problem? On April 26 at noon EST, join us for our webinar on this issue. Julia Beazley, director of public policy for the EFC, will update us and share the EFC recommendations made to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights that is currently studying this issue. Register now.
New Audio Podcast: Politics and Faith—An Interview with Preston Manning
Our latest podcast is an interview with Preston Manning, founder of two political parties, former Leader of the Opposition, and current leader of the Manning Centre. Listen to individual episodes of The EFC Podcast (or subscribe to download each new episode automatically) at Google Play, iTunes, SoundCloud, and RSS (Feedburner). Check out our full list of recent episodes.
EFC Staff Coming to Toronto, Richmond Hill, Winnipeg areas
EFC President Bruce Clemenger will speak on the challenges of freedom of religion in the Canadian context and the benefits of networking as Evangelicals at an event in Vaughan, Ont., called Thriving in Babylon: Christian Living in a Secular World. This multi-denominational conference, April 20-21, is organized by Presbyterians Standing for Apostolic Love and Truth and The Renewal Fellowship Within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Other speakers include Warwick Cooper, Lee Beach, Gary Stagg, William Webb, John G. Stackhouse Jr., David Haskell, Wes Chang, Peter Bush, and Carmen Laberge.
EFC President Bruce Clemenger and EFC Vice-President and Resident Theologian David Guretzki will be speaking at six services at Richmond Hill Christian Community Church, Richmond Hill, ON, April 14-15.
Don McNiven, the EFC’s Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations, is in the Winnipeg, Winkler, Steinbach, and Morden area this week. Contact his assistant Bonnie Knoll to RSVP or to set up a personal visit.
Conference for Christian Communicators
Two Christian associations for writers, editors and other communicators are holding a joint national conference in Hamilton, Ont., May 2-4. Anyone involved in communications from newsletter production to website to video to fundraising is welcome to attend. “Uncovering Truth in an Uncertain World” will be held May 2-4 at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. Join communications professionals from a wide range of Christian traditions, including the editors of the EFC magazine Faith Today, at this national conference, sponsored by the Canadian Church Press and the Association of Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada. Keynote speakers include Bruce MacDonald of Imagine Canada, Paul Berton of The Hamilton Spectator and Anne Jamieson of the R.C. Diocese of Hamilton. Members of the Canadian Church Press will be voting on a new vision for the future of their association (associate memberships are only $30/year so you can still buy one now and play a role in shaping the organization's future). Partial attendance at the conference is also an option (single-day registrations and dinner-only tickets are also available). Full conference details: www.canadianchurchpress.com. Tickets/registrations: www.catholicregister.org/ccp. Discounted hotel accommodations are available (hotel reservation deadline is April 13).
Making Room in Health Care for Minorities
Earlier this year, an Ontario court upheld the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s policy that requires physicians to provide effective referrals, even for procedures that go against the doctors’ consciences. “This policy is wrong and hurts our society,” writes EFC President Bruce Clemenger in Faith Today. “The test of a free and democratic society is how we treat each other, particularly our minorities who should be free to hold their convictions and participate in the life of our society, including contributing to the public good in public service.” This article is free online, but you can also receive it and future articles in our print magazine by subscribing at FaithToday.ca/subscription.
The Allure of Busyness
In the EFC young adult magazine Love Is Moving, Marina Hanna writes on deciding not to conform to our cultural addiction to constant busyness. “After so much observation, my conclusion is this: I loathe the rat race, and I refuse to be a participant in it. It’s a lifestyle of perpetual busy-ness that I want to be as separated from as possible. Yet, it’s everywhere I look: in the workplace, household, classroom, and even the church.” Students and youth groups can subscribe to the print magazine for only $2/issue at FaithToday.ca/student.
Publicize your event for free.
→ Called to Rest: Do Nothing, Change Everything, webinar online, Apr. 11
→ Empowered to Connect: Conference on Adoption and Connection, various Canadian locations (simulcast from Oswego, Illinois), Apr. 13-14; North York, Apr. 27-28
→ Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Equipping Conference, Coquitlam, Apr. 14
→ Passionnés pour notre mariage/Passionate About Our Marriage, Laval, Apr. 14
→ Responding to the World Refugee Crisis One Family at a Time, Waterloo, Apr. 14
→ Regenerating Places of Faith, Calgary, Apr. 14
→ Promise Keepers Legacy Equipping Conference, Cambridge, Apr. 14; Chatham, Apr. 21; Barrie, Apr. 28
→ Thinking Shrewdly 2018: A National Consultation for Leaders & Catalysts, Waterloo, Apr. 17-18
→ Thriving in Babylon: Christians Living in a Secular World, Thornhill, Apr. 20-21
→ Women’s Ministries Institute Introduction Day, Cambridge, Apr. 21
→ Church Leaders Forums – World Vision. Victoria, Apr. 24; Langley, Apr. 25; Calgary, Apr. 26; Edmonton, Apr. 27
→ CYN Youth Worker Resource Lunch Tour, 12 cities across Ontario and Quebec, Apr. 24-May 3
→ Foundations of Media Strategy, online, Apr. 26
→ EFC Webinar on Human Trafficking in Canada, online, Apr. 26
→ Come Thirsty, Drink Deeply…Because There’s More, Mississauga, Apr. 27-28
→ Last Days Bible Conference, Calgary, Apr. 27-28
→ ReBoot Youth Conference, Victoria, Apr. 28
→ Reach Conference, Toronto, Apr. 27-28
→ Voices for Peace, Toronto, Apr. 28
→ Lessons in Writing and Faith
→ Hooray for Pastors
→ Some Truths About Truth
In Case You Missed It
→ Canada Watch: Charter Values, Neutrality and What It All Means for Religious Freedom
→ New Love Is Moving App
→ Audio Podcast: Don’t Turn From Suffering
→ Audio Podcast: Brazil: A New Force in Mission
→ Your Theology Is Changing—Is That Okay? (Faith Today)
→ How to Be a Friend to the Homeless (Love Is Moving)
→ Christ Will Rise Everywhere. Easter in Uganda.