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February 13, 2018

13 February 2018

Canada Summer Jobs: Latest News, How to Respond to Application Rejection

Last night the EFC’s Julia Beazley posted a short update on what's happening with the Canada Summer Jobs controversy and the organizations that applied. Read the full update in Three questions on the Canada Summer Jobs situation after the deadline.

Some of you have been called directly by your MP to discuss your concerns with the Canada Summer Jobs attestation, while some of you are hearing from Service Canada that your application is incomplete without the attestation being checked. EFC President Bruce Clemenger explains how to help you respond to both of these scenarios in this one-minute video. We have provided a written analysis of the attestation online, which can help guide your interaction with your MP. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities has provided a letter template that you can send to Service Canada to ask them to accommodate your freedom of religion and conscience.

As always, you can contact us with questions and concerns. We are here for you as we walk through this situation together.

For Those in Ontario: Call for Conscience Campaign

The EFC is deeply concerned about the assisted suicide and euthanasia policies and practices being implemented across the country. Earlier this month an Ontario court ruled that physicians and medical practitioners do not have freedom of conscience or religion to refuse to participate in assisting people to end their lives.

For those in Ontario, the EFC is partnering with the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience in the 2018 Ontario Call for Conscience Campaign taking place now through March 25. For more information, see the Coalition's website at www.canadiansforconscience.ca/ontario.

Seven Principles of Praying for Political Leaders

We have a responsibility as followers of Jesus to pray for our political leaders—whether they be federal, provincial, or civic—but how can we pray intelligently and faithfully for them? EFC Vice-President and resident theologian David Guretzki offers seven principles of praying for political leaders that can guide us in our prayers.

Next Webinar: Latest Challenges in Youth Ministry

Join our free webinar Tuesday, Feb. 27 at noon EST as we discuss the latest trends in youth ministry, the challenges facing youth ministry today, and the Canadian Youth Workers Conferences (CYWC). We will be joined by Sid Koop, executive director of Truth Matters and CYWC and a frequent speaker about youth-ministry related issues. We’ll also be joined by Marv Penner, executive director of All About Youth and Youth Specialties Canada and a popular author and speaker on youth issues. This webinar will last approximately 45 minutes. Sign up here.

Kanata Church Responds to Canada Summer Job Grant Controversy

Kanata Baptist Church in Ottawa is one church of thousands impacted by the new requirement to agree to a controversial attestation in the Canada Summer Jobs grant program this year.

The church recently wrote a letter to its MP Karen McCrimmon to express the situation it now finds itself in, potentially unable to offer the same level of programming to its community, including a growing summer camp ministry to special-needs children.

This is one church with one story, representing multiple Canadian congregations from coast to coast. Read excerpts from their heartfelt letter and listen to our podcast in which Pastor Bob Davies shares Kanata Baptist’s response to the situation.

Three Questions on Poverty Today

Angie Draskovic is President & CEO of Yonge Street Mission in Toronto, an EFC affiliate organization. She shared her knowledge of poverty in our Three Questions Series of short online interviews.

Love Is Moving in Oakville, Ont., and Caronport, Sask.

The EFC’s youth initiative Love Is Moving is a sponsor of Today’s Teens conference on Feb. 24 in Oakville, Ont. Joel Gordon will be leading a workshop, “Living Out Love: Influencing Your Community Closer to Jesus.”

David Guretzki, the EFC’s Executive Vice-President, will be sharing about Love Is Moving with youth leaders in Caronport, Sask., at Youth Quake 2018 at Briercrest College & Seminary on Feb. 16-18.

Youth and Young Adult Ministry Survey

Do you do ministry with youth or young adults? The EFC and its partners are conducting an important survey to find out how youth and young adult ministry workers are supporting young adults as they transition from high school to the next phase in life. If you work directly or indirectly with youth or young adults in a volunteer or paid capacity, we’d like to hear from you. Learn more or take the survey. Please share this opportunity with others you know who work with youth or young adults.

Dispatch from Brian Stiller on a Moment of Decision for Turkey

“Turkey is one tough place to live out the life of Christ. One wonders whether the attributed words of Tertullian, ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,’ really work. Up to this point, not in Turkey.

“At the turn of the 20th century, Turkey was about 20 percent Christian, mainly Armenian Christians. Today the Christian population doesn’t even register on the census.” Read more from Brian Stiller of the World Evangelical Alliance on the persecution and possibilities of Christianity in Turkey.

Podcast: Dispatches from Brian Stiller: Unintended Consequences

“In 1949 there were 700,000 Christians in China. Today estimates range from 80 million to 140 million. This story is without precedence. No country in the history of the world has experienced such mobilization of faith.

“But it is not the number that commands my attention. It isn’t critical mass of which I speak as a tipping point. It’s the nature of their conference, their mission goal.” In this podcast, Brian Stiller, global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, reflects on the unintended consequences of Chinese Communist Party policy on the Church.

Would Our Neighbourhoods Notice If We Left?

“If your church burned down tomorrow, would the neighbourhood notice? Years ago, that question was routinely tossed around in church circles. Leaders of flourishing congregations today say it’s still a great question. They claim they simply can’t flourish, theologically or otherwise, if they are not actively involved in their neighbourhood.” Joel Thiessen is professor of sociology and director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University in Calgary. In the latest Faith Today, he delves into his recent research to share some key features of flourishing congregations, along with some ideas for how your congregation can connect with your neighbours.

How to Grow in Times of Transition

In the Jan/Feb issue of the EFC’s youth magazine, Love Is Moving, Andrew Glidden offers a variety of ways to undergo times of life transition in a healthy and God-honouring manner: “Change is hard. Transitions are hard. Being thrown into a new reality is hard. However, when we recognize that God is with us, we rest in His promises. When we study His Word, our new realities become more manageable.”

EFC Director Coming to Calgary

Don McNiven, the EFC’s Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations, will be visiting Calgary from March 5-8. There will be two informational/introductory meetings at Crossroads Community Church, 912 - 19th Street NE, Calgary at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6th. Everyone is welcome; refreshments will be served. Contact his assistant Bonnie Knoll to RSVP or set up a personal visit.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/calendar

Publicize your event for free.
→ Foundations of Media Strategy Online Course, Online, Feb. 15
→ Worship Central Conference, Vancouver, Feb. 16-17
→ Youth Quake, Caronport, Feb. 16-18
→ Ontario Prayer Breakfast, Toronto, Feb. 21
→ Missions Fest Alberta, Edmonton, Feb. 23-25
→ Promise Keepers Canada All In Conference, Ottawa, Feb. 23-24
→ Rise Conference (youth worship leading), Abbotsford, Feb. 23-24
→ Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk, nationwide, 100+ locations, Feb. 24
→ Today’s Teens Conference, Oakville, Feb. 24
→ Fluid Young Adults Gathering, Oakville, Mar. 3
→ Promise Keepers Canada All In Men’s Conference, Saskatoon, Mar. 3
→ Shining the Light of Prayer on Sexual Exploitation, Burlington, Mar. 4