Bill C-233 on Sex-Selective Abortion
Bill C-233 is a private member’s bill that would prohibit medical practitioners from performing an abortion knowing that the abortion is solely due to the child’s genetic sex. The EFC recently sent a letter supporting the bill to the MP who proposed it and prepared a sample letter you can use for contacting your MP (pdf or docx). See TheEFC.ca/C-233.
EFC Webinar: Reopening Churches: Sharing Ideas, Advice and Experience
Did you miss last week’s webinar on reopening churches? Our online meeting capacity was so full that some people were unable to join, but you can now access a video recording of the webinar. Our host Karen Stiller chatted with guests including EFC President Bruce Clemenger; Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer for the Northwest Territories; Dan Godard, lead pastor of Victory Church, Moose Jaw, Sask.; Troy Matchett, pastor of Église de la Grace/Grace Church, Bouctouche, N.B.; and Rick Burdett, COO of Outreach Canada Ministries.
Send Us Photos of Your Church Reopening
It’s official—churches across Canada are reopening. We’d love to see how your church is doing this! Send us a photo of your regathering so we can share it on social media.
Dispatch from WEA Global Ambassador: Hope in Crisis—Episode 5
“Is hope ruling my life and choices? Is my neighbour a factor in what I do? In my Christian community, are we reflecting the God we love and serve?” These are just some of the questions that we should ask ourselves during the pandemic, suggests Brian Stiller, global ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance.
Join Us in Asking for Support for Trafficking Survivors
The EFC is concerned that funding for several programs to help women and girls escape sexual exploitation and trafficking is being discontinued. Read the EFC’s letter to several cabinet ministers. Join us in advocating for trafficking survivors. This email template is pre-addressed to the relevant MPs with suggested text you can adapt and send, or you can download our sample text (pdf or docx) at TheEFC.ca/HumanTrafficking.
Print Subscriptions Now Free in Canada
Home print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free in Canada as of May 1, 2020! Find out why Christians across more than 40 denominations have trusted our periodicals for more than 40 years. Existing subscribers will be automatically transferred to the new free subscriptions. If you don’t already get our print magazines, sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
World Refugee Sunday: Next Sunday or the One After
Around the world, over 70 million people have no place to call home. World Refugee Sunday, held each year on two consecutive Sundays (June 14 or 21) is commemorated by the Refugee Highway Partnership in cooperation with the World Evangelical Alliance to raise awareness of and prayer for the situation of refugees and internally displaced peoples around the world. The EFC invites you to participate and offers additional information and resources at TheEFC.ca/WorldRefugeeSunday.
Carolyn Arends on Singing and Not Singing in Church
Have you been missing congregational singing during the pandemic? “Even as we learn that the Church is much more than her buildings and rituals, we discover that they actually do matter,” writes Faith Today columnist Carolyn Arends. Read the full article.
Support the production of more Canadian Christian journalism like this by donating to the EFC or advertising with us.
Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar
→ National Day of Prayer for Youth (Baptist) nationwide, June 10
→ Ending Poverty Together Online Workshop (Food for the Hungry), June 11
→ Cardus Webinar: Marriage in a Dangerous Time, June 11
→ The Word Awards, online, June 13
→ Preaching with the Church Fathers online course (Wycliffe College), June 15-August 7
→ Serious About Safety? Free Five-Day Workshop from Plan to Protect, online, June 15-19
→ Intersection Online for Missions/Parachurch Leaders, June 17
→ World Refugee Sunday, June 14, June 21; World Refugee Day, June 20
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online, June 19
→ National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada-wide, June 21
→ Talking Our Walk: Cultivating Sacred Consciousness (Regent College), online, June 22
→ When Christians Disagree (Regent College), online, June 24
→ Christian Communicators Awards of Merit 2020, online, June 26
→ Men Under Construction—Rebuilding the Foundation (COG Ontario), online, June 27
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
An Online Seminary Course? Why Not?
Online course registrations are now open for many seminaries and Christian postsecondary institutions. Several are listed at TheEFC.ca/Calendar. Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses.
Online Classifieds for the Christian Community
Want to reach Canadian Christians with your help-wanted or classified advertisement? We can feature your message at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds and at Christianity.ca for 60 days for only $10 per line (average line = six words). For even wider exposure, you can also include it in our next print issue of Faith Today for an extra $12 per line. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca for details.
EFC Speakers in Your Online Gathering?
The EFC has local ambassadors in many Canadian provinces and expert staff on a variety of topics. One of them would be delighted to make a live interactive presentation during an online gathering of your community, or to record a video message for your online church service, conference or small group. Learn more about our speakers, including ambassadors based in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, at TheEFC.ca/Speakers. In addition to the list of topics you’ll find there, including social issues from euthanasia to refugees to prostitution, and ministry issues from adoption to youth ministry, speakers are glad to consider requests to speak on unlisted topics. Request a speaker now!
In Case You Missed It
→ EFC Statement on Racism
→ The Church as Chaplain (EFC podcast)
→ Viral Church (Faith Today article)
→ Dispatch from WEA Global Ambassador: Hope in Crisis—Episode 4