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EFC Update Newsletter March 17, 2020

17 March 2020

Call to Prayer Over Coronavirus Outbreak

As our country grapples with COVID-19, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is praying for our churches, our government, church leaders and our friends and neighbours. We invite you to do the same.

In days like these we can remember and be confident that God really is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1–3).

Read the EFC’s full statement. There’s also a link there to a prayer from the World Evangelical Alliance.

What’s Your Church Doing to Reach Out During the Pandemic? 

What is your church doing to reach out and care for your community in these days of COVID-19? We'd love to hear your stories and share them to help inspire others. You can either:

→ Join us for a live online discussion at noon Eastern on March 30 (confirmation and details will be posted at TheEFC.ca/Calendar when we have them)
→ Post them at Facebook.com/TheEFC (look for our March 16 post, pinned at the top of the page)
→ Email them to us at efc@TheEFC.ca

Federal Government Proposes to Ban Conversion Therapy 

The Justice Minister introduced Bill C-8 on March 9, which would add a conversion therapy ban to the Criminal Code. The bill defines conversion therapy broadly as attempts to modify or reduce sexual behaviour. It creates offences such as receiving a financial or material benefit from conversion therapy, causing a minor to undergo conversion therapy or causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will. See the EFC's resources on conversion therapy at TheEFC.ca/C8There’s also a sample letter to send to your MP: pdf or docx.

An analysis of the bill will be posted there soon. There’s already a link there to a joint document from the EFC, Canadian Council of Christian Charities, and the Christian Legal Fellowship that summarizes concerns with the bans and suggests wording for communicating with elected officials on this sensitive issue. 

Our Heart for the World: The FT Interview with Allison Alley 

Allison Alley has been president of Compassion Canada since October, and before that worked as its national advocacy manager. She spoke with Faith Today’s Karen Stiller about the state of the world and the condition of our hearts. 

Support the production of more uniquely Canadian Christian journalism like this by donating or subscribing to the EFC magazine Faith Today.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

Publicize your event for free. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, please double check with event hosts for possible postponement or cancellation.

→ Online course registration now open for Master’s College & Seminary (courses starting May 4 and June 22)
→ Online course registration now open for Providence College & Seminary (courses starting Sept. 17)
→ Mobilizing Our Churches Amidst COVID-19 (Jesus Collective), Online discussion, March 18
→ Covenant Awards (Gospel Music), Online from Langley, B.C., March 21
→ EFC Webinar: Sharing Stories of Church Outreach During COVID-19, Online, March 30 (tentative date)

In Case You Missed It

Assisted Dying Bill Rushing Through Parliament (EFC analysis of Bill C-7 and call to action)
The Pandemic Challenge (Faith Today article)
The New Heart of Compassion Canada (podcast audio of Faith Today interview)