Contact Your MP about Assisted Dying Bill
MPs are on a break week from Parliament. This would be a good time to call your MP’s local office to express concerns about the major changes to Canada’s law on euthanasia and assisted suicide proposed in Bill C-7. See the EFC's sample letter and action kit on euthanasia changes and ask for a postcard to send your MP.
EFC Letter to Justice Minister on Conversion Therapy Bill
The EFC is asking the Justice Minister to make changes to Bill C-6, a bill to ban conversion therapy. The bill has a broad definition of conversion therapy that we are concerned could penalize public speech and religious instruction on matters of sexuality and gender. The EFC is asking for a more focused definition and exemptions. For more information and a sample letter to MPs, see TheEFC.ca/C-6.
Letter to Senator in Support of Pornography Restriction Bill S-203
A private member’s bill in the Senate would require pornography companies to verify that users are adults in order to access online content. See the EFC’s letter of support to Senator Miville-Dechêne.
New Podcast: Secrets to Self Control from the Bible (and Drew Dyck)
Drew Dyck's latest book, Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science, will help you be better at a whole bunch of things, including spiritual disciplines. He takes us inside his research and most recent book in this interview. Visit Drew's website to learn more about this book and his work: www.drewdyck.com.
New Refugee Resource Is Here
Now is the perfect time for you or your church group to prepare for sponsoring a refugee. Around the world at the end of 2019, there were 79.5 million forcibly displaced people and 26 million refugees (identified by UNHCR). The EFC, along with its partners in the Refugees Resettlement Initiative, is excited about Welcome the Stranger: A Canadian Church Guide to Welcoming Refugees. This is a practical resource to help churches and private sponsors welcome newcomers. Visit TheEFC.ca/WelcomeTheStranger to download the complete 60-page PDF.
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted is November 1
Persecution for faith in Christ often separates believers from family and loved ones. During Covid-19 we understand, though to a lesser degree, the pain of isolation. That is why “Hope in Isolation” is the theme for the 2020 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted. “Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Countries of focus include Bangladesh, Nigeria and Yemen. Be sure to visit www.idop.ca for free resources for your church group or personal prayer.
Review of Canada’s Prostitution Laws Expected this Fall
A review of Canada’s prostitution laws is expected this fall. These laws are an essential tool in the fight against sexual exploitation, writes the EFC’s Julia Beazley in a new post at our website.
Fundamentalisms and the Word of God
Many voices these days, both within Christianity and outside Christianity, claim to have staked out the truth. But EFC Vice-President David Guretzki reminds us of the words of the late Canadian theologian J.I. Packer: “We are not entitled to infer from the fact that a group of people are drawing near to each other that any of them is drawing nearer to the truth. Our first task must be to test all the words of men by the authoritative Word of God.”
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→ A Just Recovery for All (Tamarack), online Oct. 14
→ Business Talks series, online every Tuesday (RZIM/Intriciti), continuing Oct. 14, 21, 28
→ Faster, higher, better? Moral bioenhancement and Christianity (CCC), online Oct. 14
→ Fighting poverty with equitable and sustainable jobs (Defend Dignity), online Oct. 14
→ Faith as a vehicle for dialogue: a view from the Hill (DXC), online Oct. 15-16
→ Meaningful consultation & accountability in addressing poverty (DFA), online Oct. 15
→ Ending poverty together (Feed the Hungry), online workshop Oct. 15
→ Reveal webinar: My story of porn addiction (Defend Dignity), online Oct. 15
→ Singin’ in the Grain fundraising concert (Foodgrains Bank), online Oct. 16
→ Change conference (Cdn Youth Network), online Oct. 16
→ Jesus and justice conference (IJM), online Oct. 15-17
→ International day for the eradication of poverty, Oct. 17
→ Chew on This! Anti-poverty rally, online Oct. 17
→ Poverty is talking, it's time to listen (Poverty Talks), online Oct. 17
→ Plan to Protect 101 webinar, online Oct. 20
→ Reveal webinar: Moving through betrayal (Defend Dignity), online Oct. 22
→ Hold Me Tight couples weekend (Shalem), Hamilton, Oct. 24-25
→ Table talk: Does the Church still have legs? (MCC), online Oct. 24-25
→ EFC Presidents’ Day, online Oct. 29
→ Reveal webinar: Teens and porn (Defend Dignity), online Oct. 29
→ The Internet: Are children in charge? (Internet Sense First), online Oct. 30-31
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
In Case You Missed It
→ The problem of prioritizing prayer (blog by EFC Prayer Ambassador Roger Helland)
→ Transformation takes time (Faith Today article)
→ EFC speakers in your online gathering
→ Free home print subscriptions to Faith Today and Love Is Moving: FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree
→ Get your message out at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca