EFC Covid Prayer Initiative
The EFC has begun to offer weekly prayer suggestions at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19. While you can of course pray about these topics anytime, the EFC is promoting a special communal time of prayer each Friday at 4:00 p.m. Please consider setting a reminder and then praying at the same hour in your time zone along with other Christians.
Podcast Interviews EFC Small Church Researchers
EFC researchers Rick Hiemstra and Lindsay Callaway were interviewed for the Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre podcast recently, in an episode where they discussed research they are conducting, in partnership with EFC affiliates, on small churches in Canada. You can watch and listen here.
New Podcast: Hope in Crisis
Grace Fox is a B.C. author, speaker and spiritual coach whose latest book is a devotional called Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm in Chaos, which seems like a good fit for the reality in which we have all found ourselves in recent months. Listen to our podcast with Grace.
Find her online at www.gracefox.com.
Join the EFC’s Book Discussion on Reaching Emerging Adults
We're hosting an online book discussion on the theme of reaching and keeping unchurched emerging adults. And you're invited! On May 18 we'll host a panel with author Beth Seversen to discuss her book Not Done Yet: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults (www.ivpress.com/not-done-yet). Register now to join us from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time to hear from the author, discuss the book in small groups and then engage in a live Q and A with her. Co-hosted by the EFC and Youth Worker Community. Now’s the time to order the book so you're ready to discuss it.
EFC’s Julia Beazley to Give Talk on Sexual Exploitation
The EFC’s Julia Beazley is giving an online talk at Fight 4 Freedom’s annual summit this Friday evening, called "Untangling the Web of Sexual Exploitation."
Support for Ban on Sex-Selective Abortion
MP Cathay Wagantall’s private member’s Bill C-233 would discourage discrimination on the basis of sex and prevent medical practitioners from performing an abortion solely because of the child’s sex. Bill C-233 was debated in the House of Commons last Wednesday. The second hour of debate and a vote will be held at a later date.
The EFC wrote a letter of support for Bill C-233 and has a sample letter of support on our website at www.TheEFC.ca/C-233.
Please take a few minutes and ask your MP to support Bill C-233 and its ban of sex-selective abortion.
World Renew Celebrates Refugee Sunday in April
In the next two seconds someone will be forced to flee their home because of conflict or civil unrest. World Renew, a partner of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, provides vital support in resettling refugee families who are seeking peace and safety in Canada. Refugee Sunday is a time to explore how you or your church can walk alongside a refugee family on their journey toward hope. Download informative resources geared to better understand and promote refugee sponsorship. Check out available resources for personal or congregational use.
You’re also welcome to join a workshop on “Faith in Action: Practicing Biblical Advocacy for Refugee Justice” on Tuesday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m.
P2C-Students NEXT Steps Scholarship
In over 50 years serving students, Power to Change Students (P2C-S) has seen how crucial the first year of post-secondary education is for forming and maintaining faith. Starting this year, they’re offering a new scholarship for first-year post-secondary students. Power to Change is an EFC affiliate. Learn more details about the scholarship.
Register Now for Interfaith Conference
The EFC participates in a group called the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, which gathers representatives of 41 faith communities and faith-based organizations who believe that people of faith can contribute positively to the benefit of all people in Canadian society. Every few years, the group offers a multifaith conference on the place of religion in Canadian society. The next one will stream live May 4. Learn more and register at www.interfaithconversation.ca/our-whole-society.
Small Water Charity Named Among the Best in Canada
“When safe water flows freely from kitchen taps, it’s easy to forget how devastating contaminated water can be.” Read more about Lifewater Canada, a Canadian charity which strives to bring safe, clean water into communities around the world.
Get more unique Canadian Christian journalism like this by signing up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree, financially supported by advertising revenue and reader donations (FaithToday.ca/Donate). Thank you for helping enable this important ministry.
→ Writers Critique Group (Ottawa Christian Writers), online April 20
→ EFC Prayer: Ministry Organization Affiliates, online April 21
→ Learning to Lead in Disruptive Times (Forge), online April 21
→ Imprisoned for Christ (Voice of the Martyrs Canada), online April 24
→ Lavish Virtual Women’s Gathering with Carolyn Arends (CloudWalk), online April 24
→ Business as Mission Global Congress (BAM Global), online April 28-30
→ Resurrection Conversations (Forge), online Tuesdays April 21-May 11
→ The Ethics of Genome Editing (Canadian Council of Churches), online April 28
→ Writing Life-Changing Devotions (Women Together), online April 29
→ Perseverance: Moving Towards Mental Wellness (Agora Network Ministries), online May 1
→ Leadership Conference 2021 (Alpha International), online May 4-5
→ Our Whole Society (Canadian Interfaith Conversation), online May 4
→ Refugee Advocacy Webinar (CRC Centre for Public Dialogue/World Renew), online May 4, 11
→ Fellowship of Christian Assemblies Virtual Convention (FCA Canada), online May 4-5
→ Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit (Defend Dignity), online May 5-7
→ Timothy Preaching Lectures with Dr. Philip Ryken (Met Bible Church), online May 12
→ National March for Life, Ottawa, May 13
→ Responding to a Critical Incident – How to Prioritize, Communicate and Act, May 13
→ Watercooler Break (Canadian Christian Communicators), online May 14
→ International Day of Families, May 15
→ Book Club on Reaching Emerging Adults (EFC/YWC), online May 18
→ EFC Pentecost Prayer: All Affiliates and Staff, online May 20
→ Exploring the Leader’s Operational Model (FH Canada), online May 20
→ Step into Impact; Exploring the Leader’s Operational Model (Food for the Hungry), May 20
→ Being Jesus Centred in a Secular Age (Jesus Collective), online May 20
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
In Case You Missed It
→ Faith Today wins awards for excellence in 2020 (blog)
→ Sample letter on conversion therapy bill (pdf docx)
→ Lavish hospitality: Drawn into redemption’s drama (blog)
→ Does church still matter, even in the pandemic? (Faith Today article)
→ Nouvelles ressources en français / New French-language resources (on EFC website)