WEA and European Evangelical Alliance Call for Prayer for Ukraine Tomorrow, on Ukraine’s Independence Day
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) are calling on churches and believers to set aside some time on Wednesday, August 24 – Ukraine’s Independence Day – to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. “On this day of independence, we want to declare our dependence on God, the One who can bring true peace to the hearts of each individual person, each family and even entire peoples.” Children are invited to join the day of prayer. A child-friendly prayer guide is available to download.
Defending Prostitution Laws
The EFC has submitted written arguments in support of the laws against buying sexual services. A court challenge of the prostitution laws will be heard in the Ontario Superior Court this fall and the EFC will submit arguments as an intervener, or friend of the court. The EFC’s factum points out that Parliament’s objective in passing these laws was to reduce the demand for prostitution. Parliament intended to discourage entry into prostitution, deter participation in it and ultimately abolish it to the fullest extent possible in order to protect communities, human dignity and equality.
EFC Research Director to Speak at Online Conference
Rick Hiemstra, EFC Director of Research, will be speaking on the early findings of the family faith formation research the EFC is conducting with its affiliate partners. His presentation will take place at the Relentlessly Outbound online conference on August 30. This conference is part of the Church Vitalization Summit, is hosted by the Alberta district of the PAOC, and takes place August 30-September 1, 2022. EFC affiliates are welcome to register and join this free event.
The Importance of Art in Troubled Times, Hosted by Love Is Moving Tonight
We are (hopefully) transitioning out of the pandemic, yet war and other tragedies still weigh down our news feeds. World catastrophes can provoke us to ask, “Do the arts even matter?” Join a virtual discussion to talk about why art can still be vital amid challenges and grief. Hear from two panelists, Ivanka Galadza and Andrea Nwabuike, on how art has been part of their own processing and healing. The event will also include a reflection from award-winning artist Josh Tiessen.
This is a great networking space for Christian young adult creators. You’ll get to participate in a discussion group and a Q&A. Register here to join via Zoom tonight (August 23) from 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern (other start times: 5 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Central, 9 p.m. Atlantic).
Teen Athletes Encouraged to Meet Christian Pros
Ten minutes, one-on-one, with an inspiring professional athlete. That’s what 39 students aged 10 to 16 got to do on Canada Day in Mississauga, Ont. at the Pro-Athlete Experience put on by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Canada. Read more in the Faith Today blog.
Podcasting as a Community Building Exercise
Have you ever heard of a church that bonds through podcasts in between services? Commons Church, Calgary, rose to the challenge of creating a podcast that would knit a community together.
Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree for a Faith Today print subscription to read more encouraging and inspiring articles like this...or why not sign up a friend? Faith Today print subscriptions in Canada are now totally free.
Bill to Verify Age and Consent on Pornography Sites
Bill C-270 is a private member's bill that would require commercial pornography sites to verify the age and consent of people depicted before posting their images or videos. Two weeks ago the EFC sent a letter of support to the sponsoring MP Arnold Viersen, Join the EFC and ask your MP to support Bill C-270. Learn more and find a sample letter you can use to write your MP at TheEFC.ca/C-270.
Action Kit to Halt Expansion of MAiD
People with mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition will become eligible for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in March 2023. This change was passed into law in 2021, with a two-year delay before the change would take effect. Many Canadians are seriously concerned about this change, including the EFC. Please join us in asking MPs to halt this expansion of MAID for mental illness alone. The EFC now offers a kit showing how each of us can take action at TheEFC.ca/MAIDreview.
Early Christmas Request
Does your church do something creative to serve your community at Christmas? Faith Today magazine would love to hear about it for our Nov/Dec issue. Contact the editors at editor@faithtoday.ca.
This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts
Each week at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction, we rotate through a prayer request from five areas. This week we’re praying about Religious Freedom.
Pray about growing anti-religious bias in Canada, and that God would strengthen believers to make positive contributions to our communities.
Also, we offer pandemic-focused prayer ideas we call Friday@4, which we suggest you pray through on Fridays at 4 p.m. local time. Find new ones each month at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
→ Discipling New Canadians as They Learn English (Love New Canadians), online webinar, Aug. 27
→ Gospel Music Artist Showcase (GMI Hub), online and in-person in Mississauga, Aug. 29
→ Consumed - A Sacred Quest 3-year spiritual growth program (Renovaré), online weekly with 2 retreats a year in Saskatoon, Sask., starts Sept. 1
→ Jesus in the City Parade, Toronto, Sept. 10
→ Perseverance: Moving Towards Greater Mental Wellness (Agora), online Sept. 10
→ Business as Mission Global Conference (BAM Global), online Sept. 15
→ Write! Canada/The Word Awards, online, Sept. 16-17
→ Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival, online and in-person in Toronto, Sept. 16-18
→ Life Shared Summit, in-person in Toronto Sept. 22-24
→ Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship Fall Conference 2022, Edmonton, Sept. 22-24
In Case You Missed It
→ Job Openings: Justice and mercy coordinator; leadership centre director of programs; pastoral leader; director of philanthropy; pastor; director of human resources; and more (FaithToday.ca/Classifieds)
→ Reconciliation Advocate Paul B. Anderson and Soviet Christians (Reconciling blog by the Peace and Reconciliation Network)
→ Staying with People in their Struggles: The complicated reality of drug addiction (Faith Today guest column)
→ Companionship in Grief (Faith Today article)