Calls to Prayer for Ukraine; WEA and European Evangelical Alliance Ask for Prayer for Peace
The World Evangelical Alliance and the European Evangelical Alliance are calling for prayer and condemning the violation of international law by Russia. They are also calling for an immediate end to the attacks on Ukraine.
The EFC will host a one-hour Zoom prayer gathering for the crisis in Ukraine and Russia, co-hosted with the Peace and Reconciliation Network of the World Evangelical Alliance. Thomas Bucher of the European Evangelical Alliance will provide a brief report to help us pray effectively for the situation.
We will pray for peace and reconciliation, de-escalation, wisdom for the complex humanitarian initiatives, and for the church, the people and leaders in Ukraine and Russia.
Join us March 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Eastern time (8 a.m. Pacific / 9 a.m. Mountain / 10 a.m. Central / noon Atlantic / 12:30 p.m. NL) using this Zoom link or for a phone connection find your local number at here and use Meeting ID: 821 7500 4610 and Passcode: 980986.
The EFC Applies for Intervenor Status in Canada Summer Jobs Case
The EFC has applied for intervenor status in a case before the Federal Court of Appeal about the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs attestation and its impact on the ability of religious organizations to receive employment grants for summer students. The case involves the Right to life Association of Toronto and their constitutional challenge to the attestation.
Join us Thursday to Hear About Four New Resources for Churches
The EFC has recently launched four new resources to help churches do things like engage with politicians, host conversations on racism, participate in Indigenous reconciliation, and welcome newcomers to Canada.
To find out more about these resources, EFC ministry partners and people in EFC affiliate organizations and churches are invited to register for a Resource Reveal event on March 3 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Pacific / 2 p.m. Atlantic).
Attend during your lunch or coffee break and enjoy short presentations on each resource. There will also be optional question and response breakout groups for the individual resources. Sign up here.
Review of Canada’s Prostitution Laws
The Justice Committee is reviewing the prostitution laws. Prostitution preys on those who are vulnerable, as EFC’s new blog explains. The EFC supports the current prostitution laws as an important and essential tool to reduce sexual exploitation, as explained by the EFC’s Director of Public Policy, Julia Beazley in this video.
Some groups are advocating for the laws to be repealed. The EFC submitted a written brief on Feb. 25 in support of the laws and urging for their full implementation. Please add your voice in support of the prostitution laws. For more information and resources to help you contact your MP, go to TheEFC.ca/prostitution-law-review.
The EFC has applied for intervenor status before the Ontario Superior Court in support of Canada’s laws on prostitution, which is being challenged.
Seeking Pastors for Canadian Research Project on Small Churches
The EFC and 10 partner organizations are conducting a survey on small evangelical churches in Canada, and the team is seeking pastors of small churches to participate. The Canadian Evangelical Small Church Study is investigating the ministry and mission opportunities that small churches engage in, as well as the challenges that hinder vitality in congregational life and ministry. The research is asking important questions like: What do small churches need in order to thrive? Are there things that we can do together to support small churches? Pastors of congregations of 150 people or less are invited to complete the survey.
English: www.research.net/r/CESCS français : fr.research.net/r/EPEEC
New Podcast: Inside the Writing and Reading Life of Randy Boyagoda
With the latest Faith Today Podcast, we step into the warm writing and reading life of Randy Boyagoda, whose two recent novels contain faith, humour and fast-moving plots. Have a listen.
Un-fracturing the Church
How can Canadian churches deal with division? Two pastors in Kelowna, B.C., just shared a small group approach designed to bring divided Christians together. Watch a 10-min. video explanation at at FaithToday.ca/Reconciling.
The Life-Cycle of Worship Songs
A new study quantifies how quickly worship songs remain popular before they fade from common use. Is this a good trend? Read more in this article from the Mar/Apr Faith Today, which includes reflections from three Canadian worship leaders and musicians.
Did you know print subscription to Faith Today is now free in Canada? Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about sanctity of life. Pray for our culture to be life-affirming; pray for strong social and economic supports for those facing unplanned pregnancy; for women contemplating abortion and those who have had abortions; for doctors and nurses who may be pressured to end life or at risk of losing employment for their refusal to participate in abortion; for legislators to recognize fetal rights and for an end to abortion.
Check this space each week for one new request related to: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom.
We also list one EFC affiliate group to pray for. Pray for Pregnancy Care Canada, which exists to equip, connect, and empower pregnancy care centres to serve their communities effectively with gold-standard centres of care.
For pandemic-focused prayer, the EFC also continues to offer new Friday@4 suggestions each week at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
→ Making Peace in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online, Mar. 2
→ The Place of Doubt in Christian Spiritual Formation (Renovare Canada), online, Mar. 3
→ EFC Resource Reveal Webinar, online, Mar. 3
→ World Day of Prayer (Women’s Inter-Church Council), worldwide, Mar. 4
→ Social Enterprises 101 for Churches (Vancouver), Mar. 5
→ When Things Aren’t All Equal: Tackling Global Gender Inequality, Mar. 8
→ International Women’s Day Virtual Celebration (Save the Mothers), Mar. 8
→ Protecting Kids in the Age of Online Pornography (Defend Dignity), Mar. 8
→ Elder Abuse Awareness Seminar (Plan to Protect), Mar. 9
→ Marriage Enrichment Retreat Huntsville (Focus on the Family), Mar. 11-13
→ WEA Business Coalition webinar (WEA), Mar. 11
→ Anthropology for Ministry (Emmanuel College), Mar. 11
→ Suffering Well and Suffering with Course, online, Mar. 14 (SA Ethics Centre)
→ Plan to Protect 101, online, Mar. 15 (Plan to Protect)
→ EFC Prayer Gathering for Pastors, Staff and Lay Leaders, online, Mar. 16
In Case You Missed It
→ Letter to Minister of Justice on Human Trafficking Provision in Bill C-5
→ Meet the Author of Refuge Reimageined (EFC webinar recording)
→ Horizon Launches Reconciliation Videos (Faith Today column)
→ The Early Church Overcame Societal Divisions—We Can Too (Faith Today blog)
→ Why Do I Need Black History Month? (Faith Today blog)
→ The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Prostitution (Faith Today blog)
→ Welcome Church Resource Helps Canadian Church Welcome Newcomers