Don’t Open MAiD to Mature Minors or to Advance Requests
The EFC is urging a special parliamentary committee not to allow euthanasia or assisted suicide for mature minors or by advance request. In a written brief, the EFC urged the committee to assess reports that Canadians with disabilities are choosing MAiD because they do not have the supports and care needed to live. Read more about the EFC’s concerns and the committee review at www.TheEFC.ca/MAIDreview.
Online Dialogue Tomorrow on Art and Entrepreneurship
Join Love Is Moving editor Ilana Reimer and hyper-surrealist artist Josh Tiessen for a discussion on how to take your creative vocation seriously—without being broke. If you're a Christian young adult, this space is the perfect place to network and learn from your peers about how to flourish while pursuing your passion. This is a dialogue, not a webinar. Come with your questions, ideas, and tips. If you attend, you’ll receive a surprise gift and hear about a brand-new opportunity to win a commission of up to $1,000 for a creative project! Register here.
Faith Today blog: Canadian gifts support Ukrainian refugees in Europe
Brian Stiller, a Canadian who works for the World Evangelical Alliance, spent Easter week in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania meeting pastors and church volunteers who work with Ukrainian refugees. Read about his experiences in our new Faith Today blog post.
New Podcast: Who are Evangelicals? A Conversation with John G. Stackhouse Jr.
Do you ever wonder if, amidst controversy and a sometimes questionable reputation, we should just ditch the word 'Evangelical?' John G. Stackhouse, Jr. answers that question and more in our latest Faith Today podcast. John is professor of religious studies at Crandall University in Moncton.
Parents Invited for Study on Faith Formation
Are you a parent with children under 18? You can help churches better understand how you pass your faith to your children. The EFC has teamed up with 15 other groups to learn about the experiences of evangelical parents and the role that faith plays in the home. Survey participants can win one of three $250 Amazon gift cards. Click here for the survey in English or French.
Trauma-Informed Care for Clergy Abuse Survivors
Cases of clergy sexual abuse emerge all-too-frequently in news headlines these days. A new feature article from Faith Today shares ten ways churches can show better care for abused men and women. Author Melodie Bissell, president of Plan to Protect and an independent victim advocate, writes: “Whenever there is an incident of abuse in the headlines, the focus seems to quickly shift to the offender. Seldom, if ever, do the headlines focus on concern for the victim who has experienced the assault and harm.”
Faith Today Readers, Please Take Our Survey
Faith Today, Canada’s Christian Magazine, wants to hear from our readers. What are we doing well? What would you like done differently? Take our reader survey, and you could also win one of 10 coffee-shop and bookstore gift cards. You can visit www.FaithToday.ca/ReaderSurvey.
This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts
Prayer is essential to any effective action. Each week at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction we rotate through a prayer request from each of these five areas: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom. We also list an EFC affiliate group to pray for.
This week’s prayer request is about poverty and homelessness. Pray for poverty and homelessness in Canada. Pray for opportunity, security, provision, hope and freedom for those who cannot meet their basic needs or who are risk of becoming homeless. Pray for agencies and churches who provide food, shelter, clothing, job training, support and friendship. Pray for us to hear and be moved by God’s love and call to serve those who are in need.
You can learn more on these issues at TheEFC.ca/PovertyHomelessness.
This week's EFC affiliate highlight focuses on Samaritan’s Purse Canada. Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through Jesus Christ.
Covid-19 continues to have a significant impact on our lives. The EFC continues to offer new Friday@4 pandemic-focused prayer suggestions each week at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
→ Art and Entrepreneurship (LIM/Josh Tiessen), online, May 25
→ City Impact Tour (City Mvmt, WayBase) – Burlington May 26, Regina May 31, Saskatoon June 1, Edmonton June 2, Halifax June 7, Calgary June 9, St. John’s June 9, etc.
→ Is There Room for Human Freedom in a Universe Seemingly Governed by the Laws of Nature? (CSCA/R.C. Tallis), online/Langley, B.C., May 27
→ Impact Conference (City Dream Centre), Surrey, B.C., May 27-28
→ Our City Conference (Stone Church), Toronto, May 27-28
→ New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale, New Hamburg, Ont., May 28
→ Day of Prayer for Christian Camps, nationwide, May 29
→ National Prayer Breakfast of Canada and Leadership Dinner, Ottawa, May 30-31
→ Attachment, Trauma and Psychotherapy (Shalem MHN), Hamilton, June 1
→ Leaders Table Summer Intensive (Forge/Missional Training Nwk.), online, June 1
→ National Prayer Gathering: Anticipating Pentecost (EFC/Cdn Bible Society), online, June 1
→ NAIITS Symposium: Indigenous in the City (Acadia Div.), online/Wolfville, NS, June 2-4
→ The Holy Spirit in Psychotherapy (Christian Mental Health Practitioners Nwk.), online, June 4
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshop (FH Canada), June 4
→ Canadian School of Peacebuilding (Canadian Mennonite University), Winnipeg, June 6-10 and 13-17
→ B.C. Leadership Breakfast, Vancouver, June 6-10
→ H. Evan Runner International Academy (Ezra Institute), Golden, B.C., June 10-22
In Case You Missed It
→ Faith Today Wins Communications Awards
→ FT Interview and Podcast with Ann Voskamp (Faith Today article) podcast interview
→ Becoming a Trauma-Free Church (Reconciling blog)
→ Thank you. I’m sorry. Tell me more (Faith Today podcast)
→ Bill to Protect Minors from Pornography Gets EFC Support (EFC brief on Bill S-10)
→ Human Trafficking Penalty Should Not be Reduced (EFC submission on Bill C-5)