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EFC Update Newsletter - October 25

25 October 2022

EFC Presidents Day Happens This Week 

Please pray for the EFC’s Presidents Day happening this week in Toronto – in person for the first time in two years. Presidents Day gathers leaders from EFC affiliate organizations for a time of resource sharing and mutual encouragement as we seek together how to bless Canada in the name of Jesus.

Pray for the Persecuted: Worldwide Event Nov. 6  

Your church can join believers worldwide to pray for the estimated 200 million Christians facing persecution for their faith. The annual International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church event is held each November. Some churches hold it on other dates if more convenient. Download the free Canadian resource kit at www.idop.ca. Canadian partners organizing this event include Intercede International, International Christian Response, Open Doors Canada, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. 

The EFC Argues in Support of Current Prostitution Laws in Court  

The EFC was in an Ontario court earlier this month to argue in support of the prostitution laws. The lawyer acting on EFC’s behalf argued that the act of purchasing sexual services is exploitative in and of itself and that the laws protect human dignity and equality. Please pray for the judge as he makes his deliberation.  

The EFC Calls for Urgent Action about Medical Assistance in Dying    

A change in the law allowing medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for mental illness alone will come into effect this March. The EFC is calling on Canadian Christians to ask their Members of Parliament to stop the expansion.  See the EFC's  media release and action kit for more information.     

Did You Know? EFC Ambassadors Available to Speak   

The EFC has ambassadors across Canada who are available to speak at your church or event. Ambassadors can speak on issues relating to religious freedom; sanctity of life; church and mission; and more. You can browse our list of speakers and topics. Request a speaker now! 

Planning a Crisis Response (Faith Today column)  

Is your church or organization prepared for a crisis? What if your organization experiences a “sudden death of a leader, moral failure of a staff member or even natural disaster?” Unfortunately, unwelcome and unexpected crises can strike any Christian organization. Communications consultant and Faith Today columnist Joanna LaFleur shares some ways decision-makers can be prepared

Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree for a print subscription to read more regular columns and articles like this. Anyone can now read a limited selection of articles from the latest issue online at www.faithtoday.ca.  

National Worship and Prayer Gathering

24/7 Prayer Canada is hosting a national worship and prayer gathering in Vancouver on Friday, November 25, 2022, from 2 - 9 p.m. (PT). It is being held at the Centre for Performing Arts (site of Westside Church) and will include dinner. The Gathering will include key speakers from Canada and the 24/7 International Team focusing on transforming our cultures of prayer within our churches. Topics will help you grow deeper in your ministry leadership, church life and personal relationship with God. To attend in-person or online, register here

This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts         

This week’s prayer request is about church and mission. Pray for Christian living that is rooted in engagement with others in Scripture and prayer; for increasing commitments among Christians to witness to God’s love in all areas of life and society; and for congregations that seek to discern how God is leading them in changing times.

This week’s EFC affiliate organization to pray for is Wycliffe Bible Translators, which believes in helping “churches and communities around the world get Scripture in their language…until all the nations worship!” 

You can always find the week’s prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction. Also, we offer new pandemic-focused prayer ideas each month at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar           

→ Small Church Pastors’ Retreat (Sm. Ch. Connections), Cambridge, Ont., Oct. 24-27; Cornwallis Park, N.S., Nov. 14-17   
→ How Should Christians Think about Politics? (UBC-GFCF/Daniel Williams), online, Oct. 25 
→ Human Rights Codes for Charities (CCCC), online, Oct. 26   
→ The Trinity as the Root of All Being (Regent College/John Milbank), online, Oct. 26  
→ New Resources for Churches on Biotechnology (CCC), online, Oct. 26  
→ Gen Z, Jesus & Justice (World Vision/Barna), online, Oct. 26  
→ EFC Presidents Day, Toronto, Oct. 27   
→ Unbound: The Path to Change (Village Church), Surrey, Oct. 27   
→ Apologetics Canada Leadership Summit (AC), Agassiz, Oct. 28-30  
→ Palestine Christians Living Under Occupation (MC Canada), Winnipeg, Oct. 30  
→ Artist Showcase with Fresh IE & One8Tea (GMIHub), online/in-person in Mississauga, Oct. 31  
→ Adoption and Fostering Awareness Month, Nov. 1-30  
→ Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization Forum (ELO), online/in-person Winnipeg, Nov.1; Vancouver, Nov. 15; Toronto, Nov. 30  
→ Stories about Religion in Public Office (Chester Ronning Centre), Camrose, Nov. 1  
→ Does Everything Really Happen for a Reason? With Prof. David Robinson (Coquitlam Alliance Church), online, Nov. 1  
→ Seeking Sanctuary, Finding Shalom: Pastors Workshop (Regent College/Sanctuary Mental Health), online, Nov. 2  
→ Gather Rise: Genesis (Gather Women), Calgary, Nov. 4-5 
→ Transformative Times Conference (Peoples Christian Academy), Markham, Nov. 4-5 
→ Babel 2.0 – Can Faith Survive Online? (CMU in Winnipeg), online and in-person in Winnipeg, Nov. 5 
→ Impactus Men’s Conference (Impactus), Ottawa, Nov. 5 
→ Grow in Grace (Faith Alive Family Church), Saskatoon, Nov. 5 

In Case You Missed It         

 → Job Openings: Justice and mercy coordinator; leadership centre director of programs; pastor (Montreal, Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie, Uxbridge); director of human resources; and more (FaithToday.ca/Classifieds)   
MAiD Expansion Takes Us to a Dark Place (Catholic Register interview with EFC Director of Public Policy)  
Bill to Clarify Law on Child Sexual Abuse Materials  
Bill to Verify Age and Consent on Pornography Sites  
Correct Coffee in Canada (Faith Today article)  
The Peacebuilders of Sarajevo (Faith Today blog)