Now is the Moment. Urgent Request for Canadians to Contact MPs on MAiD Expansion
A change in the law allowing medical assistance in dying (MAID) for mental illness alone will come into effect this March. The EFC is encouraging Canadian Christians to ask their Members of Parliament to stop the expansion. See the EFC's media release and action kit for more information.
Bill to Clarify Law on Child Exploitation
A private member’s bill would change references to “child pornography” in the Criminal Code to the more accurate term “child sexual abuse material.” MP Mel Arnold introduced Bill C-291 in the House of Commons on June 17, 2022. The EFC agrees that terms like “child pornography” risk normalizing, trivializing and legitimizing the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Read more about this bill and how you can support it.
Building Whole-Life Christians: Counteracting Canada’s Culture of Death
EFC Vice-President and Resident Theologian David Guretzki will speak at Didsbury Zion Church in Alberta Oct. 1 on abortion, suicide, MAiD, the role of the church serving the disability community, the elderly and the place of palliative care. Your church can also invite an EFC speaker at TheEFC.ca/Speakers.
The EFC Appoints New Senior Leadership Roles in 2023
The EFC recently announced that current EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger will be appointed to a new role as Senior Ambassador and President Emeritus of the EFC, and current Executive Vice-President David Guretzki will become the EFC’s CEO and President. The changes take effect January 31, 2023.
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 is submitting 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.
Pakistan Relief Matched to End of September
The federal government will match donations from Canadians made before Sept. 28 to help the people of Pakistan recover from massive flooding. More than 33 million people are affected by floods and much of country's agricultural land is under water, reports the CBC. As Canadians consider where to direct their donations, they may want to consider international relief and development organizations affiliated with the EFC. Learn more.
Meet Cattle Farmer Bonita Mercer
In the Sep/Oct Faith Today, we interview Bonita Mercer, a cattle farmer from Monetville, Ont., and a board member of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, a professional organization for family farm entrepreneurs. She observes, “A lot of people go to the store, and get their steak and vegetables, but do they think, Where did that come from? What did someone have to do to provide that food?…It comes down to being aware of how dependent we really are on each other.”
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Four new articles in French // Quatre nouveaux articles traduit de « Faith Today »
In the past week we posted French translations of the latest columns by Bruce Clemenger and David Guretzki, along with our new cover article “Redeeming evangelical: What to do with an inaccurate reputation” and our new FT interview with cattle farmer Bonita Mercer. // La semaine dernière, nous avons publié les traductions françaises des dernières chroniques de Bruce Clemenger et David Guretzki, ainsi que notre nouvel article de couverture "La rédemption du terme « évangélique » Que faire d'une réputation inexacte?" et de notre nouvelle interview FT avec l'éleveur de bétail Bonita Mercer. Read and share all our French articles at www.FaithToday.ca/francais.
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. Not long 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.
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
Seminar: The Public Reading and Praying of Scripture
Dr. Roger Helland, Prayer Ambassador for EFC, through Taylor Seminary and Kairos University, is offering a free half-day seminar on The Public Reading and Praying of Scripture. Learn more and register for this Oct. 1 event, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET (7:30 PT, 8:30 MT, 11:30 AT).
BGEA Evangelism Summits
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada is holding three free evangelism summits for pastors and church leaders with a roster of key speakers, Oct. 13 in Calgary, Oct. 18 in Halifax, and Oct. 20 in Toronto. Lunch and summit materials are provided. To register and for more information go to www.billygraham.ca/evangelism-summit.
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 Children and Youth. Pray for our culture to affirm the dignity and worth of all children and youth; for wisdom and relevance in teaching our children; for families in crisis; for ministries to children and youth; for children and youth needing a permanent home; for youth aging-out of government care and for those vulnerable to entering prostitution; for children and youth who see media portrayals of anti-social and harmful behaviours, including violent and degrading pornography.
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.
→ Women Together Mentoring Course, online Tuesdays Sept. 20 to Oct. 25
→ Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking: The International Salvation Army Response, online Sept. 21
→ Life Shared Summit (Alpha), Toronto, Sept. 22-24
→ Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship Fall Conference 2022, Edmonton, Sept. 22-24
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshop (FTH Canada), Hamilton, Sept. 24
→ International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking (Salvation Army), worldwide, Sept. 25
→ Rencontre au sommet / French online prayer (AEC/EFC), en ligne / online, Sept. 26
→ Preacher’s Refresher (Timothy Trust), Landsdowne, Ont., Sept. 26-28; Bloomfield, PEI, Oct. 3-5; Canmore, Alta., Oct. 11-13
→ Is Charitable Status Being Politicized? (Cardus), online/Ottawa in-person, Sept. 28
→ Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Investor Conference (Trinity Wealth Advisors), online/in-person at several locations, Sept. 28-29
→ National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (national holiday), Sept. 30
→ Redeemer University’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Weekend, Hamilton, Sept. 30-Oct. 1
→ Redeemer U. 40th Anniv. Concert: DOE + Paul Baloche, Hamilton, Sept. 30
→ Victorious Festival 2022, Toronto, Sept. 30
→ Embedded Genres in the New Testament (Jeannine Brown/Acadia Divinity College), online/in-person Wolfville, N.S., Oct. 3-5
→ Making Peace in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online October 4, 12 & 18
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)
→ Building Housing and Community (Faith Today article)
→ Truth and Reconciliation with Love (Reconciling blog)
→ Condolences at the Death of Queen Elizabeth (EFC official statement)