Research Project Released Today: Parenting Faith Will Help Ministries and Parents
How do we help evangelical parents form the faith of their children in the home? To answer such questions, 17 Canadian ministry organizations and denominations have been partnering since 2019 on a research project with the EFC Centre for Research on Church and Faith. The result, released today, is a 245-page report called Parenting Faith: Faith Formation of Children in the Home. It presents the findings of this uniquely Canadian research that identifies what helps and hinders the transmission of faith from this generation of parents to their children. Download the free report, executive summary, key findings summary and more at TheEFC.ca/ParentingFaith.
Ignite Prayer Summits—Kelowna Signup Deadline Today, Ottawa Event This Friday
Christians in four regions are holding Ignite Prayer and Worship Evenings this April and May to pray for unity, spiritual awakening, church vitality and healing. Earlier the same day, pastors and other church leaders will gather in a seminar to focus on cultivating a strong culture of prayer in each local church. Here are updates for the four locations:
→ OTTAWA - The Ottawa summit takes place this Friday, April 14, at Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church, 225 McClellan Rd, Nepean. The afternoon seminar on cultivating a culture of prayer in the local church begins at 2:30 p.m., with walk-in registration open from 1:30. Dinner registrations have closed. The evening of prayer and worship (6:30–9:00 p.m., with doors open from 6:00) is open to the public and no signup is required.
→ CALGARY - Registration for Ignite Calgary (April 20 event) is still open for the seminar-only option. Dinner registrations have closed. The evening of prayer and worship (6:30–9:00 p.m., with doors open from 6:00) is open to the public and no signup is required.
→ KELOWNA - This Thursday, April 13, is the seminar-and-dinner registration deadline for Kelowna (April 28 event).
→ REGINA - Register by April 20 for the Regina seminar-and-dinner (May 5 event).
There are no fees for the events including the meal, although advance signup for the meal is required. Co-hosts include the EFC, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, National House of Prayer, Peace & Reconciliation Network, and Vineyard Canada.
For more details and to register for an afternoon seminar/dinner, visit TheEFC.ca/Ignite.
Imagine There’s a Heaven: Video of Commissioning Address by New EFC President
EFC President David Guretzki delivered an address at his commissioning service in Mississauga March 27. Watch the 20-minute videorecording or read the full text online.
MAID Roundtable Discussion Published
EFC President David Guretzki was part of a lively roundtable discussion on euthanasia a few months ago organized by Providence Seminary in Manitoba. Participants tackled suffering, quality of life and other key issues. A transcript has now available in the theological journal Didaskalia. Read or download "MAID in Canada: A Multidisciplinary Conversation about End-of-Life Issues with David Guretzki, Kristin Harris, and Paul Blair."
Protection of Vulnerable Canadians: The EFC and WEA Raise Issues at UN
The EFC and the World Evangelical Alliance are calling for better protection of persons with disabilities in Canada, for prostitution laws to be upheld, for protection for children from online pornography, and for conscience protection for healthcare professionals. The EFC and the WEA jointly submitted a brief to the UN in its review of human rights in Canada. The brief asked the UN committee to hold Canada to international standards on religious freedom, sexual exploitation and persons with disabilities. Read the brief.
Hastened Death for Mental Illness Delayed—But Needs to Be Stopped
A bill has passed delaying the expansion of assisted dying for mental illness until March 2024. The justice minister introduced Bill C-39 to give doctors more time to prepare. The EFC welcomes the delay but does not believe a delay is enough. The EFC is asking for MAiD for mental illness to be stopped altogether.
The EFC supports a new private member’s bill that would reverse the law allowing MAiD for mental illness alone. MP Ed Fast introduced Bill C-314 in the House of Commons in February. See the EFC’s letter of support and a sample letter you can use to contact your MP at TheEFC.ca/C314.
EFC President Speaking in Western Canada this Month
EFC President and CEO David Guretzki is a convocation speaker on April 22 at Briercrest College & Seminary in Caronport, Sask. The following weekend, he is speaking at Vernon House of Faith in Coldstream, B.C., and at First Baptist Church, Kelowna, B.C. on April 30.
Interfaith Conference on Politics and Religion Coming May 7-9
EFC senior ambassador Bruce J. Clemenger and EFC director of research Rick Hiemstra will be speaking at the upcoming Our Whole Society Conference being held May 7-9 by the Canadian Interfaith Conversation. Participants will explore how to address the causes of division within our society and how to foster dialogue, justice and find common ground in Canadian civil society along with academic, community and religious leaders. The registration page includes more details (two days of keynote addresses, plenary panels, workshops and lunches for $125). Student rate is $65. There’s an online option with limited access. In-person events are at Martin Luther University College, Waterloo, Ont.
Churches and the Conscription Crisis, 1917-1918
Did you know that Conscription in the First World War was a controversial issue that divided Canada along ethnic and religious lines? Yet “despite a long history of harsh polemics against Catholics, the Protestant religious press rose to the occasion and helped a nation in crisis.” Learn more in our latest History Lesson column.
Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree for a print subscription to read more articles like this. A sampling of articles from the latest issue are also available at FaithToday.ca.
This Week’s Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about abuse. Pray for victims of child abuse, spousal abuse, senior abuse, and sexual harassment, remembering that God calls us to care for the vulnerable and to uphold each person’s human dignity. Every person is created by God, in His image, and loved by Him. This compels us to respect and uphold each person’s inherent worth and to treat them as a bearer of God’s image.
Catch up with some of the EFC’s latest initiatives in this area at TheEFC.ca/Abuse (click “What’s Happening”).
This week's EFC affiliate highlight focuses on Toronto City Mission. Through God’s transformational power, it builds loving relationships to bring hope to children and families impacted by poverty.
You can always find the week’s prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.
→ Communication Workers’ Watercooler Break (CCCA), online, Apr. 14
→ Recalled: Getting Back to Jesus-style Disciplemaking (Navigators/West Highland), Hamilton, Apr. 14-15
→ Ignite Prayer Events: Ottawa, April 14; Calgary, April 20; Kelowna, April 28; Regina, May 5
→ Regathering & Revisioning: The Future of Transform Our World Canada (TOWC), Toronto, Apr. 15
→ Earth Week Events (For the Love of Creation), nationwide, April 16-23
→ Christian Call to Prayer During Ramadan (CCCOWE/LMT), online, Apr. 17
→ Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony, online/Ottawa, Apr. 18
→ New Survey Results: Young Christians Want Church Action on Creation Care (Tearfund), online/Winnipeg, Apr. 18; online/Vancouver, Apr. 19; online/Toronto, Apr. 20
→ Hold Me Tight Couples Weekend Workshop (Shalem), Hamilton, Apr. 22-23
→ Secularism and the Pursuit of Transcendence: A Church & Culture Conference, Hamilton, Apr. 27
→ Business as Mission Global Summit (BAM Global), online, Apr. 27
→ Awakenings: Disruption in the Life of the Church (Missio Alliance), online/Evanston, Ill., Apr. 27-29
→ Hopeful Living in an Anxious Age (Grandview Church), Kitchener, Apr. 28-29
→ Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit (Defend Dignity), online, May 3-5
In Case You Missed It
→ Job Openings: pastor (Montreal, Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie); Montreal director of leadership programs; and more (FaithToday.ca/Classifieds)
→ Good News in Our Digital World (Faith Today column)
→ We Are Those Who Mourn (All Things Reconciled Blog)
→ Imagine There’s a Heaven—Commissioning Address by New EFC President
→ New articles in French // Des nouveaux articles traduit de « Faith Today »
→ This Wasn’t In My Job Description (Fresh Expressions podcast with EFC Researcher Lindsay Callaway)