Faith Today TV Launches Tomorrow
The team behind Faith Today print magazine, online stories and the Faith Today podcast are happy to announce the launch of a new way to experience some of the best of Faith Today stories and news. Faith Today TV is a growing stream of video content bringing selections from the magazine and podcast to life via video. Church in Community, a popular page in the magazine that focuses on the outreach activities of Canadian congregations, will be one of the main shows. Viewers can also expect short interview clips with authors, podcast guests, and leaders and thinkers from the Canadian Church. Visit FaithToday.ca/TV or use the shortcut FaithToday.TV.
Bill to Protect Young Persons from Sexually Explicit Materials
A bill that the EFC supported that would protect young persons from sexually explicit materials online has passed in the Senate and is now in the House of Commons. Bill S-210 was introduced in the Senate first, as a private member's bill by Senator Miville-Dechêne. Now it will have debate and votes in the House of Commons. Ask your MP to support Bill S-210. See a sample MP letter and EFC?s brief in support of the bill at TheEFC.ca/S210.
Largest Research Collaboration Yet: Parenting Faith Will Help Ministries and Parents
Have you downloaded your copy of Parenting Faith yet? The newly released report explores how parents understand faith formation and what they are doing to pass on their faith to their children at home. Parenting Faith draws on interviews with parents and family ministry experts as well as a major survey of evangelical parents across Canada. Seventeen Canadian ministry organizations and denominations partnered on the research project with the EFC Centre for Research on Church and Faith -- the largest EFC research partnership so far! Download the free report, executive summary (aussi en français), key findings summary and more at TheEFC.ca/ParentingFaith.
New Brochures on Mental Illness for Youth
New brochures on Euthanasia and Mental Illness and Euthanasia for Youth are available at TheEFC.ca/TakeActionOnMAID. The brochures briefly explain changes to the law, reasons to be concerned and what you can do. Please consider sharing these brochures with family and friends or within your church community. Available in English and French. Print copies are also available on request.
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.
Ignite Prayer Summits -- Kelowna on Friday, Regina on May 5, Video from Calgary Now Available
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. Events in Ottawa and Calgary have already taken place.
→ VIDEO - A videorecording of the April 20 Calgary evening is available at cschurch.ca/ignite.
→ KELOWNA - Seminar-only registration is still open at TheEFC.ca/Ignite (April 28 event at Trinity Church). Registration for the meal is 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.
→ REGINA - Register soon for the Regina seminar-and-dinner or seminar-only at TheEFC.ca/Ignite (May 5 event at Regina Apostolic Church). 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.
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.
EFC President David Guretzki Awarded at Briercrest College and Seminary, Will Speak in B.C.
On April 22, EFC President David Guretzki was honoured with Alumnus of the Year at Briercrest College and Seminary. He also delivered the convocation address.
He will also be speaking at Vernon House of Faith in Coldstream, B.C., on April 29 and at First Baptist Church, Kelowna, B.C., on April 30.
Creative Responses to Conflict: May 16 Workshop
Conflict is a normal part of our lives, but it's messy and often painful, and many of us would rather avoid it. But what if we learned how to respond creatively instead? Love Is Moving: Canada's Christian Young Adult Magazine is hosting a workshop where you can learn tools and skills for peacebuilding from special guest Anna Vogt, co-director of Mennonite Central Committee's Peace & Justice Office. Join us May 16 from 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Central, 9 p.m. Atlantic) to learn some better ways you can relate with your neighbours, friends, family members, or coworkers can relate in the midst of conflict. Sign up.
Faith Today Podcast: How to Bring Out Your Creative Side
Do you view yourself as a creative person? Do you wish you had more time to write poetry, paint, knit, work with wood or just colour a picture? This conversation with Canadian creative Ann-Margret Hovsepian will show you how to delve more deeply into your creative side.
Interfaith Conference on Politics and Religion May 7-8
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.
This Week's Prayer Prompts
This week's prayer request is about family and community.
Pray for families, that they would care well for their members physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Pray for wisdom and strength for parents, who have the privilege and responsibility of leading their children to know God and his ways, as well as the world around them. Pray also that our communities would love our neighbours as ourselves, protect the vulnerable, and serve God, other people and creation.
Catch up with some of the EFC's latest initiatives in this area at TheEFC.ca/FamilyandCommunity. (click What's Happening).
This week's EFC affiliate highlight focuses on Youth for Christ Canada. Youth for Christ Canada is a chartered member of Youth for Christ International, an international, non-denominational Christian ministry who, for over 75 years, has passionately engaged young people to live their full life potential as designed by God.
You can always find the week's prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.
→ Secularism and the Pursuit of Transcendence: A Church & Culture Conference (McMaster DC), 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
→ Ignite: Prayer and Worship Summit for Unity and Spiritual Awakening, Apr. 28 (Kelowna), May 5 (Regina)
→ Redeeming Money (Kingdom Advisors), Langley May 2, Edmonton May 4, Toronto May 11
→ Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit (Defend Dignity), online, May 3-5
→ Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection Conference (includes New to Homeschooling Intro Session), Hamilton, May 4-6
→ Apologetics Canada Leadership Summit, West Guilford, Ont., May 5-7
→ Missions Fest Alberta, Edmonton, May 5-7
→ Scripture and Theology Colloquium (Wycliffe College), Toronto/online, May 5
→ Faith Igniting Creativity: A Christian Writing Conference (SCW/TWG/Inscribe), Surrey, May 5
→ Heather Is Growing, EP Release Concert, Langley, May 6
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)
→ Protection of Vulnerable Canadians (Submission to UN by the EFC/WEA)
→ Churches and the Conscription Crisis, 1917-1918 (Faith Today column)
→ Growth and Cooperation Behind Ignite Prayer Summits (Faith Today podcast)
→ Adding Basketball Hoops to a Church Parking Lot (Faith Today article)
→ Psalm Sunday in Jerusalem (All Things Reconciled Blog)
→ This Wasn't In My Job Description! (EFC Research profiled in podcast on rural ministry)