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EFC Update Newsletter May 2

02 May 2023
 

“Plant Them in the Church.” Parenting Faith Report Has Takeaways for Ministries and Parents   

Helping children grow relationships in the Church is one of the key takeaways from the newly released Parenting Faith report. Teaching and modelling faith exercises is another, along with the strategic use of “transition times,” which are those moments between activities that can lend themselves to unplanned but important conversations. Parenting Faith is practical and actionable for parents and ministries alike. Download the free report, executive summary (aussi en français), key findings summary and more at TheEFC.ca/ParentingFaith.  

The latest Faith Today cover article (aussi en français) offers an introduction to the Parenting Faith study. Please check that out as well.  

Ignite Prayer Summit in Regina on Friday 

Christians have held Ignite Prayer and Worship Evenings in Ottawa, Calgary and Kelowna to pray for unity, spiritual awakening, church vitality and healing. A videorecording of the April 20 Calgary evening is available at cschurch.ca/ignite.    

The last of these events is May 5 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.    

Pastors and other church leaders who would like to attend the afternoon seminar on cultivating a strong culture of prayer in each local church can still register at TheEFC.ca/Ignite. (The related dinner registration is now closed.) 

There are no fees for the events. Co-hosts include the EFC, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, National House of Prayer, Peace & Reconciliation Network, and Vineyard Canada.  

Resource for May 5 Red Dress Day on Missing / Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls  

EFC partner Defend Dignity is encouraging churches to use its resource on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, especially in the lead up to Red Dress Day on May 5.  Walk With Us is a thoughtful Christian resource that helps churches learn more. 

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.  

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.

Register by May 5 for Christian Communicators Retreat  

Does your ministry involve writing, editing, marketing, videography, podcasting, graphic design or the like? The Canadian Christian Communicators Association (formerly the Canadian Church Press) is inviting you to a retreat in Southern Ontario May 25-27.  

Hang out with peers including Faith Today editor Bill Fledderus, attend a ceremony awarding the best work of the past year, learn about ethical storytelling on human trafficking, the advantages a Christian perspective can bring in mainstream broadcast media, strategies and practical tools to break through on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and email, and be encouraged by presentations on sabbath, connecting with creation, and what Jesus said and modeled about recharging ourselves. 

If you're not in Southern Ontario, check out the discount airlines that now serve the Hamilton Munro airport, Waterloo airport and Toronto Pearson airport. Local CCCA members have offered to taxi out-of-area attendees from these airports for free to the venue. 

Interfaith Conference on Politics and Religion 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. 

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.  

Saskatoon Worship Event June 2-4 

“Come Together” is a stadium gathering to be held in Saskatoon at Sasktel Centre June 2-4. It’s a cross-denominational weekend to worship Jesus and bring others to meet Him. Worship leader Charity Gayle, singer of “I Speak Jesus,” will be leading, followed by testimonies of local and Canadian evangelistic speakers. 

Go to ComeTogether.day for free tickets or to become a partnering church. 

This Week’s 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 religious freedom. Pray for freedom to worship in places around the world where that freedom is restricted. Thank God for the freedom of religion we currently enjoy. Pray for boldness to follow God’s calling to be salt and light. Pray for our nation to allow religious communities to exist and flourish. 

You can learn more on these issues at TheEFC.ca/ReligiousFreedom

This week’s EFC affiliate highlight focuses on Open Doors Canada, which is strengthening persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries. The organization provides Bibles, Christian resources, church training, emergency aid, and more. In Canada, it works to raise awareness of global persecution, mobilizing prayer, support and action among Christians.  

You can always find the week’s prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar   

→ 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   
→ Preaching Grace 2023: Resilience, Hope and Healing, Calgary, May 5-6 
→ Scripture and Theology Colloquium (Wycliffe College), Toronto/online, May 5   
→ Faith Igniting Creativity: A Christian Writing Conference (SCW/TWG/Inscribe), Surrey, May 5   
→ Ignite Prayer and Worship Summit, Regina, May 5 
→ Heather Is Growing EP Release Concert, Langley, May 6   
→ Our Whole Society (Canadian Interfaith Conversation), Waterloo, May 7-9 
→ Preaching Day (Wycliffe College/Snodgrass/Chester), Toronto, May 9 
→ National March for Life, online/Ottawa, May 11 
→ Communication Workers’ Watercooler Break (CCCA), May 12 
→ Will There Be Faith? Following Christ in a Secular Age (1Life/Root), Surrey, May 12-14 
→ West Coast Renew & Flourish Women’s Conference (Westwood CC), Coquitlam, May 12-13 

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)  
How to Bring Out Your Creative Side: Faith Today Podcast (Faith Today podcast)    
Faith Today TV Launches 
Hastened Death for Mental Illness Delayed, but Needs to Be Stopped