The EFC’s Seven Recommendations to Combat Human Trafficking
How can our government better combat human trafficking in Canada? On May 2 the EFC made seven recommendations to a parliamentary committee studying the issue. The three-page brief highlights that prostitution is the most common end point for trafficking in Canada. The EFC recommends a permanent anti-trafficking strategy and support for prostitution laws, among other measures. Download a free PDF of the EFC brief to learn more about this topic.
How You Can Help Increase Protection for Pregnant Women
Would you contact your MP to ask them to support Bill C-311, which would make the abuse and harm of a pregnant woman a factor for judges to consider in sentencing criminals? The EFC supports this bill by MP Cathay Wagantall, which comes up for debate this week. You can use the EFC’s sample letter at TheEFC.ca/C-311. Please join us in praying that this bill would pass.
Facing the Pastoral Challenges of Euthanasia
How should pastors respond to parishioners who choose medical assistance in dying? EFC president David Guretzki says it's time to figure out this difficult question. Read his new May/Jun column for Faith Today.
Read the "Digital Menu." Parenting Faith Report has Practical Tips and Insights
What are children doing online? Understanding the digital media consumption patterns of children is key to helping them understand, digest and navigate the digital world, which has implications for the faith life of children. Ministries and parents will benefit from reading the research contained in the Parenting Faith report, which is available now. Download the free report, executive summary (aussi en français), key findings summary and more at TheEFC.ca/ParentingFaith.
Check out the article about the Parenting Faith study in the new issue of Faith Today (aussi disponible en français).
Faith Trends Podcast: Caught in the Current
In our latest Faith Trends Podcast episode, learn more about the new book Caught in the Current: British and Canadian Evangelicals in an Age of Self-Spirituality by sociology prof Sam Reimer of Crandall University in New Brunswick.
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 in the midst of conflict. Sign up.
Now Hiring Full-Time Communications Specialist
Last week the EFC began accepting applications for an Ottawa-based hybrid position responsible for social media and serving on a team that creates journalistic stories in a range of media including print, video and audio. Get details at TheEFC.ca/Jobs.
Register by May 10 for Christian Communicators Retreat
Does your ministry involve writing, editing, marketing, videography, podcasting, graphic design or the like? The Canadian Christian Communicators Association is inviting you to a retreat in Southern Ontario May 25-27. Hang out with peers, attend a ceremony awarding the best work of the past year, learn professional skills and be encouraged by inspiring presentations. Local CCCA members have offered to taxi out-of-area attendees from Hamilton Munro airport, Waterloo airport and Toronto Pearson airport for free to the venue.
EFC Prayer Ambassador Publishes Book
Today is the launch date for a new book by EFC Prayer Ambassador Roger Helland. Pursuing God’s Presence uses scriptural insights to explore how to seek and experience God’s presence. Congratulations Dr. Helland on your seventh book!
This Week’s Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about euthanasia. You can learn more on these issues at TheEFC.ca/euthanasia.
Pray for opportunities to care for and support our neighbours who suffer. Pray for those who feel life is not worth living and for those who are suffering, Pray for strength and wisdom for health care providers and institutions. Pray also for strength, preparedness and wisdom for denominations and theologians who will need to respond to MAiD, especially as we approach the end of the one-year delay in expanding MAiD to those with mental illness. Pray especially for pastors as they are directly confronted with situations involving MAiD.
This week’s EFC affiliate highlight focuses on local churches and pastors who provide spiritual care and support to people in vulnerable moments. Please pray for God to use congregations across Canada in this way.
You can always find the week’s prayer prompts at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.
→ National March for Life, online/Ottawa, May 11
→ Redeeming Money (Kingdom Advisors), Toronto May 11
→ Four Hopeful Expressions of Jesus (Jesus Collective), online May 11
→ The Great Outdoors (New Leaf Network), online May 11, 28, 25
→ Communication Workers’ Watercooler Break (CCCA), online May 12
→ Will There Be Faith? Following Christ in a Secular Age (1Life/Root), Surrey, May 12-14
→ Renew & Flourish Women’s Conference (Westwood CC), Coquitlam, May 12-13
→ Kentro Forum 2023 (KCN), Vancouver, May 15-17
→ The Timothy Trust National Conference, Ottawa, May 15-17
→ Encouragement Conference 2023 (Presbyterian College), Montreal, May 16-17
→ Creative Responses to Conflict (Love Is Moving), online, May 16
→ Christian Music Festival, Toronto, May 20
→ Prayer Vigil for Peace in Ukraine (SOWM, KV, BFP), Winnipeg, May 21
→ Preaching to Reach the World in Our Neighbourhood (Tyndale), Toronto, May 23
→ Christian Communicators Regroup Retreat and Awards (CCCA), Puslinch, Ont., May 25-27
→ Day of Prayer for Christian Camps, nationwide, May 28
→ NPB Young Canadian Leaders Summit, Ottawa, May 28-30
→ National Prayer Breakfast (NPB), Ottawa, May 29 (dinner); May 30 (breakfast)
→ The 6:7 Awakening (The 6:4 Fellowship), Calgary, May 30
→ Come Together Saskatchewan (Gospel Fire), Saskatoon, June 2-4
→ Truth and Grace Women’s Getaway (Muskoka Bible Centre), Huntsville, June 2-4
→ The Gathering: Journeying Toward Pastoral Health (Regent College), Vancouver, June 2-3
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)
→ Bill to Protect Young Persons from Sexually Explicit Materials
→ Take Action on MAiD