EFC Update Newsletter September 23

Rethinking Canada's congregational leadership crisis

Gordon T. Smith, author of books on calling, vocation, leadership and theology (and executive director of Christian Higher Education Canada) reflects on the pastor pipeline crisis in a new post at FaithToday.ca. 

Using church tech for public good

“In our era of fractured trust and global disruptions, people are looking for hope and help,” writes Thriving in Digital columnist Joanna la Fleur. Read how your church can use digital technology to create innovative partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, schools and governments. 

You can find all our inspiring, informative columns and articles in the Sep/Oct Faith Today. Subscribe now to this EFC magazine, free now to homes across Canada. 

Podcast: Christian living in secular Canadian society  

David Guretzki of the Faith Today Podcast spoke with Dom Ruso, church planter and leader of a church called The180 in Laval, Que., about Christian living in a shifting secular age. Listen to the full episode.   

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

Oakville, Sept. 26, Don McNiven speaking to seniors’ group at Oakridge Bible Chapel  

Hinton, Alta., Oct. 17-19, Roger Helland, speaking at Hinton Alliance Church, about a life of prayer and corporate prayer gathering 

Additional Christian community calendar events 

• Launching a “Raw Carrot” Social Enterprise (The Raw Carrot), webinar, Sept. 24  

• Christian Legal Fellowship National Conference, Mississauga, Sept. 26-28  

• Ignite Kootenays (Ignite Prayer Canada/Roger Helland, Willy Reimer, Phil Wagler), Cranbrook, Sept. 26  

• Jesus to the Nations Missions Conference (World Vision/Samaritan’s Purse/Gather to Go), Moncton, Sept. 26-27  

• Wor/th Seminar on Worship and Theology (Matt Redman, Matt Maher, etc.), Ancaster, Sept. 27  

• Christian Environmental Worldviews: Understanding the Lay of the Land (Janel Curry/TWU), Ottawa, Sept. 28 

• Why Intercultural Ministry Matters (Carmen Lansdowne/Luther College), Regina/online, Sept. 29 

• Solidarity Forever: Faith and Politics (Sara Miles/VST), Vancouver/online, Oct. 2 

• Women Elevate Conference, Brampton, Oct. 3-5 

• Celebrating 1700 Years of Nicea (Stanley Porter, Stefana Dan Laing, Megan DeVore/Redeemer), Ancaster, Oct. 3-4

• Convergence Conference Canada 2025 (Move of God), London, Ont., Oct. 3

• A Renewed Mind (Word-Insight Life Counsel), online, Oct. 5

• Change Conference Ottawa (YFC Canada), Ottawa, Oct. 10-11

• Church Mental Health Summit (Hope Made Strong), online, Oct. 10

• Minority Report: Christian Witness in a Secular City (Ross Lockhart/Flourishing Congregations), online, Oct. 10

• Ministry Leaders 7-Day Renewal Retreat (Kerith/FOTF), Nestleton, Ont., Oct. 13-20; East Braintree, Man., Oct. 13-20

• Reenchanting the World: Philosophy, Spirituality, Ecology, Arts (Richard Kearney, Mark Wallace/TMU/ICS, etc.), Toronto, Oct. 16-18

• Faith and History Conference (Pacific Academy), Surrey, Oct. 16-18

• Global Leadership Summit (GLN), simulcast from Chicago to Calgary, Vancouver, etc., Oct. 16-17

• Change Conference Toronto (YFC), Toronto, Oct. 17-18

• Tyndale Intercultural Leadership Conference (TIM Centre), Toronto, Oct. 16

• Social Media: A Window into Your Church (Florence Sevensma/Knox CCLL), online, Oct. 16

• Reenchanting our Lives: Christian Courier 80^th Anniversary, Toronto, Oct. 18

• Celebrate Christian Writing (The Word Guild), Surrey, Oct. 18