December 15, 2015

Uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus

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LETTER TO GOVERNMENT ON PROSTITUTION LAWS
The EFC asked the federal government to uphold Canada’s new prostitution laws in a Dec. 10 letter to Canada’s justice minister. The letter also calls for a few amendments and policy changes, including “the complete decriminalization of women in prostitution, … making it simple and inexpensive for those who have been exploited to have prostitution-related charges expunged from their criminal record, ... [and] continued and enhanced government investment in exit supports and services.”

PRACTICAL EFC REFUGEES VIDEO
The December EFC webinar video is now online. It addresses practical questions about how your church can sponsor refugees and best respond to the largest refugee crisis the world has seen since the Second World War. Learn today from participant questions to our three invited Canadian experts at theEFC.ca/WebinarArchive.

EUTHANASIA DECLARATION OVER 1,777
An EFC joint statement on euthanasia and assisted suicide has grown to more than 1,777 signatures. This 900-word declaration says “any action intended to end human life is morally and ethically wrong” and calls our federal government to improve palliative care. You can add your signature. This declaration was originally co-published on Oct. 28 by the EFC and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

LETTER SUPPORTING TORONTO CHRISTIAN EVENT
The EFC wrote a letter Dec. 9 to the board of management of Yonge-Dundas Square, which had denied a permit to a Christian group to hold its annual Christian music festival. “This group shouldn’t be excluded from the public square because of its identity as Christians or because its event includes a public expression of faith. Performing music with lyrics that praise God is not proselytism,” says the letter.

NEED A SPEAKER? WANT INFORMATION TO IMPROVE YOUR MINISTRY?
Consider inviting an EFC speaker for your group or church at theEFC.ca/speakers.

COMING EVENTS AT THEEFC.CA/CALENDAR 
→ Urbana Missions Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, Dec. 27-31 
→ Canada Chinese Christian Winter Conf., Surrey, B.C., Dec. 27-31 
→ Earlybird Deadline for EFC Quebec Prayer Summit, Jan. 15 
→ Marriage and Chronic Illness, Calgary, Jan. 15

URBANA SPEAKER TACKLES SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS 
Short-term mission trips are primarily a discipleship experience for the traveller, but they work well when a true partnership exists with the hosts, says Steve Colby, director of missions for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada. The latest Faith Today magazine features an exclusive, in-depth interview with him as he was preparing his keynote presentation for the Urbana student missions conference, coming Dec. 27-31, in St. Louis, Missouri. Preview the interview at FaithToday.ca/digital.

3-FOR-1 GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS: LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFT!
Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine, has an amazing Christmas offer to make your gift shopping easier. Give a gift that will help your loved ones become better connected, informed and equipped by giving them a subscription to the national magazine of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Details at FaithToday.ca/Christmas2015 or toll-free 1-866-302-3362.

LATEST POSTS AT BLOG.FAITHTODAY.CA 
→ What my friends need from the church: A men’s shelter worker shares tough truths, by Mike Toth

THE GIVING SEASON
At this busy time of year for charitable donations, EFC staff are praying over the end-of-year generosity of our supporters. With your gift you join us in “uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus!” To get a tax deductible receipt for 2015, make sure your gift is postmarked no later than Dec. 31. Or make a donation before Jan. 1 at theEFC.ca/donate or toll-free at 1-866-302-3362. Donors who give a total of $300 or more in 2015 get a free thank-you subscription to our EFC magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving!