THE EFC UPDATE - 2016.12.20
Uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus
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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” These are the words of the heavenly host who appeared to the shepherds after the angel announced the birth of our Saviour, Christ the Lord. With news channels filled with reports of horrific terrorist attacks, of wars and conflict, of abuse and violence, the promise of peace is indeed good news. May we each know peace in our hearts and lives that the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus affords all those who believe. Let us pray and work for peace as we serve the Prince of Peace, and bear witness to the breadth and depth of the meaning of Christmas. On behalf of the board and staff of the EFC, we wish you peace and joy this Christmas and a happy and fruitful new year. – EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger
PARDONING PROSTITUTED WOMEN
The EFC wrote a letter last week to Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale encouraging the government to “allow prostitution-related charges to be expunged from the criminal records of prostituted persons” since the vast majority of those who are prostituted enter by force, coercion or as a result of constrained choice and last resort. The letter also asked to reduce the user fee to apply for a record suspension, since “it is likely to be prohibitively expensive for prostituted persons who are trying to exit exploitive situations.”
CONDOLENCES TO GERMANY
The EFC sent condolences to the German Evangelical Alliance in the aftermath of the horrific attack on the Christmas market in Berlin. “We pray for the people of Berlin, and of Germany, and in particular for the family and friends of the victims. We pray for your political and security leaders as they respond, and for churches as they offer comfort. In the midst of grief and uncertainty, may each know His peace and counsel.”
YEAR-END DONATIONS
Your year-end gift goes a long way to help us start the New Year strong. Mailed-in donations postmarked by Dec. 31 will be tax-deductible for 2016, as are donations made by phone (toll-free 1-866-302-3362) or at donate before midnight on Dec. 31. Thank you for your generosity.
NO EFC UPDATE NEXT WEEK
Our newsletter staff are taking holidays next week, so there will be no EFC Update sent on Dec. 27. We’ll be back again Jan. 3, 2017. However other EFC staff will continue to accept donations daily until year-end. We pray that God will richly bless Canada and all our EFC Update readers this Christmas and New Year!
BUILDING OUR WHOLE SOCIETY
How can our society ensure public space for diverse perspectives and practices? Can we advance beyond simple toleration of religious and other differences to embrace a wider respect for all citizens? These are some of the questions to be addressed in a multifaith conference supported by the EFC. Join the discussion May 8–9, 2017 in Ottawa. Learn more at OurWholeSociety.ca.
→ Chinese Christian Winter Conference, Calgary, Dec. 27-31
→ P2C+ Student Conference, Toronto+Calgary, Dec. 28-31
→ Children’s Ministry Diploma Course, Toronto, Thursdays starting Jan. 12
→ New Testament Survey Diploma Course, Toronto, Mondays starting Jan. 16
→ Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25
→ Youth Ministry Training CYWC, Vancouver, Jan. 20-21; Saskatoon, Jan. 27-29
→ Doing Kingdom Work in the Secular Workplace, Vancouver, Jan. 20-21
→ Break Forth Canada, Edmonton, Jan. 27-29
→ Mission Fest Vancouver, Jan. 27-29
→ EFC francophone prayer summit/La rencontre au sommet, Granby, Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Add your upcoming event for free.
WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION SOLDIERS ON
Nelly McClung and several other Canadians are honoured by statues on Parliament Hill for their work securing women’s right to vote in the 1920s. They also campaigned to restrict alcohol sales as members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Today, many are surprised to discover the WCTU didn’t die out after that era. Read about its recent world convention in Ottawa and work in two dozen countries in a report in the Nov/Dec issue of Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine. Subscribe now to get a printed copy.
LAST CHANCE! 3 CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE PRICE OF 1
This is your last week! Canada’s Christian magazine lets you give two gift subscriptions free if you buy a third subscription for yourself or someone else! Get details at our 3-for-1 webpage or by calling toll-free 1-866-302-3362. EFC magazine subscriptions are great for all ages, since they include both Faith Today and our youth magazine, Love Is Moving.
YOUNG ADULTS AND TRUTH
Sharing truth with young adults today works best if we invite them to learn and struggle with us. It doesn’t work well to deliver it to them in a packaged form, because they are naturally skeptical about what might have been left out of the package, says Rick Hiemstra, the EFC’s director of research. Watch a one-minute clip from his recent visit to the TV show 100 Huntley Street. Invite Hiemstra and other EFC speakers to your school, worship service or other group.
A CHRISTMAS BLESSING FOR OUR NATION’S YOUTH
Love Is Moving, the EFC’s youth initiative, now has a gift guide offering opportunities to sponsor young writers and to provide free copies of Love Is Moving magazine to students (or even to an entire church youth group for a year).