Canada Summer Jobs Motion Next Week
On March 19, MPs will vote on a motion on the Canada Summer Jobs program. Watch the two-minute video we posted today, Canada Summer Jobs Update and Call to Action, for more information. The motion would affirm that organizations that do non-political, non-activist work should be able to access summer student funding regardless of their private convictions and whether or not they sign the attestation of values and beliefs. This motion will not require the government to change the policy, but it brings critical attention to the EFC's concerns and will further help shape the public and political debate on the issue. If the motion is passed, it will communicate to the government that the policy should be changed for next year.
MPs are in their ridings this week, so this is an excellent opportunity to contact your MP about this issue and ask if they will support this motion. Read more and find a sample letter that you can send to your MP.
This motion arose March 1 when the Opposition Conservatives used their Opposition Day for an unexpected debate on the Canada Summer Jobs issue in the House of Commons. You can read a blog about the debate and live tweets by Barry Bussey of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. More EFC resources are available at TheEFC.ca/SummerJobs including our talking points to help you explain the issues to your MP or someone else.
Faith Today Cover Story: The Healing Plate
The centrality of food in Scripture, community and restoration are key themes in our new cover story on the spirituality of food. Freelance writer Amy MacLachlan gleaned much wisdom from interviewees like Jenn Arnold of 541 Eatery and Exchange in Hamilton and Gideon Strauss of Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. Subscribe today to ensure you get more great stories like this one (and save 30 per cent).
Next Webinar: How Can Churches Do Food Ministry Well?
Join us next week, March 20 at noon EDT, for our webinar on “How can churches do food ministry well?” Many churches provide dinners for their own and the broader community. How can we do that better? We will speak to experts on this topic, featured in the Faith Today story “The Healing Plate.” Guests will include Jenn Arnold, a founder of 541 - Eatery & Exchange in Hamilton; Kristine O'Brien, minister at Trafalgar Presbyterian Church in Oakville; and Amy MacLachlan, 541 volunteer and writer of the story. Register now.
Contest: Show Your Pastor You Appreciate Them & We’ll Send Them to Dinner
Do you appreciate all your pastor has done for your church and community? Our Mar/Apr Faith Today story “The Healing Plate” prompted us to create a contest to send some Canadian pastors out for a nice dinner! The names have been rolling in, and we’ve been giving each nominee a shout-out on our Facebook page. It’s not too late to nominate your pastor! Email us the name of your pastor by March 31, tell us what their ministry means to you and your community, and we’ll enter them in our draw for $50 dinner gift cards, one for a pastor in every province and territory.
Audio Podcast: Persevering in the Canada Summer Jobs Grant Situation
In our latest podcast, Dave Addison, executive director of Toronto City Mission, discusses how the Canada Summer Jobs grant situation has impacted their ministry, and what they will do next. Listen to individual episodes of The EFC Podcast or subscribe to download each new episode automatically at Google Play, iTunes, SoundCloud, and RSS (Feedburner). Find a full list of recent episodes here.
Youth Ministry Resources
Do you know a youth ministry that could use a helpful resource? The EFC’s youth movement, Love Is Moving, has a website that includes resources and curriculum for those involved with youth ministry.
YATR Survey iPad Mini Winner
Congratulations to Courtney O'Reilly, Next-Gen Pastor from Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland, whose name was drawn from youth and young adult ministry workers who participated in our Young Adult Transition Research (YATR) survey. Thank you to all participants. We are now working to analyze this new data along with other new survey data from Canadian young adults who attended church regularly during their teen years. The results will be published later this year. Learn more about this YATR study.
EFC Director Coming to Manitoba
Don McNiven, the EFC’s Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations, will be in the Winnipeg, Winkler, Steinbach, and Morden area the week of April 16-20. Contact his assistant Bonnie Knoll to RSVP or to set up a personal visit.
Power of Prayer in the Developing World
In the latest issue of the EFC’s youth magazine Love Is Moving, Alyssa Esparaz shares stories of God answering prayers in powerful ways across the world. “Prayer can be mysterious, but these stories show us one thing for sure: Prayer is powerful, and through it, relationships are reconciled, bodies are healed, and lives are transformed.”
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→ Grand Embrace II (Wm. Paul Young, Brad Jersak, Cathy AJ Hardy), Aldergrove, Mar. 15-17
→ Legacy Youth Conference, Calgary, Mar. 16-18
→ Promise Keepers "All In" Conference, Edmonton, Mar. 16-17
→ A Day of Humility – Prayer and Fasting for Canada Summer Jobs Motion in Parliament, Canada-wide, Mar. 18
→ EFC Webinar on How to Create a Great Food Ministry, online, Mar. 20
→ Jesus to the Nations Conference, Halifax, Mar. 23-25
→ Promise Keepers "All In" Conference, Regina, Mar. 23-24
→ Thomas Merton Talk & Retreat, Vancouver, Mar. 23-24
→ Strategic Management Course (first of four Saturdays), North York, Mar. 24
→ Principles & Practices of Mentoring Course (first of four Saturdays), North York, Mar. 23-24
→ Freshwind Youth Conference, Toronto, Mar. 29-31
→ Seminary & Theological Grad School Virtual Fair, online, Mar. 29
→ Be Ready Apologetics Conference, Calgary, Apr. 6-7
In Case You Missed It
→ Webinar: Youth Ministry in Canada Today
→ Checking in on the TWU law school case
→ Podcast: Youth Ministry in Canada Today (Interview with Sid Koop)
→ Podcast: It’s Good to Take a Break from Tech
→ Sleight of Funding: Canada Summer Jobs Controversy (Love Is Moving)
→ FT Interview: One-on-One with U of T Director of Indigenous Relations (Faith Today)
→ On food, theology and a fun contest
→ Does everybody belong in church?