Day of Prayer for Religious Freedom
Sunday, November 26 is a day set apart to pray for the successful resolution of the Trinity Western University law school case, which will be heard in the Supreme Court of Canada on November 30 and December 1. This day of prayer is an initiative of the EFC and the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. The far-reaching potential implications of the Trinity Western case also makes this a day to pray for the future of religious freedom in Canada. Visit TheEFC.ca/ReligiousFreedom2017 to watch EFC President Bruce Clemenger explain the reason for the day of prayer in a two-minute video. You can also download other free resources there including bulletin inserts, slides and one-page PDF that summarizes the facts and explains why this is important. These are free to reproduce for your church or other group.
EFC Staff at Waterloo Event
EFC staff will be attending the Engaging Communities Through Research event at Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ont., Nov. 24-25. Aileen van Ginkel, Vice-President of Ministry Services, will be speaking on strategies for developing research partnerships. Rick Hiemstra, Director of Research and Media Relations, will also participate.
Report on Presidents Day 2017
The EFC hosted Presidents Day from October 26-27 in Montreal. This is the EFC’s annual gathering of denominational leaders, Christian higher education institutions and ministry organizations affiliated with the EFC. Find out more about the day’s highlights in this blog.
EFC Annual Update on Video
What has the EFC has been doing over the last 12 months to fulfil its mission to unite Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus? EFC leaders highlight our public policy work, court interventions, research, youth mobilization and more in a new 8-minute video. Watch it anytime here.
Love Is Moving at Canadian Youth Workers Conferences
Regional Canadian Youth Workers Conferences are being held across Canada over the next few months. Attendees will be able to meet Joel Gordon and Ben Porter, founders of the EFC’s youth initiative, Love Is Moving. Ben will attend in Moncton (Nov. 24-25) and Calgary (March 2-3), while Joel will attend Saskatoon (Jan. 26-27). Both Ben and Joel will attend in Vancouver Jan. 19-20. They will be networking and promoting Love Is Moving, which along with the EFC is a national sponsor of CYWC.
Refugee Sponsorship Webinar
Watch last Thursday's webinar, "What have churches learned about refugee sponsorship?" Catch up on the latest developments around Christian groups sponsoring refugees in Canada. Guests: Brian Dyck of Mennonite Central Committee and the Canadian National Refugee Sponsorship Agreement Holder Association. Kathy Mercer of the Port Perry Refugee Support Group. Jacqueline Derrah of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Find recordings of past webinars at www.TheEFC.ca/Webinars.
EFC Director in Southwestern Ontario
Don McNiven, the EFC’s Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations, will be in Chatham, Aylmer, Ingersoll, Simcoe, Hagersville and Brantford from December 12-15. If you’re interested in a visit, contact his assistant, Bonnie Knoll.
Refugee Sponsorship Reinvigorates Churches
Evangelical Christians have welcomed a disproportionate number of refugees in the past couple of years – and found the process a blessing. Read an article on the EFC website that shares such stories from Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, Christian and Missionary Alliance and Mennonite Central Committee. This article is also published in the latest issue of Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine. Faith Today is currently offering 2-for-1 gift subscriptions at www.FaithToday.ca/2for1. Buy a gift that lasts all year! Discounted offer only available for a limited time.
“Love Is Moving” Through the Ministry of Compassion Canada
The EFC’s youth initiative, Love Is Moving, has a weekly segment on Outside the Box with Sheldon Neil. This week is the final episode, and the segment features the ministry of Compassion Canada. If you have a young person in your life, encourage them to check out this show every Friday at 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Yes TV. Past episodes are available on the Outside the Box website.
Is Your Daughter Safer at a Christian College? Study Finds Difference in Sexual Assault Statistics
“Tragically, between 21 and 31 per cent of female students report experiencing some form of unwanted sexual contact within the past year. Between three and five per cent reported being raped in the past year.” By contrast, James Vanderwoerd and Albert Cheng’s survey of nearly 700 students from eight independent Christian colleges in Canada found 18 per cent of women reported unwanted sexual contact, and less than one percent were victims of rape.
While these statistics still aren’t good news, and should be a wake-up call to Christian colleges, they do indicate a lower rate of sexual assault at evangelical schools compared to public colleges and universities.
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→ Adoption and Fostering Awareness Month, Nationwide, Nov. 1-30
→ An Act of Repudiation: Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius Today, Toronto, Nov. 23
→ Canadian Youth Workers Conference, Moncton, Nov. 24-25
→ Engaging Communities Through Research: A Capacity-Building Event for Faith-Based Campuses and their Partners, Waterloo, Nov. 24-25
→ SHINE Women’s Conference, Burlington, Nov. 24-25
→ Day of Prayer for Religious Freedom in Canada, nationwide, Nov. 26
→ Entrepreneurial Leaders Forum and Awards Gala, Vancouver, Nov. 29
→ First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 3
→ A prayer for South Sudan. A prayer for all of us.
In Case You Missed It
→ Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Religious Freedom
→ Letter to Governor General on Controversial Remarks
→ The EFC at M-103 Hearings
→ Justice Committee Votes to Protect Worship
→ The Incarnation Mystery: Why God Becoming Flesh is the Paramount Teaching of the Christian Faith
→ Religious Groups Work Together to Preserve Legal Protections
→ Why giving Faith Today for Christmas is such a great idea