Why the Summer Jobs Attestation is Unacceptable
Although government leaders have alleged that objections to its new attestation are misinformed, many Canadians disagree. EFC President Bruce Clemenger explains why the EFC objects in a commentary published today.
Government Extends Summer Jobs Grant Deadline But Keeps Attestation Requirement
The federal government has extended the application deadline for the Canada Summer Jobs grant program to February 9, but it has not changed the problematic attestation requirement, which many Christians feel they cannot agree to. The EFC has released a document outlining three strategies for dealing with the attestation requirement. Please continue to pray about this issue of religious freedom and contact your local MP and Employment Minister Patty Hajdu about your concerns. For more information, see our Canada Summer Jobs Information page.
The EFC in the Media on Canada Summer Job Grants
In January the EFC was quoted in or interviewed for stories about changes to the Canada Summer Grants program in The Globe and Mail, The National Post, CBC News, CTV News, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen (CP), iPolitics, Global News (CP), Maclean’s, Toronto Sun, Huffington Post, The Catholic Register, LifeSiteNews, the Rob Breakenridge Show and Life Radio in the Miramichi.
Canada Watch Newsletter Offers Summary of the Summer Jobs Controversy
The latest issue of the EFC newsletter Canada Watch is now available. In four colourful pages, it includes: (1) How Canadian churches and ministry organizations from coast to coast have grappled since Christmas with new requirements for employers applying for grants from the Canada Summer Jobs program. (2) Young Adult Transition Research will help churches strengthen the faith of the next generations. (3) Updating you on Canada’s most immediate issues. (4) Message from the president. (5) EFC podcasts and webinars are all about connecting and informing. And more! Read the cover story or download the complete PDF.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry Survey
Do you do ministry with youth or young adults? The EFC and its partners are conducting an important survey to find out how youth and young adult ministry workers are supporting young adults as they transition from high school to the next phase in life. If you work directly or indirectly with youth or young adults in a volunteer or paid capacity, we’d like to hear from you. Learn more or take the survey. Please share this opportunity with others you know who work with youth or young adults.
EFC Speaking Engagements This Week
→ EFC President Bruce Clemenger, Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Toronto, Feb. 10, about contemporary issues facing the church
→ David Guretzki, EFC Executive Vice-President, Metropolitan Bible Church young adult retreat at Circle Square Ranch in Arden, Ont., this past weekend (Feb 2-4); preaching at Bayridge Alliance Church, Kingston, Feb. 11; speaking to youth leaders at Youth Quake in Caronport, Sask., Feb 16-18
→ Rick Hiemstra, EFC director of research, Trinity Western University’s Laurentian Leadership Centre, Ottawa, Feb. 7, about church and faith trends in Canada
Dispatch From Brian Stiller: Anti-Christian Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan
Brian Stiller, Global Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, describes the persecution that members of non-Islamic faiths face under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws: “I was particularly struck by an Islamic scholar’s response to my description of our Canadian pluralistic model by which we seek to give all religions respect and space in which they believe and worship. His response was instructive: ‘Here, Islam is everything and everything is Islam.’” Read more in “Where yeast is a good metaphor.”
Podcast: The Beauty and Challenge of Youth Ministry Today, with Geri Rodman
Geri Rodman has led InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for the last 17 years. As she prepares for retirement, she shares with the EFC Podcast what has kept her focused over the years and her special admiration for this generation of Canadian youth.
Living by Scripture When Society is Anti-Authority
Young people today are increasingly relying on “internalized sources of authority,” instead of relying on Scripture or external sources of authority, says Jo-Ann Badley of Ambrose University. She shares, “I might even say students these days have Spidey senses for inauthentic actions of any sort — and they dismiss any authority that is not authentic…But as I’ve dealt with this reality in the classroom for the last decade, I’ve come to be grateful for my students’ desire for authenticity…I’ve come to see it as a call to a deeper foundation for our identity and actions — in the classroom and in the Church.” Read the full article in the Jan/Feb Faith Today.
Seek First a 4.0 GPA His Kingdom?
Alyssa Esparaz knows all too well how students can focus their efforts more on getting straight A’s than finding ways to bring God’s kingdom to earth. “I’ve been thinking lately: Post-secondary education doesn’t really prepare us to be well-rounded people, does it? I mean, we’re expected to move heaven and earth in order to get one 30% paper handed-in on time. I can’t think of any other setting where it’s expected and normalized to be up working until 4 a.m. just to perform according to the standard. So, I’ve got this crazy, radical, world-shaking idea for us students: What if we just didn’t?” Read more in Love Is Moving, the EFC’s youth magazine.
EFC Director Coming to Calgary
Don McNiven, the EFC’s Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations, will be visiting Calgary from March 5-8. There will be two informational/introductory meetings at Crossroads Community Church, 912 - 19th Street NE, Calgary at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6. Everyone is welcome; refreshments will be served. Contact his assistant Bonnie Knoll to RSVP or set up a personal visit.
Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/calendar
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→ Multiply Conference, Vancouver, Feb. 7-8
→ Going Deeper – Empowering Prayer Saturation, Bramalea, Feb. 10
→ Foundations of Media Strategy Online Course, Online, Feb. 15
→ Worship Central Conference, Vancouver, Feb. 16-17
→ Youth Quake, Caronport, Feb. 16-18
→ Ontario Prayer Breakfast, Toronto, Feb. 21
→ Missions Fest Alberta, Edmonton, Feb. 23-25
→ Promise Keepers Canada All In Conference, Ottawa, Feb. 23-24
→ Rise Conference (youth worship leading), Abbotsford, Feb. 23-24
→ Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk, nationwide, 100+ locations, Feb. 24
→ Today’s Teens Conference, Oakville, Feb. 24
→ A new way to engage with Lent: Commit to care for creation
In Case You Missed It
→ Statement on the Anniversary of Quebec Mosque Shootings
→ Webinar on Canada Summer Jobs controversy
→ Podcast: Why small churches matter: An interview with Ron Johnston of Small Church Connections Canada
→ Concern over religious freedom in Bolivia
→ Still reaching for reconciliation
→ Surviving university as a Christian: Overcoming the scale
→ A quick church quiz for you
→ Why not, Canada? Learning how to create disciple-making movements
→ Stories continue to come in about how changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program will hurt Canadian society. The EFC has been sharing many of these stories on Facebook and Twitter, as groups email them in to us.
→ Interfaith statement on the Canada Summer Jobs Program from January 25 signed by 80 religious leaders. EFC President Bruce Clemenger was among the leaders who spoke about the impact the new rules will have on faith-based charitable organizations. You can watch a video of the event on the Archdiocese of Toronto Facebook page.