GET THE LATEST CHURCH RESEARCH JAN. 18
How do churches grow in 2017? And what do immigration, young people moving from city to city, and even smartphones have to do with it? Join the EFC’s next webinar, Jan. 18 at noon Eastern, to learn from some of the most recent Canadian research on being church in Canada today. Save the date now on your calendar. Registration will opens soon at TheEFC.ca/Webinars. This webinar will feature the EFC’s Director of Research Rick Hiemstra. You can also invite him and other EFC speakers to your school, worship service or other group.
YOUTH MINISTRY TRAINING IN WESTERN CANADA
Do you know someone who might benefit from a youth ministry training event? The Canadian Youth Workers Conference is coming to Vancouver (Jan. 20-21), Saskatoon (Jan. 27-28) and Calgary (Mar. 3-4). Love Is Moving, the EFC’s youth and young adult initiative, is a national sponsor of these events. Learn more at CYWC.ca.
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.
THE EFC RESPONDS TO RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS
The EFC released a statement yesterday saying, “We must continue to denounce the scourge of terrorism, which this past weekend took lives and injured many in Baghdad and Jerusalem. We condemn all such acts and our prayers are with the families and friends of the victims, and with the people of these cities who seek to live in peace.”
PASSING THE FAITH
The EFC’s Rick Hiemstra gave a sermon at Fellowship Baptist Church, an affiliate congregation in Cornwall, Ont., on Jan. 8. He spoke on “Passing the Faith to the Next Generation,” drawing on Joshua 4 as well as his own research as EFC Director of Research and Media Relations. Invite an EFC speaker to your church, school or other group.
→ Children’s Ministry Diploma Course, Toronto, Thursdays starting Jan. 12
→ New Testament Survey Diploma Course, Toronto, Mondays starting Jan. 16
→ EFC Webinar on Latest Church Research, Jan. 18
→ Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25
→ Hugh Halter: Re-Thinking Church, Moncton, Jan. 18
→ 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
→ Revolution Youth Conf. for Grades 6-12, Langley, Jan. 27-29
→ Health. Family. Wealth. Conference, Toronto, Jan. 28
→ EFC francophone prayer summit/La rencontre au sommet, Granby, Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Add your upcoming event for free.
LEE BEACH ON THE CHURCH IN EXILE
In the last 40 years, the Canadian church has lost its position of cultural influence, and Christians are now a minority. How do we maintain our faith identity in a post-Christian world? Lee Beach suggests we can learn from how the Israelites lived during the Babylonian exile. Beach, associate professor of ministry at McMaster Divinity College and author of The Church in Exile: Living in Hope after Christendom, wrote this essay on The Church in Exile for our Jan/Feb issue. Subscribe now to get a printed copy.
NEW HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR
Could you use some encouraging news? Make the new year brighter with a subscription to the EFC’s magazines! For only $29.99 you’ll receive a year of both Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine since 1983, as well as our new youth magazine, Love Is Moving. They’re uniquely Canadian inspiration and information you can enjoy yourself and give away to others. Details at FaithToday.ca/Subscriptions or by calling toll-free 1-866-302-3362.
→ Resources on Ministry with Seniors
→ What’s Up With Jan/Feb Faith Today?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
→ Pardoning prostituted women: EFC letter to government
→ New partnership with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
→ Interfaith call for better palliative care (aussi en français); Sample letter to write your MP