THE EFC UPDATE - 2015.10.27
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LETTER TO JUSTIN TRUDEAU
The EFC recently sent a letter to congratulate Canada’s prime minister-designate, the Hon. Justin Trudeau. It assures him of our prayers and highlights a number of issues such as freedom of religion, refugees, children and youth in government care, poverty, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, euthanasia, palliative care and relations with Indigenous Peoples.
DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED – NOV. 8
Get free Canadian resources to observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Join thousands worldwide in a day of prayer on Sunday, Nov. 8 or Nov. 15. The EFC is part of a group of ministries that creates these free resources each year.
NEW RESEARCH ON LARGE CONGREGATIONS
The EFC collaborated with scholars from Canada and the United States on a first-of-its-kind study on large congregations in Canada. There are about 150 Protestant churches in Canada that each draw 1,000 or more people in weekly attendance. A 14-page preliminary report helps give us an outline of this vibrant – and growing – church segment. For example, among weekly attenders, 40% participate in small groups. And 40 per cent of these churches are “multisite” institutions. (A video recording of a “virtual press conference” that introduces the results is also available.)
WISDOM ON DIFFICULT ISSUES
Julia Beazley, the EFC’s policy analyst, is keynote speaker today at Pornified Culture: Haunted Selves and Hindered Society, a conference at Providence University College, Otterburne, Man. And Rick Hiemstra, the EFC’s director of research, made a presentation at Morrow Gospel Church in Winnipeg on Sunday about recent studies of Canadian Bible usage and of the participation of youth in Canadian churches. Consider an EFC speaker for your group or church at theEFC.ca/speakers.
COMING EVENTS AT THEEFC.CA/CALENDAR
→ Church Planting Canada Congress, Montreal, Oct. 27-29
→ Purpose, Power, Potential Christian Scholarship Conference, Hamilton, Oct. 28-30
→ True North Prayer Conference, Edmonton, Oct. 29-31
→ Ottawa Civic Prayer Breakfast, Oct. 30
→ Euthanasia Symposium, Montreal, Oct. 31
→ Awana/CEF English Youth Ministry Conf., Pierrefonds, Oct. 31
→ Adoption Awareness Month, nationwide, Nov. 1-30
IT’S TIME TO THINK
Christians need to more actively support learning – for ourselves, our pastors and our theologians – in order to better meet the complex challenges of our day, argues John G. Stackhouse, Jr., in a challenging essay in the latest Faith Today. Preview the issue at FaithToday.ca/digital.
TRUSTING GOD IN THE FACE OF EVIL – FREE BOOK OFFER ENDS FRIDAY
Subscribe to Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine, and get a free copy of Can God Be Trusted? Faith and the Challenge of Evil, a book by regular Faith Today contributor John Stackhouse. In it he argues God can be trusted even when appearances suggest otherwise. Along the way he examines how thinkers across history have responded to evil and suffering. Book retail value $19. Get the national magazine of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada to be better equipped, informed and connected. Details at FaithToday.ca/subscriptions or toll-free 1-866-302-3362.
LATEST POSTS AT BLOG.FAITHTODAY.CA
→ Urbana, Refugees, James Bond, Poverty and More. Here Comes Nov/Dec Faith Today, By Karen Stiller
IS YOUR CONGREGATION AN EFC AFFILIATE YET?
Congregations that formally affiliate with The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada take a public stand for religious freedom, collaboration for ministry effectiveness, and the importance of bringing biblical principles to issues of Canadian law and public policy. Join hundreds of other congregations from more than 40 denominations at work in “uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus” at theEFC.ca/affiliate.