Dear Friend,
The EFC seeks to unite Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus. This, our official mission statement, captures the spirit of what we’ve sought to do ever since our inception in 1964.
"Blessing Canada" involves undertaking activities that seek the well-being of our neighbours, communities and country. We do this, in part, by speaking biblical truths in love to promote laws and public policy that conform to the life-giving principles of Scripture and that benefit all. For this work, we are well known.
But that is only part of the story.
There are critical issues outside of the public square that the EFC is uniquely able to tackle – issues that impact the Church and the effectiveness of its witness for Christ.
The position of Christianity in Canadian society has changed radically over the past 50 years. As such, the EFC also seeks to “bless Canada” by undertaking projects that support the local church, encourage pastors and contribute to the health and growth of the body of Christ.
One way we do this is by conducting ground-breaking research to understand the changing contexts in the Church and in society, and to determine how we can better advance the Gospel together and maximize ministry impact.
The large-scale research that we do has huge implications for the Canadian Church. For example, the Hemorrhaging Faith study (2012) drew our attention to the sobering fact that only one in three Canadian young adults who attended church weekly as a child still do so today and that many had ‘dropped out’ during major life transitions.
Now, the EFC is building upon these findings with a new major collaborative research project. This time, we have partnered up with Power to Change–Students, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Truth Matters Ministries, Youth for Christ and The Muskoka Woods Leadership Studio.
The Young Adult Transition (YATR) study focuses specifically on the transition of Christian youth from high school to the next phase in life and on how parents, churches and ministry organizations can help them maintain a strong and vibrant connection to their faith and their Christian communities through what many consider to be a time of major upheaval.
Researchers conducted extensive literature reviews and in-depth interviews with both youth ministry experts and young adults to gain insights from both sides – the youth leaders as well as those they are ministering to. This helped them to design and develop the nation-wide surveys.
At the start of 2018, we worked with the Angus Reid Forum to survey over 2500 young adults who had roots in a Christian church. We also conducted a survey on how those who minister to youth are supporting them through their transitions out of high school.
Our research findings will be published this year (Renegotiating Faith: The Delay in Young Adult Identity Formation and What It Means for the Church in Canada). Think tanks will also be established across the country so youth ministry and church experts can go over the findings carefully and propose some possible strategies and responses. These will be compiled into useful resource materials and made widely available to support those who can make a difference in helping young adults stand firm in their faith as they transition out of high school.
Why is the EFC engaged in such research, and in identifying and disseminating key findings?
As a national association of Evangelicals representing 45 denominations, nearly 100 ministry organizations and educational institutions, and thousands of congregations across the country, the EFC has the organizational capacity to conduct leading-edge, faith-based research like few others.
As well, denominations from other Christian traditions are willing to participate because we have a reputation for conducting research with humility, respect, integrity, thoroughness and impartiality. No other research initiative enjoys the level of broad-based support that we do on research that impacts Christians in Canada.
In addition, the research we undertake is impactful, relevant and uniquely Canadian. And as a Christian association, we are intimately familiar with what our faith communities need – we know inherently what questions to ask and how to ask them. Our ability to conduct such comprehensive research also means that churches and ministry organizations don’t have to divert valuable resources away from their ministry work.
Research on church and faith trends is an important part of what the EFC does for its affiliates and constituents. It is crucial for us to invest in the future of the Canadian Church.
Will you partner with us in our efforts to support our pastors, the local churches, and the work of our ministry organizations? Will you invest in the Church today through your generous donation?
May Christ use our efforts to bless and strengthen his Church in Canada.
Sincerely,
Bruce Clemenger
President