The EFC Makes Recommendations on Pandemic Support for Charities
The EFC has made a submission to the parliamentary Finance Committee studying the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The EFC described the crucial role charities play in Canada and asked the committee to consider additional support for charities, such as additional flexibility in the wage subsidy program and matching funds for charitable donations. Read the full PDF of the brief.
Print Magazine Subscriptions Now Free in Canada
Canadian print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free as of May 1, 2020! Find out why Christians across more than 40 denominations have trusted our periodicals for more than 40 years. Existing subscribers will be automatically transferred to the new free subscriptions. If you don’t already get our print magazines, sign up today at www.faithtoday.ca/subscribefree.
Our Common Calling: May 21-23 Online Forum
The EFC is partnering with Lausanne Canada and Canadian Council of Christian Charities to host “Our Common Calling” – an online platform for conversations that nurture hope-filled and collaborative approaches to challenges in mission and ministry. The next online discussion forum (online postings instead of a webinar or live chat) will focus on: Evangelism in Changing Times, Mobilizing for Mission and Ministry, Re-imagining Church Planting, Welcoming Refugees and Workplace Ministry. See www.ourcommoncalling.ca/conversations to sign up for participation from May 21 to 23.
New Audio Podcast: Feeling a Little “Off” at Home These Days?
Stephen Doucet Campbell, a psychotherapist with Shalem Mental Health Network, offers us comfort, tips and hope in this COVID-19 interview.
Dispatch from WEA Global Ambassador: An Open Letter to Evangelicals
“Hidden during this pandemic is another virus, one affecting our church communities, countries, and the world,” writes World Evangelical Alliance Global Ambassador Brian Stiller. “And what is that virus? Self-interest.” Read how simply following Jesus’ command to love God and others can be the best possible antidote to this virus, which the world will record for posterity.
Online Classifieds for the Christian Community
Want to reach Canadian Christians with your help-wanted or classified advertisement? We can feature your message at www.faithtoday.ca/classifieds and at Christianity.ca for 60 days for only $10 per line (average line = six words). For even wider exposure, you can also include it in our next print issue of Faith Today for an extra $12 per line. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca for details.
EFC Speakers in Your Online Gathering?
The EFC has local ambassadors in many Canadian provinces and expert staff on a variety of topics. One of them would be delighted to make a live interactive presentation during an online gathering of your community, or to record a video message for your online church service, conference or small group. Learn more about our speakers, including ambassadors based in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, at www.TheEFC.ca/Speakers. In addition to the list of topics you’ll find there, including social issues from euthanasia to refugees to prostitution, and ministry issues from adoption to youth ministry, speakers are glad to consider requests to speak on unlisted topics. Request a speaker now!
The FT Interview with Danielle Strickland
Danielle Strickland is an author, speaker, podcaster, coach and currently serves on the teaching team of The Meeting House in Toronto. Her latest book is Better Together: How Women and Men Can Heal the Divide and Work Together to Transform the Future (W Publishing, 2020). She spoke to Faith Today’s Karen Stiller about the role and beauty of preaching, power, and women and men working well together. You can also listen to our new podcast of this interview with Danielle.
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Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar
→Missional Commons Webinar, online, May 14
→ International Day of Families, May 15
→ Religious, Spiritual, Secular: Living in a Pluralistic Culture, online conference from Vancouver School of Theology, May 24-26
→ Day of Prayer for Christian Camps, May 31
→ NAIITS Symposium Online annual Indigenous theology conference, June 4-6
→ The Big Give 2020, nationwide, June 6
→ World Refugee Sunday, June 14
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
An Online Seminary Course? Why Not?
Online course registrations are now open for many seminaries and Christian postsecondary institutions. Several are listed on our online calendar (TheEFC.ca/Calendar).
→ Trinity Western University online summer courses (courses starting May, June, July)
→ Briercrest Seminary Summer Courses
→ Booth UC Online Courses
→ Master’s College & Seminary (courses starting June 22)
→ Providence College & Seminary (courses starting Sept. 17)
→ Horizon College (courses starting May, June, either free to audit or discounted prices for credit)
→ Who Is Jesus? (NT II) Online Course from Wycliffe College (daily from May 4 to June 26)
→ Pentateuch Online Course from Wycliffe College (June 1- July 24)
Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more learning opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses and choose for example from 118 undergraduate courses available in summer 2020.
In Case You Missed It
→ Joint letter to Ontario government on COVID-19
→ Brief on palliative care to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health
→ New analysis of federal conversion therapy ban legislation
→ Lorna Dueck: A Storyteller Retires (audio podcast)
→ The EFC’s curated collection of pandemic resources for churches (contributions welcome)
→ The Galli Bombshell (Faith Today article)
→ Disney, COVID-19 and a moment for peace and reconciliation (new blog series)