Lament and Recommitment to Reconciliation from the EFC
The EFC joins with the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation to grieve the deaths of the 215 children discovered in unmarked graves at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. We lament the devastating loss of children taken from and lost to their families and communities. We lament the atrocities committed in the name of Jesus, and yet wholly contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Read the full lament.
Video: Canada Needs Age Verification for Violent and Degrading Websites
We wouldn’t accept kids accessing violent porn offscreen in a store or theatre – and porn sites should be required to protect youth, too, as the EFC's Julia Beazley explains in a new two-minute video. Last week, the EFC sent a brief to the Senate to support a bill that would protect kids and teens from accessing violent and degrading porn online. Learn more and add your voice to this important conversation at www.TheEFC.ca/S203.
Act Now on Conversion Therapy Bill
MPs are in the final stages of debate on conversion therapy, and the bill could come up for a vote quickly. This is a crucial time to contact your MP to ask for a more precise definition of conversion therapy and for protection for religious instruction and parental guidance. See TheEFC.ca/C-6 for more information.
New Podcast: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults
About a week ago we held the first ever EFC Virtual Book Club, featuring author Beth Seversen and her book Not Done Yet: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults. This podcast features the EFC's director of research Rick Hiemstra; Canadian youth ministry expert Sid Koop; and author Beth Seversen. Listen to Part One (Interview) and Part Two (Q & A).
June 16 Covid Prayer Event
An EFC Affiliate Prayer Gathering for Covid-19 will be held online June 16 from 11:00 a.m.–noon (ET). As we move from large group activities (led by designated worship leaders and prayer leaders) to smaller breakout rooms, we will pray with and for those affected by Covid: for those infected and those who’ve suffered loss, frontline medical personnel, the psychological, social and economic impact, and for pastors and churches. The Zoom link will be sent out soon to all EFC affiliates. EFC President Bruce Clemenger and Prayer Ambassador Roger Helland are facilitating.
New EFC Weekly Prayer Prompts
Prayer is absolutely essential to any effective action. Each week at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction we rotate through one prayer request from each of these five areas: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom. We also list an EFC affiliate group to pray for.
This week, pray for families. Pray for the EFC’s Family Faith Formation Study. As we move into interviewing parents about the faith formation they do with their children in the home, please pray that the Lord would lead us to a representative group of parents who can clearly articulate their experiences and needs. Learn more about related issues at TheEFC.ca/Family.
This week’s EFC affiliate to pray for is Every Home For Christ.
Covid 19 and the restrictions have a significant impact on our lives. The EFC continues to offer new Friday@4 pandemic-focused prayer suggestions each week at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
Community Rink Breaks Ice-olation
Hundreds of Grimsby, Ont., residents enjoyed skating in Mountainview Church’s backyard this winter, one of few outdoor social activities open during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more about how the church reached out to the community.
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→ Loving Muslims Together Bridges Course (LMT), online Thursdays to July 8
→ Ageing and Spirituality Conference (Conrad Grebel University College), online June 10
→ Institutional Racism: Fake News or Reality? (New Leaf Network), online June 10
→ Global Leadership Webinar with psychotherapist Elaine Olson (Women Together), online June 10
→ Astronomy and the Muse (The King’s University), online June 10
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online June 11
→ EFC Online Presentation at Abbotsford Church, online June 15
→ How Mission is Flourishing During the Pandemic (Wycliffe College), online June 15
→ Métis Teachings (Kairos), online June 15
→ EFC Affiliates Prayer Gathering for Covid-19, online June 16
→ Why are Women Still Among the Most Vulnerable Among Us? (P2P), online June 17
→ The Social Enterprising Church (Food for the Hungry Canada), online, June 17
→ I Am Not a Racist: Personal Responsibility in a Developmental Continuum (New Leaf Network), online June 17
→ Discovering God at Work in Your Neighbourhood (Forge Canada), online, June 17
→ World Refugee Sunday, worldwide, online June 20
→ National Indigenous People’s Day, June 21, Canada-wide
→ We Are All Treaty People (Kairos Canada), online June 21
→ Connect with the Jesus Collective, online June 22
→ Fiction writing workshop with Laura Thomas (Women Together), online June 22
→ Recognizing and Supporting Vulnerable Men (Plan to Protect), online June 24
→ Let’s Get Practical Around Navigating a Racialized Society Together (New Leaf Network), online June 24
→ Wilderness Reboot for Missionary Kids (Canadian MK Network), online Mondays June 28-July 19
→ One with Them: A Day for Christian Captives (Open Doors Canada), online June 27
→ Social Injustice in the Courts System (Kairos Canada), online June 29
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
In Case You Missed It
→ Bill C-268 Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act to Be Debated Soon
→ When Public Debate Ignores Right and Wrong (Faith Today article)
→ Online Generosity: Celebrating the Virtual Offering (Faith Today blog)
→ Faith Today editor Karen Stiller Interview (700 Club Canada)
→ WEA Global Ambassador Brian Stiller Reflects on the World Evangelical Alliance and the Global and the Global Church Today (podcast)
→ Invitation to create (Faith Today call for homemade art, deadline June 30)
→ Nouvelles ressources en français / New French-language resources (on EFC website)