Join Worldwide Prayer for Persecuted Christians This Sunday
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is officially this Sunday, but you and your congregation can mark it anytime that works for you. The EFC is one of the sponsors of IDOP, a day set aside by Christians around the globe to collectively pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer because of their faith. There are helpful resources available to encourage the body of Christ to engage in active prayer for those experiencing persecution. This year’s countries of focus are India, Algeria and Cuba. You can download your free resource kit at www.IDOP.ca
New Faith Trends Podcast Serves the Church and the Academy
Faith Trends Podcast is launching this month as an initiative of the EFC’s research department to better connect research with its ministry implications for the Church in Canada. Our vision for the podcast is to highlight Canadian researchers, both established and emerging, and provide a platform for their work. We want to help build a bridge connecting researchers to ministry practitioners who might benefit from their work. You can listen to an introduction and the first episode now.
New Podcast Episode: How to be Christian and Political at the Same Time
On our latest Faith Today Podcast we spoke with John Milloy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario about how Christians can be politically active with confidence, without alienating other people. He was a member of provincial parliament (MPP) in Ontario and worked on Parliament Hill as a political adviser to senior cabinet ministers, as well as five years on the senior staff of former prime minister Jean Chrétien.
Now Hiring: Major Gifts Officer for Eastern Canada
The EFC is seeking a major gifts officer to work in Eastern Canada (Ontario and Maritimes). We recently revised the position description (Oct. 20, 2021). Get details on this full-time position at www.TheEFC.ca/Jobs.
Faith Today’s Guide to 2021 Charity Gift Catalogues
Check out this helpful list of charity gift catalogues. There’s a short version in our print magazine listing affiliates of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The online version is longer and includes additional Christian groups. Is your favourite charity there? If there's a gift catalogue missing, let us know and we'll add it.
Sign up for Nov. 18 EFC Book Club on Flourishing Congregations
The EFC Book Club is a new opportunity to meet with an author and other readers to discuss their book and what it means in our lives and ministries. On Nov. 18 we will explore what it looks like for a congregation to flourish, based on the book Signs of Life: Catholic, Mainline, and Conservative Protestant Congregations in Canada (Tyndale Academic, 2021). Even if you haven’t read the book, you will still benefit from the dialogue. Join co-author Joel Thiessen of Ambrose University, engage in a live Q&A and take part in breakout group discussion. Register at www.TheEFC.ca/BookClub. (Event lasts 90 minutes, starts at 7 p.m. Eastern.)
Join Us for a Canadian Nationwide Prayer Event Nov. 23
The EFC and ten prayer networks are planning an online prayer event. We will worship and pray together for the renewal of the practice of prayer, that it may lead to fruitful community and mission in Canada through local churches. Our text is John 15:7-8. Please join us and invite others in your network for this 90-minute nationwide prayer event starting at 11 a.m. Eastern. Register at www.TheEFC.ca/NationwidePrayer.
Great Is Good, but Good is Better (Faith Today blog)
Which culture can handle failure better – a culture of goodness or a culture that aspires to greatness? Why is it that a sermon entitled God Is Good doesn’t have the same punch as a sermon entitled God Is Great? Read a new blog post by Larry Hurst that argues goodness is better than greatness because goodness is a value or quality that avoids quantification.
Quatre Nouveaux Articles Traduits // Four Feature Articles Now in French
Nous avons traduit quatre articles majeurs de Faith Today. Jetez un coup d’œil à toutes les dernières nouveautés sur faithtoday.ca/francais. // Don’t miss four new French translations of feature articles from Faith Today, online now.
New EFC Weekly Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about adoption. November is Adoption Awareness Month. Pray that we would affirm the dignity and worth of all children in word and deed; that vulnerable children and youth would be a top priority in our homes, churches, governments and society. Pray that we would be present, in a range of ways, for children and youth needing a permanent, loving home and for youth aging out of government care. Pray that we would be compassionate and welcoming for children and youth in care, and for families in crisis. You can learn more on these issues at TheEFC.ca/Adoption.
Each week at we rotate through a 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, we highlight Christian Horizons, which helps people experiencing disabilities accomplish their goals and thrive in communities where their God-given gifts are valued and respected.
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.
Looking to Hire or be Hired?
Faith Today's website currently has online classified listings for four pastor positions (in New Glasgow, N.S., and Ontario cities of Erin, Port Hope and Toronto), a donor care rep, young moms program leader, chief financial officer, an accounting/finance associate, a major gifts officer, professors of counselling psychology and environmental science, and also some part-time positions (manager of agency collaboration, youth ministry leader, student life advisor). Check it out or post your help wanted ads at faithtoday.ca/classifieds.
→ CRISPR and the Theo-Ethics of Gene Editing (Canadian Council of Churches), online Nov. 3
→ Canadian Indigenous Realities and the Church (Ray Aldred/Food for the Hungry), online Nov. 3
→ Church & Charity Law Webinar (Carters), online Nov. 4
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshops, Burlington Nov. 4,5
→ Women's Journey of Faith Conference with Candace Payne, Saskatoon online or in-person, Nov. 5-6
→ International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, worldwide, Nov. 7
→ Engaging Religion in the Public Sphere, King’s University, Edmonton, online, Nov. 8
→ On Bringing Peace (Imago and Intriciti), online, Nov. 10
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online, Nov. 12
→ Timothy Morning with Dr. Gavin Ortlund (The Met, Ottawa), Nov. 13
→ EFC President Speaks at Ontario Church (Markham), Nov. 14
In Case You Missed It
→ Christ’s Call to the Work of Justice—It's Never Too Late (Faith Today website post)
→ Five Book Reviews from Sept/Oct 2021 (Faith Today article)
→ Faith Deconstruction Webinar with Peter Schuurman (uploaded Oct. 19)
→ The EFC Granted Intervener Status in B.C. Star of the Sea Parish Case