EFC Presidents Day This Thursday
This Thursday, Oct. 28, the EFC will gather virtually with presidents and leaders from affiliate schools, churches and organizations across Canada. We will encourage and strengthen each other as we gather. Please pray for all those presenting and all participants that this would be a time of encouragement and challenge.
Join Worldwide Prayer for Persecuted Christians on Nov. 7
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is 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. Each year in early November, ministry partners collaborate to produce and share (free of charge) helpful resources 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. Many churches will observe this event Nov. 7, but your group can do it anytime. Download your free resource kit at www.IDOP.ca. The EFC is one of the sponsoring organizations of IDOP.
New Podcast: How to be Christian and Political at the Same Time
On our latest 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.
Flourishing Congregations: Register for the Book Club on Nov. 18
The EFC Book Club is a new opportunity to join together with an author to discuss their book with the author and each other. 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). Plan to join co-author Joel Thiessen of Ambrose University, engage in a live Q&A and take part in breakout group discussion. Reading the book is optional, but you may want to order it now from your local bookstore to finish it by November. 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 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.
Christ’s Call to the Work of Justice
Sometimes it takes decades before Christians fully hear the call to justice work, writes Bekah Sears of Ottawa in a new post on the Faith Today website. She finds inspiration in the life of Sister Helen Prejean, author of the bestseller Dead Man Walking, who came to justice work late in life.
Five Reviews from Sept/Oct 2021
Don’t miss our book reviews from the Sep/Oct issue, especially a review of The Minister’s Wife by Faith Today editor Karen Stiller. We also feature artwork by Christine Cole in our spotlight on Canadian Creatives.
Get more unique Canadian Christian journalism like this by signing up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
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 church and mission. Pray for Christian living that is rooted in engagement with others in Scripture and prayer; for increasing commitments among Christians to witness to God’s love in all areas of life and society; and for congregations that seek to discern how God is leading them in changing times. Pray for Canadian Christians as they come together to worship God. You can learn more on these issues at TheEFC.ca/ChurchandMission.
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 Scripture Union Canada, which is working towards a future where Bible reading and reflection are a valued part of every believer’s life.
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.
→ On Bringing Joy (Imago/Intriciti), online Oct. 27
→ Speak Like a Pro with Carol Kent (Women Together), online Oct. 27
→ Exploring the Jesus-Centred Way in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online Oct. 27, Nov. 3
→ EFC Presidents Day, online Oct. 28
→ Christian Education in a Secular Age (Briercrest), online Oct. 28-29
→ Ottawa Civic Prayer Breakfast, online and in-person Oct. 29
→ For the Love of Creation's Fall Symposium, online Oct. 30
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshop (Food for the Hungry), online Oct. 30; Burlington, Ont., Nov. 4-5
→ Dove Awards (Gospel Music Association), online Oct. 30
→ Residential Schools and the Continuing Work of Reconciliation (The King's University), online Nov. 1
→ 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 Business Workshop, Burlington Nov. 4
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshop, Burlington Nov. 5
→ Women's Journey of Faith Conference with Candace Payne, Saskatoon online or in-person, Nov. 5
→ International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, worldwide, Nov. 5
→ Engaging Religion in the Public Sphere, King’s University, Edmonton, online, Nov. 8
→ Arrivals & Departures—on Bringing Peace (Imago and Intriciti), online, Nov. 10
→ Timothy Morning with Dr. Gavin Ortlund (The Met, Ottawa), Nov. 13
In Case You Missed It
→ A Seat at the Business Table (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