Get a Sneak Peek at Four New Resources for Churches
The EFC has recently launched four new resources to help churches engage with politicians, host conversations on racism, participate in Indigenous reconciliation, and welcome newcomers to Canada. To find out more about these new resources, EFC affiliates are invited to register for a Resource Reveal event on March 3 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. Attend during your lunch or coffee break and enjoy short presentations on each resource. There will also be optional question and response breakout groups for the individual resources. Sign up here.
The EFC Continues Call for Prayer as Protests Continue Across Canada
Let’s continue to join together as Christians to pray for our country; that civility and mutual respect will prevail, and for the safety of all. Please continue to pray with us that God will give leaders at every level wisdom and understanding, and that prudent decisions will be made for the public good of all Canadians.
Seeking Pastors for Canadian Research Project on Small Churches
The EFC and 10 partner organizations are conducting a survey on small evangelical churches in Canada, and the team is seeking pastors of small churches to participate. The Canadian Evangelical Small Church Study (CESCS) is investigating the ministry and mission opportunities that small churches engage in, as well as the challenges that hinder vitality in congregational life and ministry. The research is asking important questions like: What do small churches need in order to thrive? Are there things that we can do together to support small churches? Pastors of congregations of 150 people or less are invited to complete the survey, available in French or English.
English: https://www.research.net/r/CESCS French: https://fr.research.net/r/EPEEC
Are You a Pastor Whose Ministry Has Been Impacted by MAID?
Does your denomination offer guidelines on MAID? Faith Today, the magazine published by the EFC, is doing an article on how Canadian pastors, their ministry and their presence with the terminally ill are impacted by medical assistance in dying. If you are a pastor who has an experience to share, the editors would love to hear from you. If your denomination has offered guidelines to pastors on how to navigate these situations, we would also love to hear about that. Please email senioreditor@faithtoday.ca
Justice Committee Review of Prostitution Laws
A review of the prostitution laws has begun in the parliamentary justice committee. The EFC supports the current prostitution laws as an important and essential tool to reduce sexual exploitation. Some groups are advocating for the laws to be repealed. Please add your voice in support of the prostitution laws. For more information and resources to help you contact your MP, go to www.TheEFC.ca/prostitution-law-review.
The EFC Administrative Offices Have Moved
The EFC’s administrative offices have moved. Our new address is 10 Huntingdale Blvd, Scarborough, ON, M1W 2S5. Our Ottawa office remains the same. We are thankful to God for this provision of office space that meets our needs while allowing us to remain fiscally prudent and work in the same building as several other Canadian ministries.
Letter to Minister of Justice on Human Trafficking Provision in Bill C-5
The EFC has written a letter to the Minister of Justice about a provision on human trafficking in Bill C-5. Bill C-5 would enable someone convicted of a human trafficking offence to receive conditional sentencing, otherwise known as house arrest. The EFC’s letter explains, “When Bill C-5 proposes to allow conditional sentencing for someone convicted of trafficking of persons for material benefit, it sends the message that this offence is of lesser concern.” Read the full letter.
New Books and Culture Reviews in Faith Today
The Jan/Feb issue of Faith Todayincludes reviews of several new Canadian books:
→2020s Foresight Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change
→Laugh Like a Kid Again: Live Without Regret and Leave Footsteps Worth Following
→Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World
→Jesus Loves Canaanites: Biblical Genocide in the Light of Moral Intuition
We also share Christian artwork by Lisa Hanash entitled Espoir and more.
Did you know print subscription to Faith Today is now free in Canada? Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about family and community. Pray for The Canadian Evangelical Family Faith Formation Study, a research partnership between several EFC affiliate organizations, which will investigate how Canadian evangelical parents and guardians understand their roles as disciple makers of their children. We will look at what helps or hinders parents or guardians in these roles and how best churches and ministries can support them.
Also please pray for the Home School Legal Defence Association, whose job is to be a catalyst between a variety of Christian groups, bringing them together to initiate strategic partnerships between assemblies, academia, agencies and businesses. By hosting neutral events around key issue groups, they are able to come together, seek God in unity and collaboratively launch services for greater impact locally and nationally.
Check this space each week for one new request related to: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom. We also list one EFC affiliate group to pray for. For pandemic-focused prayer, the EFC also continues to offer new Friday@4 suggestions each week at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar
→ Making Peace in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online, Feb. 16, Mar. 2
→ The Paper Wolf—Roundtable (Renovaré), online, Feb. 16
→ What! Me, Accountable? - A Business Leadership Discussion (Canadian Christian Business Federation), Feb. 16
→ Protecting Children from Online Pornography (Connecting to Protect), Feb. 16-18
→ Ottawa Region Charity & Not-for-Profit Law Webinar (Carters), online Feb. 17
→ Elder Abuse Awareness Seminar (Plan to Protect), online, Feb. 17
→ Indigenous and Muslim Perspectives on Colonisation, Treaties, and Decolonisation (Emmanuel College) online Feb. 17
→ CCCA Tips from the Winners: Design Categories (Cdn Chr. Communicators Assn), online Feb. 18
→ PowerUp Gospel 2022 (Toronto Mass Choir), online Feb. 17-19, 24-26
→ Suffering Well and Suffering With Course (SA Ethics Centre), online Feb. 21 and Monday evenings until Mar. 28
→ National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Feb. 22
→ Bullying: A Deeper Dive in Honour of Anti-Bullying Day (Plan to Protect), Feb. 23
→ EFC Prayer with and for Ministry Organization Affiliates, online, Feb. 23, 11:00am ET
→ Mission Central Conference: Create, online, Feb. 25-26
→ Timothy Morning with Dr. Peter Williams (Timothy Trust), Ottawa, Feb. 26
→ Today’s Teens Conference (Today’s Teens), online, Feb. 26
→ Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Walk, Nationwide Feb. 26
→ CCCA Awards Contest Entry Deadline (Canadian Christian Communicators Association), online, Feb. 28
→ Toronto Prayer Breakfast, online, Mar. 1
→ The Place of Doubt in Christian Spiritual Formation (Renovare Canada), online, Mar. 3
→ EFC Resource Reveal Webinar, online, Mar. 3
→ World Day of Prayer (Women’s Inter-Church Council), worldwide, online Mar. 4
In Case You Missed It
→ Faith Today Podcast: The Story Behind the First Nations Bible Transition
→ Meet the Author of Refuge Reimagined
→ Download the EFC Prayer Card for Your Fridge or Bible
→ A Recipe for Hospitality (Faith Today column)
→ What to Expect in Parliament (new Canada Watch)
→ Deux nouveaux articles traduits (Canada Watch articles in French)
→ Nationwide prayer walk opportunity
→ Bill S-210: Online pornography restriction
→ Bill S-211 against forced labour