EFC Applies for Intervenor Status in Challenge to Prostitution Laws
The EFC has applied for intervenor status in a case before the Ontario Superior Court in which Canada’s laws on prostitution, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, is being challenged. The EFC supported the Act when it was passed and still does.
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, as explained by the EFC’s Director of Public Policy, Julia Beazley in this video.
Some groups are advocating for the laws to be repealed. The EFC will submit a written brief this week urging for the full implementation and enforcement of the laws. Please add your voice in support of the prostitution laws. For more information and resources to help you contact your MP, go to TheEFC.ca/prostitution-law-review.
You’re invited to a Sneak Peek at Four New Resources for Churches
The EFC has recently launched four new resources to help churches do things like engage with politicians, host conversations on racism, participate in Indigenous reconciliation, and welcome newcomers to Canada. To find out more about these resources, staff and volunteers from EFC affiliated organizations and churches are invited to register for a Resource Reveal event on March 3 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Pacific / 2 p.m. Atlantic). 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.
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 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.
English: www.research.net/r/CESCS français : 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
The EFC Administrative Offices Have Moved
The EFC’s administrative offices in the Toronto area 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.
Welcome Church Resource Helps Canadian Church Welcome Newcomers
The Canadian Church has a new and practical resource to help congregations come alongside newcomers and help them find deeper community.
Welcome Church (www.welcomechurch.ca), which officially launched on Feb. 1, is a video-based training program produced by Our Common Calling, a partnership of four national groups: The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Lausanne Canada, the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities, and Christian Higher Education Canada.
“The videos include teaching from a theologian, a professor, pastors, ministry leaders and a spiritual director, all helping to equip us to better serve the needs of people around us,” says the EFC’s Joel Gordon. “The Welcome Church training videos are lively and accessible, covering topics like engaging respectfully with newcomers’ backgrounds, providing practical hospitality, and how to start a welcome team.”
The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Prostitution
On the second annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day, we are thinking about the intersection of human trafficking and prostitution. The Justice Committee is reviewing Canada’s prostitution laws over the next few weeks and their conclusions could have an impact on sex trafficking. Prostitution and sex trafficking are inextricably linked. It is true that not all prostitution is trafficking, but most trafficking is for prostitution. Read more in our new blog.
Horizon Launches Reconciliation Videos
An evangelical seminary in Saskatoon is contributing to the national conversation on reconciliation, reports Meagan Gillmore in the Jan/Feb issue of Faith Today.
Did you know print subscription to Faith Today is now free in Canada? Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
New Blog Posts at FaithToday.ca
The Early Church overcame societal divisions – We can too. Imagine the Church leading the way in reconciling societal divisions, writes Larry Hurst in a new blog post at FaithToday.ca.
Why do I need Black History Month? Black History Month used to take me by surprise each February, writes Renée James in another new blog post at FaithToday.ca.
This Week’s EFC Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about international religious freedom.
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. Pray offering thanks to God for the freedom of religion we currently enjoy; pray for boldness to follow God’s calling to be salt and light; for our nation to allow religious communities to exist and flourish; and for wisdom for the courts and elected officials.
We also list one EFC affiliate group to pray for. Pray for International Christian Response (ICR), which exists to provide fast and effective help for persecuted Christians and suffering people in 47 countries.
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
→ PowerUp Gospel 2022 (Toronto Mass Choir), online Feb. 24-26
→ 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), Feb. 28
→ Toronto Prayer Breakfast, online, Mar. 1
→ Making Peace in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online, Mar. 2
→ 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, Mar. 4
→ Social Enterprises 101 for Churches (Vancouver), Mar. 5
→ When Things Aren’t All Equal: Tackling Global Gender Inequality, Mar. 8
→ International Women’s Day Virtual Celebration (Save the Mothers), Mar. 8
→ Protecting Kids in the Age of Online Pornography (Defend Dignity), Mar. 8
→ Elder Abuse Awareness Seminar (Plan to Protect), Mar. 9
In Case You Missed It
→ Letter to Minister of Justice on Human Trafficking Provision in Bill C-5
→ New Books and Culture Reviews in Faith Today (Faith Todaycolumn)