EFC Calls for Prayer as Protests Continue Across Canada
As tensions continue to rise in Ottawa and in other cities and locations across Canada, let’s join together as Christians to pray for peace in our country; that civility and mutual respect will prevail, and for the safety of all. Pray 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.
Justice Committee Review of Prostitution Laws
A review of the prostitution laws begins today in the 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 Some groups are advocating for the laws to be repealed.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.
What to Expect in Parliament
A new issue of the EFC newsletter Canada Watch is now available at TheEFC.ca/CanadaWatch. The lead article, "Looking Forward to a Year of Engagement," reflects on the mandate letters Prime Minister Trudeau released for his cabinet ministers in December, which reflect the priorities of the prime minister and indicate some of the issues coming to Parliament. This short newsletter also touches on a resource that helps Canadian churches welcome newcomers; a new racism discussion guide; the relocation of the EFC administrative office from Richmond Hill to Scarborough; and more.
Deux nouveaux articles traduits // Two Articles from Canada Watch Now in French
Nous avons traduit deux articles de « Canada Watch ». Jetez un coup d’œil à toutes les dernières nouveautés sur TheEFC.ca/actions-evangeliques. // Don’t miss two new French translations of articles from Canada Watch, online now.
Welcome Church Resource Helps Canadian Churches Welcome Newcomers
The Canadian Church has a new and practical resource to help congregations from coast to coast better welcome newcomers to Canada into churches and into deeper community.
Welcome Church (www.welcomechurch.ca), which officially launched on Feb. 1, is a video-based training program produced by Our Common Calling (OCC), a partnership of four national groups: The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), Lausanne Canada, the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities (CCCC) 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.”
Senator’s Bill to Protect Children and Youth from Sexually Explicit Material Online
A Senator’s bill to protect children and youth from sexually explicit material online is moving through the Senate. Read more about Bill S-210 at TheEFC.ca/S-210 and contact your MP to ask for support for the bill when it reaches the House of Commons.
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.
Bill S-211 Against Forced Labour
Bill S-211 is a private member’s bill in the Senate that would require large corporations to report on what they are doing to make sure their supply chains are free of slavery, forced labour or child labour. The EFC supports this effort to reduce forced and child labour and to raise awareness about human trafficking. This bill, originally introduced in the previous parliament, has been re-introduced in the current parliament.
Here is a letter of support you can send to the Senator sponsoring Bill S-211. We also provide sample text you can use to communicate with your MP on this issue, docx or pdf.
Faith Today Podcast: The Story Behind the First Nations Bible Translation
The First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament released from InterVarsity press in August 2021. In our latest podcast, Terry Wildman, lead translator and general editor of the First Nations version, shares the background of this unique translation, reads some favourite passages and shares his hopes for this gift to the Church.
A Recipe for Hospitality: Faith Today Column
Church cookbooks tell stories of culture, resilience and ingenuity, writes Edmonton historian Caroline Lieffers, author of the latest column in the History Lesson series in Faith Today.
Did you know print subscription to Faith Today is now free in Canada? Sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
New EFC Weekly Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about the environment. God calls us to be stewards and to care for his creation. Pray that we, as Christians, will fulfil that calling.
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. Pray for The Lausanne Movement Canada, whose job is to be a catalyst between all 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.
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.
Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online Feb. 11
→ Witness that Leads Muslims to Faith in Jesus (LMT), online Feb. 12
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshop (Food for the Hungry), online Feb. 12
→ Racism & the Church: How then Shall We Live? (Acadia Divinity College), online Feb. 15
→ Self-Care While Caring for Others (Acadia Divinity College), online Feb. 15
→ Plan to Protect 101, online Feb. 15
→ What! Me, Accountable? A Business Leadership Discussion (CCBF), online, Feb. 16
→ The Paper Wolf—Roundtable (Renovaré), online, Feb. 16
→ Making Peace in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online, Feb. 16, Mar. 2
→ Protecting Children from Online Pornography (Connecting to Protect), Feb. 16-18
→ Ottawa Region Charity & Not-for-Profit Law Webinar (Carters), online Feb. 17
→ Indigenous and Muslim Perspectives on Colonisation, Treaties and Decolonisation (Emmanuel College), online, Feb. 17
→ Elder Abuse Awareness Seminar (Plan to Protect), 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
In Case You Missed It
→ Faith Trends Podcast: How to Speak to Your Kids about Pornography
→ Meet the Author of Refuge Reimagined
→ Download the EFC Prayer Card for Your Fridge or Bible
→ Deconstructing Deconstruction (Faith Today column by John Stackhouse)